Azure Striker Gunvolt: The Anime

Azure Striker Gunvolt: The Anime, known as Armed Blue Gunvolt OVA in Japan, is an original animation video created in a collaboration between Inti Creates, TOHOKUSHINSHA, and LandQ Studios. It is an anime adaptation loosely based on the opening stage of Azure Striker Gunvolt, "1st Sumeragi", and is intended to introduce story elements of the series that were not seen or elaborated upon in the game.http://nintendoeverything.com/interview-inti-creates-on-azure-striker-gunvolt-scrapped-ideas-amiibo-interest-may-revisit-mighty-gunvolt/2/ The OVA features the Japanese voice actors reprising their roles from the game, but also features English voice actors, a series first.
The OVA, originally scheduled for a Winter 2016 release, was released internationally on the Nintendo 3DS eShop on February 9, 2017.https://twitter.com/IntiCreatesEN/status/826626179230736384 
It was released on DVD on August 31st, 2017 as a bonus item with the Japanese limited edition version of the Nintendo Switch Azure Striker Gunvolt: Striker Pack, and later released in Japan on Blu-ray as a standalone product on Sep 28, 2017 with the anime soundtrack as a bonus item. It became available outside of Japan for the first time at PAX West 2019.Inti Creates' Twitter
== Plot ==
The OVA begins with Gunvolt on a mission attacking a Sumeragi Group base. The next day, the news reports that the suspect is the same one involved in the kidnap of virtual pop idol Lumen, and is also thought to be responsible for the blackout that same night. The news then cuts to the leader of the Sumeragi Adept Defence Task Force, Nova Tsukuyomi, who issues a statement at a press conference claiming the incident proves that Adepts are too dangerous to be left unregulated. Watching at home, Joule turns off the T.V., and looks over at Gunvolt, internally monologuing that no matter what the world thinks, she knows the truth, and that she'll never forget what he did for her.
It then flashes back to a Lumen concert, with Nova observing on a screen and seeing if any Adepts have been detected. The scene then cuts to Moniqa and Asimov at QUILL ordering Gunvolt to find and destroy Lumen. A short scene with Romeo and Merak plays, then Gunvolt is shown entering the Sumeragi facility where the Muse is supposedly being held. However, he doesn't see the core and is quickly captured by Sumeragi soldiers.
The OVA then flashes back again to a younger Gunvolt being rescued by Asimov, who offers Gunvolt a choice between being free or joining QUILL. Gunvolt chooses to join QUILL, despite the risks. It then flashes forward again to Gunvolt about to be tortured by Romeo, who tells Gunvolt the current location of Lumen, not knowing of his Septimal powers, like in the game. Gunvolt then rushes out of the facility in order to chase down the train Lumen is on.
Gunvolt makes it to the train, but is ambushed by two Mantises. He takes one out with the flashfield, then as he's about to fight the other one, Asimov snipes it. Gunvolt then goes inside the train, where he finally finds Joule imprisoned. Like in the game, Asimov orders Gunvolt to kill Joule, who wants him to do so. However, Gunvolt chooses to free Joule instead and leave QUILL.
Before he can though, Merak shows up and requests that Gunvolt fight him outside, as to not damage the equipment inside or Joule. He then transforms using his Glaive, and fights Gunvolt. During the fight, Gunvolt attempts to appeal to Merak's humanity, who only becomes more and more annoyed with Gunvolt's "hero gimmick". However, Joule then uses her song to power up Gunvolt, who then uses Luxcalibur to slice Merak in half, defeating him. He then goes in and frees Joule using a burst of electricity that causes the city-wide blackout mentioned on TV at the beginning of the OVA.
Gunvolt then arrives at QUILL after rescuing Joule, and Asimov requests that he hand her over. However, Gunvolt refuses to back down, and Asimov removes him from QUILL's roster. Asimov then warns Gunvolt that if he gets in QUILL's way in the future, they will be enemies, and wishes him good luck.
Afterwards, Copen and Nori arrive at the scene of Merak and Gunvolt's clash to claim the broken Glaive, with Copen declaring both Sumeragi and Adepts to be his enemy.
Gunvolt takes Joule back home, after which the flashback ends, and Gunvolt and Joule are shown eating dinner. Gunvolt and Joule are then shown surrounded by the rest of The Sumeragi Seven, except for Merak, and Joule internally monologues that she'll sing her song for Gunvolt for as long as he continues to fight, where the OVA ends.
==Soundtrack==
Main article: ARMED BLUE: GUNVOLT Anime BGM Collection & Anime Song Collection.
The OVA features fourteen original tracks, including four new songs sung by Lumen (Megu Sakuragawa), and was composed by Ippo Yamada and Ryo Kawakami, with Hakofactory writing the songs and Yamajet being their Arranger.
Original songs:
*Last Wish
*World's End
*Azure Sky
*Reality (main theme)
== Staff and Cast ==
===Cast===
*Gunvolt: Kaito Ishikawa / Josh Keller
*Joule/Lumen: Megu Sakuragawa / Diana Garnet
*Asimov: Masashi Yukita / Maxwell Powers
*Moniqa: Moemi Otaka / Hannah Grace
*Zeno: Haruki Ishiya / Stephen Wiley
*Copen: Kosuke Masuo / Peter von Gomm
*Nova: Ayumu Murase / Chris Nelson
*Merak: Yuta Kasuya / Vinay Murthy
*Romeo: Hideki Makino / Cyrus Sethna
*Chief technician: Wataru Takagi
*Technician: Ousuke Yoshitatsu
*News presenter: Kaoru Akiyama
===Staff===
====Japanese Staff====
*Director/Continuity/Producer: Yoshinori Odaka
*Scenario: Shigeru Murakoshi
*Character Design/Animation Supervisor: Masakazu Sunagawa
*Action Director/Key Animator: Koudai Kawase
*Props/Mecha Design: Ryuta Nakahara
*Film Director: Polunt Sai
*Background Art Director: Keinichi Kurata
*Color Design: Kanna Terawake
*Animation Inspector: Mikie Matuyama
*Background Art: Baku Production
*Music: Ippo Yamada, Ryo Kawakami
*Film: LandQ Studio's
*Production: INTI CREATES, TOHOKUSHINSHA, LandQ Studios
====English Staff====
*Recording Director: Maxwell Powers
*Recording Mix: Yuya Iwaki
*Recording Supervisor: Matt Papa
== Trivia ==
*This is the first piece of media in the entire Azure Striker Gunvolt series to feature an English dub, comprised of American actors living in Tokyo.
*Merak being fought on the train is based on an earlier draft of Azure Striker Gunvolt in which he was the opening boss.Armed Blue Gunvolt Official Complete Works, staff interview
*Jota, Elise, Stratos, Viper, Carrera and Zonda make a cameo appearance at the end of the OVA as silhouettes.
== References ==
==Series Navigation==
Category:Anime
Category:Azure Striker Gunvolt