The Series

One of the most important aspects when creating the series was choosing the right people to work on it. And, judging by the show's success, JIYUU managed to find the perfect person for each role.

In the director's chair, they needed someone who would be able to recreate the manga's savage atmosphere without shying away from its most lewd or violent aspects. The chosen one was Takashi Miike, a celebrated filmmaker in Japan, known for his previous controversial work.

The choice of the screenwriter was a no-brainer: no one could do it better than Nanase Ohkawa, leader of CLAMP and creator of Ka-ren. She made sure that the television adaptation would not alienate the fandom that the manga had attracted during the last decade.

Last but not least, the cast counted with many international actors of a variety of nationalities, meant to attract mainstream viewers who did not know the literary source. The series was structured like an old Western serial, with Ka-ren and her companion Ton-tah visiting different places and interacting with other characters. This meant that the show would have two main protagonists, plus a collection of guest stars appearing on one or a few episodes.

The actresses chosen for the main roles were one American and one European (in order to appeal to both their biggest markets): Adrianne Palicki as Ka-ren, and Maisie Williams as Ton-tah.