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The Tower of Druaga: the Aegis of Uruk
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The Tower of Druaga: the Aegis of Uruk (ドルアーガの塔 〜the Aegis of URUK〜, Doruāga no Tō ~ji Ījisu obu Uruku~?) is an anime TV series, created by Gonzo and is an animated continuation of Namco's The Tower of Druaga franchise which began as an arcade game originally released in 1984. This series is amongst the first to be officially broadcast on the internet by Gonzo simultaneously in Japanese and subtitled in English.
Plot
- See also: List of The Tower of Druaga: the Aegis of Uruk episodes
It has been sixty years since King Gilgamesh defeated "the tower" single-handedly, and now the tower is reborn again. The "Summer of Anu" is a season that comes every few years during which the powers of the monsters within the Tower wane thanks to the grace of the great god Anu. Each Summer of Anu, the armies of the Uruk Kingdom secure their strongholds within the Tower, aiming to eventually conquer the upper floors. The story begins with the third Summer of Anu. The city of Meskia is the first stronghold built on the first level of the Tower. In addition to the Uruk Army preparing for their third campaign against Druaga, innumerable adventurers called "climbers" have been drawn to Meskia by rumors of a legendary treasure believed to be hidden on the top floor of the Tower. Jil, a young guardian, has traveled to the tower and Metz Kier, the last safe stop on the first floor of the tower. Jil wants to gain the Blue Crystal Rod, the legendary treasure that resides on the top floor of the tower. On the top floor is the evil lord Druaga, and numerous monsters among the way.
The series ends with very little of the main characters' motivations explained, and with the promise of a sequel beginning in July 2009: The Tower of Druaga: the Sword of Uruk.[1]
Main characters
Jil's group
Jil, after being fired from Neeba's climbing group, joined Kaaya and Ahmey's climbing group, who later recruited Melt and Coopa. The story mainly follows the endeavors of this group of climbers
- Jil
- Voiced by: Kenn
- The protagonist of the series, Jil is a young adventurer who dreams of reaching the top of the Tower of Druaga. He is strong willed, determined and as seen in the first episode has deep fantasies about being a revered champion. He is a defensive class: Guardian and initially uses a shield with a protractable spike in one hand and any make-shift weapon he could find in the other (usually a stick). Along with his original shield, he later uses one of the two swords used by King Gilgamesh, which the King entrusted to Kaaya to pass on to him.
- He was initially a part of his brother Neeba's party until he was fired for his incompetence. Neeba is convinced that Jil will never amount anything, and in episode ten, Neeba tells him point blank that both he and his party will fail and that his friends will die. Despite being an inexperienced Climber, Jil is nonetheless a decent fighter and after joining Kaaya and Ahmey's party, he does his best to support the group in combat. Jil also seems to resemble a young Gilgamesh as seen in Gilgamesh's flashback in episode three.
- While Jil may not be the most skilled of combatants, he does possess a physical resiliance of ridiculous proportions, at one point taking a heavy beating from a crowd in episode two, and remaining standing throughout, despite numerous heavy blows to his head, some of which he failed to notice. After seeing Ahmey killed in the initial battle against Druaga, Jil blamed himself, thinking that Neeba was right about him until the ghost of Ki (the damsel-in-distress from the original arcade game) gave him encouragement. The name "Jil" is likely a reference/tribute to "Gil", the alternate shorter name for Gilgamesh.
- In episode 12, Jil takes over as leader and devises a plan to defeat Druaga. He takes on the position of diverting Druaga while the other Climbers attack the monster. Before he leaves, Kaaya enhances his shield with her magic. She apologizes to him and hugs him. They both share a kiss, and she asks him to promise her that he will live after the fight with Druaga; though confused, he agrees. Druaga finds them first and attacks through a wall, knocking Jil down. He continues to distract him whilst the others attack, but he gives the final blow with Ahmey's weapon, which is still stuck in Druaga's neck (episode 11). He uses her weapon and Druaga's head falls off, finally dying. He reaches for the Blue Crystal Rod with images of Ahmey flashing before him, but is stopped when one of Neeba's arrows hit him from behind. Both Neeba and Kaaya betray him, while the others, including Jil, falls into a whirlpool. He emerges from a lake with Fatina in his arms and cries out Kaaya's name in frustration.
- Kaaya
- Voiced by: Fumiko Orikasa
- Kaaya is an Oracle who specializes in defensive and healing spells. She meets Jil after he injures himself fighting a group of Climbers, and she takes him to her house and heals his wounds. He later joins her and Ahmey's climber party. She uses a long wand which requires her to place small runes into a slot at the top and recite variating chants to perform certain spells. She is a descendant of Ki (pronounced "Kai"), who aided Gilgamesh in his battle against Druaga. Jil seemed to take a liking to her, and the two have seemed very close. Kaaya was even able to take advantage of Jil's compassion for her in episode 8 to get her a mysterious stone slab.
- In episode 12, Kaaya apologizes (perhaps for her future actions) to Jil and hugs him, saying that he is a good friend and that she loves him. They both share a kiss and she tells him that he must promise he will live after the fight with Druaga. At the end of the episode, she betrays Jil and his group and accompanies Neeba toward the actual top of the tower. Her last words to Jil are: "Good bye. Live." while shedding a tear for him.
- Ahmey
- Voiced by: Risa Hayamizu
- Ahmey is a warrior lancer, and the first person Kaaya recruited for her climber party. She exhibits a quiet and stoic attitude most of the time, and often appears to be uncomfortable when forced to speak. At first, she seemed to be a very silent and aloof person, but later revealed a more feminine and naive side. She is the most experienced member of the group, and has traveled the furthest in the tower. Because of this, she tends to act as a leader of sorts, as well as explaining the system and design of the Tower.
- Up until two years ago, she was in the army, and knew Sir Kelb (then an officer.) A man named Owen proposed to her during their campaign, but she declined, revealing later to Sir Kelb that it was because she was afraid of her love and felt that she had nothing to offer him. As the Summer of Anu ended and the army retreated, Owen was killed. She appears to be climbing the tower in the hopes of using the Blue Crystal Rod to send a message to Owen, as apparently even the Rod cannot bring back the dead. In combat she uses a lance which has a drill bit, rather than a simple blade, as the point. The drill can be activated via a ripcord.
- Melt
- Voiced by: Hozumi Goda
- A mage from a wealthy family, Melt has fallen into debt and exile, largely due, apparently, to his spendthrift ways, the only sign of his wealth that really remains are his titles and his servant, Coopa. He claims to be climbing the tower in order to use the Blue Crystal Rod to restore his status, surround himself with women, destroy all the things he finds unpleasant, and various other self-satisfying desires. In combat, Melt utilizes lightning-based spells using a variety of rods, including his never-before-used 'rod 0', which he uses in the final episode, and which also appears to be one of Melt's strongest rods. He casts spells by utlizing chants of various lengths, and launches the attack by swinging the rod in a golf-like fashion. Furthering the golf comparison, each of his rods are numbered, and are carried by Coopa who acts as a "caddy" of sorts. Melt is far less competent than he tries to appear. He often calls for the wrong rod whereby Coopa secretly hands him the correct one. He also likes to think that he is a connoisseur, but is constantly unaware of the foods he claims to hate being present in Coopa's cooking. His fate is unknown after the whirlpool incident at episode 12.
- Coopa
- Voiced by: Minori Chihara
- Melt's retainer who has a very enthusiastic personality. She is ten years old. Coopa has little direct relation to combat, more often utilizing her domestic abilities to support the party by providing them with nutritional meals made from a combination of rations and monster meat. While she tends to announce the contents of the meals she makes, she makes no effort to hide what she uses if asked.
- In battle, Coopa mostly acts as a caddy to Melt, passing him the rods he requests, though apparently she often has to correct her Master's error and give him the one he actually needs. She also is quite skilled in the making of explosives, and often utilizes smoke bombs to cover the group's escape. Coopa is very polite to everyone, using the 'sama' suffix when addressing others. Also, despite their constant clashes, she is very loyal to Melt, partly from family honor as hers has served his for several generations, though in one episode Melt fired her after an argument. She is constantly trying to improve Melt's manners to make him a proper gentleman. Her fate is unknown after the whirlpool incident at episode 12.
- In and out of combat, Coopa is shown to have enormous strength for her stature. In episode 11 she is seen carrying Melt's rods and piggybacking an injured Utu.
Neeba's group
Originally, and for a very short period, this group of climbers was the main group of the story, which Jil was formerly in the ranks of, making a classic five-man group, but Jil was fired by Neeba for his incompetence. From time to time, the story covers this group's endeavors in the tower as well. The two climbing groups seem to near towards the top of the tower at an equal pace.
- Neeba
- Voiced by: Takahiro Sakurai
- Jil's half brother; he is a skilled archer and also notably known as "Neeba the Dragon Slayer." Neeba is far more serious and competent than Jil is, and has little-to-no faith in his brother's potential as a climber (in episode 10, he goes so far as to tell him point blank that he will never defeat Druaga). He has the most knowledge of the tower out of any of the main characters. He doesn't hesitate for a second about using his friends to do what he wants (as revealed in the the final episode. His motivation for climbing the tower remains unknown.
- Fatina
- Voiced by: Yui Horie
- The only female member of Neeba's party, she is a proud magician. She admires Neeba, and has confessed to Jil that she wants to become Neeba's girlfriend, but Neeba's feelings towards her are unclear. Like Melt, she became a climber largely from a desire for personal profit, intending to use the power of the Blue Crystal Rod to become rich. Her purse has a strap made of an expensive leather that she carries as a reminder of her goal (she informs Jil she wanted a belt of it, but could not afford it.) In combat, she appears to use fire magic, utilizing a cannon-like staff weapon to cast spells. At episode 12 she is betrayed by Neeba and she is saved by Jil during the whirlpool incident in which they are the only known survivors.
- Kally
- Voiced by: Akira Ishida
- The scout of the group, he possesses street smarts and ninja-like ability, using throwing knives as his preferred weapon. It is revealed that he became a climber in order to help his impoverished home town, but after discovering the secret of Pazuz's caskets, he is killed. Neeba was able to tell the doppelgänger that attacked him was not the real Kally, as while the doppelgänger attacked using the right hand, Kally was actually left-handed. He is killed in episode 9.
- Utu
- Voiced by: Hiroki Yasumoto
- Encased in armor, he is the main attacker of the group, and he wields a battle axe. While the mask of his helm has been lifted twice so far in the series, it has always been at an angle that denies the audience the chance to see his face, thus leaving his appearance and age unknown. In episode one, Jil cannot remember his name. In episode nine when the group becomes separated from a great fall from a bridge, he travels with Kally and Coopa, but becomes separated from Kally when protecting Coopa, though while not present at his comrade's death, he is aware of his fate and informs the rest of his group. His fate is unknown after the whirlpool incident in episode 12.
Music
- Opening theme
- "Swinging" by Muramasa (episodes 1-11; the final episode does not use any opening theme)
- Ending theme
- "Tōchōshatachi" (塔頂者たち, "Tōchōshatachi"?) by Kenn
References
External links
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