Saredo Tsumibito wa Ryuu to Odoru
Also Known As
Dances with the 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 Dances with the Dragons) was first released as a light novel through Kadokawa Shoten between 2003 and 2006.
A total of eight volumes were released before it was then switched over to publisher Shogakukan who went on to publish 19 volumes as of February 2017. While the first two volumes of Shogakukan’s version are merely edited and enhanced versions of Kadokawa Shoten’s, those following have been rewritten despite keeping the main storylines intact. As of Shogakukan’s volume 14, illustrator Zain has replaced Miyagi for the artwork.
The series was also adapted into a one-shot manga with artwork 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 Tseberun Dragon Empire while the other half is controlled by the Lapetodes Seven Cities Alliance, and the two sides are divided by the Oriel River.
Within this world there are special jushiki, a kind of spell formula used by so-called Spell Formulists essentially consisting of chemical reactions which are augmented through weapons called Magic Staffs to perform magic. These abilities are used to fight Beasts, creatures including Dragons, Aions, and Enormes which use spell formulas and threaten humans.
Among the Spell Formulists are protagonist Gaius Sorel and his friend Gigina Ashley-Bufh, the sole employees of their self-titled Spell Formulist dispatch office. They take on the requests of their clients and carry them out using their magic.
Anime Adaptation
The anime adaptation of Dances with the Dragons was first announced in the 18th volume of the light novel in early 2017 for an Oct. 5, 2017 premiere date, but was delayed until spring 2018.
Hiroshi Nishikori (Love Hina, Outlaw Star) has been brought on as chief director while Hirokazu Hanai (Fullmetal Alchemist, Air Gear) is working as series director with animation work by Seven Arcs Pictures (Bungo Stray Dogs, Attack on Titan). Takayo Ikami (Beautiful Bones: Sakurako’s Investigation, WataMote) is working on the series composition while character design is done by Masaru Kitao (Cardcaptor Sakura, Death Note). fripSIDE and Maon Kurosaki have been brought on for the opening and ending themes respectively.
As for the vocal cast, the talented lineup includes Nobunaga Shimazaki (Haruka Nanase in Free!) as Gayus, Yoshimasa Hosoya (Doppo Kunikida in Bungo 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 Haikyu!!) as Jesper, and Sora Tokui (Hideri Kanzaki in Blend S ) as Berdrit.
Akira Ishida, Go Inoue, Atsushi Imaruoka, Motomu Kiyokawa, Hiro Shimono, Tomokazu Sugita, Aya Suzaki, Rintaro Nishi, and Rica Matsumoto have been revealed to be a part of the cast, as well, although their specific roles have yet to be revealed.
Cast
Nobunaga Shimazaki: Gayus Levina Sorel
Yoshimasa Hosoya: Gigina Jardi Doruk Meleios Ashley-Bufh
Yoko Hikasa: Jivunya Lorezzo
Yuuko Kaida: Nidvolk
Takaya Hashi: Mordin Orjes Gyunei
Mutsumi Tamura : Yorkan
Yoshino Nanjo: Curaso Opt Koga
Hoshino Takanori: Jesper Livy Raki
Sora Tokui: Berdrit Livy Raki
Akira Ishida: ?
Go 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
Writer: Takayo Ikami
Character Designer: Masaru Kitao
Opening Theme: fripSIDE
Ending Theme: Maon Kurosaki
Studio: Seven Arcs Pictures
Broadcast Information
Premieres in Japan on TBS, BS-TBS in April 2018.