Long ago, Marfa (goddess of creation) and Kardis
(goddess of destruction) fought a great war that split the continent
and formed a new land. This land came to be known as Lodoss - The Accursed
Land. Centuries have passed since then, and now various forces fight once more
for control over Lodoss.
Five years have passed after the Great War, Lodoss' delicate balance is once
again being stirred by the ambitions of its inhabitants.
The time has come once more for heroes to band together and save the land.
Among them are Parn, the legendary free knight; Deedlit, the mystical high elf
who travels by his side; Slayn, a sage and a sorcerer; Shiris, the passionate
warrior... these and other heroes hold the future of Lodoss in their hands.
Review: Record of Lodoss War Chronicles of the Heroic Knight
I was thoroughly impressed when I saw the Record of Lodoss War OVA series. It
was like being in a totally fantastic RPG. I've just watched all 27 episodes
of the Record of Lodoss War TV series, and all I can say is... wow. I've always considered
the Lodoss OVA series as ultimate anime RPG, but I think it's just been
outdone by this marvelous TV version. I couldn't stop watching once I started.
Record of Lodoss War TV begins five years after Ghim's death. Parn is no longer the
struggling knight wannabe that he was. Lo and behold, he is now the legendary
free knight -- and almost everyone on the land knows him. Parn's always on the
road to adventure with Deedlit, but since there is a need for heroes again,
they band together with the rest of the Lodoss gang
(Slayn, Leylia, Shiris, Orson, etc...).
If you've watched the OVA series, you'll probably get confused with the
chronology of the events. Shiris and Orson are re-introduced as new
characters. Ashram is alive and kicking, and is once again going after the
scepter of domination.
According to the booklet that came with my DVD set, Lodoss TV is a re-telling
of the whole saga. Lodoss OVA was so short that a lot of the events were
condensed to fit a 13-episode series. Let's just say that this is the expanded
version.
Still, you'll make the most of this series if you've watched the OVA because
they do make references to certain OVA events
(i.e. Leylia's possession, Ghim's death, etc.). It's not really a
pre-requisite though because the references are briefly explained, so there
aren't any loopholes.
There are two main plots. The first half of the series features our old faves
(Parn, Deed, Slayn. etc.) and some new additions. They have to stop the
dark forces from acquiring the scepter of domination. The second half takes
place ten years after the first half, giving way to a new generation of
heroes.
A younger set of enthusiastic characters is introduced. There's Spark, a
knight-in-training who has always idolized Parn; Neese -- Slayn and Leylia's
daughter; Leaf, a mischievious half-elf... etc. They have to stop the dark
wizard Wagnard from resurrecting the goddess of destruction Kardis. Of course,
Parn and the gang are still there for support.
At the end of each adventure-filled episode is a brief segment called
"Welcome to Lodoss Island". This part features super-deformed versions
of all the characters re-enacting certain events in a wacky manner. They also
tell jokes, sing, dance... it's all very cute and provide a refreshing change
of pace from all the heart-stopping excitement.
The art and animation are superb. The characters still resemble their OVA selves but their looks generally improve by leaps and bounds. The magic
effects, battle sequences, and various encounters are also more intense and
detailed.
Everything is more colorful and vibrant. I love watching (Record of Lodoss War Crunchyroll) the magic-users cast
their spells... I look forward to every skirmish, I tell you.
The songs and music complement the whole series perfectly
(dang, now I have to buy the soundtrack!). I especially love the ending
theme, "Barefoot in the Light".
The English dubbing is tolerable at best. Some of the dub voices don't really
fit the characters, while some are just downright irritating. If you're an RPG
fan like I am, this anime will definitely make your day... or your week for
that matter.
Miscellanies: Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight
Parn's looking good in his thirties! Record of Lodoss War DVD set is loaded with extras like
image galleries, scripts, manga stills, a colored info booklet, etc.
Record of Lodoss War (Lodoss-tou Senki: Eiyuu Kishi Den) | |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Romance |
|---|---|
| Episodes | 27 |
| Status | Finished Airing |
| Aired | Apr 1, 1998 to Sep 30, 1998 |
| Producers | Kadokawa Shoten, Yomiko Advertising, Marubeni |
| Studio | AIC |
| Rating | PG-13 - Teens 13 or older |
| Themes | - |
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