Sakura Wars: The Gorgeous Blooming Cherry Blossoms


Sakura Wars: The Gorgeous Blooming Cherry Blossoms is a 1997 Japanese original video animation produced by Animate Film, Bandai Visual, and Sega and animated by Radix. It ran for four episodes and is the first OVA based on the Sakura Wars video games. The episodes were released in VHS and LaserDisc formats.
The OVA was announced as the first joint product to result from the proposed merger between Sega and Bandai. Though the merger was called off shortly afterwards, the OVA project proceeded as planned. ADV Films announced they had licensed the OVA series in North America in May 1998 at Project A-Kon 9; it was the first piece of Sakura Wars media made officially available in the region.
It depicts the formation of the Imperial Assault Troupe's Flower Division leading up to the beginning of the original game where the player character takes command of the unit.

Theme songs

  • Openings
  1. "Attack! Imperial Floral Assault Team"
  2. *Lyricist: Ouji Hiroi / Composer: Kohei Tanaka / Arranger: Takayuki Negishi / Singers: Chisa Yokoyama & The Imperial Floral Assault Team
  • Endings
  1. "My Blue Sky"
  2. *Lyricist: Ouji Hiroi / Composer: Kohei Tanaka / Arranger: Takayuki Negishi / Singers: Ai Orikasa
  3. *Episodes: 1-3
  4. "The Maiden's Flowers Bloom"
  5. *Lyricist: Ouji Hiroi / Composer: Kohei Tanaka / Arranger: Akifumi Tada / Singers: The Imperial Floral Assault Team
  6. *Episodes: 4
  • Insert Songs
  1. "A Dizzy Deck"
  2. *Lyricist: Ouji Hiroi / Composer: Kohei Tanaka / Arranger: Akifumi Tada / Singers: Akio Suyama
  3. *Episodes: 1-2
  4. "Cherry Blossom"
  5. *Lyricist: Ouji Hiroi / Composer: Kohei Tanaka / Arranger: Masami Kishimura / Singers: Akio Suyama
  6. *Episodes: 2
  7. "Dance Festival"
  8. *Lyricist: Ouji Hiroi / Composer: Kohei Tanaka / Arranger: Masami Kishimura / Singers: Akio Suyama
  9. *Episodes: 3

Home media

Sakura Wars: The Gorgeous Blooming Cherry Blossoms was released on VHS in North America by A.D.V. Films in 1999. Spanning 2 tapes, simply titled Sakura Wars & Sakura Wars 2 respectively, with each tape containing 2 episodes. Subtitled and dubbed versions were available.
Sakura Wars: The Gorgeous Blooming Cherry Blossoms was released on DVD in North America by A.D.V. Films Oct 26, 1999 included in Sakura Wars: OVA Collection DVD in 2003 and rereleased Oct 26, 2004. Released on DVD in Spain by Selecta Vision in 2006.