The Asterisk War: The Academy City on the Water (Japanese: 学戦都市アスタリスク, Hepburn: Gakusen Toshi Asutarisuku; lit. "Academy Battle City Asterisk") is a Japanese light novel series written by Yū Miyazaki, and illustrated by Okiura. Media Factory has published the series in seventeen volumes from September 25, 2012, to June 24, 2022, under their MF Bunko J imprint. Three spin-off volumes, Wings of Queenvale, were also released. The series was later serialized from January 2013 in Media Factory's seinen manga magazine Monthly Comic Alive where it was adapted into a manga. The artwork for the manga was done by Ningen, and three volumes have been collected into tankōbon. Eventually, an anime television series adaptation by A-1 Pictures was made which began airing on October 3, 2015. The anime aired for two seasons at twelve episodes each from October 3, 2015, to June 18, 2016. Other media adaptations include a video game called The Asterisk War: Houka Kenran which was released in Japan on January 28, 2016.
The anime has been licensed by Aniplex of America in North America, Crunchyroll Store Australia in Australasia, MVM Films in the United Kingdom and Medialink in Southeast Asia. The light novels and manga were licensed and localized by Yen Press from August 2016.
Contents
Plot
In the 21st century, Earth is in a rapidly declining economic state as megacorporations known as the Integrated Enterprise Foundations (統合企業財体, Tōgō Kigyō Zaitai), rose to power after the Invertia (落星雨(インヴェルティア), Inverutia) impact event destroyed most of the planet's cities and resulted in humans gaining superpowers to become the Genestella (星脈世代（ジェネステラ）, Jenesutera). The city of Rikka (六花), also called Asterisk, has six academies where the Genestella participate in tournaments called Festa (星武祭(フェスタ), Fesuta). Battle performances at Seidoukan Academy (星導館学園, Seidōkan Gakuen), the city's fifth top-ranking academy, are falling significantly and the academy's incumbent student council president, Claudia Enfield, is determined to find a solution to the problem. Kirin Toudou is the academy's top fighter, but Claudia, as well as Lieseltanian princess Julis-Alexia von Riessfeld, are close behind.
Meanwhile, Ayato Amagiri investigates the disappearance of his sister, Haruka, a former student at Seidoukan. During his first day at the academy, Ayato is forced to fight Julis after discovering her half-dressed when returning her handkerchief to her. Claudia voids their duel and enrolls Ayato in Seidoukan. After rescuing Julis from a plot to cripple the Phoenix Festa, he sets out to become her protector and close friend. Eventually, Ayato wins against Kirin and is named the new top student at the academy. After Ayato participates in the Phoenix Festa with Julis to solve Seidoukan's performance crisis, they continue to participate in various Festas and also fight threats outside of the academy.
Characters
Seidoukan Academy
Ayato Amagiri (天霧 綾斗, Amagiri Ayato)
Voiced by: Atsushi Tamaru, Ayaka Suwa (child) (Japanese); Erik Scott Kimerer (English)
Ayato is the top-ranked fighter at Seidoukan Academy. Transferring to Seidoukan at the recommendation of Claudia Enfield, Ayato searches for his sister Haruka's whereabouts. Afterward, he comes across one of the Four-Colored Runeswords, «Ser-Veresta»: Demon Blade of the Black Furnace (黒炉の魔剣(セルベレスタ), Seru Beresuta), which was once wielded by Haruka. After rescuing Julis when she was attacked by Silas, Ayato decides that his new goal is to protect Julis. Eventually, after dueling with Kirin Toudou, he becomes the academy’s top student and earns himself the alias of Gathering Clouds (叢雲, Murakumo). Partnering up with Julis, they take on the Phoenix Festa together.
Julis-Alexia von Riessfeld (ユリス=アレクシア・フォン・リースフェルト, Yurisu-Arekushia Fon Rīsuferuto)
Voiced by: Ai Kakuma (Japanese); Kira Buckland (English)
Julis is the pink-haired fifth top-ranking fighter at Seidōkan Academy, known by the alias of «Glühen Rose»: Witch of Resplendent Flames (華焔の魔女(グリューンローズ), Gryūen Rōzu) and is the First Princess of Lieseltania, a small country located in the western Czech Republic. Her full name is Julis-Alexia Marie Florentia Renate von Riessfeld, according to Eishirō. She wields a rapier-type lux called «Aspera Spina» which she uses during the Phoenix tournament and bears the image of a flower for her power - control over flames. Her wish is to achieve what is known as a Grand Slam, a feat that involves rising to take the trophy in each of the three Festa, the Phoenix, the Gryps, and the Lindvolus. Teaming up with Ayato allowed her to achieve victory in the Phoenix and she joins Claudia's Team Enfield to participate in the Gryps. She resents Allekant Académie, specifically, the woman known as Magnum Opus, on the case of Orphelia Landlufen.
Claudia Enfield (クローディア・エンフィールド, Kurōdia Enfīrudo)
Voiced by: Nao Tōyama (Japanese); Erika Harlacher (English)
St. Gallardworth Academy
Ernest Fairclough (アーネスト・フェアクロフ, Ānesuto Feakurofu)
Voiced by: Takahiro Sakurai (Japanese); Vic Mignogna (English)
The student council president of St. Gallardworth Academy, Ernest Fairclough is the top-ranked student as well as the bearer of the alias, «Pendragon»: The Holy Knight (聖騎士(ペンドラゴン), Pendoragon), a title granted to him because of his wielding of the Orga Lux, also, one of the Four-Colored Runeswords, «Lei-Glems»: Demon Blade of White Purification (白濾の魔剣(レイグレム), Reiguremu). He is the leader of Team Lancelot.
Laetitia Blanchard (レティシア・ブランシャール, Retishia Buranshāru)
Voiced by: Saori Onishi (Japanese); Laura Post (English)
The Vice-President of St. Gallardworth Academy, Laetitia Blanchard is ranked #2 in her school, known as «Saint» (聖女, Seijō) and «Gloriara»: Witch of Shining Wings (光翼の魔女(グロリアラ), Guroriāra). She is a member of Team Lancelot and seems to harbor feelings of deep affection towards Ernest.
Elliot Forster (エリオット・フォースター, Eriotto Fōsutā)
Voiced by: Rie Takahashi (Japanese); Julie Anne Taylor (English)
Elliot Forster, like Kirin Toudou, is a junior high student and is an exceptionally skilled swordsman, rising to the rank of #12 despite the controlled society of St. Gallardworth. His alias is «Claíomh Solais»: Shining Sword (輝剣(クライオソレ), Kurau Sorasu).
Jie Long Seventh Institute
Xinglou Fan (范 星露, Fan Shinrū)
Voiced by: Omi Minami (Japanese); Cherami Leigh (English)
Despite only being nine years of age, Fan Xinglou is the inheritor of the title «Ban'yuu Tenra» (万有天羅, Banyū Tenra) and is the student council president of Jie Long Seventh Institute, considrered to be the most powerful Genestella as stated by Commander Helga Lindwall.
Shenyun Li (黎沈雲, Rī Shen'yun)
Voiced by: Satsumi Matsuda (Japanese); Erica Mendez (English)
«Phantom Builder» (幻映創起, Gen'ei Shinki) Shenyun Li is the ninth-ranked fighter in Jie Long and the brother of Shenhua. He is a very capable fighter, having forced Ayato to break the second layer of the seal placed on him by Haruka. He is a member of Team Huanglong (Team Yellow Dragon).
Shenhua Li (黎沈華, Rī Shenfa)
Voiced by: Risae Matsuda (Japanese); Lauren Landa (English)
«Phantom Vanisher» (幻映霧散, Gen'ei Musan) Shenhua Li is the tenth-ranked fighter in Jie Long and the sister of Shenyun. Shenhua's illusionary techniques are among the most powerful in all of Asterisk. She is a member of Team Huanglong (Team Yellow Dragon).
Hufeng Zhao (趙虎峰, Jao Fūfon)
Voiced by: Juri Kimura (Japanese); Kimberly Woods (English)
«Peerless Thorn» (天苛武葬, Tenka Musou) Hufeng Zhao is the fifth-ranked fighter in Jie Long and one of the main disciples of Xinglou. He is the leader of the Wood Faction and is a member of Team Huanglong (Team Yellow Dragon).
Ran Song (宋然, Son Ran)
Allekant Académie
Ernesta Kühne (エルネスタ・キューネ, Erunesuta Kyūne)
Voiced by: Chinatsu Akasaki (Japanese); Cassandra Lee Morris (English)
A student from Allekant Academy and leader of Pygmalion (Sculptor Faction). Her ultimate goal is to have her puppets gain equal rights to those of humans.
Camilla Pareto (カミラ・パレート, Kamira Parēto)
Voiced by: Mutsumi Tamura (Japanese); Cristina Vee (English)
A student from Allekant Academy and the leader of Ferrovious (Lions Faction). Her right arm and leg were destroyed in a war, leading Ernesta to give her prosthetics. Her ultimate goal is to create a Lux universally compatible with anyone. She develops a rivalry with Saya after claiming her father's Luxes were objectively inferior to other weapons.
Shuma Sakon (左近洲馬, Sakon Shūma)
Voiced by: Nobuo Tobita (Japanese); Lucien Dodge (English)
He is the student council president of Allekant. Not much else is known about him.
AR-D (アルディ, Arudi)
Voiced by: Wataru Hatano (Japanese); Keith Silverstein (English)
The puppet robot piloted by Ernesta, who displays incredible defenses.
RM-C (リムシィ, Rimushi)
Voiced by: Haruka Yoshimura (Japanese); Laura Post (English)
The puppet robot piloted by Camilla, who specializes in absolute offense.
Le Wolfe Black Institute
Dirk Eberwein (ディルク・エーベルヴァイン, Diruku Ēberuvain)
Voiced by: Tomokazu Sugita (Japanese); Kaiji Tang (English)
The student council president of Le Wolfe Black Institute, Dirk Eberwein is the first non-Genestella to rise to the position of student council president with wits alone. He is so infamous, he has earned the alias of «Tyrant»: The Crafty King (悪辣の王(タイラント), Akuratsu no Ō(Tairanto)).
Korona Kashimaru (樫丸ころな, Kashimaru Korona)
Voiced by: Moe Toyota (Japanese); Xanthe Huynh (English)
The «Tyrant»'s secretary, Korona is a Strega with the ability to predict the future using tarots.
Irene Urzaiz (イレーネ・ウルサイス, Irēne Urusaisu)
Voiced by: Yumi Uchiyama (Japanese); Erica Lindbeck (English)
Le Wolfe's third-ranking student, Irene Urzaiz is a problem child who owes a huge debt to Dirk Eberwein. She is known as «Lamilexia»: Vampire Princess (吸血暴姫(ラミレクシア), Kyūketsuki Abahime(Ramirekushia)) due to her wielding of the Orga Lux, «Gravisheath»: Blood Scythe of Supreme Collapse (覇潰の血鎌(グラヴィシース), Hatsu no Chikama(Gurabishīsu)).
Priscilla Urzaiz (プリシラ・ウルサイス, Purishira Urusaisu)
Voiced by: Juri Nagatsuma (Japanese); Christine Marie Cabanos (English)
Irene's younger sister, Priscilla Urzaiz is a Strega with the much-coveted ability of self-regeneration and Irene uses her, much to her reluctance, as a power source for the Gravisheath, whose cost to wield it is to offer it blood.
Queenvale Academy for Young Ladies
Sylvia Lyyneheym (シルヴィア・リューネハイム, Shiruvia Ryūnehaimu)
Voiced by: Haruka Chisuga (Japanese); Mela Lee (English)
Sylvia Lyyenehym is the student council president of Queenvale Academy for Young Ladies and is the top-ranked student. Her alias is «Sigrdrífa»: Witch of Fearsome Melody (戦律の魔女(シグルドリーヴァ), Ikusaritsu no Majō(Shigurudorīva)). She is the world's top idol and is one of the strongest Strega in the history of Asterisk, the runner-up of the previous Lindvolus, losing only because Orphelia Landlufen was in the competition. Due to her popularity, she usually goes out in disguise. She is also in love with Ayato, the first of the five main heroines to realize that fact.
Yuzuhi Renjouji (蓮城寺 柚陽, Renjōji Yuzuhi)
Another childhood friend of Ayato's, Yuzuhi reunited with Ayato in the seventh light novel volume. She is also an adept practitioner in the Amagiri Shinmei Style, although her exceptional skill lies in the bow, to the point that Ayato admits that he cannot hope to match Yuzuhi using the bow.
Media
Light novels
The series is written by Yū Miyazaki and illustrated by Okiura. It is published by Media Factory. The first volume was released in September 2012, and its final volume, volume 17, was released on June 24, 2022. Yen Press licensed the novels for publication in North America. The first English volume was released on August 30, 2016, and the last one on September 12, 2023. The first five volumes were translated into English by Melissa Tanaka and the rest by Haydn Trowell.
Yuu Miyazaki has also worked on a spinoff, focusing on Minato Wakamiya, the main protagonist, Chloe Flockhart, Minato's best friend, Sophia Fairclough, the younger sister of Ernest Fairclough, Nina Achenwall, a Strega whose powers are invoked through the mental image of a deck of cards, and Yuzuhi Renjouji, a childhood friend of Ayato Amagiri who trained in the Yatsuka Dojo of the Amagiri Shinmei Style, all students of Queenvale Academy for Young Ladies.
Manga
A manga adaptation by Ningen was published from 2013 to 2016 and has been compiled into five volumes. It was released in English by Yen Press. The English translation is by Melissa Tanaka. A manga adaptation of the spinoff Wings of Queenvale novels by Shou Akane premiered in Kodansha's Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine in August 2014, and ended in September 2016. The spinoff manga adaptation was collected in four volumes.
Anime
Directed by Manabu Ono and Kenji Seto, an anime adaptation of the series was broadcast from October 3 to December 19, 2015, with a second season following from April 2 through June 18, 2016.
Four pieces of theme music are used for the two seasons: two opening themes and two ending themes. The opening themes, "Brand-new world" and "The Asterisk War", are both performed by Shiena Nishizawa. The first ending theme, titled "Waiting for the rain", is performed by Maaya Sakamoto, while the second ending theme is "Ai no Uta (Words of Love)" (愛の詩) performed by Haruka Chisuga.
All theme songs and musical scores were written and produced by Rasmus Faber
Aniplex of America licensed the series for an English-language release in North and South America and simulcasted the series on Crunchyroll's streaming services. Aniplex released the series on DVD and Blu-ray in four compilations, each containing 6 episodes, from September 20, 2016, to April 25, 2017.
Video game
A PlayStation Vita simulation game by Bandai Namco Games titled The Asterisk War: Houka Kenran was released in Japan on January 28, 2016.