The appeal and evaluation of "Arc The Lad": A monumental achievement in strategy RPGs

"Ark the Lad": A tale of adventure and friendship about the fiery boy Elk

Overview

"Arc the Lad" is a TV anime series that aired in 1999 and is based on the PlayStation simulation RPG "Arc the Lad II" produced by G-Craft. It consists of 26 episodes and was broadcast on WOWOW every Monday from 7:00 to 7:30 p.m. Animation was produced by BeeTrain, and production was handled by Sony Computer Entertainment and SPE Visualworks.

■ Story

Elk is a boy who is the descendant of a family that can freely control fire. He has made a name for himself as a skilled hunter by making use of his special ability. One day, he receives a request from the guild to eliminate terrorists, and heads to an airship with his friend Shu. There, he meets a mysterious girl named Lisa, and Elk's fate begins to change dramatically. This is a fantasy adventure in which Elk and his friends go on an adventure to thwart the ambitions of the great power Romalia, which is plotting world domination.

■Explanation

"Arc the Lad" is an anime adaptation of "Arc the Lad II," a simulation RPG for the PlayStation created by G-Craft. The storyline is close to the original up until episode 12, but from episode 13 onwards the anime has a completely original story. The personalities of the characters are also slightly different between the game and the anime, and although it is not stated in the credits, the opening theme used in this work is an arrangement of the opening theme from the game.

■Cast

• Elk: Daisuke Namikawa
• Lisa: Yui Horie
• Shu: Shuichi Ikeda
• Arc: Hiro Yuki
• Kukur: Yuko Mizutani
• Tosh: Nobuyuki Hiyama

■ Main staff

• Planning: Ryuzo Shirakawa, Yukio Nagasaki
• Director: Itsuro Kawasaki
• Series Composition: Akemi Mende, Itsuro Kawasaki
• Story Supervision: Ryoji Akagawa
• Character design: Yoko Kikuchi
• Mechanical design: Kenji Teraoka
• Art director: Toshihisa Koyama
• Director of photography: Seiichi Morishita
• Color setting: Yumiko Katayama
• Special effects: Masahiro Murakami
• Edited by: Seiji Morita
• Music: Michiru Oshima
• Dubbing Director: Riku Matsukawa
• Producer: Hideo Katsumata
• Animation Production: Bee Train
• Produced by: Sony Computer Entertainment, SPE Visual Works

■ Main Characters

• Elk: The protagonist of this work, a hunter nicknamed "Fire User". When he was a child, his entire family was killed by the military nation of Romalia, and he is burning with a desire for revenge. He has a bad way of speaking, but a strong sense of justice.
• Lisa: A beast tamer girl. Because of her special ability to befriend monsters, she is targeted by the Chimera Research Institute as a womb for creating chimeras.
• Shu: A skilled hunter who is Elk's master. He protects Elk after he escapes from the Chimera Research Institute and begins to look after him. There is much about his origins that is mysterious.
• Arc: A boy who, guided by the spirits, obtained the power of a hero. At first, he was targeted by Elk as the enemy of his clan, but later reconciled. He becomes a reliable presence who calmly supports Elk.

■Subtitle

• Episode 1: The Boy of Fire (1999/04/05)
• Episode 2: The Beginning of Destiny (1999/04/12)
• Episode 3: Feeling like a drizzle (1999/04/19)
• Episode 4: The Blue Goddess (1999/04/26)
• Episode 5: Criminals (1999/05/03)
• Episode 6: Beyond the Sound of Waves (1999/05/10)
• Episode 7: The Ancient Guardian (1999/05/17)
• Episode 8: Escape (1999/05/24)
• Episode 9: A Friend Left Behind (1999/05/31)
• Episode 10: The Nameless Crusader (1999/06/07)
• Episode 11: The Lonely Hero (1999/06/14)
• Episode 12: The White House (1999/06/21)
• Episode 13: The Virgin Mary of the Smile (1999/06/28)
• Episode 14: The Maiden of the Spirits (1999/07/05)
• Episode 15: Flames Rise (1999/07/12)
• Episode 16: Recapture (1999/07/19)
• Episode 17: The Scarlet Castle (1999/07/26)
• Episode 18: Chimera User (1999/08/02)
• Episode 19: Battle of the Two Giants (1999/08/23)
• Episode 20: Reunion (1999/08/30)
• Episode 21: Where the Truth Lies (1999/09/06)
• Episode 22: Lurking in the Shadows (1999/09/13)
• Episode 23: Frozen Eyes (1999/09/20)
• Episode 24: The Stirring of Darkness (1999/09/27)
• Episode 25: Holy Coffin (1999/10/04)
• Episode 26: The Boy Who Shines (1999/10/11)

■ Theme songs and music

• ED1
  • Period: 1-12, 26
  • Song Name: Happy Tomorrow
  • Lyrics: YUKI, Kate
  • Composer: YUKI, Ma-Chang
  • Arrangement: Masahide Sakuma
  • Sung by: NiNa
• ED2
  • Period: 13-26
  • Song Name: Rest In Peace
  • Lyricist: YUKI
  • Composer: YUKI, Masahide Sakuma
  • Arrangement: Masahide Sakuma, NiNa
  • Sung by: NiNa

■ Review

"Ark the Lad" is an anime adaptation of a game, depicting a fascinating story that combines fantasy and action. The protagonist Elk's desire for revenge and sense of justice, as well as the bond with his companions, are at the heart of the story, and have the power to draw viewers in. In particular, the adventure that begins with the encounter between Elk and Lisa will move and excite viewers.

The first half of the anime is faithful to the original game, which will bring back memories for fans. However, from episode 13 onwards, the story becomes original and new developments are added, giving it a different appeal from the original. In particular, the episodes depicting the changes in the relationship between Elk and Arc, and Liza's growth are worth watching.

The character and mechanic designs are also of very high quality, highlighting BeeTrain's technical capabilities. In particular, the scenes depicting Elk's fire powers and Liza's beast tamer abilities are visually stunning and never boring to watch. Michiru Oshima's music is also an important element in adding excitement to the story, and the ending themes "Happy Tomorrow" and "Rest in Peace" in particular help to bring out the atmosphere of the story.

The cast is also impressive, with each character's voice actor bringing their character to life, including Daisuke Namikawa as Elk, Yui Horie as Liza, and Shuu Ikeda as Shu. In particular, Daisuke Namikawa's performance as Elk's revengeful spirit and sense of justice leaves a strong impression on viewers.

■Recommendation

"Ark the Lad" is recommended for those who like fantasy and action, those who like anime based on games, and those who are looking for a new adventure story. In particular, the episodes depicting Elk's growth and the bond with his friends will be moving and exciting. Also, those who have played the original game will be able to enjoy the original story of the anime.

In addition, you can't miss the beautiful character and mechanic designs by Bee Train, and the music by Michiru Oshima. It's a work that can be enjoyed both visually and aurally, so please give it a watch.