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[ café reviews ]

ars_o003.jpg

ars_0000.gif

Arislan Senki
Part 3


[ production info ]

Copyright: © 1992 Tanaka Yoshiki/Kadokawa-Shoten/MOVIC/Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., © 1993 Central Park Media Corp. (North America)
Length: 60 minutes
Rating: NR, parental guidance suggested
Format: Dubbed, Subtitled (VHS/LD)

Based on the manga series by: Tanaka Yoshiki Character Design: Kamimura Sachiko Director: Hamatsu Mamoru Screenplay: Miyashita Tomoya, Takada Kaori Producers: Kazama Yasuhisa, Kato Nageteru English Version Executive Producer: John O’Donnell Translation by: Pamela Ferdi, William Flanagan


[ plot summary ]

vhs jacket

Episode three begins with more Palsian soldiers and noble warriors joining Arislan at Peshawal. Arislan wants to free all the slaves of Palse despite Narsus’s advice that retaking Ekubatana should be the prince’s first priority. While Arislan’s army of 110,000 men prepares to march, the Lusitanians hurry to repair Ekubatana and prepare for Arislan’s attack. King Innokentis II of Lusitania is a sorry excuse for a king, and most of the decisions are made by his younger brother, Prince Giskarl. Another 100,000 Lusitanian soldiers are expected to arrive in Ekubatana. Prince Giskarl also orders the death of the Lusitanian religious leader, Jon Bodan, to prevent any meddling of the prince’s plans to rule Greater Lusitania by himself. Under Prince Giskarl’s orders, Silvermask attacks Castle Zable, killing Jon Bodan’s personal guard but Bodan escapes. Though Silvermask is working for Prince Giskarl, he has plans of his own to complete his revenge against the royal family of Palse. Arislan learns that Silvermask is his cousin Prince Hermes, son of Osiris who was king before Andragoras. Meanwhile, an old acquaintance of Prince Hermes, Princess Ilina of Maryum, is searching for him. While docking at the northern Port of Dairam, her ship is attacked by a Lusitanian batallion. The princess is rescued by former Baron Marshal Kubard, and the mountain bandit Melain. Melain promises to be her guide and help her find Prince Heremes. In May of 321, Arislan leaves Peshawal and marches his army east on the Great Road towards Ekubatana. Through superior military tactics, Arislan’s army takes the first Lusitanian outpost on the Great Road, Castle Chasume.


[ capsule review ]







In Arislan episode three the narrator recaps the story with previous clips to save time and animation work. However, the narration sounds like a documentary which is fitting for an epic style series and the "legendary" aura that surrounds Arislan. The map that Narsus makes for Arislan is referred to now and then to indicate where everyone is--which is helpful for those of us with no sense of direction at all. Altogether, the story begins to take a quicker pace as everyone anticipates the upcoming battle for Ekubatana. More new characters are introduced in these episodes, such as Princess Ilina, Jovana, Melain, former Baron Marshal Kubard, General Clemence, Montferart, Bordoin, Zaravont, Lucian, Tous, and Prince Giskarl. The introduction of these new characters makes the story more interesting.

The costuming and background art is still beautiful and detailed. The design of Princess Ilina’s dress and the miniature drawings on the map that Narsus makes for Arislan deserve separate praise. Time and effort was put into the ornamentation of the interior of the battered Ekubatana, the interior of Peshawal, and the interior to Princess Ilina’s ship. In episode three, most of the action takes place outside and the scenery gets a little monotonous after a while. But, all of the scenes that take place under the moon are beautifully colored.

The soundtrack for episode three is much shorter than those of one or two. Some of the songs are even repeated in different variations. However, there are many moving melodies on this soundtrack, such as the background music when Princess Ilina is first introduced. The end title song for both episodes three and four, "Ryoute-ippai," is beautifully sung by Shoko Suzuki. The song is accompanied by a display of all the major and minor characters present in the episode. For hard core Arislan fans though, the credits come much too early for our tastes. Onward to episode four!
- JCF


[ café rating ]

Original: Subbed: Dubbed:
Story: N/R 4 stars N/A
Direction: N/R 4 stars N/A
Acting: N/R 4 stars N/A
Animation: N/R 4 stars N/A
Music: N/R rate_04.gif N/A
Translation: N/A 5 stars N/A
Overall Rating: N/R 4 stars N/A



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