Tales of Zestiria the Cross: A Must-See Review for Anime Fans

Tales of Zestiria the Cross: The epic journey from game to anime

"Tales of Zestiria the Cross" is a TV anime series based on Bandai Namco Entertainment's popular game series "Tales of Zestiria." A total of 13 episodes were broadcast on TOKYO MX and BS11 from July 3rd to September 25th, 2016. The series was directed by Haruo Tonozaki and produced by ufotable, bringing together a stellar team of staff who have succeeded in bringing out the charm of the original work to its fullest.

Story and worldview

Tales of Zestiria the Cross is set in Greyrat, a world where humans and spirits coexist. In this world, the "impurity" created by humans torments the spirits and brings the world to the brink of collapse. The protagonist, Sorey, begins his journey as a "mentor" who purifies the "impurity" while fighting alongside the spirits. His journey is also a journey to deepen his bonds with his companions and find the meaning of his own existence.

While the anime version is based on the story of the original game, new characters and episodes have been added, making the story more in-depth. In particular, Rose and Artorias, who were minor characters in the original, now appear as main characters, and the world is depicted from their perspective, allowing you to enjoy the story from a different perspective than the original.

Characters and cast

The main character, Sorey, is played by voice actor Kaito Ishikawa. Ishikawa's voice makes his pure and strong-willed character even more charming. Sorey's childhood friend Mikleo, who walks the path of a mentor alongside him, is voiced by Ayumu Murase. Mikleo's calmness and kindness are carefully expressed by Murase's voice.

The newly added character Rose is voiced by Ai Kayano. Her character's mix of strength and fragility is portrayed realistically through Kayano's voice. Arthur is voiced by Junichi Suwabe, whose deep thoughts and conflicts are brought to life by Suwabe's voice.

Animation and Music

The animation by ufotable faithfully reproduces the beautiful graphics of the original game while also depicting the dynamic action scenes that only anime can offer. In particular, the scenes in which the guru and the spirits fight together demonstrate ufotable's technical capabilities to the fullest, creating a powerful visual impact.

The music was composed by Sakuraba Motoi, the composer of the original game. While continuing the grand music of the original, many original songs were also created for the anime, and the emotional music that matches the development of the story will captivate the hearts of viewers. The opening theme, "Kaze no Uta," is by FLOW, and its powerful melody symbolizes the beginning of the adventure. The ending theme, "Calling," is by SCREEN mode, and its gentle melody evokes the bond between friends, leaving a strong impression.

Evaluation and Impressions

Tales of Zestiria the Cross has been highly praised not only by fans of the original game, but also by anime fans. In particular, the addition of new characters and episodes has been highly praised for allowing viewers to enjoy the story from a different perspective than the original. In addition, ufotable's beautiful animation and Sakuraba Motoi's music have succeeded in drawing viewers in visually and aurally.

However, some fans have said that the changes to the original story and the addition of new characters have diminished the appeal of the original, and opinions are divided on how well the characters of Rose and Artorias fit into the world of the original.

Recommendations and related works

For those who enjoyed "Tales of Zestiria the Cross," we also recommend other titles in the "Tales of" series. In particular, "Tales of Berseria" is a sequel to "Zestiria," and a new story unfolds in the same world. Also, "Tales of Arise" is the latest title, and introduces a new world view and characters, bringing out new appeal in the series.

I also recommend other anime works produced by ufotable. In particular, "Fate/Zero" and "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" fully demonstrate ufotable's technical skills and beautiful animation, and have a strong visual impact. By watching these works, you will be able to understand the appeal of ufotable even more deeply.

summary

"Tales of Zestiria the Cross" is a masterpiece anime that draws out the charm of the original game to the fullest while depicting the story from a new perspective. ufotable's beautiful animation and Sakuraba Motoi's music successfully draw the viewer in visually and aurally. This is a work that is recommended not only for fans of the original game but also for anime fans, so please give it a watch.