The Mystic Archives of Dantalian English Sub & Dub

About The Mystic Archives of Dantalian

The Mystic Archives of Dantalian (ダンタリアンの書架) arrives as an action anime by GAINAX (2011), and the premise is easy to summarize. The premise: Hugh Anthony Disward inherits an old mansion and a personal library from his grandfather. In the basement of the mansion, he crosses paths with a mysterious girl, Dalian.

Soon after, she is a Dantalian and a gateway to "Dantalian's bookshelf", which stores the prohibited books of the demons. "Gensho (Illusory Books)", the prohibited books, endanger the balance of the realm, but people are fascinated by the taboo. Hugh and Dalian solve the cases involving Gensho with their ability to access the Dantalian bookshelf.

As an action title, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. Voice work is led by Daisuke Ono as Hugh Anthony Disward and Miyuki Sawashiro as Dalian. It will appeal most to viewers who like fast, high-impact fights. With 12 episodes in total, there is enough room for the story to develop.

Production & Appeal

GAINAX is the studio behind The Mystic Archives of Dantalian, and its direction shapes everything from character design to motion. The action focus matters here: fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. With a 6.9/10 score, it is more of a niche pick than a universal crowd-pleaser. Voice casting, including Daisuke Ono as Hugh Anthony Disward, adds to the appeal for fans who follow seiyuu. Released in 2011, it competed with that season's other new series for attention.