by The TV anime “Chi. About the Movement of the Earth” is a story about people who researched the heliocentric theory, a heretical ideology, without regard for the risk to their lives, during a time when the geocentric theory was still believed in.
The original work is a manga of the same name serialized by Uoto in Weekly Big Comic Spirits from September 2020 to April 2022. It won second place in the men’s edition of “This Manga is Amazing! 2022.” It also won the Manga Grand Prize at the 26th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize and the Comics Division at the 54th Seiun Award (2023), making it a highly anticipated work among manga fans even before it became an anime.
This article lists the main characters’ names in the anime “Chi” and includes information on the voice actors and whether they are based on real people.
What kind of work is the anime “Chi”?
Chi is an anime set in a particular European country in the 15th century. The story is divided into four chapters. In the first chapter, Rafał, a child prodigy allowed to skip grades and go to university at t2, meets Hubert, a scholar conducting heretical research when heretical ideas were burned at the stake.
The geocentric theory, which holds that the Earth is the center of the universe, was believed to be correct. Still, Hubert was researching the heliocentric theory, which posits that the Earth rotates and revolves around its axis. At the urging of his adoptive father Potocki, Rafal had planned to quit studying astronomy, which he loved, and study theology at university. Still, after learning about the heliocentric theory, his hidden passion for astronomy grew.
The original work is a manga by Uo Toyo of the same name. An anime adaptation was announced in June 2022, and the TV anime will be broadcast from October 2024 to March 2025. The opening theme song is “Kaiju” by Sakanaction, the ending theme song for the first half of the season is “Aporia” by Yorushika, and the ending theme song for the second half of the season is “Hebi Desu” by Yorushika.
Why does the anime “Chi” have multiple main characters? The author explained this in an interview.
The story of the anime Chi is divided into four chapters, each featuring a different main character.
In an interview with the YouTube channel “Topical Books.com,” the original author, Uo Toyo, explained why he did not have just one protagonist. Uo Toyo believes that when something changes drastically, it is not a case of one genius changing it but rather a result of various people working together, consciously or unconsciously, in various places and at multiple times, so he decided to make “Chi.” have a different protagonist for each chapter in a relay format.
Furthermore, in another interview, Uo Toyo said that because he wanted to depict dynamic movement, he divided the story into parts with different protagonists and described the changing perception of things.
Characters from each chapter may appear in other chapters, and characters across chapters include Novak in Chapters 1 to 3 and Yolenta in Chapters 2 to 3.
Who are the main characters in the anime “Chi.”? How many are there?
In interviews with various media outlets, the original author of “Chi,” Uo Toyo, has acknowledged that Rafał and Okuji are the main characters but has not stated how many there are.
In anime works, the main character is usually the person in the center of the key visual. Two key visuals have been released for the anime “Chi.” The first one has Rafał in the center, surrounded by Okuji, Badeni, and Jolenta.
The key visual for the second half of the series shows Duraka in the center with Schmidt, Novak, and others around him, so it can be assumed that Duraka will be the protagonist of Chapter 3.
Which character is treated as the protagonist in the theme song video?
In the video for the opening theme song (“Kaiju” by Sakanaction), Chapter 1 starts with Rafał opening his eyes, Chapter 2 with Okuji opening his eyes, and Chapter 3 with Duraka opening his eyes. Therefore, I think Duraka is the main character in Chapter 3.
The video for the first half of the season’s ending theme song (Yorushika’s “Aporia”) starts with a scene of Rafał walking alone. In the broadcast of Chapter 2, a scene of Okzy, Badeni, and Yolenta walking was added to the scene after Rafał was walking. It seems that in Chapter 2, Okzy, Badeni, and Yolenta are treated as the main characters.
In anime, the character whose name is listed at the top of the cast introduction credits at the end is often the work’s main character. In Chapter 1, Rafał was at the top. In Chapter 2, Okuji was generally at the top. At the end of Episode 15, where Okuji has no lines, Badeni is credited at the top.
In most of Chapter 3’s endings, Duraka’s name is at the top. In the first episode, Episode 16, Duraka does not appear, and Schmidt, the unit commander of the Heretic Liberation Front, is the one whose name is listed at the top. In the final episode, Episode 23, Duraka appears, but in the end, Inquisitor Novak’s name is listed at the top.
How many main characters are there? Who is thought to be the hidden protagonist?
If there is only one protagonist per chapter, Rafał, Okjii, Duraca, and Alberto are likely the main characters. However, suppose there is more than one protagonist per chapter. In that case, it seems possible that characters who were heavily involved in the heliocentric theory, such as Badeni, Jorenta, and Schmidt, could also be treated as main characters.
Novak is the only character in Chapters 1 to 3 of the play. At the end of Chapter 23, the final episode of Chapter 3, Novak is credited at the top of the list, not Duraka or Rafal, who appeared as a vision. Novak can deny the heliocentric theory since he was the only one who ultimately possessed the necklace Rafal and Oxy wore. Still, some people on social media have speculated that Novak may be the hidden protagonist.
Chapter 1 Protagonist
The first chapters of the anime are in episodes 1 to 3. The story begins when a 12-year-old boy named Rafael meets Hubert, a scholar researching the heliocentric theory. In interviews, the original author, Uo Toyo, has acknowledged that Rafael is the main character.
Rafał
Voice actor: Maaya Sakamoto
Rafał was a child prodigy who skipped grades and went on to university at the age of 12. He was a boy with a mature personality and rational thinking, and he learned about the heliocentric theory when he met Hubert, who was researching it. Until then, Rafał had believed that the geocentric theory was correct, but he became attracted to Hubert’s heliocentric theory.
Rafalou makes condescending remarks such as “The world is a mess…” The original author, Uo Toyo, did not make Rafalou a serious character because he thought that a boy who is good at getting along with people and is rational would be more relatable and more likely for readers to empathize with him. Even though he is an unpleasant character in some respects, Uo Toyo replied that he prefers a character like Rafalou to someone serious.
Rafael’s voice actor is Maaya Sakamoto. Sakamoto’s representative works include the role of Ryougi Shiki in “Kara no Kyoukai,” the role of Makinami Mari Illustrious in “Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time”, and the role of Oshino Shinobu in the “Monogatari” series.
The protagonist of Chapter 2
Chapter 2, aired from episodes 4 to 15, is set 10 years after Chapter 1 and focuses on Okji, Badeni, and Yolenta.
The original author, Uo Toyo, said Okuji is the main character. Some people on social media think Okuji and Badeni are the main characters, while others believe that Yolenta and the other three are the main characters.
In this section, we will introduce Okzie, Badeni, and Yolenta.
Chapter 2, aired from episodes 4 to 15, is set 10 years after Chapter 1 and focuses on Okji, Badeni, and Yolenta.
The original author, Uo Toyo, said Okuji is the main character. Some people on social media think Okuji and Badeni are the main characters, while others believe that Yolenta and the other three are the main characters.
In this section, we will introduce Okzie, Badeni, and Yolenta.
Oxy
Voice actor: Katsuyuki Konishi
Oxy is a former warrior and a negative thinker. His colleague, Glass, is influenced by a heretic escorting him. He discovers a stone box containing research materials on the heliocentric theory at a place where the heretic tells him to go. Glass dies in an accident on the way to the village to show the contents of the stone box to the excellent monk Badeni. Oxy had no intention of getting deeply involved in the heliocentric theory. Still, he ends up helping with observations as Badeni asks him to and becomes involved in the heliocentric theory.
In an interview, author Uo Toyo said that Okuji is a character who is inseparable from Novak because he kills people as part of his job. He also said that he thinks there is room for growth as a protagonist because he worries about “death” and “life.”
Okuji’s voice actor is Katsuyuki Konishi. Konishi’s representative works include Kamina in “Gurren Lagann,” Uzui Tengen in “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba,” and Ashikaga Takauji in “The Prince Who Ran Away.”
Badeni
Voice actor: Yuichi Nakamura
Badeni is a monk who was demoted to a rural village after his right eye was burned for not following the church rules. He is brilliant and is characterized by the scars on his face and the eyepatch he wears on his right eye. When he saw the documents on the heliocentric theory in the stone box that Oxy found, he became convinced that the universe would change. To complete the heliocentric theory, he conducted observations and research with the help of collaborators such as Yolenta.
Badeni’s voice actor is Yuichi Nakamura. Nakamura’s notable roles include Kyosuke Kosaka in “My Little Sister Can’t Be This Cute,” Houtarou Oreki in “Hyouka,” and Gojo Satoru in “Jujutsu Kaisen.”
Yolenta
Voice actor: Saya Hitomi
Yolenta is a woman who works at an astronomy research institute. Although she is very talented, she is oppressed because she is a woman and is not treated as a researcher but is ordered to do odd jobs. She gets to know Okji and the others when Badeni posts an astronomy question on the town bulletin board, and Yolenta answers it. At first, she finds the idea of the Earth moving frightening, but she decides to cooperate with Okji and Badeni. She also appears in Chapter 3, which takes place 25 years after Chapter 2.
Yolenta’s voice actress is Saya Niimi. Niimi’s previous roles include Mei in “Uma Musume: Pretty Derby: Door into a New Era” and a female student in “You Are the Land of the Dead.”
Yukinari Toa voices the grown-up Yolenta, who appears in Chapter 3. Yukinari’s notable roles include Casca in “Berserk,” Claudia Paire in “Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt,” and NK Cell in “Cells at Work.”
The protagonist of Chapter 3
Chapter 3, which aired from episodes 16 to 23, tells the story 25 years after Chapter 2.
Duraka does not appear in Chapter 3’s first episode, episode 16. However, he is featured at the center of the key visuals for the second half of the season. The opening video for Chapter 3 starts with Duraka opening his eyes, and he is generally listed at the top of the ending credits for Chapter 3, so it seems likely that he is the main character of Chapter 3.
Dulaka
Voice actor: Shimabukuro Miyuri
Duraka is a girl from a nomadic tribe who doesn’t believe in God. She believes in making money until her fears disappear and has significantly contributed to the development of her village. She accidentally reads a book about heliocentrism hidden by a member of the Heretic Liberation Front and realizes that the book could make her money. The Heretic Liberation Front asks her to hand over the book, but she remembers the contents and burns it. Duraka is then taken to the head of the Heretic Liberation Front.
Miyuri Shimabukuro is the voice actress for Duraka. Shimabukuro’s representative works include Yuuna Yunohana in “Yuragi-sou no Yuuna-san” and Shisa in “Chiikawa,” as well as Takanashi Kim Anouk Mei in “Night Jellyfish Can’t Swim.”
The protagonist of Chapter 4 (the final chapter)
The anime’s fourth (final) chapter is the second half of episodes 23 to 25. Alberto is the main character from the beginning and is thought to be the protagonist.
At the beginning of episode 1, the story’s setting was “15th century (early period) somewhere in the Kingdom of Poland.” However, in Chapter 4, which began in the latter half of episode 23, the caption reads, “1468, the urban area of the Kingdom of Poland.”
Because the setting of the story has changed to the Kingdom of Poland, specific dates are given. A character who died in Chapter 1 also appears in Chapter 4. Some people on social media have speculated that the worlds of Chapters 1 to 3 and the world of Chapter 4 are not connected and that the story may take place in a different timeline, like a parallel world.
Albert Brzewski
Voice actor: Shoya Ishige
The main characters died in the anime “Chi.”?
As of the broadcast of episode 23 of the anime, all of the main characters appearing in chapters 1 to 3 mentioned above have died.
In “Chi,” after the protagonist dies, his thoughts and research are passed on to the protagonist of the next chapter. When asked about the theme he wanted to portray in “Chi,” the original author, Uo Toyo, replied that he wanted to portray the theme of people who believe in the heliocentric theory passing on the baton with a desperate feeling, regardless of their position or time, and that “a life where you have something to risk your life for is a happy life.”
Is the main character of the anime “Chi” a real person? Who was the model for him?
“Chi.” is a work of fiction set in a particular European country in the 15th century and is not based on a true story.
When asked if there was a model for the protagonist of Chapter 1, Rafal, the original author, Uo Toyo, replied that there was no specific model but that the kind of skillful person he imagines is someone like Rafal.
As for the character of the Inquisitor Novak, he said that he was inspired by Adolf Eichmann, the Nazi who sent countless Jews to the Auschwitz concentration camp.
Also, Albert Brzewski, who appears in Chapter 4 (the final chapter), has the same name as a real person who lived in the 1400s.
Summary of the main characters of the anime “Chi.”
The anime “Chi” story is told in four chapters, each featuring a different protagonist. The protagonist in Chapter 1 is a 12-year-old child prodigy named Rafał. The main characters in Chapter 2 are Okuji, Badeni, and Yolenta. The main characters in chapter 3 are Duraka, a girl from a nomadic tribe. In chapter 4 (the final chapter), Alberto, a young man who works at a bakery, is the main character.
When asked why the main character changes, the original author, Uo Toyo, said that he believes that when something significant changes, it is not because one genius brings it about but because various people work together, consciously or unconsciously, to make a substantial change. So, he has the main character change in each chapter in a relay format.
