Anime Reviews (2010-2019): The Ancient Magus’ Bride Part 2 (a Neo-Tokyo 2099 Anime on Blu-ray Review)

While this second part of “The Ancient Magus’s Bride” is the final volume of the anime series for now, the anime series is deserving of the praise that it has received from anime fans. “The Ancient Magus’s Bride” is entertaining, captivating, well-acted by both Japanese and English dub voice talents and brilliantly animated. Definitely recommended!

TITLE: The Ancient Magus’ Bride Part 2

DURATION: Episodes 13-24 (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: April 16, 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

Chise’s bond with Elias grows stronger by the day, while all around her, things take a turn for the worse. Not only are the fae and beings of lore meddling in her life, but her recovery time is increasing after each use of her power. All caution is thrown to the wind; however, when one of Lindel’s dragons is captured, and the rescue attempt puts Chise’s life in grave danger. Now, the only thing more horrifying than Joseph’s plan to use Chise, is Elias’ plan to save her.

As Chise and Elias grow stronger with one another, what happens when Chise learns more about the darker things relating to Elias? And what happens when she confronts Cartaphilus? And who is Ashen Eye? And what will we learn about Chise’s early life and her family?

Find out in the final second volume of “The Ancient Magus Bride”!

What is “The Ancient Magus Bride” about?

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 2” comes with the following special features:

Episode 21 Commentary – Featuring episode commentary by ADR Director Kyle Phillips, Skyler McIntosh (voice of Stella Barklem), Tyler Carson (voice of Simon) and Josh Grelle (voice of Joseph).
The Ancient Magus’ Bride at Anime Expo 2018: Interview with George Wada and Norihiro Naganuma
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.

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.

With the second part (episode 13-24) being the final volume of the anime TV series for now, the storyline explores the relationship between Chise and Elias and Chise learning more about Elias (and his jealous and the dark side of him and his hunger towards humans) and also Chise learning more about herself, thanks to a confrontation with Cartaphilius and a spiteful towards humans, Ashen Eye.

The second part also introduces Stella, a girl looking for her brother Ethan and Chise wants to help her out. But through their adventure of trying to look for Ethan, Chise faces more confrontation from others. And as her power grows, it puts her in harms way. What will happen to her?

The Blu-ray release also comes with an audio commentary for episode 21 and a special interview from Anime Expo 2018 with Wit Studios Wada George and Naganuma Norihiro. Also, the Blu-ray release comes with the DVD’s and the Digital Copy code as well.

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