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Star Ocean EX is an interesting blend of fantasy and science fiction based upon the roleplaying game Star Ocean 2: The Second Story. The anime follows the game fairly closely, although the series only covers the first half of the game. The corresponding manga, however, follows the entire game as well as the sequel, Star Ocean: Blue Sphere. Though the ending of the first season indicates the show would continue, a second season has yet to be made. The story follows a young boy named Claude and the people that join him on his journey. Serving aboard his father's ship as a newly commissioned officer in the Earth Federation, Claude is accidentally transported to the planet Expel while on his first mission. He sets out to find a way back, and along the way meets up with several people. The first person he meets is Rena, a young girl who believes that Claude is the 'hero of light' come to save her world after seeing him use an energy gun (something that doesn't exist on Expel) to save her from a dangerous creature. While Claude doesn't believe himself to be the legendary hero, he quickly becomes involved in the planet's plight anyway. An item called the sorcery globe has fallen to the ground and has created evil creatures that threaten to destroy everything. Claude initally wants to investigate thinking it might be a way to get home, but it isn't long before he decides he wants to stay and help save the planet. A well done show with excellent character development and one of the first to integrate CG with regular animation, Star Ocean is a good watch for all fantasy fans.
Claude is constantly struggling to find himself - before the accident as the son of his famous father trying to live up to others expectations; and after trying to live up to the label of 'legendary hero of light' that has been thrust upon him by the inhabitants of Expel. Despite this he manages to keep going, thanks to the support of friends he makes along the way and his own determination to never give up. He has a talent for swordsmanship and picks up the skill fairly quickly. Strong and reliable, Claude can always be counted on to pull through any situation.
| Race: | Human | Height: | 175cm / 5'9" |
| Age: | 19 | Weight: | 68kg / 150lbs |
| Birthday: | January 23 |
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Rena possesses strange healing powers that are unlike anything else found on the planet. Although at first she doesn't know why she has these powers, she later learns it is because she is not from the planet Expel. She was abandoned in a forest as a baby and adopted by the woman who found her. Young, innocent, and having a vivid imagination, Rena may appear to be weak, but this is not the case. Rena carries a deep affection for both Claude and Dias and looks up to them.
| Race: | Nedian | Height: | 161cm / 5'3" |
| Age: | 17 | Weight: | 45kg / 100lbs |
| Birthday: | May 13 |
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Celine is a beautiful and sexy treasure hunter as well as a powerful Heraldic sorceress posessing black magics that few can match. Her mind is equally strong and once she sets her heart on something, she won't give up until she gets it. While Celine's overbearing nature may cause her to shed her morals now and then (like blowing up people who annoy her) she has a good heart and will always help those in need.
| Race: | Expellian | Height: | 167cm / 5'6" |
| Age: | 23 | Weight: | 50kg / 110lbs |
| Birthday: | September 18 |
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Ashton is a skilled fighter, using two short-bladed swords as his weapons. He is also very unlucky, and after getting distracted during a fight, becomes possessed by a two headed dragon that attaches itself to his back. This actually makes Ashton a more formidable opponent, but he wants nothing more than to be free of them. Ashton has a strange obsession with barrels and is a bit naive, usually getting left behind in discussions. He also has a crush on Precis.
| Race: | Expellian | Height: | 180cm / 5'11" |
| Age: | 20 | Weight: | 80kg / 175lbs |
| Birthday: | September 28 |
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Dias is an expert swordsman that is always looking to improve his skills so that he may avenge the deaths of his family killed by bandits when he was a child. He comes off as being dark and brooding, the most important thing to him is to become stronger and more skilled. While at first Dias is unaccepting of Claude because of his weaknesses, he later accepts him after realizing Claude's inner strength. Although not related, Dias acts like an older brother to Rena, and is very protective of her.
| Race: | Expellian | Height: | 192cm / 6'4" |
| Age: | 25 | Weight: | 82kg / 180lbs |
| Birthday: | August 5 |
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A member of an aristocratic family on her home planet of Tetragene, Opera is not only beautiful and sexy, but intelligent and skilled with machinery as well. She's also quite fond of drinking. Opera goes off to search for her boyfriend (Ernest), but her ship crashes on Expel, stranding her there. Opera eventually joins with Claude and the others after she learns that Ernest is also on Expel and that his studies are linked to Claude's adventure. Opera carries a large gun around with her as weapon.
| Race: | Tetragene | Height: | 160cm / 5'3" |
| Age: | 23 | Weight: | 50kg / 110lbs |
| Birthday: | August 24 |
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Precis is young and extremely energetic. She's an expert with machinery and is continually building robots and other machines, though they don't always work as she plans. She carries with her a machine called Bobot that can be reconfigured into many things. Precis has a crush on Claude, which annoys Rena though Claude is somewhat indifferent to both of them. Precis is very determined and always tries to remain happy no matter what the situation.
| Race: | Expellian | Height: | 155cm / 5'1" |
| Age: | 16 | Weight: | 43kg / 95lbs |
| Birthday: | February 29 |
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Bowman is a pharmacologist and scholar. Bowman spends most of his time focussed on his studies - sometimes too much time - making him seem impersonal at times. Despite his appearance, Bowman is quite strong and physically fit. He has a strong concern for others, using his skills in medicine to help when he can. Bowman is married, and his wife helps him run the pharmacy.
| Race: | Expellian | Height: | 175cm / 5'9" |
| Age: | 27 | Weight: | 78kg / 172lbs |
| Birthday: | December 30 |
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Leon is a scientific genius and strong black magic user. He is still a child, though, which makes it difficult for him to work with others at times. Leon is very confident - almost arrogant - of his scientific abilities, but he becomes nervous when he needs to rely on his magic. He and Precis get along very well, both being experts with machines, though Precis wishes he was a little older. Leon is a Fellpool, and was adopted at a young age by his Expellian parents.
| Race: | Fellpool | Height: | 135cm / 4'5" |
| Age: | 12 | Weight: | 36kg / 79lbs |
| Birthday: | November 25 |
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An archeologist from the planet Tetragene, Ernest is passionate about his work, having it take priority over anything else, including his girlfriend, Opera, at times. Though he does love Opera, he tends to forget about her when he becomes involved with a mission. Ernest travelled to Expel to study some ancient ruins and becomes involved with Claude when he learns his studies are related to Claude's mission. He is tall and strong, and carries a whip as a weapon.
| Race: | Tetragene | Height: | 190cm / 6'3" |
| Age: | 35 | Weight: | 90kg / 198lbs |
| Birthday: | August 31 |
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Noel is a pacifist, animal lover, and environmentalist. He is also very quiet and shy. The most important thing in life to Noel are animals, and he tends to avoid contact with people. He posesses healing magic just like Rena does, though it is not as strong as hers. He doesn't like to fight, and will do so only when an animal or himself are threatened.
| Race: | Nedian | Height: | 173cm / 5'8" |
| Age: | 24 | Weight: | 74kg / 163lbs |
| Birthday: | February 18 |
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Chisato is an overly energetic and somewhat nosey investigative news reporter. She's always looking for the next big story, and her curiosity often gets her into bad situations. Chisato has a habit of jumping into things without thinking them through, which also usually lands her in trouble. She is a black belt in ju-jitsu, though ironically, she is also quite clumsy, frequently tripping over things. Chisato is always willing to help people when needed, though her reasons are generally motivated by hoping to get her next story out of it.
| Race: | Nedian | Height: | 164cm / 5'5" |
| Age: | 22 | Weight: | 52kg / 114lbs |
| Birthday: | October 21 |
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| 1. | To the Light (4.37Mb) | Opening theme for Star Ocean EX |
2. | Hearts (4.67Mb) | Ending theme for Star Ocean EX |