Time for another instance of Black Bullet

Hi. How are you? I'm doing fine. Well, it's been a while since I have published a blog post. I might continue to have long breaks between posts. I really wish I had more time to work on my Blogger, but because I have so many games on my hands and things that I would like to do and things that I need to do. There was not much I could do about that.

Remember her?

Initially, I planned to publish this post after publishing the blog post for the opening song for Otonari no Tenshi Sama season 1 after scrapping the idea of making a blog post about Hajimete no Gal. But then, I had some difficulties completing it, causing the publishing of this blog post to be in limbo until I found inspiration for another blog post after I finished watching Love Live Superstar Season 3. So, here we are. The publishing of this post has been postponed until after the publishing of the blog post on Love Live Superstar Season 2 and 3. Anyway, let's go and finally get this done!

WARNING:-

Although this post is just about a certain anime song, there might be SPOILERS from the anime. If you plan to watch the anime without any spoilers, you can continue reading or move on.

P.S. If you want to be spoiled, well, go ahead and read it, you HAVE been warned. Don't blame me for it if you insist on continuing to read this post.

Introduction

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The song, black bullet is the opening theme of the Black Bullet anime. Wow, the anime and the song are of the same name. This song was originally performed by the J-pop group fripSide during the Nanjou Yoshino era. Right now, fripSide is in its duo singer era of Uesugi Mao and Abe Hisayo after Yoshino left in 2022. The one before Yoshino and the first singer of fripSide is the singer Nao, who left in 2006 and has practically stopped all musical activity after real, nao 11th ONE×ONE back in 2021. You can check out her website if you like.

Anyway, as shown in the video above, the new fripSide has made a remake of this song. The reason I first started writing this post back in mid-Oct 2024, I was hooked on this song. Yes, I did talk about the anime that this anime is associated with, Black Bullet, twice. Once was it's just me talking about the anime and the other post was a follow-up post where I rated it. Oh, by the way, the video is the original version of the song.

Lyrics

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Original

ひび割れ壊れゆく　世界は果てしなく

未知なる創造が　いま秩序を無くしてる

重ね合う痛みが　繰り返す現実

君との毎日が　その闇に意味を投げた

指し示した道を　輝かせたいから

黒いこの銃弾がいま全てを撃ち抜く

赤く燃える　その眼差しに　熱く響く　命の鼓動

強く深く　貫いていく　真実を （black and red bullet!)

傷だらけの心燃やして　君と明日を切り開きたい

この躰（からだ）に全てを込めて　闘うよ black and red bullet!

希望を信じて

育み壊された　哀しいその記憶

手にしたこの躰（からだ）　いつからか息潜めた

夢幻に立ち尽くし　捜してた勇気は

小さな君の中に　柔らかく宿ってた

形を失くしてく　曖昧な真理に

立ち向かうその正義を護って生きるから

君と跳ぼう　果てない夢に　向かう心　神速（しんそく）の風

もっと速く　撃ち破ってく　限界を （black and red bullet!)

傷だらけの心を抱いて　紡ぐ明日を引き寄せるから

いつかきっと　辿り着けるよ　生も死も black and red bullet!

超えたその先に

赤く澄んだ瞳はやがて　捉えていく無情の闇を

だから僕は隣にいるよ　いつの日も

傷だらけの心燃やして　君と明日を切り開きたい

この思いに全てを込めて　貫こう

赤く燃える　その眼差しに　熱く響く　命の鼓動

強く深く　貫いていく　真実を （black and red bullet!)

傷だらけの心を抱いて　紡ぐ明日を引き寄せるから

この躰（からだ）に全てを込めて　闘うよ black and red bullet!

希望を信じて

LOLIS!!!!!!!!

Romaji

hibiware koware yuku sekai wa hateshinaku

michinaru souzou ga ima chitsujo wo nakushiteru

kasaneau itami ga kurikaesu genjitsu

kimi to no mainichi ga sono yami ni imi wo nageta

sashishimeshita michi wo kagayakasetai kara

kuroi kono juudan ga ima subete wo uchinuku

akaku moeru sono manazashi ni atsuku hibiku inochi no kodou

tsuyoku fukaku tsuranuite yuku shinjitsu wo (black and red bullet!)

kizu darake no kokoro moyashite kimi to asu wo kirihirakitai

kono karada ni subete wo komete tatakau yo black and red bullet!

kibou wo shinjite

hagukumi kowasareta kanashii sono kioku

te ni shita kono karada itsu kara ka iki hisometa

mugen ni tachitsukushi sagashiteta yuuki wa

chiisa na kimi no naka ni yawarakaku yadotteta

katachi wo nakushiteku aimai na shinri ni

tachimukau sono seigi wo mamotte ikiru kara

kimi to tobou hatenai yume ni mukau kokoro shinzoku no kaze

motto hayaku uchiyabutteku genkai wo (black and red bullet!)

kizu darake no kokoro wo daite tsumugu asu wo hikiyoseru kara

itsuka kitto tadoritsukeru yo sei mo shi mo black and red bullet!

koeta sono saki ni

akaku sunda hitomi wa yagate toraete iku mujou no yami wo

dakara boku wa tonari ni iru yo itsu no hi mo

kizu darake no kokoro moyashite kimi to asu wo kirihirakitai

kono omoi ni subete wo komete tsuranukou

akaku moeru sono manazashi ni atsuku hibiku inochi no kodou

tsuyoku fukaku tsuranuite yuku shinjitsu wo (black and red bullet!)

kizu darake no kokoro wo daite tsumugu asu wo hikiyoseru kara

kono karada ni subete wo komete tatakau yo black and red bullet!

kibou wo shinjite

Red-eyed loli

English Translation

It cracks and breaks, this endless world;

Undiscovered creations are on the brink of losing all regulation.

As the pain keeps piling up in a reality stuck on repeat,

I cast the meaning of my everyday life with you into that darkness.

I want to light this path that was laid out for me,

So I’ll pierce everything with a black bullet.

Within your burning red gaze, I see the beat and resonance of life itself,

As it pierces through powerfully, deeply; seeking the truth with a (black and red bullet!).

With my battered heart burning, and you by my side, I want to cut a path to tomorrow,

Taking everything inside these bodies and fighting back with a (black and red bullet!).

Believe that there’s hope!

Sad memories of your shattered upbringing,

Wait with baited breath within this body you obtained.

The courage you sought while standing against the phenomenal,

Have been gently sleeping within your tiny body.

Our forms start to fade amidst an uncertain truth,

For we now live to execute the justice we defend.

We fly together through an endless dream, our hearts going forth with great speed.

Faster still, we’ll break through the limits with a (black and red bullet!)

Clutching our battered hearts, we’ll pull the strings connecting the future,

Someday we’ll surely arrive, facing life and death with a (black and red bullet!).

And once we go beyond…

Eventually, those clear red eyes will be taken by this cruel darkness,

So I’ll stay by your side each and every day.

With my battered heart burning, and you by my side, I want to cut a path to tomorrow,

Taking everything inside this feeling and piercing through.

Within your burning red gaze, I see the beat and resonance of life itself,

As it pierces through powerfully, deeply; seeking the truth with a (black and red bullet!).

Clutching our battered hearts, we’ll pull the strings connecting the future,

Taking everything inside these bodies and fighting back with a (black and red bullet!).

Believe that there’s hope!

VS a loli

Mandarin Translation

支離破碎的世界   無止境的延續著

尚未明瞭的創造   正讓秩序消逝於無形

交錯重疊的痛楚  不停於現實往返

而我們不斷地 向黑暗質問著意義何在

想讓指引的道路 散發出耀眼的光輝

我將用這漆黑的子彈貫穿世間萬物

只為那燃燒的赤紅眼神 熾熱的響徹我生命的鼓動

以風激電駭之勢貫穿真實（黑与红子弹！）

燃盡遍體鱗傷的心靈 想與你一同闢出明天的道路

賭上此身的一切奮戰到底 黑与红子弹！

堅信著無比的希望

用心良苦毀於一旦 此般刻骨銘心的哀傷記憶

曾幾何時起就連此身也開始無動於衷

茫然地佇立於飄渺幻境 所找到的勇氣

正清柔的寄宿在你小小的心中

挺身而出的正義於曖昧的真理中喪失其形

而我正是為了守護它存活於世

嚮往著與你一同躍向無盡夢想的那顆心  宛若神速之風

以疾風迅雷之勢 打破極限（黑与红子弹！）

擁抱著遍體鱗傷的心 只為將編織的美好明日掌握於手

總有一天 終將有志竟成 哪怕此身已毀 黑与红子弹！

也要超越更遙遠的前方

赤紅鮮明的雙瞳 終將捕捉到無情的黑暗

所以總有一天我也將待在你身旁

燃盡遍體鱗傷的心靈 與你一同闢出明天的道路

注入全部的思念 將之貫穿

只為那燃燒的赤紅眼神 熾熱的響徹我生命的鼓動

以風激電駭之勢貫穿真實（黑与红子弹！）

擁抱著遍體鱗傷的心 只為將編織的美好明日掌握於手

賭上此身的一切奮戰到底 黑与红子弹！

堅信著無比的希望

Loli harem!!!

Note: I use this translation from a certain website. I initially asked Gemini to do so, but later, I decided not to because the Mandarin translation is not very hard to find.

Malay Translation

Retakan dan kehancuran dunia tak berhenti

Ciptan baru telah menghilang kawalan.

Realiti ni asyik menambah luka baru.

Banyak luka yang asyik bertambah

Setiap hari bersamamu, memberi ku makna dalam kegelapan

Agar ku bisa menerangi jalan yang kau tunjuk

Peluru hitam ini akan menembus semuanya

Mata merahmu yang menyala, detak jantung bergema

Dengannya kuat dan mendalam, menembuslah kebenaran (peluru hitam dan merah!)

Dengan hati penuh luka, aku ingin berhadapan dengan masa depan bersamamu.

Aku akan berjuang dengan seluruh jiwa raga, peluru hitam dan merah!

Penuh dengan harapan.

Kenangan yang telah dihancar dengan kesedihan

Sejak bila tubuh ni berhenti bernafas?

Terpaku dalam ilusi, keberanian yang ku cari

Tersimpan lembut di dalam dirimu yang kecil

Kebenaran yang kabur hilangkan bentuknya

Aku akan hidup untuk melindungi keadilanmu yang melawan

Bersamamu, kita akan melompat menuju mimpi tanpa batas, seperti kuat angin

Lebih cepat lagi, menembus batas (peluru hitam dan merah!)

Dengan hati penuh luka, aku akan membentuk masa depan yang kita ingini

Suatu masa nanti, hidup atau mati, kita pasti akan sampai ke sana, peluru hitam dan merah!

Di luar batas itu.

Dengan mata merah yang jernih, kita akan tangkap kegelapan yang kejam tu

Jadi, ku akan selalu berada di sisimu

Dengan hati penuh luka, aku ingin buka jalan ke masa depan bersamamu

Dengan memberikan semuanya untuk ni.

Mata merahmu yang menyala, detak jantung bergema

Dengannya kuat dan mendalam, menembuslah kebenaran (peluru hitam dan merah!)

Dengan hati penuh luka, aku ingin berhadapan dengan masa depan bersamamu.

Aku akan berjuang dengan seluruh jiwa raga, peluru hitam dan merah!

Penuh dengan harapan.

Awww...that face

Note: I used Gemini for this, with some edits from me. Do bear with me if it's not exactly on point.

Commentary

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Black Bullet's dark future...

I really love that the song really reflects the anime really well. Just like Gemini said when I asked it for commentary on this song:-

The Black Bullet opening song, "Black Bullet" by fripSide, effectively sets the tone for the anime's dark and gritty atmosphere. The fast-paced electronic music and Yoshino Nanjo's powerful vocals create a sense of urgency and danger. The lyrics, which speak of fighting for survival in a world ravaged by a deadly virus, further emphasize the bleakness of the setting. The visuals in the opening sequence, which depict the main characters battling monstrous creatures known as Gastrea, reinforce the song's themes of struggle and determination. Overall, "Black Bullet" is a well-crafted opening song that perfectly captures the essence of the anime. It effectively conveys the bleakness of the setting, the desperation of the situation, and the unwavering determination of the protagonists to fight for survival.

Let me dissect this. The song does bring out the dark and gritty atmosphere of the fight against the Gastrea when it describes a crimson, blood-soaked world with a dark future that nobody is looking forward to with this stanza:-

ひび割れ壊れゆく　世界は果てしなく

未知なる創造が　いま秩序を無くしてる

重ね合う痛みが　繰り返す現実

君との毎日が　その闇に意味を投げた

Regarding the song creating a sense of urgency and danger, the fast-paced electronic music and Yoshino Nanjo's powerful vocals are so good at making your heart race. As for urgency and danger in the anime, there are plenty of moments, like the initial fight against Grisaia with Enju and Rentaro, the fight between Kagetane and Kohina and Rentaro and Enju and the rampant political infighting.

That fight...

As for the fight for survival, the song perfectly reflects the reality of the world that Black Bullet is set in. As the world (in Black Bullet) is ravaged by a deadly virus, the virus kills people and gives birth to a terrifying creature that kills more people. So, the ordinary people had to live in areas surrounded by monoliths made of Varanium, a fictional metal that fends off the Gaestrea. Well, it indeed is bleak and is a legitimate dystopia. Humans being humans, they still engaged in political infighting and corruption amid the crisis. Well, that didn't help to lighten up the already dystopian and bleak world, did it? Whatsever, let's move on.

Since Gemini did mention the visuals in the opening sequence, let's talk about them. Yep, the main characters did battle with the Gastreas. So do the members of Civil Security Agency who were not depicted in the opening sequence. Does it reinforce the song's themes of struggle and determination? I agree that it does. Just as the lyrics say, they trust in that glimmer of hope, even though there is no end in sight in the fight against this virus and Grisaia, just to protect humanity. 

Continue your fight after grieving...

Overall, "Black Bullet" is a powerful opening song that perfectly captures the essence of the anime. It effectively conveys the bleakness of the setting, the desperation of the situation, and the unwavering determination of the protagonists to fight for survival. I agree with that statement, Gemini. Now, let's move on.

Maybe there is hope at the end of the tunnel...maybe

Conclusion

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I'm glad that you have reached this point. It really took me a while to complete this post as translating Japanese into Malay is a hard job due to the cultural differences and the huge differences in vocabulary. I almost gave up, but I did not do so in the end with the help of Gemini and ChatGPT. Well, I did mention that I'm gonna use more AI in blog writing, so I guess all is well? Anyway, I hope that you enjoy reading and browsing this blog. Don't worry about me. You can leave your opinions and comments on this blog post down in the comment section. Goodbye, and God bless you!

Loli kiss!