Simoun (anime)

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Simoun
シムーン (Shimūn)
Genre	Drama, Science Fiction
TV anime : Simoun
Directed by	Junji Nishimura
Studio	Studio Deen
Network	TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, AT-X
Original run	3 April 2006 – 25 September 2006
No. of episodes	26
Manga: Simoun (jōsei drama)
Authored by	Hashiba Hayase
Publisher	Ichijinsha
Serialized in	Comic Yuri Hime
Original run	January 2006 – July 2006
No. of volumes	1
Manga: Simoun (seinen comedy)
Authored by
Publisher	Gakken
Serialized in	Megami Magazine
Original run	August 2006 – December 2006
No. of volumes
Light novel: Simoun
Authored by	Junko Okazaki
Artist	Asako Nishida
Publisher	Megami Library
Publish date	August 2006 – December 2006
No. of volumes	2

Simoun (シムーン, Shimūn^?) is an animated TV series that was broadcast in Japan in 2006. It ran for 26 weekly episodes from 3 April to 25 September.

A manga adaptation was published in three issues of Comic Yuri Hime. The manga shared the same characters and setting as the anime, but presented a different storyline. A second manga was serialised in Megami Magazine, with a radically different setting and a comic rather than serious and dramatic tone. There is also a two-volume light novel adaptation, which unlike the manga has a storyline close to that of the anime.

Contents 1 Background 2 Characters 2.1 Chor Tempest 2.2 Other characters 3 Plot 4 Footnotes 5 See also 6 External links

[edit] Background

Simoun takes place on the planet Daikūriku (大空陸, Daikūriku^?) ("great sky land" or "heaven's shore"). Daikūriku is an Earth-like planet in a binary star system^[1] populated by humanoids who resemble humans, but are all born female and develop as girls until age 17, when they choose a permanent sex^[2]. At some point in Daikūriku's past, a more technologically advanced culture flourished, but it has since crumbled, and much of its technology has been lost^[3].

At the start of the series, the theocratic nation of Simulacrum (シムラークルム宮国, Shimurākurumu Kyuukoku^?) has a monopoly on "helical motor" (ヘリカル・モートリス, herikaru mōtorisu^?) technology^[4] left over from the fallen ancient civilization, which it uses to power aircraft and trains. The industrialized nation of Argentum (アルゲントゥム礁国, Arugentumu Shoukoku^?), located on an archipelago across the ocean from Simulacrum^[4], wishes to steal the helical motor technology in order to further their own technological advancement and imperialist ambitions. Argentum possesses technology similar to that of industrialized nations in the 1920s or 1930s, including mass-produced lighter-than-air rigid zeppelins and heavier-than-air propeller-driven biplane fighter aircraft, and as the series begins, it is preparing to attack Simulacrum with a fleet of fighter-carrying airships. Other neighbouring countries, such as the Plumbum Highlands (プルンブム嶺国, Purunbumu Reikoku^?), also have hostile relations with Simulacrum due to religious differences or faltering economies^[5].

Simulacrum is defended by advanced airships known as "Simoun." A Simoun is a two-seater aircraft propelled by two helical motors, based on technology left over from the fallen ancient civilization. The exact operation of the helical motor is not well understood by Simulacran technicians, but one of the two rotors apparently controls the Simoun's position in space, and the other affects the flow of time^[6]. A Simoun requires two crew members to fly^[7]. The two crew members have separate cockpits, each with its own independent flight controls and instrumentation. The crew member in the forward cockpit, known as the auriga, actually flies the Simoun, while the crew member in the aft cockpit, known as the sagitta, acts as a navigator and controls the Simoun's weapons and other accessories (however, at times in the series it seems the sagitta affects the flying of the craft as well. In episode 5, the Simoun flown by Limone and Aaeru flies off-course duing the Bell Ri Mājon. The fault is attributed to Limone, even though she is the sagitta.). Simulacrum also possesses one- and two-seater training aircraft similar to the Simoun, known as "Simile" (シミレ・シムーン, Shimire Shimūn^?), which are based on a less-advanced design with one somewhat simpler helical motor^[8].

Simulacrum's religion is centered on the worship of a spiritual force known as Tempus Spatium (テンプスパティウム, Tenpusupatiumu^?). Tempus Spatium is depicted in Simulacran iconography by winged pillars^[9] or goddesses^[10]. One of the most important centers of worship of Tempus Spatium is "the Spring", an underground grotto containing a ruined temple to the Tempus Spatium^[11]. Simulacran girls make a pilgrimage to the Spring when they turn seventeen; entering the Spring in a particular ritual context with a firm intention in mind causes the pilgrim to make a final selection of their permanent sex. Through a mechanism which is not fully understood (the Simulacrans believe it to be the power of the Tempus Spatium), the individual's DNA is rewritten to confirm or reverse their gender^[11].

The Simoun are crewed by priestesses called Sibyllae (シムーン・シヴュラ, Shimūn Shivyura^?) (plural; singular Sibylla). Each Simoun sibylla is a girl who hasn't chosen a permanent sex yet; doing so permanently disqualifies one from serving as a sibylla^[12]. Some sibyllae have delayed their choice of gender past the age of 17; due to the war, they are granted special dispensation to do this^[13][14]. The sibyllae understand their use of the Simoun to be sacred to Tempus Spatium; a form of elaborate prayer^[15][16][17]. The main weapon of the Simoun is a large glowing green gem, (the "Simoun Gem"^[18]) positioned between the cockpits, which produces an effect known as Ri Mājon (リ・マージョン, Ri Mājon^?) when the Simoun is flown in the correct pattern. The Simoun Gem is activated before takeoff when the two Sibyllae kiss it after kissing each other.

The sibyllae believe that inscribing enormous glyphs in the sky using the Simoun Gem invokes the power of Tempus Spatium to produce powerful magical effects. Different Ri Mājon glyphs can be combined to produce a nearly infinite variety of effects, but most of the lore surrounding the language of the Ri Mājon has been lost over time^[19]. As the series begins, the Simoun sibyllae are working to try to rediscover this ancient knowledge^[19]. Different Ri Mājons have different effects and functions. There are combat Ri Mājons^[20], diplomatic Ri Mājons^[21], funeral Ri Mājons^[22], and so forth. Ri Mājons differ widely in the number of craft required to complete them, and in the time and skill needed to successfully inscribe them.

Sibyllae are organized into "choirs" of twelve priestesses. A choir at full strength operates six Simoun, which is sufficient to allow them to inscribe the most complex known Ri Mājon patterns in the sky^[23][24]. Simoun choirs take the title chor (コール, kōru^?) (Greek for "choir"), and a name derived from Latin or a language very similar to it. "Chor" is a homonym for "corps", and the resulting double religious and military meaning may or may not be intentional. A Simoun choir is led by a senior sibylla known as the regina (レギーナ, regīna^?). The most senior sibylla in the entire Simoun fleet is known as the Sibylla Aurea (シヴュラ・アウレア, Shivyura Aurea^?)^[25]. A group of one or more choirs is commanded by a dux (デュクス, dyukusu^?), who is an adult religious official who has chosen a permanent sex, and therefore is unable to operate a Simoun himself^[26].

The series focuses on one particular Simoun choir, Chor Tempest (コール・テンペスト, Kōru Tenpesuto^?), which has a reputation as an elite unit^[27]. Corps Tempest is one of three choirs based on a large airship, the Arcus Prima (アルクス・プリーマ, Arukusu Purīma^?)^[28], which functions as a flying aircraft carrier.

[edit] Characters

[edit] Chor Tempest

Aaeru (アーエル, Aaeru^?) 

Aaeru

Aaeru is a brash young sibylla who joins Chor Tempest as one of three replacements for combat losses in the first battle against Argentum. She immediately takes a liking to Neviril, and pushes to become Neviril's new Pair after Amuria is lost. Aaeru fits the stereotype of the cocky fighter pilot, and has little patience for the sibyllae's role as priestesses. She volunteered for combat after serving as a cadet on the southern front, and possesses an outstanding flying ability^[7]. Her name means "divine love" in the language of the neighbouring mountain nation of Plumbum^[29]. Aaeru gradually falls in love with Neviril, and in the end, flies with her in a time-travelling journey using the Emerald Ri-Maajon.

Seiyū (voiced by): Michi Niino (Japanese)

Alti (アルティ, Aruti^?) 

Alti

Alti is Floe's pair, and wears her hair in a chin-length bob parted in the middle. She is Kaimu's younger sister, and harbors a "sister complex" toward Kaimu. In the end, Alti choose to become a woman and now lives with her sister.

Seiyū (voiced by): Megumi Toyoguchi (Japanese)

Amuria (アムリア, Amuria^?) 

Amuria

Amuria was Neviril's Sagitta until the first battle against Argentum. She was a very determined sibylla, keenly interested in the Simoun as instruments of power. She and Neviril had been a pair, and romantically partnered, ever since Neviril first joined Chor Tempest. Amuria was lost when she and Neviril attempted the Emerald Ri Mājon (an extremely difficult and powerful Ri Mājon maneuver, which was Amuria's idea to try) in the first combat action against Argentum.

Seiyū (voiced by): Eri Kitamura (Japanese)

Dominūra (ドミヌーラ, Dominūra^?)

Dominūra is the eldest of all Sibylla. She is connected to ruling circles in Simulacrum, and was the only survivor of the destruction of Chor Dextra^[30] after that choir attempted to perform the Emerald Ri Mājon^[31]. She joins Chor Tempest at Guragief's request, to try to sort out Limone and the rest of the chior. She has mysterious political connections to a faction within the Simulacran administration^[32]. In the end, Dominura continues to live in the past with Limone.

Seiyū (voiced by): Yukana (Japanese)

Erī/Erif (エリー/エリフ, Erī/Erif^?) 

Erī

Erī turns 17 shortly after the start of the series, and goes to the Spring under the temple of Tempus Spatium. Because she hasn't made up her mind as to which sex she prefers to be, she is assigned to be male. He then changes his name to "Erif", as the terminal -f signifies masculinity in the Simulacran culture. In the end, Erif works on the Messis.

Seiyū (voiced by): Yukana (Japanese)

Floe (フロエ, Furoe^?) 

Floe

Floe is an energetic red-haired sibylla, and Wapōrif's ex-lover. She flies sagitta with Alti. She is very forward with her feelings, and is not shy about expressing them. In the end, Floe chooses to be a male, named Flof, and works with Simulacrum crew.

Seiyū (voiced by): Michiru Aizawa (Japanese)

Kaimu (カイム, Kaimu^?) 

Kaimu

Kaimu is a diffident sibylla with large round glasses, who flies sagitta aboard Paraietta's Simoun. She is Alti's older sister. Although she is very nice, she is also alert and easily roused. She harbors an unrequited love for Paraietta. In the end, Kaimu chooses to be a female, unlike what she was thinking, and lives with her sister.

Seiyū (voiced by): Michiko Hosokoshi (Japanese)

Limone (リモネ, Rimone^?) 

Limone

Limone is an extremely young sibylla assigned to Chor Tempest as a replacement for the losses from the first battle. She was promoted to the rank of sibylla at an unusually early age due to her flying ability and sharp intellect. She is very fond of sweets, and can frequently be seen snacking on some treat or other. In the end, Limone has grown up and with Dominura's help, has formed sybillae in their village.

Seiyū (voiced by): Mamiko Noto (Japanese)

Mamiina (マミーナ, Mamiina^?)

Mamiina

Mamiina is a skillful but haughty sibylla, formerly assigned to Chor Ignis aboard the Arcus Niger^[33], who joins Chor Tempest at Halconf's request. Her parents were servants to Rodoraemon's family. Despite her humble origins, she was promoted to sibylla rank when she volunteered for combat duty when other sibyllae refused^[34]. Her hobby is cooking, and she also enjoys cleaning and other domestic chores^[35].

Seiyū (voiced by): Rika Morinaga (Japanese)

Morinas (モリナス, Morinasu^?) 

Morinas

Morinas is another of the replacement sibylla who join Chor Tempest after the first battle of the war. She pursues Neviril for a time when she first joins the choir, but eventually gives up. She has a keen interest in understanding how the helical motors that power the Simoun work, and is a compulsive flirt. She and Wapourif develop a romantic attraction. In the end, Morinas becomes a woman and marries Waporif. She's the mother of 2 children and works on the Messis.

Seiyū (voiced by): Nana Mizuki (Japanese)

Neviril (ネヴィリル, Neviriru^?) 

Neviril

Neviril is the Sibylla Aurea, and the Regina of Chor Tempest. She has a reputation for being the best Auriga in the entire Simoun fleet, and is the object of admiration of both the other sibyllae and the cadets aboard Arcus Prima. She is so revered that junior sibyllae are reprimanded for addressing her without an honorific even in her absence. She is the daughter of Halconf, the chief administrator of Simulacrum's government. She and Amuria were very close, and she is devastated by the loss of her beloved partner. Neviril finally drops her depression and confesses her love to Aaeru, and both perform the Emerald Ri-Maajon to travel in time.

Seiyū (voiced by): Rieko Takahashi (Japanese)

Paraietta (パライエッタ, Paraietta^?) 

Paraietta

Paraietta is second-in-command of Chor Tempest, and a respected Sibylla. She flies as an auriga, paired with Kaimu. She has a stern, masculine manner, and joined Corps Tempest because she is Neviril's childhood friend. She remains very loyal to Neviril. In the end, Paraietta becomes a woman and now takes care of an orphanage, supplemented by Rodoreamon's family business.

Seiyū (voiced by): Ami Koshimizu (Japanese)

Rōdoreamon (ロードレアモン, Rōdoreamon^?) 

Rodoreamon

Rōdoreamon is a gentle, feminine Sibylla from an important family. Everyone addresses her as ojō-sama and treats her with deference. She flies with Erī until Erī leaves to go to the Spring, and has a deep knowledge of sibylla traditions. As children, she and Mamiina met, but were divided by the class difference between them^[36]. In the end, Rodoreamon becomes a woman. She now runs business with Simulacrum forces.

Seiyū (voiced by): Mikako Takahashi (Japanese)

Yun (ユン, Yun^?)

Yun

Mamiina's sagitta before the two join Chor Tempest. She speaks very bluntly, refers to herself using masculine pronouns, and hates war. She is devoutly religious, sincerely committed to the cause of peace, and loves to read. She holds herself aloof from the rest of Chor Tempest. Yun has freed Onashia from her keeper duty, and became the new keeper since that day.

Seiyū (voiced by): Kaori Nazuka (Japanese)

[edit] Other characters

Angulas (アングラス, Angurasu^?) 

Angulas

Angulas is a priestess of the deity "Animus" from the neighbouring country of Plumbum. When Plumbum and Simulacrum hold a peace conference, she is seconded to Chor Tempest for a time on the theory that Animus and the Tempus Spatium are the same deity.

Seiyū (voiced by): Miyu Matsuki (Japanese)

Anubituf (アヌビトゥフ, Anubitufu^?) 

Anubituf

Anubituf is the captain of the Arcus Prima. He is a responsible, determined warrior and a wise commander. He and Guragief were sibyllae together before they went to the Spring, and the two have remained close ever since.

Seiyū (voiced by): Reiko Kiuchi (Japanese)

Guragief (グラギエフ, Guragiefu^?) 

Guragief

Guragief is the overall commander (or "Dux") of the Simoun forces aboard Arcus Prima, which consist of Chor Tempest, Chor Rubor, and Chor Caput. He is responsible for personnel decisions, and dispatches the Simoun fleet on their missions. He is very empathetic, and cares deeply about the sibyllae in his care.

Seiyū (voiced by): Hōko Kuwashima (Japanese)

Halconf (ハルコンフ, Harukonfu^?) 

Halconf

Halconf is the father of Neviril and the Vice-Chair of Simulacrum's High Council, second only to Onashia. He is a former sibylla, and takes a keen interest in Chor Tempest and in Neviril's career.

Seiyū (voiced by): Yōko Soumi (Japanese)

Onashia (オナシア, Onashia^?) 

Onashia

Onashia is the High Priestess of the Tempus Spatium, and presides over the gender selection ceremony at the Spring. Daikuurikans are born female, and choose a sex at age 17; in Simulacrum, this is done by going to the Spring at the temple of Tempus Spatium. As head of Simulacrum's High Council, she serves as head of state.

Seiyū (voiced by): Sakiko Tamagawa (Japanese)

Vyūra (ヴューラ, Vyūra^?) 

Vyura

Vyura is the Regina of Chor Rubor, and is assigned to be Aaeru's roommate aboard Arcus Prima. She develops a rivalry with Chor Tempest at first, but grows to respect them.At the episode end, Vyura chooses to be a male, named Vyuraf, because lived remained Simulacrum land occpied by the Argentum and he was Sibylla in the past, was drafted by the Argentum military.

Seiyū (voiced by): Ai Hayasaka (Japanese)

Wapōrif (ワポーリフ, Wapōrifu^?) 

Wapōrif

Wapōrif is a maintenance technician for the Simoun aboard the Arcus Prima. He went to the Spring under the temple of Tempus Spatium two years before the beginning of the series, and chose to become male. He and Floe were lovers, but broke up because it was against regulations. Wapourif is devoutly religious, and develops a close relationship with Morinas.

Seiyū (voiced by): Fumie Mizusawa (Japanese)

Wauf (ワウフ, Wauf^?) 

Wauf is the captain of the old-timer patrol-ship Messis. He went to the Spring under the temple of Tempus Spatium long ago, and looks like a middle-age man. He has brilliant skill and knowledge of tactics, and cares for his new new passengers, the Simoun Sybillae of Choir Tempest. He believes that, in spite of their apparent deaths while performing the Emerald Ri Mājon, that Dominūra and Rimone are still alive.

Seiyū (voiced by): Urara Takano (Japanese)

[edit] Plot

Short summaries of individual episodes may be found at List of Simoun episodes.

As the series opens, Argentum sends a large fleet of airships to attack Simulacrum, in order to steal the helical motor technology found in the Simoun. Fifteen or more carrier airships participate in the attack, yielding a total force of hundreds of "dragonfly" fighters. The invasion fleet is intercepted by two Simoun choirs on routine patrol: Chor Caput (コール・カプト, Kōru Kaputo^?) and Chor Tempest. Simulacran doctrine holds that any potential enemy will flee in terror at the first sight of a Simoun, yet the Argentine air fleet manages to completely wipe out Chor Caput. Chor Tempest is able to destroy large number of enemy fighters with its own Ri Mājon power, but just as it is about to destroy the entire attacking fleet with a powerful maneuver known as the Iron Ri Mājon (鉄のリ・マージョン, Tetsu no Ri Mājon^?), the choir's Simoun Gems begin to run out of power. One of the choir's Simoun is destroyed by enemy gunfire, and the remainder are left unable to execute a Ri Mājon effect sufficient to repel the enemy attack. In desperation, Neviril and her partner Amuria attempt an extremely powerful but extremely dangerous maneuver, the Emerald Ri Mājon (翠玉のリ・マージョン, Suigyoku no Ri Mājon^?), in a last-ditch attempt to salvage the situation.

Neviril and Amuria appear to be on the verge of successfully completing the Emerald Ri Mājon when disaster strikes. Their Simoun has a head-on encounter with an Argentine dragonfly fighter. Neviril sees the enemy pilot inside his cockpit and meets his gaze, which forces her to see the attacking enemy forces as people rather than machines. She loses the will to kill them, and her resulting moment of hesitation causes the Ri Mājon to fail. The failure of the Emerald Ri Mājon causes an explosion similar to the detonation of a nuclear weapon. The remaining Simoun of Chor Tempest escape the blast, but the entire attacking fleet is annihilated, and Neviril's Simoun is crippled. The upper fuselage is a twisted wreck, and the sagitta cockpit is missing entirely... and Amuria with it.

Three Sibyllae from Chor Tempest were killed in the initial battle. After the battle, three more announce their intent to leave the ranks of the Sibyllae and go to the Spring to choose a permanent sex. The remaining Sibyllae are all too demoralized to act as an effective fighting force, especially Neviril, who can't even bring herself to leave her stateroom on the Arcus Prima. The only bright spot for Chor Tempest at this time is the arrival of two promising new recruits: Sibylla Aaeru, an excellent pilot with unshakeable morale, and Sibylla Limone, a child prodigy who was recently made the youngest Sibylla ever. Aaeru immediately decides to try to form a pair with Neviril, but Neviril is still grieving for Amuria. Neviril follows one of the three departing Sibyllae to the Spring out of friendship, and nearly enters it herself.

Over the following weeks, Argentum continues its harassment of Simulacrum by sending fighter probes, conducting a powerful but inaccurate long-range bombardment intended to bring down the Arcus Prima, and sending agents into Simulacran territory to attempt to ambush and steal a Simoun. A second front to the war opens when Plumbum launches a mechanized invasion of Simulacrum over their shared mountainous border. Chor Tempest slowly tries to regain its confidence during this period, adding two new recruits: the flirty Sibylla Morinas and the mysterious and politically well-connected Sibylla Dominura. Dominura, the eldest of all the Simoun Sibyllae, is brought in to try to revive Chor Tempest, and she takes an immediate interest in Limone. Aaeru persists in her attempts to get Neviril to pair with her, but Neviril remains mired in severe depression, and lets Chor Tempest drift as she wallows in her grief. Aaeru and Limone, with Dominura flying sagitta for Limone, defeat the Plumbish armoured attack, leading the Plumbish government to sue for peace.

As the Arcus Prima heads for international waters to serve as the site of the peace conference between Plumbum and Simulacrum, Neviril's father Halconf interferes to try to jar his daughter out of her hikikomori phase. He orders two Sibyllae, Mamiina and Yun, to join Chor Tempest to bring it to full strength, and on the strength of Mamiina's service record, assigns her to be Neviril's new roommate and pair. Neviril, who is beginning to show signs of warming to Aaeru, rejects Mamiina, and in reaction, Mamiina attacks Aaeru. This shocking breach of conduct leads to the announcement that Chor Tempest will disband after the conclusion of the peace conference.

Relieved of its duties, Chor Tempest is assigned to play host to one of Plumbum's priestesses during the peace conference. The foreign priestess, Angulas, gets along well with the girls of the Simoun choir, but turns out to be a suicide bomber, who destroys two thirds of the Arcus Prima's Simoun wing and cripples the carrier herself. The bombing jars Neviril out of her funk. She agrees to pair with Aaeru, and leads Chor Tempest to save the Arcus Prima from certain destruction at the hands of a Plumbish battleship.

Now safe, Arcus Prima is brought into drydock at the Grand Temple as Neviril and Guragief travel to the chambers of the High Council of Simulacrum to try to defend Chor Tempest against Halconf's attempt to disband it. Neviril makes an impassioned speech before the council that offends many council members in its reference to the conflict as a "war", and in Neviril's refusal to blindly follow "the will of God" as Angulas did. Onashia, however, intervenes on Neviril's behalf, as does Sibylla Vyura from the rival Chor Rubor, who sets aside her rivalry to appear before the council and state that she thinks that Chor Tempest is the best. Vyura and Neviril return from the Council chambers just as the remaining members of Chor Tempest are performing a funeral Ri Mājon in memory of the victims of the suicide bombing... and right as Argentum launches a cruise missile attack against the Grand Temple. Chor Tempest easily destroys the missiles with the Iron Ri Mājon, and celebrates the news that the choir isn't to be disbanded after all.

That evening, Chor Tempest learns that Sibylla Dominura has found the choir a new ship to fly from while Arcus Prima is in drydock. Dominura, it turns out, had secretly attended the hearing as well, and had met with a secret faction of officials opposed to Halconf's administration. Dominura's faction was able to bring the old converted freight airship Messis out of retirement and refit her in the fashion of a World War II escort carrier. Conditions aboard the Messis are considerably more spartan than on the converted luxury liner Arcus Prima, and over the following weeks, Messis operates in a considerably more aggressive posture than Arcus Prima did, sparring with enemy patrols, participating in an airmobile assault with a unit of infantry, and intercepting an Argentine base ship.

Messis' active prosecution of the war is not matched by those in charge back at headquarters, however, and despite the discovery of a new class of heavy fighter based aboard the base ship and the possibility of an alliance between Plumbum and Argentum, Messis and Chor Tempest receive orders to passively monitor the base ship's activities rather than attacking. Dominūra takes matters into her own hands, ordering Aaeru and Neviril to sortie to intercept the base and conduct and armed reconnaissance of it. She also orders Wapōrif to dismantle one of the hitherto sacrosanct Simoun to learn the secret of how they work. Wapōrif is shocked at this violation of one of Simulacrum's strongest taboos, but eventually acceeds. His faith is shaken when he sees nothing obviously magical or divine inside the Simoun's helical motors; they appear to be mere machines to him. Dominūra, however, is able to see something inside that Wapōrif (who, being male, has already gone to the Spring) can't -- something profoundly shocking. She has to be helped away, screaming, from the flight deck.

The enemy, meanwhile, is far from idle. A series of feints by enemy fighters manages to draw out four of Chor Tempest's six Simoun from the Messis in a futile attempt at a decisive engagement. Limone manages to rouse Dominūra from her shock, but with only those two and Aaeru and Paraietta left to defend Messis, the enemy springs their trap. A large force of the new heavy fighters launches an alpha strike against the Messis during a thunderstorm, and only a quick decision by Wauf, her captain, to hide the ship, and the two remaining Simoun, on the ground in a forest behind a cliff from the enemy's approach vector, saves the ship from destruction. When the weather clears, the enemy reappears to resume their attack, and the two Simoun are compelled to intercept them to prevent them from discovering the Messis.

Although both Simoun manage to destroy a portion of the attacking force, the enemy has adopted new tactics that disperse their aircraft to make them less vulnerable to the Ri Mājon effect. The two Simoun destroy a portion of the enemy fighter wave, but are pursued so closely by the surviving fighters that they are unable to complete further Ri Mājons. Wauf orders the Messis to exit her position of concealment and draws the enemy fighter attack onto his own ship to buy the sibyllae some time. In a desperate response, Limone and Dominūra perform the Emerald Ri Mājon... and succeed. Their Simoun vanishes without a trace in a flash of light as the rest of the choir -- including the four missing Simoun, who happen to appear just in time to see it -- look on in horror. Unlike in the first battle, however, the Emerald Ri Mājon has no effect on the attacking aircraft or the outcome of the battle, but the day is saved when Arcus Prima, now fully repaired and operational, conveniently appears to drive away the remaining attackers.

Back aboard the Arcus Prima, three government representatives (including Halconf) meet with the remaining members of the choir to discuss their next objective: to secure Simulacrum's holiest site, the Ruins, before the allied forces can steal Simoun-grade helical motors from it. They arrive to find three unidentified Simoun, of a different design to the Simoun that the Simulacran choirs use, exiting from the Ruins' main entrance. In the ensuing air battle, Chor Tempest manage to shoot down one of the stolen craft, but the other two escape unharmed.

During the battle, Aaeru and Neviril discover that Aaeru's music box, though closed and deactivated, plays its song around the entrance to the Ruins. Instead of joining the dogfight, they land to investigate... and discover the Spring inside the ruins, and Onashia. After the fight, the remaining members of the choir land, and discover another of the ancient Simoun inside the Ruins, with Angulas' dead body sitting in the auriga seat. The Simulacran religious authorities interpret this to mean that Tempus Spatium had forgiven Angulas, and they bury her with full honors. Mamiina and Aaeru are excluded from the funeral due to their social class.

After the funeral, Aaeru and Neviril discuss what they saw at the Ruins. Aaeru reveals that her grandfather told her stories about a "door to another world" that the Simoun could open, and speculates that Angulas may have traveled to the ancient Simoun through that other world during the explosion. They compare this to Onashia's statements that she is "everywhere and nowhere" and that the Spring exists outside normal reality, and conclude that what's true for Angulas and Onashia may also be true for Dominūra and Limone -- who therefore could be alive somewhere. Neviril swears Aaeru to secrecy about their discussion, and the two agree to keep it a secret.

Realizing that the Simoun seen at the Ruins were most likely piloted by Plumbish priestesses, the Simulacran Defence Minister orders Chor Tempest to locate and destroy the airborne supply base that Messis had discovered, using the Messis as their base. Aaeru and Yun are ordered to stay behind, with Mamiina taking Aaeru's place as Neviril's pair, but they take a Simoun in violation of orders, and follow along in Chor Tempest's wake anyway. Neviril splits her patrol in half, taking Alti and Floe with her, and assigning a different sector to the other two Simoun.

When Neviril's flight locates the allied base ship, the two ancient Simoun that had escaped the dogfight at the ruins sortie to met them, along with a large number of Argentine heavy fighters. The two Simulacran Simoun destroy a number of opposing fighters, but the weight of numbers is too great, especially when combined with the presence of hostile Simoun. Completely defensive and unable to break out of evasive maneuvers long enough to execute a Ri Mājon, Neviril orders Alti and Floe to break off and summon reinforcements. She and Mamiina barely evade a Ri Mājon attack by the enemy Simoun, but are promptly hit by gunfire from an Argentine fighter, and crash on the flight deck of the base ship. Neviril is incapacitated in the crash.

The two ancient Simoun land next to Mamiina and Neviril's crippled craft, and the four Plumbish priestesses who were piloting them emerge, wielding pistols. They explain that they hold the Simoun sibyllae in great reverence, and regret having to fight them. They try to help Neviril and Mamiina escape. Mamiina, realizing that the priestesses would be killed as traitors for helping them escape, leaps back to the base ship once Neviril and the Simoun are safely away, and sacrifices her life to save the foreign priestesses. The rest of Chor Tempest arrives with the Messis, scatters the allied troops and enemy Simoun on the base ship's flight deck, and retrieves Mamiina's body, but it is too late -- she had been shot through the heart by one of the priestesses to avoid the dishonor of being killed by the Argentine soldiers.

Rodoreamon is disconsolate. She and Mamiina had become extremely close in the weeks leading up to Mamiina's final battle. To add insult to injury, the class-conscious Defence Ministry authorities pack Mamiina's body off to her hometown rather than giving her the sort of elaborate funeral that Angulas received. And on the way, the Simile carrying her body is shot down by the two Plumbish Simoun.

The authorities give Chor Tempest little time to grieve. Onashia boards the Arcus Prima, and Aaeru, Neviril, and (at her request) Yun are delegated to accompany her and several other religious officials to the Ruins, aboard the Messis. At the Ruins, the sibyllae are told the secret of the Emerald Ri Mājon: it allows the Simoun to travel in time. Chor Dextra was formed for that purpose, and used the Ruins as its training ground. In a last-ditch effort to save the rapidly-failing Simulacran war effort, the chief priestess of the Grand Temple orders Aaeru and Neviril to reactivate Chor Dextra and perform the Emerald Ri Mājon to prevent the war from occurring in the first place.

With the secret of the Emerald Ri Mājon revealed, we are finally shown what happened to Limone and Dominura. They landed in another time, in the aftermath of a destructive war and a long period of lean economic times. Humanity had forgotten the secrets of the Simoun, and the ancient Simoun found at the Ruins sit idle by the edge of the town where the two land, reduced to mere playthings for children. As the two are summoned to explain themselves to the townspeople, Dominura explains to Limone what she saw in the helical motors that upset her so much: she saw herself landing in this very town, explaining to the townspeople about the Emerald Ri Mājon, and thereby causing the entire war and all of the ensuing suffering. She asks Limone for advice, and Limone explains that if there hadn't been Simoun, she never would have met Chor Tempest... and Dominura. This admission overcomes Dominura's reservations, and history unfolds exactly as Dominura and Limone remember it.

The departure of Aaeru, Neviril, and Yun to the Ruins leaves Chor Tempest dangerously understrength, even when reinforced by Vyura, who joins the choir to replace Mamiina. Before the Messis can return, a black Simoun from the Arcus Niger crash lands on Arcus Prima's flight deck, with the news that the Niger has been destroyed by the alliance. Hard on her heels are not two but five Plumbish Simoun. The rump Chor Tempest gamely sorties to intercept them, only to see the Plumbish choir promptly disengage rather than destroy the sibyllae and the Arcus Prima. Arcus Prima returns to the Grand Temple in company with the Messis. Shortly after they arrive, the alliance launches an all-out attack on the Grand Temple itself. Chor Tempest sorties to intercept the assault, and manages to destroy several waves of incoming cruise missiles, but without the ability to do the Iron Ri Mājon, they are unable to intercept them all, and the surviving missiles detonate throughout the temple and surrounding city. Once again, the Plumbish Simoun refuse to engage in direct combat against the sibyllae.

Despite Chor Tempest's partial success, the Simulacran authorities realize that the war is lost, and sue for peace. The allied peace terms include Plumbish and Argentine occupation troops aboard the Arcus Prima... and the disbandment of Chor Tempest. Halconf is forced to resign his office as a result of the defeat. The Grand Temple's chief priestess pulls Neviril aside to urge her to take Aaeru or Paraietta and perform the Emerald Ri Mājon to undo the war, and is promptly arrested by Argentine troops.

While the final peace agreement is being imposed, Yun takes a Simile and flies off to the Spring to talk to Onashia. Onashia confesses to having been a member of Chor Dextra, and to having committed some "sin" because she tried to avoid making an important choice. Specifically, she has never chosen a sex, despite presiding over the Spring itself for years, and has remained an "eternal maiden" -- just like the Simoun. She removes one of her gloves to reveal glowing bluish skin beneath, which sheds a trail of gold sparkles similar to a Simoun's Ri Mājon trail. Being the keeper of the Spring, Onashia explains, is her punishment, and she hasn't been able to touch or hold anyone since. Yun, after briefly flying back to the Arcus Prima to discuss the matter with Rodoreamon, takes pity on Onashia, and makes her way to Onashia's island at the center of the Spring. She embraces Onashia and offers her forgiveness, which breaks the spell, and Onashia dissolves in a shower of golden sparks. Yun takes up Onashia's office as the new keeper of the Spring.

The remaining sibyllae of Chor Tempest are promptly packed off to the Spring at the insistence of the allied forces. Aaeru and Neviril ask for more time, and stay behind, during which time they make up from a personal squabble and form a deep pair bond. Their other seven choir-mates catch the next train to the Spring... and are shocked to find Yun standing in Onashia's place. Hand in hand, the seven wade into the Spring to make their respective gender choices, supported emotionally by Yun.

When the seven ex-sibyllae return to the Arcus Prima to say their goodbyes, the allied occupation authorities are alarmed to hear that two Simulacran sibyllae remain who haven't gone to the Spring. Aaeru and Neviril are promptly arrested and thrown in the ship's brig, to be taken to the Spring under close guard. Their former choirmates unsuccessfully try to break them out. Anubituf and Guragief have better luck. They conspire with the Plumbish priestesses who have relieved Chor Tempest of their duties, and manage to gather everyone by the Māju pool to say their farewells to Neviril and Aaeru as they go to the Spring. All at once, the Plumbish priestesses present overpower the allied guards, and two more fly a Simoun up through the Māju pool to turn over to Aaeru and Neviril for their journey to "another world" by means of the Emerald Ri Mājon. The pair say their farewells and fly off into the sunset. The Plumbish authorities send a choir of Simoun to intercept Aaeru and Neviril, but instead of attacking, they perform the Ri Mājon of the Morning Calm in a friendly gesture of farewell. Aaeru and Neviril perform the Emerald Ri Maajon, and a peaceful white light appears at its center in place of the howling vortex from the other attempts. The two vanish in a flash of light.

Back in the past, a pair of new Simoun sibyllae that Limone has trained finally are ready to perform the Emerald Ri Maajon. Dominura is bedridden with some sort of illness, much to Limone's dismay. The success of the Emerald Ri Maajon by Limone's protegées reawakens a desire in her to fly again, when another of the new sibyllae pulls Limone aside to ask her to pair with her, she turns her down. Dominura is Limone's pair, she explains, and she'll have no other. At that moment, a Simulacran-style Simoun appears in the sky via the Emerald Ri Maajon... and vanishes. "Aaeru!" exclaims Limone. "Is that someone's name?" asks the sibylla that Limone turned down. "It's... the ultimate form of love", replies Limone. "Yes, the ultimate love", says Dominura, up from her bed and fully dressed. "To what sky shall we fly next?" she asks. Dominura and Limone embrace, and walk happily off to their Simoun to attempt the Emerald Ri Maajon again. As they walk off, the disappointed sibylla notices sparkly gold flakes in Dominura's wake. "Dominura..." Yun says to herself as she peers into the Spring, years later.

Years pass. Plumbum and Argentum have a falling out, and a cold war develops between them. Paraietta manages an orphanage, funded by Rodoreamon's family business. Alti and Kaimu reconcile, and move back in with their parents. Guragief and Anubituf stay together. Morinas and Wapourif marry and have several children. Wauf remains as the captain of the Messis, which reverts to being a freighter again in peacetime. Erif and Morinas join the Messis' crew, and as they load cargo one day, Morinas briefly catches sight of Aaeru and Neviril's Simoun as it fades in and out of reality. Vyuraf and Flof are drafted by opposite sides for the coming war, and Vyuraf comes to visit Flof on his farm by the shore of the lake where the wreck of the Arcus Prima has settled. The two part with a wish that they never meet on the battlefield, and as the sun sets, Flof catches sight of an ancient V-tailed Simoun as it appears in the sky.

In the red glow of the sunset, a record player starts up in the deserted ballroom of the wrecked Arcus Prima. Neviril and Aaeru dance happily in each other's arms. As they dance, the ballroom is transformed back into its old self, until the pair vanish.

[edit] Footnotes

1. ^ Two suns are visible in outdoor shots.
2. ^ Episode 2: Guragief explains this to Chor Tempest
3. ^ Episode 3: Wapourif explains to Morinas that the helical motors were found during an excavation of ancient ruins
4. ^ ^{a b} Episode 1: narration by the Argentine pilot, "Despite the risk, we must travel far, far beyond the raging sea".
5. ^ Episode 7: Paraietta
6. ^ Episode 3: Wapōrif's explanation to Morinas
7. ^ ^{a b} Episode 2: Aaeru
8. ^ Episode 3: Wapōrif explains the Simile's simpler construction
9. ^ Sibyllae and other officials wear winged pillar necklaces, and there are winged pillar statues at the Spring (episode 2), in the chapels on Arcus Prima (episode 8) and Messis (episode 14), and in the center of Ubar (episode 11)
10. ^ Goddess figures appear on the bows of the Simoun and on the bridge of Arcus Prima, but it's equally possible that they could be images of sibyllae making offerings to Tempus Spatium
11. ^ ^{a b} Episode 2
12. ^ Episode 1: Paraietta: "If you go to the Spring, you'll never be able to touch a Simoun again. Is that okay?"
13. ^ Episode 2: Guragief
14. ^ Episodes 4 and 7: Aaeru
15. ^ Episode 1: Neviril
16. ^ Episode 2: Paraietta
17. ^ The rest of Chor Tempest tease Paraietta about this in episode 10
18. ^ Referred to by name in episode 12, among other places
19. ^ ^{a b} Episode 1: Guragief
20. ^ Episode 1: the Same, Hayabusa, and Tetsu Ri Mājons
21. ^ Episode 7: the Tampopo Ri Mājon
22. ^ Episode 9: the Dennen Ri Mājon
23. ^ Episode 7: Paraietta: "Without two more members, we can't fly all six Simoun."
24. ^ Episode 9: Rodoreamon: "We finally got all twelve of us together."
25. ^ Episode 2: Aaeru explains the etymology of "Sibylla Aurea" when Neviril's identity is first explained to her.
26. ^ Floe addresses Guragief by title in episode 1, and Dominura does likewise in episode 7; Mamiina speaks of a different dux in her flashback in episode 8
27. ^ Episode 1: Amuria and Neviril discuss Halconf's request that Chor Tempest appear for the inspection because the are the best.
28. ^ Episode 8: Anubituf: "Three choirs are based aboard the Arcus Prima: Chor Caput, Chor Rubor, and Chor Tempest."
29. ^ Episode 8: Limone
30. ^ Episode 5: Anubituf
31. ^ Episode 13: Wauf
32. ^ Episode 9
33. ^ Episode 7: Mamiina
34. ^ Episode 8: Mamiina's flashback
35. ^ Episodes 10, 13
36. ^ Episodes 7, 10

[edit] See also

• List of Simoun episodes
• List of Simoun media
• Simoun (mecha)

[edit] External links

• (Japanese) Simoun anime official site
• (Japanese) Anime staff blog
• (Japanese) Simoun site at BIGLOBE
• (Japanese) Simoun site at TV Tokyo
• (English) Simoun glossary of terms An unofficial English translation of the official site's Words page
• (English) Simoun "secret cast" An unofficial English translation of the BIGLOBE site's pages showing which members of the main cast voice which bit parts.
• (English) Yui's Simoun fan page