Chris Martinez
RECORD OF GRANCREST WAR
Producer: A-1 Pictures
Genre: Action, Fantasy
Air Dates: January 6th – June 23, 2018
Episodes: 24
Status: Completed
Sub Version: Yes
Dub Version: No
Available on Crunchyroll
What You Need To Know:
Record Of Grancrest War is an adaptation of the light novel series and tabletop role-playing game written and created by Ryo Mizuno. Mizuno is also the creator of the successful Record Of Lodoss War multimedia franchise.
The continent of Atlatan is a land divided into territories and small kingdoms where the ruling class is born with magical crests that grant abilities to themselves and their soldiers. These crests can be combined through defeat or pledges of fealty to make larger and even more powerful crests. All for the purpose of the first Emperor to rise up to unite the land and create the Grancrest.
What You’ll Find Out:
Every day the commoners are threatened by chaos demons and war. Finally, the time has come for the two main opposing factions to unite thanks to a marriage of their respective heirs, Alexis Doucet and Marrine Kreische. Recognizing that these are the first steps towards the creation of the Grancrest the shadow powers interrupt the wedding in grand fashion by summoning the Demon King. The leaders of both the Union and the Alliance are killed and the land thrust back into war.
The story centers on a wandering lord named Theo that Siluca, a young mage who witnessed the Great Hall Tragedy comes across in the woods. Siluca is immediately taken by Theo’s ideals and the noble nature of his goal that she pledges herself to him on the spot. Thanks to Siluca’s strategic influence Theo rises through court ranks and tales of his deeds quickly spread. All the while Marrine sweeps across territories in the pursuit of her personal goal to create the Grancrest, bringing her ever closer to Union land and the ultimate showdown that’s sure to come.
What Just Happened:
Record Of Grancrest War is twenty-four episodes of feudal politics and one man’s determination to do what’s right. Also the woman and all of the people who assist our hero Theo Cornaro on his journey, I stress this because the main character is the single most uninteresting thing about this show. The entire supporting cast, however, is excellent and given nearly complete arcs of their own. Theo is a steadfast man who’s conviction inspires trust and an impulse to follow him. And here we hit on the main theme, help people who are oppressed. A perfectly fine and albeit, important sentiment, but the main character of a show that runs nearly twelve hours simply says the same thing repeatedly since the beginning. He doesn’t develop at all! Unless you count the forced-feeling love story… Theo’s love story is too convenient but surprise surprise! The supporting love story, much like the characters, is much better.
I could bash Theo as a character all day but overall I did really enjoy this series, it has a lot going for it. First and foremost is Siluca. She is strong and intelligent and without her, Theo would’ve been left wandering the woods for the rest of his life, he does not deserve her. Second are the battles. Unfortunately, this is one of those shows that suffer from different animation house issues but when it’s at the top of its game Record Of Grancrest War treats us to some incredible fight scenes. Particularly those featuring Irvin or Aishela, two incredibly powerful artists in service to Lord Theo. It may be done in the most ham-fisted way possible but no matter how bland our hero is he’s still right. He’s the only lord the people have ever seen willing to sacrifice himself for their well being and it’s kind of hard not to root for him. Especially when he has such a great team behind him. And yes, there are werewolf twins and a vampire. Thank you anime.
There are those with noble intentions and there are those who want the Age Of Chaos to continue. Is this the story of the Grancrest’s creation or a lesson on why it should remain myth?
Here’s Siluca again because she rocks.
Score: 8/10
Final Thought: At times Record Of Grancrest War seems to get mired in the political muck but don’t let it discourage you, in the end, all of the maneuverings pay off in some unexpected, and some easily expected ways. And if a simple story of conquest isn’t your cup of tea then stick around and watch one of the most calculating characters ever to grace your t.v. Siluca, not Theo.
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