Lagrange: The Flower of Rin-ne

Lagrange: The Flower of Rin-ne (Japanese: 輪廻のラグランジェ Flower declaration of your heart, Hepburn: Rinne no Raguranje) is a Japanese anime television series produced by Xebec and Production I.G and directed by Tatsuo Sato and Toshimasa Suzuki, written by Shotaro Suga, original character design by Haruyuki Morisawa and music by Saeko Suzuki & TOMISIRO.

The first season aired in Japan between January 8, 2012 and March 24, 2012 while the second season started airing between July 8, 2012 and September 23, 2012 following a recap episode on July 1, 2012. Both seasons have been licensed by Viz Media in North America and Anime on Demand in the United Kingdom. A manga accompaniment began serialization in Enix's Young Gangan magazine and a light novel from Media Factory, both from September 2011.^[1][2] A hybrid Blu-ray Disc containing an original video animation and a PlayStation 3 video game was released on August 23, 2012.

Plot

Madoka Kyouno, a schoolgirl from Kamogawa, is the sole member of the Jersey Club and always ready to help others out. One day, she is approached by an alien from the planet Le Garite named Lan who asks her to pilot a robotic aircraft to defend mankind against an evil force.

Characters

Main characters

Madoka Kyouno (京乃 まどか, Kyōno Madoka)

Voiced by: Kaori Ishihara (Japanese), Kira Buckland (English)^[3]

The sole member of a Jersey Club who often helps out other clubs and people in need and is passionate about her home town of Kamogawa. She has a habit of saying "Perfect" (まるっ, Maru, lit. 'circle', used for marking correct answers) and draws a circle in the air when she finishes helping someone. She soon discovers she has the ability to pilot a strange robotic aircraft known as the Vox Aura, which she previously encountered ten years ago when she almost drowned. She names this Vox unit Midori, after its green colour. In Season 2, she is in her last year of high school and has not thought what she is going to do for the future. She still helps out with the Jersey Club and her uncle's new beach cafe.

Lan (ラン, Ran) / Fin E Ld Si Laffinty (フィン・エ・ルド・スイ・ラフィンティ, Fin E Rudo Sui Rafinti)

Voiced by: Asami Seto (Japanese), Michelle Ruff (English)^[3]

An alien from the home planet Le Garite ,who was sent to protect Madoka and the aircraft. She is not used to earth culture and often picks up terms from the strangest sources, often saying "Woof" (わんっ, Wan) after Asteria tricked her into thinking it was a standard Earth greeting. She was initially unable to properly utilize her Vox unit as the knowledge of a supposed fate concerning Vox pilots caused her to become afraid. However, Madoka helps her overcome her fear and she becomes able to use her Vox unit, Vox Rympha, which she names Orca. She is particularly jealous towards Muginami, who shows a lot of interest in Madoka, which leads to her joining the Jersey Club and begin living with Madoka. Due to her luxurious upbringing as princess of the planet Le Garite, Lan has few understanding of the commoners' lifestyle. She returns in Season 2. Though she looks that same, Madoka pointed out she grew up a little bit.

Muginami (ムギナミ, Muginami)

Voiced by: Ai Kayano (Japanese), Karen Strassman (English)^[3]

Another Ovid pilot who transfers in Madoka's class and joins the Jersey Club. Although she appears to have a slow-witted personality, she is actually sharp and perceptive. She will occasionally say "Roger that!" (かしこまり〜, Kashikomari~). Born on a Prison Planet, she views Villagiulio as an older brother and by his orders, she infiltrated the Pharos base to steal one of the Ovids, thus she ends up becoming the pilot of Vox Ignis, which she nicknamed Hupo. After being betrayed and abandoned by Villagiulio, Muginami finds herself a new place among Madoka and her friends. After Villagiulio's second skirmish, she and her Vox took him and retreated into space. She returns in Season 2 where, after realizing she doesn't want to fight those she loves, rejoins the Jersey Club. Hupo is now equipped with a energy cape she uses as a shield.

Kamogawa residents

Youko Nakaizumi (中泉 ようこ, Nakaizumi Yōko)

Voiced by: Mamiko Noto (Japanese), Wendee Lee (English)

Madoka's cousin who is a researcher on underwater archaeology and tried to prevent Madoka from coming into contact with the Vox. She gives in to Madoka's decision to pilot Vox Aura but only on the condition that Madoka is to continue with her daily life as usual. She is a former member of the Jersey Club who inspired Madoka to be like her. In Season 2, she continues her research on Vox and the Rinne.

Hiroshi Nakaizumi (中泉 浩, Nakaizumi Hiroshi)

Voiced by: Kenji Hamada (Japanese), Kirk Thornton (English)

Madoka's uncle and Youko's father who owns the 'Be With Hiroshi' restaurant, where Madoka lives. In Season 2, he opened a beach cafe which did much better than his restaurant ever did since Le Garite reveal themselves to the public.

Machiko Iwabuchi (岩淵 まちこ, Iwabuchi Machiko)

Voiced by: Azumi Asakura (Japanese), Dorothy Elias-Fahn (English)

A teacher at Madoka's school, who was a member of the Jersey Club along Youko and Madoka's mother.

Souta Serizawa (芹沢 颯太, Serizawa Sōta)

Voiced by: Yūichi Iguchi (Japanese), J.C. Miller (English)

Youko's assistant. In Season 2, he and Youko are continuing her research on Vox and the Rinne.

Novumundos

Shozo Tadokoro (田所 正蔵, Tadokoro Shōzō)

Voiced by: Makoto Yasumura (Japanese), Patrick Seitz (English)

The commander of the Pharos facility.

Eri Watabe (渡部 えり, Watabe Eri)

Voiced by: Rie Tanaka (Japanese), Laura Post (English)

Asteria Lizamarie De Roschefall (アステリア・リーザマリー・ド・ロシュフォール, Asuteria Rīzamarī Do Roshufōru)

Voiced by: Hisako Kanemoto (Japanese), Stephanie Sheh (English)

The granddaughter of the chairman of Nomundus, who provides most of the orders in the organization. She dresses in Lolita fashion and wields a great deal of authority. She also has a Memoria on her chest. In Season 2, she reveals herself as the reincarnation of Queen Maycun who almost destroyed Earth 20,000 years ago by "opening" the Rinne and feeling responsible.

De Metrio

Villagulio (ヴィラジュリオ, Virajurio)

Voiced by: Yuichi Nakamura (Japanese), Keith Silverstein (English)

The disowned prince of De Metrio who was thrown into Muginami's home planet and became close to her. Soon after, he formed the rebellious organization "Kiss" and sent Muginami to Kamogawa to investigate about the Voxes, but apparently gets angry at her for becoming the pilot of Vox Ignis and abandons her, while actually it was part of his plan to have her get close to Madoka and the others. In season 2 it is revealed that Villagulio reclaimed the throne of De Metrio and is currently at war with Le Garite.

Kirius (キリウス, Kiriusu)

Voiced by: Kenji Nojima (Japanese), Johnny Yong Bosch (English)

Former antagonist that piloted the Ovid Libertas. He is the oldest of the three and the most experienced. In Season 2, he is now working at Hiroshi's new beach cafe as a waiter (in butler cosplay) after Villagulio's second skirmish. He seems to attract a lot of customers, specifically female customers. He is also reason why the beach cafe is doing much better than Hiroshi's restaurant.

Izo (イゾ)

Voiced by: Hiroyuki Yoshino (Japanese), Ben Diskin (English)

Former antagonist that piloted the Ovid Voluntas. He tends to be rebellious, but is understanding. In Season 2, he is now working at Hiroshi's new beach cafe as a cook (which he is pretty good) after Villagulio's second skirmish. He really enjoys life on Earth.

Array (アレイ, Arei)

Voiced by: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (Japanese), Sam Riegel (English)

Former antagonist that pilots the Ovid Teneritas. He is the youngest of the three and the least experienced. He has a fetish for maid outfits and looks very good in it (even though he looks like a pretty girl). In Season 2, he is now working at Hiroshi's new beach cafe as a waiter (in maid cosplay) after Villagulio's second skirmish.

Yurikano (ユリカノ)

Voiced by: Mariya Ise (Japanese), Evelyn Lantto (English)

The princess of De Metrio and Villagulio's sister. She was presumed dead after a failed Rinne experiment with disastrous consequences. It is later revealed that she survived the experiment and rescued by Le Garite, since then secretly under Dizelmine's care.

Grania (グラニア, Gurania)

Voiced by: Megumi Nakajima (Japanese), Cristina Vee (English)

Villagulio's right hand woman.

Le Garite

Dizelmine (ディセルマイン, Diserumain)

Voiced by: Daisuke Ono (Japanese), Liam O'Brien (English)

The crown prince of Le Garite and Lan's older brother. His true objective is making use of Madoka and the Voxes to destroy the planet De Metrio, as part of his plan to ensure Le Garite's survival as both planets' respective planetary systems are en route of collision. He ended up become young kid after leaving the Rin-ne.

Moid (モイド, Moido)

Voiced by: Kazuyuki Okitsu (Japanese), Vic Mignogna (English)

Dizelmine's aide who was an observator at Pharos during the first season, and since then returned to assist his master. It is revealed he manipulated Dizelmine into opening the Rin-ne and also responsible for Queen Maycun who nearly destroyed the Earth 20,000 years ago.

Mecha

Vox Aura

17.3 meters tall and piloted by Madoka; is later renamed Midori. Originally devoid of weapons, it is specialized in close quarters combat and later in the series it is equipped with a sword called the Formula 32 and a left wrist energy shield.

Vox Rympha

17.3 meters tall and piloted by Lan; is later renamed Orca. Armaments include a right wrist sword-machine gun hybrid armed with 120mm bullets and a left wrist energy shield.

Vox Ignis

17.4 meters tall and piloted by Muginami; is later renamed Hupo. Armaments include a pair of energy guns that can combine into a double sided sword, a beam cannon, and in the second half of the series an energy cape.

Ovid Libertas

17.4 meters tall and piloted by Kirius. Armaments include a metal staff, a pair of heat swords that can convert into whips, and a force field.

Ovid Voluntas

17.9 meters tall and piloted by Izo. Armaments include a pair of heat clubs and a force field.

Ovid Teneritas

17.4 meters tall and piloted by Array. Armaments include an energy cannon on each shoulder and a force field.

Avarium

19 meters tall and piloted by Villagulio. Armaments include an anchor in each arm, a pair of large swords, and a large mortar gun called the Death Wish. It is upgraded to Avarium Sepera in the second half of the series.

Magultol

Piloted by Dizelmine. Is armed with a sword in the right wrist. Later revealed to be a fourth Vox.

Media

Anime

The first season of the anime by Production I.G and Xebec aired in Japan from January 8, 2012 to March 24, 2012. The first episode was pre-aired on January 1, 2012. A second season aired in Japan between July 8, 2012 and September 23, 2012 following a recap episode on July 1, 2012.^[4] The anime has been licensed for streaming in North America by Viz Media and in the United Kingdom by Anime on Demand.^[5][6] An English dubbed version began streaming on Viz Media's Neon Alley service for PlayStation 3 from January 2013.^[7][8][9] For the first season, the respective opening and ending themes are "Try Unite!" and "Hello!", both performed by Megumi Nakajima. For the second season, the opening theme is "Marble" (マーブル, Māburu) by Nakajima whilst the ending themes are "Jersey Club Spirit!" (ジャージ部魂!, Jāji-bu Tamashī!) by Kaori Ishihara, Asami Seto and Ai Kayano and "Don't Forget Me." (忘れないよ。, Wasurenai yo.) by Nakajima. An original video animation titled Rinne no Lagrange: Kamogawa Days (輪廻のラグランジェ: 鴨川デイズ, Rinne no Reguranje: Kamogawa Deizu),was released on a Hybrid Blu-ray Disc alongside a game for PlayStation 3 on August 23, 2012,^[10] following an advance screening in ten theaters on June 23, 2012.^[11]

Manga

A manga accompaniment written by Shotaro Suga and illustrated by Kimitake Yoshioka, titled Lagrange: The Flower of Rin-ne ~Dawn of Memoria~ (輪廻のラグランジェ 〜暁月のメモリア〜, Rinne no Raguranje ~Akatsuki no Memoria~), began serialisation in Young Gangan magazine from September 2, 2011.

Video game

A PlayStation 3 video game developed by Namco Bandai Games, titled Lagrange: The Flower of Rin-ne -Kamogawa Dream Match- (輪廻のラグランジェ -鴨川ドリームマッチ-, Rinne no Ragurenje -Kamogawa Dorīmu Macchi-), was released on the Kamogawa Days Hybrid Disc on August 23, 2012.^[10]

References

External links

• Official website (Japanese)
• Lagrange: The Flower of Rin-ne (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia