“The Asterisk War” is action-packed and entertaining as Ayato and Julis, Saya and Kirin must take on their most powerful rivals in the tournament yet as they close in on the semifinals. How will these two fighting duos do in the Phoenix Festa competition? Find out in the exciting, “The Asterisk War: Limited Edition Blu-ray Vol. 3”. Recommended!
Image courtesy of © 2017 ANIPLEX INC. All Rights Reserved.
TITLE: The Asterisk War: Limited Edition Blu-ray Vol. 3
ANIME SERIES AIR DATE: 2015
DURATION: (Episodes 13-18) 150 Minutes
BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition (16:9), English and Japanese Linear PCM Stereo 2.0, English and Spanish Subtitles
COMPANY: Aniplex of America Inc.
Release Date: February 21, 2017
Originally created by Yuu Miyazaki
Original Character Design by okiura
Chief Direction by Manabu Ono
Directed by Kenji Sato
Script by Munemasa Nakamoto, Yuki Sugawara, Yukito Kizawa
Music by Rasmus Faber
Character Design by Tetsuya Kawakami
Art Director: Yukihiro Watanabe
Chief Animation Director: Tetsuya Kawakami
Anime Production: A-1 Pictures
Featuring the following voice talent:
Ai Kakuma/Kira Buckland as Julis-Alexia von Riessfelt
Atsushi Tamaru/Erik Scott Kimerer as Ayato Amagiri
Ari Ozawa/Brianna Knickerbocker as Kirin Todo
Ayana Taketatsu/Cherami Leigh as Pham Thi Tram (Fan Xinglou)
Chinatsu Akasaki/Cassandra Morris as Ernesta Kuhne
Haruka Chisuga as Sylvia Lyyneheym
Haruka Yoshimura as RM-C (Rimsy)
Juri Nagatsuma as Priscilla Urzaiz
Mai Nakahara/Michelle Ruff as Haruka Amagiri
Mutsumi Tamura/Cristina Vee as Camilla Pareto
Nao TÅyama/Erika Harlacher as Claudia Enfield
Nobuo Tobita/Lucien Dodge as Shuma Sakon
After successfully destroying the Gravi-Sheath, Ayato and Julis free the Urzaiz sisters from their shackles. However, Ayato’s side effect of forcefully releasing the seal and its time limit are now known to the other teams. As the Phoenix Festa finals continue, Julis must come up with a strategy to cover for Ayato’s inability to fight at full strength due to the seal’s side effect. Will Ayato and Julis be able to survive in the Festa?
The tournament continues as Ayato and Julis must now fight Song Ran and Zhou Kunzhan of Jie Long. And Saya and Kirin’s semifinal match is against AR-D and RM-C. Who will be the victors?
What is “The Asterisk War” about?
In 2012, writer Yuu Miyazaki and illustrator okiura created the Japanese light novel series “The Asterisk War” (Gakusen Toshi Asutarisuku).
Published by Media factory, a two-volume manga adaptation was then created for Media Factory’s “Monthly Comic Alive”.
In 2015, A-1 Pictures would create an anime TV series adaptation with two seasons having now been completed.
And now, the anime series will be released on Blu-ray courtesy of Aniplex of America Inc. With volume 3, this limited edition box set features the first episodes of the second season (episodes 13-18).
The anime is set in the 20th century and an event called Invertia has destroyed many cities on Earth. Because of the collapsing economy, the Integrated Enterprise Foundation has become the leader of the world.
A parallel city of Rikka, known as Asterisk is the the main setting of this anime series.
Asterisk has six academies which hold tournaments, known as “Festas” in which humans and people with super abilities called Genestella participate in battle against each other.
Seidoukan Academy is ranked fifth in Asterik and the series focuses on main protagonist Ayato Amagiri, a Genestella, who is investigating the disappearance of his sister Haruka.
On his first day of school, he meets a student (who happens to be a Lieseltanian princess) named Julis-Alexia von Riessfeld. And due to circumstances because he is new at the academy (which make him seem like a pervert), he is challenged to a duel against her.
The two get into battle and she is amazed by Ayato’s fighting ability and superpowers but the battle is ended when someone tries to send a spike towards Julis-Alexia and she is saved by Ayato (who, unfortunately lands on top of her and his hand on top of her chest).
The battle is ended early by Seidoukan Academy’s Student Council President Claudia Enfield because the match was not legal.
And who is this Kirin Todou that Ayato meets for the first time? And why is her uncle abusive towards her and how will Ayato make an impact on her life?
Meanwhile, the Phoenix Festa featuring a battle between duos and Ayato and Julis and their friends Saya and Kirin will face the strongest fighters from the other five schools.
For the first episodes of season two (episodes 13-18), Ayato and Julis must take on the powerful Song Ran and Zhou Kunzhan in order to move into the semi-finals. While Saya and Kirin must take on the devastating robotic duo, AR-D and RM-C.
Meanwhile, someone has kidnapped Flora. Who is responsible?
“The Asterisk War” features the following characters:
- Ayato Amagiri – A Seidoukan Academy student who transfers to the school to investigate his sister’s disappearance. He shows great power but can only control it for several minutes. He wants to protect Julis-Alexia von Riessfelt.
- Julis-Alexia von Riessfelt – The fifth ranking student of Seidokan Academy and happens to be the First Princess of Lieseltania in the western Czech Republic. She is quite distant to everyone at the school but when Ayato tries to get close with her and wanting to protect her, she eventually starts to warm up to him.
- Claudia Enfield – The blonde, buxom, second highest ranking student of Seidoukan Academy and also the Student council President. She tries her best to seduce Ayato.
- Saya Sasamiya – A childhood friend of Ayato who moved abroad. She is an airhead at times and bad with directions. She is great with weapons and artillery and often gets Julis riled up as Saya prefers Ayato to spend time with her.
- Kirin Toudou – The top ranking student of Seidoukan Academy. Because Ayato shows kindness to her all the time, she becomes a friend of his. But as she vies for Ayato’s attention, she deals with a demanding and abusive uncle.
VIDEO:
“The Asterisk War” is presented in 1080p High Definition (16:9). There is a lot of detail featured in the art backgrounds, a lot of characters featured and these characters have great detail and shadowing. Colors are absolutely vibrant. There is slight softness, but that is expected with anime TV series. But overall, wonderful animation especially during the action sequences by A-1 Pictures.
I found no compression artifacts or any problematic issues with this Blu-ray release.
AUDIO & SUBTITLES:
“The Asterisk War” is presented in English and Japanese Linear PCM Stereo 2.0. Both soundtracks are well-acted and are crystal clear through the front channels.
Subtitles are in English and Spanish.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“The Asterisk War vol. 3” features the following special features:
- Bonus Preview Episodes – Bonus preview episodes.
- Web Previews
- Textless Opening and Ending Song
EXTRAS:
“The Asterisk War: Limited Edition Blu-ray Vol. 3” comes with a slipcase with package illustration by Tetsuya Kawakami, clear cases with 2-side wraps, six collectible pinup cards, a 40-page deluxe booklet about the characters, sketches and more. Also, a bonus third disc (CD included, Duration: 12:17) featuring “The Asterisk War Soundtrack – Infusion Mix #2” featuring one music track.
As the beginning of the second season of “The Asterisk War” begins in vol. 3, the tournament continues as Ayato and Julis and Saya and Kirin take on their next competitors.
Ayato and Julis must take on Song Ran and Zhou Kunzhan of Jie Long in order to make it to the semi-final. While Saya and Kirin must take on the robotic duo, AR-D and RM-C in the semifinal. Meanwhile, Flora has been kidnapped.
A lot has changed since the first season as Ayato and Julis have become partners who trust each other and watch each other’s back, while Saya and Kirin, who seemed like a duo with nothing in common, also have grown as partners. But both groups must take on their most dangerous rivals yet.
While vol. 3 is more of a tournament-driven, action-packed volume, we do get backstory on Camilla.
It’s going to be interesting to see how the battle progresses as now we head into the final episodes of “The Asterisk War” season two.
As for the animation, as always, A-1 Pictures does a magnificent job with character designs, action sequences and for the most part, background art and lighting effects are well-done.
As for the Blu-ray release, picture quality is very good for a TV series and features a good stereo solid lossless soundtrack. Which are well-acted for both Japanese soundtracks and the English dub. Special features are your typical previews and opening and ending theme. But you do get slipcase, collectible pin up cards, a third CD with a 13-minute soundtrack and 40-page deluxe booklet. So, there is quite a bit of swag included with “The Asterisk War: Limited Edition Blu-ray Vol. 3”.
Overall, “The Asterisk War” is action-packed and entertaining as Ayato and Julis, Saya and Kirin must take on their most powerful rivals in the tournament yet as they close in on the semifinals. How will these two fighting duos do in the Phoenix Festa competition? Find out in the exciting, “The Asterisk War: Limited Edition Blu-ray Vol. 3”. Recommended!
