Unconventional Play: What is the appeal of this new anime that exceeds expectations?

The appeal and evaluation of "Hatenkou Yugi"

■Overview of the work

"Hatenkou Yugi" is a TV anime series based on the manga by Kaisei Endo. The 10-episode series was broadcast from January 5 to March 8, 2008, and was available on UHF stations and AT-X. Animation was handled by Studio Deen and the director was Norihiro Takamoto. The original manga was serialized in Ichijinsha's "Monthly Comic ZERO-SUM" and has been adapted into a wide range of media, including drama CDs and web radio.

■ Story

The story of "Hatenkou Yugi" depicts the journey of Lazel, a young girl who is forced to leave on a journey, Arzeid, a young man seeking revenge, and her old friend Baroque Heat. Inspired by her stepfather's words, "Don't you want to see a bit of the world?", Lazel sets out on a journey, and by chance meets Arzeid, and ends up accompanying him on his journey of revenge. Declaring, "I'll make your boring, damn life interesting and entertaining!", Lazel continues on his journey with Arzeid and Baroque Heat.

Razel and Alzeid have something in common: they both possess magical powers that only a select few can control. However, even with their seemingly omnipotent magical powers, the existence of an inflexible "principle" prevents them from obtaining what they truly desire. What Razel and his friends gain through their journey, how they come face to face with the wounds of their past, and the complex background of the story unfolds.

■ Characters

Lazel is cheerful, resilient, and kind, accepting of other people's weaknesses, but he also hates to lose and has a short temper. Alzeid is a young man searching for the murderer of his father, and has a cool and unsociable personality, but sometimes shows a childish side that goes at his own pace. Baroque Heat is an old friend of Alzeid's from his days as a soldier, and is a flirtatious womanizer, but can be reliable when it matters.

■Cast and crew

The voice of Razel was played by Sanae Kobayashi, the voice of Arzeid was played by Takahiro Sakurai, and the voice of Baroque Heat was played by Shinichiro Miki. The director was Nobuhiro Takamoto, the series composition was Yasuhiro Imagawa, and the character design and general animation director was Toshimitsu Kobayashi. The music was composed by ZIZZ STUDIO, and the animation was produced by Studio Deen.

■Broadcast information

"Battenbou Yugi" was broadcast on the following stations:

• KBS Kyoto: January 4, 2008 to March 7, 2008, every Friday from 26:30 to 27:00
• tvk: January 5, 2008 to March 8, 2008, every Saturday from 25:30 to 26:00
• Teletama: January 7, 2008 to March 10, 2008, every Monday from 25:30 to 26:00
• Chiba TV: January 7, 2008 to March 10, 2008, every Monday from 26:10 to 26:40
• Sun Television: January 7, 2008 to March 10, 2008, every Monday from 26:10 to 26:40
• Me-Tele: January 11, 2008 to March 14, 2008, every Friday from 27:15 to 27:45
• AT-X: February 8, 2008 to April 11, 2008, every Friday from 9:00 to 9:30

■Subtitle

The subtitles for each episode are as follows:

• Act 1: The Light of Eternity (2008/01/04)
• Act 2: Scars after Scars (2008/01/11)
• Act 3: Such a humble lullaby (2008/01/18)
• Act 4: Don't Touch Paradise (2008/01/25)
• Act 5: Palm-sized Sun, Part 1 (2008/02/01)
• Act 6: Palm-sized Sun, Part 2 (2008/02/08)
• Act 7: When the Flowers Bloom (2008/02/15)
• Act 8: Unknown Destination, Part 1 (2008/02/22)
• Act 9: Unknown Destination, Part 2 (2008/02/29)
• Act 10: I'll give it to you (2008/03/07)

■ Theme songs and music

The opening theme is "Heartbreaking Romance" sung by Ito Kanako, with lyrics by Ebata Ikuko, and composed and arranged by Oyama You. The ending theme is "Eternity in My Hand" sung by Hikita Kaori, with lyrics by Ishikawa Chiaki, composed by Jin Nakamura, and arranged by Mori Eiji. The insert song "Take you as you are" has lyrics by Ebata Ikuko, composed and arranged by Oyama You, and sung by Ito Kanako.

■ Appeal and evaluation of the work

"Hatenkou Yugi" depicts the meaning of life and the depth of human relationships through the journeys of characters with magical powers. The story progresses as Razel's cheerfulness, Alzeid's coolness, and Baroque Heat's wit intertwine. In particular, Razel's declaration, "I'll make your boring, damn life fun and interesting!" leaves a strong impression on viewers.

Studio Deen, the animation studio, has paid particular attention to character design and background art, and the visual beauty of the work is one of its attractions. In addition, the powerful sound of ZIZZ STUDIO's music livens up the story and enhances the emotions of the viewer.

The acting of the cast is also superb, with Sanae Kobayashi as Razel, Takahiro Sakurai as Arzeid, and Shinichiro Miki as Baroque Heat all expressing the individual personalities of their characters well. In particular, Razel's cheerfulness and Arzeid's coolness are brought to life even more by the voice actors' performances.

"Battenbou Yugi" depicts the growth of the characters and the changes in their relationships over the course of its 10 short episodes. Through the journey of Razel and Arzeid, viewers will be forced to think about their own lives and relationships. In addition, the fantasy elements of magical powers and the existence of "reason" add depth to the story.

■ Recommendation points

"Battenkou Yugi" is a work that combines fantasy and human drama. It depicts the meaning of life and the depth of human relationships through the journeys of magical characters. The story progresses with a mixture of Lazel's cheerfulness, Alzeid's coolness, and Baroque Heat's wit. The visual beauty and music are also part of the charm of the work, and the acting of the cast is also superb. Over the course of 10 short episodes, it depicts the growth of the characters and the changes in their relationships, making viewers think about their own lives and relationships. This is a work that I would highly recommend to anyone who likes fantasy and human drama.