The Asterisk War

The Asterisk War: The Academy City on the Water (学戦都市アスタリスク, Gakusen Toshi Asutarisuku, lit. "Academy Battle City Asterisk"), is a Japanese light novel series written by Yuu Miyazaki and illustrated by Okiura. Media Factory has published 8 volumes since September 2012 under their MF Bunko J imprint. A manga adaptation with art by Ningen began serialization in Media Factory's seinen manga magazine Monthly Comic Alive from January 2013. It has been collected in two tankōbon volumes. An anime television series adaptation by A-1 Pictures began airing on October 3, 2015.^[1] The first half of the anime television series adaptation airs from October to December 2015 and has been licensed by Aniplex of America in North America. The second half will begin airing in April 2016.

Plot

Rikka, also known as Asterisk, is The Academy City on the water, the world's largest stage for battles and tournaments, including the "Star Wars Festival." Amagiri Ayato, a Starpulse Generation, arrived at Rikka at the behest of the Student Council President of Seidoukan Academy, Claudia. During his time at Rikka, he incurrs the wrath of the "Petalblaze Witch" Julis, and ends up having to duel her. The greatest academy fight begins here!

Characters

Ayato Amagiri (天霧 綾斗, Amagiri Ayato)

Voiced by: Atsushi Tamaru

The main protagonist of the series who uses the Amagiri Shinmei Style. He transfers to Seidōkan Academy to investigate his sister's disappearance and to figure out what he is supposed to do (he later says that it is to protect Julis). On his first day, he is challenged to a duel by Julis because of the embarrassing events that happen between them. During the duel, an unknown attacker shoots an arrow at Julis, but she is saved by Ayato. Before they can continue, the duel is stopped by Claudia, the student council president. Ayato also meets his childhood friend, Saya, whom he has not seen for five years. While Julis is showing Ayato and Saya around the city the next day as thanks for him saving her during the duel, Saya claims that Ayato is a powerful opponent whose opponents never live to tell the tale, which Julis does not believe. But as time progress she realize that Ayato is really really strong. Ayato often find himself in the center of occasional embarrassing moments as Julia, Saya, Kirin and even Claudia all try to vie for Ayato's attention.

Julis-Alexia von Riessfelt (ユリス＝アレクシア・フォン・リースフェルト, Yurisu-Arekushia Fon Rīsuferuto)

Voiced by: Ai Kakuma

Rank 5 of Seidōkan Academy and also known as "Glühende Rose", she is Lieseltania's First Princess. Her full name is Julis-Alexia Marie Florentia Renate von Riessfelt. She wields a rapier-type lux called Aspera Spina which she uses during the Phoenix tournament and bears the image of a flower for her power - control over flames. However, due to events during the Phoenix Festa Julis begins using a new rapier, Nova Spina. She warms to Ayato, unlike the other students with whom she is distant. She starts to like Ayato and often find herself arguing with Saya and Kirin and even Claudia for his attention. After their duel, Julis and Ayato decides to join together for the Phoenix tournament with Julis acting as the strategist for their team while Ayato the main attacker.

Saya Sasamiya (沙々宮 紗夜, Sasamiya Saya)

Voiced by: Shiori Izawa

Daughter of Soichi and Kaya Sasamiya, Saya is Ayato's childhood friend. She moved abroad six years ago due to her father's career. She seems to be an air-headed stoic who has trouble waking up in the morning and is directionally-challenged. She uses a 38th generation Lux grenade launcher Helnekrom but later switch to a type 41 Gleaming Form - twin particle guns Waidenholt and Type 34 wave Motion heavy artillery Ark Van Ders for the Phoenix. Like Kirin, she entered the Phoenix for her father's sake.

Claudia Enfield (クローディア・エンフィールド, Kurōdia Enfīrudo)

Voiced by: Nao Tōyama

Rank #2 of Seidōkan Academy and the Student Council President, she recommended Ayato's transfer to the academy. She has held the position of President since junior high and wants to win the Gryps in order to make her wish came true. She uses pan-dora, a lux which allows her to see into the future during duels. Claudia is also one of the female characters that try to gain his affections, though she is more open in showing her feelings about him and likes to seduce him at times.

Kirin Tōdō (刀藤 綺凛, Tōdō Kirin)

Voiced by: Ari Ozawa

Former #1 of Seidōkan Academy. She is a shy and quiet girl who attained top ranking as a 13 year-old and hadn't lost to anyone until Ayato challenged her a second time. Their first duel happened because Ayato stopped her uncle from hitting her and challenged him to a duel. Kirin was his opponent and she used her lightning speed to defeat him. She seems to be under her uncle's influence but her friendship with Ayato allows her to break free and bravely told her uncle that she wants to decide things for herself from now on. Kirin entered the Phoenix in order to clear her father's name and free him from jail. She does not have a personal lux but rather carries a katana (Senbakiri) around as a weapon which often makes her greatly marveled by others as she top the former #1 spot just by using a katana. She and Saya team up for the Phoenix but they lose to Allekant's puppets Ardi and Rimsi in the semifinal. After Ayato's final match, she try to vie for Ayato's attention by smooshing him with her breast and declares she would make onigiri (rice balls) for him everyday.

Lester MacPhail (レスター・マクフェイル, Resutā Makufeiru)

Voiced by: Takanori Hoshino

Seidokan Academy's rank 9. He was formally ranked 5th until Julis defeated him. His Lux is an axe named Bardiche Leo. Despite his usual attitude, he's actually a decent fellow and has helped both Julis and Ayato on a few occasions.

Eishirō Yabuki (夜吹 英士郎, Yabuki Eishirō)

Voiced by: Yūma Uchida

Ayato's roommate. Well known as a member of the academy's newspaper club, he's also a member of the Shadow Star, a secret police force that works for the Integrity Enterprises Foundation (which is essentially the world government).

Kyōko Yatsuzaki (八津崎 匡子, Yatsuzaki Kyōko)

Voiced by: Yūko Kaida

The homeroom teacher of year 1 class 3. Former student of Le Wolfe and a Strega who led Le Wolfe's group to Seidokan Academy's only Gryps victory.

Ernest Fairclough (アーネスト・フェアクロフ, Ānesuto Feakurofu)

Voiced by: Takahiro Sakurai

The President of St. Garrardsworth Academy.

Ernesta Kühne (エルネスタ・キューネ, Erunesuta Kyūne)

Voiced by: Chinatsu Akasaki

A student from Allekant Academy and leader of Pygmalion (Sculptor Faction). A genius at making puppets, she wants AIs to be treated as equal to humans and sees Ardi and Rimsi as her children.

Camilla Pareto (カミラ・パレート, Kamira Parēto)

Voiced by: Mutsumi Tamura

A student from Allekant Academy and member of Ferrovious (Lions Faction).

Fan Xinglu (范 星露, Fan Shinrū)

Voiced by: Omi Minami

The young president of the World Dragon Seventh Institute. Because of her age she is unable to participate in the current Festa.

Dirk Eberwein (ディルク・エーベルヴァイン, Diruku Ēberuvain)

Voiced by: Tomokazu Sugita

The student council president of Le Wolfe Black Institute. A base-line human whose unprecedented rise to top of a battle school for superhumans is due to his ability to manipulate others behind the scenes.

Irene Urzaiz (イレーネ・ウルサイス, Irēne Urusaisu)

Voiced by: Yumi Uchiyama

Le Wolfe's rank #3.

Priscilla Urzaiz (プリシラ・ウルサイス, Purishira Urusaisu)

Voiced by: Juri Nagatsuma

Irene's younger sister.

Sylvia Ryuneheim (シルヴィア・リューネハイム, Shiruvia Ryūnehaimu)

Voiced by: Haruka Chisuga

Also known as "Melodious Witch" (戦律の魔女(シグルドリーヴァ)) and The Supreme Songstress, as the world's Number one idol, she is the Student Council President and rank #1 of Queen Veil Girl’s Academy who is very persistent. Sylvia was the previous runner up of the last Lindvolus, after losing to Orphelia. She is introduced in volume 5 of the light novel when Ayato enters Rotlicht to search for Flora, and Mafias starts chasing after him. Sylvia volunteers to look after the matter and reveals her true identity to Ayato, uses her powers to locate Flora's whereabouts and asks him to keep this matter a secret between them. Ayato is unable to thank her properly and asks for her contact information. Sylvia later uses their secret to ask Ayato out on a date to a school festival (volume 6). Sylvia is looking for her master, Ursula Svento, who taught her about music and the world who might also have participated in the Eclipse just like Ayato's sister. During a match of the Grand Coliseum, Sylvia recognizes her master and runs after her. However, Ursula doesn't recognize Sylvia and attacks her. Ayato saves her and offers her his help and Sylvia falls in love with Ayato due to his kind nature. Sylvia is part of the genestella generation and uses a headphone hair ornament to cover her true identity and roam freely in Asterisk. Her ability is omnipotent, which allows her to change her image to any form using music as a medium by singing a song which contained that image.

Media

Light novel

The series, written by Yuu Miyazaki and illustrated by okiura, is published by Media Factory. The first volume was released in 2012. Yen Press licensed the novels for publication in North America.^[2]

Manga

A manga adaptation by Ningen has been compiled into three volumes as of December 2015, and is licensed in English by Yen Press.^[2] A spinoff manga, Gakusen Toshi Asterisk Gaiden: Queenveil no Tsubasa by Shou Akane, has one volume in print as of August 2015.^[3]

Anime

An anime adaptation began airing on October 3, 2015. The series was simulcast on Crunchyroll by Aniplex of America.^[4]

Episode list

Video game

A simulation game by Bandai Namco Games titled The Asterisk War: Houka Kenran has been announced for a January 28, 2016^[6] release on the PlayStation Vita.^[7]

References

External links

• Official anime website