Broken Blade
Broken Blade is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yunosuke Yoshinaga. It was serialized in various Flex Comix magazines from September 2006 to October 2022, with its individual chapters collected into 20 volumes. It was adapted into six 50-minute anime films.
Plot
The story is centered around a young man named Rygart Arrow, a resident of a world where people can use "magic". This magic is the ability to control and empower quartz, doing many things from creating light to operating machinery to riding giant mecha called "Golems". Rygart, however, is one of the few exceptions; as an "un-sorcerer", he cannot utilize quartz, making many aspects of life difficult as well as being looked down upon by the rest of society. Despite this, in his youth he managed to befriend Hodr and Sigyn, the future King and Queen of the Krisna Kingdom; and Zess, the younger brother of the Secretary of War of the Athens Commonwealth.Years later, Rygart is reunited with Hodr and Sigyn where he learns the Athens Commonwealth has begun an invasion of Krisna. Rygart is also shocked to learn that Zess is leading one of the strike forces. While at the capital, Rygart discovers that he has the ability to pilot a recently discovered ancient Golem which cannot be piloted by magic users. Despite its ancient origins, the golem possesses capabilities and systems far more advanced than the current Golems, and could be key to turning the tide of battle. While hesitant at first, Rygart soon gets involved in the war between Krisna and Athens, in an attempt to save Hodr, Sigyn, and even Zess.
Characters
The Kingdom of Krisna
;Rygart Arrow;Sigyn Erster
;Hodr
;Narvi Stryze
;Nile Stryze
;Loggin
;General Baldr
;General True
;Captain Sakura
;Girge
;Regatz Arrow
Commonwealth of Athens
;Zess;Cleo Saburafu
;Erekt
;Lee
;Argath
;Loquis
;General Borcuse
;Colonel Io
;Bades
;Iris
;Nike
;Leto
;Leda
The Empire of Orlando
;The Empress;Aruvia
;General Cain
;General Molak
;Lindy
;Greta
Media
Manga
Written and illustrated by Yunosuke Yoshinaga, Broken Blade has been serialized by Flex Comix in the web manga anthologies Shōnen Blood in October and November 2006 issues and FlexComix Blood from January 1, 2007, to February 8, 2012, before moving to the manga anthology Comic Meteo, where it was serialized from July 25, 2012, to October 2022. The series' individual chapters were collected into 20 volumes.The manga was previously licensed in North America by CMX, who released three volumes before shutting down.
Films
The films were chief directed by Tetsurō Amino, directed by Nobuyoshi Habara, and produced by Production I.G and Xebec. The films' opening theme is "Fate", performed by Kokia. The closing theme song for the first five films is "Serious-Age" by Faylan, while the closing theme song for the sixth movie is "Nageki no Oto", performed by Kokia. While the films mostly follow the manga story, for episode six, the animators deviated from the manga to end the story with their own plot.Sentai Filmworks has licensed the film series and released them on DVD and Blu-ray in 2012.