Tears to Tiara, Collection 1

An adaptation of the titular PlayStation 3 game, Tears to Tiara takes place during the Iron Age, a feudal era ruled by humans (as opposed to the dragons, giants, and elves of previous ages). As the 2009 first season begins, Demon King Arawn unexpectedly saves the life of Gaelic priestess Riannon, who was scheduled for sacrifice by an evil wizard; in return, she stops her brother Arthur from killing her protector. As Riannon sees it, fate has brought Arawn into her life, and if they marry, he'll become chieftain. The clan accepts him as their leader, and in subsequent episodes, the Gaels move from Erin to Albion to avoid the legions of the Divine Empire, an ancient Rome–like entity bent on enslavement. During their journeys, they battle Imperial forces and forge alliances with other clans. So far, so good, but some of the female characters tend toward the silly, submissive, and overly emotional (with the notable exceptions of Imperial soldiers Lidia and Octavia). Morgan, for instance, one of Arawn's three common-law wives, can scrap with the best of them, but drinks too much, wears skimpy outfits, and isn't especially bright (the casual introduction of bigamy into a preteen production is already problematic). Furthermore, every woman Arawn meets treats him like a rock star. Still, fans of anime and Arthurian legends will find that Tears to Tiara also offers plenty of action and humor. Compiling 13 episodes in a Japanese-language-only (with English subtitles) two-disc set, rated TV-PG, this is mildly recommended. [Note: Tears to Tiara, Collection 2 is also newly available.] Aud: P. (K. Fennessy)