Hiwou War Chronicles

Hiwou War Chronicles
Promotional art by Bones
機巧奇傳 ヒヲウ戦記 (Karakuri Kiden Hiwō Senki)
Genre	Mecha, Adventure
Anime television series
Directed by	Tetsuro Amino
Written by	Shō Aikawa
Studio	Bones
Original network	NHK BS-2
English network	SEA Animax Asia
Original run	24 October 2000 – 1 May 2001
Episodes	26
Manga
Written by	Ichi Jinguuji
Published by	Kodansha
Demographic	Seinen
Magazine	Magazine Z
Original run	1999 – 2001
Volumes	4

Hiwou War Chronicles (Japanese: 機巧奇傳ヒヲウ戦記, Hepburn: Karakuri Kiden Hiō Senki^?, lit. "Clever Strange Successor Hiwō War Chronicles") is an anime series, produced by Bones. The series was first aired on NHK BS-2 and ran for twenty six episodes, from October 24, 2000 till May 1, 2001. Created by Shō Aikawa and directed by Tetsurō Amino, the series' character designer and chief animation director was the late Hiroshi Ōsaka.

The series was subsequently aired by the anime television network Animax, who also aired it across its English language networks in Southeast Asia and South Asia.

The series is set within the Meiji period of Japan, following a small boy named Hiwou. The townspeople have lived simply, making "Clockwork Dolls" or "karakuri" for festivals. Hiwou's father left the family on a long trip, and their mother has since died. The children live with friends.

Their simple life vanishes when the "Wind Gang" appears, destroys the city with their own clockwork dolls, and captures its citizens. Hiwō and his siblings and friends, Shishi, Machi, Tetsu, Mayu, Sai, and baby Jyobu (who are exploring a cave at the time), escape unharmed and embark on a quest to save the town. They take with them Homura, a huge clockwork doll that functions like a giant robot.

Along the way, they are forced to use their clockwork dolls as weapons - something they were never supposed to do, according to Hiwō's father. Early in the series, they meet Arashi, a member of the Wind Gang, and Hana and Yuki, two samurai daughters who ended up traveling with the group.