Manticore Phantom is the main antagonist of the anime Boogiepop Phantom. It is a Phantom, a type of entity that originates from the electromagnetic field generated by Echoes’ discharge of information. It came into existence at the same time as Boogiepop Phantom, its counterpart in the series. The ego of Manticore Phantom is a composite: it combines the intelligence and cunning of Masami Saotome with the fundamental survival instinct of the original Manticore before that creature developed its attachment to Masami. As a result, Manticore Phantom is driven almost exclusively by the imperative to survive, acting with calculation and ruthless pragmatism. In the story, it serves as the primary antagonist, working against Boogiepop Phantom and other characters who seek to protect the evolved humans. Its actions are a direct continuation of the threat posed by the original Manticore, and it appears as a shape-shifting, flesh-eating being capable of possessing others, as seen when it takes over a writer after its initial destruction by Boogiepop Phantom. The relationship between Manticore Phantom and Boogiepop Phantom is that of opposing forces born from the same event, with the former embodying aggression and survival and the latter taking on a protective role. Over the course of the series, Manticore Phantom persists as a recurring menace, its development tied to the broader exploration of the consequences of Echoes’ light and the evolution of humanity. Its notable abilities include shape-shifting, possession, and the consumption of human flesh, all of which stem from its nature as a Phantom and its lineage from the original Manticore.