Cross Ange: Rondo of Angels and Dragons also known as simply Cross Ange is a Japanese mecha anime television series produced by Sunrise, King Records, Fields, Bandai Namco Entertainment, Bandai Channel and Bandai Namco Creative, with Yoshiharu Ashino serving as director, Mitsuo Fukuda acting as creative producer, Akiko Shikata composing the music and Tatsuto Higuchi handling series scripts. The series aired on Tokyo MX, MBS, TVA, BS11 from October 4, 2014 to March 28, 2015. It was licensed by Sentai Filmworks for a digital and home media release in North America.
Four pieces of theme music are used. The first opening theme, titled " Kindan no Resistance " (禁断のレジスタンス, Kindan no Rejisutansu, lit. "Forbidden Resistance"), is performed by Nana Mizuki and the second opening theme is Shinjitsu no Mokushiroku" (真実の黙示録, lit. "Apocalypse of Truth" or "Revelations of Reality") by Yoko Takahashi. The ending themes used with the respective opening themes are "Rinrei" (凛麗, lit. "Cold Beauty") performed by Eri Kitamura and "Shūmatsu no Love Song" (終末のラブソング, Shūmatsu no Rabu Songu, lit. "Love Song of the End"), also performed by Mizuki. The insert song featured in episodes five, nine, and twenty-two is "Necessary", once again performed by Nana Mizuki.
No. | Title [1] | Directed by | Written by | Storyboarded by | Original air date [note 1] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Fallen Princess" Transcription: "Otosareta kōjo" (Japanese: 堕とされた皇女) | Noriaki Akitaya Mitsuo Fukuda (mechanical) | Tatsuto Higuchi | Yoshiharu Ashino Mitsuo Fukuda | October 4, 2014 [2] | |
With the highly advanced information technology Mana in hand, mankind overcame all problems on the earth such as war, famine, and pollution with its magical power. At last, they have obtained an ideal world where they can live in peace and have no worries. Enter Angelise Ikaruga Misurugi, the first princess of the Misurugi Empire. She, too, was supposed to be blessed and crowned by her people without any inconvenience. However, on her 16th birthday, she is confronted with the fact that she is a Norma. "Norma" is a cruel slur to denote an "irregular, antisocial, non-human thing" that cannot use Mana. Deprived of everything, she is quarantined and taken to a remote military base. There, she is informed by the prison warden, Jill, that her own empire has disowned her, and that her only worth now is in joining a privatized army. Even her name is forfeit, as she will now be known as "Ange". | ||||||
2 | "Unyielding Spirit" Transcription: "Matsurowanu tamashī" (Japanese: まつろわぬ魂) | Hitoyuki Matsui Mitsuo Fukuda (mechanical) | Tatsuto Higuchi | Yoshiharu Ashino Mitsuo Fukuda | October 11, 2014 [2] | |
Sent to the frontline base Arzenal, what awaits Ange is a confrontation with the Norma girls of the First Company. This includes her new captain, Zola, as well as Salia, Hilda, Vivian, Ersha, Chris, Rosalie, and new recruits Coco and Miranda. It is revealed that Arzenal is a penal military colony where the Norma are trained to ride Para-mails, high-performance fighters that can transform into mecha, to fight otherworldly invaders called Dimensional Rift Attuned Gargantuan Organic Neotypes, or DRAGONs. Despite the First Company being quite kind to her, Ange cannot accept the reality that she is a Norma herself, and rudely looks down on the team she is set to be a part of. Even as she is being trained and conditioned for her new role in life, she stubbornly continues to act as Princess Angelise. When the first opportunity presents itself, she tries to escape Arzenal during her first Para-mail sortie, and the result is a tragedy. | ||||||
3 | "Villkiss Awakens" Transcription: "Virukisu kakusei" (Japanese: ヴィルキス覚醒) | Shun Kudō Mitsuo Fukuda (mechanical) | Tatsuto Higuchi | Mitsuo Fukuda | October 18, 2014 [2] | |
Ange encounters the DRAGONs for the first time as she tries to leave Arzenal. Terrified by the savage creatures, she attempts to flee for her life. She only succeeds in crashing her Para-mail, but not before getting several members of the First Company killed. Afterwards, she is insulted and abused by her Norma teammates for the roles she played in their fallen comrades' deaths, and is forced to mark the graves of those she got killed. Forced into a corner by the cruel reality of what she is, Ange chooses to stand on the battlefield to die, and is given the opportunity to do so by riding the Villkiss, an aircraft with a shady history. | ||||||
4 | "A Loner's Rebellion" Transcription: "Hitori botchi no hangyaku" (Japanese: ひとりぼっちの反逆) | Noriyuki Nomata | Tatsuto Higuchi | Hiiro Terigaki Hitoyuki Matsui Yoshiharu Ashino | October 25, 2014 [3] | |
With Villkiss having awakened and become Ange's personal machine, Ange has accepted herself as a Norma and decides to live as a soldier, but without knowing for what purpose she lives for. Her arrogance and indifference to those around her incite those who hate her, and harassment and tricks swirl around her. Ange finds herself in a tight spot when Hilda, seeking to avenge the Norma who were killed by Ange's previous cowardice, sabotages Villkiss herself. | ||||||
5 | "Ange, Lost" Transcription: "Anju, sōshitsu" (Japanese: アンジュ、喪失) | Shunsuke Machitani | Tatsuto Higuchi | Mitsuo Fukuda | November 1, 2014 [4] | |
As a result of Hilda sabotaging Villkiss, Ange is declared missing in action. Thankfully, she is revealed to be alive, and was rescued by a mysterious man named Tusk. She spends her days alone with him and wonders where she belongs. She struggles with whether she should run away from her Norma days. But the nature she bears is not going to allow her to stay here. | ||||||
6 | "Momoka's Here!" Transcription: "Momoka ga kita!" (Japanese: モモカが来た!) | Yoshimitsu Ōhashi | Noboru Kimura | Yoshimitsu Ōhashi | November 8, 2014 [5] | |
Momoka Oginome, who was Angelise's head maid in the Misurugi Empire, appears in Arzenal in pursuit of Ange. Confronted with her past, which she has already discarded, Ange is at a loss. She is also bitter towards Momoka, who still adores and is devoted to her as before. She then has to make a decision on Momoka's presence in her life, whether she allows her to stay, or leaves it up to the officials at Arzenal to decide her fate. | ||||||
7 | "Salia's Depression" Transcription: "Saria no yūutsu" (Japanese: サリアの憂鬱) | Akira Toba | Tatsuto Higuchi | Hitoyuki Matsui | November 15, 2014 [6] | |
The company's teamwork is in a state of collapse due to Ange's unrestrained behavior. Captain Salia's stress continues to build up. There is a limit to how much stress she can release, and she finally explodes, leading to a brawl. In the midst of this, the First Company is confronted by the arrival of a new type of large DRAGON. | ||||||
8 | "Bikini Escape" Transcription: "Bikini esukeipu" (Japanese: ビキニ・エスケイプ) | Kazuo Miyake | Tōru Nozaki | Masami Shimoda | November 22, 2014 [7] | |
Ange is shaken by a transmission from her younger sister Sylvia calling for help, a trace of the past she thought she had broken up with. Soon after, the annual Mermaid Festa is held in Arzenal. Behind the Festa, Ange and Hilda each have their own plans to escape, and ultimately forge a shaky alliance to achieve their ends. | ||||||
9 | "The Hometown of Betrayal" Transcription: "Uragiri no furusato" (Japanese: 裏切りの故郷) | Hiromichi Matano | Mayori Sekijima | Tatsufumi Itō | November 29, 2014 [8] | |
After escaping from Arzenal, Ange returns to the Misurugi Empire to rescue her sister Sylvia. Hilda is thrilled to be reunited with her mother after her long-awaited return home. However, they face a number of trials and tribulations in their hometown, and neither of them find what they are looking for. | ||||||
10 | "Goodbye From the Gallows" Transcription: "Kōshudai kara sayonara o" (Japanese: 絞首台からサヨナラを) | Yasuaki Fujii | Tatsuto Higuchi | Osamu Kamei | December 6, 2014 [9] | |
In the Misurugi Empire, Ange is confronted by her ruthless brother Julio, who is revealed to have manipulated Sylvia into hating her, and Ange is caught in a trap set by her elitist siblings. On the gallows, amidst the frenzy and abuse of the Misurugi people, she furiously disowns her own homeland when she sees how monstrous their one-sided prejudice towards the Norma make them. | ||||||
11 | "Dragon Song" Transcription: "Ryū no uta" (Japanese: 竜の歌) | Noriyuki Nomata Mitsuo Fukuda | Tōru Nozaki | Mitsuo Fukuda | December 13, 2014 [10] | |
After Ange and Momoka escape Misurugi with the help of Tusk, Arzenal receives a massive DRAGON swoop directly above it. In the midst of the battle without Ange and Hilda (who were detained for escaping Arzenal), Salia's feelings for Jill and Villkiss run wild. When Ange rushes to the scene, she is met by a strange young woman riding a machine that resembles a Para-mail, leading the pack of DRAGONs. | ||||||
12 | "Her Right Arm's Past" Transcription: "Migiude no kako" (Japanese: 右腕の過去) | Hitoyuki Matsui | Tatsuto Higuchi | Hitoyuki Matsui | December 20, 2014 [11] | |
Jill decides to reveal her horrific past to Ange, and the truth behind Villkiss. Not long after, Ange must confront another shocking reality when she learns what the DRAGONs truly are. Meanwhile, Julio collaborates with a strange man called Embryo regarding the destruction of the world. | ||||||
13 | "Arzenal in Flames" Transcription: "Aruzenaru, enjō" (Japanese: 武器工廠、炎上) | Yoshimitsu Ōhashi | Eizō Kobayashi | Masami Shimoda Mitsuo Fukuda | January 3, 2015 [12] | |
The Para-mail forces are attacked by an overwhelming force led by Julio, standing no chance after the overwhelming attack of the strange lady from before. Within Arzenal, hand-to-hand combat begins between the Norma fighting for their lives and Julio's fanatical army. In the midst of the chaotic battle, Ange, alone, rushes toward Julio with the intent of killing her vile brother. | ||||||
14 | "Ange and Tusk" Transcription: "Anju to Tasuku" (Japanese: アンジュとタスク) | Takeyuki Yanase | Mayori Sekijima | Tatsufumi Itō | January 10, 2015 [13] | |
After a close encounter with Embryo and a very quick reunion, Ange and Tusk are transported by Villkiss to a mysterious world. The two of them, accompanied by Vivian, wander around the ruins. With no clear future in sight, they find themselves in a situation that makes them rethink their lives, and Ange decides to confront what she feels about Tusk. | ||||||
15 | "The Other Earth" Transcription: "Mō hitotsu no chikyū" (Japanese: もう一つの地球) | Tomokazu Iwasaki | Tōru Nozaki | Hitoyuki Matsui | January 17, 2015 [14] | |
Ange, held captive by the DRAGON clan, comes face to face with its princess, the Ryuu-Shin-Ki pilot Salamandinay. Here, on the "true" Earth, Ange and Tusk witness the true nature of Aura's people living on the primordial earth. New truths are revealed. | ||||||
16 | "Resonant Battlefront" Transcription: "Kyōmei sensen" (Japanese: 共鳴戦線) | Yukihiko Asaki | Tatsuto Higuchi | Hideki Hosokawa | January 24, 2015 [15] | |
Ange refuses Sala's call to fight together, and a duel takes place in the ancient arena, with Ange and Sala's future at stake. While Ange is locked in disagreement and debate with Sala, the shadow of Embryo looms over the world. | ||||||
17 | "The Black Angel of Destruction" Transcription: "Kuro no hakai tenshi" (Japanese: 黒の破壊天使) | Hitoyuki Matsui | Eizō Kobayashi | Osamu Kamei Mitsuo Fukuda Yoshiharu Ashino | January 31, 2015 [16] | |
After finally forming a truce with Sala following a cataclysmic event caused by Embryo, Ange is torn between a lie and the truth, wondering what she should be from now on. When information arrives that Aura is in Misurugi's basement, a major invasion of Misurugi is launched with the full force of the DRAGON army in order to recapture it. However, Ange and her new allies are not prepared when a trio of black machines resembling Villkiss appear to oppose them. | ||||||
18 | "The Sea of Parting" Transcription: "Ketsubetu no umi" (Japanese: 決別の海) | Yasuaki Fujii | Mayori Sekijima | Tetsuya Watanabe Masami Shimoda | February 7, 2015 [17] | |
After an encounter with Salia, Chris and Ersha, all in allegiance to Embryo, Ange and her friends reunite with Hilda and join Aurora. However, Ange is strongly repulsed by Jill's insistence on the Libertas plan, and her willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve her goal. | ||||||
19 | "The Epochal Conductor" Transcription: "Toki no Chōritsusha" (Japanese: 時の調律者) | Tatsufumi Itō | Tatsuto Higuchi | Toshiharu Murata Yoshiharu Ashino Mitsuo Fukuda | February 14, 2015 [18] | |
After a battle with Embryo's Diamond Rose Knights, Ange is captured by Salia and meets Embryo face-to-face in Misurugi. Now she is confronted with the man who calls himself the conductor of this world, and his twisted motivations. | ||||||
20 | "The Soul of God" Transcription: "Kami no kyūkon" (Japanese: 神の求魂) | Akira Toba | Tatsuto Higuchi | Susumu Nishizawa | February 21, 2015 [19] | |
Ange is overwhelmed by Embryo, who reveals his true nature, and her mind is cornered. Meanwhile, in Aurora, a feud spreads around Jill, and Hilda is forced to take action herself. | ||||||
21 | "The One Left Behind" Transcription: "Nokosareru mono" (Japanese: 遺されるもの) | Tomokazu Iwasaki | Tōru Nozaki Tatsuto Higuchi | Osamu Kamei Masami Shimoda | February 28, 2015 [20] | |
Ange and Momoka try to escape from Embryo, but their relentless pursuit leaves them with nowhere to run. Hilda and Rosalie face Chris in the midst of the chaos, and are soon shocked by her ruthlessness. Their conflicting feelings and strong emotions lead to more tragedy. | ||||||
22 | "Necessary" | Hiroshi Aoyama | Tatsuto Higuchi | Tatsufumi Itō | March 7, 2015 [21] | |
The creation of a new world by Embryo begins, and the two worlds start to collapse. Sala and Hilda team up to prevent the fusion of time and space, but there is no way out. Ersha begins to realize her mistake in siding with Embryo when she sees what kind of person he truly is, and chooses to opt out and return to Arzenal. Ange, meanwhile, is alone and in despair after having lost her two closest associates following her escape from Embryo. | ||||||
23 | "The Distorted World" Transcription: "Yugamu sekai" (Japanese: ゆがむ世界) | Hitoyuki Matsui | Eizō Kobayashi Tatsuto Higuchi | Masami Shimoda Toshiharu Murata Mitsuo Fukuda | March 14, 2015 [21] | |
After reuniting with Tusk, who survived, and finally being given the opportunity to profess her love to him, Ange returns to the Aurora with Tusk and Momoka (who also survived) in the chaos of the space-time fusion. Together with the people who have gathered there, Ange launches the counter-offensive operation Last Libertas. Everyone heads for the battlefield with their own thoughts and feelings in their hearts. | ||||||
24 | "A Battle With No Tomorrow" Transcription: "Asu naki tatakai" (Japanese: 明日なき戦い) | Shun Kudō Akira Toba | Tatsuto Higuchi | Yoshimitsu Ōhashi Osamu Kamei Mitsuo Fukuda | March 21, 2015 [21] | |
Ange and Sala push forward to rescue Aura. As Jill goes after Salia in hopes of reforming her, Hilda and Rosalie confront Chris yet again, and Tusk confronts Embryo. As the two worlds begin to overlap, the fight enters its final phase. | ||||||
25 | "To the End of Time" Transcription: "Toki no kanata de" (Japanese: 時の彼方で) | Yoshiharu Ashino Mitsuo Fukuda | Tatsuto Higuchi | Yoshiharu Ashino Mitsuo Fukuda Yoshimitsu Ōhashi Osamu Kamei | March 28, 2015 [21] | |
The unstoppable collapse of the world begins. Having gotten Chris and Salia back on their side, the group prepare to stop Embryo's plans. Guided by the rescued Aura, Tusk is accompanied by Hilda, a redeemed Salia, and Sala as they fly through time and space to rescue Ange, who has been captured by Embryo yet again. A final battle against the world's engineer takes place to decide the fate of multiple worlds. |
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