The appeal and reviews of DOG DAYS: A thorough explanation of the fun of an alternative world fantasy

"DOG DAYS" - A story of battles and friendship in another world

"DOG DAYS" is a TV anime series that aired in 2011, and is an original work by Masaki Tsuzuki. It is a fantasy action story set in the parallel world of "Flonyard", where a boy named Shinku Izumi is summoned from Earth and fights alongside Princess Millhiore of the Republic of Biscotti. In this article, we will take a closer look at the appeal, highlights, characters, and production background of "DOG DAYS".

■ Story

DOG DAYS is set in the world of Fronyard, where wars between nations are frequent. The Republic of Biscotti is under attack from its neighbor, the Garret Lion Empire, and has suffered repeated defeats under the fierce attacks of Princess Leonmichelli, the leader of the Garret Lion Empire. Princess Millhiore of the Republic of Biscotti, heartbroken by the current state of her country, resolves to summon a "hero to save the country" from another world. The chosen hero is a boy named Shinku Izumi, a first-year junior high school student living in Kinokawa City, Japan on Earth.

Cinque is summoned to Fronyard on the last day of school just before spring break, and in this other world, he faces days of "war" that are fought under certain unusual rules. Through battles with worthy opponents such as Princess Leo, the lord of the Garrett Lion Kingdom, and Prince Gaul, and through interactions with the people of Millhiore and Biscotti, Cinque grows as a "hero." The story unfolds as to whether Cinque, who loves circus action and athletics, will be able to save Biscotti and Millhi.

■ Characters

Earthling

Shink Izumi (13)
He is a half-British, half-Japanese boy in his first year of junior high school, attending an international school in Japan. He has a bright, honest personality and does things at his own pace. He is passionate about circus action and athletics, and loves exercise. Although he has no experience in martial arts, he practices stick fighting as part of his practice for "picturesque action". When he decides to do something, he can show his straightforward, passionate side, but he is usually a bit airheaded. He is summoned to the other world, the Republic of Fronyard Biscotti, as a hero, and takes Biscotti's sacred sword "Palladion" (now called "Staff") in hand, and plays an active role as Princess Millhiore's "hero".

Rebecca Anderson (13)
She is a friend of Shink's and a first-year junior high school student who attends the same international school. She is a caring girl who understands Shink the best. She is an ordinary girl who likes fashion, games, manga, and fantasy novels. She is looking forward to her promise to Shink to go on a cherry blossom viewing trip with Shink, his parents, and her own mother for the last three days of spring break.

Republic of Biscotti

Milhiore F. Biscotti / Milhi (14)
She is the princess of the Republic of Biscotti, and a girl who serves as the country's representative as a feudal lord. She has a gentle and soft personality, but is serious and hardworking. She is a hardworking princess who is loved by her citizens and subordinates. She is also a singer, and sometimes holds concerts at events to perform songs for the citizens and the world. She is the person who selected and summoned Shinku as the hero. She wants to be friends with Shinku, while taking good care of him as the "Hero of Biscotti." She is also the holder of the holy sword "Excelleed," which is the counterpart to Paladion.

Eclair Martinozzi (14)
He is the captain of the Biscotti Knights' Millhiore direct guard. He has trained as a knight since he was a child, and is a master of dual-wielding swords. He has a serious personality but is a bit of a stickler, and is troubled by Shinku's "naivety" despite being called the hero, and is also in charge of making comments to Shinku. He has a deep respect for his master, Millhiore, and is determined to serve him wholeheartedly. He is a bit self-conscious about his short droopy ears.

Ricotta Elmar (13)
He is the head researcher at the Biscotti National Research Academy. He is an intellectual despite his appearance. He and Milch are best friends, transcending their status and roles. He has many friends in the Knights, including Eclair Yukikaze. He will do his best to solve a "certain problem" that Shink will have to deal with after being called as the hero. He has a propensity to want to take apart unfamiliar machines. He has a small animal-like disposition, and is known for speaking in a "it is..." style.

Roland Martinozzi <br> He is the commander of the Biscotti Knights. He has a serious personality and is someone Milch trusts like an older brother. As the commander of the Biscotti Knights, he oversees preparations for battle together with the Biscotti Knights. Because he is so serious, he also has a lot of hardships.

Brioche D'Arquian <br> A free knight belonging to the Biscotti Knights, he is known as the strongest sword knight on the continent, surpassing the "strongest in Biscotti." His combat ability with a large sword is top-notch. A free spirit unconstrained by formalities, he loves elegance and alcohol, and has a calm personality that is not easily shaken by anything, but on the battlefield he is a born warrior who mows down enemies with vigor. He is also the leader of the "Onmitsu Squad," which is made up of trained dogs, and has a secret mission. He speaks in an unusual manner, using "I" and "Gozaru."

Yukikaze Panettone <br> A free knight of the Biscotti Knights, he travels with Brioche. He is the leader of the "Onmitsu Squad" and gets along with the dog and fox members of the squad like brothers. He has a bright personality and is good friends with the rest of the Knights and Ricotta. He quickly became good friends with Cinque too. His nickname is "Yukki". He makes full use of his agility, running ability, and athletic ability in combat techniques, and is adept at using a variety of weapons such as bare-handed combat, short swords, and bows. He uses the same speech pattern as Brioche, saying "I" and "Thank you." He calls Brioche "Master" and is fond of him.

Amelita Trumpe <br> She is Milch's secretary. She supports Milch both in her private and public life, keeping track of Milch's busy schedule, which includes official duties, battles, and concerts. Because of her position, she has many opportunities to talk with Roland, the leader of the Knights.

Liselle Conchiglie <br> She is the head maid of Filianno Castle. As the commander of the maid corps directly under the Princess, she protects the cleanliness of the castle and the health and safety of the Princess. Her charming point is her lines.

Garrett Lion Territory Citizen

Leon Michelle Galette des Rois / Leo (16)
She is the princess and lord of the Garrett Lion Territory. Her nickname is "Princess Leo," but since becoming lord, she has almost always said, "Call me Your Excellency." A fearless and courageous warrior, she rushes into battle wearing heavy armor and large weapons. She uses "I" as her first-person pronoun and speaks in a "ja" style. She is childhood friends with Milch, and when they were young, they were as close as sisters. Carrying the hopes of the war-loving people of Garrett, she devotes herself to the war business.

Gaul Galette des Rois / Gau (13)
Leo's younger brother and a Garrett warrior. A confident, capable, and passionate man. A lightly-armored warrior with a similar fighting style to Sink. Has he become Sink's rival through battle...? Like his sister, he is rough around the edges, but he never forgets gratitude and is considerate and caring towards those he doesn't dislike. His direct subordinates include the heavy warrior General Godwin and the royal guard trio "Genoise," making him a prince who is surprisingly popular.

Franboise Charley <br> A reporter for the Galette National Broadcasting Corporation. She is in charge of live coverage of fight events and reports from the field, and livens up the coverage with her passionate announcements.

General Godwin <br> A general of Garrett. He has great respect and admiration for Gaul, who serves him directly. He has a bold personality and enjoys rampaging on the battlefield, and is a fearsome presence who mows down his enemies by swinging around a giant battle axe with a giant iron ball attached to it. His full name is Godwin Druel.

General Bernard <br> He is the commander of the Knights of the Gared Lion Territory. He is in charge of all war shows in Garett and is a hard worker who supports most of Leo's official duties related to the war. He often sits as a commentator during live broadcasts of battles. He is an old friend of Roland, the commander of the Knights of Biscotti. Incidentally, he is married. His full name is Bernard Sablage.

Noir <br> He is silent and expressionless. He is skilled in using daggers and knives, and defeats his enemies with elegant technique. He appears to be a thoughtful and intelligent person, but surprisingly often forgets to "check important things." His full name is Noir Vinocacao.

Jaune <br> He is a cheerful man who speaks with an intonation unique to the West. He is a powerful fighter with great strength who uses a giant "anchor axe" as a weapon during battles. His current goal is to beat Godwin in arm wrestling. (Current record: 0 wins, 92 losses) His full name is Jaune Crafty.

Beale <br> He's a laid-back, easy-going guy. His weapon is a bow and arrow, and he's an expert in both power and accuracy. In everyday life, he has a serious flaw: he's "destructively clumsy." His full name is Beale Favreton.

■Production Background

DOG DAYS is a work produced by the animation production company Seven Arcs, and was planned and produced by PROJECT DD (Aniplex, Seven Arcs, King Records, Bandai Namco Games, Good Smile Company). It is directed by Keizo Kusakawa, character designed by Osamu Sakata, and written by Masaki Tsuzuki, who also wrote the original work.

This work is set apart from other works by introducing unique rules and a unique worldview while depicting themes such as battle, friendship, and growth within the genre of fantasy set in another world. In particular, the fact that there is no death rule in battles and that the purpose of the battles is "performance" gave viewers a fresh surprise. In addition, the personalities and relationships of the characters are also appealing, and the friendship between Cinque and Millhiore and the rivalry between Cinque and Gaul attracted many viewers.

■Broadcast information

DOG DAYS aired from April 2nd to June 25th, 2011, and consisted of 13 episodes. It was available on TV stations across the country, including TOKYO MX, Tochigi TV, Gunma TV, Chiba TV, tvk, Teletama, Mainichi Broadcasting System, Chubu Nippon Broadcasting, BS11, and ANIPLUS. Each episode was 30 minutes long, and new episodes were available every week.

■Subtitle

The subtitles for each episode are as follows:

• EPISODE 1/"Birth of a Hero!"
• EPISODE 2/"My First Battle!"
• EPISODE 3 / "I want to go home! Can't I go home? The hero in Fronyard!"
• EPISODE 4/ "Charge! Battle to Rescue the Princess!!"
• EPISODE 5: "Fierce Battle! Mion Fortress!"
• EPISODE 6/"The Stargazing Princess"
• EPISODE 7: "Declaration of War"
• EPISODE 8: "The Day the War Started"
• EPISODE 9: The Battle of Grana Fort
• EPISODE 10: "The Hero, the Princess, and the Light of Hope"
• EPISODE 11/"Flowers Dancing in the Night Sky"
• EPISODE 12/"Four Conditions"
• EPISODE 13/"Promise"

■ Theme songs and music

The opening theme, "SCARLET KNIGHT" by Nana Mizuki, was used throughout all 13 episodes. The ending theme, "PRESENTER" by Yui Horie, was also used throughout all 13 episodes. These songs are important elements that enhance the atmosphere of the work.

■ Rating and highlights

DOG DAYS has attracted many viewers with its unique worldview and the appeal of its characters, even within the genre of fantasy set in another world. In particular, the fact that the rule for battles is "no death" and that the purpose of the battles is "performance" gave viewers a fresh surprise. In addition, the personalities and relationships of the characters were also appealing, and the friendship between Cinque and Millhiore and the rivalry between Cinque and Gaul attracted many viewers.

Highlights of the series include Shinku's growth story, the battle between Biscotti and Galette, and the interactions between the characters. In particular, Shinku's growth as a hero and the friendship and bond he shows during the battle between Biscotti and Galette moved viewers. Additionally, the personalities and relationships of the characters were also appealing, and the friendship between Shinku and Millhiore and the rivalry between Shinku and Gaul attracted many viewers.

■Recommendation

DOG DAYS has attracted many viewers with its unique worldview and the appeal of its characters, even within the genre of fantasy set in another world. In particular, the fact that the rule for battles is "no death" and that the purpose of the battles is "performance" gave viewers a fresh surprise. In addition, the personalities and relationships of the characters were also appealing, and the friendship between Cinque and Millhiore and the rivalry between Cinque and Gaul attracted many viewers.

This work is especially recommended for those who like fantasy and action in other worlds. It is also a work that can be enjoyed by those who like stories that depict character growth, friendship, and bonds. Please give it a watch.