The Anime Flip Side - Fantasy Anime

Description

In the year 2005, a computer virus called Pluto Kiss struck and destroyed most of the internet. A few years later, the network has been rebuilt and a game known simply as "The World" has emerged. The game, maintained by CC Company (though invented by a man named Harold) is an massive online roleplaying game that has become immensely popular. There are mysterious problems with the game, however, but few players know about them and their potential danger. The show is based upon the series of four .hack video games.

.hack//SIGN is about Tsukasa, a player who is unable to log out of the game and is able to sense and feel the games environment. He wanders about the game with no real sense of purpose, hoping to find information to what has happened. In addition, Tsukasa has access to areas that regular players cannot go, and some that aren't even supposed to exist. He has also been granted a special guardian from an unknown consciousness within the game to protect him. This guardian is very dangerous, and causes people to lose consciousness (temporarily) in the real world when attacked by it in the game. All these events prompts many people to become involved in finding out what is happening, because they want to put an end to the dangerous activities, some for personal reasons, and others because they simply want to be friends with Tsukasa and help him discover the truth. An interesting story and look into the world of online gaming, as well as an intriguing blend of fantasy, science fiction and mystery. Also included is excellent music and interesting characters that work well to set the mood in this unique story setting.

Main Characters
Tsukasa

Original voice: Mitsuki Saiga

Quiet and sullen, Tsukasa's character is a Wavemaster (magic user) that is unable to log out of the game and has been granted unique abilites that shouldn't exist. He doesn't understand what has happened to him and wants nothing more than to be left alone, something that becomes increasingly difficult as more and more people become interested in him. Tsukasa's desire to find out what happened, however, allows him to eventually accept those people that seek to help him. Several pieces of programming code representing different elements of The World have taken various forms in the game and communicate with Tsukasa, (Maho, Aura, Morganna) though he has difficulty understanding them most of the time.

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Mimiru

Original voice: Megumi Toyoguchi

Mimiru's character is a Heavy Blade user. She is a young, energetic and dangerously curious about the things around her. Unable to resist the mystery surrounding Tsukasa she tries to befriend and help him, though at first he doesn't want her around. Mimiru persists though, and eventually succeeds in befriending him. She is loyal to her friends and will defend them regardless of the danger. Although a fairly skilled player, Mimiru's fierce loyalty and curious nature often lands her in situations that she can't handle, though this doesn't change her attitude.

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Bear

Original voice: Kazuhiro Nakata

Bear's character class is a Blademaster. His personality in the game is that of a strong fatherly figure, possibly to make up for something missing in the real world, though it is never stated directly. Bear quickly befriends Mimiru, and through her becomes friends with Tsukasa, as well as entwined in his ordeal. Always one to be calm in any situation, Bear helps to diffuse emotional outbursts in crises, particularly with Mimiru. A very resourceful man, he does a lot of research offline into the mysteries plaguing the game and is a key figure in solving them.

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B.T.

Original voice: Akiko Hiramatsu

B.T., as with Tsukasa, is of the Wavemaster class. She is resourceful, like Bear, but she uses this information for her own personal gain. Her motives never really become clear, and she sits on both sides of the fence, dealing with both friends and enemies alike to get what she wants. B.T. is very adversarial in nature, and develops rivalries with several people: Bear, in gathering and trading information; Sora, for the same reason as Bear (but in a more shady way) as well as wanting to discover his true intentions; and Kurim, in trying to win his affections outside the game. In the real world, B.T. is unhappy and seems to use the game as an escape from reality, contributing to her real life interest in Kurim.

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Subaru

Original voice: Kaori Nazuka

Subaru's character is a Heavy Axe user. She plays the game for a very special reason, because it allows her to do something she can no longer do in real life. Subaru plays the game almost daily, but despite this her skill is very low. She is the leader and co-founder of the Scarlet Knights, a group of players dedicated to keeping order and justice in the game. Kurim is her friend outside the game, possibly the only one she had until she met Tsukasa, with whom she develops a special relationship with. Subaru tries to project confidence and hides her problems from others behind this mask, but deep inside she is a very meek character. Because of her personality and her low game skill, she always relies on Kurim and Ginkan, her right-hand man in the Scarlet Knights for protection.

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Kurim

Original voice: Shin Ichiro

Kurim is a highly skilled Long Arm user known to many as "Red Lightning". He treats the game as just that - a game, believing that it and reality are two entirely separate things. As such, he has a relationship with Subaru outside the game, but in the game, his character has a relationship with B.T. Kurim is intuitive and always almost always knows the right thing to say in any situation. Kurim met Subaru during one of her first times playing the game and saved her from some players who were bothering her. They became friends and Kurim taught her things about the game. Together, they founded the Scarlet Knights, though Kurim has since left the organization for personal reasons.

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Sora

Original voice: Hiroshi Yanaka

A dark and shady figure, Sora fits the rogue-like personality often associated with the Twin Blade class. The only side he is on is his own. Sora never does anything except for his own personal gain or amusement. He is extremely skilled at the game and enjoys attacking and killing other players in the game. He is also good at information gathering. Despite these qualities and skills, he often acts immature, especially with his speech. Sora has a shadowy relationship with B.T. and seeks her out for information on occasion. He also has a rivalry with Kurim, one of the few players that can match his skill.

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Secondary Characters

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Ginkan
Original voice: Kazunobu Chiba

Maho
Original voice: None. Maho doesn't speak.

Helba
Original voice: Yumi Touma

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Music

Mp3:

1. Obsession (4.24Mb) Opening theme for .hack//SIGN

2.
Yasashii Yoake (Gentle Twilight) (4.87Mb)
Ending theme for .hack//SIGN

3.
A Stray Child (2.62Mb)
Song from .hack//SIGN

4.
Aura (2.89Mb)
Song from .hack//SIGN

5.
Das Wandern (1.40Mb)
Song from .hack//SIGN

6.
Fake Wings (2.43Mb)
Song from .hack//SIGN

7.
In the Land of Twilight Under the Moon (3.53Mb)
Song from .hack//SIGN

8.
Key of the Twilight (3.52Mb)
Song from .hack//SIGN

9.
Open Your Heart (4.34Mb)
Song from .hack//SIGN

10.
The World (4.74Mb)
Song from .hack//SIGN

11.
To Nowhere (3.05Mb)
Song from .hack//SIGN

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1.	Obsession (4.24Mb)	Opening theme for .hack//SIGN
2.	Yasashii Yoake (Gentle Twilight) (4.87Mb)	Ending theme for .hack//SIGN
3.	A Stray Child (2.62Mb)	Song from .hack//SIGN
4.	Aura (2.89Mb)	Song from .hack//SIGN
5.	Das Wandern (1.40Mb)	Song from .hack//SIGN
6.	Fake Wings (2.43Mb)	Song from .hack//SIGN
7.	In the Land of Twilight Under the Moon (3.53Mb)	Song from .hack//SIGN
8.	Key of the Twilight (3.52Mb)	Song from .hack//SIGN
9.	Open Your Heart (4.34Mb)	Song from .hack//SIGN
10.	The World (4.74Mb)	Song from .hack//SIGN
11.	To Nowhere (3.05Mb)	Song from .hack//SIGN