Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike - A must-see prequel for fans

The appeal and reviews of Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike

Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike is an anime film released on October 3, 2009, distributed by Kadokawa Pictures and produced by Production IG. The film is a prequel to Bandai Namco Games' popular RPG Tales of Vesperia, and is set in a time before the events of the game. It is directed by Kanta Kamei, written by Reiko Yoshida, and character designed by Noriyuki Matsutake based on an original idea by Kosuke Fujishima. The 110-minute film depicts a story woven by a spectacular worldview and unique characters from a new perspective.

story

Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike is set in a world several years after the end of the Human-Demon War. After the death of the previous Emperor, the Empire was left vacant, but the world generally seemed at peace. People were trying to build prosperity by using the fundamental power called "Earl." The Earl was crystallized and called "Magic Cores," which were used as the power source for "Plastia," which are essential to life.

One day, in the deep forest near the town of Sizontania, rookie knights Yuri Lowell and Flynn Scifo, who belong to the Imperial Knights of the Nyren Corps, and twin sister knights Hiska and Shastir were on a mission to investigate an abnormal eruption of Airl and to repel the monsters that accompanied it. Yuri is a young man who admired the Knights and joined the order with ideals in his heart, while Flynn is a serious young man who values ​​discipline and justice. The two were childhood friends who grew up in the downtown area of ​​the imperial capital of Zaphias, and they met again for the first time in several years at the induction ceremony.

While investigating the strange phenomenon, Captain Nyren suspects that there is an unknown magical device in the ruins of the forest. Then, as they continue their search, a large-scale strange event occurs that engulfs the entire Sizontania region. Although they work together as members of the Knights, Yuri and Flynn are at odds with each other due to their different principles. After learning about the dark side of the empire, the two are forced to decide whether to follow their own ideas of "justice."

character

The protagonist of this work, Yuri Lowell, is a righteous young man who grew up in the downtown area of ​​the imperial capital, Zaphias, and has just joined the Imperial Knights. He and his childhood friend, Flynn Scifo, recognize each other's abilities, but they have a mutually antagonistic relationship. Flynn is a serious but inflexible young man with blond hair and blue eyes who holds his own ideals in his heart, and he reunites with Yuri for the first time in several years.

Nyren is the captain of the unit to which Yuri and Flynn are assigned. He is a bold and sometimes rough person, but his hidden past drives him to a strong sense of justice. Hiska and Shastir are twin sisters who are senior knights who guide Yuri and Flynn. Hiska watches over Yuri with kindness, while Shastir supervises and trains Flynn, supporting him by using healing and defensive magic.

Estellise is a kind-hearted girl who lives in the imperial capital of Zaphias Castle, but as a candidate for the next emperor, she has been caught up in a conflict within the palace and is under house arrest. Rita is a genius magical girl, but an eccentric character who is absorbed in researching magical devices in a remote laboratory. Melzom is the leader of the Sizontania guild, and is a man of great loyalty and humanity who is well-liked by those around him. Raven is a middle-aged drifter who appears out of nowhere, is extremely suspicious, and has a careless and careless personality, but occasionally mutters suggestive words.

Production background and staff

Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike is the first theatrical anime film in the Tales of series. Production IG is a studio that has worked on many of the opening movies for the Tales of series, and they made this film using their experience. Director Kanta Kamei has succeeded in telling the story from a new perspective while faithfully recreating the worldview of the game.

Screenwriter Yoshida Reiko based the story on the game, but added unique developments for the film, providing viewers with a fresh experience. Character designer Matsutake Noriyuki worked on the original ideas of Fujishima Kosuke, creating designs that accentuate the individuality of the characters. Sub-character designer Saito Takuya and prop designer Kaneko Shuichi also played important roles in enriching the worldview of the work.

The music was composed by Akira Senjyu, and the theme song "Ring the Bell" was written, composed, and sung by BONNIE PINK. This song has a beautiful melody that symbolizes the movie's themes of "justice" and "friendship," and will resonate deeply with viewers.

Evaluation and Impressions

Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike has been highly praised not only by game fans, but also by anime fans. In particular, the story of the friendship and conflict between Yuri and Flynn resonated with viewers. The grand world view and beautiful visuals were also highly praised, fully demonstrating Production IG's production capabilities.

The performances of the characters, which highlight their individual personalities, were also superb, and in particular the performances of Toriumi Kosuke as Yuri and Miyano Mamoru as Flynn captured the hearts of viewers. Taniguchi Setsugu as Nyren, Ogasawara Arisa as Hiska, and Mizusawa Fumie as Shastir also gave charming performances of their respective characters.

This work can be enjoyed not only as a prequel to the main game, but also as an independent story. The story of Yuri and Flynn's growth and friendship, and the dark side of the empire, will deeply move viewers. In addition, the beautiful visuals and music make it a work worth seeing in the cinema.

Recommended points

Here are some reasons why we recommend Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike:

• A spectacular world view and beautiful visuals : The beautiful visuals, which fully demonstrate Production IG's production skills, draw the viewer into the game's world.
• Unique characters and a deep story : The story of the friendship and conflict between Yuri and Flynn, as well as the dark side of the empire, will capture the hearts of viewers.
• Inspiring Music and Theme Song : Akira Senjyu's music and BONNIE PINK's theme song, "Ring the Bell," have beautiful melodies that symbolize the theme of the film and will resonate deeply with viewers.
• Enjoyable for both game and anime fans : It can be enjoyed not only as a prequel to the main game, but also as a standalone story, so it is recommended for both game and anime fans.

Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike is a work that has a spectacular worldview, unique characters, and a deep story. It is a must-watch for both game and anime fans.