The Feast of Black Strings is a seven-episode OVA. It combines dark themes with ambiguous characters, music motifs and mecha.
The OVA premiered in 2015, and is the first source of the series with Japanese voices.
Story[]
In a Place only known as "Dark Town", in the country of Luxendria (formerly Linoa), there is a force of corruption, ambition and segregation surrounding the city, and there's only a secret force who acts in public as a Record Label named: Feast Company, in its forces, there's a very particular one; called the "Black Strings" a rock band trio who are new in this "Business" and they achieved success in the recent time, however, nothing is perfect and the trio need to surpass their personal problems, conflicts and their greatest Dilemma: Who's the real me, and which is the real conflict or enemy here.
Characters[]
Main Protagonists - The Band[]
- Blake Snider a.k.a. Blaze Platinum
The main protagonist and hero. An aspiring rock star and musician, and lead singer and guitarist of Black Strings, recently graduated from High School and currently goes to the University whom he has a career related to art, in his free time or in a emergency, Blake turns into Blaze Platinum. He's 19 years old, born in September 17, has black hair and blue eyes, heights 173 cm (5' 8").
- Grizelda "Zelda" Grayson a.k.a. Sheena Marvelous
Zelda is an attractive secretary, but when she becomes Sheena, she's the keyboardist of Black Strings, also she sings some of its songs as well, Zelda is often the intelligent and the most tactical when it comes about planning an attack or an invasion. She's 23 years old, born in December 15, has gray hair and green eyes, heights 163 cm (5' 4").
- Gavin Albain a.k.a. Ace Saturn
Gavin is a music teacher, as Ace he's the drummer and sometimes the bassist, even a third singer, he cares about his fellow members, he has a serious and reserved personality, but also a nice guy and a playboy, he's the oldest member and the most rational. He's 35 years old, born in March 16, has white hair and red eyes, heights 183 cm (6').
FEAST[]
- Sienna Travers (Birth name: Sampson)
Sienna is a girl who was hired by FEAST, the pilot of Ragnarök. Timid, shy but unscrupulous. She's has potential of a mecha fighter, but at first has no experience. Sampson and Francine's Illegitimate Daughter. She's 17 years old, born in June 18, has reddish brown hair and orange eyes, heights 153 cm (5' 0.2").
- Ronald "Ron" Sampson
The President and boss of "Feast" and "Feast Company", he's serious and strict, cares little about his servants and only cares about winning and winning, due to the apparent death of his daughter in the past he became a "Winning Addict", he's an elitist and doesn't care about the others. He's 54 years old, born in August 4, has blond hair and brown eyes, heights 180 cm (5' 11").
- Captain Roger Masters
Roger is the coordinator of the Ragnarök robot and Sienna's mentor, he doesn't care if his actions are bad/good, for Sienna & the band's well being that he will do drastic actions, much to Mr. Sampson's chagrin, used to be part of the "Four Horsemen", but he quit, and is being wanted by them. He's 28 years old, born in May 31, has reddish pink hair and yellow green eyes, heights 178 cm (5' 10").
- Elizabeth Amador a.k.a. Ameth
Is just an Alias for Elizabeth Amador, Ameth is a staff member of Feast, a friend and ardent fan of the Black Strings band, she used to be a public fortune teller, and still is one as the current time, she's the older sister of one of the "Four Horsemen", and has a vendetta against him. She's 32 years old, born in July 29, has lavender hair and turquoise eyes, heights 165 cm (5' 5").
- Sebastian von Stroheim
Sebastian is the driver of the Limousine of FEAST, he talks little and is introverted, he likes rock music and his passion is playing the saxophone in the Black Strings band for major events. He's 58 years old, born in January 25, has gray hair and hazel eyes, heights 175 cm (5' 9").
Others[]
- Rose Belladonna
A Young lady who's the current girlfriend of Blake, she knows that Blaze and Blake are the same person, she's kind and passionate, often making childish comments about the ironic life that resides in the city. She's 19 years old, Born in October 14, has pink hair and yellow eyes, heights 168 cm (5' 6").
- Nathan "Jonathan" Travers
A tall and muscular young rebel detective who acts as the boss of Zelda Grizel, a clever and studious man who deeply cares for Zelda and her safety, also he investigates the censored works. He's 21 years old, Born in November 13, has dark brown hair and purple eyes, heights 191 cm (6' 3").
- Martha Snider-Hayes
She's the mother of Blake, and the one who opposes her son's wish to becoming a musician, because of the same wish that killed her husband and Blake's father in a unknown accident, she's a kind and has some "Iron Lady" tendencies. She's 46 years old, born in February 13, has orange hair and blue eyes, heights 160 cm (5' 3").
- Mildred Albain a.k.a. Tesla
Gavin's Cousin and the History/Science Teacher from the Artistica Academia, usually has a tough exterior, but she's highly perceptive and Intelligent, also she's really loyal to the Black Strings when trying to betray Sampson. She's 24 years old, born in April 18, She has Crimson hair and Ruby red eyes, heights 157 cm (5' 3").
- Shawn Grayson
Zelda's younger brother, a young scholar who's a ardent fanboy of Black Strings, and knows about his sister's identity, he's cheery and likes to joke around. He's 22 years old, Born in December 30, has dark gray hair and dark green eyes, heights 170 cm (5' 7").
- Lars Jagger
Lars is a friend of Sienna and Eliza since kindergarten. He works in his family's restaurant but also is an actor, his fiery personality has no bounds. But he cares and respects those who seem worthy. He's 21 years old, Born in August 10, has red hair and light green eyes, heights 175 cm (5' 9").
- Mark Holley
Mark is a bartender at Friends at Holly’s Bar, and at the same time, its owner. His personality is a jolly man to the people. He's 48 years old, Born in December 30, has black hair and dark brown eyes, heights 187 cm (6' 1").
- Francine Travers
Francine is Sienna and Jonathan's mother, she is kind hearted, rather ditzy. She was in a relationship with Sampson once since the death of her first husband for money reasons. She is 44 years old, Born in January 20, has brown hair and orange eyes, heights 161 cm (5' 3").
Antagonists[]
Four Horsemen of Apocalypse[]
- Karen Ludenberg (Conquest/Pestilence)
Karen is a famous international model, but only in name, because she's in fact one of the Four Horsemen, she represents conquest, due to her desire of victory in any forms, she has won several model contests, wants to disband the band by any forms possible, even at certain form. Has White hair and purple eyes.
- Lloyd Flynn (War)
Lloyd is the younger brother of Elizabeth Amador (Ameth), a very famous executive, he's a member of the Horsemen, he also joined the Navy because he wants war to avenge the death of his beloved family (sans Ameth) by the hands of Sampson. Has Red hair and orange eyes.
- Blair Turner (Famine)
Blair is a young woman who strives for having power in any forms, because she's the Horseman of Famine, being hungry in power, money and ambition, she's a lady from the lower streets of the city, and due to her extreme hunger, she destroyed even robots in her "games". Has Black hair and grey eyes.
- Aurelius Krüger (Death)
The leader of the Horsemen and the oldest one, he has an unusually pale skin, and due to this, he has appeared in several public pictures in magazines, also is the lead singer of one of the rival bands that the Black Strings faces. He used to be friends with Gavin and another man, he used to be a student to Blake's father. Has Green-white hair and white eyes.
Other Antagonists[]
- Maravilla Trio (Joseph Williams, Cain Stevenson and Lilly Hamilton)
The Rival trio that often fights in frequent battle of the bands, they seem to be serious, but in fact, they're the comic relief and often fails to praise the crowd. But the trio are friendly and less "edgy" than the titular band. They're one of the counterparts of the band themselves.
- Eliza Sampson
The main antagonist. Eliza is the daughter of Ron Sampson, who wants nothing than vengeance, and also, she seems to have a power who can manipulate more weaker people than her, she controls Sienna through magic strings, and has plans to destroy the world by herself, and she had been stated as "dead". She's 18 years old, has light brown hair and light brown eyes, born in December 19 and heights 155 cm (5' 1").
- Comet of FEAST
A huge mech who looks more like a monster rather than being a normal looking mech, piloted by Eliza. Result of the many years of the project since 2000.
Trivia and Facts[]
- In terms of alignments, there's little good in this series, because of the constant fighting forces, in the White side, is Sienna, Roger, Lars, Rose, Ameth and Shawn, in the Gray side, the band, Sampson, Mildred, Jonathan, Sebastian, possibly Francine and Martha, and in the black side, the entire Four Horsemen, Eliza and Feast.
- This is also a Mecha anime based on the Super Robot and the Real Robot genre. Because of the Ragnarök was constructed with special artifacts and the other minor machines are based on real life machines.
- The main themes aside from music, mecha and action, is friendship, family, competitions and adventure.
- The titles of the Black Strings are based on those from the Glam Rock genre.
- The Id is Blake, The Ego is Zelda and the Superego is Gavin, and in the second line: Sienna is the Supergo, Rose is the Id and Jonathan is the Ego.
- Despite its fantasy theme, some of the Feast of the Black Strings events are based on real life events, such as the Coup d'etat of 1999 Censorship, the missing girls, the government conspiracies and controversies, etc.
- The Soundtrack will use different types of Rock and Metal.
- Judging by the cliffhanger of the ending of the first game, it has a little "boy" talking with the possibly most strongest authority than Sampson himself. The president...
- This is the first adaptation of the two canon games that also uses a Major Arcana cards' motif, and has heavy influence in the two plots.