Saredo Tsumibito wa Ryuu to Odoru
Also known as
Dances with Dragons
されど罪人は竜と踊る
Background
Written by Labo Asai with illustrations by Miyagi, Saredo Tsumibito wa Ryuu to Odoru (or Dance with Dragons ) was first published as a light novel by Kadokawa Shoten between 2003 and 2006.
A total of eight volumes were published before Shogakukan released 19 volumes in February 2017. While the first two volumes of Shogakukan's version are merely modified and improved versions of Kadokawa Shoten's, the following volumes were rewritten while keeping the main plots intact. Starting with Shogakukan volume 14, illustrator Zain replaced Miyagi for the illustrations.
The series was also adapted into a one-shot manga with illustrations by Yaku Haibara in 2006.
Synopsis
Set in an alternate world, Saredo Tsumibito wa Ryuu to Odoru takes place in the city of Eridana. Half of the city is controlled by the Dragon Empire of Tseberun while the other half is controlled by the Seven Cities Alliance of Lapetodes, and the two sides are divided by the Oriel River.
In this world, there are special things called jushiki , a kind of spell formula used by so-called "Spell Formists" (spell formulators) consisting essentially of chemical reactions that are augmented by weapons called magic staffs to perform magic. These abilities are used to fight beasts, creatures such as dragons, aions, and enormouss that use spell formulas and threaten humans.
Among the Spell Formulists are the protagonist Gaius Sorel and his friend Gigina Ashley-Bufh, the sole employees of their eponymous Spell Formulist dispatch office. They take requests from their clients and carry them out with their magic.
Anime adaptation
The anime adaptation of Dances with Dragons was first announced in the 18th volume of the light novel in early 2017 for a release date of October 5, 2017, but was delayed until spring 2018.
Hiroshi Nishikori ( I Love Hina None Outlaw Star ) has been appointed as the general director while Hirokazu Hanai ( Fullmetal Alchemist None Pneumatic Equipment ) is working as the series director with animation work from Seven Arcs Pictures ( Bungo Stray Dogs None Attack on Titan ). Takayo Ikami ( Beautiful Bones: Sakurako's Investigation None WataMote ) is working on series composition while character design is being done by Masaru Kitao ( Cardcaptor Sakura None Death Note ). fripSIDE and Maon Kurosaki have been tapped for the opening and ending themes respectively.
As for the voice cast, the talented team includes Nobunaga Shimazaki (Haruka Nanase in Free! ) as Gayus, Yoshimasa Hosoya (Doppo Kunikida in Bungo's Stray Dogs ) as Gigina, Yoko Hikasa (Farnese in Berserk ) as Jivunya Lorezzo, Yuuko Kaida (Tsukuyo in Gintama ) as Nidvolk, Takaya Hashi (Tokai in Sanctuary ) as Mordin, Mutsumi Tamura (Kobayashi in Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid ) as Yorkan, Yoshino Nanjo (Shirabe Tsukuyomi in Senki Zessho Symphogear ) as Curaso, Hoshino Takanori (Kai Nobuyuki in Haïkyû!! ) as Jesper, and Sora Tokui (Hideri Kanzaki in Mixture S ) as Berdrit.
Akira Ishida, Go Inoue, Atsushi Imaruoka, Motomu Kiyokawa, Hiro Shimono, Tomokazu Sugita, Aya Suzaki, Rintaro Nishi, and Rica Matsumoto have also been revealed as part of the cast, though their specific roles have yet to be revealed.
Casting
Nobunaga Shimazaki as Gayus Levina Sorel
Yoshimasa Hosoya: Gigina Jardi Doruk Meleios Ashley-Bufh
Yoko Hikasa: Jivunya Lorezzo
Yuuko Kaida: Nidvolk
Takaya Hashi as Mordin Orjes Gyunei
Mutsumi Tamura: Yorker
Yoshino Nanjo: Curaso Opt Koga
Hoshino Takanori as Jesper Livy Raki
Sora Tokui: Berdrit Livy Raki
Akira Ishida: ?
Come on Inoue: ?
Atsushi Imaruoka: ?
Motomu Kiyokawa: ?
Hiro Shimono: ?
Tomokazu Sugita: ?
Aya Suzaki: ?
Rintaro Nishi: ?
Rica Matsumoto: ?
Staff
Original work: Labo Asai (writer), Miyagi (illustrator) (Kadokawa Shoten)
Chief Director: Hiroshi Nishikori
Director: Hirokazu Hanai
Screenwriter: Takayo Ikami
Character Designer: Masaru Kitao
Opening Theme: fripSIDE
Ending Theme: Maon Kurosaki
Studio: Seven Arcs Pictures
Broadcast Information
First broadcast in Japan on TBS, BS-TBS in April 2018.
