Shining Tears X Wind

Shining Tears X Wind (シャイニング·ティアーズ·クロス·ウィンド, Shainingu Tiāzu Kurosu Windo) is a Japanese anime based on the PlayStation 2 games Shining Tears and Shining Wind. Shining Tears X Wind presents an adapted version of Shining Wind's story, seen from the perspective of the character Souma. It is directed by Hiroshi Watanabe and produced by Studio Deen. The series started airing in Japan on April 6, 2007 and finished airing on June 29, 2007.

Synopsis
Mysterious disappearances are occurring one after the other in Tatsumi Town. Kiriya has a vision from a mysterious beautiful girl with pointy ears. A book talking for an alternative world is found. And Mao searching for her long lost friend, Zero, comes to our world. But what she didn’t expect is to find Souma and Kureha, and even less, to accidentally take them to her world. Now, Souma and Kureha have to find a way to come back. But other forces are playing their part in the darkness and Souma with Kureha will find that going back is harder than they first anticipated.

(Source: ANN)

TV Anime
The anime has the same opening and ending themes as the game Shining Tears. A sequel to this is a mobile game entitled Shining Wind X, which was released in January 2008.

Staff

 * Original Work: Sega
 * Director: Hiroshi Watanabe
 * Series Composition: Hiro Masaki
 * Screenplay: Hiro Masaki
 * Music: Kei Haneoka
 * Original Concept: Tsuyoshi Sawada
 * Original Character Design: Tony Taka
 * Character Design: Mariko Emori, Yukiko Ban
 * Art Director: Michiyo Miki
 * Director of Photography: Shinya Kondou
 * Producer: Masahiro Nakayama
 * Animation Producer: Masahiro Toyosumi
 * Color Setting: Shinji Matsumoto
 * Editing: Masahiro Matsumura
 * Music Director: Fumiko Harada
 * Planning: Tsuyoshi Sawada
 * Sound Director: Ayako Misawa
 * Animation Company: Studio Deen

Character
An athletic student who, along with Kureha, was transported to the dream continent, End Earth. At the beginning of the series, Souma has feelings for Kureha, despite knowing that she has feelings for Kiriya; he sometimes gets annoyed at Kiriya for not noticing her feelings for him. He then confesses his affection for her, which apparently is not mutual, shortly before being transported to the other world. After seeing Kureha presumably die, he was able to pull out a legendary sword from Kureha's body. Souma turns out to be a "Soul Blader", which is a person that can form a sword from the heart of any person he shares similar emotions with. Unlike Kureha, Souma would rather stay in End Earth, as he believes that it is the right place for him and since he thinks that he could be "together" with Kureha in End Earth. Later, after Souma and Kureha meet up with Kiriya and Seena, he departs from the group, leaving Kiriya and Seena to take care of Kureha, realizing that she did not feel the same way about him and thus decided to no longer use Kureha's heart as a Soul Blade, since he knew that her heart had feelings for Kiriya. So, he temporarily uses a katana when there are no Soul Blades around for him to use.

When Souma and Kureha were between dimensions, they were greeted by Zero, who entrusted Souma in guarding the world from then on.

After his second meeting with Zero, he receives one of the Twin Dragon Rings, and begins to see the world in a whole new way. His attitude also shifts from a rash and emotional state, to having a calm and understanding demeanor. Souma becomes a sort of mediator, not taking any sides, and travels with Lazarus, Ryuna, Elwyn, and Blanc Neige, in his mission to protect and save the world. After expressing his desire to join Weissritter, he is nominated as its proxy leader. In the end, after seeing Mao's sad and tearful face, he realizes his true feelings for Mao and her feelings for him. Souma then decides to give up his chance of going back to his own world and decides to stay with Mao and Weissritter.

Out of the rest of the characters, Souma was able to extract the most Soul Blades; having drawn blades from Kureha, Hiruda, Kiriya, who in fact possesses his Holy Grail, and also from all the members of the current Weissritter.

Abilities
He is good at sports and fights hard, but he doesn't belong to club activities. He is popular with female students, perhaps because of her good looks.


 * As the name suggests, the sword of the heart (Soul Blader). A sword-shaped object that crystallizes the heart of a person with whom you have feelings. Its power is enough to defeat a beast-man with a single blow. It is also a sword that responds to the heart, and if the partner refuses to use the heart sword, or if the opponent's heart becomes weak, the heart sword will disappear.
 * The shape and performance of the Shinken (Sword) differ from person to person. When used, the Shinkenshi pulls it out of the partner's body, and it is expressed as a pleasure for the partner. Whether it's friendship or affection, as long as someone trusts the Shinkenshi, regardless of gender or race, even if it's another Shinkenshi, he can become a partner. As a higher rank of Shinken, there is something called the Ultimate Shinken.

External Link

 * Shining World ─ Official Website | SEGA
 * TV Anime "Shining Tears X Wind" Official Website | Archived as of September 29, 2007
 * TV Anime Shining Tears X Wind ─ Bandai Channel
 * Shining Tears X Wind ─ Wikipedia  JP 
 * Shining Tears X Wind ─ Wikipedia  EN 
 * Shining Tears (GAME) ─ Wikipedia  EN 

Trivia
'' to be added. ''

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