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Manaria Friends
Manaria Friends
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Manaria Friends
Old promotional art for the series, featuring Grea (left) and Anne (right)
マナリアフレンズ
(Manaria Furenzu)
Genre
Created byCygames
Manga
Rage of Bahamut: Manaria Friends
Illustrated byKenji Mizuda
Published byCygames
ImprintCycomics
MagazineCycomi
Original run8 May 201626 November 2017
Volumes2
Anime television series
Mysteria Friends
Directed byHideki Okamoto
Produced by
  • Tatsushi Moriya
  • Kaneiwa Makoto
Written bySatoko Sekine
Music byTakashi Watanabe
StudioCygamesPictures
Licensed bySentai Filmworks (Worldwide rights excluding Asia)
Original networkTokyo MX, BS11, AT-X, J:COM TV
English network
Original run 20 January 2019 24 March 2019
Episodes10 (List of episodes)

Manaria Friends (Japanese: マナリアフレンズ, Hepburn: Manaria Furenzu), formerly Rage of Bahamut: Manaria Friends (神撃のバハムート マナリアフレンズ, Shingeki no Bahamūto Manaria Furenzu), is a Japanese anime television series based on the Rage of Bahamut social game. It was originally scheduled to premiere in April 2016, before being postponed and rescheduled to January 2019. The anime series is licensed worldwide excluding Asia by Sentai Filmworks.

Characters

[edit]
Anne (アン, An)
Voiced by: Yoko Hikasa[3] (Japanese); Cat Thomas (English)[4]
Princess of Mysteria and student at the Mysteria Academy of Magic. This magical prodigy has been able to command guardian spirits from an early age. Cheerful and always trying to do the right thing, she draws others to her with charisma inherited from her father, the king. All the same, she can be scatterbrained from time to time. She cares deeply about her friend Grea.[5]
Grea (グレア, Gurea)
Voiced by: Ayaka Fukuhara[3] (Japanese); Avery Smithhart (English)[4]
A half-human, half-dragon girl who was a misfit in the home of the dragons. Grea enrolled in the Mysteria Academy of Magic to try out life with humans. She was initially self-conscious about her looks, but her friendship with Anne is helping her grow more confident. Though this is never made entirely explicit, Grea seems to have romantic feelings for Anne, who is her real friend at Mysteria.[5]
Hanna (ハンナ, Han'na)
Voiced by: Nana Mizuki (Japanese); Juliet Simmons (English)[6][7]
The class president at the Mysteria Academy of Magic. Her love of the school and sense of responsibility are second to none, making her a favorite of the other students. She is as proud as she is capable but doesn't always have the confidence to say what she's really feeling.[5]
Owen (オーウェン, Ōwen)
Voiced by: Wataru Hatano (Japanese); Adam Gibbs (English)[8][7]
A royal sentry who's come to the academy serving as Anne's bodyguard. He can be a bit stiff or overly formal at times, but his concern for Anne is as real as it comes. Studying at the academy.[5]
Lou (ルゥ, )
Voiced by: Kimiko Koyama (Japanese); Hilary Haag (English)[8][7]
A spacey and ditzy but loveable freshman. She becomes best friends with an observer, an eyeball-shaped monster that fell from the sky. Although she's still got a long way to go when it comes to learning magic, she's enjoying academy life.[5]
Miranda (ミランダ)
Voiced by: Kikuko Inoue (Japanese); Heidi Hinkel (English)[8][7]
A teacher of holy magic at the Mysteria Academy of Magic. Though her way of speaking tends to be risqué on occasion, she's essentially always thinking of what's best for the students. Her hobby is clothesmaking, and her office is filled with questionably appropriate outfits. Can act a bit reckless at times.[5]
William (ウィリアム, Wiriamu)
Voiced by: Yuma Uchida (Japanese); Adam Noble (English)[8][7]
A straight-A student who serves as a library assistant in the Mysteria Academy of Magic. When the pressure's on, he sometimes starts speaking in the dialect of his homeland. He has unrequited romantic feelings for class president Hanna.[5]
Heinlein (ハインライン, Hainrain)
Voiced by: Chiharu Sawashiro (Japanese); Jay Hickman (English)[8][7]
A teacher of shadow magic at the Mysteria Academy of Magic. His proficiency with shadow magic helps him respond to any challenge with equanimity.[5]
Poppy (ポピー, Popī)
Voiced by: Lynn (Japanese); Shelby Blocker (English)[9][7]
A student at the Mysteria Academy of Magic. Knowledgeable, calm, and composed, she serves as secretary for the class president Hanna.[5]

Production

[edit]

Originally titled Rage of Bahamut: Manaria Friends, the series is an adaptation of the "Mysteria Academy" or "Manaria Mahō Gakuin" event in the Rage of Bahamut social game, and is unrelated to the earlier Rage of Bahamut anime, which was also adapted from the game.[3] Cygames announced the adaptation in August 2015.[3][10] The series was originally announced as being written and directed by Takafumi Hoshikawa, with animation by Studio Hibari. Megumi Ishihara was to provide the series' character designs and serve as chief animation director. Kenichi Kurata was the art director for the anime, and the music was to be composed by Takashi Watanabe.[1][11] However, on 8 March 2016, all of the series' staff was removed "due to various circumstances."[12] On 2 October 2018, it was announced that the series would be released as Manaria Friends, with CygamesPictures stepping in to animate the series.[13] Additionally, Hideki Okamoto directed, Satoko Sekine wrote the scripts, Minami Yoshida provided character designs, and Takashi Watanabe composed the series' music.[13]

Broadcast and release

[edit]

The series was scheduled to air as part of the Ultra Super Anime Time program of anime shorts from Ultra Super Pictures,[6] alongside Space Patrol Luluco and the second season of Kagewani.[14] It was to have premiered on 1 April 2016,[6] and been broadcast on Tokyo MX, BS11, and AT-X.[15] However, on 8 March 2016, it was announced that the series' broadcast had been delayed until further notice,[12] and its slot in Ultra Super Anime Time block was filled by a rebroadcast of the 2014 series Puchim@s!! Petit Petit Idolm@ster, a spinoff of The Idolm@ster franchise.[16] After the staff was replaced, it was rescheduled to premiere from 20 January 2019 to 24 March 2019.[13][17]

Sentai Filmworks announced that they had acquired worldwide rights, excluding Asia, to the anime series.[18] It was released under the title Mysteria Friends. The series ran for 10 episodes.[19] On April 21, 2019, Sentai Filmworks released an English dub on HIDIVE.[20][4]

No. Title[a] Original airdate
1"Anne and Grea"
Transliteration: "An to Gurea" (Japanese: アンとグレア)
20 January 2019 (2019-01-20)
Anne and Grea are chitchatting during school breakfast, when an incident in the library forces Anne to leave her and try to fix it.
2"The Anguished Dragon Princess"
Transliteration: "Tatsuki modaeru" (Japanese: 竜姫悶える)
27 January 2019 (2019-01-27)
Grea is suddenly struck with a high fever and Anne goes through the "forbidden" archives of the library trying to find a way to cure her.
3"The Princess' Day Off"
Transliteration: "Hime-sama no Kyūjitsu" (Japanese: 姫様の休日)
3 February 2019 (2019-02-03)
Anne and Grea spend the day shopping in town.
4"Exam Period"
Transliteration: "Shiken kikan" (Japanese: 試験期間)
10 February 2019 (2019-02-10)
It is exam time at the school, and with everyone studying, Anne does not get to spend a lot of time with Grea.
5"The Academy Surrenders"
Transliteration: "Gakuin kanraku" (Japanese: 学院陥落)
17 February 2019 (2019-02-17)
Monsters suddenly attack the school from within, and Anne sneaks in to find and rescue Grea.
6"Floating at Sea"
Transliteration: "Umi ni uku" (Japanese: 海に浮く)
24 February 2019 (2019-02-24)
While the rest of the class is having fun at the beach, Anne and Grea go on their own private adventure.
7"Hide and Seek"
Transliteration: "Kakurenbo" (Japanese: かくれんぼ)
3 March 2019 (2019-03-03)
Anne and Grea are on library duty and, in order to pass the time, they decide to play a game of hide-and-seek.
8"Backstage"
Transliteration: "Matsuri En no Ura" (Japanese: 祭演の裏)
10 March 2019 (2019-03-10)
The school play is about to begin when Grea starts to have stage fright and it is up to Anne to calm her down.
9"One Day…"
Transliteration: "Aruhi…" (Japanese: 或る日…)
17 March 2019 (2019-03-17)
It is winter season and Anne is sad and not on speaking terms with Grea, which may have dire consequences not just for the two of them, but also for the entire world.
10"Their Promise"
Transliteration: "Futari no chikai" (Japanese: ふたりの誓い)
24 March 2019 (2019-03-24)
Summer break is about to start, and with almost everyone leaving the school for the holidays, Grea realizes that Anne and her will soon be graduating and that they have very little time left together.

Reception

[edit]

The series was highly appreciated by Western critics, both because of the high quality of the animation and the attractively depicted relationship between the main characters with a large number of homoerotism and lesbian subtext, which allowed Theron Martin from Anime News Network to relate this show to the best examples of the "slice of life yuri" works. Although he agreed that overly measured telling a story might seem boring and thereby repel many viewers, Theron recommended this series to those who like to enjoy the slice of life anime or are looking for a show with a lot of yuri potential.[2]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Manaria Friends (also known as Mysteria Friends) is a Japanese anime television series that aired from January to March 2019, consisting of 10 episodes produced by CygamesPictures. Set in the fantasy world of the Rage of Bahamut franchise, the series is a slice-of-life story centered on the Mysteria Academy of Magic, a prestigious institution that teaches spells to students from the human, divine, and demonic factions without prejudice despite ongoing inter-factional conflicts. It primarily follows the close friendship between two princess students: Anne, an honor student from the human kingdom of Manaria, and Grea, a half-dragon princess with immense magical power but poor control. The anime features character designs by Minami Yoshida and is directed by Hideki Okamoto, with series composition by Satoko Sekine and music composed by Takashi Watanabe. It adapts an original story by Cygames, the developer of the Rage of Bahamut mobile games, though it was initially announced in 2015 as a 2016 project before being delayed. The main voice cast includes Yōko Hikasa as Anne and Ayaka Fukuhara as Grea, alongside supporting roles voiced by Nana Mizuki as Hanna, Wataru Hatano as Owen, and Kimiko Koyama as Lou. Classified under genres of fantasy, school life, and yuri, the series emphasizes lighthearted daily interactions, magical mishaps, and the deepening bond between its protagonists rather than high-stakes action typical of the broader franchise.

Background

Source material

Manaria Friends is a spin-off from the Rage of Bahamut franchise, set in a fantasy world populated by humans, gods, and demons who vie for control amid magical conflicts. The core source material stems from Rage of Bahamut, a social card battle game developed and published by Cygames, which debuted in Japan in September 2011 as one of the company's inaugural mobile titles. In this game, players collect and battle with cards representing characters from the three factions, building decks to engage in strategic duels within the shared universe. The game's events often expand its lore, introducing new settings and characters that enrich the overarching narrative. The game ended service on February 28, 2022. The anime draws specific inspiration from the "Mysteria Academy" event series in , launched in July 2013, which first introduced the prestigious magic academy as a neutral institution teaching students from all factions and debuted key characters like the human princess and the half-dragon princess Grea. Rather than directly adapting the event's storyline—centered on a prank unleashing dark forces upon the school—Manaria Friends incorporates its foundational lore and character backstories to create an original tale focused on academy life and interpersonal dynamics. This approach positions the series as an expansion on peripheral elements of the franchise, highlighting side characters who have since appeared in other properties like and . Although sharing the universe, Manaria Friends operates independently from the mainline anime adaptations Genesis and Virgin Soul, which explore larger-scale conflicts involving the titular .

Setting

Mistarcia is a fantastical world where humans, gods, demons, and other races such as dragons coexist amid persistent magical conflicts between the primary factions of humans, gods, and demons. At the heart of this realm lies Mysteria Academy of Magic, a renowned neutral institution dedicated to training aspiring mages from all backgrounds in a comprehensive magical curriculum. The academy admits students without regard to their factional origins, including humans like the princess Anne and half-dragon individuals like Grea, thereby serving as a bastion for interspecies education. Despite the underlying tensions and historical enmities among the factions, Mysteria Academy plays a crucial role in promoting harmony by providing a shared space for learning and collaboration, free from external discriminatory pressures.

Synopsis

Plot

Manaria Friends is a 10-episode series that centers on the experiences of protagonists , a and honor , and Grea, a half-dragon , as they navigate life at Mysteria Academy, a prestigious magical that serves as a neutral hub for students from , , and factions. The narrative arc unfolds across the episodes, beginning with their enrollment and progressing through daily classes, the formation of friendships with peers, and encounters with minor magical incidents that test their skills. The series adopts a slice-of-life pacing infused with light adventure elements, highlighting the protagonists' budding relationship amid academy rivalries and subtle threats from external factions.

Themes

Manaria Friends centers on the evolving relationship between protagonists and Grea, where their initial friendship blossoms into subtle romantic yuri through moments of and mutual support, such as shared daily activities at the . This dynamic is portrayed with deliberate pacing that emphasizes tender interactions, allowing the audience to interpret the depth of their bond, with 's affection for Grea being more overt while Grea's feelings remain ambiguously platonic or romantic. The series also explores motifs of unity across divided factions, exemplified by the Mysteria Academy's inclusive curriculum that educates humans, gods, and demons together, symbolizing potential harmony in a diverse, historically segregated world. This setting underscores themes of coexistence, as Anne and Grea's partnership bridges their differing backgrounds, fostering a of through shared magical training and everyday . Furthermore, the story delves into identity and heritage, particularly through Grea's half-dragon lineage, which manifests in her physical traits like horns, wings, and a tail, leading to feelings of isolation in a multi-racial society. Her experiences highlight the challenges of acceptance for those of mixed heritage, contrasted with Anne's status, ultimately illustrating how personal connections can affirm one's place amid societal divisions.

Characters

Main characters

Anne is the princess of a kingdom and a student at the Mysteria Academy of Magic, recognized as a magical prodigy and the academy's top student. She exhibits a cheerful and studious personality, characterized by optimism, a strong sense of justice, and royal charisma that draws others to her, though she occasionally displays naivety. Anne is voiced by Yōko Hikasa (Japanese); Cat Thomas (English). Grea is a half-dragon from a dragon kingdom, enrolling at the as a transfer student and possessing immense magical power derived from her heritage. Her personality is shy and introverted, often leading to difficulties in forming social connections due to her mixed background, yet she gradually opens up in supportive environments. Grea is voiced by (Japanese); Avery Smithhart (English). The duo's central relationship serves as the story's emotional core, highlighted by the contrast between Anne's outgoing optimism and Grea's reserved nature.

Supporting characters

Hanna is the class president of the Mysteria Academy of Magic, renowned for her profound love of the institution and unwavering sense of responsibility, which earns her admiration from many students. She is voiced by (Japanese); (English). Owen serves as a royal sentry and Anne's at the , often displaying a stiff and formal demeanor while harboring genuine concern for her well-being. He is voiced by (Japanese); (English). Lou (also known as Roux) is a ditzy and endearing student at the , known for her spacey personality and close companionship with an eyeball-shaped magical creature called an observer. She provides lighthearted moments through her clumsy interactions during life. Voiced by Kimiko Koyama (Japanese); Hilary Haag (English). Miranda represents the demon faction as a teacher specializing in holy magic at the , characterized by her eccentric speech and actions that often carry a risqué tone, though her intentions toward students remain benevolent. She is voiced by (Japanese); Heidi Hinkel (English). William is a high-achieving student from the god faction and library assistant at the academy, who maintains excellent grades and composure but may revert to his hometown dialect under stress. He aids in magical studies and academy activities. Voiced by Yūma Uchida (Japanese); Adam Noble (English). Heinlein functions as a mentor figure, teaching at the with remarkable proficiency that allows him to handle challenges calmly and effectively. He is voiced by (Japanese); Jay Hickman (English). Poppy is a younger student and member of the , serving as secretary to Hanna while sharing a bond with her; she demonstrates deep respect for leadership roles within the . Voiced by Lynn (Japanese); Shelby Blocker (English).

Production

Development

In August 2015, Cygames announced the production of a television anime adaptation titled Rage of Bahamut: Manaria Friends, serving as a spin-off from its social card game Rage of Bahamut. The project drew from the game's "Manaria Academy of Magic" event, centering on the school life of characters Anne and Grea at a magical academy. Initially slated for an April 2016 premiere with animation by Studio Hibari, the anime faced significant production hurdles. By March 2016, the premiere was postponed indefinitely, and all staff credits, including those from , were removed from the official website, signaling major disruptions in the production pipeline. The project remained in limbo for over two years amid these changes, with establishing its in-house studio, CygamesPictures, to handle anime productions. In October 2018, development resumed under CygamesPictures, with the title simplified to Manaria Friends and a new premiere targeted for January 2019; this announcement included initial key visuals depicting the lead characters in a serene academy setting. The revival emphasized a slice-of-life highlighting the interpersonal dynamics and yuri undertones from the original event storyline.

Staff

Hideki Okamoto served as the director of Manaria Friends, overseeing the overall artistic vision, pacing, and episode direction to blend fantasy elements with character-driven storytelling in the series' 10 episodes. Satoko Sekine handled series composition, crafting the narrative structure and scripts for most episodes (1, 3-10), which emphasized interpersonal relationships and magical school life while adapting from the original event. Minami Yoshida provided the character designs for the final production, adapting the visual style to suit the yuri undertones and expressive designs originally conceptualized by Megumi Ishihara before production changes; Yoshida also contributed as chief animation director for several episodes alongside Madoka Ozawa. Ayu Kawamoto acted as , establishing the magical academy's aesthetic with detailed backgrounds that enhanced the serene, otherworldly atmosphere. Takashi Watanabe composed the music, including the original ending theme "Grea," which complemented the series' emotional and introspective tone through piano-driven melodies. Ryō Tanaka directed the sound, coordinating audio effects and voice performances to underscore the intimate character interactions. CygamesPictures handled primary animation production as their debut project, bringing in-house expertise from the parent company's game development to achieve fluid magical sequences and vibrant visuals. The staff's selections, particularly in character design and composition, contributed to amplifying the yuri-focused relationships central to the story.

Release

Broadcast

Manaria Friends, titled マナリアフレンズ (Manaria Furenzu) in Japanese, is a short-form anime series that premiered on Japanese television on January 20, 2019. The series aired weekly on Sundays in late-night slots across multiple networks, including Tokyo MX at 24:30–24:45, BS11 at 24:45, AT-X (the following Monday at 24:30), and J:COM TV. Comprising 10 episodes each running about 15 minutes, the broadcast concluded on March 24, 2019, delivering a compact structure suited to its brief runtime. No specials or schedule adjustments were reported during its run. As a spin-off from the mobile game , the airing featured promotional tie-ins such as in-game events and character campaigns highlighting protagonists Anne and Grea to boost player engagement.

Home media and streaming

In , the series was released on Blu-ray in two volumes by Happinet: Volume 1 on March 2, 2019, and Volume 2 on April 2, 2019, each containing five episodes. Limited editions included serial codes for in-game rewards, such as leader skins in Rage of Bahamut. Outside Asia, Manaria Friends was licensed by , who retitled it Mysteria Friends for international distribution. An English dub of the series premiered on HIDIVE on April 21, 2019. The series became available for simulcast on HIDIVE starting February 10, 2019, with episodes streaming worldwide (excluding ) every Sunday thereafter, followed by on-demand access. HIDIVE serves as the primary platform, offering the English dub and subtitles in English, with additional subtitle options like Spanish and German available on partnered services such as Apple TV and . As of November 2025, it remains streamable on HIDIVE via Amazon Prime Video channels and other platforms like and , with no major licensing changes reported. Sentai Filmworks released the complete collection on Blu-ray (Region A) on March 10, 2020, containing all 10 episodes in high definition with the English dub and English subtitles. The release features a runtime of 150 minutes and is rated TV-14, but does not include additional physical extras such as art books. No bundled editions with Rage of Bahamut merchandise or region-specific variants beyond standard North American distribution have been noted for Sentai's version.

Reception

Critical reception

Manaria Friends received generally positive reviews from critics, particularly for its and character dynamics, though some noted limitations due to its format. Anime News Network's review praised the series for its fluid produced by CygamesPictures, highlighting "gorgeous background designs" and technical merits such as detailed movements in scenes like characters . The publication awarded it an overall grade of A-, with specific commendations for the story (A-) as a soothing slice-of-life with substantial yuri , and characters (A-) for the "compelling" and "adorable" duo of and Grea, whose chemistry drives charming vignettes. Critics also appreciated the relaxing tone and open yuri elements, with noting how Anne's affection for Grea adds interpretive depth without overt resolution, appealing to fans of subtle romantic tension. However, the short episode length—around 12 minutes of main content plus extras—was criticized for limiting narrative depth and resulting in a laconic pace that feels too slow for viewers expecting more plot progression. On , the series holds an average user score of 6.68 out of 10, reflecting mixed reception where some found the predictable slice-of-life tropes in a fantasy academy setting endearing, while others saw it as underdeveloped. Overall, the reception underscores Manaria Friends as a visually pleasing, low-stakes yuri entry best suited for casual viewing.

Legacy

Manaria Friends significantly boosted the popularity of its protagonists, Anne and Grea, within the franchise, leading to their integration into other titles through collaboration events. Following the anime's release, Grea appeared in Princess Connect! Re:Dive as part of a dedicated Manaria Friends crossover event, expanding her presence across the company's game ecosystem. Similarly, Anne was introduced to with narrative ties to the anime's storyline, further embedding the characters in interconnected media. This surge in visibility also spurred merchandise production, including acrylic key chains and card sleeves featuring Anne and Grea, capitalizing on their enhanced fan appeal. The series garnered a within yuri communities, drawn to the central relationship between and Grea, which features prominent themes and romantic undertones. Despite its short run and production challenges, it has inspired ongoing fan engagement, including artwork and analyses highlighting its contributions to yuri representation. No sequels have been produced, though the franchise occasionally revisits related content, such as the release of the Manaria Friends Vol. I in 2019, which compiles key musical tracks from the series. Manaria Friends was an early TV anime project for CygamesPictures after the studio took over production of the delayed series from its original studio, Studio Hibari. This experience contributed to the company's growth in handling in-house adaptations, paving the way for their first full-length series, Princess Connect! Re:Dive (2020–2022), and subsequent works like Uma Musume: Pretty Derby spin-offs, showcasing the studio's development in fantasy and game-based animation. As of 2025, the anime remains a niche entry in the yuri and fantasy genres, with sustained viewership supported by availability on platforms like HIDIVE and Crunchyroll.

References

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