Director: Kanta Kamei
Starring: Kosuke Toriumi, Troy Baker, Mamoru Miyano, Sam Riegel, Mai Nakahara, Cherami Leigh, Rika Morinaga, Luci Christian, Eiji Takemoto, Jonathan Brooks, Fumie Mizusawa, Leah Clark,
Running Time: 110 minutes
Certificate: 12
TALES OF VESPERIA: FIRST STRIKE is based on a video game. Not that you’d be able to tell from simply watching this film, as it is highly self contained and an absolute pleasure to watch. I’m sure there are bits and pieces that only fans of the game will get, and a few of the characters are obviously set up for expansion in the game itself, but other than that it’s a film that welcomes newcomers rather than isolating them.
The story is set in a fantasy world, where an item known as Aer is used as a power source. The use of Aer in its solidified form Apathia, is essential to fight against monsters. A series of knights use aer as a kind of form of magic in order to fight the monsters. Among these are a number of characters, but most importantly we have Flynn and Yuri, a pair of knights that were childhood friends before drifting apart and reuniting when they both joined the knights. Now stationed in a quiet outpost, we are treated to some familiar events where one tries too hard to prove his worth and the other is using his inclusion in the knights to battle his own personal demons.
The story is certainly not rushed, which makes a charming change from some anime. It’s the intense quiet periods, which aren’t all exposition that brings this film alive. There is one absolutely heartbreaking moment that is so expertly crafted I wouldn’t spoil it here. Suffice to say, it will most likely bring you to tears over the quiet way in which a loss is represented. It’s also played out well in that the loss is forever felt throughout the course of the film, and doesn’t just come and go for quick shock value. The music also helps in structuring the emotional tone of the film. Gorgeous chords and a wealth of instruments taking centre stage really add to the imaginative environment,
The animation on show is mostly fantastic, and looks glorious in Blu-ray. The colours complement each other well, and when being taken from European style villages to stunning autumnal forests. The animation certainly helps meld the worlds of magic, science, and violence into a digestible visual feast. My only qualm was that during the action sequences, it often seemed as though a frame or two were missing. This lead to some fights seeming just a very little bit jumpy and not as fluent as I would have liked. Luckily, the battles and fights keep the stakes high, meaning I felt an intense sense of involvement no matter how the film actually looked.
Overall this is a film that has peaked my interest in regards to the fantasy world it presents. I may be no gamer, but I’d gladly explore any further stories presented in animation. With reliable vocal work from both the English and Japanese dubs, you can pick and choose which you’d prefer and you’d be on to a winner. The film also includes themes that are relevant to all, whether it be personal ideals that are challenged, or the abuse of power sources.
TALES OF VESPERIA: THE FIRST STRIKE is released on Blu-ray and DVD on 3rd December. Buy a copy here.
