Review of "The Sacred Blacksmith": A deep look into the story of legendary weapons and blacksmiths

A comprehensive review and recommendation of Sacred Sword Blacksmith - Seiken no Blacksmith

"The Sacred Blacksmith" is a TV anime series that aired from 2009 to 2010, and is based on the light novel "The Sacred Blacksmith" (MF Bunko J) by Isao Miura. The story is set in a world several decades after the Agent Contract War, and depicts the encounter and adventures of Cecily Campbell, a member of the Self-Defense Knights of the independent trading city of Hausman, and Luke Ainsworth, a young blacksmith. Below, we will provide a detailed review and recommendation of this work.

story

The story of "The Sacred Blacksmith" is set several decades after the Agent Contract War. This war was a fierce battle that engulfed the entire continent and resulted in many casualties. Living in the peaceful era that followed, Cecily Campbell is a young knight who belongs to the Self-Defense Knights of the independent trading city of Hausman. One day, she is saved from a difficult situation by Luke Ainsworth, a young blacksmith who has a workshop on the outskirts of the city. Fascinated by the unique sword that Luke possesses, known as a "katana," Cecily asks him to forge a new sword for her. This encounter will draw the two into a cruel fate surrounding the sacred sword.

The story revolves around the relationship between Cecily and Luke, and the backgrounds and goals of the characters surrounding them are gradually revealed. In particular, Cecily's growth and the secrets of Luke's past are at the core of the story, and have the power to draw viewers in. In addition, the struggle over the holy sword and the personal conflicts of each character are skillfully intertwined to form a deep story.

character

The characters in "The Sacred Blacksmith" have individual backgrounds and personalities that are well-drawn, leaving a strong impression on the viewer. The main characters are introduced below.

Cecily Campbell

Cecily is a young knight who belongs to the Self-Defense Knights of the independent trading city of Hausman. Born into a former noble family that has served as knights for generations, she followed in her father's footsteps and joined the Knights. Although she is still developing, she has a strong will to protect what a knight should protect. Cecily's growth and her beliefs are important themes in the story and will resonate with viewers.

Luke Ainsworth

Luke is a blacksmith who runs the workshop "Lisa" on the outskirts of the independent trading city's Seventh Avenue. He is a mysterious boy with the skill to create unique swords called "katanas" and a sword skill that surpasses Cecily's. He is unsociable and does not want to get involved with others, but as the story progresses, his past and secrets are revealed, deeply moving the viewer.

Lisa

Lisa is a young girl who works as Luke's live-in assistant. Despite her young appearance, she is a reliable person who is good at everything from helping with sword making to general housework. On the other hand, she also has a side to her that is appropriate for her age, such as admiring cute clothes, making her a character that is loved by viewers.

Aria

Aria is a beautiful woman who Cecily is asked to protect and travel with. Compared to her appearance, she has a bright and innocent personality, and she quickly becomes friends with Cecily. It is suggested that the reason she is targeted is largely related to her true identity, and she holds an important key to the story.

Hannibal

Hannibal is the leader of the Third Avenue Self-Defense Knights. He is known as a fierce warrior who survived the Agent Contract War, and despite his advanced age, his strength is still strong, and he can fight on equal terms with non-humans and demons. His existence has a major impact on Cecily and her friends' adventures.

Hausmann

Hausman is the mayor of the independent trading city of Hausman. The mayor is elected by vote of the citizens, and the elected mayor takes the family name "Hausman" in honor of the first Hausman. His leadership and decisiveness play a key role in keeping the peace in the city.

Reginald

Reginald is a knight belonging to the Self-Defense Knights. He often has a cold attitude towards Cecily, but he acknowledges her abilities. His presence plays an important role in depicting Cecily's growth and trials.

Patty

Patty is Cecily's colleague and a non-combatant who mainly handles administrative tasks as a city civil servant. However, in times of emergency, she also provides logistical support using prayer contracts. Her support will help Cecily and her friends on their adventure.

Siegfried

Siegfried is the leader of the Imperial Warriors. He hates Cecily and her friends for their ideals and dreams. His presence heightens the tension in the story and has a major impact on Cecily and her friends' adventure.

Charlotte E. Philobischer

Charlotte is a girl whose name begins with "E," which indicates her lineage as an emperor. She comes to the independent trading city to secure the magic sword and invite a swordsmith to the empire. Although she is only 12 years old, she has the fortitude to fight to clear the name of her late mother, who was persecuted as a concubine of the emperor. Her presence creates an important turning point in the story.

Evadoni

Evadoni is a mysterious lady who came to the independent trading city with Charlotte. She has long black hair and wears a black dress, and her whole body is covered in jet black. She is always expressionless and speaks very little, which deepens the mystery of the story.

Doris

Doris is one of the servants who adores Charlotte and protects her. She has a well-trained body and a tomboyish personality, but she can also be timid. Her fighting style is bold, using a claymore, and she is hostile towards women with large breasts. Her presence supports Charlotte on her adventure.

Margot

Margot is one of the servants who adores Charlotte and protects her. She has a seductive demeanor and is often mistaken for being older than the other two. She is skilled at slashing from extremely long distances using a long sword similar to a naginata, the rhompire, and is hostile towards women with large breasts. Her presence supports Charlotte on her adventures.

Penelope

Penelope is one of the servants who adores Charlotte and protects her. Although she has a baby face and is often seen as young, she is actually a hard worker who mediates between Doris and Margot. In battle, she wields a dagger called a Bohrok knife and is hostile towards women with large breasts. Her presence supports Charlotte on her adventure.

Fio Atkins

Fio is a live-in servant at the Campbell family home. Despite being a servant, he uses rough language and does not use honorifics. He comes from a family that has served the Campbell family for generations, and supports Cecily's life.

Lucy Campbell

Lucy is Cecily's mother. She is frail and has a gentle personality, and is troubled by Cecily's tomboyish behavior on a daily basis. Her presence plays an important role in depicting Cecily's growth and the bond between the family.

Francisca

Francisca is a female knight under Siegfried. She is fascinated by Siegfried and has sworn loyalty to him. She fights using a long battle axe that is well over her height, and supports Siegfried on his adventures.

Elsa

Elsa is a girl with a broken dagger. She came to the independent trading city for a certain purpose. Behind her sad eyes, her secrets and purpose are hidden.

Leesa Oakwood

Lisa is Luke's childhood friend. She has a cheerful and positive personality, and aims to become a knight to protect the independent trading city and the people who live there. Luke's workshop, "Lisa," is named after her, and her presence symbolizes Luke's past and future.

Production and staff

The animation for "The Sacred Blacksmith" was produced by Mangrove. It was directed by Masamitsu Hidaka, with series composition by Masashi Suzuki, and character design and general animation direction by Jun Nakai. The original story was written by Isao Miura, character designs by Ranna, and music by Tamiya Terashima. It was produced by Media Factory, Earth Star Entertainment, Nippon Cultural Broadcasting, and AT-X.

The production staff of this work faithfully reproduced the worldview of the original work while taking advantage of the expressive power that only anime can bring to the story. In particular, the power of the battle scenes and the detailed expressions of the characters leave a strong impression on the viewer. Music is also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the story, enhancing the emotions of the viewer.

Broadcast and Streaming

"The Sacred Blacksmith" aired a total of 12 episodes from October 3, 2009 to December 19, 2009. It was broadcast on AT-X, UHF, and Cho! A&G+, with each station having its own broadcast time. It was also streamed online, with Cho! A&G+ broadcasting two episodes at a time.

During the broadcast period, viewers paid close attention to the subtitles and story development of each episode, which became a hot topic. In particular, the final episode, "Swordsmith - Blacksmith -", depicted the climax of the story and left a strong impression on viewers.

Theme songs and music

The opening theme for "Seiken no Katanaji" is "JUSTICE of LIGHT", and the ending theme is "Miracle Happy Day" and "JUSTICE of LIGHT". The opening theme was sung by Mayumi Gojo, and the ending theme was sung by Aki Toyosaki, who plays Lisa. The lyrics for the theme song were written by Yuriko Mori, the music was composed by Takafumi Iwasaki and Rio Arai, and the arrangement was done by Rio Arai.

The theme songs captured the hearts of viewers with lyrics and melodies that reflected the theme of the story and the feelings of the characters. In particular, the opening song "JUSTICE of LIGHT" left a strong impression on viewers with its powerful melody and lyrics that symbolize Cecily's beliefs and Luke's past. The ending song "Miracle Happy Day" expressed Lisa's cheerful personality and the hope of the story, providing healing and energy to viewers.

Ratings and Recommendations

"The Sacred Blacksmith" is a work that leaves a strong impression on viewers with its deep storyline, attractive characters, and high-quality production and music. In particular, the story of Cecily's growth and the secrets of Luke's past evoke empathy and emotion in viewers. In addition, the power of the battle scenes and the detailed expressions of the characters are also points not to be missed.

This work is highly recommended for viewers who enjoy fantasy and action, as well as those who are interested in character development and changes in relationships. It is also recommended for viewers who have read the original light novel, as it is a work that can be enjoyed with the expressive power that is unique to anime.

"The Sacred Blacksmith" is a wonderful work that will move and excite viewers, and I hope that many people will watch it. I hope that viewers will join in on this adventure while paying attention to the development of the story and the growth of the characters.