Senki Zesshō Symphogear XV review: The ultimate fusion of music and battle

A comprehensive review and recommendation of Senki Zesshou Symphogear XV - Senki Zesshou Symphogear XV -

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Broadcast period

July 7, 2019 - September 29, 2019
1:00～

■Broadcasting station

TOKYO MX, BS11

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 13

■Original Story

Noriyasu Agematsu and Akifumi Kaneko

■ Director

Katsumi Ono

■ Production

・Animation production: Satelight

■Works

©Project Symphogear XV

■ Story

Adam Weishaupt, the original human form who attempted to slay God himself using the power of God, was defeated by a Symphogear that was transmuted into gold using Lapis Philosophicus, the power source that Saint Germain and his companions desired.

The Pavalia Illuminati Society, which had been operating in secret, was thus disintegrated, and its remnants were cornered by the efforts of organizations from various countries.

and--
The Pavlia Illuminati Society is not the only one feeling cornered.

The former superpower, the United States, was also criticized and investigated for firing reactive weapons at Japan, leading to its isolation from the international community.

The deadlocked situation could become the spark for a new global conflict, so a swift political solution is desired, but progress is slow as the complex motives of the various nations are constantly intertwined and causing friction.

Although Japan, the country in question, has introduced a cooperative policy with the United States and is trying to appeal for a repaired relationship, the mood remains somewhat chilly and superficial, and no breakthrough has been achieved in the situation.

The future of the world remains unclear.

Furthermore, the tense atmosphere was there too.

Hibiki Tachibana and Miku Kohinata, high school students attending the private Lydian Music Academy, are riding in a gondola on the Ferris wheel, a popular date spot that offers a panoramic view of Tokyo's landmarks.

The taiyaki they received was filled with shiratama (rice flour dumplings) and was absolutely delicious.
The bean paste was not too sweet and had a texture similar to that of zenzai, making it perfect.

Still, the tension between them started when Mirai casually asked Hibiki a question.

What is going on in Hibiki's heart as she struggles to respond?

Many stories woven from the past to the present converge in XV.

The battle for the holy remains takes place in the middle of midsummer.

The girls' singing voices shine against the backdrop of the sparkling lake surface.

■Explanation

This latest work is the culmination of the original TV animation series "Senki Zesshō Symphogear," which aims to fuse songs and stories, and is created by Noriyasu Agematsu, representative of the sound production group "Elements Garden," and Akifumi Kaneko, who has planned and developed game titles of all genres, including RPGs.

■Cast

・Hibiki Tachibana／Aoi Yuki・Tsubasa Kazanari／Nana Mizuki・Chris Yukine／Ayahi Takagaki・Maria Cadenzavna・Eve／Yoko Hikasa・Shibari Tsukuyomi／Aino Nanjo・Kirika Akatsuki／Ai Kayano・Mirai Kohinata／Yuka Iguchi・Elfnein／Misaki Kuno

■ Main staff

Original author: Noriyasu Agematsu, Akifumi Kaneko Director: Katsumi Ono Series composition: Akifumi Kaneko Music producer: Noriyasu Agematsu Music: Elements Garden
Original character design/Yoshii DanCharacter design/Fujimoto SatoruChief animation director/Fujimoto SatoruAssistant director/Mitsuda FumiakiArca/noise design/Mitsuda FumiakiChief animation directors/Kabashima Yosuke, Futsuzawa TokiemonAction directors/Shikichi Koki, Sugie Toshiharu, Nakakoji Yoshiki, Takashima HiroyukiMain animators/Ohkubo Yoshiyuki, Sakamoto Shunta, HanyuMechanic design/Okawa Hiroyuki, Kawahara TomohiroArt design/Niem Vincent, Locatelli Loic, Lugar Yang, Guillaume Joannat, Koyama Mayuko, Aoki TomoyukiArt directors/Watanabe Yukihiro, Kikuchi AkikoColor design/Shinohara Aiko
CG Director: Hironori Morino Director of Photography: Go Shimura
2D Works / Jiro Kageyama Special Effects / Ayaka Iida Editing / Ryoko Kaneshige Sound Director / Satoshi Motoyama Animation Production / Satelight Production Project / Symphogear XV

■ Main Characters

Hibiki Tachibana A once ordinary girl who finds herself thrown into a brutal battle due to a series of unexpected events.

He is a positive person with a strong sense of cheerfulness that not only influences himself but also those around him.

Initially, she was not a compatible candidate, but was a "fusion case" and wore a Symphogear made from a fragment of the holy relic "Gungnir."

Since the death of the saint was confirmed, a curse had been built up over the 2000 years since Gungnir's death, and its functions had been tampered with to deliver a fatal blow to the gods.
For this reason, Hibiki's Fist is referred to as the "God Killer" with a sense of awe and hope.
・Kazunari Tsubasa A top artist who made it from Japan to the UK, he is now a defender.

His fighting skills and spirit, honed from a young age, are reliable and give him an unparalleled presence on the battlefield.
(On the other hand, his daily life is full of flaws that are lovable, and in one word, sloppy.)

She wears a Symphogear made from a fragment of the holy relic "Ame no Habakiri."

When he lost his irreplaceable wing, he showed a glimpse of his emotional fragility, but once he overcame his grief and found the path he needed to follow, his resolve and tone of voice became complete.
Yukine Chris A lonely girl who grew up in the politically unstable Republic of Valverde, a war-torn region of South America.

In the past, he was hostile towards Hibiki and Tsubasa due to his raw heart, but after a clash of raw emotions, they reconciled and have continued to do so to this day.

She wears a Symphogear made from a fragment of the holy relic "Ichiival."

He has a gentle and kind heart, which is the complete opposite of his rough behavior.
He also achieves excellent results academically, but perhaps due to his violent behavior, this is often not apparent.
Elfnein: A talented woman who serves as an advisor in the field of unorthodox technology, especially alchemy, within SONG, which confronts all kinds of paranormal incidents.

This body was given to him by the alchemist Carol, who is like another version of himself.

Rather than being a workaholic, he is the type who doesn't know anything other than work.
Even on holidays, he never leaves headquarters, instead devoting himself to observing areas of the brain, which could be considered a hobby, in the lab.

■ Main robot items

・Symphogear System
A collective term for the various functions created from fragments of relics based on the "Sakurai Theory" proposed by Sakurai Ryoko, the technical chief of the Disaster Countermeasures Mobile Unit Second Section, the predecessor of SONG.

The Symphogear's greatest feature is that when the Symphogear System is activated, it has a built-in mechanism that resonates with the emotions and thoughts of the wearer and plays a melody; by singing along with that melody, the Symphogear unleashes its battle potential in a synergistic way.

With the death of its developer, Sakurai Ryoko, it is now impossible to create a new Symphogear system, and it has now become a lost technology.
・Holy Relic: A term that refers to weapons and other objects with supernatural properties that appear in myths and legends from all over the world.

They are the culmination of a heretical black art that cannot be manufactured today, and many have been excavated from ruins and other sources.

Even when excavated, it is rare to find one that remains in its original state due to deterioration and damage caused by age, and in most cases it exists as a "fragment of a holy relic."

The relic, which is in its ground state, becomes excited by the power of the song, unleashing its power.
・LINKER
A connecting agent that connects the Symphogear System to the human body's nerves.

As long as one has a certain level of aptitude (compatibility coefficient), it has the effect of instantly making one compatible with the Symphogear system by forcibly raising that "certain level."

Naturally, the greater the increase in qualities, the greater the burden placed on the human body, and the test subject usually goes into shock and collapses, resulting in a dangerously intense pharmacological effect that produces a large number of dead and invalids before any compatible candidates can be produced.

The developer was Sakurai Ryoko, just like the Symphogear System, but the FIS biochemistry team then, led by Dr. Well, further improved the LiNKER, developing a less stressful LiNKER and a safer method of internal cleansing with the main theme of being "gentle on you."
The final recipe was perfected by Elfnein, SONG's alchemy technical advisor.

Currently, three users, Maria Cadenzavna Eve, Tsukuyomi Shirabe, and Akatsuki Kirika, are using the Symphogear System through LiNKER.

■Subtitle

・Episode 1: From the Far Side of Human History ・Episode 2: The Day the Sky Falls ・Episode 3: Penny Dreadful
Episode 4: The Name of the Flower is Amalgam Episode 5: The Secret of the Bag Episode 6: Xenograsia Episode 7: Cutting the Tangled Thread Episode 8: XV
・Episode 9: I am a father
Episode 10: Not a lowly rust color Episode 11: First words Episode 12: The voice of the warrior princess Episode 13: Let's create history with a light that even God doesn't know

■ Related works

Senki Zesshou SymphogearSenki Zesshou Symphogear G
Senki Zesshou Symphogear GX
Symphogear AXZ
Senki Zesshou Symphogear XD UNLIMITED
Senki Zesshou Symphogear PORTAL

■ Evaluation and recommendation

"Senki Zessho Symphogear XV" is a wonderful work that does not disappoint as the culmination of the series. The story depicts the growth and struggles of girls including Hibiki Tachibana against the backdrop of the grand theme of defeating a god with the power of the gods. In particular, the relationship between Hibiki and Mirai and the deep exploration of each character's inner thoughts are superb, drawing viewers in.

The animation was produced by Satelight, and the quality is high, with impressive battle scenes and beautiful character designs. In particular, the visual expression of the Symphogear system leaves a strong impression of a unique worldview where song and battle are integrated. The music was also produced by Elements Garden, and the moving melodies that are integrated with the story resonate throughout the film.

The cast is also impressive, with the acting skills of the voice actors, including Aoi Yuki, Nana Mizuki, and Ayahi Takagaki, bringing out the charm of the characters to the fullest. In particular, Aoi Yuki's performance as Hibiki Tachibana, who supports Hibiki's growth, has the power to move the hearts of viewers.

In terms of the story, the show reflects real-world issues such as the collapse of the Pavalia Society and international issues with the United States. This makes it more than just a fantasy, it also contains a deep social message. The subtitles of each episode also symbolize the development of the story, and are designed to attract the viewer's interest.

The related series "Senki Zessho Symphogear" depicts different themes and character growth in each season, and XV is positioned as the culmination of the series. For fans who have watched the previous series, it will be a moving finale that will allow them to see the growth and conclusion of Hibiki and her friends.

The recommended points are as follows:

• Grand themes and deep character portrayals
• High quality animation and music
• Performances by a stellar cast
• Stories with social messages
• Character development and endings throughout the series

"Senki Zessho Symphogear XV" is a work that allows you to enjoy a unique world view that combines singing and combat, a deep story, and character growth. It is highly recommended not only for fans of the series, but also for those who want to enjoy action and music. Please experience this moving finale.