Ashura: The Anime

Ashura: The Anime (Ashura: Ninja Hero of Arus in Japan) is a 2010 Japanese anime featuring Ashura, Amy Rose, Voltage the Hedgehog, and more. It was animated and produced by Blue Quill Animation, a division of the super-company Blue Quill Entertainment, with the partnership of SEGA and Sonic Team. The first volume started airing in Japan in 2010, with airing of Ashura: The Anime everywhere else starting later that year. So far, three volumes have been released, with Volume 4 confirmed for release sometime in mid-2013. Volume 4 (Episodes 46-60) has started airing in Japan on January 16, 2013. Volume 4 will start airing everywhere else on March 7, 2013. Blue Quill announced that further volumes will be released later this year and going into 2014. 99X Entertainment is currently working with Blue Quill Animation to produce Volume 4.
==Plot Synopsis==
===Volume 1 (Episodes 1-15)===
The first volume isn't set in the present, it's set in the past, when Ashura is only 7 years old. Ashura lives on Mobius, in his hometown of Ninjitsu City. Ashura's best friend is Voltage, who is only 4 years old in Volume 1. The first 14 episodes focus on their adventures together. In Episode 15, Kid Ashura and Kid Voltage start an epic quest. 15 years later, Ashura is 22 and he lives with his friends Voltage and Amy in a hi-tech metropolis called Gigaopolis. He is a crime-fighter that rebels against the Evil Master. After a battle against a chapter of the Evil Master's forces, the screen fades to black, and Volume 1 ends there. (Japanese airdate: Every Wednesday from 23 June 2010 to 29 September 2010. Everywhere Else airdate: Every Thursday from 8 July 2010 to 14 October 2010. International DVD release: January 10, 2011.)
===Volume 2 (Episodes 16-30)===
The second volume is set in the present, unlike the first volume. Ashura and Voltage decide to take on the Evil Master and his forces. The whole volume is about the ongoing battle between the duo and the Evil Master's army. Janella (Ashura's mother who appeared a lot in Volume 1) also returns. In one episode, she passes her sword, the Master Sword, on to Ashura, who uses the sword to his advantage. Episode 30, The Epic Finale - Part 2 ends in a cliffhanger, where Ashura walks away from the scrap heap that was the Evil Master (he's a robot), the camera shifts to show a samurai hedgehog observing the ruins of the Evil Master's base. I can only wish the best for my son.. is what the samurai says before the screen fades to black, signalling the end of Volume 2. (Japanese airdate: Every Wednesday from 17 August 2011 to 23 November 2011. Everywhere else airdate: Every Thursday from 22 December 2011 to 29 March 2012. International DVD release: 19 May 2012.)
===Volume 3 (Episodes 31-45)===
The third volume is set 6 months after the second volume. Ashura, after defeating the Evil Master, prepares to complete his childhood dream: recolonize his home planet, Arus, after the Evil Master was defeated. While preparing to reach his goal, he meets a cute Japanese hedgehog named Naomi. Ashura invites Naomi to join his team and this time, they fight against Nazo. During Episode 34, Way of the Samurai, the samurai from Volume 2 encounters Ashura, and he reveals that he is Ashura's long-lost father. During Episode 45, Goodbye Naomi, Nazo gets trapped into the Power Rock by Ashura and the Power Rock is thrown into Sapphire Lake (a lake which Ashura used to play in back in Volume 1. It appeared in a couple of flashbacks during Volume 2.) The episode ends with a cliffhanger. Ashura and Naomi are walking towards a busy spaceport where Ashura's starfighter is. Naomi tells Ashura she hopes he willl successfully be able to recolonize Arus. Ashura responds by hugging Naomi and saying Goodbye, Naomi.. as he climbs into his starfighter and flies away as the camera zooms out, revealing a cliff on which Mephiles the Dark is standing on. Mephiles snickers, than the screen fades to black yet again. (Japanese airdate: Every Wednesday from 4 July 2012 to 10 October 2012. Everywhere Else airdate: Every Thursday from 11 October 2012 to 17 January 2013. International DVD release: 7 March 2013 (coming soon).)
===Volume 4 (Episodes 46-60)===
The fourth volume is set two years after the third volume. All that is currently known is Ashura and Voltage are  facing off against the Evil Master in an epic battle, teaming up with Sonic the Hedgehog and Silver the Hedgehog. Also, during Episode 48, The Crystal Killer, Mephiles teams up with the Evil Master. This volume is to be the third and final volume in the present timeline. Amy Rose returns in this volume, last seen in Volume 2. New characters appear, such as Candice and Matthew. Candice is confirmed to appear in Episode 51, Frost Mountain. Lime is set to appear as a new character.  This paragraph will be updated frequently as new information is available. (Next Episode in Japan: Episode 56, Dreams are the Future.... Most Recent Episode: Episode 55, Jason Rising. Next Episode Everywhere Else: Episode 48, The Crystal Killer. Most Recent Episode: Episode 47, Uprising)
===Further Volumes===
Blue Quill announced that Volume 4 will conclude the "Present Saga", but the writer of Ashura: The Anime reported that Volume 5 is to be airing starting late 2013 and continuing into early 2014. Volume 5 is the first volume in the "Future Saga". Volume 6 is rumoured but unconfirmed. Blue Quill annouced they will most likely continue Ashura: The Anime until 2016.
==List of Characters==
===Volume 1===
#Ashura
#Voltage
#Amy Rose
#Janella
#Sonic
===Volume 2===
#Ashura
#Voltage
#Amy Rose
#Janella
#Shadow
#Silver
#Evil Master
#Ashura's father
#Sonic
===Volume 3===
#Ashura
#Sonic
#Voltage
#Janella
#Shadow
#Silver
#Evil Master
#Ashura's father
#Nazo
#Naomi
#Mephiles the Dark
==Character Gallery==
Click here.
==Spin-offs==
A bunch of spin-offs have been made, including a number of specials, a manga titled Ashura: The Sagas, a downloadable RPG titled Ashura: Ninja Hero of Arus RPG and much more!
==Specials==
#Ghosts of the Old Castle (Halloween Special)
#Ashura's Epic Christmas (Christmas Special)
#Ashura and Voltage VS Evil MasterGXX
#Secrets of the Samurai
#Jason: Hedgehog from the Future
#Ashura's 3D Adventure
#Journey to Frost Mountain (This special takes place before Episode 51)
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
==Episode Guide==
#The Beginning
#Secrets Of Sapphire Lake
#Discovery in the Forest
#Ashura: Race Against Time
#Voltage Appears!
#Janella the Hedgehog
#Chaos in Ninjitsu City
#Ninja Training - Part 1
#Ninja Training - Part 2
#Ninja Training - Part 3
#Junior Attack Force
#Visions of Arus
#The Plan
#Ashura's Depature
#15 Years Later...
#Attack! Evil Master Strikes
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
==Reception==
Volume 1 was given 6/10 by SEGARules. This volume of the show lacks much action, but still enjoyable for many Ashura fans. SEGARules stated in one of their reviews. Volume 2 scored 9/10, with SEGARules saying Last volume had not much action. This volume makes up for it. In pretty much every episode, there's action, adventure, and fighting. Ashura: The Anime is becoming more like Dragon Ball Z, and we see that Ashura's gone from a young adventure-loving kid to a full-scale crime fighter. Two words. Just. Awesome. Volume 3 was given 8/10 with SEGARules stating Volume 2 was the best. Volume 3 continues on from Volume 2, but Ashura loses some of Volume 2's special elements, sadly. Not saying you shouldn't watch this. This is a must-watch for all Ashura fans, just like Volume 2. Note that Volume 3 is more darker than other volumes, so it's more suited for young teens (12-14) and up. Volume 4 scored 10/10, stating Blue Quill have fixed up the show's past mistakes and put much more effort into Volume 4. It's epic!.
==Ratings==
===Australia===
G OFLC G.png|Volume 1 Discs 1 and 2 were rated G.
PG.png|Volume 1 Disc 3, Volume 2 Discs 1-3 and Volume 3 Disc 1 were rated PG.
M.png|Volume 3 Disc 2 is rated M.
PG10.png|Volume 3 Disc 3 is rated PG10.
===Canada===
G CHRVS.gif|Volume 1 Discs 1-3 were rated G.
PG CHVRS.gif|Volume 2 Discs 1-3 and Volume 3 Discs 1-3 were rated PG.
===Ireland===
G IFCO.png|Volume 1 Discs 1-3 were rated G.
PG IFCO.png|Volume 2 Discs 1-3 and Volume 3 Discs 1 and 3 were rated PG.
12A IFCO.png|Volume 3 Disc 2 is rated 12A.
===United Kingdom===
U.png|Volume 1 Discs 1 and 2 were rated U.
PG UK.png|Volume 1 Disc 3 and Volume 2 Discs 1-3 and Volume 3 Disc 1 were rated PG.
12A.png|Volume 3 Discs 2 and 3 are rated 12A.
===United States===
TV G.png|Volume 1 Discs 1 and 2 were rated TV G.
TV PG.png|Volume 1 Disc 3, Volume 2 Discs 1-3 and Volume 3 Disc 3 were rated TV PG.
TV 14.png|Volume 3 Discs 1 and 2 were rated TV 14.
==Music==
EPIK HIGH - UP (ft. Bom of 2NE1) M V|This song is heard in some recent episodes.
LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem LYRICS|The Volume 3 Opening Theme.
B1A4 - O.K (Full ver.)|The Volume 3 Ending Theme.
Category:Anime
Category:2010
Category:2011
Category:2012
Category:2013
Category:TV Shows
Category:Sonic (series)
Category:Fan TV Shows
Category:99X Entertainment
Category:SEGA
Category:Sonic TV Shows