Hortensia Saga

Hortensia SAGA

Characters

Marius Casterede

MAIN

Alfred Ober

MAIN

Adelheid Olivier

SUPPORTING

Rugis F Camellia

SUPPORTING

Maurice Baudelaire

SUPPORTING

Roy Bachelot

SUPPORTING

Qoo Morimol

SUPPORTING

Bernadetter Albert

SUPPORTING

Nonnoria Foly

SUPPORTING

Alexis Vall du2019Hebron

SUPPORTING

Deflotte Danois

SUPPORTING

Didier Viardot

SUPPORTING

Leon D Olivier

SUPPORTING

Marie

SUPPORTING

Fernando Albert

SUPPORTING

Jim McNeil

SUPPORTING

Hortensia Saga Season 1: A Deep Dive into a Flawed Yet Fascinating Fantasy Epic

Hortensia Saga Season 1, which aired from January to March 2021, is a medieval fantasy anime adapted from the mobile RPG game of the same name by f4Samurai and Sega. Set in the war-torn Kingdom of Hortensia, the series promises a tale of rebellion, loyalty, and redemption but struggles to rise above its generic roots. This article offers a comprehensive, critical, and spoiler-light analysis of the anime’s narrative, characters, themes, production values, and unique elements, while exploring its strengths and shortcomings in a way that avoids promotional fluff and digs into what makes it a curious, if uneven, addition to the fantasy anime landscape.

The Premise: A Classic Fantasy Setup with Untapped Potential

Hortensia Saga unfolds in a world where the Kingdom of Hortensia, a dominant power for 700 years, is thrown into chaos by a rebellion led by Duke Rugis F. Camellia. The king is slain by a supernatural force—a werewolf-like creature—and the royal family is scattered. The story follows Alfred Albert, a young lord and son of a fallen knight, and Marius Casteledo, secretly Princess Mariel D’Hortensia disguised as a boy, as they navigate a fractured kingdom plagued by political intrigue, monstrous threats, and a manipulative church. Trained by the grizzled knight Maurice Baudelaire, Alfred and Marius aim to honor their fallen loved ones and restore peace to Hortensia.

At its core, the premise is a familiar tapestry of fantasy tropes: a displaced royal, a noble hero, a shadowy church, and supernatural elements. Yet, the absence of isekai trappings—refreshingly, no one is reincarnated from modern Japan—gives Hortensia Saga a straightforward, old-school fantasy vibe that feels like a throwback to classics like Record of Lodoss War. The show’s foundation, rooted in a mobile game, hints at a rich world with lore to spare, but the anime’s 12-episode run struggles to translate this depth into a cohesive narrative.

Narrative and Pacing: A Rushed Rebellion

The story begins with a gripping, if chaotic, premiere: a bloody coup unfolds, complete with betrayals and a werewolf tearing through knights. This high-stakes opening sets expectations for a gritty war drama, but the narrative quickly falters under the weight of its ambitions. The plot follows Alfred and Marius as they rally allies, confront Camellia’s forces, and uncover a larger conspiracy involving dark magic and a relic of untold power. However, the pacing is a significant stumbling block. The first half moves sluggishly, dwelling on repetitive skirmishes and training montages, while the final three episodes accelerate into a frenetic sprint, cramming major plot twists, betrayals, and battles into a rushed climax.

This uneven pacing stems from the anime’s attempt to condense a sprawling game narrative into 12 episodes. Key events, like the reveal of the true antagonist or the significance of the relic, feel underdeveloped, leaving viewers with more questions than answers. The cliffhanger ending, hinting at a second season that seems unlikely given the show’s lukewarm reception and the game’s closure in 2022, feels more like a taunt than a promise. Still, the narrative’s simplicity—while a flaw—offers a no-frills fantasy experience that avoids the overcomplicated plotting of some contemporaries.

Characters: Likable but Underdeveloped

The cast of Hortensia Saga is a mixed bag, anchored by likable but archetypal leads. Alfred Albert, voiced by Yoshimasa Hosoya, is the earnest young lord striving to live up to his father’s legacy. His sincerity and determination make him a solid protagonist, but he lacks the depth or inner conflict to stand out. Marius, voiced by Yui Horie, is more intriguing, largely due to their dual identity as Princess Mariel. The choice to present as male is framed as a practical disguise rather than a commentary on gender, which feels like a missed opportunity for deeper exploration. Their resolve to become an “active warrior” rather than a passive royal is compelling, but the anime rarely delves into their emotional or psychological journey.

Supporting characters, like the stoic Maurice (Kenjiro Tsuda) and the spirited maid Nonnoria (Reina Ueda), add flavor but are hamstrung by limited screen time. Antagonists, such as Duke Rugis and the enigmatic Vall, are visually striking but lack clear motivations, with late-season twists (like Vall’s transformation into a Final Fantasy-esque boss) feeling more bizarre than impactful. The show’s reliance on archetypes—noble knight, hidden princess, scheming duke—makes the cast serviceable but forgettable, though the voice acting, particularly from industry veterans like Hosoya and Horie, elevates their performances beyond the script’s limitations.

Themes: Loyalty, Trauma, and the Cost of War

Hortensia Saga touches on themes of loyalty, trauma, and the cyclical nature of conflict, though it rarely explores them with nuance. Alfred and Marius are bound by shared loss—the deaths of their fathers—and their journey is framed as a quest to honor those sacrifices while forging their own paths. The anime hints at the psychological toll of war, particularly in Marius’s resolve to shed their passive role, but these moments are fleeting, often overshadowed by action sequences or expository dialogue.

The portrayal of the church as a manipulative force is a familiar trope, leaning heavily into anti-establishment sentiment. While this adds a layer of intrigue, the anime’s depiction feels heavy-handed, with little effort to flesh out the church’s motivations or internal dynamics. Similarly, the inclusion of monsters and dark magic suggests a broader mythological framework, but these elements are introduced haphazardly, leaving the world’s rules unclear. The show’s strongest thematic moments come in quiet scenes, like Alfred and Marius reflecting at a family grave, where their shared resolve hints at untapped emotional depth.

Production Values: A Mixed Bag of Beauty and Blunders

Visually, Hortensia Saga is a tale of two extremes. The art, handled by Liden Films, shines in its detailed character designs and vibrant landscapes, capturing the medieval aesthetic with lush forests and imposing castles. However, the animation quality is inconsistent. Early episodes feature clunky CGI for crowd scenes, and action sequences often rely on static shots or repetitive choreography. By contrast, key battles in the latter half, particularly the climactic confrontations, showcase fluid animation and dynamic camera work, suggesting a budget stretched thin but strategically allocated.

The sound design is similarly uneven. The soundtrack, composed by Zenta, is forgettable, lacking the sweeping orchestral grandeur typical of fantasy epics. However, the opening theme, “LEADER” by MY FIRST STORY, is a standout—a high-energy rock anthem that captures the show’s underdog spirit. The ending themes, including Mafumafu’s “Night Dream and Daydream” and Yui Horie’s “VEIL,” add emotional weight, though they can’t compensate for the lackluster background score. The English dub, produced by Funimation, is solid, with Chris Hackney and Laura Stahl delivering strong performances as Alfred and Marius, respectively.

Unique Elements: What Sets It Apart?

While Hortensia Saga struggles to escape its generic framework, it has a few distinctive qualities. Its non-isekai approach is a breath of fresh air in a genre dominated by otherworldly protagonists, offering a grounded fantasy world that feels lived-in, even if underdeveloped. The decision to center a disguised princess as a co-protagonist adds a layer of intrigue, particularly in how Marius navigates their identity without the narrative leaning into cliché gender reveals. The inclusion of supernatural elements, like werewolves and dark magic, gives the show a darker edge than its peers, though these are underutilized.

The anime also benefits from its game roots, which lend it a sense of sprawling lore, even if the adaptation only scratches the surface. Fans of the original mobile game might appreciate callbacks to its mechanics, like the relic’s significance or the Knights Templar structure, though newcomers may find these references opaque. Ultimately, the show’s simplicity—while a flaw in execution—makes it an accessible entry point for viewers craving a straightforward fantasy tale without the baggage of modern anime trends.

Critical Reception: A Polarizing Experience

Reviews of Hortensia Saga reflect its divisive nature. Some, like Anime Feminist, praise its engaging premiere and potential for character-driven drama, noting its solid start despite familiar tropes. Others, like Bubbleblabber, are harsher, calling it a “pretty bad show” that feels like a cash grab tied to the mobile game, with lackluster action and a pointless storyline. MyAnimeList user reviews range from scathing (a 2/10 for its generic plot and rushed ending) to cautiously optimistic (praising its simplicity as a quick, captivating watch). The consensus seems to be that while the show has moments of promise, its execution falls short, particularly in its pacing and character development.

Why It Falls Short—and Why It Still Matters

Hortensia Saga Season 1 is a textbook case of a show with a solid foundation undermined by poor execution. Its rushed pacing, underdeveloped characters, and reliance on clichés prevent it from reaching the heights of genre standouts like Berserk or The Vision of Escaflowne. The cliffhanger ending, coupled with the game’s closure, leaves little hope for resolution, which may frustrate viewers invested in the story.

Yet, there’s something endearing about its earnestness. In an era dominated by isekai and over-the-top premises, Hortensia Saga’s commitment to a classic fantasy narrative feels almost rebellious. It’s a reminder of the genre’s roots—knights, princesses, and epic battles—before the influx of game-like systems and reincarnated heroes. For viewers willing to overlook its flaws, it offers a nostalgic, if flawed, escape into a world of swords and sorcery.

Who Should Watch It?

Hortensia Saga is best suited for diehard fantasy fans who crave a break from isekai saturation and can tolerate a by-the-numbers story. If you enjoy straightforward narratives, strong voice acting, and occasional flashes of visual brilliance, it might scratch an itch, though it’s unlikely to leave a lasting impression. Those seeking complex characters or innovative storytelling should look elsewhere—Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End or Made in Abyss offer richer fantasy experiences.

Final Verdict: A Saga Worth Sampling, Not Savoring

Hortensia Saga Season 1 is a flawed but earnest attempt at a classic fantasy epic. Its engaging premise, likable leads, and occasional production highlights are weighed down by rushed pacing, generic tropes, and an unsatisfying conclusion. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, its non-isekai approach and glimpses of untapped potential make it a curious artifact in the fantasy anime canon. For those intrigued, the first three episodes—available on platforms like Crunchyroll—offer a decent litmus test. If they don’t hook you, the saga may not be worth continuing.

Score: 6.5/10 – A passable fantasy romp that tries but doesn’t quite succeed.