Synopsis:
Long ago, Marfa (goddess of creation) and Kardis (goddess of destruction) fought a great war that split the continent and formed a new land. This land came to be known as Lodoss - The Accursed Land. Centuries have passed since then, and now various forces fight once more for control over Lodoss. Now an unlikely party is drawn together to determine the fate of Lodoss. Among them: Parn, an inexperienced young fighter; Deedlit, a mystical high elf who is attracted to Parn; Etoh, a novice cleric and Parn's best friend; Slayn, a powerful and wise sorcerer; Ghim, a skilled dwarven warrior. Together, they journey on, each with their own personal agendas. Yet together, they share the same desire for a better future.

Review:
Watching Record of Lodoss War is like watching a great RPG (Role Playing Game) campaign unfold without having to play. The story's progression is both plot and character driven. Our band of heroes has to do everything to save Lodoss from destruction, and yet each character has his own purposes to fulfill. Viewers can empathize with the characters as they gain experience and as their personalities are revealed. They make decisions that affect the movement of the story. Record of Lodoss War is also very specific in its treatment of the characters' abilities, attacks, and magic spells. The spells even have their own detailed casting chants.

The art and animation are simply superb. I especially loved the scenes where they used their magic or faced the mythical ancient dragons. The attention paid to detail is remarkable. The musical score punctuates and ties everything together seamlessly. It succeeded in making me want to buy the Record of Lodoss War soundtrack album. The English dubbing uses well-suited voices for the characters, but some parts of the dialogues had been modified. The dub uses milder language compared to the subtitled version. Record of Lodoss War is not just an animated series, it's an RPG experience.

Miscellanies:
Record of Lodoss War was based on actual RPG sessions of creator Ryo Mizuno and his friends.

Screenshots:

Shopping - click on title to purchase:

Rightstuf
Record of Lodoss War: OVA (DVD Box Set)
Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight (DVD Box Set)

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