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Anime Spotlight: Queen's Blade Rebellion

by Justin Sevakis,
Spring 2012 (Japanese Premiere)

Key Staff

Director - Yousei Morino
    (I"s, My Sexual Harassment)
Series Composition - Hideki Shirane
    (Master of Martial Hearts, Girl's High)
Animation Production
ARMS






Story

Queen's Blade—A fighting tournament held once every four years to determine the Queen that will rule the continent. The Bewitched Queen Aldra was finally defeated, and the curtain closed on the fierce competition of the 30th Queen's Blade tournament. The beautiful warrior who won, Leina, left without succeeding the Queen's throne, and in her stead, the Thundercloud General, Claudette, took the throne.

As a woman whom all respected, the people of the land accepted her with great expectations. And as if living up to those very expectations, she abolished rule by nobility and heavy taxes, quelling uprisings with her personal Queen's Army. However, that only lasted a short while before the Thundercloud Queen Claudette suddenly changed and plunged the land into a military state like the previous Queen, carrying out her reign of fear, silencing all who opposed her by force. The flames of war spread across the continent, and with the rapid permeation of “Wizard Stone” based alchemy, a new society stratified by power began to form. Finally, she declared herself “The Eternal Queen who shall rule the continent” and abolished Queen's Blade, believing that none would stand against her again.

However, one has risen in rebellion—The Princess-Knight of the Rebellion, Annelotte. Beautiful warriors with affection for her soon gather around Annelotte, but before them stands the Steel Commander of the Queen's Army, Ymir, the head of the Fangs, Elina, the Inquisitor, Shigi, and more…

Who will be victorious? No one knows until the fighting begins!

Characters

Princess-Knight of the Rebellion, Annelotte
VA: Aya Endōh
Concerned about the end facing the continent as wars continue to spread, Annelotte is led by destiny to encounter beautiful warriors who share her beliefs, and with a vow of sisterhood, they rise together in rebellion. As leader of the Rebellion Army, she has the pride of a knight and is filled with a sense of justice.

Though awkward and clumsy at times, she has the charisma to draw people to her, and her comrades can't leave her alone. She was originally a member of the Kreuz Border Knights, a group heralded as the strongest on the continent, and daughter of the border land's Earl. For some reason she was raised as a boy in the Earldom. She is capable of calling forth her horse “Ambrosius” from the underworld at will, and specializes in horseback combat.

“My Sisters, I swear upon this sword! We shall surpass our limits!”

Inquisitor, Shigi
VA: Yū Kobayashi
Shigi is a nun belonging to the Pope's central order, and an Inquisitor. Her mission is to burn all devil worshipers, heretics, and even insolent laymen at the stake.

She is a zealous disciple of god, and her strictness surpasses that of Queen Claudette. She has the authority to exact punishment on any she judges to be a heretic. She is not actually cruel, and in fact, she's usually a good-natured woman, but since she's extremely diligent and uncompromising, she does not hesitate when doling out judgment.

Since Annelotte manipulates a horse from the underworld, she sees her as possessing the Devil's blood. She also holds the personal belief that Wizard Stones and alchemy are heretical, and sees Huit and Vante as enemies. She has honed her combat abilities, and her skill with her weapons, “Mace of Holy Flame” and “God's Chained Blade” is even greater than Anelotte. She's also a wielder of “Divine Power” capable of manifesting god's miracles. Furthermore, when doing so she must faithfully perform the “Sacred Poses” recorded in scripture.

“That's heretical… I believe you deserve burning at the stake.”

Alchemical Strategist, Huit
VA: Minori Chihara
Huit is a little elf and daughter of “The great Alchemist Cyan” who once adventured together with the weapon smith, Cattleya. She was a childhood friend of Anelotte's when she was dressing as a boy and acting as the heir to the Kreuz Earldom, so she still retains the habit of calling her “Onii-chan”. She's had a genius intellect from a young age, and repels their enemies as a strategist. A spoiled child, she leans on Annelotte like she was her real brother.

Huit is a kind-hearted person, but capable of executing harsh strategies for the greater good. She controls the clockwork automaton, Vante, in battle. The combination of Huit's wisdom and Vante's strength makes them a great force for the Rebellion Army, and they're called the “Miracle of Alchemy”.

“Onii-chan, I'll show you Huit's XXX!”

Alchemical Construct, Vante
VA: Yukiko Takaguchi
An elf-type clockwork automaton said to be constructed by Huit's mother. She's Huit's playmate, bodyguard, assistant, and someone to spoil her. She operates under the commands inscripted on the remote control Huit possesses. Since anyone with knowledge of runes can inscribe commands to the remote control, it's possible Vante could be used for evil if the remote fell into the wrong hands.

“Vv, vv, vv, gaon.”

Great Pirate, Captain Liliana
VA: Shizuka Itou
Captain Liliana is an infamous pirate running amok on the continent with her flying ship and ghost crew. She refuses to be tied down, and the only thing she honors in this world is her respected grandmother who raised her, the Pirate Queen Artemis, and the pirate aesthetics she wrote down. Also though villainous, she is well mannered, and acting refined like a noble is one part of her aesthetics. Although she'll use any means to achieve her goals, she can't become completely ruthless. She is especially weak towards the elderly, and treats them well without thinking about it.

“Light that conceals elegantly and magnificently, that is my aesthetic.”

Ultra Vibration Valkyrie, Mirim
VA: Aki Toyosaki
An average, brave village girl working to support her poor family. Her personality is far from a warrior, and she's so timid she couldn't hurt a fly. But with the sweet lure of vast sums of money, she became the first test subject in the “Continent's Greatest Warrior Project” undergoing development under the Steel Commander of the Queen's Army, Ymir.

“Feeh? I can't watch this…”

Exorcist, Tarnyang
VA: Haruka Tomatsu
Born in a Shaifan, a secluded region of the Continent. Tarnyang and Sainyang are called exorcists, and they are the twin descendents of family that has born the duty of protecting their village for generations. They set out from their village, journeying the world in order to reclaim the “sacred body” stolen from their village. Since they were born they have been connected to each other by a cord and rings known as “Ryuu-Rin-Ren”, but it possesses a certain elasticity and can never be cut.

The elder sister, Tarnyang, wields a holy sword. She's bright and strong-willed. Her younger sister can use the mysterious power similar to magic, Fang Shi, but she's usually spacing out and an extreme weakling, so she's not much use in battle. She also speaks few words and only talks by whispering in her sister's hear. Tarnyang is always complaining to Sainyang every day, but the sisters share a strong bond.

They specialize in “Sou-Ryuu-Jin” style of combination attacks combing the elder sister's fighting skill and the younger sister's Fang Shi.

“Sainyang, you say something too!”

Exorcist, Sainyang
VA: Kei Shindō
Born in a Shaifan, a secluded region of the Continent. Tarnyang and Sainyang are called exorcists, and they are the twin descendents of family that has born the duty of protecting their village for generations. They set out from their village, journeying the world in order to reclaim the “sacred body” stolen from their village. Since they were born they have been connected to each other by a cord and rings known as “Ryuu-Rin-Ren”, but it possesses a certain elasticity and can never be cut.

The elder sister, Tarnyang, wields a holy sword. She's bright and strong-willed. Her younger sister can use the mysterious power similar to magic, Fang Shi, but she's usually spacing out and an extreme weakling, so she's not much use in battle. She also speaks few words and only talks by whispering in her sister's hear. Tarnyang is always complaining to Sainyang every day, but the sisters share a strong bond.

They specialize in “Sou-Ryuu-Jin” style of combination attacks combing the elder sister's fighting skill and the younger sister's Fang Shi.

“…I want to see it soon.”

Cast

Annelotte
Aya Endōh
Shigi
Yū Kobayashi
Huit
Minori Chihara
Vante
Yukiko Takaguchi
Luna Luna
TBD
Mirim
Aki Toyosaki
Branwen
TBD
Tarnyang
Haruka Tomatsu
Sainyang
Kei Shindō
Eilin
TBD
Liliana
Shizuka Itou
Aldra
TBD

Staff

Original Creator
Hobby Japan
Director
Yousei Morino
Series Composition
Hideki Shirane
Character Design
Rin-Sin
Takayuki Noguchi
Yukiko Ishibashi
Chief Animation Directors
Rin-Sin
Takayuki Noguchi
Art Director
Kōichi Monma
Art Setting
Yutaka Mukumoto
Color Design
Miyuki Abe
Director of Photography
Atsuho Matsumoto
Editing
Jun Takuma
Sound Director
Jin Aketagawa
Music
Masaru Yokoyama
Music Production
Media Factory
Production
GENCO
Animation Production
ARMS
Production
Queen's Blade Rebellion Partners

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