Eternal Filena

Eternal Filena (永遠のフィレーナ) is a fantasy light novel series written by Takeshi Shudo and illustrated by Akemi Takada, which was serialized in the Japanese anime and entertainment magazine Animage from 1984 to 1994. The series has been collected into nine volumes published by Tokuma Shoten. An OVA series based on the novels was released from 1992 to 1993. The novel series was also adapted into a role-playing video game released by Tokuma Shoten for the Super Famicom in 1995. It was only released commercially in Japan.

Plot

Eternal Filena follows the adventures of Filena, the only survivor of the royal family in the ocean kingdom of Filosena which is destroyed by the ruling Devis Empire. Now part of the Empire's Clechia caste, slaves and second-rate citizens, Filena is raised as a boy by her adoptive grandfather Zenna so that she can be trained a battler, a warrior who takes part in gladiatorial styled games designed by the Empire to keep the masses happy. Filena befriends Lila, a slave assigned to be Filena's bed-mate before her first battler match, and sets off on a journey with Lila to free her homeland from tyranny and discover her true past.

Characters

Media

Light novels

The light novel series was serialized in Animage from August 1984 to April 1994. Interior illustrations as well as cover artwork for the collected volumes were done by Akemi Takada, known for her work on series such as Kimagure Orange Road and Creamy Mami. The series was collected into nine volumes.[2][3]

Anime

A six-episode anime OVA series, with original character designs by Akemi Takada, was released by Tokuma Japan Communications from December 1992 through February 1993 at a rate of two 30-minute episode per month. It was directed by Yoshikata Nitta, with character designs by Kenzō Koizumi and art direction by Geki Katsumata.[1] Series creator Takeshi Shudo noted in a column for Web Animation Magazine that the anime adaptation was initially planned to be 52 episodes, before being cut down to a 12 episode season, and then cut again to its final 6 episode OVA.[13]

A soundtrack for the anime series was released on October 23, 1992, two months prior to the OVA series. The soundtrack was performed by guitarist Jinmo, with vocals for the opening theme song, Ocean, performed by Azumi Inoue.[14][15]

Episode list

Video game

A role-playing video game based on the series was first released on the Super Famicom in 1995 exclusive to Japan.[17][18] The game was developed and published by Tokuma Shoten. Eternal Filena was published late into the Super Famicom's life, having initially been planned to release alongside the OVA, however delays pushed the game back two years from the OVA's release.[13]

The game's story follows that of the light novels, in which Filena journeys with Lila to free her homeland from the tyranny of the Devis Empire and discover her true lineage as Filosena's lost princess. Some aspects from the light novels were not reflected in the game, such as the characters Baraba, Razzle or Tess not making appearances or periods of time when Filena and Lila were parted, instead having Lila as the only permanent party member among the other members who join and leave through the game.

The gameplay is typical of role-playing video games of its time, using a turn-based battle system with random encounters with monsters to gain experience and level up. Characters can equip up to three weapons and switch between them. Weapons have different abilities and a character can perform a technique at the cost of ability points.

type	ova
director	Yoshikata Nitta
producer	Yukio Kikukawa Michio Yoko
writer	Takeshi Shudo
music	JINMO Masanori Iimori
studio	Pierrot
first	December 21, 1992
last	February 25, 1993
runtime	30 minutes each
episodes	6
episode list	#Episode list

Plot

Characters

Media

Light novels

Anime

Episode list

Episode list

Video game

Reception

External links

References