Rune Soldier, called Louie the Rune Soldier (魔法戦士リウイ Mahō Senshi Riui) in Japan, is an anime television series based off of the Rune Soldier novels by Ryo Mizuno. Rune Soldier takes place on the continent of Alecrast, from which the island of Lodoss split in ancient history.
While following the setting of the first season of the original work, the content of each episode, especially the second half, is almost entirely original. Among the main female characters, Melissa is positioned as the main heroine. The script and direction have a stronger comedic feel than the original, and there are many sexy scenes with female characters, as well as Louie's special move being his punch, and Louie using high-level magic that cannot be used in the original. On the other hand, depictions that threaten to destroy the worldview of Sword World are still present.
The series was released in Japan by Happinet Pictures on 12 DVD's, with each DVD having cover illustration by Mamoru Yokota, the illustrator for the novels. In the west, the series was released by ADV Films, who also released the two Legend of Crystania anime, on 6 DVD's and two different DVD boxsets. To this day, Rune Soldier remains the last anime adaptation of any story set in the world of Forcelia.
Synopsis[]
Louie, a brawny student at the Magicians’ Guild, is reluctantly accepted by three girls (Merrill, a thief, Genie, a fighter, and Melissa, a priestess) as a companion for their adventuring party. As the foursome explore ruins, battle dark creatures, and make new friends, they also uncover a sinister plot within the kingdom.
Characters appearing[]
List of episodes[]
| Episode # | Title | Release | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | “The Hero Descends” (勇者降臨, yūsha kōrin) |
3 April 2001 | DVD1: Enter the Klutz |
| 2 | “The First Experience” (初体験, shotaiken) |
10 April 2001 | |
| 3 | “The Big Scuffle” (大乱闘, dai rantō) |
17 April 2001 | |
| 4 | “The Demon Forest” (妖魔の森, yōma no mori) |
24 April 2001 | |
| 5 | “Adventure For Dummies” (青い課外授業, aoi kagai jugyō) |
1 May 2001 | DVD2: Adventure for Dummies |
| 6 | “Die For Love?” (愛のために…死す？, ai no tame ni… shisu?) |
8 May 2001 | |
| 7 | “Merrill’s Jar” (ミレルの壷, mireru no tsubo) |
15 May 2001 | |
| 8 | “A Tearful Festival of Mylee” (涙のマイリー祭り, namida no mairī matsuri) |
22 May 2001 | |
| 9 | “What Comes in Summer” (真夏に訪れし者, manatsu ni otozureshi mono) |
29 May 2001 | DVD3: A True Champion |
| 10 | “The Tower of Four Great Magics” (四大魔術師の塔, shi dai majutsushinotō) |
5 June 2001 | |
| 11 | “A True Hero Appears?” (真の勇者登場？, shin no yūsha tōjō?) |
12 June 2001 | |
| 12 | “Flowers of a Moonlit Night” (月夜の花, tsukiyonohana) |
19 June 2001 | |
| 13 | “The Fugue of the Female Warrior” (女戦士の遁走曲（フーガ）, on'na senshi no tonsō-kyoku (fūga)) |
26 June 2001 | DVD4: Monsters and Mayhem |
| 14 | “Flower Vendor and Flower Bride” (花売りと花嫁, hanauri to hanayome) |
3 July 2001 | |
| 15 | “Vacation by the Lake” (湖畔のバカンス, kohan no bakansu) |
10 July 2001 | |
| 16 | “The Conspiracy of the Darkness” (闇の中の陰謀, yami no naka no inbō) |
17 July 2001 | |
| 17 | “The Fighter Louie” (拳闘士リウイ, kentō-shi riui) |
24 July 2001 | DVD5: Fists of Folly |
| 18 | “Transform ×5” (変身×5, henshin × 5) |
31 July 2001 | |
| 19 | “Oh, My Home!” (オー・マイ・ホーム!, ō mai hōmu!) |
7 August 2001 | |
| 20 | “Sweet Wine of Victory!” (勝利の美酒, shōri no bishu) |
21 August 2001 | |
| 21 | “Melissa the Working Girl” (勤労少女メリッサ, kinrō shōjo merissa) |
28 August 2001 | DVD6: Louie Punch |
| 22 | “The Rebel Army Appears” (反乱軍現る, hanran-gun genru) |
4 September 2001 | |
| 23 | “The Rule-Breaking Women” (掟やぶりの女たち, okite ya buri no on'na-tachi) |
11 September 2001 | |
| 24 | “Louie Punch” (リウイパンチ!!!!, riui panchi!!!!) |
18 September 2001 |
Soundtrack[]
Original soundtrack CD1
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Original soundtrack CD1 (back)
Original soundtrack CD2
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Original soundtrack CD2 (back)
Louie the Rune Soldier Original Soundtrack (魔法戦士リウイ ― オリジナル・サウンドトラック) was released in 2001 by Kadokawa Shoten Publishing on two CD's.
| # | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Twinkle Trick | 4:15 |
| 2 | サブタイトル Subtitle |
0:08 |
| 3 | 何かが道をやってくる Something is Coming this Way |
1:36 |
| 4 | 勇者が行く ～リウイのテーマ～ There Goes the Hero ~Louie’s Theme~ |
2:24 |
| 5 | はじまりの朝 Morning of the Beginning |
1:41 |
| 6 | ミレルと歩こう Let’s Have a Chat With Merrill |
1:03 |
| 7 | 静かなる湖面に広がる波紋のように Like Ripples in a Still Lake |
1:29 |
| 8 | 一瞬の好機を狙え! Aim For the Moment of Opportunity! |
1:17 |
| 9 | 愛しの勇者さま Dear Champion |
1:29 |
| 10 | サシで勝負だ! Let’s Get Down To Business! |
1:34 |
| 11 | 宝箱はいつもカラッぽ Treasure Chests Are Always Empty |
1:20 |
| 12 | 戦神マイリーをたたえん Praise Mylee, the God of War |
2:10 |
| 13 | 漢の決断 A Man’s Decision |
1:51 |
| 14 | 逃げたぞ、それ捕まえろ! He’s Getting Away—Get Him! |
1:08 |
| 15 | やさしい夕闇に抱かれて Embraced by a Gentle Evening Glow |
1:28 |
| 16 | 探して壊せ! Find It and Destroy It! |
1:10 |
| 17 | アイキャッチ Interlude |
0:08 |
| 18 | ミステリアス・エルフ Mysterious Elf |
1:18 |
| 19 | 恐怖の報酬 The Reward For Fear |
1:15 |
| 20 | 闇よりの追撃者 Pursuer From the Darkness |
1:20 |
| 21 | 合い言葉はチームワーク Our Motto is Teamwork |
2:13 |
| 22 | 木漏れ日のもとで一休み Takinge A Break Under the Sunlight Through the Trees |
1:42 |
| 23 | 愛のために戦い、そして死す! Fight For Love, Die For Love! |
1:00 |
| 24 | ダメだこりゃ This Ain’t No Good |
1:04 |
| 25 | 時の彼方に眠る伝説 A Legend That Lies Beyond Time |
1:53 |
| 26 | 間合いを見極めろ! Look For the Gap! |
1:36 |
| 27 | 巨大なる災禍 Gigantic Disaster |
1:48 |
| 28 | 魔界の迷宮 Demon Labyrinth |
1:54 |
| 29 | パニック・イン・ダンジョン Panic in the Dungeon |
1:56 |
| 30 | 遥かなるアレクラスト大陸 The Vast Continent of Alecrast |
2:02 |
| 31 | これで黙ってたら男じゃねえだろ Be Quiet, Or You’re Not a Man! |
2:52 |
| 32 | 希望があれば If You Wish |
1:51 |
| 33 | 三人娘のためのハッピーエンド Happy Ending For the Three Girls |
1:42 |
| 34 | Love & Pain | 4:50 |
| # | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Twinkle Trick | 4:15 |
| 2 | 酒場にて At the Bar |
1:18 |
| 3 | 女のプライド A Woman’s Pride |
1:07 |
| 4 | 闇の中の陰謀 The Conspiracy of the Darkness |
1:45 |
| 5 | 王都に危機迫る! Crisis Looms in the Capital! |
1:37 |
| 6 | 命がけのチェイス Life-and-Death Chase |
1:22 |
| 7 | あきれた奴等 Utterly Disgusted |
1:00 |
| 8 | 月夜の花 Flowers of a Moonlit Night |
1:39 |
| 9 | 過ぎ去りし日々のために For the Days Gone By |
1:33 |
| 10 | ダーダネルの宴 Dardanel’s Banquet |
1:34 |
| 11 | 浅く愚かに潜入せよ Infiltrate Shallowly and Foolishly |
1:31 |
| 12 | 落日の決闘 Duel at Sunset |
2:04 |
| 13 | 駆け引きは俺の勝ち I’m the One to Win this Game |
1:14 |
| 14 | 走れ冒険者 Run, Adventurer |
1:14 |
| 15 | 運命の再会 Fateful Reunion |
1:29 |
| 16 | 滅ぼされし国への祈り Prayer For a Ruined Nation |
1:53 |
| 17 | なんだキミは! What Are You! |
1:34 |
| 18 | 暁の出撃 Dawn Sortie |
1:25 |
| 19 | 燃えよリウイ Louie on Fire |
1:37 |
| 20 | 影の総帥 Shadow Commander |
2:16 |
| 21 | 悲しみの波紋 Ripples of Sorrow |
2:56 |
| 22 | 夜を蹴散らせ Kick the Night Away |
2:49 |
| 23 | 永遠の魔法戦士 The Eternal Rune Soldier |
2:17 |
| 24 | 聖なる地より From Sacred Land |
1:55 |
| 25 | 不本意だけど...～メリッサの歌～ Against My Will... ~Melissa’s Song~ |
5:55 |
| 26 | Love&Pain |
5:51 |
| Total | 54:37 | |
Gallery[]
.jpg "Rune Soldier DVD boxset cover (2005).jpg (917 KB)")
.jpg "Rune Soldier DVD boxset cover back image (2005).jpg (907 KB)")