It’s hard to resist an anime series when you have an all-star creative team such as Haruhiko Mikimoto (“Macross”, “Gunbuster”) and Noboru Ishiguro (“Macross, “Megazone 23”) behind-the-scenes of this sci-fi epic. Especially, when it is based on a novel by well-known sci-fi/adventure novelist Yoshiki Tanaka (“Legend of the Galactic Heroes”). So far, “Tytania” is turning out to be a highly entertaining and fun sci-fi anime series. “Tytania” is definitely worth checking out!
Image courtesy of © Yoshiki Tanaka-Tytania26Partners. All Rights Reserved.
DVD TITLE: Tytania – Collection 1
ANIME RELEASE DATE: 2008
DURATION: Episodes 1-13 (325 Minutes)
DVD INFORMATION: 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen, Japanese Audio 2.0, Subtitles: English
COMPANY: Seintai Filmworks
RATED: TV 14
Release Date: August 24, 2010
Originally Created by Yoshiki Tanaka
Directed by Noburo Ishiguro
Music by Hiroshi Takaki
Original Character Design by Haruhiko Mikimoto
Character Design by Noboru Sugimitsu
Art Director: Yasutoshi Kawai
Mechanical Design by Kazutaka Miyatake, Koji Ito
Sound Director: Susumu Aketagawa
Anime Production by Artland
Featuring the following voice talent:
Daisuke Kishio as Jouslain Tytania
Anri Shiono as Kallen
Atsushi Ono as Michael Valenkov
Hiroshi Kamiya as Louis Edmond Pages
Hiroyuki Yoshino as Idris Tytania
Kaori Nazuka as Lydia
Katsuyuki Konishi as Fan Hyulick
Kenta Miyake as Ajman Tytania
Kenyuu Horiuchi as Doctor Lee Zhang-Chen
Shigenori Sôya as Estrades Tytania
Souichiro Hoshi as Bal’ami Tytania
Takashi Kondo as Ariabart Tytania
Takashi Oohara as Alan Mahdi
Taketora as Salisch Tytania
Tetsu Inada as Doorman
Tora Take as Zarlish Tytania
Yuki Makishima as Francia
Hideyuki Umezu as Salaam Amzekahl
Junko Minagawa as Miranda
Kana Ueda as Laetitia
Keiko Han as narrator
Sayuri Yahagi as Lira Floren
Souichirou Tanaka as Lancaster
Takahiro Mizushima as Erwin Reiser
Takeshi Kusao as Alses Tytania
Through fear and conquest, the Empire of Valdana holds the future of most of human space within its iron hands… and for generations, those hands have belonged to the Landless Lords of the ruling Tytania dynasty. But now that the foundation of the empire is crumbling, pockets of rebellion are forming. When a mission sent to punish the city-state of Euriya is shockingly defeated, the man responsible becomes the target of a galaxy-wide manhunt!
For Fan Hyurlick, architect of Tytania’s first defeat, glory becomes desperation as his own side betrays him. Now Fan must not only save his own life, but somehow turn the tables on opponents who have whole worlds to command!
From 1988 through 1991, Yoshiki Tanaka had been working on his novel “Tytania”. Well-known for his work on epics such as “Legend of the Galactic Heroes” and “The Heroic Legend of Arsland”, Tanaka has created three other novels that have not yet seen completion: “Sohryuden: Legend of the Dragon Kings” (created in 1987 and is still ongoing), “Tytania” (created in 1988 and is still ongoing) and “Yakushiji Ryoko no Kaiki Jikenbo” (createed in 1996 and is still ongoing) and although not completed, each of Tanaka’s work has received anime adaptations.
For “Tytania”, there has not been a novel released since 1991, but in 2008, an anime adaptation of the first three novels went into production and premiered on NHK’s BS2 satellite channel.
With a new Yoshiki Tanaka anime series, what best than to have someone who is familiar with Tanaka’s works direct this sci-fi epic and what best than one of the most well-known sci-fi anime directors of all-time, Noboru Ishiguro (“Legend of the Galactic Heroes”, “Megazone 23”, “Super Dimension Century Orguss”, “Super Dimension Fortress Macross”) to lead the project.
Others joining Ishiguro include composer Hiroshi Takaki (“Dragonaut-The Resonance”, “Beet the Vandel Buster”, “Sky Girls”), legendary character designer Haruhiko Mikimoto (“Super Dimension Fortress Macross”, “Megazone 23”, “Macross 7”, “Gunbuster”) who designed the original character designs and character designer Noboru Sugmitsu (“Gunslinger Girl: Il Teatrino”, “Legend of Condor Hero”) who based his work of Mikimoto’s original character designs, art director Yasutoshi Kawai (“Suzuka”, “Pokemon” movies) and legendary mechanical designer Kazutaka Miyatake (“Macross” series, “Gunbuster”, “Dirty Pair Flash” OAV’s) and Koji Ito (“Full Metal Panic!”, “Cybuster”).
A total of 26 episodes were aired on television and now the complete series will be released in two installments (13-episodes each) in the US courtesy of Sentai Filmworks.
“Tytania” takes place in a galaxy far, far away where a clan known as Tytania has ruled the empire of Valdana and uses its power and intimidation to put planets and countries in fear. No one likes to be ruled by Tytania but because of the power of the clan, no one dares fight them.
Ajman Tytania is the head of the Tytania Clan and one of the four dukes are expected to succeed him. The dukes are Jouslain Tytania (the strategist), Idris Tytania (who loves to instill fear into the galaxy), Ariabert Tytania (very good in battle but is disliked by Idris) and Zarlisch Tytania (who loves to go in battle).
One day, Tytania sends a large fleet to seize a new piece of technology from the city-state of Euriya. Led by Ariabert Tytania, the duke goes into a battle against a Admiral Fan Hyulick. And what was expected as an easy battle ends in a loss as Fan Hyulick uses a strategy that leads to the first loss of Tytania in 200 years.
This sends Tytania reeling but most of all, it has given hope to planets that Tytania can be beaten and hope that one day they can live a life without Tytania rule. But what people don’t know is that Euriya chose Fan Hyulick because he had no experience and a group of normal people were chosen to confront Tytania for the purpose of losing and not winning.
Because Fan won, Euriya wants to distance themselves from them (feeling their will be retribution against them from Tytania) and now Fan Hyulick has become Tytania’s #1 wanted man, meanwhile in other planets, Admiral Fan Hyulick has become a hero and known as the man who defeated Tytania.
“Tytania” is a space opera that features a story about power, corruption and also hope. Tytania is a clan that wants to rule by power and also putting fear into everyone across the universe but within the nobility is a power struggle as the duke’s and other Tytania descendants want to be the replacement of Ajman Tytania. As for Fan Hyulick, he goes on the beat of his own drum but finds himself joining the resistance (against his will), while other states vye for the wealth and power that comes with defeating Tytania.
Will Tytania continue to control the galaxy? Will their ever be peace? And if Tytania is defeated, will that mean peace or another group who will want to abuse their power on the people of the galaxy?
VIDEO:
“Tytania” is presented in 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen. The animation is nicely done and for the most part, I felt that character designer Noboru Sugimitsu did a good job in bringing life into Haruhiko Mikimoto’s original concept art and the artistic backgrounds are really well done as colors are vibrant and a good amount of shading and detail.
I will say though, that my feeling for the CG is somewhat split. Sometimes the CG looks great, especially during the space battles and combination of CG and animation works very well. But there are some scenes, in which vehicles look a bit dated for CG. In fact, the opening flag flying towards the screen during the opening theme looks as if it was created in early 2000 but not 2008. But overall, the animation and character designs for “Tytania” is well done.
I saw no major compression issues, nor did I see major edge enhancement issues with this release.
AUDIO & SUBTITLES:
“Tytania” is presented in Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo. For a more immersive soundtrack, I chose to set my receiver on stereo on all channels. Overall, voice acting is well-done and sound is clear. The music by Hiroshi Takaki is well done, although I found it interesting to have the more operatic opening theme and then the more rockish theme by Psychic Lover playing at the end. I was expecting to see things a bit more consistent with the music. But overall, audio is clear, understandable and hear no hiss.
Subtitles are in English.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“Tytania – Collection 1″ comes with the following special features:
- Clean Opening and Closing Animation
- Also Available from Sentai Filmworks – Trailers for currently released Sentai Filmworks titles.
- DVD Credits – Production credits
When it comes to space opera’s and sci-fi epics, I absolutely love them. From the ongoing Macross series, to the different timelines of “Mobile Suit Gundam”, “Space Battleship Yamato” to “Banner of the Stars”, I typically enjoy films that focus on the underdogs of a planet versus the tyranny of another alien race and although some may find the banality of sci-fi anime series to tedious, for me, it’s all about the characters and how well the storyline is conceived.
“Tytania” is a bit interesting. You have a series in which we can see the Tytania Empire having its own power struggles as people vie for the top position. We see how the Dukes almost have contempt on how each other reacts to various squabbles from other countries. Some who believe bloodshed is necessary to scare people and others who feel that negotiating is all you need.
But without getting to wrapped up in the power struggles of the tyranny of the Tytania clan, we have this other story about a underachiever named Fan Hyulick that does the impossible, he serves Tytania’s first major defeat and that defeat sets up a chain reaction, giving hope to other countries/states who are against Tytania and their rule over their country and the galaxy. Hyulick, reminds of the inept hero Tylor from “Irresponsible Captain Tylor” (well, not that bad) but while not inept, he’s more of a guy that walks on the beat of his own drum. Whatever he feels like, he does and people get the wrong idea about him. Call him lucky, call him cool, but really, it’s that element of surprise because he is so aloof, that you wonder if this guy really cares about anything (aside from money and women).
But towards the end of this volume, you will see a change in Fan Hyulick when he is confronted with a significant tragedy.
If there is one thing that will appease any sci-fi anime fans is that you have an all-star creative team with those who worked on the original “Macross”, “Megazone 23” and “Gunbuser” series” working on “Tytania”, also it is based on the novel by Yoshiki Tanaka, who’s previous works puts him on the upper echelon of sci-fi writing in Japan. So, you know you are getting quality. But at the same time, it’s important to note that Tanaka hasn’t completed “Tytania”. In fact, his last novel was in 1991 and he hasn’t come back to it since. So, unfortunately, “Tytania” is a story that has not received any type of closure and this series focuses on the first three novels and hoping that maybe one day, there will be some type of conclusion to the novel or more novels released, so there can be a continuation of this anime series.
But for now, we have the first anime series that will keep any sci-fi anime fan, let alone Mikimioto or Ishiguro fans salivating as the first collection has finally been released in the US.  And as a fan, I’m always excited whenever these two are working together especially for the fact they are working together on a series based on a Yoshiki Tanaka novel. How awesome is that?
The first 13 episodes are fun and entertaining but I do expect the second half to become a bit more serious. I know there will be comparisons to “Banner of the Stars” but with that anime series, it was a love story among the opposition and you felt a sense of urgency when it came to the battles. With Tytania, it’s different because although humanity is facing the tyranny of Tytania, these countries are not exactly being treated as slaves or anything less. So, the question is if people feel cozy enough while collaborating with Tytania. Do these people want a split and have their personal lives affected?   Through this series, we will see a variety of those who have been affected by Tytania with different mindsets. One for rebuilding, one for wanting power, and others who are too scared to react and don’t know what to do.
The DVD is a bit slim when it comes to special features and unfortunately, for those who are wanting an English dub, this DVD release is only in Japanese with English subtitles. Hopefully Sentai Filmworks considers this series for English dub sometime in the near future.
Overall, “Tytania” has been an entertaining series thus far. Again, the first half is not so serious and in someways, there is quite a bit of humor scattered within each episode. But if anything, these episodes are more or less introducing us to the characters and also giving us an idea of the difference in mindset between the four dukes of Tytania. By the end of this collection, things start to ramp up and become a bit more serious and hopefully this continues into the second half of the series.
I’m really enjoying “Tytania” thus far and I look forward to seeing what the writers do for the second half in “Tytania – Collection 2”. For now, if you are a sci-fi anime fan or any of the fans of the talent who had created this show, definitely give “Tytania – Collection 1” a chance!
