Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!

Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!
Cover of the first manga tankōbon volume, featuring Sayaka Kanamori (left), Tsubame Mizusaki (right), and Midori Asakusa (center)
映像研には手を出すな！ (Eizōken ni wa Te o Dasu na!)
Genre	Comedy
Manga
Written by	Sumito Ōwara
Published by	Shogakukan
English publisher	NA: Dark Horse Comics
Imprint	Big Comics
Magazine	Monthly Big Comic Spirits
Demographic	Seinen
Original run	July 27, 2016 – present
Volumes	5
Anime television series
Directed by	Masaaki Yuasa Mari Motohashi (assistant) Fūga Yamashiro (assistant)
Produced by	Shinya Tsuruoka Jun Sakata Eunyoung Choi Junya Okamoto
Written by	Masaaki Yuasa Yūichirō Kido
Music by	Oorutaichi
Studio	Science Saru
Licensed by	Crunchyroll
Original network	NHK General TV
Original run	January 5, 2020 – March 22, 2020
Episodes	12
Television drama
Directed by	Tsutomu Hanabusa
Original network	MBS
Original run	April 5, 2020 – May 10, 2020
Episodes	6
Live-action film
Directed by	Tsutomu Hanabusa
Written by	Tsutomu Hanabusa
Studio	Toho

Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! (映像研には手を出すな！, Eizōken ni wa Te o Dasu na!) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Sumito Ōwara. It has been serialized in Shogakukan's seinen manga magazine Monthly Big Comic Spirits since 2016 and has been collected in five tankōbon volumes as of January 2020.

An anime television series adaptation by Science Saru premiered on January 5, 2020. A live-action television series premiered on April 5, 2020. A live-action film adaptation was originally scheduled to release in Japan on May 15, 2020, but has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Plot

Midori Asakusa wants to create an anime, but she's too disheartened to make that first step by herself. By pure chance, she meets Tsubame Mizusaki, an up-and-coming socialite secretly dreaming of becoming an animator. Together with Midori's money-loving best friend Sayaka Kanamori, the energetic trio start the "Eizouken" club and slowly work towards making their "greatest world" a reality.

Characters

Midori Asakusa (浅草みどり, Asakusa Midori)

Voiced by: Sairi Ito

Portrayed by: Asuka Saitō (live-action)

A first-year student at Shibahama High who likes anime. She is full of curiosity and imagination, yet not very sociable. Her policy is that "anime is all about the setting," and she has kept various designs inspired by her daily life in her sketchbook. Her classmate Sayaka Kanamori used to be the only person who knew about Midori's passion until she met Tsubame Mizusaki at Anime Club, which lead the three of them to start Eizouken. Her goal is to explore her own "greatest world."

Sayaka Kanamori (金森さやか, Kanamori Sayaka)

Voiced by: Mutsumi Tamura

Portrayed by: Minami Umezawa (live-action)

Midori's tall and long-legged classmate. Though she has neither interest in nor knowledge of anime, she somehow took interest in Midori and hangs out with her. She loves getting involved with money-making activities and often tries to find a way to earn cash even through small talk. After starting Eizouken, as the most realistic of the trio, she takes on the role of producer and proves herself through negotiating with the school and student council. Midori and Tsubame's creative spirits often trouble her, although she respects their abilities.

Tsubame Mizusaki (水崎ツバメ, Mizusaki Tsubame)

Voiced by: Misato Matsuoka

Portrayed by: Mizuki Yamashita (live-action)

Midori's classmate who is a charismatic amateur model and famous in the school. She is expected to be an actress in the future as both of her parents are actors, but she actually wants to be an animator. She is especially good at capturing character movement. As Tsubame has been banned from joining Anime Club by her parents, she joins Eizouken instead and begins to create anime together with Midori and Sayaka. She has a different sense of money from the two of them as she comes from a rich family.

Parker Dōmeki (百目鬼・パーカー, Dōmeki Pākā)

Voiced by: Yumiri Hanamori

Portrayed by: Hiyori Sakurada (live-action)

The only member of Audio Club. She joined the club for the vast numbers of the audio files that are stored there, but ended up giving up a part of its storage to the student council. Approached by Eizouken, she accepted taking the role of the club's audio consultant on the condition that she can use part of their club room for storage.

Sowande Sakaki (さかき・ソワンデ, Sakaki Sowande)

Voiced by: Mikako Komatsu

Portrayed by: Ema Grace (live-action)

The school council's secretary. She is better at seeing the essence of things compared to the opportunistic president, and is considered an influential person on the council. She seems to care about Eizouken and often promotes their activities.

Mr. Fujimoto (藤本先生, Fujimoto-sensei)

Voiced by: Kazuhiko Inoue

Eizouken's advisor and consultant. He is known for the historical-figure-like mustache. He rarely gives direction to Eizouken and leaves the activities up to the members. He likes to play games in his free time.

Robot Club Ono (ロボ研小野, Robo-ken Ono)

Voiced by: Yūki Ono

Portrayed by: Mizuki Itagaki

Robot Club Kobayashi (ロボ研小林, Robo-ken Kobayashi)

Voiced by: Yūsuke Kobayashi

Portrayed by: Eiji Akaso

Robot Club Gotō (ロボ研後藤, Robo-ken Gotō)

Voiced by: Ryūnosuke Watanuki

Robot Club Seki (ロボ研関, Robo-ken Seki)

Voiced by: Shiori Izawa

Media

Manga

Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! is written and illustrated by Sumito Ōwara. The series started in Shogakukan's Monthly Big Comic Spirits on July 27, 2016. Shogakukan has compiled its individual chapters into tankōbon volumes. The first volume was published on January 12, 2017, and as of January 30, 2020, five tankōbon has been published.

In March 2020, Dark Horse Comics announced the acquisition of the manga for an English-language release starting on October 6, 2020.

Volume list

No.	Original release date	Original ISBN	English release date	English ISBN
1	January 12, 2017	978-4-09-189296-6	October 6, 2020	978-1-5067-1897-2
2	September 12, 2017	978-4-09-189636-0	–	—
3	June 12, 2018	978-4-09-189887-6	–	—
4	May 10, 2019	978-4-09-860241-4	–	—
5	January 30, 2020	978-4-09-860531-6	–	—

Anime

An anime television series adaptation was announced on May 7, 2019. Produced by Shogakukan, Warner Bros. Japan and Science Saru, the series is directed by Masaaki Yuasa, who also handles series composition. Yūichirō Kido is writing the scripts, Naoyuki Asano designs the characters and Oorutaichi composes the music. The series premiered on January 5, 2020 on NHK General TV. The series ran for 12 episodes. Chelmico performed the series' opening theme song "Easy Breezy," while Kami-sama, I have noticed (神様、僕気づいてしまった, Kami-sama, Boku wa Kizuite Shimatta) performed the series' ending theme song "Namae no Nai Ao" (名前のない青, A Blue That Has No Name). It was streamed by Crunchyroll worldwide, excluding Asia.

Episode list

No.	Title	Directed by	Original air date
1	"The Greatest World!" Transliteration: "Saikyō no Sekai!" (Japanese: 最強の世界！)	Mari Motohashi Masaaki Yuasa	January 5, 2020 (2020-01-05)
Midori Asakusa is inspired as a child to become an anime creator. As a freshman in high school, Asakusa drags her friend Sayaka Kanamori to an anime screening on campus. After seeing her classmate and amateur model Tsubame Mizusaki chased by men in black clothes, the two girls help her escape. As the trio regroups in a nearby laundromat, Asakusa discovers that Mizusaki also has a dream of creating anime, though her parents disapprove. The two exchange sketchbooks, with Asakusa showing skill in background and set design while Mizusaki focused on character art. The two then come up with a fantastical scenario after combining their drawings together. The two decide to try working on making an anime together, encouraged by Kanamori who sees the venture as a potential money-maker.
2	"The Eizouken Takes the Stage!" Transliteration: "Eizōken, Bakutansu!" (Japanese: 映像研、爆誕す！)	Atsuko Tonomizu	January 12, 2020 (2020-01-12)
The trio decide to start a new club to get around Mizusaki's parents, convincing a couple teachers that they plan to create a live-action film club (Eizouken). The girls find themselves in an abandoned, run-down storehouse as their new club room. Mizusaki and Asakusa imagine another fantastical scenario and Asakusa ends up falling off a rusty railing while Kanamori tries to think of how to best budget the club funds. Asakusa tries to convince her teacher to get desks but lets slip she wants to use it for anime, forcing Kanamori to step in and convince the teacher to let them use it anyway. The trio get the key to an old storage room and discover a past school Anime Club left behind drawings, cels, and equipment for creating animation. Asakusa and Mizusaki end up finishing the drawing of the wind turbine outside. The next day, Kanamori discovers that someone bought her footage of Asakusa falling in the club room.
3	"Let's Accomplish Something!" Transliteration: "Jisseki wo Uchitatero!" (Japanese: 実績を打ち立てろ！)	Yūki Igarashi	January 19, 2020 (2020-01-19)
After earning 30,000 Yen from selling the accident footage, Kanamori ends up spending most of it on tools and supplies to repair the club room. Meanwhile, Mizusaki and Asakusa keep getting distracted by various fauna that wander around their club. When they get stuck on the roof during a hailstorm, Kanamori breaks through a weakened wall to save them, only to discover the girls found another way down. Later, the Eizouken advisor reminds the girls that they will soon have to give a presentation to earn more funding and status for the club. After a lengthy debate, the girls decide to make an animated short film featuring a machete-wielding girl wearing a gas mask fighting a tank to impress their audience.
4	"Hold That Machete Tight!" Transliteration: "Sono Machetto wo Tsuyoku Nigire!" (Japanese: そのマチェットを強く握れ！)	Fūga Yamashiro	January 26, 2020 (2020-01-26)
With less than a month to finish their project before presenting it to the Student Council, Kanamori tries to cut down the scope of their anime short while Mizusaki wants to hand-draw every frame and Asakusa wants to add a story. After heated arguments and a failed attempt to loop in the school's Art Club on drawing backgrounds, Kanamori convinces the other girls to use flat colors and digital photography and animation cheats to save time. After pulling several all-nighters, Eizouken finally has their short film ready. The Student Council tries to immediately shut down the club after seeing evidence of their vandalism and other antics across the school, until Asakusa demands the Student Council let them present their short film. The short film blows the audience away. Even though Eizouken begins critiquing their own work, the Student Council approves their request for funds.
5	"An Iron Giant Appears!" Transliteration: "Tetsukyojin Arawaru!" (Japanese: 鉄巨人あらわる！)	Satoshi Ifuku	February 2, 2020 (2020-02-02)
Eizouken is hired by the school's Robot Club to make a short anime with their giant robot fighting a monster. Eizouken begins exploring an abandoned area underneath the school to get ideas for the setting and the monster. After getting some ideas, the trio falls through a weakened floor into a pit, but Asakusa uses her survivalist tools to help them escape. The next day, the Robot Club President loudly complains about Eizouken just as Kanamori enters and takes some photos for blackmail. Asakusa presents her ideas for a story, but the President argues for a contradictory "real-life giant robot" instead of a robot with a chainsaw arm that Asakusa drew. Eventually, the two groups find harmony over their respective near-impossible dreams and begin designing the robot for the anime together.
6	"Let's Do Better Than Last Time!" Transliteration: "Zensaku yori Shinposuru-beshi!" (Japanese: 前作より進歩するべし！)	Sumito Sasaki Madoka Ogawa	February 9, 2020 (2020-02-09)
After Eizouken's success with their first anime short, they find themselves with triple the time for their giant robot anime, but also triple the work. Kanamori mentions that the Art Club is now interested in helping them draw backgrounds, and she convinced the IT Club to sell her a computer for cheap instead of having to use the school's computer lab. Later, Kanamori uses the Student Council's impending inspection to coerce the Sound Club's sole member, Doumeki, to use her skills and extensive sound effects library on Eizouken's projects. A few days later, Asakusa and Kanamori meet with the Art Club to explain what they need, but the Art Club's questions and comments prove overwhelming for Asakusa. Asakusa starts questioning her own storyboards that evening and abruptly shows her plan to scrap the giant robot. Kanamori immediately shoots her down, stating that they have too much invested in this project to change everything and that Asakusa needs to stick with a robot. Asakusa keeps the robot but redesigns its interior, as Mizusaki and Kanamori remark that Asakusa's "motivation switch" seems to activate at random.
7	"I Have To Do It For Myself!" Transliteration: "Watashi wa Watashi wo Sukuunda!" (Japanese: 私は私を救うんだ！)	Oyunam	February 16, 2020 (2020-02-16)
A young Mizusaki becomes inspired to draw movement based on her observations at school and home. Doumeki moves most of her sound inventory into a nearby as Eizouken tries to get a storyboard animated and set up timing for the sounds and the Robot Club's voiceovers. The Art Club returns with their finished backgrounds, but Asakusa and Mizusaki find them riddled with errors and ask them to make some edits. As the Art Club leaves, Kanamori chastises Asakusa for taking on more work herself, and threatening the project's timeline again. The next day, a torrential downpour forces the trio to seek shelter in a nearby bathhouse. After Mizusaki talks about her family, the trio then head to a nearby restaurant and eat some crawfish while Asakusa dreams up another fantasy world. The next day, Mizusaki gets frustrated that the robot's chainsaw isn't animated enough to her liking. Kanamori tells her that adding sound to the existing animation will be good enough, but Mizusaki insists that she wants to animate it perfectly for everyone to see.
8	"The Grand Shibahama Festival!" Transliteration: "Dai-Shibahama-sai!" (Japanese: 大芝浜祭！)	Seishirō Nagaya	February 23, 2020 (2020-02-23)
With the school festival approaching, the anime is almost done, though Kanamori notes the dialogue will have to be done live as Mizusaki's edits gave them no time to add it in. Meanwhile, Mizusaki receives word that her parents will come to see her at the festival, and decides to make herself the face of the production to draw in an audience. On the day of the festival, the Robot Club helps Mizusaki advertise the anime showing, and Kanamori blackmails the HVAC Club to keep the auditorium cooler than the other buildings to draw more people in. The Student Council tries to shut down Mizusaki and the Robot Club for their excessive display, but the Robot Club helps Mizusaki escape to make it to the show on time. At the screening, Mizusaki's parents approve of her work while Kanamori uses her image to sell DVD preorders. Later, just as Asakusa begins critiquing her own work, the Mizusakis are introduced to the trio.
9	"Aim for Comet A!" Transliteration: "Kometto A o Mezase!" (Japanese: コメットＡを目指せ！)	Takuya Fujikura Karin Noguchi	March 1, 2020 (2020-03-01)
Kanamori reveals that Eizouken's recent successes have sparked a flood of requests from other school clubs to make an anime for them, but the DVD sales from their robot anime earned them less than 20,000 Yen in profit, so Kanamori turned them down to focus on another anime that will sell even more DVDs. After a brief stop at an underground ramen shop, Kanamori shows off an abandoned storefront and talks about her past, how her family originally brewed sake, but nearby development forced them to turn the brewery into a convenience store, then the development was abandoned and not enough customers came by the store, forcing her parents to shut it down. Kanamori swears to use every method possible to get more people interested in Eizouken's work, as Asakusa conceptualizes Eizouken's next anime with the town itself defending against an alien invasion. Later, Kanamori successfully convinces the town's business community to give Eizouken funding to make up for the Student Council garnishing royalties from Doumeki's sound clips. Meanwhile, Asakusa suddenly thinks of a way to portray a "realistic" laser cannon, but admits she hasn't decided on a backstory yet.
10	"Against Our Independent World!" Transliteration: "Dokuji Sekai no Tairitsu!" (Japanese: 独自世界の対立！)	Fūga Yamashiro	March 8, 2020 (2020-03-08)
Kanamori announces her plan to have Mizusaki judge voice-acting auditions for the new anime and gain more publicity when the Student Council appears and drags Eizouken before a panel hearing. The teachers at the hearing tell Eizouken that they can keep making the anime but are not allowed to profit off it using the school's name. Meanwhile, Asakusa struggles to think of a story that would fit her concept art, despite Kanamori's increasing frustrations with this delay in the project. Later, Eizouken goes "sound hunting" with Doumeki, and Asakusa invites herself along to think of more ideas. Sowande, the Student Council Secretary, appears at a nearby riverbank to ask Sayaka about Eizouken's plans going forward. Asakusa comes up with some interesting new concepts, but can't tie them into her original story, angering Kanamori.
11	"Each Other's Existence!" Transliteration: "Sorezore no Sanzai!" (Japanese: それぞれの存在！)	Atsuko Tonomizu	March 15, 2020 (2020-03-15)
Asakusa continues to struggle thinking up a story for the anime, while the Security Club forcibly shuts down another school club working with Eizouken to copy DVDs before they can get to work. The Eizouken advisor plays handheld videogames and encourages the club to relax for a bit. Asakusa and Mizusaki decide to goof off near a waterway in town, and Asakusa falls into a river before Kanamori drags her out. All the while, the trio are tailed by Doumeki as she records the sounds they make. The next day, the school's Vice-Principal cuts off Eizouken from the other clubs. Asakusa and Mizusaki take a train to visit a sick Kanamori at her home, and Asakusa flashes back to when she first met Kanamori in middle school. They were both loners for different reasons, but formed a codependent relationship. While visiting Kanamori at her sickbed, Mizusaki tells Kanamori about the situation, and Kanamori shows that their efforts have generated enough media coverage that the school would only embarrass themselves by shutting down Eizouken's project. Then Asakusa reveals she thought up a story that tied all her previous wanderings together about a war between humans and kappas. With this new direction, Eizouken comes closer to finishing the anime, but Doumeki later reveals that something or someone replaced the entire audio track with a strange piano tune.
12	"Shibahama UFO Wars!" Transliteration: "Shibahama Yūfō Taisen!" (Japanese: 芝浜ＵＦＯ大戦！)	Keisuke Inoue	March 22, 2020 (2020-03-22)
After finding out their musician changed the main track at the last moment and no one checked, Mizusaki begins to panic. With time running out, Asakusa proposes changing the end of the anime to match the music track they have and keeping the dance party scene as a DVD extra. After working heavily through the night to finish their tasks, Eizouken manages to finish the anime and Kanamori takes extreme measures to get DVDs printed in time for the Comet-A convention. The trio manage to sell out their DVDs, and after the convention ends, they decide to watch their own finished product, "Shibahama UFO Wars."

Live-action film

A live-action film adaptation was announced on October 15, 2019. The film is directed by Tsutomu Hanabusa and stars the idol group Nogizaka46. It was originally scheduled to release in Japan on May 15, 2020, but has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Drama

On February 17, 2020, it was announced that the film would be preceded by a six episode television mini-series, with the same staff and cast as the film. The series premiered on April 5, 2020, on MBS.

Reception

After the debut of the anime adaptation in January 2020, the manga had over 500,000 copies in circulation.

The manga series was nominated for the 11th Manga Taisho awards in 2018, and it won the top Bros. Comic Award in 2017. The series ranked #15 along with Dr. Stone on a list of the top manga of 2018 for male readers put together by Kono Manga ga Sugoi!.

In 2020, the anime series won one the four monthly Galaxy Awards for March, becoming one of the candidates the association's yearly Galaxy Awards.

External links

• Manga official website (in Japanese)
• Anime official website (in Japanese)
• Official website (in Japanese)
• Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia