MÄR
1728579
226149332
2008-07-17T01:18:21Z
209.217.79.80
/* Chess Pieces */
{{Infobox animanga/Header
| name = Märchen Awakens Romance
| image = [[Image:Marcast.jpg|230px]]
| caption =
| ja_name = メル
| ja_name_trans = Meru
| genre = [[Fantasy]], [[Comedy]], [[Adventure]]
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Manga
| title =
| author = [[Nobuyuki Anzai]]
| publisher = {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Shogakukan]]
| publisher_other = {{flagicon|United States}} {{flagicon|Canada}} [[VIZ Media]] <br> {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Egmont Manga & Anime]] <br> {{flagicon|Spain}} {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Editorial Ivrea]] <br> {{flagicon|Indonesia}} [[Elex Media Komputindo]] <br> {{flagicon|Malaysia}} [[Komik Remaja]], [[Tora Aman]] <br> {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Play Press]]
| demographic = [[Shōnen]]
| magazine = [[Shōnen Sunday]]
| first = [[May 2003]]
| last = [[July 2006]]
| volumes = [[List of MÄR manga|15]]
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Anime
| title =
| director = Masaharu Okuwaki
| studio = SynergySP
|distribution =[[Viz Media]]
| network = {{flagicon|Japan}} [[TV Tokyo]]
| network_other = {{flagicon|United States}} [[Cartoon Network]]<br> {{flagicon|Malaysia}} [[TV3 (Malaysia)|TV3]]<br> {{flagicon|Canada}} [[YTV (TV channel)|YTV]]
| first = [[3 April]] [[2005]]
| last = [[25 March]] [[2007]]
| episodes = [[List of MÄR episodes|102]]
| episode_list =
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Game
| title = MÄR: Demon of Kaldea
| developer = [[Konami]] qweqwe
| publisher =
| genre = Touch ÄRM [[console role-playing game|RPG]]
| ratings = [[CERO]]: A (All Ages)
| platforms = [[Nintendo DS]]
| released = {{flagicon|Japan}} [[30 March]] [[2006]]
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Game
| title = MÄR: Klavier of oblivion
| developer = Konami
| publisher =
| genre = Touch ÄRM RPG
| ratings = CERO: A (All Ages)
| platforms = Nintendo DS
| released = {{flagicon|Japan}} [[7 September]] 2006
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}
{{nihongo|'''''MÄR'''''|メル|Meru}}, which stands for "Märchen Awakens Romance", is a [[manga]] series created by [[mangaka]] [[Nobuyuki Anzai]]. The television [[anime]] based on the series is titled {{nihongo|''MÄR -MÄR Heaven-''|MÄR -メルヘヴン-|Meru -Meru Hevun-}} and was originally broadcast in [[Japan]] on the [[TXN]] station.
''MÄR'' is characterised by [[fairy tale]] motifs running throughout the series, [[Märchen]] being itself the [[German language|German]] word for "fairy tale". [[VIZ Media]] has acquired the [[North America]]n rights to both the ''MÄR'' manga and anime and aired a [[dubbing (filmmaking)|dubbed]] version of the series, first on [[Toonami Jetstream]], an online service from [[Cartoon Network]], and then on the network itself, as part of the [[Toonami]] programming block. In June, Canadian youth network YTV broadcasted ''MÄR'' @ 7.00p.m., as part of the [[Bionix]] Friday anime programming block.
A sequel to ''MÄR'', entitled ''[[MÄR Omega]]'', was announced in September 2006. However, it is not being written and illustrated by Nobuyuki Anzai, but by [[Kouichiro Hoshino]].
==Status==
As of [[2006]], the manga's first part ended in 161 chapters.
The series is published in [[Japan]] by [[Shogakukan]], in [[North America]] in [[English language|English]] by [[VIZ Media]], in [[France]] in [[French language|French]] by [[Kana (publisher)|Kana]], in [[Spain]] in [[Spanish language|Spanish]] by [[Ivrea]], in [[Singapore]] in English and Simplified Chinese by [[Chuang Yi]],and in [[Indonesia]] by Elex Media Komputindo. MÄR has been announced as a part of Cartoon Network's new online broadband service called Toonami Jetstream. It has aired on Jetstream since July 14, 2006 and aired Saturday nights on Toonami, having premiered December 23 at 10:30 western and was aired January 16, 2006 on Cartoon Network in Australia at 6:00pm. Canadian network YTV aired it starting June 1, 2007 at 7:00pm on the Friday anime block, Bionix. But it got canceled after 12 or 13 episodes
When the show aired on Toonami, however, the order of shows originally was not in sequential order. The first episode was aired, then another episode that was not the second followed. On January 13 2007 Episode 7, Awaken: Meet the other Ed, was aired. The next listing on the Cartoon Network website was listed as Episode 14. The same was happening with Prince of Tennis, which started at the same time, causing permanent damage to the ratings of both shows. On February 24, Prince of Tennis and MÄR changed timeslots. MÄR moved to 10:00, and both shows started over and went in order until June 9 when both shows were removed from the Toonami block.
On July 9th 2007, [[Toonami Jetstream]] restarted MAR from the beginning for unknown reasons (likely due to popular request), with "new" episodes still being broadcasted biweekly, and "reruns" every other week. [[Kyle Hebert]] has stated that only 52 episodes have been dubbed, and from the viewing status on Jetstream, there may not be any more dubs. {{Fact|date=March 2008}}
==Plot==
The story follows [[Ginta Toramizu]], a hyper and easily excitable boy who has always dreamed of a fantasy world, and has been transported to one, the world of [[MÄR-Heaven]], by an extremely powerful Dimension ÄRM known as "Gate Keeper Clown." It was used in desperation by the world of MÄR-Heaven, which is in a period of oppression and instability caused by the mysterious reappearance of the Chess Piece Army. The "Gate Keeper Clown" goes as far as to pluck the surprised and shocked Ginta out of his classroom during a fairly typical day of school, where, being a dreamer, he is constantly heckled by his classmates for his lack of physical prowess, except for his childhood friend Koyuki who encourages him to tell her about the dreams.
Upon appearing in MÄR-Heaven, his physical weakness is replaced with physical strength as well as incredible stamina and endurance. The explanation given was that the gravity was lower in MÄR-Heaven, thereby bestowing relative strength and endurance on Ginta. However, no explanation was given for his improved eyesight. Ginta, who on Earth was a typical video game geek and underachieving student with a drunkard chain-smoking writer for a mother, finds his wildest dreams come true by discovering a world beyond his own where he can be someone else.
Ginta quickly meets the mysterious witch Dorothy, who introduces him to the powerful magical accessories called "[[ÄRM]]" (pronounced air-um).
Dorothy plans to obtain the mysterious ÄRM Babbo, and brings Ginta along. Babbo is extremely special for an ÄRM: he can be shaped into different forms with the use of imagination and possesses a will of his own. However, he has lost all his memory, and considers himself a "gentleman". After saving Dorothy from Babbo's guardian, Ginta becomes the new owner of Babbo, though at first they do not get along.
He continues on a journey of discovery, revelling in this new world, but also finds that he misses the real world. Eventually Ginta resolves to find a way to reach home while enjoying as much of MÄR as he can along the way. However, it is not long before Ginta finds out that the world of MÄR-Heaven is not as peaceful as it seems, as he is attacked by thieves wishing to steal Babbo (who is wanted by the Chess Pieces Army). He soon meets Alviss, the person who brought him to MÄR-Heaven using the Gate Keeper Clown, and acknowledges the upcoming war with the Chess Piece Army. The army aims to destroy the peace of MÄR-Heaven. He also realised that his dad had been a hero in MAR heaven. Then found out that his dad died in MAR heaven in a match with Phantom.
Many more secrets and characters come to light, especially that of the epic MÄR-Heaven War six years ago, in which a mysterious man called Danna (lit. 'Boss' in Japanese, and in the Toonami Jetstream Anime) from Ginta's world defeated the champion knight of the Chess Piece Army, Phantom (the former owner of Babbo), ending the first MÄR-Heaven War. However, he gave his life in the process. As time passes, the story reveals that Phantom has been resurrected and wants to start another reign of terror over the world, with the help of the evil queen of Lestava.
==Main characters==
===Team MÄR===
(メル, ''Meru'')
{{main|Team MÄR}}
The main protagonists of the series who seek to defeat the Chess Pieces. They are a ragtag team of seven humans and a talking ÄRM named Babbo.
===Chess Pieces===
{{main|Chess Pieces (MÄR)}}
The main villains of the series, an army of ÄRM users. Their military ranks are named after the pieces used in a game of [[chess]]. The Chess pieces are basically the villains, and if they lose, then they would leave MÄR Heaven forever. But if the team captain loses (which is Ginta) then the chess pieces rule MÄR forever.
===Other characters===
{{main|List of minor characters in MÄR}}
Other characters include various civilians met along the course of the story.
==Media==
===Manga===
{{main|List of MÄR chapters}}
===Anime===
The anime of MAR is an oddity amongst most anime in that it continued long after the manga had ended. Rather than follow what was originally set by the author, the anime expanded upon it adding additional battles in the climax of the story and a different (though somewhat similar) ending. The anime was licensed by [[Viz Media]] and aired on [[Cartoon Network]]'s online broadband service [[Toonami Jetstream]] and for a limited time on their television programming block [[Toonami]], until they stopped airing it for unknown reasons.
====Episodes====
{{main|List of MÄR episodes}}
====Music (Anime)====
{| border="1px solid" style="border-collapse: collapse;" cellspacing="2px" cellpadding="2px" width="100%"
|- bgcolor=
|colspan=4|
=====Opening themes=====
|-
| '''Title'''
| '''Transcription/Translation'''
| '''Artist'''
| '''Episodes'''
|- bgcolor=
| 君の思い描いた夢 集メル HEAVEN
| Kimi no Omoi Egaita Yume - Atsu MÄR HEAVEN (''The dream you imagined - Collection MÄR HEAVEN'')
| [[GARNET CROW]]
| 1-26
|-
| 晴れ時計
| Hare Tokei (''Clear weather clock'')
| [[GARNET CROW]]
| 27-51
|- bgcolor=
| 夢・花火
| Yume Hanabi (''Dreams · Fireworks'')
| [[GARNET CROW]]
| 52-77
|-
| 風とRAINBOW
| Kaze to RAINBOW (''The wind and the Rainbow'')
| [[GARNET CROW]]
| 78-102
|- bgcolor=
|- bgcolor=
|colspan=4|
=====Ending themes=====
|-
| '''Title'''
| '''Transcription/Translation'''
| '''Artist'''
| '''Episodes'''
|- bgcolor=
| I just wanna hold you tight
| I just wanna hold you tight
| [[Miho Komatsu]]
| 1-13
|-
| 不機嫌になる私
| Fukigen ni Naru Watashi (You Get Sullen Toward Me)
| [[Sayuri Iwata]]
| 14-26
|- bgcolor=
| 毎日アドベンチャー
| Mainichi Adobenchā (Mainichi Adventure - Everyday Adventure)
| [[Sparkling☆Point]]
| 27-39
|-
| 桜色
| Sakurairo (The Color of a Cherry Blood)
| [[Shiori Takei]]
| 40-51
|-
| Miracle
| Miracle
| [[Rina Aiuchi]]
| 52-64
|-
| 今宵Edenの片隅で
| Koyoi Eden no Katasumi De (Tonight at Eden's Corner)
| [[GARNET CROW]]
| 65-77
|-
| もう心揺れたりしないで
| Mou kokoro yuretari shinaide (already, my heart does not shake)
| [[Aiko Kitahara]]
| 78-90
|-
| この手を伸ばせば
| Kono te wo Nobaseba (Reach out my hands)
| [[GARNET CROW]]
| 91-102
|}
===DVD releases===
There are two firms known to have released the DVDs of the anime: [[Shogakukan]] for the Japanese DVDs and [[Viz Media]] for the English DVDs. In the Japanese DVDs, the original 102 episodes were divided into 17 DVDs, 3 episodes for each and 2 episodes for the 1st and 18th discs. There were also two extra merchandises in the 8th and 9th volumes. From episode 51 the DVDs were released entitled 'DVD Z'. The English DVDs were released since [[June 12]], [[2007]] with 4 episodes for each DVD and a running time of 92 minutes. The number of volumes released were four, consisted of 16 episodes in total.
As of [[2008]], MÄR DVDs was delisted from distribution <ref>[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-01-04/future-dvd-volumes-of-mar-anime-reportedly-delisted] on Anime News Network. Accessed [[2008-1-9]] </ref>. According to Viz Media's spokeperson, this was done to make room for other titles' releases <ref>>[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-01-04/future-dvd-volumes-of-mar-anime-reportedly-delisted] on Anime News Network. Accessed [[2008-1-9]]</ref>
{| width="75%"
|----- valign="top"
|
*Volume 01: Gateway to MÄR (Ep. 1-4)
*Volume 02: The Return of Phantom (Ep. 5-8)
*Volume 03: The Second War begins (Ep. 9-12)
*Volume 04: The War Games (Ep. 13-16)
*Volume 05: First Battles (Ep. 17-20)
|}
==Reception==
''[[IGN]]'' gave ''MÄR'' a mostly negative review, stating that, while the series isn't horrible, it is "like every other shōnen fighting manga you've exposed yourself to", and "is only for the absolute diehard shōnen fighting otaku".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://comics.ign.com/articles/782/782862p1.html|title=IGN: MAR Volume 12 Review|publisher=[[IGN]]|author=Sparrow, A.E.|date=2007-04-23}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
===English===
*[http://www.viz.com/products/products.php?series_id=736] VIZ Media link.
*[http://www.marheavenj.net/ MÄR Heaven JOURNEY] an Italian/English fansite.
*[http://www.tv.com/m%C4r-m%E4rchen-awakens-romance/show/63928/summary.html?tag=tabs;summary MÄR] at [[TV.com]]
*[http://mar.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page Marpedia]
*[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=4882 MÄR] at the [[Anime News Network]].
*[http://www.marfantasy.uni7.net/ MÄR FANTASY] an Brazilian fansite.
===Japanese===
*[http://marheaven.com/ MÄR Heaven] {{ja icon}}
*[http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/MAR/ TV Tokyo's Official site] {{ja icon}}
*[http://cal.syoboi.jp/tid/591/subtitle Japanese episode list] {{ja icon}}
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