Almost a year after the launch of the LN – Light-novel range from Ofelbe editions, we look back at their first title Danmachi – the legend of the Familias!
Danmachi – the legend of the Familias
Original title: Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darô ka
Authors : Fujino Omori (screenplay) Suzuhito Yasuda (illustrations)
French publisher : Ofelbe
Original publisher: SB Créative
Release date : 30/06/2016
Number of volumes : 9 volumes in Japan, 4 volumes in France
Status : Current series
Price : 12,99 €
Synopsis :
Welcome to Orario, the Labyrinth City where gods and humans coexist. Under this city, adventurers, blessed by the gods, go in search of glory and fortune in the Dungeon; A mysterious maze infested with monsters. This is where we meet Bell Cranel, a 14-year-old provincial, who despite his lack of experience sets out to conquer the Dungeon under the protection of Hestia, an unpopular goddess. Chance doing things wrong, he comes across a terrible Minotaur. He is then saved by Aiz Wallenstein, a beautiful swordsman, with whom he immediately falls in love. Galvanized by this new feeling, he sets out again to attack the mysterious labyrinth. Was it a mistake to want to follow in this girl's footsteps? The path that will lead our young hero to his soul mate may in any case be strewn with pitfalls…
Launched in 2015, Ofelbe editions are trying to bring the light-novel offer up to date in France. After having proposed the three titles that are Sword Art Online, Spice & Wolf and Log Horizon, intended for the general public, the young publishing house wanted to try the bet to install in France a catalog a little more confidential, intended for fans of Japanese pop culture with more targeted works.
This is where the new LN – Light-novel collection comes in, of which Danmachi is the first title! Highlighted in 2015 by its animated adaptation, this license has found an audience that grows day by day and it is time to return today to its original format, the novel!
Danmachi takes us into a fantasy world in the heart of the city of Orario. It has the particularity of housing a labyrinth filled with powerful and dangerous monsters. If death awaits the adventurers too weak, it is a source of fortune and glory for the most deserving. Bell, our hero arrives in this city at the age of 14, following the death of his last parent, his grandfather. He decides to follow in the footsteps of his ancestor by becoming an adventurer too. But not for money or recognition. Rather to live adventures … and make romantic encounters!
If the main motivation remains absurd, it at least has the quality of being modern and original. Throughout the chapters, we observe the meteoric rise of our young hero, who seems to create a harem for himself, regardless of his will. Charming ladies all older than him, begin to cluster around our hero creating tensions between them. Each having a particular character and physique, everyone will find happiness, according to his affinities. The world of Danmachi is explained and developed in a regular and clear way, allowing the reader to improve his immersion. Small appreciable detail, the narrative often changes point of view, indicated to the reader by a smiley face at each of the sub-chapters where the change takes place, making empathy more important with the different protagonists.
With a rich and detailed universe, Danmachi is a pleasant work to read.Fujino Omori offers us a story mixing the rise of a young boy (as a legend?) and his daily life outside the dungeon punctuated by meetings with women. Suzuhito Yasuda's illustrations follow the same dynamic highlighting sometimes our young hero, sometimes the charming ladies who brighten up his everyday life. If the light novel caught your eye, you can discover an excerpt from the first volume of Danmachi – the legend of the Familias here !
As mentioned before, Danmachi was adapted into an anime and was released in France legal streaming on Viewster and Wakanim, and on DVD/BR at BlackBox! A series called Damnachi Sword Oratoria was also born, adaptation of the eponymous light-novel, spin-off of the work described in this article. It is available to stream on Wakanim and will be released in the coming months by BlackBox on DVD/BR.
Finally, know that a manga adaptation of the light-novel Danmachi is planned in France for September 2017/2018 at Ototo Manga editions.
