Eien no Aseria - Spirit of the Eternity Sword

[Guido]

For information about this series click at the link below.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/ency...me.php?id=5531

After a nine month hiatus, finally, the second chapter OVA has come out.

[Dragnfly@Gamefaqs]

Wasn't the first one already fansubbed by lucky? Possibly some other folks too?

[Guido]

AnimeYuki is subbing Aseria, and they have now released episode two.

Though they started the sub from episode two.

[evil-samurai]

I remember this show the one the male lead was fighting agaisn't the enemy's and whenever he hit them with a sword they just went *poof* and in the middle of battle he was freaking out over the whole thing while you sit back thinking what the? Well it was enjoyable as crappy as it was sometimes, will have to check out the second episode.

[Guido]

Originally Posted by evil-samurai

I remember this show the one the male lead was fighting agaisn't the enemy's and whenever he hit them with a sword they just went *poof* and in the middle of battle he was freaking out over the whole thing while you sit back thinking what the? Well it was enjoyable as crappy as it was sometimes, will have to check out the second episode.

I could not understand what was going on in the first episode because not much was disclosed about the characters.

Spoiler:

The only thing that I comprehended was that the guy and his sister were transported to another world, then the princess of that kingdom forced that guy to wield a cursed sword and fight a war for them by influencing his choices due that his sister is held captive by the King, and her life is at stake whether the older brother sticks by the princess's orders or not.

It turns out that the enemies who is he fighting are sprites, spiritual entities in flesh bodies; female sprites. In fact, our hero is escorted and befriended by three female sprites, easily distinguishable by the colors they are wearing: blue, green, and red, who fight by his side and address him as "Etorange-sama".

BTW, I forgot that another guy was transported along with the siblings too but nothing was disclosed about his whereabouts in episode one.

Originally Posted by Dragnfly@Gamefaqs

Wasn't the first one already fansubbed by lucky? Possibly some other folks too?

Last Update!! AnimeYuki also subbed and released episode one, as well.

[Guido]

I'm impressed with the overall change in production values of animation for the second episode, compared to the first.

The character's move more fluidly and their gestures, particularly the eyes, show more expression. Colors are neat and neither so gloomy nor so bright.

As for the music, it is mostly generic soundtrack but there were quite few tunes that I liked played with string guitar, especially for the duel fights.

It proves that the producers did not spend a nine month hiatus to waste.

Just like in the previous episode the plot moved very fast, though it kept argument and storytelling devices concise and synthesized so as for the viewer to grasp what is going on in that world.
Fortunately, some questions raised in episode one are answered in this one.

Spoiler:

The realm of Phantasmagoria, the world where both Yuuto and Kaori were summoned, uses mana as a means of living and to develop technology to aid in its civilizations. However, the surplus of mana is highly limited, which leads kingdoms throughout all Phantasmagoria employ 'spirits' as war machines.

The rulers and nobility always have set their eyes on others countries's mana sources, henceforth, have spirits raid neighboring kingdoms to conquer them for stealing their mana surplus.

Spirits in Aseria fullfill the same role as Otome in Mai-Otome, save that Spirits are seen in negative stance and fear by all the humans of that world. Because each nation rulers misuse Spirits, and only think of them as nothing more than expendable tools for fighting, therefore, war is an everyday norm in that realm.
Spirits themselves do not object by the wishes or intentions of their contractors nor do they question their duties at all. They are raised to accept their role as fighter weapons.

Humans have contempt for Spirits, and the raid to Rakios Castle slightly hints at that Spirits also reciprocate the feeling.

In addition, episode two addresses another argumentative device. Each kingdom in Phantasmagoria is able to summon their own Etorange from our world, henceforth, by no means there has to be only one Etorange summoned.
Evidence is supported by the Spirits of the enemy empire who address Yuuto as the Etorange from Rakios.

Putting the pieces gathered.

Spoiler:

- Each Kingdom has their own army of Spirits contracted to it.
Aseria, Esperia, and Olfa are contracted to the Rakios kingdom.

- Each Kingdom maybe possible to summon their own Etorange.
Yuuto is the Rakios Etorange. Therefore, Kaori might be as well an Etorange, since one of the castle maids addressed her as Kaori Etorange.

- People from that world rely too much on mana and the Spirits to fight their wars for them, which disgusts Yuuto who views Aseria, Esperia, and Olfa as persons and believes that burden should not be imposed to the spirits.

- Spirits acknowledge and respond to the Etorange as their leader.

- The cursed sword Motome reveals to Yuuto the existence of another magic sword.
The sword that the Fall Empire's Etorange is holding likely is that one Motome mentions.

Plus some interesting characters arise.

Spoiler:

- The Fall Empire is disclosed to be the main antagonist.

- The Emperor of Marorigan (supposedly a neutral Kingdom) is scheming something up with two mysterious figures, likely agents for the Fall Empire.

- Yuuto and Kaori were not the only Etorange summoned from our world. A classmate of Yuuto's was transported along with them in the first episode.
Kaori was kidnapped by the Spirit Urku and taken to the Empire, brought under the pressence of someone Kaori knows much to her shock, though he's face is not visible. We can assume that he's the Etorange for the Empire.

- The silver-haired Spirit, Urku, became one of my favorite characters. She physically reminds me to Hiead Gner from Candidate for Goddess. She's frivolous and indifferent not caring about the consequences of her actions to others, as she's bent fighting to win.

Episode two brings forth interesting characters and twists plus much cool action, though it still left unanswered some issues.

Spoiler:

- Is there a special communion between the Etorange and the Spirits?

- Why Etorange is needed in that world, if Spirits are a force of insurmountable power?

[Tiamat's Disciple]

Whats the release schedule for this (in japan) i know since its an OVA its not released weekly, and only on DVD right?

[Guido]

Originally Posted by Taliesin

Whats the release schedule for this (in japan) i know since its an OVA its not released weekly, and only on DVD right?

Its a four episode OVA, direct to DVD sale.

The first episode came out in June 2005 and the second one by March 2006. There was a nine month hiatus between episode one and two.

The episodes do not have a spoiler preview for the next one, so it is impossible to tell when the next chapter is coming out.

Long delays for OVA chapters are mostly due that 1) the title in question is neither a big hit among fans nor manages to make decent profits, according to the studios' estimates or 2) the studio faces a financial crisis that either forces it to go bankrupt and have to close down or has no other choice to postpone investing work and sources for any ongoing projects.

Whatever the case, if OVAs do not sell well, studios executives make their decision to discontinue the series regardless if it's left unfinished.

It's too early for an announcement when will the third chapter OVA for Aseria is coming out. Likely, we'll have to wait next year for the next release. If no announcement is made within a year, then take for granted that the OVA has been discontinued and pulled out.

[Lawfer]

Originally Posted by Guido

It's too early for an announcement when will the third chapter OVA for Aseria is coming out. Likely, we'll have to wait next year for the next release. If no announcement is made within a year, then take for granted that the OVA has been discontinued and pulled out.

It's been a little more then a year, so what's the news? Dead?