Dog Days

In the land of Fronaldo, the Republic of Biscotti has been aggressively attacked by the Lion Kingdom of Galette. Facing potential defeat, Princess Millhiore summons a hero who can save the country. What she gets is Izumi Shinku, a middle-school boy from Japan. Awaiting him in Fronaldo is the task of becoming hero enough to defeat his enemies while learning the peculiar rules of battle in this strange new world. With chocobos that actually can fly, that is.



At first glance, this seemed to be a kingdom battlefield anime, with the Princess trying to summon a hero to town in an attempt to avoid defeat in war. And then, the next part shows an ordinary high school student (who's special in an athletic way by jumping off windows)... at first, I couldn't see any link. But then a dog appears and courtesy of the Princess' wishes, transports that high school student to the kingdom, so that he can become that 'hero' and help win the battle.



Magical circles are back! Doesn't the plot sound like there's a little bit of reference to, say, Nanoha? (Think of the TSAB as another world of its own)... anyways, the similarities end here. Apparently, the wars fought in the kingdoms are strangely proper and in an athletic, ala-sports competition manner.



As shown, the graphics are crisp and polished, and I dare say the background scenery looks even better than the characters themselves. With Keizou Kusakawa as the Director and Screenplay by Masaki Tsuzuki, Dog Days definitely is of some reminiscence to Nanoha fans, in terms of how the eyes, expressions and textures are planned out, such as the scene with the high school student (Shinku Izumi) falling through the skies and Princess Millhiore F. Biscotti awaiting his arrival.



Scores of invaders trying to cross obstacles in a fair battle. Weird but true in Dog Days.

The casting is interesting as well. Superstar heavyweights include:
Yui Horie, as Princess Millhiore F. Biscotti
Nana Mizuki, as Ricotta Elmar (and she also happens to like to ~de arimasu just like the Manipulator of Objects in Shakugan no Shana, Wilhelmina Carmel)
Ayana Taketatsu, as Eclair Martinozzi. She also stars in K-ON! as Azusa Nakano and in Ore no Imouto as Kirino Kousaka, and in Kiss x Sis as Ako Suminoe.
Mikako Takahashi, as Rebecca Anderson. She also stars in Nanoha as Chrono Harlaown, and later on in StrikerS as Caro Ru Lushe
Takehito Koyasu, as Rolan Martinozzi. He also voiced Captain Kraft in Level E.
Yōko Hikasa, as Brioche d'Arquien. She also voiced Mio Akiyama in K-ON!
Kana Asumi, as Yukikaze Panettone. She also voiced Yuno in Hidamari Sketch.
Ami Koshimizu, as Leonmitchelli Galette des Rois. She also voiced Holo in Spice and Wolf.
Takahiro Sakurai, as Franboise Charley. He also voiced Suzaku Kururugi in Code Geass.
Kana Hanazawa, as Noir Vinocacao. She's Kuroneko in Ore no Imouto.



Opening Theme "SCARLET KNIGHT"
Lyricist, Singer - Nana Mizuki
Composer, Arranger - Hitoshi Fujima (Elements Garden)

Ending Theme "PRESENTER"
Lyricist - Kanata Nakamura
Composer - Elements Garden
Arranger - Masato Nakayama (Elements Garden)
Singer - Yui Horie