TV-Series
Description
Kanone Hilbert is a seventeen-year-old character who belongs to a group known as the Blade Children. He is of mixed German and Japanese heritage, with his German mother having been a member of a special forces unit. He was trained from a young age in combat and weaponry, which laid the foundation for his formidable skills. His appearance is marked by tawny or brown hair, which is parted in the middle and extends to the nape of the neck, and hazel or green eyes that can take on a menacing, cat-like sharpness when his demeanor shifts. He is notably tall and is most often seen wearing a long white trenchcoat.
Kanone Hilbert is known for his starkly dual personality, which allows him to appear as either cheerful, cute, and friendly or as manipulative, cold, and completely insane. He often uses a goofy or gentle smile to lure others into a false sense of security, and he has a well-documented fondness for cats, frequently showing a gentle smile when he is around them or looking at cat picture books. Beneath this superficial warmth lies a bitter and pessimistic outlook on life. He chooses not to believe in fate, viewing it as something that easily falls apart, yet he accepts his own destiny as one of dying young. This belief in his own early death fuels a deep-seated despair about the future of all Blade Children.
His primary motivation stems from his conviction that the Blade Children have no future or hope of salvation. Paradoxically, his actions are driven by a desire to save his fellow Blade Children from what he sees as a painful existence. He concludes that killing them himself is a form of mercy and salvation, a way to spare them from a more terrible fate. This brutal form of kindness leads him to vow to exterminate the Blade Children, making him a hunter of his own kind. He is deeply interested in Ayumu Narumi, viewing Ayumu as the only source of false hope for the Blade Children. To prove that this hope is an illusion, Kanone is even willing to ally himself with the Hunters, the very enemies of the Blade Children.
In the story, Kanone is introduced as the first hunter sent to eradicate the Blade Children, a role that brings him into direct conflict with his former allies. He enrolls at Tsukiomi Academy, where many Blade Children are gathered, and engages in a strategic and violent battle against the protagonist, Ayumu Narumi. In one of his most significant actions, he kidnaps Madoka Narumi, Ayumu's sister-in-law, to force Ayumu into a confrontation. His role in the anime differs from the manga; in the anime, he serves as a primary antagonist and final boss, acting strictly as a Blade Child opposed to Ayumu, but does not die. In the manga, his role is more tragic; he is defeated by Ayumu using a tranquilizer, placed under house arrest, and is later willingly killed by another Blade Child, Hizumi, as a final act to secure a specific outcome for his people.
The most significant relationship in Kanone's life is with Eyes Rutherford. They grew up as close friends and considered each other true brothers. In their youth, Kanone would express emotion, like crying, on behalf of the more stoic Eyes. As they aged, their bond fractured due to irreconcilable differences in their beliefs about the fate of the Blade Children, forcing them onto opposite sides of the conflict. Despite this, their deep connection as brothers remains a core part of his character. He also has a relationship with the other Blade Children, who initially see him as a helpful older brother figure and a leader, a perception that is shattered when he begins to hunt them.
Throughout the narrative, Kanone demonstrates a tragic and compelling development. He is a character who starts as a protector of the Blade Children but, upon confronting the hopelessness of their situation, descends into madness and becomes their would-be executioner. His story arc is marked by his internal struggle with his own nature as a perfect killer, a role he both excels at and fears. His final development varies by medium: in the manga, he finds a measure of peace by choosing the manner of his own death, imparting the word hope to Ayumu before he dies. In the anime, he survives, seemingly gaining a new understanding of his own words and leaving the country.
His abilities are extensive and mark him as one of the most dangerous characters in the series. He is nicknamed Gun with Wings or Black Winged Angel due to his supreme combat skills. He has trained other Blade Children in self-defense and combat. His skills include expert gun handling and accurate aim, knife throwing, excellent evasive maneuvers, and proficient hand-to-hand combat. His reflexes are so highly tuned that his body will automatically counterattack if he senses danger. However, he consciously restrains this reflex when his attacker is an innocent person, as he has a strict personal code not to kill anyone who is not a Blade Child. This commitment to not harming innocents is a key part of his character and a limitation that others exploit. Due to his intensive training and natural talent, his fighting ability is considered virtually the strongest among the Blade Children.
Kanone Hilbert is known for his starkly dual personality, which allows him to appear as either cheerful, cute, and friendly or as manipulative, cold, and completely insane. He often uses a goofy or gentle smile to lure others into a false sense of security, and he has a well-documented fondness for cats, frequently showing a gentle smile when he is around them or looking at cat picture books. Beneath this superficial warmth lies a bitter and pessimistic outlook on life. He chooses not to believe in fate, viewing it as something that easily falls apart, yet he accepts his own destiny as one of dying young. This belief in his own early death fuels a deep-seated despair about the future of all Blade Children.
His primary motivation stems from his conviction that the Blade Children have no future or hope of salvation. Paradoxically, his actions are driven by a desire to save his fellow Blade Children from what he sees as a painful existence. He concludes that killing them himself is a form of mercy and salvation, a way to spare them from a more terrible fate. This brutal form of kindness leads him to vow to exterminate the Blade Children, making him a hunter of his own kind. He is deeply interested in Ayumu Narumi, viewing Ayumu as the only source of false hope for the Blade Children. To prove that this hope is an illusion, Kanone is even willing to ally himself with the Hunters, the very enemies of the Blade Children.
In the story, Kanone is introduced as the first hunter sent to eradicate the Blade Children, a role that brings him into direct conflict with his former allies. He enrolls at Tsukiomi Academy, where many Blade Children are gathered, and engages in a strategic and violent battle against the protagonist, Ayumu Narumi. In one of his most significant actions, he kidnaps Madoka Narumi, Ayumu's sister-in-law, to force Ayumu into a confrontation. His role in the anime differs from the manga; in the anime, he serves as a primary antagonist and final boss, acting strictly as a Blade Child opposed to Ayumu, but does not die. In the manga, his role is more tragic; he is defeated by Ayumu using a tranquilizer, placed under house arrest, and is later willingly killed by another Blade Child, Hizumi, as a final act to secure a specific outcome for his people.
The most significant relationship in Kanone's life is with Eyes Rutherford. They grew up as close friends and considered each other true brothers. In their youth, Kanone would express emotion, like crying, on behalf of the more stoic Eyes. As they aged, their bond fractured due to irreconcilable differences in their beliefs about the fate of the Blade Children, forcing them onto opposite sides of the conflict. Despite this, their deep connection as brothers remains a core part of his character. He also has a relationship with the other Blade Children, who initially see him as a helpful older brother figure and a leader, a perception that is shattered when he begins to hunt them.
Throughout the narrative, Kanone demonstrates a tragic and compelling development. He is a character who starts as a protector of the Blade Children but, upon confronting the hopelessness of their situation, descends into madness and becomes their would-be executioner. His story arc is marked by his internal struggle with his own nature as a perfect killer, a role he both excels at and fears. His final development varies by medium: in the manga, he finds a measure of peace by choosing the manner of his own death, imparting the word hope to Ayumu before he dies. In the anime, he survives, seemingly gaining a new understanding of his own words and leaving the country.
His abilities are extensive and mark him as one of the most dangerous characters in the series. He is nicknamed Gun with Wings or Black Winged Angel due to his supreme combat skills. He has trained other Blade Children in self-defense and combat. His skills include expert gun handling and accurate aim, knife throwing, excellent evasive maneuvers, and proficient hand-to-hand combat. His reflexes are so highly tuned that his body will automatically counterattack if he senses danger. However, he consciously restrains this reflex when his attacker is an innocent person, as he has a strict personal code not to kill anyone who is not a Blade Child. This commitment to not harming innocents is a key part of his character and a limitation that others exploit. Due to his intensive training and natural talent, his fighting ability is considered virtually the strongest among the Blade Children.