"Fire Force," currently serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine, is a battle fantasy series in which protagonist Shinra Kusakabe and his Special Fire Force 8 team fight to uncover the truth behind the mysterious phenomenon of "human bodies suddenly bursting into flames." In this article, we'll review the key points of the first season of the "Fire Force" anime ahead of its second season, scheduled to begin airing in summer 2020!
Let's start by taking a look at the world of "Fire Force"!
Approximately 200 years ago, a mysterious phenomenon of human bodies suddenly bursting into flames began occurring after the "Great Fire Catastrophe," in which a massive fire of unknown cause destroyed much of the continent. People began calling those who caught fire "Homurabito" (Homurabito) and lived in fear of flames. The Special Fire Force was formed to uncover the cause of the Homurabito and combat them. Our protagonist, Shinra Kusakabe, joins the Special Fire Force and begins uncovering the mystery of the Homurabito!
Point 1: Homurabito are artificially created
Shinra pursues the Homurabito, who have their own will and can speak, and comes into contact with Battalion Commander Hibana of Special Fire Force Company 5. As a researcher, she tells Shinra that there is a possibility that Homurabitos are artificially created using insects. During a mission, Shinra and Arthur witness the moment when an insect is inserted and someone becomes a Homurabito, and discover that the culprit is SDF Company Commander Rekka Seimiya.
Rekka has been kidnapping children in search of insect compatible individuals, and Shinra successfully captures him in the act. Following the teachings of the Conductors, Rekka confesses that he has been committing such acts, but he is killed by the Conductors' faction to keep him quiet, so not much information is available.
Point 2: The goal of the Conductors, the group that creates the Homurabitos, is to "turn the Earth into a second sun"!
Before his death, Rekka said, "I will follow the Preacher's wishes: find children with special abilities, recruit them, turn humans into Homurabito, return them to flame, and make the Earth a second sun." The 8th shared this information, uncovered incidents suspected to be the work of the Preacher's faction, and realized that Asakusa was likely their next target.
Asakusa is under the jurisdiction of Special Fire Force Company 7, the 8th first visited Battalion Commander Shinkado Benimaru. They then encountered the Preacher's faction again in Asakusa, engaging in combat! Working with Shinmon, he successfully repelled the horned Flamebito, or "Oni."
Point 3: Victor Licht from the shady conglomerate, Haijima Heavy Industries!
After information about the Emissive spread among the Special Fire Force, the Tokyo Empire ordered the Special Fire Force to strengthen its scientific investigation team. Since Shinra's 8th Division did not have a scientific investigation team and relied on the 5th Division's Hikaru Battalion Commander for assistance in that area, Victor Licht was sent in from the conglomerate, Haijima Heavy Industries. This is an unusual personnel change for the 8th Division, which has previously been made up of trusted members.
In addition, Licht appears to have ties to Joker, the mysterious figure who interrupted Shinra's recruit convention and injured a Special Fire Force member... What exactly is Licht's goal?
Point 4: The Betrayal of Dr. Giovanni, Battalion Commander of Special Fire Force Unit 3
Without an engineer, the 8th Division decides to visit the workshop of the skilled engineer Vulcan in an attempt to recruit him. Shinra Arthur Sister is chased away by Vulcan, who hates the Fire Force, but just as they are about to give up, the third battalion commander, Dr. Giovanni, visits the workshop. Using the Adolla Link, Shinra senses Giovanni's murderous intent towards Vulcan and decides to protect him.
Then it is discovered that Lisa, who was with Vulcan, is Giovanni's ally and has been brainwashed! It turns out that Giovanni is a member of the Evangelists and has betrayed the Special Fire Force. After this incident, Vulcan becomes the eighth member!
Point 5: Shinra's younger brother, Sho, has been brainwashed!
At Vulcan's workshop, Shinra reunites with his younger brother, Shou, who was thought to have died in a fire 12 years ago! However, the young Shou has no memory of the time before he was kidnapped by the Emissives... Furthermore, Shou was strong enough to serve as the commander of the Ashen Flame Knights at just 14 years old. Shinra was no match for him, and only managed to escape with the sudden appearance of Joker and Licht.
Afterward, Shinra and the 8th member infiltrate the Nether, the Emissives' hideout, and attempt to rescue Shou again, but are thwarted by Haumea. At that moment, Shinra shared with Sho the memories of their time together as a family through the Adolla Link, which deeply upset him and even brought tears to his eyes.
Fire Force Season 1 Summary
In Season 1, it was revealed that the Homurabito were artificially created, and that the "Evangelists" and a group that protects their teachings were involved. It was also revealed that Shinra's younger brother, Sho, had been brainwashed by the Evangelists and was helping them.
Additionally, in the final episode, First Battalion Commander Burns tells Shinra that the horned Homurabito (demon) he saw at the scene of a fire 12 years ago and believed to be his family's enemy is likely to be Shinra's mother. As a result, Shinra will search for information about the other world (Adora) where he saw the demon believed to be his mother, as well as a way to turn Homurabito back into humans!
