| Sakura Wars: The Gorgeous Blooming Cherry Blossoms | |
 Cover of the first VHS | |
| サクラ大戦 ～桜華絢爛～ (Sakura Taisen: Ōka Kenran) | |
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| Created by | Oji Hiroi |
| Original video animation | |
| Directed by | Takaaki Ishiyama |
| Produced by |
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| Written by |
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| Music by | Kohei Tanaka |
| Studio | Radix |
| Licensed by | |
| Released | December 18, 1997 – July 25, 1998 |
| Runtime | 25–30 minutes |
| Episodes | 4(List of episodes) |
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Sakura Wars: The Gorgeous Blooming Cherry Blossoms (サクラ大戦 ～桜華絢爛～,Sakura Taisen: Ōka Kenran) is a 1997Japaneseoriginal video animation (OVA) produced byAnimate Film,Bandai Visual, andSega and animated byRadix. It ran for four episodes and is the first OVA based on theSakura Wars video games. The episodes were released inVHS andLaserDisc formats.
The OVA was announced as the first joint product to result from the proposed merger betweenSega (owner of the Sakura Wars franchise) andBandai (Bandai Visual's parent company).[1] Though the merger was called off shortly afterwards,[2] the OVA project proceeded as planned.ADV Films announced they had licensed the OVA series inNorth America in May 1998 atProject A-Kon 9;[3] it was the first piece ofSakura Wars media made officially available in the region.
It depicts the formation of the Imperial Assault Troupe's Flower Division leading up to the beginning of the original game where the player character takes command of the unit.
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
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| 1 | "Act 1: Battle in the Flowery Capital" Transliteration: "Dai Ichi-maku: Hana no Miyako no Hanaikusa" (Japanese:第一幕 華の都の花いくさ) | Takaaki Ishiyama | Hiroyuki Kawasaki | December 18, 1997 (1997-12-18)[4] | |
In 1919 (8th year of theTaishō era), operations to recruit members of the Imperial Magnificent Assault Group (帝国華撃団Teigoku Kagekidan) begin to protect Japan from an imminent demon (魔物,mamono) attack. In Ginza, Tokyo, Kanzaki Heavy Industries is developing the Obu (桜武,Ōbu), the first Spiricle Armor who after failed attempts to be controlled by other pilots, is finally mastered by Kanzaki family's daughter, Sumire Kanzaki, due to her high psychic powers. In Sendai, Sakura Shinguji reflects on the death of her father who gave his life defending the capital. Ayame Fujieda recruits Kanna Kirishima in Taiwan, and subsequently Maria Tachibana in New York. In 1920, Ayame recruits Iris Chateaubriand, and the Imperial Floral Assault has their first assignment fighting a demon in Asakusa, Tokyo. Kohran Li, a Shanghai native scientist, also joins the Assault Group but is yet to be introduced to the other members. Back in Sendai, Sakura comes into contact with the Spirit Sword Arataka (霊剣荒鷹,Reiken Arataka) which belonged to her father, and decides to go to the capital. | |||||
| 2 | "Act 2: The Cherry Blossom Spirit Attack" Transliteration: "Dai Ni-maku: Sakura no Hana ni Hanate yo Shinken" (Japanese:第二幕 桜の花に放てよ神剣) | Takaaki Ishiyama | Hiroyuki Kawasaki | February 25, 1998 (1998-02-25)[5] | |
| 3 | "Act 3: Spring is March's First Stage" Transliteration: "Dai San-maku: Haru wa Yayoi no Hatsu Sentō" (Japanese:第三幕 春は弥生の初戦闘) | Takaaki Ishiyama | Hiroyuki Kawasaki | May 25, 1998 (1998-05-25)[6] | |
| 4 | "Act 4: A Midsummer Night's Dream" Transliteration: "Dai Shi-maku: Manatsu no Yume no Yoru" (Japanese:第四幕 真夏の夢の夜) | Takaaki Ishiyama | Hiroyuki Kawasaki | July 25, 1998 (1998-07-25)[7] | |
Sakura Wars: The Gorgeous Blooming Cherry Blossoms was released on VHS in North America byA.D.V. Films in 1999. Spanning 2 tapes, simply titledSakura Wars &Sakura Wars 2 respectively, with each tape containing 2 episodes. Subtitled and dubbed versions were available.
Sakura Wars: The Gorgeous Blooming Cherry Blossoms was released on DVD in North America byA.D.V. Films Oct 26, 1999 included inSakura Wars: OVA Collection DVD in 2003 and rereleased Oct 26, 2004. Released on DVD in Spain by Selecta Vision in 2006.
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