Sorcerous Stabber Orphen

Sorcerous Stabber Orphen (魔術士オーフェン) is a series of Japanese fantasy adventure novels and manga, two anime television series (Sorcerous Stabber Orphen: Begins and Sorcerous Stabber Orphen: Revenge), and a video game.

Synopsis
Azalie, Orphen's best friend who had helped him get through the prestigious magic school, The Tower of Fang, has some connection with the beastly dragon, the Bloody August. To uphold the magic school's reputation, the dragon must be destroyed—but Orphen isn't about to let that happen so easily, for this beastly dragon is Azalie: she had been transformed due to tampering with something with which she shouldn't have. People whom Orphen thought were his friends suddenly seem as though they are enemies in the race to get to Azalie first. Orphen leaves the school, furious with the fact that they want to destroy his best friend. He sets out on a journey to find and save her with his apprentice, Majic, and a woman who holds one of the key items in her house, Cleao.

Magic and Spells
There are two kinds of magic in Sorcerous Stabber Orphen:


 * Black Magic: Destructive powers based on the elements of Earth, Fire, Light, Ice and Wind.
 * White Magic: Spells that allow the user to enter the spirit world and control it; may be used for healing or like Azalie, who used White Magic to swap bodies with Childman.

The Magic used by humans is passed down by the Nornir race. They cast spells vocally and without their voice cannot manipulate the flow of magic. The strength of the voice determines how powerful the corresponding spell.

The proper incantation is also needed. For example, when Majic asked: "Why can't you just say 'Take that!!... or... Hayaa!!'?" The reason is the spell acts as a way to add form to the magic, not just by the focus of the magic energies. Most spells in Orphen seem to consist of two parts. The opening line seems to be a command, and then the last line seems to be the form the spell takes.

For example, Orphen's usual spell: "Ware wa Hanatsu, Hikari no hakujin!" (I release thee, Sword of light!)

Orphen's Spells
This is a table of all the spells Orphen uses. The Kanji and Romanized Japanese is shown, along with the English translation and what the spell does.

Main Characters

 * Orphen (オーフェン)
 * Gender: Male
 * Age: 20
 * Hair: Brown
 * Eyes: Brown
 * Height: 171 cm
 * Weight: 61 kg
 * Blood type: O
 * Orphen is the main male lead. Fans claim "he comes off as a 'badass' kind of guy", because of his apparent lack of emotions, dedication to finish what he is working on as soon as possible (his eagerness to stop helping people he feels he doesn't have to help), and his 'coldness' towards people he doesn't know. He is partly an anti-hero throughout the entire series. The only time his attitude changes is when the subject of Azalie is brought up. He will do anything for Azalie, as when they were younger, she had tutored him and gave him the confidence to get as far as he did in the Tower of Fangs. He and Azalie were brought to the school because it was believed that they possessed a strong amount of magical power within them. This proved correct; Orphen was a magic-prodigy. Orphen eventually becomes the greatest sorcerer in the world. Orphen keeps his feelings and the story about Azalie to himself at first, but opens up later in the series. His true name is Krylancelo Finrandi (キリランシェロ・フィンランディ), and the people from the Tower of Fangs (Hartia, Azalie, Childman, Flameheart) still refer to him like that.
 * Orphen is the main male lead. Fans claim "he comes off as a 'badass' kind of guy", because of his apparent lack of emotions, dedication to finish what he is working on as soon as possible (his eagerness to stop helping people he feels he doesn't have to help), and his 'coldness' towards people he doesn't know. He is partly an anti-hero throughout the entire series. The only time his attitude changes is when the subject of Azalie is brought up. He will do anything for Azalie, as when they were younger, she had tutored him and gave him the confidence to get as far as he did in the Tower of Fangs. He and Azalie were brought to the school because it was believed that they possessed a strong amount of magical power within them. This proved correct; Orphen was a magic-prodigy. Orphen eventually becomes the greatest sorcerer in the world. Orphen keeps his feelings and the story about Azalie to himself at first, but opens up later in the series. His true name is Krylancelo Finrandi (キリランシェロ・フィンランディ), and the people from the Tower of Fangs (Hartia, Azalie, Childman, Flameheart) still refer to him like that.


 * Cleao Everlasting (クリーオウ・エバーラスティン)
 * Gender: Female
 * Age: 17
 * Hair: Sunny blonde
 * Eyes: Blue
 * Height: 155 cm
 * Weight: 44 kg
 * Blood type: A
 * She is the tomboyish, feisty main female lead. Her father had inherited the Sword of Balthanders, and Orphen needed the sword. She accompanies him on his journey, allowing him to take the sword (as it was just an ornament to her, knowing nothing of its power), claiming that she is only coming to "make sure he doesn't harm her investment." She and Orphen fight quite a bit - mainly silly, funny fights. As the series goes on, her feelings for him grow, and she shows it, too. (This fact is played up more in the second series, when Cleao and Orphen have somehow sleepwalked into the bed of the other.) When they met up with Stephanie, Orphen's old partner, Cleao got very jealous. She also got rather angry whenever Orphen would talk about Azalie (this is when they knew nothing beyond 'Azalie is someone who Orphen wants to help').
 * She is the tomboyish, feisty main female lead. Her father had inherited the Sword of Balthanders, and Orphen needed the sword. She accompanies him on his journey, allowing him to take the sword (as it was just an ornament to her, knowing nothing of its power), claiming that she is only coming to "make sure he doesn't harm her investment." She and Orphen fight quite a bit - mainly silly, funny fights. As the series goes on, her feelings for him grow, and she shows it, too. (This fact is played up more in the second series, when Cleao and Orphen have somehow sleepwalked into the bed of the other.) When they met up with Stephanie, Orphen's old partner, Cleao got very jealous. She also got rather angry whenever Orphen would talk about Azalie (this is when they knew nothing beyond 'Azalie is someone who Orphen wants to help').


 * Majic Lin (マジク・リン)
 * Gender: Male
 * Age:16
 * Hair: Blonde
 * Eyes: Blue
 * Height: 159 cm
 * Weight: 51 kg
 * Blood type: AB
 * Majic is Orphen's apprentice, and the second-male lead. He is a friend of Cleao's, but not a close one since she's three years older than him and she also spent a long time at boarding school. He deals with the torment from both Cleao and Orphen on their journey together to save Azalie. His father is paying Orphen to teach him, which at first seems a waste of money to his father. When Orphen repairs a glass that fell with his magic, before the father's eyes, the father's opinion about his money being "thrown out the window" disappears. Majic appears to be a good student, learning as much as he can, and retaining all of what he learns. Orphen seems to have a lot of faith in him. This gives him courage, which makes his power stronger. Majic looks up to Orphen, and refers to him as "master" upon Orphen's request. All sorcerers call their "teachers", who teach them sorcery, "master."
 * Majic is Orphen's apprentice, and the second-male lead. He is a friend of Cleao's, but not a close one since she's three years older than him and she also spent a long time at boarding school. He deals with the torment from both Cleao and Orphen on their journey together to save Azalie. His father is paying Orphen to teach him, which at first seems a waste of money to his father. When Orphen repairs a glass that fell with his magic, before the father's eyes, the father's opinion about his money being "thrown out the window" disappears. Majic appears to be a good student, learning as much as he can, and retaining all of what he learns. Orphen seems to have a lot of faith in him. This gives him courage, which makes his power stronger. Majic looks up to Orphen, and refers to him as "master" upon Orphen's request. All sorcerers call their "teachers", who teach them sorcery, "master."


 * Leki (レキ)
 * Gender: Male
 * Hair: Blue
 * Eyes: Green
 * One of the race of Wolven or Deep Dragon, Leki is a cub who is found and adopted by Cleao, although perhaps it could be said that Leki adopted Cleao, as adult Deep Dragons are more powerful and intelligent by far than humans. Like all Deep Dragons, Leki resembles a wolf rather than a reptilian dragon, and when he uses his innate powers, his eyes will glow a bright green color. As Leki is still very young, he often exhibits young animal-like tendencies, such as chasing after a butterfly. He protects and defends Cleao whenever he feels the need to, or when Cleao orders him. She's very good to him; in fact, Cleao often treats him better than her two human companions, Orphen and Majic. Leki will not only protect Cleao, but anyone who he sees in danger. Leki's collar belongs to one of the three artifacts from the Aisle of Balthanders, the Bracelet of Nomafrozis. Near the end of the novel series, before he and Cleo depart, he bestows a surmountable amount of magical power upon her so that she may be able to protect herself.
 * One of the race of Wolven or Deep Dragon, Leki is a cub who is found and adopted by Cleao, although perhaps it could be said that Leki adopted Cleao, as adult Deep Dragons are more powerful and intelligent by far than humans. Like all Deep Dragons, Leki resembles a wolf rather than a reptilian dragon, and when he uses his innate powers, his eyes will glow a bright green color. As Leki is still very young, he often exhibits young animal-like tendencies, such as chasing after a butterfly. He protects and defends Cleao whenever he feels the need to, or when Cleao orders him. She's very good to him; in fact, Cleao often treats him better than her two human companions, Orphen and Majic. Leki will not only protect Cleao, but anyone who he sees in danger. Leki's collar belongs to one of the three artifacts from the Aisle of Balthanders, the Bracelet of Nomafrozis. Near the end of the novel series, before he and Cleo depart, he bestows a surmountable amount of magical power upon her so that she may be able to protect herself.


 * Volkan (ボルカン)
 * Gender: Male
 * Age: 18
 * Hair: Blue-black
 * Eyes: Blue
 * Height: 130 cm
 * Weight: 70 kg
 * One of the trolls, appears a human brat, who frequently calls himself the "Masmaturian Bulldog". Volkan always comes up with their plans (which usually turn out to be poorly thought out, utterly bad ideas, and almost never work). He hates Orphen (whom he refers to as "the black wizard") and his companions, and always finds a way to ruin whatever they had in mind. It is his fault that Orphen often must use his magic on them to make them go away (himself and Dortin). Volkan wants only power and money. Any scheme he has in mind has the end result of getting him one of the two. None of his schemes ever work, however. He bosses Dortin around a lot, but in a very comical way (and probably means no real harm by it).
 * One of the trolls, appears a human brat, who frequently calls himself the "Masmaturian Bulldog". Volkan always comes up with their plans (which usually turn out to be poorly thought out, utterly bad ideas, and almost never work). He hates Orphen (whom he refers to as "the black wizard") and his companions, and always finds a way to ruin whatever they had in mind. It is his fault that Orphen often must use his magic on them to make them go away (himself and Dortin). Volkan wants only power and money. Any scheme he has in mind has the end result of getting him one of the two. None of his schemes ever work, however. He bosses Dortin around a lot, but in a very comical way (and probably means no real harm by it).


 * Dortin (ドーチン)
 * Gender: Male
 * Age: 17
 * Hair: Brown
 * Eyes: ? (always wearing glasses)
 * Height: 130 cm
 * Weight: 65 kg
 * Volkan's younger brother. Dortin and Volkan are often viewed as comic relief throughout the series. They are two trolls who are always low on money, and seem to always find a way to mess up whatever Orphen is trying to accomplish. They work in Cleao's basement, cutting up food and whatnot; she is their employer. As for his character, Dortin is the voice of reason (that is never paid any attention to) on his and Volkan's quests. He is kind and knowledgable, though some consider him something of a nerd. When Volkan messes up, Dortin always tries to tell Orphen he had no part in Volkan's schemes, but they both wind up being victim's of Orphen's magical blasts anyway. Dortin is shown to be quite caring and loyal, as he begs Orphen for help in saving his brother from mushroom poisoning and, later, in defying Volkan's "order" to run from danger when a friend needed his help.
 * Volkan's younger brother. Dortin and Volkan are often viewed as comic relief throughout the series. They are two trolls who are always low on money, and seem to always find a way to mess up whatever Orphen is trying to accomplish. They work in Cleao's basement, cutting up food and whatnot; she is their employer. As for his character, Dortin is the voice of reason (that is never paid any attention to) on his and Volkan's quests. He is kind and knowledgable, though some consider him something of a nerd. When Volkan messes up, Dortin always tries to tell Orphen he had no part in Volkan's schemes, but they both wind up being victim's of Orphen's magical blasts anyway. Dortin is shown to be quite caring and loyal, as he begs Orphen for help in saving his brother from mushroom poisoning and, later, in defying Volkan's "order" to run from danger when a friend needed his help.

Key Characters

 * Azalie Cait Sith (アザリー・ケットシー)
 * Gender: Female
 * Age: 25
 * Hair: Violet
 * Eyes: Red
 * Height: 166 cm
 * Weight: 56 kg
 * Blood type: AB
 * She's Orphen's foster sister, best friend - and the Bloody August. They were in the same orphanage and came to the Tower of Fangs together, believed to be magical-prodigies. She tutored him a lot, and gave him special attention. She was a great sorcerer - maybe one of the greatest. However, she had two sides to her. There was the kind, loving Azalie, and then the, as Orphen says, "scary" Azalie. After having her love declaration to someone else rejected, she seemed to be almost obsessed with her studies; she wanted more power, and one of her experiments turned her into Bloody August - name given to the dragon that first appeared in August.
 * She's Orphen's foster sister, best friend - and the Bloody August. They were in the same orphanage and came to the Tower of Fangs together, believed to be magical-prodigies. She tutored him a lot, and gave him special attention. She was a great sorcerer - maybe one of the greatest. However, she had two sides to her. There was the kind, loving Azalie, and then the, as Orphen says, "scary" Azalie. After having her love declaration to someone else rejected, she seemed to be almost obsessed with her studies; she wanted more power, and one of her experiments turned her into Bloody August - name given to the dragon that first appeared in August.


 * Childman Powderfield (チャイルドマン・パウダーフィールド)
 * Gender: Male
 * Age: ?
 * Hair: Black
 * Eyes: Blue
 * Height: 183 cm
 * Weight: 80 kg
 * Blood type: O
 * Orphen, Hartia, and Azalie's Master. He is Orphen's primary antagonist for the better part of the anime, as Orphen believes he really wants to kill Azalie. Hartia tries to convince Orphen that Childman isn't his enemy, but in the end, it fails. In actuality, he was trying procure the three talismans in order to restore Azalie himself since he felt personally responsible the tragedy that befell her. And at some point, things get even worse; when he tries to face the Bloody August, Azalie uses white magic to take over his body, leaving Childman's soul trapped in the Bloody August.
 * Orphen, Hartia, and Azalie's Master. He is Orphen's primary antagonist for the better part of the anime, as Orphen believes he really wants to kill Azalie. Hartia tries to convince Orphen that Childman isn't his enemy, but in the end, it fails. In actuality, he was trying procure the three talismans in order to restore Azalie himself since he felt personally responsible the tragedy that befell her. And at some point, things get even worse; when he tries to face the Bloody August, Azalie uses white magic to take over his body, leaving Childman's soul trapped in the Bloody August.


 * Hartia (ハーティア)
 * Gender: Male
 * Age: 20
 * Hair: Red
 * Eyes: Brown
 * Height: 169 cm
 * Weight: 60 kg
 * Blood type: B
 * Orphen's childhood friend and fellow sorcerer. They met at the Tower of Fangs. He is on Childman's side, instead of Orphen's, however, making it seem as though Hartia is Orphen's enemy. However, Hartia truly cares about Orphen, and has never forgotten their friendship. He is also a fan of the (fictional) manga, Black Tiger, and assumes the guise of its main character and namesake on occasion. However, the manga is fairly obscure, so Majik mistakenly assumes his name refers to the Penaeus monodon, a type of prawn sometimes called "Black Tiger", resulting in Hartia's receiving the nickname, "Shrimp Man", much to his own chagrin.
 * Orphen's childhood friend and fellow sorcerer. They met at the Tower of Fangs. He is on Childman's side, instead of Orphen's, however, making it seem as though Hartia is Orphen's enemy. However, Hartia truly cares about Orphen, and has never forgotten their friendship. He is also a fan of the (fictional) manga, Black Tiger, and assumes the guise of its main character and namesake on occasion. However, the manga is fairly obscure, so Majik mistakenly assumes his name refers to the Penaeus monodon, a type of prawn sometimes called "Black Tiger", resulting in Hartia's receiving the nickname, "Shrimp Man", much to his own chagrin.


 * Flameheart (フレイムハート)
 * Childman's rival in the Tower of Fangs and enemy to Orphen and Azalie. Although he ranks closely to Childman in terms of recognition, it is heavily implied that his mother Lady Shastanassie, one of the Elders, has influenced this. Indeed, he seems to rely on her for everything from emotional consolation to advice in his endeavors. Deprived of her guidance, he becomes quite mentally unstable, as seen at the end of the first season. Childman himself later states that Flameheart actually had very little strength or potential as a sorcerer.
 * Childman's rival in the Tower of Fangs and enemy to Orphen and Azalie. Although he ranks closely to Childman in terms of recognition, it is heavily implied that his mother Lady Shastanassie, one of the Elders, has influenced this. Indeed, he seems to rely on her for everything from emotional consolation to advice in his endeavors. Deprived of her guidance, he becomes quite mentally unstable, as seen at the end of the first season. Childman himself later states that Flameheart actually had very little strength or potential as a sorcerer.


 * Letitia (レティシャ・マクレディ)
 * A childhood friend of Azalie and Orphen. She is currently a member of the Tower of Fangs and appears to be in love with Orphen. Orphen shortens her name to Tisha in most cases. She appears in volumes five and six of the manga.
 * A childhood friend of Azalie and Orphen. She is currently a member of the Tower of Fangs and appears to be in love with Orphen. Orphen shortens her name to Tisha in most cases. She appears in volumes five and six of the manga.

Reception
Reactions to the first TV series were almost universally positive among anime fans. The series was hailed for its strong plot, three-dimensional characters, and dramatic "high fantasy" elements, which were seen as refreshing for the period the series was released (the late 90's saw a glut of comedic fantasy anime series, but very few dramatic ones.)

The second season (Revenge) was not as well-received, as it played up the comedic aspects of the series (which had been only a minor element in the first series) and had an overall much more lighthearted atmosphere. Much of Orphen's inner turmoil was eliminated and the plots were much more whimsical. However, what could seem to be whimsical during most of the series of the second season, near to the end turned out to be part of true spirit of the darker original Orphen series. Many fans were disappointed in this more lighthearted approach, complaining that it killed what had been special about Orphen in the first place-its refusal to be a part of the overcrowded fantasy-comedy genre. There was no third season, perhaps in part due to the negative response to this series.

A minor controversy erupted over the English dub of the first series, produced by ADV Films due to liberties taken with dialogue. The English dub of Orphen Revenge, however, is considered to be accurate and avoids most of the problems suffered by the first series.

Manga
The first volume of  Sorcerous Stabber Orphen was released in 2005 by ADV Manga. It tells us about Azalie, Orphen's love-interest, and best friend from six years ago, much sooner than the anime does. In the first manga we are told almost exactly what the eighth episode (titled "Azalie") of Sorcerous Stabber Orphen tells us about her. The story in the manga follows the anime but more the Novels almost exactly, except for information coming up earlier, or later.

The Sorcerous Stabber Orphen manga was created by Yoshinobu Akita and Yuuya Kusaka. The manga is split into two separate series: Majutsushi Orphen Haguretabi, which is six volumes long so far, and the two volume side story known as Majutsushi Orphen MAX. The first volume of the manga series was released in 2005 by ADV Manga.

There is also a special manga that was released called "Sorcerous Stabber Orphen Special Parody," or "Majutsushi O-fuen Haguretabi Spesharu Paarodi." It is a collection of doujinshi of Orphen put into one volume of Orphen.

Anime

 * Sorcerous Stabber Orphen: The Sorcerous Stabber Orphen anime series was produced by TBS/Bandai and first released in Japan in 1999, then in North America on DVD by ADV Films in 2001. It features a combination of a fantasy setting, action and gag comedy.  It is 24 episodes in length.


 * Sorcerous Stabber Orphen: Revenge: The second anime series was released on DVD in North America in December 2003 by ADV Films. It is 23 episodes in length.

In 2009, Sentai Filmworks released a box set featuring the two seasons of Orphen in an economic box set.

Novels
The series Orphen came about when author Yoshinobu Akita with Yuuya Kusaka as illustrator created a series of novels called "Majutsushi Orphen Haguretabi." It consists of 20 novels which were first published by Fujimi Shobo under their Fujimi Fantasia Bunko label in the Monthly Dragon Magazine between 1994-2003, and was the basis for the first anime and manga series.

Two years after the beginning of the first series, Yoshinobu Akita created a more light-hearted comedy version that still kept the action of the original Orphen series. This series was called "Majutsushi Orphen Mubouhen," spanning only 13 volumes between 1996-2003, which were published the same way as the first series.

Also published was a Slayers vs. Orphen novel. 

Music
Sorcerous Stabber Orphen


 * Opening Themes:
 * "Love, Just on my Love" (愛 Just on my Love)
 * Lyrics and Composition by: Tsunku
 * Arrangement by: Yasuaki Maejima & Sharan Q
 * Performed by: Sharan Q


 * "Are You a Sorcerer?" (君は魔術士?)
 * Lyrics by: Tsunku
 * Composition by: Hatake
 * Arrangement by: Sharan Q
 * Performed by: Sharan Q


 * Ending Themes:
 * "Last Kiss" (ラストキッス)
 * Lyrics and Composition by: Tsunku
 * Arrangement by: Takao Konishi
 * Performed by: Tanpopo


 * "What Should I Do?" (どうしよう)
 * Lyrics by: Yuka
 * Composition and Arrangement by: Kaoru Sanada
 * Performed by: Yuka

Sorcerous Stabber Orphen: Revenge


 * Opening Themes:
 * "And then, we KISS" (そんでもってKISS) : Eps. 01 - 11
 * Lyrics and Composition by: Tsunku
 * Arrangement by: Ken Matsubara
 * Performed by: 7HOUSE


 * "Round Sun -winter ver.-" (丸い太陽 －winter ver.－) : Eps. 12 - 23
 * Lyrics and Composition by: Tsunku
 * Arrangement by:
 * Performed by: Taiyou to Cisco Moon


 * Ending Themes:
 * "Love, Yes I Do!" : Eps. 01 - 11
 * Lyrics by: AKASAKA
 * Composition and Arrangement by: Kaoru Sanada
 * Performed by: Chinatsu Miyoshi


 * "The Sweet Taste of You" (甘いあなたの味) : Eps. 12 - 22
 * Lyrics and Composition by: Tsunku
 * Arrangement by: Tanahashi UNA Nobuhito
 * Performed by: Melon Kinenbi


 * "And then, we KISS" (そんでもってKISS) : Ep. 23
 * Lyrics and Composition by: Tsunku
 * Arrangement by: Ken Matsubara
 * Performed by: 7HOUSE

Video game
The Sorcerous Stabber Orphen videogame is a single player console role-playing game. It was released for the PlayStation 2 console in 2000, by Kadokawa Shoten in Japan as Sorcerous Stabber Orphen, and by Activision in North America as Orphen: Scion of Sorcery. It was rated "Teen" in the North American release. Reviews of the game were mixed.It included a whole new adventure and a few video scenes with more sophistication but a minor difference in the voices and personalities of the characters.