Altair: A Record of Battles (将国のアルタイル) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kotono Kato. It tells the story of Tuğril Mahmut, a young military officer and his exploits to protect his country from invasion by a neighboring empire. The manga was serialized in Kodansha's manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Sirius from July 2007 to November 2023, with its chapters collected in 27 volumes.
A 24-episode anime television series adaptation, produced by MAPPA, aired from July to December 2017. Amazon Video streamed the series worldwide as it aired in Japan.
In 2017, Altair: A Record of Battles won the 41st Kodansha Manga Awards in the category.
Plot
Set in the western part of the great continent Rumeliana, Mahmut is a young war orphan and the youngest Pasha in the Turkish stratocracy who desires to ensure that war never occurs. Unfortunately, after an assassination of a politician, Turkey is under the looming threat of the militaristic Balt-Rhein Empire. After playing a vital role in solving two schemes within his country, Mahmut sets out on a journey to see more the outside world, only to witness Balt-Rhein's growing influence on the continent. To protect his homeland, Mahmut and his companions travel across West Rumeliana to form alliances between his country and the other nations to face against the Balt-Rhein Empire and their frightening expansionist movement. With the creation of the Tripartite Military Alliance with Greater Turkey, Republic of Venedik, and Urado Kingdom, and the cooperation of the Cuore Alliance, the Anti-Imperial Alliance battles against the Balt-Rhein Empire in the Great Rumeliana War.
Media
Manga
Written and illustrated by Kotono Kato, Altair: A Record of Battles started in Kodansha's manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Sirius on July 26, 2007.[1] The series finished on November 25, 2023.[2][3] Kodansha collected its chapters in 27 volumes, published from April 23, 2008,[4] to April 9, 2024.[5]
Kodansha's North American subsidiary Kodansha USA announced that it would release the series in English via its digital platform, starting on March 21, 2017.[6]
Other manga
A four-panel manga, titled Shōkoku no! (将国の!) was published on Monthly Shōnen Sirius's website in 2012.[7][8] A short, comedic chibi-styled manga by Shiina Soga, titled Shōkoku no Altair-san (小国のアルタイルさん), started in Monthly Shōnen Sirius on April 26, 2012,[9] and finished on September 26, 2013, with its 21 chapters collected in a single volume, released on October 9 of that same year.[11] A special chapter of Shōkoku no Altair-san was published in Monthly Shōnen Sirius on August 26, 2017.[12]
A spin-off, titled Shōkoku no Altair Gaiden: Tōkoku no Subaru (将国のアルタイル嵬伝 嶌国のスバル), written by Hirokazu Kobayashi and illustrated by Kotono Kato's sister, Chika Kato, was serialized in Monthly Shōnen Sirius from January 26, 2016,[13] to April 26, 2019.[14] The series is set far to the east of Rumeliana, where the more Asian-influence countries exist and takes roughly six months ahead of the main series. The plot focus on the island nation of Kusanagi, which has been annexed by the larger country of Çinili and fallen into ruin. Subaru masquerades as the nation's former prince and tries to leads a rebellion to free her country. Kodansha collected its chapters in seven volumes, released from January 17, 2017, to September 9, 2019.[15][16]
Other manga
A four-panel manga, titled Shōkoku no! (将国の!) was published on Monthly Shōnen Sirius's website in 2012.[7][8] A short, comedic chibi-styled manga by Shiina Soga, titled Shōkoku no Altair-san (小国のアルタイルさん), started in Monthly Shōnen Sirius on April 26, 2012,[9] and finished on September 26, 2013, with its 21 chapters collected in a single volume, released on October 9 of that same year.[11] A special chapter of Shōkoku no Altair-san was published in Monthly Shōnen Sirius on August 26, 2017.[12]
A spin-off, titled Shōkoku no Altair Gaiden: Tōkoku no Subaru (将国のアルタイル嵬伝 嶌国のスバル), written by Hirokazu Kobayashi and illustrated by Kotono Kato's sister, Chika Kato, was serialized in Monthly Shōnen Sirius from January 26, 2016,[13] to April 26, 2019.[14] The series is set far to the east of Rumeliana, where the more Asian-influence countries exist and takes roughly six months ahead of the main series. The plot focus on the island nation of Kusanagi, which has been annexed by the larger country of Çinili and fallen into ruin. Subaru masquerades as the nation's former prince and tries to leads a rebellion to free her country. Kodansha collected its chapters in seven volumes, released from January 17, 2017, to September 9, 2019.[15][16]
Anime
In December 2016, Aniplex opened a website announcing that Kazuhiro Furuhashi was directing a "Project Altair" anime series at MAPPA, but did not state any other specifics.[17] Later that month, images from the official website of Monthly Shonen Sirius revealed that "Project Altair" was an adaptation of Altair: A Record of Battles.[18] Script composition is handled by Noboru Takagi while Ryo Kawasaki composed the music.[19] The series aired from July 7 to December 22, 2017, on the MBS "Animeism" programming block.[20][21]
In June 2017, it was announced that Amazon Video service would be exclusively streaming Altair: A Record of Battles in more than 200 countries worldwide, and its "Anime Strike" channel simulcast the series as it aired in Japan.[22][23] The anime series released the first Blu-ray/DVD set and its limited editions bundles with bonus booklet, a Soundtrack CD, and Drama CD on October 25, 2017.[24][25] The second Blu-ray/DVD set and its limited editions bundles with bonus booklet, another Soundtrack CD, and DJCD of the series's Radio Broadcast was released on December 27, 2017.[26] The third Blu-ray/DVD set and its limited editions bundles with bonus booklet, another Soundtrack CD, and another Drama CD was released on February 28, 2018.[27] The fourth and final Blu-ray/DVD set and its limited editions bundles with bonus booklet, animation drawings, and another DJCD of the series's Radio Broadcast was released on April 25, 2018.[28] Medialink licensed the series in East and Southeast Asia, streaming it on its Ani-One Asia YouTube channel.[29]
Other media
On November 29, 2014, Kotono Kato released an illustration book titled Milkazzar Altair The Shōkoku no Altair Illustration Gallery Book (ミルカザル・アルタイル 将国のアルタイルイラストギャラリーBOOK) for Altair: A Record of Battles.[30] On October 6, 2017, another art book, titled Shōkoku no Altair Artbook (画集 将国のアルタイル), containing over 170 illustrations, was released to mark a decade of serialization.[31]
On August 9, 2017, an official fanbook titled Official Fanbook of Shōkoku no Altair Book of Stars (将国のアルタイル公式ファンブック 将星の書) was released, containing both illustrations, background, and characters profiles of the series;[32] A preview of the booklet with rough sketches was released in Monthly Shōnen Sirius on August 26 of that same year.[33]
Reception
Altair: A Record of Battles won the 41st Kodansha Manga Awards in the category in 2017.[34]
External links
References
- http://manganohi.jp/2007/07/26/ manganohi.jp, July 26, 2007, retrieved July 24, 2021^
- Rafael Pineda. Kotono Katō's Altair: A Record of Battles Epic Fantasy Manga Ends in November Anime News Network, October 25, 2023, retrieved October 26, 2023^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/550427 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc., November 25, 2023, retrieved November 24, 2023^
- https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000043826 Kodansha, retrieved May 13, 2020^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/568637 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc., April 9, 2024, retrieved April 9, 2024^
- Karen Ressler. Kodansha USA to Release Hozuki's Coolheadedness, Altair, Museum, Blame! Academy Manga Digitally Anime News Network, March 14, 2017, retrieved April 3, 2017^
- http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/magazine/diary_list.php/14709/3/201204 Kodansha, retrieved November 3, 2023^
- Crystalyn Hodgkins. Shōkoku no Altair TV Anime's 1st Promo Video Reveals Cast, Staff Anime News Network, December 25, 2016, retrieved May 25, 2017^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/68475 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc., April 26, 2012, retrieved November 3, 2023^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/100085 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc., September 25, 2013, retrieved November 3, 2023^
- http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063764260 Kodansha, retrieved April 8, 2017^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/246203 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc., August 26, 2017, retrieved November 3, 2023^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/170694 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc., December 26, 2015, retrieved January 22, 2021^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/329600 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc., April 26, 2019, retrieved January 22, 2021^
- http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063906769 Kodansha, retrieved June 21, 2017^
- http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000323477 Kodansha, retrieved September 2, 2018^
- Crystalyn Hodgkins. MAPPA, Kazuhiro Furuhashi Reveal 'Project Altair' Anime Anime News Network, December 15, 2016, retrieved April 3, 2017^
- Rafael Antonio Pineda. Shōkoku no Altair Historical Fantasy Manga Gets TV Anime by MAPPA Anime News Network, December 21, 2016, retrieved April 3, 2017^
- Crystalyn Hodgkins. Altair: A Record of Battles Anime Reveals More Cast, July Premiere Anime News Network, March 25, 2017, retrieved April 3, 2017^
- Egan Loo. Rock Band Sid Performs Altair: A Record of Battles Anime's Opening Song Anime News Network, May 13, 2017, retrieved May 13, 2017^
- Crystalyn Hodgkins. Altair: A Record of Battles Anime Reveals New Promo Video, Key Visual Anime News Network, March 25, 2017, retrieved April 8, 2017^
- Rafael Antonio Pineda. Amazon Prime to Stream Animeism Shows Including Altair Worldwide Anime News Network, June 7, 2017, retrieved June 7, 2017^
- Jennifer Sherman. Altair: A Record of Battles Anime Casts Daisuke Ono, Kazuhiro Yamaji Anime News Network, June 2, 2017, retrieved June 2, 2017^
- http://project-altair.com/bddvd/01.html project-altair.com, retrieved July 7, 2017^
- Chris Beveridge. Aniplex Japan Sets 'Altair: A Record of Battles' Blu-ray Anime Releases The Fandom Post, August 13, 2017, retrieved August 14, 2017^
- http://project-altair.com/bddvd/02.html project-altair.com, retrieved November 8, 2017^
- http://project-altair.com/bddvd/03.html project-altair.com, retrieved December 27, 2017^
- http://project-altair.com/bddvd/04.html project-altair.com, retrieved December 27, 2017^
- ✨New Ani-One YouTube New Upload Announcement✨ 🏜️ Altair: A Record of Battles 《將國戡亂記》is arriving on Ani-One Asia! Ani-One Asia, November 5, 2024, retrieved November 8, 2024^
- http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063649673 Kodansha, retrieved April 8, 2017^
- http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784065104415 Kodansha, retrieved October 9, 2017^
- http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063932751 Kodansha, retrieved August 7, 2017^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/238285 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc., June 26, 2017, retrieved November 3, 2023^
- Jennifer Sherman. 41st Annual Kodansha Manga Awards' Winners Announced Anime News Network, May 9, 2017, retrieved May 9, 2017^