Based on a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masakazu Katsura. First published as a 49-page one-shot in Shueisha's Shounen manga magazine Weekly Shounen Jump's 1994 Autumn Special, the full-fledged series was published in Shueisha's seinen manga magazine Weekly Young Jump from October 2002 to July 2014, with its chapters collected in 20 tankobon volumes.
The first two episodes received an early screening on Friday, March 30, 2012 at Toho Cinemas Roppongi Hills in Tokyo. Regular television broadcast started on April 3, 2012.