Zero no Tsukaima

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Zero no Tsukaima
ゼロの使い魔 (The Zero's Familiar)
Genre	Seinen, Comedy, Magic, Fantasy
Light novel
Authored by	Noboru Yamaguchi
Artist	Eiji Usatsuka
Publisher	Media Factory
Publish date	June 25, 2004 – Ongoing
No. of volumes	9 (currently)
TV anime
Directed by	Yoshiaki Iwasaki
Studio	J.C. STAFF
Network	Kids Station
Original run	July 2, 2006 – September 24, 2006
No. of episodes	13
Manga
Authored by	Nana Mochizuki
Publisher	Media Factory
Serialized in	Comic Alive
Original run	July 27, 2006 – Ongoing
No. of volumes	(Currently 4 chapters)

Zero no Tsukaima (ゼロの使い魔, The Zero's Familiar^?) is a fantasy and comedy-oriented series of light novels written by Noboru Yamaguchi and illustrated by Eiji Usatsuka. An anime adaptation produced by J.C. STAFF has just finished airing in Japan, and a manga version drawn by Nana Mochizuki recently began serialization. The first volume of a side story, entitled Tabitha's Adventure, is set to be released on 25 October 2006^[1]. The story features several characters from the second year class of a magic academy in a fictional magical world with the main character being the inept mage Louise and her familiar from Earth, Saito Hiraga.

Contents 1 Places 1.1 Halkeginia 1.1.1 Tristania 1.1.1.1 Locations in Tristania 1.1.2 Germania 1.1.3 Gallia 1.1.3.1 Locations in Gallia 1.1.4 Romalia 1.1.5 Albion 2 Magic 2.1 Concepts 2.2 History 3 Characters 3.1 Minor Characters 4 Episodes 5 Music 6 Miscellaneous Information 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Places

[edit] Halkeginia

The continent that the story of Zero no Tsukaima takes place on. (It can be thought of as a sort of alternate Europe, with similar (though not entirely identical) geographical and political boundaries.)

[edit] Tristania

Tristania (トリスタニア, Torisutania^?), also called Tristain (トリステイン, Torisutein^?), is the nation in which the majority of the story takes place. It is a small kingdom, located in the northwest of Halkeginia. (It occupies roughly the same spot as Belgium in Europe.)

[edit] Locations in Tristania

Tristain Academy of Magic:

A highly acclaimed academy for magical studies, where students gather to study the mysteries of magic. It even attracts students from Germania and Gallia.

Vestri Court:

A courtyard inside the Tristain Academy of Magic where a duel takes place in episode two. (In Norse mythology, Vestri was the dwarf who supported the west cardinal point. He, along with his three kin, Norðri, Suðri, and Austri, appear in the Völuspá, an Icelandic poem about the creation of the world and its future destruction.)

[edit] Germania

The biggest kingdom in Halkeginia. Located to the northeast of Tristania. (It appears in a similar location to Germany in Europe; Germania was the Latin name for the Roman province of what is now western Germany and part of the Low Countries. The English word for “German” derives from this name.)

[edit] Gallia

Another kingdom in Halkeginia, located to the southeast of Tristania. Germania is on its eastern border, in the Alden Forest. (Gallia was the Latin name for the Roman provinces Narbonensis, Aquitania, Lugdunensis, Celtica, and Belgica, which more or less make up most of modern France and the rest of the Low Countries. In English, we are more used to seeing the region named Gaul, as a result of the way "Gallia" came to be written in French.)

[edit] Locations in Gallia

La Rochelle:

A city in the mountains, which is also a major treeport. (The real La Rochelle is a coastal city in Western France most famous for the Siege of La Rochelle in the seventeenth century.)

[edit] Romalia

A holy empire, located to the south of Gallia. (Its name dervies from the city of Rome, which once held a vast empire across Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa. Romalia is most likely an allusion to the Roman Papal States that took up most of the Italian peninsula from the Middle Ages onward.)

[edit] Albion

A floating island nation, nicknamed the country of white. (Albion is a very ancient name for the Isle of Britain. The word is Celtic in origin comes from an Indo-European root meaning both “white” and “mountain.” The Modern Gaelic word for Scotland is Alba but no longer refers to the whole island.)

[edit] Magic

[edit] Concepts

• All nobles of Halkeginia are magi (wizards / magicians). However, not all magi are nobles. No commoners are ever magi. All magi must use a wand to cast spells. Some of the wands are uniquely shaped and made, such as Guiche's, which was made from the stem of a rose.

• There are four magic elements: fire, water, wind, and earth. All magi have an affinity to one of those elements. There is a fifth element, the legendary lost branch of element is void. There are no known users of void magic, whether past or present.
  Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
  Louise is later revealed to have void as her element in episode 13.
  Spoilers end here.

• Magi can combine different magical elements or even stack the same element on top of itself to make spells more powerful. The power of a mage is determined by how many elements he/she can combine. There are four ranks of magician based upon this factor. Those who cannot combine any element together have the first rank, which is symbolized as a dot. Most magic students are in this class. Those who can combine two together are called line magi, the second rank. Some of the better students are capable of this. The third rank, triangle mage, is for those who can combine three elements together. If one reaches the rank of triangle, one is worthy of being an instructor of magic (as an elite class mage). The fourth rank, the square mage, is rare. Those who reach it are worthy to be called legends. In myths, there is even a fifth rank called pentagram mage.

• Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
  One of the major themes in the anime is that humans from Earth and human technology displaced into the world of Halkeginia are considered to be highly magical. A magical item called the 'Staff of Destruction' is in reality a human-made rocket-launcher. Another item called the 'Dragon's Mantle' is a World War II-era airplane.
  Spoilers end here.

[edit] History

• The five elements referenced in this show are not the classical Greek elements or the Chinese elements, but the five classical Japanese elements, also known as the Godai. According to this system, they are Chi (Earth), Sui (Water), Ka (Fire), Fū (Wind), and Kū (Void). The concept was borrowed from the Indian five elements through the Chinese, heavily influenced by Buddhism along the way. In the Indian system, the fifth element, Akasha (Aether), was the top point of the pentagram; this is also how the Greek system worked. However, in the Godai, Aether has been replaced by the element of void or nothingness. In this show, Kū has been changed to Kyomu but remains the same in concept.
• Each of the four base elements in Western thought also had an elemental associated with it by Paracelsus during the Renaissance. Undine and Gnome were adopted from German mythology to be the elementals of Water and Earth, respectively. As for the elementals of fire and air, Paracelsus created Salamander and Sylph to fill their domains. Since then, the four elementals have been incorporated into the general element lore and have appeared in numerous works and worlds from The Rape of the Lock by Alexander Pope to Record of Lodoss War to Tales of Phantasia.

[edit] Characters

Louise (ルイズ, Ruizu^?)

Louise Françoise le Blanc de la Vallière is the main female character. She is a second year student at the Tristain Academy of Magic and a terrible mage who is often scorned by her fellow classmates. Because every spell she casts fails, she is nicknamed "Louise the Zero" after her zero success rate and zero attributes. The third daughter of the noble family La Vallière who owns the north-eastern territory of Tristain.

The fact that Louise is voiced by Rie Kugimiya, who voiced Shana in JC Staff's previous work Shakugan no Shana (incidentally, itself an adaptation of a light novel series) is a source of humor for fans. Her occasional call of "Urusai!" ("Shut up!") being used three times in the first episode of the anime is largely thought to be a reference to Shana's habit of repeating it in the same way.

She is named after Louise Françoise de la Vallière, a French courtesan who was mistress to Louis XIV of France from 1661 to 1667.

• Familiar: A Commoner, Hiraga Saito
• Age: 16
• Height: 153 cm (5')
• Three Sizes: 76/53/75
• Favorite Food: Cookberry Pie
• Hobbies: Knitting (Though she is terrible at it.)
• Special Skills: Horseback Riding
• Hates: Frogs and Kirche
• Runic Name: Louise the Zero (zero no ruizu)
• Magical Affinity: Void

Voiced by: Rie Kugimiya

Saito Hiraga (平賀才人, Hiraga Saito^?)

Saito Hiraga, the main male character, is from Earth (specifically Tokyo, Japan). At the time of the summoning, he had just picked up his laptop from getting repaired (in Akihabara, judging by the second episode). A portal of some kind opened in front of him, and, Saito's curiosity getting the better of him, he touched it and was sucked through. At first, Saito had no idea where he was, and was thoroughly disoriented. In the anime, he also could not identify or understand the language the students were speaking, but after Louise attempts to cast a silence spell on him that fails, he can understand and communicate with others as though they were speaking Japanese. (It is not clear whether he was actually gifted with full knowledge of their language, or whether the misfired spell was similar in principle to a universal translator). The Runes inscribed into Saito's hand after he is bound to Louise read Gandalfr (rendered as ガンダールヴ Gandāruvu in kana), which appear to grant him the power to use any weapon at will, provided that the object is actually intended to be used as such (for example, ornamental swords will not trigger his powers, as revealed in the part where he fought with the golem and where Derflinger reveals it to him).

His partner, the talking sword Derflinger, was also the partner of the previous Gandalfr 6000 years before.

• Age: 17
• Height: 172 cm (5'8")
• Favorite Food: Teriyaki Burgers
• Hobbies: The Internet
• Special Skills: Good with Action Games
• Hates: His P.E. Teacher
• Weapon: Derflinger (デルフリンガー, Derflinger^?), a sentient sword
• Voice by: Satoshi Hino

Tabitha (タバサ, Tabasa^?)

Tabitha is a quiet girl who is a classmate and the best friend of Kirche and she is also Louise's classmate. Throughout the series she is almost always reading a book. The name Tabitha is an alias; she is in fact Charlotte, daughter of the King's murdered brother, and the rightful heir to the throne of Gallia. Her specialty is wind magic.

• Familiar: A Wind Dragon, Sylphid
• Age: 15
• Height: 142 cm (4'8")
• Three Sizes: 68/49/67
• Favorite Food: Hashibami Grass Salad
• Hobbies: Reading
• Special Skills: Gambling with Dice
• Hates: Ghosts
• Runic Name: Blizzard
• Magical Affinity: Wind
• Voice by: Yuka Inokuchi

Guiche (ギーシュ, Gīshu^?)

Guiche is Louise's classmate, despite being in love with Montmorency, is a conceited playboy who cannot decide which girl he really wants. He always carries an artificial rose with him, the stem of which is his wand. He also likes to dote upon his familiar, a giant mole named Verdante. As his familiar indicates, his specialty is earth magic.

He is named after Antoine V de Gramont, Duke of Guiche, a French military figure.

• Familiar: A Giant Mole, Verdante
• Age: 17
• Height: 175 cm (5'9")
• Favorite Food: Soúffle
• Full Name: Guiche de Gramont
• Runic Name: Bronze
• Magical Affinity: Earth
• Voice by: Takahiro Sakurai

Kirche (キュルケ, Kyuruke^?)

Louise's classmate. Fire magic is her specialty--drawn from her strong passion for money. The territory she is from has long since had a dislike for the La Vallière family. She flirts and has dated (and heavily implied in the anime, slept with) many of the academy boys, but falls in love with Saito.

Kirche means "Church" in German, and the rest of her names might be named after Sophia Augusta Frederika of Anhalt-Zerbst.

• Familiar: A salamander, Flame
• Age: 18
• Height: 171 cm (5'7")
• Three Sizes: 94/63/95
• Favorite Food: Baked Bird of Paradise
• Hobbies: Solving Jigsaw Puzzles
• Special Skills: Playing the Harp
• Hates: Rain and Louise
• Full Name: Kirche Augusta Frederica von Anhalt Zerbst
• Runic Name: Subtle Heat
• Magical Affinity: Fire
• Voice by: Nanako Inoue

Siesta (シエスタ, Siesta^?)

A maid at the academy. She has a crush on Saito, and treats him very kindly.

Later it is revealed that Siesta is actually descended from a World War II Japanese pilot, which explains why she has hair and eyes like Saito's.

• Familiar - N/A
• Age: 17
• Height: 162 cm (5'4")
• Three Sizes: 83/60/85
• Favorite Food: Peach-Walnut Bread
• Hobbies: Nap
• Special Skills: Cooking
• Hates: All creatures that have lots of legs
• Voice by Yui Horie

[edit] Minor Characters

Montmorency (モンモランシー, Montmorency^?)

Like most Tristain nobles, she has a great deal of pride. She is Louise's classmate.

She is named after the Montmorency family, one of the oldest and most distinguished families in France.

• Familiar: A Frog, Robin
• Age: 16
• Height: 166 cm (5'5")
• Three Sizes: 80/58/79
• Full Name: Montmorency Margarita la Fère de Montmorency
• Runic Name: Perfume
• Magical Affinity: Water
• Voice by: Mikako Takahashi

Henrietta (アンリエッタ, Henrietta^?)

The Princess of Tristain. She is loved by her nationals. She is an old friend of Louise.

Later, she becomes the queen of Tristain and defends Tristain from the Albion invasion after the assassination of the Albion prince.

She is named after Henrietta Anne, the youngest daughter of Charles I of England and sister of Charles II of England.

• Familiar - N/A
• Age: 17
• Height: 158 cm (5'2")
• Three Sizes: 84/59/85
• Favorite Food: Horn-sheep Soup
• Hobbies: Disguising
• Special Skills: Dancing, especially to the melody of "Fairy's Lunch"
• Hates: Lies
• Voice by Ayako Kawasumi

Osmond

The headmaster of the Tristain Academy of Magic, and an old lecher. Enjoys smoking.

• Familiar - A Mouse, Motsognir
• Voice by: Takeshi Aono

Colbert

A professor at the Tristain Academy of Magic.

• Runic Name - Flame Snake
• Magical Affinity - Fire
• Voice by: Takuma Suzuki

Chevreuse

A professor at the Tristain Academy of Magic.

• Runic Name - Red Clay
• Magical Affinity - Earth
• Voice by: Noriko Suzuki

Longueville

Osmond's secretary, who is often the target of Osmond's lecherous behavior. She gets mad when Osmond tries anything (for example: getting Osmond's familiar to peek up her skirt).

• Magical Affinity - Earth
• Voice by: Akiko Kimura

Fouquet

• A triangle mage who uses a giant golem made of earth to steal magical valuables.
• Her acquaintances often refer to her as Fouquet, the Crumbling Dirt.
• In Episode 6, The Thief's True Identity, it is revealed that Fouquet and Longueville were one and the same.
• In Episode 7, Louise's Part-Time Job, it is revealed that Fouquet is actually Matilda of Saschen-Gotha, although it is unknown what role that will play in future episodes at the moment.
• In episode 11, Ward is revealed as a traitor and an ally to Fouquet, the Crumbling Dirt.

Ward

Jean-Jacques Francis de Ward is Captain of Tristain's Griffon Knights and Louise's fiancé. When he was younger, he often met Louise, who was feeling down after being compared to her sisters. He is a highly skilled swordsman as well as mage.

• Age: 26
• Magical Affinity - Wind

He is later revealed to be evil as he betrayed Louise and attempts to mind control her in marrying him. He then kills the Prince of Albion when his attempt is revealed.

[edit] Episodes

Screenshot	Title	Original air date	#
	"Louise the Zero" "Zero no Ruizu" (ゼロのルイズ)	2006-07-02	01
	"The Commoner Familiar" "Heimin no Tsukaima" (平民の使い魔)	2006-07-09	02
	"The Subtle Heat's Allure" "Binetsu no Yūwaku" (微熱の誘惑)	2006-07-16	03
	"The Maid's Crisis" "Meido no Kiki" (メイドの危機)	2006-07-23	04
	"The Princess of Tristain" "Torisutein no Himegimi" (トリステインの姫君)	2006-07-30	05
	"The Thief's True Identity" "Tōzoku no Shōtai" (盗賊の正体)	2006-08-06	06
	"Louise's Part-Time Job" "Ruizu no Arubaito" (ルイズのアルバイト)	2006-08-13	07
	"Tabitha's Secret" "Tabasa no Himitsu" (タバサの秘密)	2006-08-20	08
	"Louise's Change of Heart" "Ruizu no Henshin" (ルイズの変心)	2006-08-27	09
	"The Princess' Request" "Himegimi no Irai" (姫君の依頼)	2006-09-03	10
	"Louise's Marriage" "Ruizu no Kekkon" (ルイズの結婚)	2006-09-10	11
	"The Zero Secret Treasure" "Zero no Hihou" (ゼロの秘宝)	2006-09-17	12
	"Louise of the Void" "Kyomu no Ruizu" (虚無のルイズ)	2006-09-24	13

[edit] Music

Opening Theme

"First kiss" by Ichiko

Ending Theme

"My True Feelings" (ホントノキモチ Honto no Kimochi) by Rie Kugimiya

[edit] Miscellaneous Information

• Louise Françoise de La Baume Le Blanc, who later became duchesse de la Vallière (in 1667), was a French courtesan at the court of king Louis XIV of France. Named maid of honor to Henrietta Anne of England (Madame), who was then married to the king's brother, Louise was set as a decoy to cover rumors of romance between Louis XIV and Henrietta. She then became the king's mistress, at age 17.
  Louise was brought up with other princesses at the court of duc Gaston d'Orléans, but not with Henrietta.

• Madame Henrietta had an affair going on with the comte de Guiche.

[edit] References

1. ^ (Japanese) Official Site

[edit] External links

• (Japanese) Official site
• (Japanese) J.C. STAFF Official site
• Zero no Tsukaima (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia