Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers

Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers (六花の勇者) is a Japanese light novel series written by Ishio Yamagata, with illustrations by Miyagi. Shueisha has published six volumes since August 2011. A manga adaptation by Kei Toru began serialization in Shueisha's Super Dash & Go! magazine in February 2012. Both the light novels and their manga adaptation are licensed in North America by Yen Press. An anime television series produced by Passione and directed by Takeo Takahashi aired in Japan from July 4 to September 19, 2015.

Plot

Six people called the Braves of the Six Flowers are chosen by the Goddess of Fate to defeat the Majin (魔神). However, when they gather, there are seven heroes present, leading them to believe that one is an impostor and on the side of the Demon God. The landscape, architecture, and written language portrayed is very similar to Mesoamerican Maya or Aztec peoples.

Characters

Braves

  • Adoretto Maia (アドレット・マイア)
  • The main protagonist. He is the self-proclaimed strongest man in the world. He fights using tools and trickery to catch his opponent off-guard. Tgurneu appeared at his village when he was a child and destroyed it while capturing all the villagers except Adlet. His reason for wanting to become a Brave is revenge. Since he could not become a Saint (only women can become Saints) he went and found Atro Spiker, a hermit adept in various fighting styles and in science.
  • Nasshetania Rūi Piena Augusutora (ナッシェタニア・ルーイ・ピエナ・アウグストラ)
  • The first crowned princess of Piena and the Saint of Blades. She can make blades appear out of nothing to use as projectiles. Her family was killed during a civil war in Piena.
  • Furemī Supiddorō (フレミー・スピッドロウ)
  • A sniper known as the Six Flower Killer (Brave-Killer in the anime) and the Saint of Gunpowder. She is a half-fiend who was betrayed by her mother and tribe after failing to kill Chamo, so she goes to kill the Demon God in revenge. She can create bullets and other explosives out of thin air. She loves dogs and hates humans, though it appears she has feelings for Adlet despite her denying it. Thanks to Adlet she was willing to accept the rest of the Braves as her comrades and they accepted her as well.
  • Hansu Hanputi (ハンス・ハンプティ)
  • A strange assassin man who mimics a cat as he talks, as well as their movement. He fences with an unworldly and peculiar skill. He is the only one who believes that the Seventh is unaware of his own status, and suspects that Adlet is the Seventh. He is the first to find out that Adlet is not the Seventh (via using his assassin techniques) and does everything in his power to prove his innocence.
  • Mōra Chesutā (モーラ・チェスター)
  • An extremely serious and intellectual woman. She serves as the leader of the Saints and is the Saint of Mountains. She initially suspected Adlet was the seventh even going so far as framing him for the crime of attacking Hans, which never actually happened. She is the only person Chamo will listen to.
  • Chamo Rosso (チャモ・ロッソ)
  • A proud little girl who is called the most powerful warrior of the current age. She is the Saint of Swamps. Every kyōma she has ever eaten lives in the swamp within her stomach. She vomits every time she uses them as weapons. She carries a small foxtail grass to help her do this. While she is powerful she often doesn't listen to others and will act on her own as she pleases.
  • Gorudofu Auōra (ゴルドフ・アウオーラ)
  • A young knight completely devoted to Nashetania, he wields a giant spear. He was tasked to find the Six Flower Killer. He is jealous of Adlet's closeness to the Princess. Having been saved by Nashetania when he was little, he swore to protect her ever since.
  • Roronia Manchetta (ロロニア・マンチェッタ)
  • A short girl who wears cow-themed armor and glasses. She is the Saint of Fresh Blood and a childhood friend of Adlet and is adept at healing magic. She arrived at the end of the first volume (episode 12 of the anime), bringing the number of the Braves back to seven. She was initially just a servant who washed clothes at the temple of the God of Fresh Blood. When the Saint before her died, she was chosen by the God rather than all the acolytes present. She wields a whip in battle that is filled with her blood. This allows her to control it completely and one scratch can force the blood out of any opponent it touches.

Kyōma

  • Teguneu (テグネウ)
  • One of the three kyōma leaders. He is very manipulative and loves to read poems. He believes that 'love' is the ultimate weapon.
  • Kāguikku (カーグイック)
  • One of the three kyōma leaders. He takes the form of a lion and treats his fellow kyōma as his children.
  • Dozū (ドズー)
  • One of the three kyōma leaders. He takes the form of a dog and can control lightning.

Media

Light novels

Rokka no Yūsha began as a light novel series written by Ishio Yamagata, with illustrations by Miyagi. Shueisha published the first novel on August 25, 2011, under their Super Dash Bunko imprint. With the introduction of Dash X Bunko on November 11, 2014, the fifth volume of the light novel was released. Six volumes have been released as of July 24, 2015. North American publisher Yen Press announced their license to the series at Anime Expo 2016.[3] A spin-off volume titled Rokka no Yūsha Archive 1: Don't pray to the flower was released on March 25, 2016.

Manga

A manga adaptation, illustrated by Kei Toru, began serialization in Shueisha's Super Dash & Go! with the April 2012 issue sold on February 25.[17] After the magazine ended its publication in print in April 2013, the manga continued serialization online[18][19] until November 20, 2014. Four tankōbon volumes were published from October 25, 2012[20] to July 24, 2015. Yen Press announced their license to the manga adaptation at Anime Expo 2016[3] and released all volumes in 2017.

Anime

An anime television series adaptation of the first novel volume, produced by Passione and directed by Takeo Takahashi[28] aired from July 4 to September 19, 2015. The series is licensed in North America by Ponycan USA[29] and by Anime Limited in the UK.[30] Five pieces of theme music were used for the episodes: two opening themes and three ending themes. From episodes 1-4 and 12, "Cry for the Truth" was used as the first opening theme, and from episodes 1–3, 8 and 12, "Secret Sky" was used as the first ending theme, both performed by Michi.[31] The second opening theme "Black Swallowtail" by Uroboros was used from episodes 5–11, and the second ending theme used from episodes 4-5 and 10 is "Dance in the Fake" by Yoko Hikasa.[1][31] From episodes 6–7, 9 and 11, "Nameless Heart" by Aoi Yūki was used as the third ending theme.[31]

Reception

Stig Høgset from THEM Anime Reviews was intrigued by the overall mystery throughout the show, but felt it dragged viewers along with constant accusations towards the same character, "inconsistent" animation and underutilizing its Youma sentients.[32]

References

  1. Rafael Antonio Pineda. UROBOROS Performs Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers' 2nd Opening Theme Anime News Network, August 4, 2015, retrieved August 23, 2015^
  2. Andrew Osmond. Anime Limited Releases Rokka on May 28, Dub Cast Announced Anime News Network, April 21, 2018, retrieved April 21, 2018^
  3. Karen Ressler. Yen Press Licenses Rokka Novels/Manga, Isolator, Big Order, Murciélago, Smokin' Parade Manga Anime News Network, July 1, 2016, retrieved July 1, 2016^
  4. http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=978-4-08-630633-1 Shueisha, retrieved November 19, 2014^
  5. Ishio Yamagata. Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers, Vol. 1 Yen Press, April 18, 2017^
  6. http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=978-4-08-630671-3 Shueisha, retrieved November 19, 2014^
  7. Ishio Yamagata. Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers, Vol. 2 Yen Press, August 22, 2017^
  8. http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=978-4-08-630710-9 Shueisha, retrieved November 19, 2014^
  9. Ishio Yamagata. Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers, Vol. 3 Yen Press, December 19, 2017^
  10. http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=978-4-08-630745-1 Shueisha, retrieved November 19, 2014^
  11. Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers, Vol. 4 (light novel) Yen Press, retrieved December 22, 2017^
  12. http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=978-4-08-631008-6 Shueisha, retrieved November 19, 2014^
  13. Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers, Vol. 5 (light novel) Yen Press, retrieved August 1, 2018^
  14. http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=978-4-08-631056-7 Shueisha, retrieved July 25, 2015^
  15. Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers, Vol. 6 (light novel) Yen Press, retrieved October 1, 2018^
  16. http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=978-4-08-631056-7 Shueisha, retrieved December 29, 2018^
  17. SD&GO!喜多村英梨らの座談会など「パパ聞き!」大特集 Natalie, December 24, 2011, retrieved November 19, 2014^
  18. Sarah Nelkin. Shueisha's Super Dash & Go! Magazine Ends Publication Anime News Network, April 29, 2013, retrieved November 19, 2014^
  19. http://sdgo.shueisha.co.jp/_rokka/ Shueisha, retrieved November 19, 2014^
  20. http://books.shueisha.co.jp/CGI/search/syousai_put.cgi?isbn_cd=978-4-08-782468-1 Shueisha, retrieved July 4, 2023^
  21. Ishio Yamagata. Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers, Vol. 1 Yen Press, January 24, 2017^
  22. 六花の勇者 2 Shueisha, retrieved July 4, 2023^
  23. Ishio Yamagata. Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers, Vol. 2 Yen Press, May 23, 2017^
  24. 六花の勇者 3 Shueisha, retrieved July 4, 2023^
  25. Ishio Yamagata. Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers, Vol. 3 Yen Press, August 22, 2017^
  26. 六花の勇者 4 Shueisha, retrieved July 4, 2023^
  27. Ishio Yamagata. Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers, Vol. 4 Yen Press, November 14, 2017^
  28. Jennifer Sherman. Rokka no Yūsha TV Anime's 1st Promo Reveals Staff Anime News Network, March 21, 2015, retrieved May 17, 2015^
  29. Lynzee Loveridge. Pony Canyon to Localize Sound! Euphonium, Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers, Lance N' Masques Anime News Network, April 3, 2015, retrieved May 17, 2015^
  30. Andrew Osmond. Anime Limited Acquisitions (Updated 3) Anime News Network, October 30, 2016, retrieved October 30, 2016^
  31. Crystalyn Hodgkins. Michi to Perform 1st Opening, Ending Themes for Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers Anime Anime News Network, June 6, 2015, retrieved December 27, 2016^
  32. Stig Høgset. Rokka -Braves of the Six Flowers- THEM Anime Reviews, October 12, 2015, retrieved October 11, 2022^