Deltora Quest (TV series)

Deltora Quest (デルトラ・クエスト) is a Japanese anime television series based on the series of children's books of the same name, written by Australian author Emily Rodda. It was announced by Rodda herself at Sydney's Book Council of Australia Conference and at an ABC Kids convention. The series was produced by Genco and SKY Perfect Well Think. It was broadcast for 65 episodes on TV Aichi from January 2007 to March 2008. It began airing on Cartoon Network Australia and New Zealand in May 2010. It premiered in the United States on The Hub on October 10, 2010.

Story
The Shadow Lord, an evil sorcerer and The Lord of Shadows which comes from The Shadowlands, has taken over Deltora by destroying a magical object known as The Belt of Deltora, which is Deltora's only protection against him. On his sixteenth birthday, Lief, son of Jarred the blacksmith of Deltora's capital city Del, and his wife Anna, is given the repaired Belt and told the truth; that his father was the best friend of the former king, Endon, and helped him escape with his wife and unborn child when the Shadow Lord took over. Accompanied by Barda, a former palace guard, and given a map of Deltora showing where the seven gems of the Belt are believed to be, Lief sets out to restore the Belt and save the land. Their first destination is the Forests of Silence.

After meeting a girl named Jasmine who has been alone ever since her parents were taken by the Shadow Lord's soldiers when she was seven, Lief and Barda are directed to the location of the first gem. After destroying the guardian Gorl, they find the Topaz and continue to the Lake of Tears, accompanied by Jasmine after she is encouraged by the spirit of her now-deceased mother. Along the way, they meet a silent man named Manus and with his help defeat Jin and Jod, two of the sorceress Thaegan's thirteen children. Eventually, after discovering the existence of a resistance against the Shadow Lord, they reach the Lake and persuade the gem's guardian, the monster Soldeen, to give it to them. However, they are forced to fight with Thaegan and retrieve the Ruby. Thaegan is defeated when Jasmine's raven, Kree, creates a cut in her finger, causing her to lose blood. Since Thaegan is a witch, she instantly dies as a result of it, restoring the Lake to its former appearance, Soldeen and the other creatures in the Lake to their original human forms, and the voices of Manus and his people, the Ralads.

On their way to the next gem, the trio are trapped by Thaegan's remaining eleven children, but manage to fool them and escape. Then, they visit a mysterious shop owned by Tom, and meet a scar-faced man, Doom, who is part of the resistance. After finding and escaping from Noradz, a city revealed to be supplying the Shadow Lord's servants with food, they manage to reach the City of Rats. There Lief, Barda and Jasmine defeat the giant snake Reeah and get the Opal. They leave, but after losing their remaining money are forced to enter the deadly Rithmere Championships to raise funds. Jasmine wins, and then they are subsequently captured. With the help of Doom, who also competed, and his friend Dain, who was disguised as a server, they manage to escape and reach the Shifting Sands, where they obtain the fourth gem, the Lapis Lazuli.

Attempting to travel to Dread Mountain, they are trapped by Thaegan, who has been revived by the Shadow Lord, but manage to destroy her again, along with four of her children. They encounter a race of sentient animals called the Kin, and with their help, travel to Dread Mountain, pursued by the Shadow Lord's elite soldiers, the Carn Squad. On Dread Mountain, they defeat the monstrous toad Gellick with the help of the Dread Gnomes, who form an alliance with the Kin, and retrieve the Emerald. On the way, they discover the years-old grave of another man named Doom, realizing the man they know is not who he claims to be. Lief also discovers that his parents have been taken captive by Fallow, the Shadow Lord's advisor, but his friends persuade him that the only way to save them is to complete the quest.

Traveling toward the Maze of the Beast, they encounter Dain, who saves them from two Ols, shapeshifting servants of the Shadow Lord. He directs them to a stronghold of the resistance, but Doom, revealed to be the leader, distrusts them and has them locked up. Dain helps them escape on the condition that they bring him to the city of Tora. They go on the boat the River Queen, but are attacked by pirates, who kidnap Dain and end up leaving after finding out that a few of the passengers are Ols. To avoid putting the other passengers in danger, the trio are dropped off nearby. Eventually found by pirates again, they are sent into the Maze of the Beast and are able to find the Amethyst, barely escaping the slug-like Glus.

The Shadow Lord revives Thaegan again, and she attempts to defeat them with their worst fears, but they triumph over her once more and leave her to destroy herself along with all but one of her remaining children, Ichabod. After this, pursued by both the Carn Squad and a pyrokinetic sorcerer, Oacus, they rescue Dain and find Tora, empty of its people after they broke a magical vow to shelter King Endon. Shortly after they arrive, they encounter Doom, who reveals he escaped the Shadowlands after receiving his scar and was rescued by the other Doom who was killed by the Shadow Lord's minions when they pursued him, but does not remember anything before this, including his name, which is why he uses the other man's. While Doom and Dain leave to return to the resistance, the trio journey to the Valley of the Lost and defeat the guardian, retrieving the last gem, the Diamond, after a scuffle with Oacus.

Doom and Dain arrive at the Valley, revealed to now be home to the people of Tora, and are eventually informed about the quest to restore the gems. Doom agrees to help them find the heir, and arranges a meeting of members of all the seven tribes of Deltora at another resistance stronghold near Del. At the stronghold, they are once again attacked by the Carn Squad and realize they have a spy in their midst, but the tribes unite and kill their attackers. When they all swear loyalty to the new heir, Lief comes to believe that Dain is Endon's child, but he is quickly kidnapped by Ichabod and brought to Del. The group journeys to Del, defeating Oacus for the final time along the way, and rescues Dain, killing Ichabod in the process.

However, when Dain is given the Belt, he reveals himself to be Ol, and the spy, and has them ambushed. Most of the resistance escapes, but Barda, Jasmine and Doom are captured, while Lief manages to kill Dain and retrieve the Belt. Doom, who suffered a head injury in the capture, remembers his past, including that he is Jasmine's long-lost father, before they are rescued by Lief and the Kin. Lief suspects Jasmine of being the heir, but she maintains she is not. When Fallow threatens to kill Lief's parents if they do not surrender, the people of Del come to the resistance's aid, and the Shadow Lord's forces, including Fallow, are defeated, while Jarred and Anna are rescued.

Jarred and Doom recognize each other, and reveal the truth; Jarred is really King Endon, while Doom is the real Jarred, the two men having switched identities to protect the heir to the throne, Lief. However, Fallow is revealed to still be alive, and attacks Endon before being stopped by Lief. More of the Shadow Lord's minions, including the seven Ak-Baba, dragon-like birds who hid the gems, attack the people, but Lief eventually kills Fallow, though the gems are scattered from the Belt when he does so. The Shadow Lord himself arrives to destroy the resistance, but Lief manages to put the gems back on the Belt in the right order this time (Diamond, Emerald, Lapis Lazuli, Topaz, Opal, Ruby, Amethyst, spelling "Deltora") before wearing it, banishing the Shadow Lord. Endon, fatally wounded in the fight, thanks Lief for saving the people when he could not, and dies peacefully, leaving Lief as the new king of the now united Deltora.

Characters

 * Lief
 * At the start of the series, Lief is the son of a blacksmith who lives in the run down city of Del. He is (as Barda describes him) 'A young hot-head' and spends his time roaming the streets and both tempting and dodging trouble. On his 16th birthday he leaves Del on his father's quest to find the magical gems missing from the Belt of Deltora and the heir destined to wear it. Lief is tempted in many ways and by the end of the first series we see that he has grown not only in bravery and strength, but also in wisdom and patience. During the series, he competes in a contest in which he describes his special skill as speed. Lief is very courageous and extremely trustworthy. He shows romantic interest in Jasmine, even though they don't always see eye to eye. Only a few times does he consider giving up the quest but the thought of his friends or allies suffering always helps him to continue.
 * At the start of the series, Lief is the son of a blacksmith who lives in the run down city of Del. He is (as Barda describes him) 'A young hot-head' and spends his time roaming the streets and both tempting and dodging trouble. On his 16th birthday he leaves Del on his father's quest to find the magical gems missing from the Belt of Deltora and the heir destined to wear it. Lief is tempted in many ways and by the end of the first series we see that he has grown not only in bravery and strength, but also in wisdom and patience. During the series, he competes in a contest in which he describes his special skill as speed. Lief is very courageous and extremely trustworthy. He shows romantic interest in Jasmine, even though they don't always see eye to eye. Only a few times does he consider giving up the quest but the thought of his friends or allies suffering always helps him to continue.


 * Barda
 * At the start of the series Barda appears to be a poor beggar living on the streets of Del. He is revealed to be an ex-palace guard who assumes the role of protector to Lief, much to both his and Lief's dismay. He is a skilled swordsman and frequently makes jokes about being stuck with two young hot-heads Lief and Jasmine. He is about the same age as Lief's parents. He is also the son of Min who was the childhood nurse maid of both Endon and Jarred, who was killed by Prandine when she warned King Endon he was being deceived, but he didn't believe her. During the series, Barda competes in a contest in which he describes his special skill as strength. He helps Lief and Jasmine along the quest and is always strong-hearted, never gives up hope and is rather a gentle giant.
 * At the start of the series Barda appears to be a poor beggar living on the streets of Del. He is revealed to be an ex-palace guard who assumes the role of protector to Lief, much to both his and Lief's dismay. He is a skilled swordsman and frequently makes jokes about being stuck with two young hot-heads Lief and Jasmine. He is about the same age as Lief's parents. He is also the son of Min who was the childhood nurse maid of both Endon and Jarred, who was killed by Prandine when she warned King Endon he was being deceived, but he didn't believe her. During the series, Barda competes in a contest in which he describes his special skill as strength. He helps Lief and Jasmine along the quest and is always strong-hearted, never gives up hope and is rather a gentle giant.


 * Jasmine
 * At the start of the series Jasmine is a wild orphan girl who lives a solitary life in the dangerous Forests of Silence. She has messy coal black hair which frames her elfin face and emerald green eyes. She is often described as impatient and lonely but with a good heart. Her only friends in the Forests are the raven named Kree and a small furry animal called Filli. Jasmine understands the language of trees and many other animals. She is independent, like Lief, though she displays far less tact. She is also unafraid of standing up for what she believes in, if she feels something is unjust or incorrect she explains her view without any fear of reprimand. She believes in equal rights and fairness, her only problem is that she cannot understand people who will not fight for themselves. Growing up all alone, Jasmine knows how to fend for herself. She usually gets her own way. Jasmine is unable to comprehend how easily many people can be tricked by fancy words and promises. In the series she finds her long lost father and they are once again reunited. She is about the same age as Lief (16). Also during the series, Jasmine competes in a contest in which she describes her special skill as agility. She shows romantic interest in Lief, even though they don't always see eye to eye.
 * At the start of the series Jasmine is a wild orphan girl who lives a solitary life in the dangerous Forests of Silence. She has messy coal black hair which frames her elfin face and emerald green eyes. She is often described as impatient and lonely but with a good heart. Her only friends in the Forests are the raven named Kree and a small furry animal called Filli. Jasmine understands the language of trees and many other animals. She is independent, like Lief, though she displays far less tact. She is also unafraid of standing up for what she believes in, if she feels something is unjust or incorrect she explains her view without any fear of reprimand. She believes in equal rights and fairness, her only problem is that she cannot understand people who will not fight for themselves. Growing up all alone, Jasmine knows how to fend for herself. She usually gets her own way. Jasmine is unable to comprehend how easily many people can be tricked by fancy words and promises. In the series she finds her long lost father and they are once again reunited. She is about the same age as Lief (16). Also during the series, Jasmine competes in a contest in which she describes her special skill as agility. She shows romantic interest in Lief, even though they don't always see eye to eye.


 * Kree


 * Filli


 * The Shadow Lord


 * Dain

Production
The series was produced by Genco and the animation production at OLM and SKY Perfect Well Think. Rodda was originally approached with many film offers, but it was only this studio that promised to not change the story. The first episode was aired on January 6, 2007, in Japan.

It was directed by Mitsuru Hongō (Spirit of Wonder, Outlaw Star), designed by Hiroyuki Nishimura and Junya Ishigaki, and written by Oketani Arawa, Reiko Yoshida, and Natsuko Takahashi. The music was composed by Kow Otani, but was replaced with an original soundtrack in the English version.

Although the series employs mostly traditional animation it uses CGI for the Guardians.

Deltora Quest was originally licensed in North America by Geneon as one of their final licenses but shut down before doing anything with the series. The series was then rescued by Dentsu's newly established North American branch, and they produced an English version of the series in association with Ocean Productions in Vancouver, British Columbia and recorded at their Calgary-based Blue Water Studios. All music for the English version was composed and produced by John Mitchell and Tom Keenlyside at Anitunes Music Inc.

Due to the series' popularity in Japan, it was extended to 65 episodes from the original 52, containing stories not present in the original novels. The English dub restores the ending of the original novels, and ignores the 13 added episodes in the anime.

Cinedigm released the series onto DVD in a complete boxset on May 13, 2014.

Opening theme

 * 1) HEART☆BEAT by MARIA (episodes 1–28)
 * 2) Boku no Taiyō by AKB48 (episodes 29–52)
 * 3) In This Life~Tabidachi made no 3 Step (In This Life~旅立ちまでの3ステップ) by Delta Goodrem (episodes 53–65)

Ending theme

 * 1) Sakura Uta by Rythem (episodes 1–14)
 * 2) Hey Now! by COOLON (episodes 15–26)
 * 3) Go To Fly by Sunbrain (episodes 27–39)
 * 4) Yume x Yume' (夢x夢) by Yurika Ohyama (episodes 40–52)
 * 5) Yubikiri Genman (ユビキリゲンマン) by Hoi festa (episodes 53–65)

The English version uses an original instrumental composed by John Lee Mitchell and Tom Keenlyside for Anitunes Music Inc.

Video game
A video game for the Nintendo DS titled Deltora Quest: Nanatsu no Houseki was released in Japan by Bandai Namco on September 20, 2007.