Tears to Tiara: Reassessing the Allure of Fantasy and Battle

Tears to Tiara - An epic tale of swords and magic

Overview

Tears to Tiara is a TV anime series based on the PS3 game of the same name developed by AQUAPLUS. The 26-episode series, which aired from April 6 to September 28, 2009, is an epic tale of swords and magic told by a stellar cast and crew. Animation was by WHITE FOX, production was by T3WORKS, and the director was Tomoki Kobayashi.

■ Story

Once upon a time, there was a Golden Age, a Silver Age, and a Bronze Age. 1200 years have passed since the end of the Bronze Age. On the continent, the newly emerged Holy Empire is spreading its power, engulfing everything from the borderlands to the territory of the former Ancient Kingdom. Meanwhile, on the island of Erin, which has been invaded by the Empire, a Gael girl named Rhiannon is about to be sacrificed in a ritual to revive the Demon King Aroun. However, the ritual fails, and Aroun is resurrected. The resurrected Aroun joins Rhiannon and the others in the fight against the Holy Empire.

■ Characters

Aloun

The Demon King has awakened from a long slumber. A legendary figure, he hides many mysteries beneath his jet-black robes. After his resurrection, he joins forces with Rhiannon and the others. Aroun's character exudes a deep historical and mysterious presence and is at the center of the story. His actions and decisions will have a major impact on the development of the story.

Rhiannon

A kind-hearted Oracle Priestess with exceptional powers of prophecy. Daughter of the former chieftain of the Gael tribe, she is a descendant of an ancient lost kingdom. Having lost both parents at an early age, she was raised by her older brother, Arsal, from a young age. Rhiannon is a key character in the story, and her growth and decisions drive it forward.

Arsal

A young Gael warrior and Rhiannon's older brother. He is a passionate and straightforward man who values ​​his oaths. As a top warrior, he leads the Gael warriors. Arsal's bravery and leadership inspire his comrades and give them hope even in difficult situations.

Morgan

A wild-looking archer under Arsal. Although she has a rough personality, she is the second strongest warrior after Arsal. She is childhood friends with Arsal and Rhiannon, and her actions and words add humor and warmth to the story.

Octavia

A female swordsman in the Holy Imperial Army. Currently a non-commissioned officer, she originally comes from a distinguished family that produced Imperial knights. Her swordsmanship is among the best in the Imperial Army, and she is loyal and extremely competent in her duties, but her strong sense of justice and her honesty often puts her at odds with her superiors. Octavia's character plays an important role in depicting the internal affairs and conflicts of the Empire.

Limulus

A house fairy in charge of all household chores at Avalon Castle. She has been waiting for Aroun's return for a long time since he fell asleep. She is very caring and dotes on her apprentice, Ermine, like a little sister. Limris' presence symbolizes the connection between Aroun's past and present.

Ermine

An apprentice house elf who helps Limris. She looks up to Limris like a sister. She is clumsy and hasty, and often makes mistakes, but she always tries her best to help Limris. Elmine's character adds lightness and humanity to the story.

Seal

A seal fairy who lives in the sea. Representing the waterside fairies, he comes to celebrate the return of Arown, the hero of the fairy tribe. Having had a life full of misfortune, he is quite a pessimist. He is clumsy, makes many mistakes, and is always crying, but this adds humor and empathy to the story.

Rusty

Rusty is a member of a clan of mining fairies with outstanding strength and blacksmithing skills. He loves making metal items such as pots, knives, and tableware more than making weapons, and he has a weakness for the steel that is the material used to make them. Rusty's character adds technical elements and humor to the story.

Epona

While most fairies are not very attached to money, Epona is unusually good at money. She has a strong business sense and travels around the country selling goods. She is the type who acts quickly when she thinks of something, and in that respect, she and Morgan seem to get along well. Epona's character adds a realistic perspective and humor to the story.

Ogham

A wise man from the frontier, he is versed in ancient wisdom. He is an old acquaintance of Aroun and has a friendship with the Gael. He is well known among the fairy people and is treated with respect. Ogham characters add depth and knowledge to the story.

Lydia

Commander of the Holy Empire's security force, known as "Rubrum." Born into a prestigious Imperial noble family, she has a noble but cruel personality. She is feared by her allies as well as enemies because of her ruthless personality, and will not hesitate to punish anyone who disturbs the order of the Empire. Lydia's character is portrayed as a symbol of the ruthlessness and power of the Empire.

■ Staff

Tears to Tiara was produced by a team of talented staff members. Kobayashi Tomoki was the director, Machida Doko was in charge of series composition, and Nakata Masahiko was in charge of character design and general animation direction. Hattori Takayuki composed the music, which was produced by Lantis. Aketagawa Susumu was the sound director, and together with the star-studded cast, he brought excitement to the story.

■Broadcast information

Tears to Tiara was broadcast from April 6th to September 28th, 2009. It was broadcast on CTC, UHF, and Kids Station, with each station having a different broadcast time. It was broadcast on Chiba TV every Sunday from 25:35 to 26:05, on tvk every Monday from 23:00 to 23:30, on TV Osaka every Tuesday from 25:30 to 26:00, on Teletama every Wednesday from 25:30 to 26:00, and on Kids Station every Thursday from 24:30 to 25:00.

■ Episode

Tears to Tiara consists of 26 episodes, each with a different theme and plot. Below are the subtitles of each episode.

• Episode 1: Revival of the Demon King (2009/04/05)
• Episode 2: The People of the Covenant (2009/04/12)
• Episode 3: Departure (2009/04/19)
• Episode 4: Avalon (2009/04/26)
• Episode 5: Londinium (2009/05/03)
• Episode 6: Valley of Cruelty (2009/05/10)
• Episode 7: Colosseum (2009/05/17)
• Episode 8: Rubrum (2009/05/24)
• Episode 9: Attack (2009/05/31)
• Episode 10: The Noble Swordsman (2009/06/07)
• Episode 11: Requiem (2009/06/14)
• Episode 12: The Empire's Threat (2009/06/21)
• Episode 13: Brigantes (2009/06/28)
• Episode 14: White Spirit (2009/07/05)
• Episode 15: Candido (2009/07/12)
• Episode 16: Reason to Fight (2009/07/19)
• Episode 17: For My Friends (2009/07/26)
• Episode 18: Return (2009/08/02)
• Episode 19: Child of the Night (2009/08/09)
• Episode 20: Lucifer (2009/08/16)
• Episode 21: The Song of the Beginning (2009/08/23)
• Episode 22: Darnwin (2009/08/30)
• Episode 23: Palladium (2009/09/06)
• Episode 24: Gravitas (2009/09/13)
• Episode 25: Merkadis (2009/09/20)
• Episode 26: Words of Power (2009/09/27)

■ Theme songs and music

The theme song and insert songs of "Tears to Tiara" are important elements that enhance the atmosphere of the story. Below are details of the theme song and insert songs.

Opening Theme

• Duration: Episodes 1-25
• Song Name: Free and Dream
• Lyricist: Naoko Sutani
• Composer: Naoya Shimokawa
• Arrangement: Michio Kinugasa
• Sung by: Suara

Ending Theme

• Period: Episodes 1-18
• Song Name: Blue sky, True sky
• Lyricist: Aki Hata
• Composer: Toshimichi Tsuge
• Arrangement: Toshimichi Tsuge
• Vocals: Aira Yuuki

• Duration: Episodes 19-25
• Song Name: Weeping alone
• Lyricist: Aki Hata
• Composer: Kenichiro Suehiro
• Arrangement: Kenichiro Suehiro
• Vocals: Aira Yuuki

• Duration: 26 episodes
• Song Name: memory
• Lyricist: Naoko Sutani
• Composer: Naoya Shimokawa
• Arrangement: Michio Kinugasa
• Sung by: Suara

Insert song

• Duration: 17 episodes
• Song Name: Until
• Lyricist: Mikai
• Composer: Mikai
• Arrangement: Masaru Mameda
• Vocals: Rena Uehara

■ Evaluation and impressions

"Tears to Tiara" has been highly praised not only by fans of the original game, but also by anime fans. The story unfolds at a comfortable pace, drawing viewers in. In particular, the character growth and changes in relationships are carefully depicted, making it easy to empathize with the characters, and it has been praised for this. The performances of the stellar cast also added excitement to the story and captured the hearts of viewers.

The animation was produced by WHITE FOX, and the quality of the work was also high, with beautiful background and character designs that enriched the worldview of the story. The music also matched the atmosphere of the story, and the opening and ending songs in particular were very popular among viewers.

However, some viewers said that the story development was a little predictable. Also, viewers who are not familiar with the original game may find the background and setting a little complicated. Nevertheless, overall, it is a work that you can enjoy an epic tale of swords and magic.

■ Recommendation points

Here are some reasons to recommend Tears to Tiara:

1. Deep story and character development

The story is not just an adventure tale, but also carefully depicts the changes in the characters' inner lives and relationships. The growth of Rhiannon and Aroun in particular captures the hearts of viewers, allowing them to empathize more with the characters as the story progresses.

2. A great cast and crew

A star-studded cast including Toru Okawa, Yuko Goto, and Makoto Ishii play the characters, and the production is led by experienced staff including director Tomoki Kobayashi and series composer Doko Machida, ensuring high quality.

3. Beautiful animation and music

The beautiful animation by WHITE FOX enriches the worldview of the story. Takayuki Hattori's music enhances the atmosphere of the story and draws the viewer in. The opening and ending songs in particular are memorable and have been popular among viewers.

4. A spectacular world of swords and magic

Tears to Tiara is set in a fantasy world of swords and magic. It depicts a grand worldview that includes the conflict between the Holy Empire and the Gaelic people, as well as the history of an ancient kingdom, making it a must-read for fantasy fans.

■ Related works and information

Tears to Tiara is based on the PS3 game of the same name developed by AQUAPLUS. The original game was a huge hit and was made into an anime. There are also sequels and related works to the original game, so if you're interested, you should check them out.

Furthermore, the official website and social media platforms publish the latest information, fan art, merchandise information, etc. Fans are also actively communicating with each other, allowing them to share their love for the series.

Conclusion

"Tears to Tiara" is a work that depicts an epic tale of swords and magic. It has a deep story and character development, a luxurious cast and staff, beautiful animation and music, and a magnificent world view. It is a work that can be recommended not only to fans of the original game but also to anime fans. Please give it a watch.