MapleStory (TV series)


MapleStory is a Japanese anime television series. Based on the South Korean video game MapleStory, it was produced by Madhouse and directed by Takaaki Ishiyama. It aired on TV Tokyo from October 2007 to March 2008 for 25 episodes, with a 26th episode being released on DVD.

Synopsis

Ten years ago, the World Tree that protected peace and order of the world was being targeted by an evil organization called the Black Wings. The human race led five other races: the powerful warriors, the intelligent magicians, the agile archers, sly thieves and soon after pirates in a fight against the Black Wings. In the end, the World Tree activated self-destruction to protect itself. However, the other races thought it was the human race that destroyed the World Tree. When the World Tree was destroyed most of the races had nothing left, so a number of them went to Maple Island, thinking the ones who stayed would die. They escaped Victoria and lived on Maple Island where living was getting harder and harder. Since then, a never-ending war between the different races began.
Ten years later, Al is determined to revive the World Tree. Al and his companions begin their journey to seek the seeds of the World Tree. At the same time, the Black Wings reappear to get the seed first to rule the entire world.

Characters

;Al
;Kino
;Barrow
;Gallus
;Nina
;Pūdō
;Anji
;Ariba
;Krone

Production

The anime is based on the South Korean video game MapleStory. It is produced by Madhouse and directed by Takaaki Ishiyama, with Toshiki Inoue writing the scripts, Yoshinori Kanemori designing the characters, and Satoshi Togawa composing the music. The anime's opening theme is "Scratch on the Heart" performed by Younha, while the ending theme is "Kokoro no Kagayaki" performed by Fumiko Orikasa.

Release

The anime aired 25 episodes on TV Tokyo and its affiliate stations between October 7, 2007, and March 30, 2008. Its episodes were later released into nine DVD volumes. A 26th episode that was not aired on television was included with the ninth volume.
In South Korea, the anime was aired on SBS TV from April to June 2008. In Singapore, it was aired on Hello! Japan in Japanese with English subtitles in 2014.