Alderamin on the Sky (2016)

[ねじ巻き精霊戦記 天鏡のアルデラミン]

Director: Tetsuo Ichimura
Studio: Madhouse
Starring: Nobuhiko Okamoto, Risa Taneda, Inori Minase
Episodes: 13

Synopsis:
A layabout proves his mettle as a strategist after he rescues an Imperial princess.

Impressions:
Imagine a more serious take on the Irresponsible Captain Tylor concept in a fantasy setting and that's basically what we have here. While I like all the main cast, the relationship between Ikta and Yatori is particularly strong, living up well to the idea of being the left and right hand of one body. I also like that a suitable rival is set up in the final arc to give Ikta a proper challenge (and the fact that said rival is voiced by Jun Fukuyama only makes it better).

The time period works well with the thematic elements being explored with features like imperial decline, technology changing the face of warfare, etc. Also, since Madhouse is behind the production, you know you can expect good things from the visuals. I enjoyed this quite a bit, but it feels more like a prologue to the larger story, which may leave some viewers feeling unsatisfied. It's worth a watch at the very least, possibly even worth a space in your collection.

Rating:
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