Of course. "BLAME!" primarily refers to the iconic cyberpunk manga series created by Japanese artist Tsutomu Nihei.
Here’s a breakdown of what it is and why it's significant:
The Core: The Manga (1998-2003)
- Genre:Post-apocalyptic/Cyberpunk/Science Fiction/Body Horror.
- Premise:Humanity has lost control of a self-replicating, ever-expanding megastructure known as The City. This City has grown so vast it likely encompasses much of the solar system. Within it, automated "Builders" endlessly construct without purpose, while hostile silicon-based lifeforms called Safeguardexterminate any remaining humans.
- Protagonist:Killy, a silent, enigmatic wanderer with a powerful "Gravitational Beam Emitter." He searches the endless, labyrinthine layers of The City for humans who still possess the "Net Terminal Gene," the key to regaining control of the chaotic network and saving humanity from extinction.
- Themes:Isolation, the scale of technology beyond human comprehension, existential dread, and the search for meaning in a indifferent universe.
Key Characteristics & Legacy:
- Atmosphere over Exposition:Nihei is an architect by training, and it shows. BLAME!is famous for its stunning, immersive artworkfeaturing massive, desolate architectural landscapes. The story is told more through visuals and atmosphere than dialogue or traditional narrative.
- Influential Aesthetic:Its unique look—gothic mega-structures, biomechanical horrors, and a stark sense of scale—has been hugely influential in sci-fi, manga, anime, and video games (e.g., Dark Souls, NieR:Automata, The Matrix).
- The Expanded "Nihei-verse":BLAME!is the cornerstone of a shared universe that includes:
- NOiSE:A prequel set in the early days of The City's chaos.
- BLAME! Academy!:A comedic parody series.
- Knights of Sidonia, Aposimz, etc.:Later Nihei works that share thematic and visual DNA.
Adaptations:
- BLAME! (2017 Netflix Film):A CG anime film that adapts a specific story arc from the manga, focusing on Killy's encounter with a group of surviving humans. It's more accessible than the manga but captures the aesthetic.
- BLAME! The Movie (2003):A short, proof-of-concept pilot film.
- Other Media:There have also been video games and art books.
In short:When someone says "BLAME!", they are most likely referring to Tsutomu Nihei's seminal, visually breathtaking, and deeply atmospheric mangaabout a man searching for hope in an infinite, hostile technological labyrinth. It's a cornerstone of cyberpunk and a masterpiece of environmental storytelling.