Chrome Shelled Regios

Lore & Background

The story takes place on an alternate reality Earth overrun with mutated nano-machine-beasts called Filth Monsters (Contaminoids in Funimation's translation). Humanity is forced to live in large mobile cities called Regios and learn to use weapons called DITE and harness the power of Kei to defend themselves. The truth is that these people are lost in an alternative reality caught between struggling as pawns of the founders of this space and those trying to destroy it. Only upon its destruction can everything revert to the real world, but many generations have passed since the creation of the world.

In the Academic City of Zuellni, Layfon Alseif hopes to start a new life without Martial/Military arts and forget his past. However, his past catches the attention of Kalian Loss, the Student Council President, and Nina Antalk, a Military Arts student and Captain of the 17th Platoon, who instantly recognizes his abilities and decides he is the perfect candidate to join her group. The series follows Layfon's life in Zuellni and occasionally has flashbacks of his life in Glenden as a Heaven's Blade.

The series finished with 25 light novel volumes—19 volumes of the main story-line and 6 side-story novels. The last 25th volume (an epilogue) was published in September 2013 in Japan. A prequel light novel series titled Legend of Regios was published by Fujimi Shobo under its Style-F label. Two spin-off light novel series, Regios Crusade (2009–2012) and My Journey with Regios (2009), were also published.

Reader's Guide

Chrome Shelled Regios is significant as a multi-media franchise that includes a main light novel series, multiple manga adaptations, a prequel, spin-offs, and an anime adaptation. The light novels have sold over five million copies, indicating substantial popularity. The anime adaptation, produced by Zexcs and licensed in North America by Funimation Entertainment, brought the series to a wider audience, airing on the Funimation Channel in North America starting September 19, 2011. The series' premise—humanity living in mobile cities and fighting mutated beasts—is a distinctive take on post-apocalyptic science fiction. The various manga adaptations (by Miyū, Nodoka Kiyose, Watari, and Masumi Futaba) and spin-off light novel series (Regios Crusade and My Journey with Regios) expanded the universe and offered different perspectives. The series' legacy lies in its sustained output over several years and its ability to generate multiple derivative works, though the source article does not provide critical reception beyond sales figures.

Did You Know?

• The light novel series has sold over five million copies.
• The anime adaptation was produced by Zexcs and aired from January 11, 2009 to June 20, 2009.
• There are three manga adaptations and one four-panel comic strip adaptation.
• A prequel light novel series titled Legend of Regios was published under the Style-F label.