In the land of Edthea, peace is a fragile concept surrounded by the ominous Four Lords of the Dark Beasts. The inhabitants, known as Edtheans, my word, are bound within its borders under the looming threat of certain death if they dare to venture beyond. The fantasy unfolds as a hero emerges, wielding a special weapon bestowed by the king to challenge these malevolent overlords. That’s the legend anyway.
Thirteen chosen heroes, armed with regal weaponry, embark on a perilous quest to confront the Lord of the Dark Beasts, in this case Cleavtess. But they soon learn this adventure comes with unexpected challenges and complexities. Among them is Clevatess, a character who defies expectations and adds a unique twist to the fantasy genre.
The tale begins with Alicia, a young aspiring hero aiming to be the savior of her world, striving to vanquish the Demon Lords and reshape the destiny of Edthea. As the story progresses, traditional notions of good and evil blur, introducing unexpected elements like…a baby into the mix, leading the audience to the start of a captivating journey of character evolution and perhaps some moral ambiguity.
The world-building in this series stands out for its intricate details and innovative fusion of medieval aesthetics with “futuristic” technology, creating a rich tapestry of violent, messy yet delightful interactions. The narrative surprised me with its inclusion of pseudo-zombies, seamlessly integrated into the overarching plot, adding a layer of intrigue without feeling forced.
Amidst the chaos, a profound question emerges: What defines the value of humanity when faced with demonic trials and personal tragedies? Through a riveting exploration of human societies and demonic threats, the story unfolds, promising an enthralling saga of survival and self-discovery.
Mr. Gygax, I’d say would be proud of this exploration of the genre and the themes it plays on.
Clevatess is streaming on Crunchyroll
Based on the Line Manga Clevatess written and illustrated by Yuji Iwahara
Directed by Kiyotaka Taguchi
Series Composition Written by Keigo Koyanagi
Character Design and Chief Animation Director Soichiro Sako
Animation Director Takuro Tsukada
Animation Studio Lay-duce
SONGS
Opening Theme Song “Ruler” – Mayu Maeshima
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Ending Theme Song “Destiny”
Performed by Ellie Goulding
JAPANESE VOICE CAST & CHARACTERS
Haruka Shiraishi as Alicia
Mutsumi Tamura as Klen
Yuichi Nakamura as Clevatess
Saya Aizawa as Luna
Aoi Yuki as Nelluru
Hiroki Yasumoto as Drel
Chiharu Shigematsu as Meynard
Tomoyo Kurosawa as Naie
Tomokazu Seki as Rod
Tanaka Miou as Margo
Jun Hashizume as The King of Hiden
Shigeru Chiba as Vroco
Mamoru Miyano as Steffan
Yuki Ono as Mirlo
Kenta Miyake as Hoglas
Yuma Uchida as Katz
Yohei Azakami as Mudo
Shimba Tsuchiya as Minark
