20th Century Boys - 20世紀少年 [2008]



It revolves around a group of friends in four different time periods, starting in the late 60s and ending in the late 2010s. In 1969 a group of friends led by Kenji build a little hideout in an empty field to play and share their stolen nudie mags. With their imaginations running wild they create “The Book of Prophecy” in which they write about a science fiction-inspired future where the world is attacked by giant robots that only they can stand up to. One day another boy named Fukubei, who’s rich but very lonely, follows them to the hideout and secretly reads their book. Fascinated, he starts his own version of the book with the help of fellow class misfits Sadakiyo and Yamane. A few years pass and Fukubei keeps trying to pull pranks and stunts to be noticed, but never seems to get any credit or attention for his actions. Meanwhile a bowling alley is built over the old hideout so Kenji organizes a small ceremony in which all the boys, including Fukubei, place their cherished boyhood items in a box under a tree.

In the 70s and 80s the boys move on with their lives and experience various trials and tribulations. Always seeking more attention and influence, Fukubei decides to start his own cult—granting himself the new larger-than-life persona of “Friend”. He also uses the childhood secret base’s symbol for his cult and begins gathering easily-duped followers with the help of a few parlor tricks like spoon-bending and levitation. By the 90s the cult has gained substantial political influence and eventually recruits the daughter of professor Shikishima, a foremost expert on robotics. Meanwhile Fukubei has married Kenji’s older sister Kiriko, who has no clue what he’s been up to in his secret double life. The two of them have a daughter named Kanna, but when Kiriko finds out the truth she runs back to her family and entrusts Kenji with looking after her daughter.

When a member of the original group of friends, Donkey, commits suicide under mysterious circumstances and news of the “Friend” cult seems to be mirroring “The Book of Prophecies” Kenji decides to gather up the remaining members of the group and find the original copy of the book which includes made-up scenarios in which they repel the robot attack and save the world. But Friend is already on to Kenji’s plan, and is determined to put a stop to it. Kenji is labeled a terrorist but finds a safe haven in an abandoned subway station along with his friends and supporters. While planning their defense of the world the destruction of the National Diet Building signifies another prophecy brought to reality by Friend. The next is a giant robot which attacks Tokyo while spreading a strange plague. Kenji and his friends have no idea how they can possibly put a stop to something so destructive and powerful, but since they’re the heroes in the Book of Prophecy, they know they have to try.