Tales of Zestiria the X (テイルズ オブ ゼスティリア ザ X, Teiruzu Obu Zesutiria Za Kurosu, pronounced "Tales of Zestiria the Cross") is a Japanese anime television series based on both Tales of Zestiria and Tales of Berseria video games developed by Bandai Namco Studios and tri-Crescendo, and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It is produced by Ufotable, directed by Haruo Sotozaki and written by Hikaru Kondo, featuring character designs by Akira Matsushima and music by Motoi Sakuraba and Go Shiina. The anime series is split into two halves: the first half premiered on July 3, 2016, and finished airing on September 25, 2016. The second half premiered on January 8, 2017, and finished airing on April 29, 2017.[1]
| Tales of Zestiria the X | |
 Main visual | |
| テイルズ オブ ゼスティリア ザ X (Teiruzu Obu Zesutiria Za Kurosu) | |
|---|---|
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Haruo Sotozaki |
| Produced by |
|
| Written by | Hikaru Kondo |
| Music by | |
| Studio | Ufotable |
| Licensed by | |
| Original network | Tokyo MX, Sun TV, KBS, TV Aichi, BS11 |
| Original run | July 3, 2016 – April 29, 2017 |
| Episodes | 26 |
Plot
editTales of Zestiria the X takes place in a world where there are beings called Seraphim. Humans and Seraphim used to live together in harmony thousands of years ago. The humans prayed to the Seraphim, and in return the Seraphim blessed them. The Seraphim have magical powers and their own element to control. Earth, wind, water, or fire. There were thousands of Seraphim, but mankind was awash with terrible emotions, and could easily be overcome and turn into monsters. When Seraphim became too connected to a human, seeing their friend physically and mentally turn into a monster caused them to despair and their ephemeral forms were quickly turned into monsters as well. The monsters were created when an area was thick with negative emotions that created a dangerous byproduct called malevolence. Malevolence turns any weak or negative living creature into a monster. While Seraphim are turned into powerful dragons, all other living creatures are turned into monsters called Hellions when they are taken over by malevolence.
The Seraphim kept nature running smoothly and in balance, while a person called the Shepherd kept the malevolence at bay. The Shepherd is a regular person until they are able to pull a sacred sword from a stone. Then they become a living legend with the power to purify all Hellions. They can form contracts with Seraphim and combine their bodies so they can use their elemental powers to purify dangerous creatures. They can also form contracts with humans, who help carry the burden of malevolence. While forming contracts with Seraphim has no adverse consequences, humans are a different story. Should the Shepherd die, so will the humans that have a contract with him or her. Also, the more humans the Shepard has contracts with, the heavier the burden on the Shepherd. They can weigh him or her down and cause problems if there are too many.
All of this is a simple legend, of course, no one's seen a Shepherd or Seraphim in hundreds of years. The legend says, humans became too self-absorbed and malevolent and therefore lost the ability to see a Seraphim's ephemeral form. That all changes when a certain princess stumbles across a young man who's lived in a Seraphim village his entire life and can see, touch and talk to them just as easily as he does humans. He has a dream to create a world in which Seraphim and humans can coexist again, but he doesn't have the power to act on his desires. The world is falling into darkness and the malevolence that the humans are blissfully unaware of is dangerously close to destroying everyone. How will the princess and her new optimistic friend fair in this world of monsters and mayhem?
Characters
editZestiria characters
edit- Sorey (スレイ, Surei)
- Voiced by: Robbie Daymond (English);[2] Ryōhei Kimura (Japanese)[3]
- Mikleo (ミクリオ, Mikurio)
- Voiced by: Philip Lamont (English);[2] Ryōta Ōsaka (Japanese)[3]
- Alisha Diphda (アリーシャ・ディフダ, Arīsha Difuda)
- Voiced by: Alexis Tipton (English);[2] Ai Kayano (Japanese)[3]
- Lailah (ライラ, Raira)
- Voiced by: Carrie Keranen (English);[2] Noriko Shitaya (Japanese)[3]
- Rose (ロゼ, Roze)
- Voiced by: Caitlin Glass (English);[2] Mikako Komatsu (Japanese)[3]
- Edna (エドナ, Edona)
- Voiced by: Kira Buckland (English);[2] Misato Fukuen (Japanese)[3]
- Dezel (デゼル, Dezeru)
- Voiced by: Chris Niosi (English);[2] Daisuke Ono (Japanese)[3]
- Zaveid (ザビーダ, Zabīda, pronounced "Zaveed")
- Voiced by: Ian Sinclair (English);[2] Kenjiro Tsuda (Japanese)[3]
Berseria characters
edit- Velvet Crowe (ベルベット・クラウ,, Berubetto Kurau)
- Voiced by: Rina Satō
- Rokurou Rangetsu (ロクロウ・ランゲツ,, Rokurō Rangetsu)
- Voiced by: Daisuke Kishio
- Magilou (マギルゥ,, Magirū)
- Voiced by: Satomi Satō
- Oscar Dragonia (オスカー・ドラゴニア,, Osukaa Doragonia)
- Voiced by: Tomoaki Maeno
- Seres (シアリーズ, Shiarizu)
- Voiced by: Satomi Arai
Production and release
editAn anime television series adaptation of the video game, titled Tales of Zestiria the X, which is animated by Ufotable, was announced at the Tales of Festival 2015. The original plans for the anime was about Tales of Berseria and its promotion before its release, hence the reason why the game makes an adapted appearance.[4][5][6] The series is directed by Haruo Sotozaki and written by Ufotable staff. Akira Matsushima adapted the original character designs for the anime, while the art director is Minji Kim. The music is composed by Motoi Sakuraba and Go Shiina. The main voice actors from the game reprised their roles in the series except for Lailah's voice actress Miyu Matsuki, who died in 2015 and was replaced by Noriko Shitaya. The series was originally announced for broadcast sometime in July 2016.[3]
The first half of the anime television series adaptation aired from July 3, 2016, to September 25, 2016. The opening theme song for the first half was "Kaze no Uta" by Flow,[7] while the ending theme was "Calling" by Fhána.[8] The second half aired from January 8, 2017 to April 29, 2017.[9] The opening theme for the second half is "Illuminate" by Minami Kuribayashi and the ending theme is "Innosense" by Flow.[10]
The anime had been licensed by Funimation[11] and by Madman Entertainment[12] for streaming. Following Sony's acquisition of Crunchyroll, the series was moved to Crunchyroll.[13] Daisuki later added the series to their streaming service,[14] via Anime Consortium Japan alongside Rewrite, Fate/Grand Order ~First Order~ and Blue Exorcist Kyoto Saga.[15]
References
edit- ^ "Tales of Zestiria the X Anime's Final Episode Premieres April 29". Anime News Network. March 25, 2017. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Funimation Reveals Broadcast Dub Casts for Tales of Zestria the X, Both Arcs of Danganronpa 3". Anime News Network. July 31, 2016. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Tales of Zestiria the X TV Anime Unveils Cast, Staff, Teaser Video, Visual". Anime News Network. March 26, 2016. Archived from the original on March 26, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "Tales of 20th Anniversary Animation Produced by ufotable for 2016 Airing". Anime News Network. June 7, 2015. Archived from the original on June 7, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "2016 'Tales of' TV Anime Is Tales of Zestiria the X". Anime News Network. December 15, 2015. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ Sato (December 15, 2015). ""Tales of Zestiria the X" Anime Announced For Spring 2016". Siliconera. Archived from the original on December 15, 2015. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
- ^ "Tales of Zestiria the X TV Anime's Promo & Ad Preview FLOW Opening Theme". Anime News Network. June 1, 2016. Archived from the original on August 30, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
- ^ "fhána Performs Tales of Zestiria the X TV Anime's Ending Theme". Anime News Network. May 9, 2016. Archived from the original on August 30, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
- ^ "Tales of Zestiria the X TV Anime Gets 2nd Season in 2017". Anime News Network. September 18, 2016. Archived from the original on November 22, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
- ^ "Tales of Zestiria the X Season 2's TV Ad Reveals Theme Songs, January 8 Premiere". Anime News Network. November 30, 2016. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
- ^ "Funimation to stream D. Gray Man, Servamp, Tales of Zestiria, Danganronpa 3, Love Live Sunshine, First Love Monster, Handa-kun, Tsukiuta, Time travel Girl, Xechs, Regalia". Anime News Network. June 23, 2016. Archived from the original on June 25, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
- ^ "AnimeLab Summer Simulcast Lineup 2016". Madman Entertainment. June 25, 2016. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ "UPDATE: Funimation Titles Now Available on Crunchyroll (3/16)". Crunchyroll. March 1, 2022. Archived from the original on March 22, 2022. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
- ^ "Daisuki to Stream Tales of Zestiria the X 2nd Season". Anime News Network. December 28, 2016. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
- ^ "Anime Consortium Japan to Stream Fate/Grand Order –First Order-, Blue Exorcist Kyoto Saga, Rewrite, Tales of Zestiria the X Season 2". Anime News Network. December 29, 2016. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
External links
edit- Official website (in Japanese)
- Tales of Zestiria the X (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia