The appeal and reviews of "Legend of Mana -The Teardrop Crystal-": A thorough analysis of the moving story and beautiful graphics

The appeal and evaluation of "Legend of Mana -The Teardrop Crystal-"

"Legend of Mana -The Teardrop Crystal-" is a TV anime series based on Square Enix's popular game series "Legend of Mana". A total of 12 episodes will be broadcast from October 8 to December 24, 2022, and it was produced as a project to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the series. This anime is based on the "Jewel Thief Arc", one of the main scenarios of the game "Legend of Mana", and depicts the adventures of a race called Tamami, who are looking for jewels.

story

The story begins when Shiloh, a young boy living near the town of Domina, hears a mysterious voice in his dreams. The voice tells Shiloh that he has a mission. One day, Shiloh meets two members of a race known as "Tamame", Ruri and Shinjuhime. The Tamame are a race in which many members have been killed in pursuit of the jewels buried in their chests, and even now, mysterious jewel thieves are attacking Tamamehs all over the world. Shiloh sets out on an adventure to find the Tamame jewels.

character

The main character, Shiloh, is a boy with a kind heart and a strong sense of justice, who becomes involved in an incident involving the Tamami after meeting Ruri and Princess Shinju. The other main character, Seraphina, is a bright and sociable girl whom Shiloh meets during his journey and helps him. Ruri is a Tamami knight whose core is Lapis Lazuli, and she often gets too passionate about Princess Shinju because she cares for her. Princess Shinju is a Tamami princess whose core is a white pearl, and she has a gentle personality and adores Shiloh, calling her "big brother."

Other characters include Lady Pearl, who has a black pearl core, Sandra, a jewel thief who only targets shiny gems, Emerald, the emerald spirit, Hotaruhime, who has a fluorite core, and Diana, who has a diamond core. Also, the unique supporting characters such as Bud and Corona, who live in Shiloh's house, the mysterious onion swordsman Duel, and Mr. Cactus, who Shiloh takes care of, are also appealing.

Worldview and setting

The setting of "Legend of Mana -The Teardrop Crystal-" is the world of Fa-Diel, where many different races live. The Jewels are a race whose core is a gem, and they can only survive as long as their core is not destroyed. However, other races have come to see the value of the gems as ornaments, and they have come to cut off all ties with other races. The town of Domina is a lively town visited by traveling merchants and street performers, and Shilo lives on the outskirts of the town.

Other unique creatures include grass people, squid lemons, and conch turnips, and the story is set in a variety of locations, including the Mekibu Cave, the cliff town of Gato, the port town of Polpota, and the magical city of Geo. In addition, interesting creatures such as jewel beasts and monkey fish also appear, adding to the appeal of the fantasy world.

Animation and Music

The animation was produced by Graphinica and Yokohama Animation Lab, and the character designs were done by Taro Ikegami. Experts in various fields, such as color design, art direction, and photography, came together to create beautiful visuals. The music was also produced by Yoko Shimomura, with the opening theme "Tear of Will" written and sung by Saori Hayami, and the ending theme "Song of Mana -The Teardrop Crystal-" written and composed by Yoko Shimomura and sung by Saori Hayami, who plays Seraphina. These musical pieces further deepen the emotion of the story.

Evaluation and Impressions

"Legend of Mana -The Teardrop Crystal-" was widely accepted not only by fans of the original game, but also by anime fans. In particular, it was highly praised for its simple yet deep story about an adventure surrounding the gem of Tamami, its unique characters, and its beautiful visuals and music. It was also praised for faithfully recreating the worldview of the original game while adding the unique charm of the anime.

The subtitles of each episode are named after gemstones, and as the story progresses, the gemstones that are the core of Tamami appear one after another, which is another highlight. In particular, a different gemstone becomes the center of the story in each episode, drawing viewers in: "Lapis Lazuli" from episodes 1 to 2, "Ruby" from episode 3, "Sapphire" from episode 4, "White Pearl" from episode 5, "Emerald" from episode 6, "Diamond" from episode 7, "Black Pearl" from episode 8, "Alexandrite" from episode 9, "Fluorite" from episode 10, and "Tearstone" from episodes 11 to 12.

Broadcast and Streaming

The series was broadcast on 28 MBS and TBS affiliates nationwide, and was aired every Saturday from 1:25 to 1:55 a.m. in the "Super Animeism" slot. It is also available online on ABEMA, ABEMA Premium, d Anime Store, U-NEXT, FOD, Hulu, and Animehodai, as well as on Google Play, Rakuten TV, Amazon Video, Video Market, Music.jp, GYAO! Store, Crank-In Video, Bandai Channel, J:COM On Demand, milplus, It's Com On Demand, TELASA, and other platforms for a pay-per-view.

Recommendations and Summary

"Legend of Mana -The Teardrop Crystal-" is a must-watch anime for anyone who loves fantasy and adventure. Fans of the original game will be able to enjoy the familiar world and characters once again, while new fans will be drawn into the fascinating story and world. In particular, the theme of the adventure surrounding the gem of the Tamami will move and excite viewers, and the subtitles named after the gems for each episode are also not to be missed.

The beautiful visuals and music also enhance the appeal of this work, making it a visual and aural pleasure. Even after the broadcast ends, it will be available for streaming online, so if you haven't seen it yet, be sure to check it out. "Legend of Mana -The Teardrop Crystal-" is a wonderful anime that opens the curtain on a world full of emotion once again.