Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero

Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero

Cover of the first Japanese light novel volume
はぐれ勇者の鬼畜美学
(Hagure Yuusha no Estetika)
Genre Action, Fantasy, Harem
Light novel
Written by Tetsuto Uesu
Illustrated by Tamago no Kimi
Published by Hobby Japan
Demographic Male
Imprint HJ Bunko
Original run May 2010 – ongoing
Volumes 11
Manga
Hagure Yuusha no Kichiku Bigaku
Written by Tetsuto Uesu
Illustrated by Haiji Nakasone
Published by Hobby Japan
Demographic Shōnen
Magazine Comic Dangan
Original run January 20, 2012 – ongoing
Volumes 3
Anime television series
Directed by Rion Kujou
Written by Ryunosuke Kingetsu
Music by Kayo Konishi, Yukio Kondo (MOKA☆)
Studio Arms
Licensed by
Network AT-X, Tokyo MX
Original run July 6, 2012 – September 21, 2012
Episodes 12+7 specials

Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero (Japanese: はぐれ勇者の鬼畜美学 Hepburn: Hagure Yūsha no Esutetika) is a Japanese light novel series written by Tetsuto Uesu and illustrated by Tamago no Kimi. A 12-episode anime adaptation by Arms aired between July and September 2012. It has been licensed in North America by Funimation.

Plot

The story follows a world where several young men and women regularly find themselves spirited away to a world of sword and magic called Alayzard (アレイザード Areizādo). Those who survive and return are typically gifted with magic abilities. An international training organization named Babel protects these young returnees and trains them in the use of their power. A wayward hero named Akatsuki has come back to his world, along with a beautiful girl called Myuu who is the daughter of the Last Dark Lord, whom he defeated in battle.

Characters

Class B

Akatsuki Ousawa (鳳沢 暁月 Ōsawa Akatsuki)
Voiced by: Nobuhiko Okamoto (Japanese), Eric Vale (English)
Akatsuki is the male protagonist and the "Rogue Hero" in the series title. Akatsuki is a tall young man, with messy purple hair and blue eyes. He is usually seen wearing either the standard Babel uniform or gym clothes; while in Alayzard he wears sleeveless medieval-style leather armour. Akatsuki returns to Earth after killing the demon king and becoming a hero in Alayzard. The dying Dark Lord entrusted the safety of his daughter, Myuu, to Akatsuki. To keep her safe, Akatsuki brings Myuu back with him. Like other returnees, Akatsuki attends Babel school along with Myuu (posing her as his long lost sister - although while talking in his sleep, he reveals that his sister is dead). Akatsuki is usually very laid back and displays an almost arrogant (and somewhat justified) confidence in his abilities. Although he usually presents a rough and sometimes perverted persona, deep down he is really a noble character (it's just that he marches to the beat of his own drum). Though he does not seem to pay attention much in class, he performs very well academically. Akatsuki, unlike most Babel students, cannot use magic, since he did not learn or pick up any magic in Alayzard. However, he is a master of Renkankei-kikou, which is the ability to control the Chi (energy flow) of oneself, others and the surroundings. He was taught how to tap into this power while in Alayzard and in the anime he states that he chose to learn this power in preference to learning magic. The full nature of this power has not been revealed.
Arms Device (or "AD" for short) are wristbands that are given to students during training. When an AD is worn, it conforms to the user's natural powers and abilities and transforms into the weapon most suitable for the user. Akatsuki could not initially generate an AD because he had only been given one of them and it was not strong enough to manifest his power. Upon noticing that something happened when he put on an AD borrowed from a fellow student in addition to his own (believing that his own may be broken), Akatsuki kept putting on more AD (seven or eight total) until his AD weapon finally manifested in the form a huge, unusual sword with tremendous power. The seven or eight AD are the minimum number needed to manifest the sword - if Akatsuki wears more AD wristbands the sword becomes more powerful, along with changing its shape. This other-dimensional sword, which is called "Laevateinn", has writings engraved upon it. Since discovering this new ability, Akastuki regularly employs it in battle. He also managed to control "Sleipnir", a magical supersonic motorcycle once driven by his father.
Miu "Myuu" Ousawa (鳳沢 美兎 Ōsawa Miu "Myū")
Voiced by: Yōko Hikasa (Japanese), Felecia Angelle (English)
Miu is the female protagonist, and former Dark Lord's daughter, with whom Akatsuki returned to the real world in order to fulfill the dying Dark Lord's last request to look after his daughter. Miu is portrayed as a sweet and innocent girl with green eyes and pink hair that is usually in twin tails. She is an attractive young girl of average height with notably large breasts; a running gag being her difficulties in finding clothes large enough to fit her chest. She pretends to be Akatsuki's long lost little sister in school and relies on him for guidance. Miu is initially conflicted about Akatsuki. She knows that she should resent him for killing her father, but she is also grateful to him for saving her from her enemies in Alayzard and looking after her in the real world. She gradually comes to accept that Akatsuki had his role to play (as the Rogue Hero) just as her father was the Hero's enemy and she falls in love with him. Miu has a high level of magical skills, being able to generate Shield Magic without any effort and also use multiple magic spells - from different elements, no less - at one time, and in rapid succession. She seems to favor using Air-type Magic, as most of her magical circles appear green in color. Miu's AD weapon takes the form of a staff with an elaborate head, called Holy Tin. So far she has only been shown using it as a blocking weapon. It is assumed this staff can enhance Miu's magic as well.
Kuzuha Doumoto (桐元 葛葉 Dōmoto Kuzuha)
Voiced by: Kana Hanazawa (Japanese), Monica Rial (English)
Kuzuha is a young girl with green hair and blue eyes. She is considerably shorter than the other students due to her age; she was originally in grade school before being moved to the high school branch due to her remarkable intelligence. She is the class rep for Class B and takes her job very seriously despite her age. While not liking Akatsuki at first, she grows closer to him, even developing a small crush, after he helps her regain her spirit when the Student Council turns her down. Akatsuki often teases her about her lack of stature, although not maliciously. She is a close friend of Miu, along with most of the other girls in the story. Her element is Earth and her AD weapon is a giant hammer.
Chikage Izumi (五泉 千影 Izumi Chikage)
Voiced by: Kana Ueda (Japanese), Ryan Reynolds II (English)
Chikage is a classmate of Akatsuki's and Miu's. She is a friendly, tomboyish girl with short brown hair and amber eyes. She becomes friends with Miu immediately. She is also a lesbian, and admits this fact with no shame, though she develops a slight "liking" for Akatsuki. Her element is Water and her AD weapon is a longbow.
Kenya Onizuka (鬼塚 剣哉 Onizuka Kenya)
Voiced by: Hideo Ishikawa (Japanese), Cris George (English)
Kenya is a problematic student who was demoted to Class B from Class A. He does not get along with other students and tends to bully them. He initially harbors resentment against Akatsuki from incidents arising on his first day of school, but later he fights Phil during the Babel's Ranking Tournament incident. His element is Fire and his AD weapon is 2 pair of chakrams.

Class A

Motoharu Kaidou (海堂 元春 Kaidō Motoharu)
Voiced by: Atsushi Abe (Japanese), Joel McDonald (English)
Kaidou is the laid-back, troublemaker student who declares himself to be the "leftover" of Class A. Despite talking to Akatsuki only a few times, Kaidou declares himself Akatsuki's best friend and calls him "Akkio". He is implied to have ulterior motives (something to do with the organization known as Scarlet Dusk) and be very powerful, but so far has refrained from confronting Akatsuki, who he believes has yet to reveal his true strength.

Student Council

Kyoya Hikami (氷神 京也 Hikami Kyōya)
Voiced by: Takahiro Sakurai (Japanese), Jerry Jewell (English)
Kyoka is the Student Council's President. He has silver hair and blue eyes. A member of the COCOON, he usually has a manipulative smile on his face and cold look in his eyes. He is calm and collected towards Akatsuki's taunts to fight, however he has an interest in Akatsuki. He is also implied to have power equal to that of Akatsuki. His element is Ice and his AD weapon has not yet been seen.
Haruka Nagase (七瀬 遥 Nagase Haruka)
Voiced by: Marina Inoue (Japanese), Alexis Tipton (English)
Haruka is the Vice President of Student Council who has long, green hair and green eyes. She takes an initial dislike to Akatsuki for his non-compliant behavior in school. This dislike escalates to a deep resentment after he humiliates her by stealing both her panties and bra while being disciplined by the student council. She often refers to Akatsuki a "wolf" and other predatory names, but she seems to develop a crush on him later on after seeing glimpses of the noble character hidden by his rough and tough exterior (during the hostage taking, for example). Her element is Wind and her AD weapons are two push knives (similar to Eskimo Ulu).
Ryouhei Uesaki (上崎 遼平 Uesaki Ryōhei)
Voiced by: Satoshi Hino (Japanese), Dallas Reid (English)
Ryouhei is the Secretary of the Student Council and has brown, short hair. His element is Fire and his AD weapon is a Dao (Chinese Broadsword). Although in Season 1, episode 8 it briefly shows him standing on the cliff holding a Dao in his right hand while another hilt is shown protruding from his left waist so it may be that he actually uses a pair of Dao.
Minami Aihara (哀原 美奈巳 Aihara Minami)
Voiced by: Ayana Taketatsu (Japanese), Mandy Lane (English)
Minami is the Treasurer of the Student Council, who has long brown hair and brown eyes. A quiet girl, she says things only when she needs to. Her element is Earth and her AD weapon is a single headed chain weapon known as a Liuxing Chui (Meteor Hammer).

Alayzard

Listy El Da Sherfied (リスティ・エル・ダ・シェルフィード Risuti Eru Da Sherufīdo)
Voiced by: Rina Satō (Japanese), Colleen Clinkenbeard (English)
Listy is the Princess of Sylphid, a country in Alayzard, whose brother died protecting Akatsuki. After the Dark Lord's demise, she attempts to prevent Akatsuki from returning home, unaware of his oath to protect Miu. She also seems to have some kind of affection towards Akatsuki. (She also does the previews for the next episodes in the anime adaptation.)
Leon Aceperio (レオン・エスペリオ Reon Esuperio)
Leon was a hero of Alayzard who was engaged to Listy. He was killed by Galious while fighting him alongside Akatsuki and a splendid tomb was constructed for him. Unfortunately, the tomb was destroyed by Phil out of resentment over his own status and that the people were honouring someone who had failed.

Others

Phil Burnett (フィル・バーネット Firu Bānetto)
Voiced by: Noriaki Sugiyama (Japanese), Todd Haberkorn (English)
A holy knight of the Disdian army. He is ordered to capture Miu and return her to Alayzard for execution. He is also ordered to kill Akatsuki if he interferes. Phil made a contract with Zahhaku, a devious dragon from Alayzard, and uses it to attack anyone who stands in his way, especially Akatsuki. His weapon is capable of inflicting poison, which typically results in instant death. Phil destroyed Leon's tomb out of resentment and for glory, referring Leon as an eyesore to him.

Media

Manga

A manga illustrated by Haiji Nakasone is published in Hobby Japan's web magazine Comic Dangan since January 20, 2012.

Anime

A 12-episode anime adaptation by Arms and directed by Rion Kujou began aired between July and September, 2012.[1] It has been licensed by Funimation in North America.[2] The opening theme is "Realization" by Faylan and the ending theme is "Ai no Sei de Nemurenai" by Aki Misato.

Episode List

No. Title Original airdate
1 "New Game Plus"
"Tsuyokute Nyū Gēmu" (強くてニューゲーム) 		July 6, 2012
Akatsuki Ousawa, an Earthling summoned to the world of Alayzard, returns home after defeating the Dark Lord who was threatening the realm, bringing with him Miu, the Dark Lord's daughter who was entrusted to him by her father with his dying wish. 
2 "Holy Water Bond"
"Seisui no Kizuna" (聖水の絆) 		July 13, 2012
Akatsuki and Miu enroll in a special school for people who have returned from other worlds. It does not take long for Akatsuki to get into trouble, starting with beating up the class bully Onizuka, earning him the attention of the school's Discipline Committee, especially student council VP, Haruka Nagase. Akatsuki is later accidentally locked in a storage room with Miu and his classmates Kuzuha Doumoto and Chikage Izumi. Doumoto eventually needs to go to the toilet, and Akatsuki handles the situation by touching pressure points on Miu and Chikage's bodies, using the logic that it won't be as embarrassing if they all wet themselves, which they then do. After beating him up for his actions, when the door is finally unlocked, the three girls rush out and end up putting their differences aside while showering. 
3 "To Become An Adult..."
"Otona ni Naru niwa" (大人になるには) 		July 20, 2012
The student council orders Kuzuha, as his class representative, to keep watch over Akatsuki and report his actions to them. It turns out that she is concerned about going to school with students so much older than she is. Akatsuki cheers her up and tells her to do as the student council has asked, since it will not deter him in the slightest. Later, during combat practice, the students find that their foe is an overpowered cockatrice, which they are unable to handle. 
4 "The Hero's Back"
"Yūsha no Senaka" (勇者の背中) 		July 27, 2012
Akatsuki figures out how to summon his Arms Device and after dispatching the monster and exposing the culprit behind the attack, Akatsuki is approached by Class A student, Kaidou Motoharu, who attacks him to measure his strength. 
5 "A Day We Spend in the Weekend"
"Tada, Sonna Kyūjitsu no Hitotoki o" (ただ、そんな休日の一時を) 		August 3, 2012
Akatsuki joins Miu and her friends for a trip to the mall where they encounter Haruka Nagase. At first Akatsuki appears to be peeping on Miu while she tries on brassieres in the dressing room, but he ends up helping her find one that fits her well. 
6 "Supersonic Speed! Sleipnir!!"
"Chōonsoku! Sureipuniru" (超音速！スレイプニル) 		August 10, 2012
Kaidou introduces Akatsuki to the director of the school's mechanical department where they see Sleipnir, a powerful magic bike that rejects anyone it deems unworthy of riding it. It rejects Akatsuki, but after learning that his father rode the bike, he becomes more determined and subdues Sleipnir. That evening, Akatsuki joins the student council in dealing with a hostage situation. 
7 "A Brute Panic at the Beach!"
"Nagisa no Kichiku Panikku!" (渚の鬼畜パニック！) 		August 17, 2012
Akatsuki and his friends go to the beach and join a special game of tag. Meanwhile, in Alayzard, Emperor Baram of Disdia learns that Miu is on Earth and sends his envoy, Phil Barnett, to capture her. 
8 "Babel's Ranking Tournament, Begin!"
"BABEL Rankingu Sen, Kaishi" (BABELランキング戦、開始) 		August 24, 2012
The annual ranking tournament, held to measure the strength of the students, has arrived. Akatsuki, Miu, Kazuha and Chikage team up and easily subdues all opposition. That evening, Akatsuki accepts the student council's challenge to fight him. Their match is interrupted by Kaidou, who warns them of an unidentified threat. 
9 "On A Night With Such A Beautiful Moon"
"Konna nimo Kirei na Tsukiyo no Ban ni" (こんなにも綺麗な月夜の晩に) 		August 31, 2012
The intruder is revealed to be Phil, who chases after Miu while severely wounding everyone else who has crossed his path. Akatsuki chases after and confronts Phil just as he catches up with Miu. 
10 "Where I Belong"
"Boku no Ibasho" (ボクの居場所) 		September 7, 2012
After a vicious battle, Akatsuki knocks Phil down. Thinking that neither Alayzard nor Earth are safe as long as she is present, Miu jumps into the river but is saved by Akatsuki. He talks her out of committing suicide while recovering from the poisoned wound he received from Phil. However, Phil appears once more claiming he will no longer hold back against Akatsuki. 
11 "After Dawn"
"Yoake ga Kuru Mae ni" (夜明けが来る前に) 		September 14, 2012
Phil summons a huge dragon and fuses with it. To give time for Akatsuki to recover from the poison, Miu and the others engage in a duel with the dragon. When Akatsuki recovers and rejoins the fight, the dragon uses its breath weapon to obliterate all around it. 
12 "The World is Watching you"
"Sekai ga Kimi o Mitsumete" (世界が君を見つめて) 		September 21, 2012
Akatsuki protects the others from the blast and defeats the dragon. Soon after, Miu reveals the truth about herself to Kuzuha and Chikage. As the members of COCCOON analyze recent events and their impact on their plans, Akatsuki realizes that Alayzard is in turmoil and decides to return there to check on the situation. Miu, Chikage and Kuzuha decide to go with him, and Haruka and Kaidou arrive just as they are departing and join them on their journey. 

7 special short episodes titled "Hajirai Ippai" (numbered 0 to 6) were also included with the Blu-ray releases.

References

  1. ↑ "Hagure Yūsha no Estetica Light Novels Get TV Anime". Anime News Network. 2011-11-29. Retrieved 2011-12-07.
  2. ↑ "Funimation Adds Blood-C Film, more Ikki Tousen, MIchiko to Hatchin,". Anime News Network. Retrieved 1 July 2012.

External links