The appeal and reviews of "PRISM ARK": A fusion of fantasy and battle

"PRISM ARK" - In pursuit of the brilliance of youthful fantasy

■Overview of the work

"PRISM ARK" is a 12-episode TV anime series that aired in 2007, based on the work of Pajama Soft, known for its 18+ games. It was directed by Ohbari Masami, animated by FRONTLINE, and produced by the Prism Ark Production Committee (Media Factory, Marvelous Entertainment, 5pb., Pencil). It aired from October 8 to December 24, 2007, on UHF stations and AT-X.

■ Story

It has been over ten years since the "Blue Moon Tragedy" incident, when King Meister and Queen Princessa, symbols of hope for Windland, were attacked by a mysterious giant weapon called "Angel" released by the Sabrum Empire and went missing. Regent Kizarov runs the Rosenberg Knight Training School, where Pricia is a super-genius beautiful girl with beautiful looks, intelligence and beauty, who is invincible wherever she holds a sword. She is rumored to be the king's forgotten child.

One day, she is suddenly grabbed by the mysterious and air-headed "Hayaway", and ends up losing a sword fight in front of the entire school, a humiliating experience. Furthermore, her pace is disrupted by her unusually idiosyncratic classmates, such as the high-spirited troublemaker "Fel", the mysterious shrine maiden "Kagura", and the clumsy "Bridget", and she is treated as a love rival by Hayaway's sister "Filia", who has a bro-complex, leading to a tumultuous school life...

This school-themed youth drama is set in a fantasy world, but it also deals with familiar themes such as friendships, romantic worries, dreams for the future, success and failure, and is a fantasy about a boy and girl who fight for love despite being tossed about by various backgrounds! And with the support of those around her, Precia finds the "true reason for fighting."

■Character Introduction

Priscia

A girl who is a student in the Pegasus class at the Rosenberg Knight Training School. A swordsman who uses a rapier (sword). She is beautiful, good at both the arts and the martial arts, proud and short-tempered, but also has a side to her that makes her unable to be honest with those she is close to (tsundere). There is a rumor that she is the "missing princess." Her voice actress is Yui Sakakibara.

Hayaway

A boy who is a student in the Pegasus class at the Rosenberg Knight Training School. He is a swordsman who wields the mysterious sword "Ara Gladius", but he is also skilled in magic. He is usually a kind and easygoing airhead, but shows his fierceness in battle. His voice actor is Tetsuya Kakihara.

Kagura

A girl who is a student in the Pegasus class at the Rosenberg Knight Training School. She is Priscia's guardian and is a shrine maiden from the country of Wa who uses archery and defensive/healing magic. She is quiet and at first glance it is hard to tell what she is thinking, but she is playful, has a strong maternal instinct, and is actually a big eater. Her voice actor is Nabatame Hitomi.

Karin

A martial arts instructor for the Pegasus group at the Rosenberg Knight Training School. A female warrior who wields two swords and was sent by the Tempel Knights (Ritter) of the religious nation of Viera. She is strict with herself and others, but kind to animals and children. Her voice actress is Naoko Matsui.

Litte

A female teacher in charge of the Pegasus class at the Rosenberg Knight Training School. A magician who can use a variety of magic spells. She is intelligent and good at teaching, but her appearance and behavior are that of a young girl, and she has a complex about her childlike figure and hates being treated like a child. Her voice actor is Kimiko Koyama.

Filia

A girl who is a special scholarship student at the Rosenberg Knight Training School. Hayaway's younger sister. She is studying while doing odd jobs around the school and as a waitress in the cafeteria. She has an honest and cheerful personality, but is a severe bro-con and gets jealous when Hayaway gets friendly with other girls. Her voice actor is Haruko Momoi.

Fel

A girl who is a student in the Pegasus class at the Rosenberg Knight Training School. A witch who is good at ice magic. She is high-spirited and loves to talk. Although she may seem free-spirited and selfish, she cares very much for her friends. When she fails, she has a habit of saying "Hechaa~". She is voiced by Kaori Mizuhashi.

Bridget

She is a student in the Pegasus class at the Rosenberg Knight Training School. However, her true identity is an assassin sent by the enemy nation, the Sabrum Empire. Unfortunately, she is also extremely clumsy, and everything she does backfires. Her catchphrase is "It's ~, yes." Her voice actor is Asumi Kana.

Activity

A boy who is a student in the Dragoon class at the Rosenberg Knight Training School. He is Hayaway's roommate. He is a swordsman who uses a huge two-handed sword, and is a very positive and cheerful person. His voice actor is Yasuyuki.

Ein

A boy who is a student in the Dragoon class at the Rosenberg Knight Training School. He is Hayaway's roommate. He is an honor student with very high magical abilities, and has a cool and serious personality. He is voiced by Takuma Terashima.

Jung

A boy who is a student in the Dragoon class at the Rosenberg Knight Training School. He is Hayaway's roommate. He can use healing magic and low-precision attack magic. He is timid and reserved. He is voiced by Kobayashi Yuu.

Islay

A girl who is a student in the Pegasus class at the Rosenberg Knight Training School. She is the captain of the Prissia Guard, which is a fan of Prissia. She is also a swordsman. She is a very opinionated girl. Her voice actor is Kobayashi Yuu.

Orczy

A girl who is a student in the Pegasus class at the Rosenberg Knight Training School. She is the punchline-maker for the Priscia Guard and a goofy girl. She is also a swordsman. She seems to like Hayaway. Her voice actor is Saori Goto.

Massey

A girl who is a student in the Pegasus class at the Rosenberg Knight Training School. She is the vice captain of the Priscia Guard. She is also a swordsman. She behaves in a way that makes her a favorite with Aila. Her voice actor is Hiroko Taisai.

Kizarov

He is the regent of the Kingdom of Windland and the principal of the Rosenberg Knight Training School. He is a proud man with unrivaled rapier skills, but he is a bit of a conceited womanizer. His catchphrase is "I wonder, no, it's not. A rhetorical remark." He is voiced by Kosuke Okano.

Sister Hell

A female mercenary of the Sablum Empire. She attacks by swinging around a huge cross sword that is as tall as she is. She has a cold and cruel personality, but speaks very politely. Her voice actor is Yu Asakawa.

Dark Knight

A male mercenary of the Sablum Empire. A mysterious swordsman known on the battlefield as the "Black Angel of Death" due to his overwhelming strength. He has a ruthless personality and finds meaning in life in fighting strong opponents. His voice actor is Shou Hayami.

■ Episode Guide

・EPISODE-1／The Battlefield of Knights (2007/10/07)
・EPISODE-2／The Academy of Knights (Hanazono) (2007/10/14)
・EPISODE-3／The Knights' Goal (2007/10/21)
・EPISODE-4／Pride of Knights (2007/10/28)
・EPISODE-5／The Trials of the Knights (2007/11/04)
・EPISODE-6／Knights' Holiday (2007/11/11)
・EPISODE-7／The Knights' First Battle (2007/11/18)
・EPISODE-8／Wandering Knights (2007/11/25)
・EPISODE-9／Reunion of the Knights (2007/12/02)
・EPISODE-10／Knights' Sword Spirit (Heart) (2007/12/09)
・EPISODE-11／Waltz of the Knights(2007/12/16)
・EPISODE-12／Ark of the Knights (2007/12/23)

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・And then I...
Lyrics: Chiyomaru Shikura; Composition: Chiyomaru Shikura; Arrangement: Toshimichi Isoe; Singer: Yui Sakakibara

・ED1
・And then I...
Lyrics: Chiyomaru Shikura; Composition: Chiyomaru Shikura; Arrangement: Toshimichi Isoe; Singer: Yui Sakakibara

・ED2
・Opera Fantasia ・Lyrics by Chiyomaru Shikura ・Composition by Chiyomaru Shikura ・Arrangement by Toshimichi Isoe ・Singer by momo-i

■ Appeal and evaluation of the work

"PRISM ARK" is a work that combines fantasy and youth drama, and its appeal is wide-ranging. First of all, it focuses on the growth story of the main character, Priscia. Although she is a talented and beautiful genius swordsman, she is a character with many different sides to her, including a tsundere personality and rumors of a princess. As she grows, the characters around her are also depicted growing up, each with their own worries and dreams, which deeply moves viewers.

Another big attraction is the comedic elements woven by the unique characters. Each character's personality stands out, such as the high-spirited Fel, the clumsy Bridget, and the sister-complex Filia, and there are many hilarious scenes in school life. These comedic elements are well balanced with the heavy fantasy elements, so viewers won't get bored.

Furthermore, the quality of the battle scenes has also been highly praised. Director Masami Ohbari is well known for his action scenes, and his talent is on full display in "PRISM ARK." Hayaway's swordsmanship and magic are particularly impressive, providing a visual treat.

In terms of music, the theme songs "And I am..." and "Opera Fantasia" by Chiyomaru Shikura are important elements that add excitement to the worldview of the work. The opening song in particular has impressive lyrics and a melody that reflects Priscia's feelings, and resonates with the hearts of viewers.

■ Background and production secrets of the work

Since the original work of "PRISM ARK" is an 18+ game, the content had to be adjusted for general audiences when it was made into an anime. As a result, the erotic elements of the original work were largely cut, and instead the story development focused on the characters' relationships and growth stories. This adjustment drew mixed reviews from fans of the original work, but was well received by general audiences.

According to interviews with the production staff, a lot of time and effort was spent on the character designs and settings. In particular, Precia's tsundere personality and Hayaway's airheaded character were decided upon after much trial and error in order to create characters that would be loved by viewers. Additionally, the backgrounds of each character, such as Kagura's shrine maiden setting and Karin's female warrior setting, are also depicted in detail, helping to deepen the worldview of the work.

■ Responses from viewers

"PRISM ARK" has been popular with many viewers since it was first broadcast. In particular, the story of Priscia's growth and the exploits of the unique characters left a strong impression on viewers, with many comments being posted on social media and blogs. The quality of the battle scenes and the music were also highly praised, with many fans saying things like "it's worth watching" and "the music really touches your heart."

On the other hand, there was some criticism of the differences from the original and the development of the story, but overall it received mostly positive reviews and was successful in gaining a wide fan base.

■ Recommendation points

"PRISM ARK" is a work that combines fantasy and youth drama, and can be enjoyed from various perspectives. The following points are especially recommended.

1. A story of character growth

The story of the growth of characters such as Priscia deeply touches the viewers. The stories depicting their worries, dreams, successes and failures can be fully enjoyed as a coming-of-age drama.

2. Unique characters

The comedic elements woven by unique characters such as the high-tension Fel, the clumsy Bridget, and the sister complex Filia will keep viewers entertained. Each character's personality stands out, and there are many hilarious scenes in school life.

3. High-quality battle scenes

The action scenes directed by director Masami Ohbari are spectacular, and Hayaway's swordsmanship and magic are particularly visually enjoyable. This is a fantasy work that is full of charm.

4. Impressive music

The theme songs "And I am..." and "Opera Fantasia" by Chiyomaru Shikura are important elements that add excitement to the worldview of the work. The opening song in particular has impressive lyrics and a melody that reflects Priscia's feelings, and resonates with the hearts of viewers.

■ Related works and recommendations

For viewers who enjoyed "PRISM ARK," we also recommend the following related works:

1. The Familiar of Zero

It is a work that combines fantasy and coming-of-age drama, depicting the exploits of unique characters. The story of the protagonist Louise's growth and the relationships between the characters surrounding her are particularly appealing.

2. "Negima! Magister Negi Magi"

It is a fantasy story set in a school, and has a lot of comedy elements woven by unique characters. The story of the protagonist Negi's growth and the battle scenes using magic are also worth watching.

3. Strike Witches

It is a work that combines fantasy and battle scenes, and depicts the exploits of unique characters. The quality of the battle scenes and the characters' growth stories are particularly appealing.

■ Summary

"PRISM ARK" is a work that combines fantasy and youth drama, and the growth story of characters such as Priscia and the activities of unique characters are attractive. The high-quality battle scenes and impressive music are also not to be missed. This is a work that we would definitely recommend to viewers who like fantasy works and youth dramas.