Review of "The Crows of the Harem": Enjoy the enchanting world and profound story

"The Crows of the Harem": The Mysterious Story of the Crow Queen and Its Appeal

"The Crows of the Harem" is a TV anime series based on a light novel by Konko Shirakawa, which aired from October 1 to December 24, 2022. This work centers on the story of the mysterious Crow Queen, Suetsu, who lives deep in the harem, and depicts a "secret" that overturns history, beginning with her encounter with Emperor Gaojun. Below, we will introduce detailed information and the appeal of this work.

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

Light novel

■ Broadcast period

October 1, 2022 - December 24, 2022

■TV Broadcast

• TOKYO MX October 1, 2022 to December 24, 2022 (1st to 13th episodes) Every Saturday 23:30 to 0:00
• Tochigi TV October 1, 2022 to December 24, 2022 (episodes 1 to 13) Every Saturday 23:30 to 0:00
• Gunma Television October 1, 2022 to December 24, 2022 (episodes 1 to 13) Every Saturday 23:30 to 0:00
• BS11 October 1, 2022 to December 24, 2022 (episodes 1 to 13) Every Saturday 23:30 to 0:00
• AT-X October 2, 2022 to December 25, 2022 (episodes 1 to 13) Every Sunday 21:30 to 22:00
• Kansai Telecasting Broadcasting October 3, 2022 to December 26, 2022 (episodes 1 to 13) Every Monday 2:29 to 2:59

■ Online distribution

• Amazon Prime Video October 1, 2022 (Episodes 1-13) Every Saturday from 24:00 (single fastest advance)
• Netflix October 4, 2022 (Episodes 1-13) Every Tuesday from 12:00
• d Anime Store October 4, 2022 (Episodes 1-13) Every Tuesday from 12:00
• d Anime Store for Prime Video October 4, 2022 (Episodes 1-13) Every Tuesday from 12:00
• d Anime Store Niconico Branch October 4, 2022 (Episodes 1-13) Every Tuesday from 12:00
• U-NEXT October 4, 2022 ~ (Episodes 1 to 13) Every Tuesday from 12:00
• Animehodai October 4, 2022 (1st to 13th episodes) Every Tuesday from 12:00
• ABEMA Premium October 4, 2022 (Episodes 1-13) Every Tuesday from 12:00
• Bandai Channel: October 4, 2022 (Episodes 1-13) Every Tuesday from 12:00
• Hulu October 4, 2022 - (Episodes 1-13) Every Tuesday from 12:00
• FOD October 4, 2022 (Episodes 1-13) Every Tuesday from 12:00
• GYAO! October 4, 2022 (Episodes 1-13) Every Tuesday from 12:00
• Niconico Channel October 4, 2022 (Episodes 1-13) Every Tuesday from 12:00
• Hikari TV October 4, 2022 (Episodes 1-13) Every Tuesday from 12:00
• Video Market October 4, 2022 (1st to 13th episodes) Every Tuesday from 12:00
• music.jp October 4, 2022 (1st to 13th) Every Tuesday from 12:00
• GYAO! Store October 4, 2022 (Episodes 1-13) Every Tuesday from 12:00
• TVer October 4, 2022 ~ (Episodes 1 to 13) Every Tuesday from 12:00
• Niconico Live Broadcast October 4, 2022 (1st to 13th) Every Tuesday from 22:00
• TELASA (unlimited viewing plan) October 4, 2022 - (episodes 1-13) Every Tuesday from 24:00
• J:COM On Demand Mega Pack October 4, 2022 (1st to 13th episodes) Every Tuesday from 24:00
• au Smart Pass Premium October 4, 2022 - (1st - 13th) Every Tuesday from 24:00
• milplus Unlimited Pack Prime October 4, 2022 (Episodes 1-13) Every Tuesday from 24:00

■Broadcasting station

Broadcast: TOKYO MX, BS11

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 13

■Original Story

Original work: Konko Shirakawa ^{, The Crows of the Harem, Shueisha Orange Bunko}

■ Director

・Director: Chizuru Miyawaki

■ Production

・Production: BN Pictures
Produced by: "The Crows of the Harem" Production Committee (Aniplex, Shueisha, Bandai Namco Pictures, Movic, Tohan, Marui Group, BS11, Kansai Telecasting)

■Works

©Shirakawa Konko/Shueisha, "The Crows of the Harem" Production Committee

■ Story

The Crow Queen lives deep within the palace, but is a special queen who does not engage in nighttime entertainment. Some who have seen her say she is an old woman, while others say she is a young girl. The Crow Queen's name is Jusetsu. She uses mysterious magic and can undertake anything, from curses to finding lost items. The emperor of the time, Koshun, visits Jusetsu to make a request. The encounter between the two leads to the uncovering of a "secret" that could overturn history...

■Explanation

What is the unknown identity of the lonely Crow Queen? The total number of copies of the series has exceeded 1.2 million. The Chinese fantasy tale drawn by the original author, Konko Shirakawa, begins here.

■Cast

・Yanagi Hisayuki/Mizuno Saku・Xia Gao Jun/Mizuno Masaaki・Wei Qing/Yatsushiro Taku・Kukyuu/Takano Marika・On Hotaru/Shimazaki Nobunaga・Tankai/Okamoto Nobuhiko・Issha/Hirata Mana・Cloud Flower Girl/Ueda Reina・Star Star/Sugiyama Riho・An Huilan, Nishi Wanlin/Kugimiya Rie・Saoka You/Otsuka Yoshitada・Xue Yuying/Sugita Tomokazu・Feng Yozuki/Ishida Akira・Hagoromo/Chafurin・Jusetsu's mother/Nakahara Mai・Luo Bingyue/Eguchi Takuya・Princess Pearl/Motoyoshi Yukiko・Feng Ikkou/Ogata Mitsuru・Koto Eiyao/Kinmoto Hisako・Xie Fei/Kawasumi Ayako・Xia Gao Jun (as a boy)/Koichi Makoto・Cloud Eitoku/Sugizaki Ryo, Guo Hao/Saito Soma, Xiao Cui, Ban Yingnu/Nuki Yuka, Su Hongqiao/Komatsu Naoko, Emperor Yan/Sasaki Yoshito, Empress Dowager/Katsuo Masako, Li Qiurong/Sugiyama Riho, Ah Xiu/Kojima Sachiko, Third Empress/Yamane Ki, Ye Qiancheng/Ichinose Kana, Ten Young Women/Shiraishi Haruka, Wei Qing's mother/Sakurai Hiromi, Shi Ken/Hatanaka Yu, Yasuran/Toriumi Kosuke, Shi Ken (as a child)/Fujiwara Natsumi, Yu Issa/Minami Mayu, Ah Xiu/Kojima Sachiko, Chang Huang Ying/Iwami Manaka, Keiko/Nakamura Kaori, He Mingyun/Arai Yuki, Hui Yao's brother/Shiraishi Kaneto, Xu Cheng/Amami Yurina, Qifu Shibi/Shiraishi Kaneto, Qin Takataka/Yoshi Ueda/Sue Uyo (boyhood)/Lynn
・Beautiful Girl (Girls' Generation) / Honoka Inoue ・Narration / Kikuko Inoue

■ Main staff

Original work: Konko Shirakawa "The Crows of the Harem" (Shueisha Orange Bunko)
Director: Miyawaki Chizuru Series Composition: Oshima Satomi Character Concept: Kaoko Character Design: Takeuchi Shinji Prop Design: Nakamura Yumi Art Design: Kono Jiro Art Director: Nakamura Norifumi Color Design: Utagawa Ritsuko Director of Photography: Watanabe Arimasa Editing: Shiraishi Akane Sound Director: Aketagawa Jin Music: Tachibana Asami Production: BN Pictures
Produced by: "The Crows of the Harem" Production Committee (Aniplex, Shueisha, Bandai Namco Pictures, Movic, Tohan, Marui Group, BS11, Kansai Telecasting)

■ Main Characters

・Ryuu Jusetsu
The current Crow Queen. She lives in seclusion in Meikyu Palace. She is a mysterious, solitary being who uses mysterious magic.
・Summer Takashun
A young emperor who has recently ascended to the throne, but was once deposed as crown prince.
・Wei Qing
A eunuch who swears absolute loyalty to Takajun.
・Multiplication tables
A former palace maid of the Hien Palace. She has a bright, honest and caring personality. She currently serves as a maid to Kotobuki at the Yomei Palace.
・Hot firefly
A eunuch who serves Gao Jun. He is in charge of guarding Shouxue at Wei Qing's command.
・Tankai
A eunuch who serves Takajun. He is good at gathering information.
・Ishha
A young eunuch at Hien Palace. He comes from a minority tribe.
・Cloud Flower Girl
She is the wife of En'oukyu and is also Takataka's childhood friend.
・Star Star
A golden chicken next to Kotobuki.

■ Main robot items

・Harem
The inner palace where the emperor's wives live. In addition to Yomei Palace, there are also the Mandarin Duck Palace, the Jakuso Palace, the Hakkaku Palace, and the Hien Palace. The daughters selected to be the emperor's wives live here, but Yomei Palace is the only exception.
・Meikyu Shrine
The inner palace has existed since the time of the previous dynasty. The emperor's will is not involved in the selection of the emperor's wife. Why does such a palace exist, and who is the Crow Empress? There is no record of this in the history books kept by the imperial court.
・Landlord
A title for the emperor.
・Ghost
The transformed soul of those who had regrets and were unable to cross over to paradise.
・Rakudo
The place where the soul is believed to go after death.
・Crow Queen (Uhi)
She is a descendant of a shrine maiden who served the goddess Urennyanyan.
・The Ran Clan
A member of the previous dynasty that was destroyed by Gao Jun's grandfather, Emperor Yan. All of them had beautiful silver hair. An order was issued by the Xia Dynasty to capture and kill them all.
・Xia Dynasty
Emperor Yan destroyed the Luan clan and established a new dynasty. After Emperor Yan's death, the Empress Dowager's misrule was rampant, but Gao Jun, who had been deposed as the crown prince, regained power. Gao Jun is the current emperor.
・Flower flute
At the end of winter, a flute is hung under the eaves to mourn the dead. It is said that the dead will return and play the flute with the wind that heralds the arrival of spring.
・Summoning the soul
One of the techniques used by the Crow Queen. It can summon a soul that has crossed over to Paradise once.
・Hakkukkyu Palace
The palace where the fourth-ranked empress lives.
・Crane Queen
A title for the princess who lives in Tokuzuru Palace.
・Seibyo Shrine
A building dedicated to Urennyan Niangniang.
・Winter official
The name for the divine officials who serve Urennyanyan.
・Yayui-shen
A god who hates bright light and is said to kidnap people in the darkness.
・King of Summer
A male king who governs the country and is succeeded by the males of the bloodline for generations. In one generation, King Song of Xia killed King Sui of Winter, which led to conflict between the armies of the Kings of Xia and Winter, and the country was devastated.
・King of Winter
A priestess queen who receives her powers from Wulian Niangniang and is in charge of rituals. A young girl was randomly chosen by oracle. After Sui was killed, Wulian Niangniang was silent for a long time and the Winter King did not appear.
・Amei
A term used affectionately to refer to younger women.
・Ahjie
A term used affectionately to refer to an older, younger woman.
・Hienkyu Palace
This palace is home to concubines lower in rank than the fourth rank (Tomari Palace).
・Madame Swallow
A title for the consort who lives in the Hien Palace.
・Resurrection
To bring back the souls of the dead and bring them back to life.
・Soufuukou (feeling of love)
A lily-scented incense scented for a beloved.
・Toonkaji
A word used by the Hatan people to address someone as "friend."
・Uren Niang Niang
A goddess who chooses the Winter King (the Crow Queen) and bestows oracles and powers upon him. Only on the night of the new moon does she leave the Crow Queen's body and wander about as the Night Wanderer (Yeiyushen).
・Jakusokyu
The palace where the third-ranked empress lives.
・Magpie
A name for the princess who lives in Jakusokyu Palace.
・Houjibou
This is where court ladies and court musicians wait.
・U-pan
A gathering of entertainers of singing, dancing and music.
・Shiu
A bird feather made from paper used for funerals.
・Children
An apprentice.
・Hidden Palace
A land said to be home to gods, located far across the sea.
・Toribe
The name of a bird that serves the owl and the crow. When gods fight each other, they cannot inflict damage unless they use the feathers of a bird.
・Owl
Karasu's older brother. He was in charge of executions at the Hidden Palace, known as the Hafuribe.
・Crow
Owl's younger sister. She was in charge of guiding the souls of the dead that washed up in the hidden palace, but was persuaded by the dead to return the soul and revive it, leading to her being exiled.

■Subtitle

・Episode 1: Jade Earrings (Part 1) (2022/10/01)
・Episode 2: Jade Earrings (2022/10/08)
・Episode 3: Flower Flute (2022/10/15)
・Episode 4: Princess Hibari (2022/10/22)
・Episode 5: The Pocket Knife (2022/10/29)
・Episode 6: King of Summer, King of Winter (2022/11/05)
・Episode 7: Praying to Glass (2022/11/12)
・Episode 8: Blue Swallow (2022/11/19)
・Episode 9: The Voice of Water (2022/11/26)
・Episode 10/Masked Man (2022/12/03)
・Episode 11/Preliminary (2022/12/10)
・Episode 12/Siblings (2022/12/17)
・Episode 13/Soufuukou (2022/12/24)

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・MYSTERIOUS
Lyrics: Avu Rose Garden Composition: Avu Rose Garden Arrangement: Queen Bee, Koji Tsukada Vocals: Queen Bee String Arrangement: Mio

・ED1
・Summer Snow・Lyrics by Iwai Fumito, krage
・Composition: Iwai Fumito ・Arrangement: Iwai Fumito ・Singer: krage

The appeal and evaluation of "The Crows of the Harem"

"The Crows of the Harem" has attracted many viewers with its unique worldview and deep story development. Below, we will explain in detail the appeal and evaluation of this work.

Charming characters

The greatest appeal of this work is its characters, each with their own unique personality. In particular, the main character, the Crow Queen Shouxue, is a mysterious figure, yet her loneliness and strength captures the hearts of viewers. Shouxue's mysterious magic and the secrets surrounding her add depth to the story. Also not to be missed are the growth of the young emperor Gao Jun and the relationships between the eunuchs surrounding him. Each character adds excitement to the story, from Wei Qing's loyalty and Jiu Jiu's cheerfulness to Wen Qian's role as his bodyguard.

Beautiful visuals and music

The beautiful visuals and music of "The Crows of the Harem" are also a major attraction. The production by BN Pictures skillfully expresses the splendor of the harem and the mysterious atmosphere of the Yomei Palace. In addition, the opening theme "MYSTERIOUS" and the ending theme "Summer Snow" further enhance the atmosphere of the story. In particular, Queen Bee's powerful singing voice and Krage's gentle melody resonate deeply in the hearts of viewers.

A profound story

The story of this work is depicted as a Chinese fantasy tale where history and fantasy intersect. The story begins with the meeting between Shouxue and Gao Jun, and gradually unfolds to reveal a big "secret." As the story progresses, various elements, such as the downfall of the Luan clan, the history of the Xia Dynasty, and the myth of Wulian Niangniang, intertwine, drawing viewers in to its profundity. The subtitles of each episode also hint at the development of the story, piquing viewers' interest.

Ratings and Recommendations

"The Crows of the Harem" has been highly praised not only by fans of the original work, but also by anime fans. It has been especially praised for its charming characters, beautiful visuals, and profound story development. It has also been highly praised for faithfully recreating the worldview of the original work while bringing out new charms through the expressiveness that only anime can provide.

The audience for this work is those who like historical and fantasy-themed stories, those who enjoy beautiful visuals and music, and those who want deep characters and stories. Also, for fans of the original work, the animated version of "The Crows of the Harem" will allow you to enjoy the story from a new perspective.

Conclusion

"The Crows of the Harem" is a Chinese fantasy tale where history and fantasy intersect through the story of the mysterious Crow Queen, Kouyuki. The unique characters, beautiful visuals and music, and profound story development have captured the hearts of viewers and received high praise. This work is recommended for those who like stories themed around history and fantasy, those who want to enjoy beautiful visuals and music, and those who are looking for deep characters and stories. Be sure to watch "The Crows of the Harem" and experience its charm for yourself.