Ludere Deorum (神々の悪戯, Kamigami no Asobi, Latin and Japanese for "Play of Gods") is a Japanese visual novel by Nippon Ichi Software and Broccoli. It was released on October 24, 2013 for the PlayStation Portable. An anime television series adaptation by Sony Pictures Animation was announced in December 2013 and aired from April to June 2014. The opening theme for the anime was "Till the end", while the ending theme for the anime was "Reason for...". Both opening and ending theme were sung by Miyu Irino, Daisuke Ono, Yuto Uemura, Toshiyuki Toyonaga, Hiroshi Kamiya, and Yoshimasa Hosoya. A second game, In Finite Ludere Deorum (神々の悪戯 IN FINITE, Kagami no Asobi InFinite, lit. "The Last Play of Gods"), was released in April 2016.
Synopsis[]
After discovering a mysterious sword in the storehouse of her home, third-year high school student Yui Kusanagi finds herself suddenly transported to a different world. While exploring her new surroundings, she meets five strange yet handsome men before coming face to face with Zeus: the king of the gods.
In order to restore the deteriorating relationship between the gods and humans, Zeus has created the Academy of the gods and has chosen Yui to be its one and only instructor. She has one year to educate the young and reluctant deities—including the five strangers she met earlier—on what it means to be human while learning about the gods herself; otherwise, they will all be trapped in Zeus' realm forever.
Gameplay[]
Ludere Deorum is classified as an otome game. Like most otome games, the player takes the role of the main female character, Yui Kusanagi, who can choose from a variety of male characters as her love interest.
Bibliographic Information[]
Manga[]
It was serialized in "Sylph Comics" (KADOKAWA <ASCII Media Works>) from the February 2012 issue to the October 2014 issue. The Illustrated by Moto Sumida and has a 3 volumes in total.
- Released on October 10, 2013 - ISBN 978-4048919548
- Released on May 22, 2014 - ISBN 978-4048665841
- Released on October 10, 2014 - ISBN 978-4048669696
Manga Vol. 1
Manga Vol. 2
Manga Vol. 3
Comic anthology[]
- Kamigami no Asobi: Comic Anthology (KADOKAWA ASCII Media Works, released March 2014, 3, ISBN 978-4048664073 )
- Kamigami no Asobi: Anthology (KADOKAWA Enterbrain, released May 2014, 5, ISBN 978-4047297036 )
- Kamigami no Asobi: Anime Official Anthology (Frontier Works, released August 2014, 8, ISBN 978 4861347023 )
Comic Anthology
Anthology
Anime Official Anthology
Fan book[]
- Kamigami no Asobi: Official Fan Book (KADOKAWA <ASCII Media Works>, released on March 3, 2014 - ISBN 978-4048662819)
- TV Anime Kamigami no Asobi: Complete Fan Book (Gakken Publishing, released January 1, 2015 - ISBN 978-4054062016)
Official Fan Book
Complete Fan Book
Stage[]
The Stage The Mischief of the Gods The Hope of the Sun and the Underworld[]
Performed at CBGK Shibugeki!! in Tokyo from August 16th to 20th, 2017. The content is called Greek mythology, centering on Apollo and Hades. The screenplay and direction by Kosei Kosei, and the music by Shuntaro Inami.
Cast
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The Stage The mischief of the gods Promise of light and flame[]
Performed at Shinjuku Village LIVE in Tokyo from April 13th to 21st, 2019. The content is called Norse mythology, centered on Baldr and Loki. Written and directed by Kosei Choi.
Cast
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Character[]
to be added.
TV Anime[]
The anime has opening theme, "TILL THE END" performed by Nagi Yanagi and the ending theme, "REASON FOR..." are performed by the voice actors of Miyu Irino, Daisuke Ono, Yuuto Uemura, Toshiyuki Toyonaga, Hiroshi Kamiy & Yoshimasa Hosoya.
- Staff
- Original Author - Broccoli
- Character draft - Yone Kazuki
- Director - Tomoyuki Kawamura
- Series composition - Tomoko Konparu
- Character Design/Chief Animation Director - Minako Shiba
- Prop Design - Satomi Higuchi, Hiroshi Ogawa
- Art Setting - Chiyuki Aoki
- Art Director - Maho Takahashi
- Color design - Yuki Akimoto
- Cinematographer-Shinya Kato
- Editing - Rie Matsubara
- Sound Director - Hiromi Kikuta
- Music - Elements Garden (Jumpei Fujita, Hitoshi Fujima, Evan Call)
- Music Production - Frontier Works
- Music Producer - Mitsuhiro Iwata
- Chief Producer - Takayuki Matsunaga, Hideki Uchino
- Producers - Tomoko Sakaino, Sachi Kawamoto, Sayaka Konno, Atsunori Yoshida, Fuminori Yamazaki
- Animation Producer - Tsuyoshi Hirano
- Animation Production - Brains Base
- Production-Kamiaso Production Committee (Frontier Works, KADOKAWA, Broccoli, Movic, Showgate)
| No. | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Forbidden Academy" | April 5, 2014 |
| Normal high school girl Yui Kusanagi has been living a normal life in the shrine with her parents and brothers, until she stumbles upon a strange glowing sword in the store shed. By touching it, she is transported to another parallel world in the form of a school surrounded by beautiful gardens, with the sword miniaturised as a pendant around her neck. Zeus, the King of the Gods and maker of this universe, tells her that the bond between gods and humans, once intimate, have begun to weaken, which will only bring about disaster in the future. To avoid a terrible future, Zeus tasks Yui to teach the 8 gods gathered here in this school about the human heart. | ||
| 2 | "Beautiful Shackles" | April 12, 2014 |
| Yui meets the 8 gods: The Greek God of the Sun Apollon Agana Belea, The Greek God of the Underworld Hades Aidoneus, Greek God of Wine and Merrymaking Dionysus Thyrsos, Japanese God of the Moon Tsukito Totsuka, Japanese God of the Sea Takeru Totsuka, Norse God of Light Balder Hringhorni, Norse God of Fire Loki Laevatein, and Norse God of Thunder Thor Megingjard. Some of them are kind and friendly to her whilst some are hostile. Gathered in the hall, Zeus explains the situation to all of them, decreeing that they cannot leave this universe until they graduate, which can only be done so under two conditions: the container on the chandelier is filled to indicate their knowledge, and the jewellery shackles binding the gods' powers disintegrate of their own accord. Appointing Thoth Caduceus, the Egyptian God of Knowledge, as their teacher, school officially begins with the entrance ceremony. | ||
| 3 | "Sea Breeze Conflict" | April 19, 2014 |
| Thoth suddenly announces that tomorrow is summer vacation, as per Zeus' decision to change the season. Although several gods play truant, the others manage to arouse their interest in school by starting a seaside school, in hopes of showing them the fun side of school. The changing of the season again -- this time to autumn -- forces them to warm up in a nearby house instead. As Apollon tries to make seaside school fun even in autumn, Thor and Loki decide to leave, claiming that he has no right to order them around because he is a student as well. This prompts Yui to give him the title of 'Student Council President'. Apollon, pleased, finds the way to make seaside school fun by ending the night with fireworks purchased from the school store, which sells everything and anything. | ||
| 4 | "The Curse of Hades" | April 26, 2014 |
| Yui, in line with Zeus' attempt to model the school after human schools, decides to introduce club activities, something that Thoth decides to make compulsory as well. While everyone is excited and interested, Hades refuses to participate in group activities. Yui later finds out that while Hades is constantly gloomy and introverted, he enjoys stargazing. Despite his claims that misfortune will befall her if she gets too close, Yui refuses to leave him alone, especially after he saves her from drowning. From Apollon and Dionysus, she makes Hades' favourite strawberry rice cakes to cheer him up, prompting him to reveal a hideous tattoo on his upper chest caused from the grudges of many that regret their deaths -- the cause of misfortune. As he once again rejects her, Yui believes that he is looking out for everyone's sake by isolating himself, and determines to make him happy. The following day, Hades goes stargazing alone until Yui arrives, bringing the other gods along. While misfortune strikes and it begins raining, everyone simply changes into their swimsuits and have fun together. Hades realises that no matter how unlucky he is, there are people who still care for him. | ||
| 5 | "The Unforgivable Heart" | May 3, 2014 |
| Thoth orders Yui to make Takeru, who has yet to join a club, do so. This proves difficult with his rough attitude and hostile temperament until he notices her practicing swordplay. Takeru, claiming that Yui is only wanting him to join a club so she can graduate and leave, decides to make a deal with her: if she can win, he will join a club willingly. Yui loses the duel, which Takeru believes is because she is weak at her training, unlike him who jobs every morning. She decides to follow him on his morning runs to train and hopefully gain a better understanding of him. Their relationship gets better, until one rainy morning when Takeru, thinking Yui wouldn't run in the rain, goes on ahead without her. In her attempt to find him, Yui falls down a cliff and is saved by him in his godly form, having broken the shackle. At that, Zeus suspends Takeru, but Yui claims that he was showing human emotion by saving her, and thus did nothing wrong. With the support of the other gods, Zeus gives in, and Takeru realizes that she is actually a strong girl. | ||
| 6 | "The Moonlight's Feelings" | May 10, 2014 |
| Tsukito has been chosen as a disciplinary member, but because of his eagerness to fulfil his responsibilities, he loses sleep and faints. Thoth threatens him that if he does something like this again he will be suspended, making Tsukito extremely depressed and determined to find out the reason for his mistakes. In response, Loki mischievously gives Tsukito and Yui a pair of lovers' rings that glue their hands together, and is unremovable until they gain a deep understanding of each other's hearts. Both of them connect over preparing for a Moon-Viewing Festival, to which Tsukito reveals how he only fulfils his duties and never enjoys anything, much to Yui's horror. The rings finally break off when Tsukito admits that he found preparing things with her fun. | ||
| 7 | "Promise of the Frozen Wastes" | May 17, 2014 |
| Balder grows more attached to Yui because of her uniqueness in not being affected by his natural charisma as the Norse God of Light. As the season changes once again to winter, Yui and the gods decide to create a cultural festival based on Christmas, splitting into groups based on their heritage. Since Yui is Japanese, she has to work with the Japanese gods, much to Balder's jealousy. He drags her around with him everywhere, until Loki is absolutely frustrated, confronting his friend about a promise they made as children to always stay together no matter what, believing that Yui is coming between their friendship. | ||
| 8 | "The Solitude of Light" | May 24, 2014 |
| Yui has been trying to avoid Balder and Loki after their argument. Despite Loki telling her to stay away from Balder for her own safety, the latter successfully takes her away and attempts to seduce her. When Loki finds them and Balder goes on a rampage. Knowing that there is no hiding it from Yui, he explains how Balder possesses an inborn power as a God of Destruction, which will be released when his emotions grow unstable, making him act differently, although he wakes up with no memories of it after. As the rest of the gods release lanterns into the sky, oblivious to what is happening, Loki tells Thor that he will kill Balder. | ||
| 9 | "Dark Prison of Scattered Flowers" | May 31, 2014 |
| 6 months have passed, and one fine day Thoth suddenly declares that mid-term exams are in 3 days, shocking Yui. They attempt to study together using Tsukito's perfect notes, but a Yui has been experiencing strange dreams of Apollon's past, while Apollon has been losing sleep as well. From the dreams, Yui finds out about a woman named Cassandra that Apollon loved so much to the point where he gave her a part of his divine power to see the future, until she committed suicide much to his anguish. Hades, knowing that Cassandra's spirit never entered the underworld, worries that she holds a grudge against Apollon and is wandering in the human world to haunt him. However, this proves to be the opposite as Cassandra possesses Yui's body to convey her true feelings to Apollon, freeing him from his long-term grief and breaking his shackle, allowing him to graduate. Everyone forgets about their exams until Tsukito reminds them, to which they have done no studying. | ||
| 10 | "Lovely and Ephemeral" | June 7, 2014 |
| Despite not studying, the gods and Yui have fared pretty well on their exams, so Zeus gives them to "honour" of putting on a play for the rest of the students, who are spirits summoned by him. Per Yui's suggestion, they decide to enact the fairytale of Cinderella, with everyone competing for the main male part of the Prince until they draw lots. The play goes smoothly until Loki tries to stage a coup d'etat and Anubis Ma'at, the Egyptian God of the Dead, steals some of Dionysus' homemade juice and crashes into the stage. Despite the havoc wrecked, all the students appear to have enjoyed the play. | ||
| 11 | "Chains of Fate" | June 14, 2014 |
| Balder collapses suddenly after the play. As Apollon and Yui visit him in the infirmary, they overhear Loki telling Thor about he will kill Balder, much to their shock. Loki explains that whenever there is light, there will also be darkness, which rests as an inborn power within Balder as the God of Destruction. When Balder awakens, he realises Loki's aims and accepts his death as a dangerous being. However, Loki is unable to do so, prompting Balder to jump off a cliff instead and commit suicide. | ||
| 12 | "Eternal Separation" | June 21, 2014 |
| Balder awakens as the God of Destruction and the universe starts to collapse with the immensity of power. The remaining gods have their shackles broken through human acts of emotion in the midst of chaos and transform to rescue their friend. Zeus dissolves the spirit students as he attempts to use his power to keep the universe intact. Yui, wanting to help, uses the sword to absorb the knowledge and feelings contained within the chandelier's container, which is now full, and gives it to Loki. While Balder is saved, the universe is beginning to collapse despite Zeus channeling energy into it. The 8 gods make a decision to use their remaining power in returning Yui to her universe, each one thanking her for teaching them and Apollon confessing his love for her. Yui returns to her time at the exact same moment she left, and can now only look at the memories her new friends have given her. In an ending scene, Yui looks to find the gods standing before her shrine home, dressed in modern attire, and requests that she teach them again. | ||
| TRAILERS | |
Web Radio[]
- Kamiaso Radio
- A web radio program distributed on Animate TV and Mobile Animate from April 25th to July 11th, 2014 . 2nd and 4th Friday delivery. On Nico Nico Douga, it was distributed on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays from April 26th to July 12th. The personalities are Yuuto Uemura (playing Tsukito Totsuka) and Toshiyuki Toyonaga (playing Takeru Totsuka).
- Kamiaso Radio Second Coming
- It was distributed from February 13, 2015 to April 10, 2015. The update date, site, and personality are the same as the first period. The sound source of the public recording "Kamiaso Radio Special Edition in AGF2015 Tsukihito to Hi no Public Recording SP" held on November 7, 2015 was distributed on December 25, 2015.
External Link[]
- Kamigami no Asobi ─ Official Game Website
- Kamigami no Asobi Official Twitter (@kami_aso) - Twitter
- TV Anime Kagami no Asobi official website
- TV Anime "Kamigami no Asobi" Official (@kamiaso_anime) - Twitter
- Stage "The Stage Gods' Kamigami Hope of the Sun and the Underworld'' Official Site
- Stage "The Stage Kamigami no Asobi Promise of Light and Flame'' Official Site
- Stage Kamigami no Asobi Official Twitter (@kamiaso_stage) - Twitter
- Kamigami no Asobi ─ Wikipedia JP
- Kamigami no Asobi ─ Wikipedia EN
Trivia[]
to be added.