Anime: The Heroic Legend of Arslan (Arslan Senki)
Genre: Action/Tactical
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
General Setup: Unlike most animes Arslan takes place in the fictional land similar to the Middle East. Arslan is the main character (his name is in the title, who would have guessed?). He is the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Pars. Arslan gains a new perspective on life when he is taken hostage by an escaping slave. The boy is Arslan’s age and is a prisoner of war from the country of Lusitania. His views differ greatly from Arslan's. Arslan is rescued, but the slave escapes, promising to return for his countrymen. The next three years are a peaceful time for Pars, but war breaks out when Lusitania begins an invasion campaign into Pars. At 14 years of age Arslan embarks upon his maiden battle. However disaster strikes when one of Pars’ lead generals defects to the enemy's side. Arslan is almost killed, but is saved by Daryun, one of the best warriors in Pars. Together they set out on a journey to take back their beloved country (with the help of a few others, of course).
Characters: Arslan is gentle and kind and naïve. He wants to believe the best about everyone. Daryun claims that his only talents lie in protecting Arslan, but he is a very skilled warrior with a good head on his shoulders. Arslan counts on him for more things than just brute force. Narsus is a courtier who was banished by Arslan's father. He has an incredible mind for strategy and is strongly against Pars’ system of slavery. Narsus’ attendant Elam is the son of the slaves that served in Narsus’ household before he set them free. Elam is extremely resourceful. He performs many tasks, from cooking meals to gathering information. The slave that took Arslan hostage is part of the army invading Pars. He pops up every now and then. One thing I didn’t like was that the amount of generals introduced early on we're so many. Most of them are minor characters and they are a little confusing and hard to remember.
Plot: This anime has a strong plot. At first it is a little slow because it takes a few episodes to introduce all the main characters and set up the story. However there is lots of action and several plot twists. I enjoyed seeing what strategies Narsus would use and how they would work out.
Ending: I was very satisfied with the ending. The last few episodes doubled my appreciation of the anime. The ending resolved a good deal of the conflict, but left room for a second season. I am very glad that the creators took their time and did not cobble together a hurried and sloppy ending.
Things to Watch For: Be aware that there is a lot of bloodshed in this anime. It is true that there is a war going on, but some of the bloodshed seemed a little unnecessary. Most of the members of Arslan’s company are more than capable at fighting, so it seems immoral that they show no mercy. Lady Farangaris’ outfit bothered me. It is revealing, but it is also impractical. Some black magic is used by a man on the Lusitanian side who is called Lord Silver Mask.
Humor: Most of this anime has a more serious feel, but there are one or two jokes that pop through. For example, Narsus’ dream is to become a famous painter, but his painting skills are less than adept.
Sights and Sounds: Fans of Fullmetal Alchemist should notice immediately the similarity between the two art styles. That is because they are done by the same person, Hiromu Arakawa. For example, Daryun bears a strong resemblance to Solf J. Kimblee and General Shapur looks like Colonel Roy Mustang. The soundtrack for Arslan is very well written. Most of it is made up of epic ‘going to war’ marches. A couple songs have middle-eastern elements.
Moral Lessons: Sometimes leaders will use religion as a reason to justify their actions. The rightful leader is not always the one next in line for the throne. Different countries have different customs and ways of doing things, but this does not mean that they should force them on other countries. Parentage has no bearing on the ambition to make things better.
Other Media: Originally a fantasy novel series, The Heroic Legend of Arslan was based off a Persian epic. The story was adapted into a manga that ran from 1991 -1996. A series of OVA’s were also made. A second manga adaptation was serialized in 2014. There is a second season confirmed to air.
Fillers: There are no fillers in this anime.
Length: There are 25 episodes in the first season.
Where to watch it: It can be watched on Hulu for free.
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