And Tears To Tiara concluded, I felt really compelled to write a review for it, seeing how as it is one of the series I’d really followed through week after week during the Spring-Summer 09 season.

Anime Name: Tears To Tiara
Episodes: 26
Genres: Adventure
Aired: Apr 6, 2009 to Sep 28, 2009
Producer: T3Works, White Fox

The Plot: The divine empire invades a small clan called the Gaels, to kidnap a girl named Riannon. Riannon was supposed to be a sacrifice to revive the Demon King Arawn, but instead, the plan backfires on the divine empire as Arawn allys with Riannon and her brother Arthur instead. From then on, Arawn goes on to become the leader of the Gaels by means of Riannon proclaiming to be his wife, and leads the Gael clan to a new land called Avalon.

From then on, new friends join Arawn-Arthur-Riannon’s group such as Llyr, Octavia, Rathy and Taliesin. Together, they join forces to take down the corrupt devine empire but soon realize that their enemy is a far bigger enemy than they 1st imagined. Their enemies are the 12 White Spirits, whom Arawn seems to have a connection with. 

Well, if you ask me, the plot seems pretty straightforward for an RPG. You’ve got your main lead, then you’ve got new nakama joining in different parts of the game, then you have the sudden plot twist that the first final boss, is merely a decoy. The heroes power up and after much level farming, finally take down the final boss. Yeah. The basic RPG formula which works. So why change something that works right.

The Main Characters:

Arawn – Also known as Great Demon King Arawn and Lucifer. Arawn was first introduced as the Great Demon King waiting to be revived but is actually in a long slumber. After Riannon wakes him up, he joins forces with Riannon and Arthur and becomes the Tribe Chief of the Gaels due to Riannon proclaiming to be his wife. Later on in the series, he brings the Gaels over to his palace Avalon, which is the Elven Paradise which belonged to him and Pwyll, King of the Elves. Near the middle and further on towards the end of the series, further background information about Arawn is revealed. He was born the 13th White Spirit, Lucifer. Originally faithful to the ideal of enslaving mankind from his godly position, through the teachings of his mentor/father Myrddin, he changed and decided to free the humans from the control of the White Spirits.
(Voiced By: Ookawa Toru)

Arthur - The 1st warrior of the Gaels. Early in the series, his sister, Riannon, was kidnapped by the Divine Empire in a bid to revive Arawn. His role in the series, is essentially Arawn’s right hand man. Throughout the entire 1st half of the series, his mindset was set on following Tribe Rules and Tribe Conduct and anything that does not fit with the Tribe Rules was considered wrong. It wasn’t until he stabbed Arawn, thinking that Arawn was responsible for the murder of his father, that Arthur changed his way of thinking. Throughout the series, it was made known that Arthur is the direct descendent of Elven King Pwyll. Finally, at the end of the series, he was crowned King Arthur by Arawn.
(Voiced By: Iishi Makoto)

Riannon - The sister of Arthur and Arawn’s 1st wife in the series. She is kidnapped early in the series but is soon saved by Arawn. Her role throughout the series was essentially to serve as a healer during the Divine Empire’s attack against the Gaels. During the time when Castle Avalon was being attacked and when Arthur was missing and Arawn still unconsicous, she served as temporary commander, inspiring the Gaels to fight back against the Empire soldiers. It is made known near the end of the series, that Riannon is a descendent of Primula and Primula serves as her other self. In the last battle against Merkadias, she recites the Words of Power to seal Markadias and to end the war.
(Voiced By: Goto Yuko)

Morgan – A prominent warrior in the Gaels. Supposed best friend to Octavia and Arawn’s second wife. Her roles in the anime were only main in the early part of the series, when she was in charge of fighting alongside Arthur against the initial troops. When Octavia joined the team, her role more or less diminished to appearing 99% of the time beside Octavia. Throughout the series, she searches for a Red Tree Branch which is said to be her family’s sacred item, stolen by the Empire. A very simplistic girl who only thinks of Hunting, Drinking and Eating. Her weapon of choice is the bow and arrow but when needed, she uses a short dagger and assassination techniques.
(Voiced By: Nakahara Mai)

Octavia - Initially a soldier of the empire, she was sent into the colleseum to fight to the death after insubordination to her immediate supervisor. Morgan joined in and evantually helped lead the attackers away from Octavia. Octavia’s action soon led to her being jailed by her old frenemy, Lydia. During Arawn and the Gaels’ siege of one of Lydia’s camps, they accidentally brought back Octavia as well. It was from there, that Octavia joined the Gaels’ troops and ultimatley took down Lydia. She is essentially one of Arawn’s wives as well, but that was not shown during the anime.
(Voiced By: Tanaka Rie)

Llyr - A water elf who intially meets with Arawn and gang to give the greetings from her tribe to Arawn’s. However, due to the burning of her Seal Pelt, she becomes one of Arawn’s wives as the Seal Pelt is essentially a token of marriage for the Water Elves. Throughout the series, she is mainly seen with Rathy. Her fighting skills aren’t as strong and as such relies on Elven magic to augment her fighting. While not fighting, she is seen around Avalon Castle, trying to help out, but fails at helping out most of the time due to her clumsiness.
(Voiced By: Nazuka Kaori)

Rathy - A mining elf who 1st meets Arawn and crew back at the same Colesseum which Morgan and Octavia fight side-by-side. She soon joins Arawn’s group once she learns of who she is. While she’s a mining elf, she specializes in making Pots and Pans as opposed to Arawn’s intention of having her make Weapons. Her fighting prowress is pretty impressive considering her stature. She attacks using a huge hammer.
(Voiced By: Ueda Kana)

Ogam - The mighty sage and long time friend of Arawn. Near the end of the series, it is shown that Ogam has lived for a very very long time due to him being a Dragon. In the past, he worked with Myrddin and after Myrddin’s death, served Arawn. A mighy strong man and tactician, he was a warrior in the 1st war against the White Spirits, alongside Pwyll and Arawn. Soon after Arawn’s revival, he makes an apperance again, serving as Arawn’s aide and advisor to the rest. His most powerful attack, Flame of Origin, is said to be harmful to use as it would shorten Ogam’s lifespan.
(Voiced By: Akimoto Yousuke)

Taliesin - The travelling bard. His first appearance was during Episode 5 in which Arawn’s group was hunting on a new hunting ground. He agreed to play music for them on his harp in exchange for some food. His role as the Brigantes Chief is revealed midway through the series. Arthur soon approaches Taliesin in the middle of the series for help in taking down the Empire’s forces who were attacking Avalon castle. At the 2nd last arc of the series, he sacrifices himself by singing the Song of Origin to cause an avalanche, trapping the attacking Golems. However, it is seen in the very last part of the final arc, that he in fact, did not perish and was seen leading a group of Dragons. As to why the dragons managed to save him however, was not mentioned in the Anime.
(Voiced By: Tomohiro Tsuboi)
Other Characters:

Ermin and Limwris - Maid elves who take care of Avalon Castle. Their jobs essentially consist of looking after the crops and the castle as well as food.
(Voiced By: Shimizu Ai and Koishimizu Ami)

Epona - A elf who sells weapons and such for a living. She’s apparently a very good singer as Taliesin fell in love with her voice when he heard her singing as child.
(Voiced By: Asai Kiyomi)

Primula - The descendent of Human kind. She was the last remaining human after the White Spirits launched an eternal winter on the Earth. Myrddin taught her the secrets of fire and sacrificed his life to bring spring to the world. She soons travels with Arawn and meets with Pwyll. She’s capable of reading in Latin. She’s also currently the other part of Riannon.
(Voiced By: Goto Yuko)

So yeah, I’ve covered the Plot and the characters. I won’t do the mutli-screencaps and caption routine for this post cause I’ve seem to have deleted the 1st 20 or so episodes. I’ll just post a few I found lying around my com. But before that, I want to highlight another key factor about she show. The animation quality. The one thing that really attracted me the anime was the masterful animation quality week after week. While the story and characters are already good enough to watch on it’s own, I believe it was the beautiful animation that really kept the Tears To Tiara spark in me going.

Ok. Time for some images,

I know this is supposed to be a sad scene, but child Octavia is just so cute.

Arthur: “:-o This worn out sword protected us from the heavens?!”

Arthur: “EXCALIBUR!!! BANKAI!!! or whatever the command is!!”

Arthur: “I am Arthur! King Arthur!!”

I still find Edram(the red sword) cooler than Drywn(the blue sword)

So yes, this ends yet another review. It’s pretty much shorter than Saki’s review I think. Looks pretty much shorter to me, cause that’s nothing much to talk about the story considering it’s the typical RPG storyline, but still Tears To Tiara is a real gem and I’m glad I watched it. Alright. Review end!