Spirit Adventure (3)

Director Ragna Tersion’s new work, “Spirit Adventure”.

This work, which was released in theaters for the first time in a long while since “The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel”, had many differences compared to Ragna’s previous works.

“Spirit Adventure” was not an animation targeted at adults like “Machine God Chronicles”, “Book of Life and Death”, or “Sky of Destiny”.

Unlike the characters in previous works, the characters in “Spirit Adventure” were little children no older than 12 at most, and.

Accordingly, their partners, the ‘Spirit Monsters’… that is, the spirits, were also designed to be cute and adorable.

This was indeed a huge difference compared to the appearance of the Machine Gods in “Machine God Chronicles”, or the various heroes appearing in “Sky of Destiny”.

Also, while a TV animation episode is usually only about 30 minutes long, and.

The running time of “The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel”, which was previously released in theaters, was only about 2 hours, but.

This work “Spirit Adventure” had an enormous amount of content with a running time of over 3 hours.

To be more precise, that was the running time for one theatrical version.

For some unknown reason, Director Ragna split the theatrical version of “Spirit Adventure” into two for release.

That is, a theatrical version with a 3-hour screening time, the main story of “Spirit Adventure”.

And a 30-minute theatrical version, “Spirit Adventure – The Beginning of Fate”.

Like this, into two.

“…?”

“What on earth is this?”

Of course, most viewers couldn’t understand Ragna’s intention.

If he had released two 2-hour theatrical versions, people would have understood that Ragna made this decision to be considerate of people because the running time was too long.

But while one has a screening time of over three hours, the other is just a 30-minute video.

Moreover, Ragna kindly provided a notice that the 30-minute theatrical version was a prologue-like story that happened before the start of the main story, so it wasn’t ‘necessary’ to watch.

At that point, people understood Ragna’s intention even less.

“…??”

They had seen countless people desperately begging for their works to be watched, but.

There exists a person who says ‘This doesn’t particularly need to be watched’?

What is this, really?

Well, even without that, most people thought that if the ticket price was the same, it would be more beneficial to watch the three-hour one rather than the 30-minute one, and.

They made the choice to watch the main story of “Spirit Adventure”.

The plot of “Spirit Adventure”, which could be called a heaping bowl of rice without exaggeration, was truly simple.

One day, seven ‘Children of Destiny’ fall into a special dimension called the Spirit World, guided by a sacred light.

And there, the children meet Spirit Monsters that could be called their partners, and.

They learn that the Spirit World they’ve fallen into is ruled by an evil Fallen Angel Spirit.

However, the power of the Fallen Angel Spirit was so strong that the children’s partner spirits couldn’t possibly oppose it, and.

Also, because the Fallen Angel Spirit had the power to brainwash originally good spirits and make them its subordinates, it was beyond their ability to face it head-on.

But, as the children face the brainwashed spirits attacking them, they realize that they can evolve the spirits using a magic tool called ‘Spirit Voice’, and.

The seven children and their partner spirits oppose the Fallen Angel with the power of evolution, but.

“…This is as far as you go. How pitiful, Children of Destiny.”

In the end, the children are defeated.

The power of darkness that the Fallen Angel possessed was far stronger than the children’s power of light.

“If only you were gone, no one in the Spirit World could stop me. I will become stronger like this and become complete!”

Despair approaches.

Just as unavoidable despair and extreme fear gripped the children’s hearts.

“…No, there is hope.”

“…What did you say?”

“We will never give up. Hope is still in our hands!”

And so, a sacred light descends and an angel appears.

That’s the end.

The angel sacrifices itself and finally destroys the Fallen Angel.

“…Ah.”

And the audience was watching such scenes with somewhat dazed eyes.

In fact, it was a story with exactly the same content as the fairy tales that children usually enjoy reading, just with a different stem.

Wasn’t the story of evil darkness being destroyed by children’s ‘purity’ and sacred ‘light’, containing the lesson of good triumphing over evil, something that had been repeated countless times since ancient times?

Usually, most people would have clearly sneered at this as a story that only preschool children who smell of milk would like, but.

However.

“Patemon! Please, please don’t go, don’t leave me!”

“…Sniff.”

“…I’m sorry, Rui. But, I promise. If you wish for it, we’ll surely meet again.”

“…Waaah! Patemon! Patemon! Huhuhu!”

…Even taking that into account, “Spirit Adventure” was incredibly enjoyable.

Despite being an animation with an obvious story and direction, containing the cliché lesson that light drives out darkness.

That work contained such an incredible attraction that even grown adults couldn’t take their eyes off it.

To give you an idea of how attractive it was, it might be easier to understand if I say that despite being a theatrical version made for young children, there were hardly any young children who actually watched “Spirit Adventure”.

But honestly, this was unavoidable.

Honestly, how can a man resist dinosaurs?

Originally, men were beings with a command deeply embedded in their DNA to unconditionally love dinosaurs.

And a cute puppy-like spirit evolves into a cool-looking dinosaur through sacred light?

This is absolutely irresistible.

Also, what’s with the scene where the spirit that had been nothing but a burden to the other children throughout the screening time finally evolves into an angel and sacrifices itself at the last moment?

If there’s a human who doesn’t cry seeing that, they can be definitively judged as a psychopath.

“Uuugh… Patemon… Why did such a good Patemon have to sacrifice himself…?”

“…But Patemon said at the end, didn’t he? That if his partner Rui wishes for it, they could meet again someday.”

“You bastard. This theatrical version ends here, so when will Rui and Patemon meet again, you son of a bitch.”

“…But why are you raging at me? Did I kill Patemon? Am I Evelmon?”

In the end, all the people leaving the theater after the screening of “Spirit Adventure” ended up crying their eyes out equally regardless of age or gender, and.

In their gaze, the poster for “Spirit Adventure – The Beginning of Fate” came into view.

“…..”

“…..”

Exactly 3 hours and 30 minutes ago.

They had thought like this.

Although “Spirit Adventure – The Beginning of Fate” is a work that serves as a prologue to the main story of “Spirit Adventure”.

Since the original creator himself declared that ‘it doesn’t particularly need to be watched’, there was no need to seek it out and watch it.

But those who had watched the main story of “Spirit Adventure” could no longer think that way, and.

As if possessed by something, they ended up booking tickets for the 30-minute theatrical version “Spirit Adventure – The Beginning of Fate”.

And.

“…It was a premature meeting.”

“At that time, our world was not ready to welcome them.”

“So now… I am here.”

“…!”

A somewhat different atmosphere from the main story of “Spirit Adventure”, closer to “Machine God Chronicles” or “Sky of Destiny” if anything, a bit darker mood.

Spirits in the form of monsters reminiscent of the Foreign Gods in “Machine God Chronicles”, rather than being cute like in the main story.

The scene of such spirits fighting fiercely in the middle of the Capital until blood spurts gave the audience a great shock in a different sense from the main story.

“No, Ragna you bastard….”

Meanwhile, Duke Grünewald and Deneb, who had rushed to the theater before anyone else to watch “Spirit Adventure”, ended up cursing.

“A prologue containing such crucial content… you went around selling drugs saying it’s okay not to watch…? Are you really in your right mind…?”

‘It’s okay not to watch’ my ass.

Rather, doesn’t this prologue contain something essential for understanding the development of “Spirit Adventure”…!

And so, people who watched the 30-minute prologue immediately rushed out of the screening room and immediately conveyed this news to the people waiting in line outside the theater.

“What? So you’re saying we must watch the work that serves as the prologue to “Spirit Adventure”? But Director Ragna said that it’s not necessary to watch it to understand the main story-“

“What does the official know?”

“…Pardon?”

“Please don’t believe in official things. Anyway, you must absolutely watch the prologue of “Spirit Adventure” before watching the theatrical version of “Spirit Adventure” for the emotion of the main story to be doubled. If you don’t watch it, you’re losing half your life. Understand? Huh?”

“…Yes.”

Anyway, people were creating such a heartwarming scene by sharing important information related to “Spirit Adventure” with each other, but.

Separately from that, people who had finished watching “Spirit Adventure” looked around every corner of the theater with eagle eyes and then tilted their heads.

Because in the past, when “The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel” was released, there was a shop selling goods related to the animation in one corner of the theater.

And now, people who had finished watching “Spirit Adventure” and charged their excitement to the maximum wanted to buy related goods even if they had to empty their wallets, but.

Very unfortunately, it seems that no shop selling goods related to “Spirit Adventure” was set up anywhere in this theater.

…Huh?

This can’t be…?

From “The Disappearance of Elli and Hamel” onwards, they sold related goods for all the animations they’ve released so far, so why not for “Spirit Adventure”…?

It’s not like we’re asking for them for free, we’re saying we’ll pay money to buy them no matter the price if they just release the goods.

Hah.

Really….

Is that so difficult…?

In the end, people who couldn’t understand this rushed to the theater owner to demand an explanation, and.

“Ah, you’re talking about goods related to “Spirit Adventure”.”

Indeed, as if he had received some hint from Ragna in advance, the theater owner opened his mouth in an unconcerned tone.

“Count Ragna said that it would take a little time to release the goods this time. He said it would take some time to organize the related rules…”

“…Rules?”

What does that mean?

What does the production of goods have to do with rules?

People tilted their heads at the theater owner’s answer, and.

Seeing this, the theater owner smiled and said.

“Come to think of it, I forgot to mention this. The goods related to “Spirit Adventure” that Count Ragna is going to release this time are none other than-“

“Cards.”

Sometime after that.

The peaceful fantasy world transforms into a battlefield where ordinary people must quickly disappear.