DNA²


DNA² is a science fiction manga series written and illustrated by Masakazu Katsura. It was serialized across Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine between 1993 and 1994, spanning a total of five tankōbon volumes.
DNA² was adapted into a 12-episode anime television series which ran on Nippon Television from October 7, 1994 to December 23, 1994. This was followed by a three-episode anime original video animation in 1995. Produced by Madhouse and Studio Deen, the anime series was directed by Jun'ichi Sakata, whereas the character designer and animation director for the series was Kumiko Takahashi. DNA² has been broadcast in Japan by Animax, which has also aired the series across its respective networks worldwide, including its English-language networks in Southeast Asia and South Asia. All 15 episodes were licensed in North America by Central Park Media until their closing in 2009. The five volumes and box set are out-of-print. Discotek Media has since re-licensed the series for a DVD release in 2014.

Plot

Junta Momonari is a high school student with an unusual problem. Whenever he becomes sexually aroused by a woman, his "female allergy" kicks in, causing the poor boy to throw up. Needless to say, he is a complete failure with women, with no hope in sight. Then, one fateful day, Junta is confronted by an attractive girl in strange clothing who claims to be from the future.
The girl gives Junta her name as Karin Aoi, and tells him about how the world has become terribly overpopulated in her time, to the point where having more than one child is a crime punishable by death. At the root of the problem is a family of "Mega-Playboys": people with sexual charisma and impulses that lead each of them to have 100 children that carry the Mega-Playboy DNA, causing them and all their descendants to each have 100 children as well. All this started with a single Mega-Playboy, whom Karin has travelled back into the past to deal with.
Karin reveals to Junta that she is a "DNA Operator". Her job is to make alterations in people's DNA that will change their nature for the greater good of society. She intends to shoot the original Mega-Playboy with a DCM bullet that will alter his DNA in order to relieve him of his mega-playboy qualities, thus preventing the overpopulation problem from ever happening. She can then return to the future to receive the reward that will allow her to finally get the "nice husband, cute pet, and sweet, sweet home" she yearns for. She confirms Junta's identity, then, to his shock, promptly shoots him.
It seems that Junta, the boy who couldn't look at a naked woman without throwing up, was destined to become the original Mega-Playboy later in his life. Escaping back to her time machine, Karin arrives to a message from her boss in the future. Her hopes for a commendation on a job well done are dashed when her rather upset employer points out that the DCM bullet she was supposed to use on the Mega-Playboy was left behind in the future. By shooting Junta with the wrong DCM bullet—one which Karin planned on using to create an ideal husband—rather than eliminating the Mega-Playboy, Karin actually created him!
Now unable to return to the future until she sets things right, Karin decides to improvise by making Junta get together with the only girl who does not give him an allergic reaction: his childhood friend Ami Kurimoto.

Characters

;Junta Momonari
;Karin Aoi
;Ami Kurimoto
;Tomoko Saeki
;Ryuji Sugashita
;Kotomi Takanashi
;Yokomori
;Oharu
;Lulara Kawasaki
;Mori
;Kakimaro Someya
;Ichigo Ichikawa
;Chiyo Momonari
;Mako Iwasaki
Competitor with Kotomi in gymnastics, tried to remove her competition with the help of her brother, a psychic interested in Junta's psychic soldier abilities. She appears only in the manga.

Media

Manga

The DNA² manga was published in Japanese magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump 1993 No. 36 through 1994 No. 29 and consists of 42 chapters collected in 5 tankōbon volumes:

Volume list

Anime

Episode list