Monochrome Factor

 is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kaili Sorano. It was first serialized in Mag Garden's bi-monthly manga magazine "Comic Blade Masamune" in May 2004. However, when the magazine ceased publication, the manga began serialization in the new and revamped magazine, "Comic Blade Avarus", in September 2007.
The manga is licensed for distribution in North America by Tokyopop, and has so far released four volumes, with the latest having been released on December 2, 2008.
An anime adaptation produced by GENCO, and animated by A.C.G.T, premiered on Japan's terrestrial television network TV Tokyo on April 7, 2008. It also aired on other networks such as AT-X and TV Osaka, though the episodes aired on TV Tokyo first.
Plot.
The story revolves around the high school student Akira Nikaido, a typical slacker living a normal life. That is, until he meets the mysterious Shirogane, a man who suddenly appears and tells him that they have a destiny together. When Akira hears this, he is shocked and doesn't believe a word of it. Suzuno Aya, a friend of Akira, forgets something in the school one night, and asks Akira and Kengo to help her and go find it. He agrees, and while there, he gets attacked by a shadow monster. Shirogane convinces him that the balance between the human world and the shadow world has been distorted and that Akira must become a "shin"- a creature of the shadow world- in order to help restore the balance. But if Akira stays as a "shin" he will become a shadow himself, and normal people will not see him any more. Shirogane wanted to be with him and lied that if he became his shadow he will be seen by other people again. Soon after a person called "master" told Akira that he did not need Shirogane to become his shadow because he has an object that, if he steps on it, would become his shadow, which made Akira angry at Shirogane.
After, Akira notices that his friends Aya and Kengo could see Akira and Shirogane when they are "shin," so Akira decides that the two could join them and help Akira and Shirogane to get the balance back to normal.
Media.
Manga.
The "Monochrome Factor" manga series is created by Kaili Sorano. It was first serialized in Mag Garden's Japanese bi-monthly manga magazine "Comic Blade Masamune" in May 2004. When the "Masamune" magazine ceased publication on June 15, 2007, the manga began serialization in the new and revamped magazine, "Comic Blade Avarus", in September 2007.
As of December 10, 2009, a total of eight tankōbon have been released in Japan. The release date of the ninth volume has not yet been announced.
The manga is licensed for distribution in North America by Tokyopop. The first volume was released on January 2, 2008, and the fourth and latest volume was released on December 2, 2008.
Anime.
The anime premiered on the Japanese television network TV Tokyo on April 7, 2008. It broadcast a total of twenty-four episodes, with the last of which airing on September 29, 2008. Though the episodes aired on TV Tokyo first, the series also aired on other networks such as AT-X and TV Osaka within days of the original broadcast. Shochiku distributed the episodes over a span of eight DVD volumes, with each compilation containing three episodes. The first volume was released on August 8, 2008, and the eighth was released on March 13, 2009.
Maiden Japan have licensed the series for a North American home video release.
Music.
Three pieces of theme music are used for the episodes: one opening theme and two ending themes. The opening theme is "Metamorphose" which is performed by Asriel and written by Kokomi. The ending themes are by Daisuke Ono and Hiroshi Kamiya, and by Junichi Suwabe and Katsuyuki Konishi. Both ending themes are written by Yumi Matsuzawa, and the four performing artists are also voice actors for the series. Asriel released a single for "Metamorphose" on April 23, 2008. The singles for "Awake ~my everything~" and "Kakuse ~Dark and Light~" were released on May 28 and August 27 of 2008, respectively.
Video game.
A video game of "Monochrome Factor" for the PlayStation 2 was released on November 27, 2008 called "Monochrome Factor Cross Road". It is a dating sim adventure game and will encompass new characters.
Reception.
Carlo Santos of Anime News Network said that the manga is a "ripoff of a ripoff" which has a "complete lack of creativity" even though it has neat visual effects, effective action scenes, and some characters which "characters." He also criticized the series for having "really dumb plot holes" and said that apart from the humor, entertainment value in the series can be found in action scenes and "Akira's visions of the shadow world." He concludes that the series "does very little to make the reader want to keep going."
Angel Wilson of "The Geekiary" called the series humorous and "visually beautiful," while praising the "wonderful cast of side characters." Wilson called the relationship between Akira and Shirogane as massively tear inducing and praised it as a yaoi anime. 