The Asterisk War

The Asterisk War
Company type	Media franchise
Industry	Light novels, manga, anime, video games
Founded	September 25, 2012; 14 years ago
Founder	Yū Miyazaki
Headquarters	Japan
Products	Light novels, manga, anime television series, video game
Owner	Media Factory (original publisher)

is a Japanese light novel series authored by Yū Miyazaki with illustrations by Okiura. Seventeen volumes were released by Media Factory between September 25, 2012, and June 24, 2022, under the MF Bunko J label, complemented by three spin-off volumes entitled Wings of Queenvale. Beginning in January 2013, the story was serialized in Media Factory's seinen manga publication Monthly Comic Alive, where it was adapted into a manga illustrated by Ningen, compiled into five volumes.

The series received an anime television adaptation produced by A-1 Pictures, broadcast in two seasons of twelve episodes each from October 3, 2015, to June 18, 2016. Additionally, a related video game titled The Asterisk War: Houka Kenran was released in Japan on January 28, 2016.

In North America, the anime's licensing rights are held by Aniplex of America, while Madman Entertainment manages distribution in Australasia and MVM Films in the United Kingdom. Since August 2016, Yen Press has been responsible for licensing and localizing both the light novels and manga.

Plot

Set in the 21st century, Earth experiences economic downturn as powerful megacorporations known as the emerge following an impact event that destroys cities and bestows humans with extraordinary abilities called . The city of , also known as Asterisk, hosts six academies where Genestella compete in tournaments called . Seidoukan Academy, positioned fifth among them, faces challenges due to declining battle results. Claudia Enfield, the student council president, strives to improve outcomes with Kirin Toudou as the leading fighter, closely trailed by Claudia herself and Julis-Alexia von Riessfeld, the princess of Lieseltania.

Ayato Amagiri joins Seidoukan Academy while investigating his sister Haruka’s disappearance. After an initial clash with Julis, Claudia facilitates Ayato’s enrollment. He saves Julis from a conspiracy aimed at disrupting the Phoenix Festa and subsequently becomes her protector and ally. Ayato eventually overtakes Kirin to become Seidoukan’s top-ranked combatant. Alongside Julis, he participates in Festas and defends the academy against external adversaries.

Seidoukan Academy

: The foremost fighter at Seidoukan, Ayato transfers upon Claudia’s suggestion while searching for his missing sister Haruka. He uncovers the Four-Colored Runesword «Ser-Veresta», formerly wielded by Haruka. After rescuing Julis from Silas’s attack, he pledges to guard her and gains the nickname . He teams up with Julis for the Phoenix Festa.

: Ranked fifth among Seidoukan fighters and First Princess of Lieseltania, Julis wields the flame-infused rapier «Aspera Spina». Her ambition is to achieve a Grand Slam, securing trophies across all three Festas: Phoenix, Gryps, and Lindvolus. Partnering with Ayato led to victory at Phoenix; she now competes alongside Claudia’s Team Enfield in Gryps. Julis harbors resentment toward Allekant Académie and its agent Magnum Opus.

: Serving as student council president since junior high and ranked second at Seidoukan, Claudia recommended Ayato’s transfer. Her skills excel in team-based combat, focusing on winning the Gryps Festa. She wields «Pan-Dora», an Orga Lux that grants precognitive visions but induces vivid death-related nightmares nightly.

: Ayato’s childhood friend and daughter of Lux manufacturer Soichi Sasamiya. Saya employs specialized Lux weaponry including grenade launchers and laser cannons developed by her father.

: A silver-haired junior high student who initially held Seidoukan’s top rank. Kirin uses a standard nihontō demonstrating mastery of the Toudou Style. Known as , she reached the semifinals of the Phoenix Festa alongside Saya.

: Ayato’s roommate who participates in both the academy newspaper club and Shadow Star—a covert police unit under the Integrated Enterprise Foundation.

: Ninth-ranked fighter nicknamed , wielding the ax «Bardiche-Leo». His ranking declined after defeat by Julis.

: Initially Lester’s subordinate, Silas orchestrated attacks against Phoenix Festa competitors. Following his defeat by Ayato, he joined Shadow Star under Galaxy’s command to support Seidoukan.

: Partnered with Lester during Phoenix tournaments before they were defeated by Irene Urzaiz.

: Homeroom teacher at Seidoukan and former second-ranked Le Wolfe fighter who led her team to victory in the Gryps Festa. Known during her student years as .

St. Gallardworth Academy

: Ernest Fairclough, serving as student council president and the academy's highest-ranked student, is recognized by his codename for his mastery of the Orga Lux, one of the Four-Colored Runeswords. He commands Team Lancelot.
: Laetitia Blanchard, holding the position of vice-president and ranked second among students, is identified by the aliases and . As a loyal member of Team Lancelot, she demonstrates unwavering support for Ernest.
: Elliot Forster, a junior high swordsman who ranks twelfth at St. Gallardworth despite societal limitations, operates under the pseudonym .

Jie Long Seventh Institute

: At only nine years old, Fan Xinglou presides as student council president and carries the title , regarded by Commander Helga Lindwall as the most formidable Genestella.
: Shenyun Li, ranked ninth and brother to Shenhua, compelled Ayato to break a seal layer and leads Team Huanglong (Team Yellow Dragon). His alias is .
: Shenhua Li, holding the tenth rank and specializing in potent illusionary arts, plays a crucial role within Team Huanglong. She is known by the codename .
: Hufeng Zhao, ranked fifth, heads the Wood Faction as Fan Xinglou’s principal disciple and is an active member of Team Huanglong. His alias is .

Allekant Académie

Ernesta Kühne (エルネスタ・キューネ, Erunesuta Kyūne): Commanding Pygmalion (Sculptor Faction), she advocates for puppet equality and pilots the defensive puppet robot AR-D.
Camilla Pareto (カミラ・パレート, Kamira Parēto): Leading Ferrovious (Lions Faction), Camilla is equipped with prosthetic limbs crafted by Ernesta. She seeks to develop a universally compatible Lux and competes with Saya over weapon supremacy. She pilots the offensive puppet robot RM-C.
Shuma Sakon (左近洲馬, Sakon Shūma): Holds the position of student council president at Allekant.
Hilda Jane Rowlands (ヒルダ・ジェーン・ローランズ, Hiruda Jeen Rooranzu): Known as Magnus Opus, she is the eccentric scientist responsible for Ophelia's creation and stands as Asterisk's most powerful Strega.

Le Wolfe Black Institute

Dirk Eberwein (ディルク・エーベルヴァイン, Diruku Ēberuvain): The first student council president without Genestella heritage, he is dubbed «Tyrant: The Crafty King» due to his tactical genius.
Korona Kashimaru (樫丸ころな, Kashimaru Korona): Dirk’s secretary and a Strega who uses tarot cards to foresee future events.
Irene Urzaiz (イレーネ・ウルサイス, Irēne Urusaisu): Ranked third among students and known as «Lamilexia: Vampire Princess», she wields the Orga Lux «Gravisheath: Blood Scythe of Supreme Collapse». She carries a significant debt to Dirk.
Priscilla Urzaiz (プリシラ・ウルサイス, Purishira Urusaisu): Irene’s younger sister possesses regenerative abilities and is unwillingly utilized as an energy source for Gravisheath.
Ophelia Landlufen (オーフェリア・ランドルーフェン, Ōferia Randorūfen): Childhood companion of Julis who was sold to Frauenlob and subjected to experiments by Hilda Jane Rowlands. She evolved into one of the top Strega and has won the Lindvolus solo tournament twice. Known as «Erenshkigal: Witch of Solitary Venom», she ranks highest at Le Wolfe.
Moritz Nessler (モーリッツ・ネスラー, Mōrittsu Nesurā)
Gerd Schiele (ゲルト・シーレ, Geruto Shīre)

Queenvale Academy for Young Ladies

: Sylvia Lyyenehym serves as the student council president and holds the highest academic rank at Queenvale Academy. Recognized as , she stands out as a prominent idol and one of the most formidable Strega in Asterisk history, having secured second place in the last Lindvolus tournament. Her widespread fame often leads her to adopt a disguised appearance. Additionally, she harbors romantic feelings for Ayato, who is the first heroine to acknowledge this affection.
: Yuzuhi, a childhood companion of Ayato, makes her return in the seventh volume of the light novel series. She excels in the Amagiri Shinmei Style, demonstrating archery skills that surpass those of Ayato.

Light novels

Authored by Yū Miyazaki with illustrations by Okiura, this series is published by Media Factory. Its inaugural volume was released in September 2012, culminating with volume 17 on June 24, 2022. The North American English versions are licensed by Yen Press, which published them from August 30, 2016, through September 12, 2023. The first five volumes were translated by Melissa Tanaka, followed by Haydn Trowell handling subsequent translations.

Wings of Queenvale

Yuu Miyazaki created a spinoff focusing on Minato Wakamiya, Chloe Flockhart, Sophia Fairclough, Nina Achenwall—a Strega who wields card-based abilities—and Yuzuhi Renjouji. All characters attend Queenvale Academy for Young Ladies.

Manga

The manga adaptation by Ningen ran between 2013 and 2016, compiled into five volumes. Yen Press published the English translation with Melissa Tanaka as translator. Additionally, a Wings of Queenvale spinoff manga by Shou Akane was serialized in Kodansha's Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine from August 2014 to September 2016 and collected into four volumes.

Anime

The anime adaptation was directed by Manabu Ono and Kenji Seto and aired from October 3 to December 19, 2015. Its second season followed from April 2 to June 18, 2016.

Both seasons feature four theme tracks: two openings titled "Brand-new world" and "The Asterisk War," performed by Shiena Nishizawa, and two endings—"Waiting for the rain" by Maaya Sakamoto and "愛の詩 (Ai no Uta)" by Haruka Chisuga. All compositions and production were managed by Rasmus Faber.

Aniplex of America licensed the series for distribution across North and South America and simulcast it on Crunchyroll. The show was released on DVD and Blu-ray in four volumes containing six episodes each between September 20, 2016, and April 25, 2017.

Season 1

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No.	Title	Original air date
EpisodeNumber ! 11	Title ! Power and Its Price	AltTitle ! Chikara to Daishō	RAltTitle ! (Template:Nihongo2)	OriginalAirDate ! December 12, 2015 (2015-12-12)	ShortSummary ! Ayato aids Priscilla in escaping gamblers chasing her due to Irene’s debts with Dirk Eberwein. Irene reveals her gambling struggles during dinner with Ayato and Julis. Ayato learns that Ogre Luxes can influence wielders’ personalities. }} {{Episode list	EpisodeNumber ! 12	Title ! The Gravi-Sheath	AltTitle ! Guravishīzu	RAltTitle ! (Template:Nihongo2)	OriginalAirDate ! December 19, 2015 (2015-12-19)	ShortSummary ! Irene recalls receiving Gravi-Sheath from Dirk before confronting Ayato and Julis again. Despite powerful attacks, she sustains herself using Priscilla’s blood to recharge the weapon that disrupts battlefield gravity. Ayato counters using Reverse-gouging Shell but suffers side effects now publicly known. Dirk forms alliances with Ernesta and Camilla amid wider conspiracies revealed by Steering Committee chairman Madiath Mesa. As their bond deepens, Ayato promises to protect Julis. }}

Season 2

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No. in series	No. in arc	Title	Original air date

Video game

Developed by Bandai Namco Games, the simulation title The Asterisk War: Houka Kenran for PlayStation Vita was released in Japan on January 28, 2016.

External links

at MF Bunko J