“The Ancient Magus’s Bride” is an anime series that is deserving of the praise that it has received from anime fans. It’s entertaining, captivating, well-acted by both Japanese and English dub voice talents and brilliantly animated. And if you are a big fan of the anime series, I highly recommend the limited edition release of “The Ancient Magus’ Bride Part 1”. It’s a fantastic anime series and we highly recommend it!
TITLE: The Ancient Magus’ Bride Part 1 Limited Edition
DURATION: Episodes 1-12 (300 Minutes)
BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition (16×9), English Dolby TrueHD 5.1, Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0, Subtitles: English
COMPANY: Funimation
RATED: TV 14
Release Date: January 29, 2019
Originally created by Yamazaki Kore
Directed by Naganuma Norihiro
Script: Takaha Aya
Character Design by Kato Hirotaka
Music by Matsumoto Junichi
Art Director: Takeda Yusuke
Anime Production: Wit Studio
Featuring the following voice talent:
Takeuchi Ryota/Brian Mathis as Elias Ainsworth
Tanezaki Atsumi/Dani Chambers as Chise Hatori
Uchiyama Kouki/Austin Tindle as Ruth
Ohara Sayaka/Colleen Clinkenbeard as Titania
Suwabe Junichi/Garret Storms as Seth Noel
Nakata Jouji/Greg Dulcie as Ashen Eye
Sakamoto Maaya/Jamie Marchi as Marielle
Kaida Yuko/Janelle Lutz as Angelica Varley
Hino Satoshi/Jarrod Greene as Mikhail Manfred
Tamura Mutsumi/Jennifer Green as Alice
Yamaguchi Kappei/Joel McDonald as Oberon
Murase Ayumu/Josh Grelle as Joseph/Cartaphilus
Hayami Saori/Morgan Garrett as Redcurrant
Endo Aya/Rachel Glass as Silver Lady (Silky)
Suzumura Kenichi/Seth Magill as Adolf Stroud
Namikawa Daisuke/Todd Haberkorn as Lindel
Morikawa Toshiyuki/Tyler Carson as Simon Callum
Suffering a tragic childhood, Chise Hatori has lost all hope for happiness until a mysterious mage named Elias takes interest in her aptitude for magic. To survive, she must learn to wield her powers while Elias must learn what it means to be human. Unaware of what lies ahead, he decides to make her his apprentice—and his bride.
What happens when a girl who lived with tragedy, is given a new lease on life as a mage? This is the story of “Maho Tsukai no Yome” (The Ancient Magus’ Bride) originally written and illustrated by Yamazaki Kore.
A Japanese dark fantasy shonen manga series published in “Monthly Comic Garden”, the series received an anime TV series adaptation which aired from October 2017 to March 2018 and a three-part prequel OVA courtesy of Wit Studio.
And now the first 12 episodes of the 24-episode series plus the three OVA’s will be released in “The Ancient Magus’ Bride” courtesy of Funimation.
The series begins with a teenage girl named Chise Hatori, having a father who left with her baby brother and abandoned her, a mother who committed suicide in front of her and unwanted by her relatives, Chise decides to be sold into slavery in hopes someone would take her in.
At a slave auction, she is purchased by Elias Ainsworth, a mage.
Elias explains to her that she is a Sleigh Beggy, a specil magus who can draw magic from her surroundings and within her self but causes a strain on her body. Sleigh Beggy are very weak and can die easily, so Elias hopes he can prevent that from happening.
But Elias has a secret which he doesn’t remember. All he knows is that the faeries despite him but for now, his main goal is to take care of Chise, to teach her well but also to make sure that she knows that by purchasing her, he intends to make her his bride. But also in hopes that she can teach him about human emotions.
As they live together, words get out that the age Elias Ainsworth has taken a bride but when people see her and find out she is a former slave, they are upset at Elias.
But they start to see how both Elias and Chise are probably good for each other, because they are there for each other, care for each other and need each other. For Chise, this is the first person in her life that wanted her in his life.
And through the course of adventures, we see how Chise meets a Grimm named Yuris, the technician Angelica Varley and her young daughter Althea, Elias’ magician master, Lindenbaum and the priest who is ordered to keep an eye on Elias, Simon Kalm.
VIDEO:
“The Ancient Magus’ Bride” is created in 1080p High Definition (16×9 HD Native). Wit Studio has no doubt went all out with the animation for this anime series. Where a lot of anime series tend to be soft and not as detailed, “The Ancient Magus’ Bride” is one of those rare exceptions where they animation and character design feature well-shaded characters, backgrounds that are fully detailed and more! Overall, the picture quality for this anime series on Blu-ray is fantastic!
AUDIO & SUBTITLES:
“The Ancient Magus’ Bride” is presented in Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (English) and Dolby TrueHD 2.0 (Japanese). The series is primarily dialogue and music-driven and both soundtracks feature good voice acting for both Japanese and English soundtracks. I have to give credit first to Funimation for hiring new talent for this anime series and giving Dani Chambers her first major role. While Funimation has hired talented voice talent, the anime series tends to use the same voice talent over and over again and I like this new direction of hiring new voice talent and giving them a chance, even for a major series. Also, Brian Mathis does a wonderful job as the voice of Elias Ainsworth. As for the Japanese voice acting, both Takeuchi Ryota and Tanezaki Atsumi did a magnificent job!
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“The Ancient Magus’ Bride Part 1” comes with the following special features:
- “The Ancient Magus’ Bride: Those Awaiting a Star” Parts 1-3 – The following three-part OVA series is about Chise taking refuge in a cottage with a huge library. The owner, Riichi Miura (a magician of the forest), allowed her to stay at the sanctuary and offered her a book, “The Lonely Little Star”.
- Twitter Q&A – (17:37) Voice talents Brian Mathis (voice of Elias Ainsworth) and Dani Chambers (voice of Chise Hatori) and ADR Director Kyle Phillips answer Twitter questions.
- Episode 8 Commentary – Featuring episode commentary by ADR Director Kyle Phillips, Dani Chambers (voice of Chise Hatori), Jamie Marchi (script adaptor and voice of the witch character) and Brian Mathis (voices of Elias Ainsworth).
- Textless Opening Songs
- Textless Closing Songs
- Trailers – Trailers for upcoming or currently available titles from FUNimation.
EXTRAS:
“The Ancient Magus’ Bride” comes with the Blu-ray and DVD of the anime series plus a Funimation Digital Copy code.
The Limited Edition version of “The Ancient Magus’ Bride – Part 1” comes with an 11×17 fabric poster, a 40-page artbook with an in-depth look into the world plus storyboards and comes with a slipcase that can also hold part 2. In addition, five art cards featuring exclusive art from Japan is included.
Prior to watching “The Ancient Magus’ Bride”, I’ve heard a lot of buzz for this anime series and how it was one of the best that people watched in 2017/2018.
A story about how a mage (who has no memories of his past but many have called him an abomination) who may look a bit dark and evil courtesy of his animal skeleton head with horns and how he bought a frail young woman who was never wanted or cared of by any family member and her memory is of her father leaving her with her young brother and her mother killing herself in front of her.
Needless to say, the story is about how this relationship between Elias Ainsworth and his young bride, Chise Hatori grow closer. Despite people having their own feelings about the two together (many who objected that Elias purchased a slave), especially a Sleigh Beggy, who probably won’t live that long, Elias finds comfort when being around Chise, as does Chise who never felt the feeling of being wanted by anyone but Elias.
The first few episodes are introductory, introductions to technician Angelica Burley (a Magus Craft Artificer), the youthful mage Lindel, a mysterious woman and a sorcerer named Renfred, Yuris and others. Especially, a sadistic young boy known as Cartaphilius.
But while the first few episodes are introductory to the characters and building on the character dynamics between Chise and Elias, by the seventh episode, that is when things go crazy and dark. But also the storyline becomes even more exciting.
While I won’t spoil the direction change, it does make the series more captivating and making one wanting to watch more and more!
The Blu-ray release also comes with the three-part OVA’s, which is a story about Chise’s past and a library she had once frequented. Another entertaining story that one will want to watch after watching the first 12-episodes. And you get a few special features including a Twitter Q&A and an audio commentary for episode 8.
As for the Limited Edition Blu-ray, Funimation is making sure fans of this popular series have the opportunity to go for a Limited Edition release not just with the slipcover, collectible art cards and a 40-page art booklet but you also get a fabric poster and also, the Blu-ray release comes with the DVD’s and the Digital Copy code as well. And I can only hope Funimation continues these type of releases for the die-hard fans who want these limited edition extras!
Overall, “The Ancient Magus’s Bride” is an anime series that is deserving of the praise that it has received from anime fans. It’s entertaining, captivating, well-acted by both Japanese and English dub voice talents and brilliantly animated. And if you are a big fan of the anime series, I highly recommend the limited edition release of “The Ancient Magus’ Bride Part 1”. It’s a fantastic anime series and we highly recommend it!
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