Crying Freeman (1988 - 1994)
Crying Freeman
"Crying Freeman" is a manga series written by Kazuo Koike and illustrated by Ryoichi Ikegami. It was serialized in Japan from 1986 to 1988, with the collected volumes published by Shogakukan. Later, it was adapted into an anime OVA series and a live-action film.
The story centers around the protagonist, Yo Hinomura, who is a potter by trade but is forcibly turned into an assassin by the Chinese underworld organization 108 Dragons. The most striking feature of Hinomura's character is his compulsive crying before and after his assassinations, which gives him the moniker "Crying Freeman."
Crying Freeman
The "Crying Freeman" series is marked by an intriguing blend of crime, action, and romance. The narrative moves around Yo's struggle to maintain his humanity while carrying out his violent duties, and his relationship with Emu Hino, a woman who witnessed his assassinating abilities but chose to keep his secret.
The series was known for its rich, detailed artwork and mature themes, and it became very popular. The anime adaptation, produced from 1988 to 1994, follows the manga's story closely and retains its dark tone and complex character dynamics.
Crying Freeman
The live-action film, released in 1995 and directed by Christophe Gans, stars Mark Dacascos as Yo Hinomura. While it received mixed reviews and differed from the original source material in some respects, it brought the "Crying Freeman" story to a new audience and helped bolster the series' international reputation.
Crying Freeman
