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MÄR
File:Marcast.jpg
Genre	shōnen, fantasy, action
Manga
Written by	Nobuyuki Anzai
Published by	Shogakukan VIZ Media EMA
Anime
Directed by	Masaharu Okuwaki
Studio	Shogakukan Productions

MÄR: Märchen Awakens Romance is a popular manga series created by Nobuyuki Anzai - the creator of Flame of Recca. A television anime of the series, titled MÄR - MÄR Heaven - (MÄR - メルヘヴン -, Meru - Hevun -), also exists and in Japan is broadcast on TXN stations. (Note: In Japan, the manga is simple titled MÄR, while the anime is titled MÄR - MÄR Heaven -.) MÄR is unique simply because of the fairy tale motif running through the series itself. MÄR is also an acronym for Märchen, itself meaning fairy tale. VIZ Media has also acquired the rights to the MÄR anime and is part of Toonami Jetstream, an online service from Cartoon Network.

Status

As of 2006, the manga's first part has ended with 161 chapters. There is a sequel called MAR Omega, coming in September.

The series is published in Japan by Shogakukan, in North America in English by VIZ Media, and in Singapore in English and Simplified Chinese by Chuang Yi. 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.

Plot

Template:Spoiler

The story follows Ginta Toramizu, a hyperactive 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 mysteriously resurface 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.

He soon discovered that he is there to lead a war against the Chess Pieces Army, which lost another war 6 years ago to another person from Ginta's dimension. Here he meets new friends and enemies. The main plot of MÄR is concerned with Ginta's personal growth as the series develops, as both a responsible young man and an able fighter.

Upon appearing in MÄR-Heaven, his physical weakness is replaced with physical strength as well as incredible stamina and endurance. It is speculated that these new abilities are due to gravitational differences between the world of MÄR-Heaven and Earth, although this is a rather awkward explanation, as gravity cannot increase strength or stamina, nor can it correct vision. Ginta, who on Earth was a typical video game geek and underachieving student with a drunkard chain-smoker 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 (Wizard of Oz), who introduces him to the powerful magical items called "ÄRMs"(pronounced air-um). MÄR-Heaven is filled with these items: magical artifacts that usually take the form of some sort of weapon. These are varied in strength and appearance and divided into many kinds:

• Simple ÄRMs are little more than simple tools when active.
• Holy ÄRMs possess the power to heal and undo curses.
• Weapon ÄRMs are used as weapons in battle.
• Darkness ÄRMs are powerful artifacts used atypically to curse people at usually a cost to the user.
• Dimension ÄRMs teleport to different places.
• Guardian ÄRMs summon a monster or a 'guardian' of some sort to protect the owner of the ARM.
• Nature ÄRMs are used for certain elemental attacks, or enhancing a body's physical performance.
• Ghost ÄRMs attach to the user's body and allow them to use their body as a living weapon.
• Unique ÄRMs are any ARMs that can't be put into any of the other classes, such as Babbo.

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 this memory, and considering 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, reveling in this new world, but also finds that he misses the real world due to his crush on Koyuki (a classmate on Earth). Koyuki is noted as the only one on Earth besides his mother who does not heckle him for dreaming about other worlds. Eventually Ginta forms resolves to find a way to reach home while enjoying as much of MÄR-Heaven 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.

Many more secrets and characters come to light, especially that of the epic MÄR-Heaven War six years ago, in which a mysterious man 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 Lastava.

Main characters

TEAM MÄR

Ginta Toramizu (虎水ギンタ Toramizu Ginta)
Seiyū: --- Voice Actor (English): Spike Spencer

• The main character of the series. A fun-loving, care-free boy who uses Babbo as his ÄRM. Being originally from another world (Japan) he was originally weak and nerdy (a stereotypical otaku) until he arrived in MÄR-Heaven, where he gained superior physical ability. Ginta fulfilled the prophecy that his father started by waking up Babbo. He found Babbo while helping Dorothy find and defeat the Rock Giant Golem that guarded Babbo. He was the only one capable of opening the case containing Babbo, as he at the time he had no magical energy to speak of. He leads the newly formed team of "seven youths" called MÄR. It has been revealed that he is the son of Danna, the original leader of the Cross Guard, defenders of MÄR-Heaven, who defeated Phantom in the last set of war games (a tournament pitting the Cross Guard against the Chess Pieces). After a long battle, he defeats Phantom in the Final battle of the War games to reach his higher goal: destroy King - the true top of the Chess Pieces and by that, ruin it for good.

Babbo
(バッボ)

• The only ÄRM in MÄR-Heaven with a human soul, and therefore the only one able to talk without being activated. Once the weapon of the exceptionally powerful Chess Pieces knight Phantom, it now is wielded by Ginta, and serves as both a friend and a weapon. Babbo is known for his oversized ego and love of himself, constantly referring to himself as a "elder" (in the English versions, a gentleman) . This is in contrast to his typical shape, which is in default form an oversized kendama. Later, Ginta discovered that Babbo's soul is actually that of the former elder of the magic kingdom of Kaldea. Babbo is the weapon of Phantom in the first war, though then he was evil. Babbo is able to alter his appearance, size, and abilities by the use of eight Magical Stones, the most a single ARM has ever held. Originally called a "hammer chained to a talking ball" by Dorothy, Babbo can change his size at will, although his weight remains constant. With the Magical Stones, Babbo gains the ability to shift to and from the following "versions", created through Ginta's own imagination:

• • Babbo V.0: Babbo before Ginta receives the magic stones. he is used like a hammer, and his head (the 'ball' of the kendama) can be thrown or hit at his opponent. He can also change his size (but not his weight) at the wielder's will.
  • Babbo V.1: "Hammer Arm/Dagger Arm": One of two versions of Babbo that hold some resemblance to the original shape. Babbo sticks to the hammer of the kendama, which in turn merges into Ginta's right hand. Babbo in this version talks with Ginta through telepathy. If desired, a sword will sprout out of the ball. Used for melee attacks.
  • Babbo V.2: "Bubble Launcher": The second of two versions of Babbo that hold some resemblance to the original shape. The hammer changes to look like a gun and shoots numerous Babbo-shaped bubbles that explode violently upon contact. Used for ranged attacks.
  • Babbo V.3: "Gargoyle": Babbo turns into a colossal legless stone gargoyle Guardian ÄRM, levitating above the ground. The most destructive version of Babbo, it has two attacks: clawing in melee combat or firing a blast of concussive energy out of the stone ring it commonly holds in its mouth. This form of Babbo normally requires a lot of willpower and magical energy to activate, and as such Ginta only uses it in heavy fights, normally against other giant-sized Guardian ÄRMs or against masses of enemies.
  • Babbo V.4: "Holy Protector-Alice": Babbo turns into an angelic female Guardian ÄRM that uses white magic (typically healing) effective for counter-attack and protection against Shadow ÄRM. Since the forms of Babbo are determined by Ginta's own imagination, he is criticized by his other team members for making Alice too outrageously sexy.
  • Babbo V.5: "Cushion Jelly": Babbo turns into a giant pudding that covers Ginta entirely and absorbs all physical attacks used by the enemy. The one drawback is that this move will render Ginta motionless. Used for defense against extremely destructive moves, and is similar in appearance to a giant orange flan.
  • Babbo V.6: "Puss in Boots": Babbo turns into a giant Puss in Boots (as in the folktale), gaining immense speed and the ability to use other ÄRMs.
  • Babbo V.8: "Gate Keeper Clown": Babbo transforms into an exact replica of the Gate Keeper Clown, allowing a certain number of people, determined by the dice roll of the Gate Keeper, to go into the real world, from MÄR-Heaven.

• Snow

The princess of Lestava, the biggest kingdom of MÄR-Heaven. She is the step-daughter of Diana, the second queen of Lestava and the Queen of the Chess Pieces, and therefore the niece of Dorothy. She is fun-loving and easy-going, just like Ginta, but can be serious in battle situations, though not as determined as her heart has resolved to be; when she confronts her childhood friend, a clown under Diana's command (Roy), she fails to control her emotions and this leads to her being captured. She is first rescued by Ginta, being imprisoned in a layer of ice in a solitary fortress where Ginta has his first real fight with the Chess Pieces, against the members Ian and Loco. She is notable since she looks and acts exactly like Koyuki, Ginta's crush in the real world. It is possible that Snow is simply an alternate universe version of Koyuki, as Koyuki, unlike Ginta, did not travel to MÄR-Heaven using the "Gate Keeper Clown". She has a crush on Ginta, though he is possibly unaware of this. The crush is mutual due to Ginta's feelings towards Koyuki (and therefore Snow herself). When drunk, she acts like Babbo. She uses ice-themed ÄRM, and later water-themed. It has recently been shown that she sees what Koyuki is doing in Japan of Earth while she dreams, just as Koyuki can see MAR-Heaven while she dreams.

• • Ice Sword: An ÄRM, normally a ring, that can form a sword created from ice on the user's hand.
  • Iced Earth: Can shape ice or freeze the surroundings. Girom also has this ÄRM.
  • Snowman: Nicknamed "Yuki-chan" by Snow herself. A Guardian ÄRM snowman that can multiply itself and can reform even after being completely destroyed. When in its inactive necklace form, it appears to reflect Snow's emotion.
  • Healing Angel: An ÄRM obtained from Ian of the Chess Piece Army when he lost to Ginta. It is a Holy-type that can heal injuries, to a certain extent.
  • Undine: A female water Guardian that Snow acquired in Kaldea. It uses shapes of water to attack. It notably has a will on its own.

• Jack

A farm boy that meets Ginta early in his adventure. Loud-mouthed and clumsy, Jack is the weakest of Team MÄR and knowing this seems to affect him greatly. Jack joined Ginta after Ginta helped him beat the Rogalou brothers, a pair of werewolves that were terrorizing Jack's home. He and Ginta became fast friends afterwards and with his mother's blessing, he accompanies Ginta on his journey. His dream is to grow a huge beanstalk so he can climb it - a direct reference to the original character basis, which is of course Jack and the Beanstalk. After training in the training gate, he can make plants grow at extremely high speeds (his record being one second). Jack has a hopeless crush on every cute girl he can lay his eyes on, especially Snow and Dorothy, despite how cruelly they treat him. However he does get Pano as his girlfriend after their rematch. He uses plant/earth-type ÄRM.

• • Spade: Also called the Battle Shovel or the Earth Shovel, a Nature ÄRM that Jack's Dad left for him that can also be used as a weapon. Typically horrendously weak, it is afterward upgraded by Dorothy with magic stones, and thus gains the following abilities -
    • Earth Wave: An attack used with the spade. Creates a linear shock wave on the ground, launching rocks and soil at the target.
    • Magical Bean: A type of magical plant that Jack uses along with his shovel. Creates an enormous beanstalk that can ensnare or hit an opponent.
    • Magic Mushrooms: Another magical plant that grows on the target after implantation by Jack. Creates multiple mushrooms whose scent and roots create hallucinations to Jack's will. Used for quick defeat or confusion. During its use he calls it type one, hinting there may be other types of mushrooms.
  • Mehitos: A giant carnivorous plant Guardian ÄRM, obtained by Jack in Kaldea. The plant acts like Snowman in that it can multiply itself and reproduce after being destroyed.
  • Kikazoku Fire (Will 'o Wisp Fire): Another guardian ÄRM Jack obtains from Kaldea. It summons an Arabian clothed cheery-looking midget with fire for hair who calls flame. Used to defeat Veezle after even Mehitos is blocked. It has a will of its own.

• Dorothy

Seiyū: , Voice Actor (English): Wendee Lee
A witch of immeasurable power that is seemingly even equal to Edward/Alan. She is the younger sister of Diana, the Queen of the Chess Pieces. Since Diana betrayed Kaldea, the birthplace of both sisters, in concordance with local rule Dorothy has the mission of permanently putting a rest to Diana's actions (and destroying the Chess Pieces by default). After the Final battles against the Chess' 6 most powerful Knights in the 2nd War Game, she reaches to her sister's place and kills her, resulting in releasing Diana of the King's control. Dorothy has an interest in stealing any uncommmon ÄRMs she comes across (Babbo being an exception since "he talks too much") She owns a wide variety of ÄRMs, but she seems to prefer Guardian ÄRMs and Wind-theme ÄRMs in battle. Dorothy met Ginta when he first got to MÄR-Heaven. Dorothy has a one-side crush on Ginta and is always inwardly jealous of Snow, even though they show cooperation in situations. Despite her lovable nature, when in a fight Dorothy can be cruel and deadly, going as far as killing any Chess Pieces members that she can get her hands on, thought she later promises Ginta she won't kill her opponents and does not go back on her word. She took Jack on as an "apprentice" and teaches him the ways of maximising his ÄRM's potential. Some of her Guardian ÄRM, like Toto, are plays on characters from the Wizard of OZ.

• • Ring Armor- A common Guardian ÄRM used by Dorothy against Ginta and Maira, it's a ring the becomes a living suit if armor. It's quite weak and is mostly for testing an enemy's strength. It is destroyed by Maira's Bakyua ÄRM.
  • Toto: Officially named Raindog, it is a giant three-tailed dog Guardian ÄRM that can eat absolutely anything. This varies from normal foods, metals, and Weapon ÄRMs to enemy's projectiles and guardian ÄRMs (even the seemingly unedible), and their users. It is strongly hinted that it can eat magic as well. He is sentient and extremely powerful, but is afraid of Dorothy's wrath since he knows that without her he wouldn't have "good food" to eat (powerful ÄRMs). However, Dorothy is usually angry at him since he always "accidentally" eats her captured ÄRMs. He is one of Dorothy original ÄRMs.
  • Zephyroth Broom: A Weapon ÄRM that is almost always seen near Dorothy (being held, or sat on). She uses it to fly and shape her particular element - wind. It can create anything from a breezing blow of wind to multiple raging tornadoes or a sharp cut that can behead the target. It is one of Dorothy's original ÄRMs.
  • Crazy Quilt: A Guardian ÄRM female puppet that wears dirty clothes and has no legs (it levitates above the ground). It always talks and seems to care for Dorothy as a sister (despite the fact that Dorothy never spends any money on its clothing). It can generate ultra-loud sounds in the form of a song: " Poor children, without clothes, nor food, no puppet. Poor childhood, sewing their own puppets, wishing for a better tomorrow. ". Its singing is horrendous and it can render an opponent and anyone in the immediate vicinity senseless, however towards opponents of upper level magic, her waves are useless, as seen in the battle with Kimera. She is one of Dorothy's original ÄRMs.
  • Ring Dagger: A common Weapon ÄRM that Dorothy uses as her weapon when she doesn't want to waste her energy on the Magical Broomstick. Even though she is a witch she is quite deadly with this weapon, and completely capable of killing in one strike. Originally she used it to bribe Ginta into going with her to the Seal of Babbo. Alviss also has this ÄRM; this suggests that it is quite a common weapon, and becoming an expert with it shows a high degree of skill.
  • Rock Giant Golem(Or simply Giant Golem; Dorothy uses both names): A giant rock golem that is even bigger than Gargoyle (Babbo V.3).It originally used to guard Babbo, but was defeated by Ginta. Dorothy named it Brikin.
  • Flying Leo: A Guardian ÄRM flying lion that was defeated and destroyed by Rock Giant Golem during the fight for Babbo. It is later repaired by her magic.
  • Zipper: A Dimensional ÄRM giant zipper that allows Dorothy to store her ÄRMs in an extra-dimensional space for storage. It can be used in battle for fast change of ÄRMs.
  • ????: A Dimension guardian that takes the form of a large purple hummingbird.
  • Andarta: An extremely handy Dimensional ÄRM ring that allows Dorothy to teleport to anywhere she has been before. Used for transportation.
  • Tinman: Another Guardian ARM, creates a large tinman who fights with axes. Used against Diana.

• Alan/Edward

Two characters in one, Edward provides comic relief while Alan is a hardened warrior. Alan is a powerful human who participated in the previous MÄR-Heaven War against the Chess Piece. He was known as the 2nd man, Danna's partner in the Cross Guard (possibly as Jack is to Danna's Ginta). His power level is said to be equivalent to a Knight in the method of power ranking used by the Chess Pieces, and once fought to a draw with the Knight's second in command, the one ranked directly under the No.1 Knight Phantom, Halloween. Highly respected by Ginta and associates. However, he changes into a dog (Ed) once he goes to sleep because of a curse set by Halloween in their fatal last match in the 1st War Game, where the Knight used a Darkness ÄRM to seal Alan inside the then court guardian and custodian of the princess Snow. Edward is seemingly powerless and a cowardly dog, who is a faithful follower of Snow. In order to change back into Alan, Edward has to sleep three times, often forcibly knocking himself out. As of volume 7 of the manga, Ginta used "Alice" to reverse the curse, splitting Alan and Edward into two different characters. One interesting note is that Alan has an allergy toward anything cat-like, most likely due to his time being merged with Ed. A Dimension ÄRM user.

• • Arm of Flame: a flame Nature ÄRM, this is the natural counter to Snow's ÄRM and is used by Ginta to free her. The only times we see Alan using this ÄRM is to light his cigars and fight Halloween in the final battles of the war game, where he uses it to create a fire dragon.
  • Training Gate: A Dimension ÄRM that Alan used to train Ginta, Snow, Jack. and Dorothy. It puts people at the user's will inside this gate, where time slows to 1/60th of its outside time and therefore is a good place to train and hone skills. The drawback to using this ÄRM is that Alan cannot go inside the Gate himself and he cannot move while he uses it. Inside, the Training Dimension is filled with Stone Guardians and other challenges to increase one's magical powers. Ginta went through a long period of training (relative to three days outside) inside the gate, where Alan had to spend 3 days outside without sleep for fear he would turn back into Ed and thus trap Ginta inside the Training Dimension forever.
  • Air Hammer: A Dimension ÄRM and Alan's most frequently used weapon. It uses an attack called "Air Freeze" that creates blasts of air shaped into concussive blasts. Compensates for Alan's lack of ranged attacks.
  • Flying Carpet: A Dimension ÄRM used for transportation.
  • Shadowman: This is not to be confused with Capcom's Robot Master under the same name. A Nature ÄRM that can create a being out of a persons shadow, this copy has the same magical powers and skills as the person it is based on.
  • Saint Anger: A Guardian ÄRM Alan obtained from Kaldea. It uses two gigantic armor hands to crush opponents.

• Alviss

Seiyū: , Voice Actor (English): Yuri Lowenthal
The one who brought Ginta into MÄR-Heaven. He joined the Cross Guard in the 1st War Game and grew a fondness toward their leader, Danna, for his bravery and their similarity in the determination to fight the Chess and protect MÄR-Heaven. When seeing Phantom killing his comrades, Alviss was so upset that he even came out to confront him. Impressed by the young boy's courage, Phantom got himself fond of Alviss and, despite Alan's disagreement and Alviss's unwillingness, he gave him the Zombie tattoo, telling him they could be friends by Alviss being the same as Phantom when the tattoo covered his body, a living corpse. However this hasn't gone as Phantom wishes, for Alviss never forgives him for destroying MÄR-Heaven, massacring people, taking down his comrades and finally, ultimately, killing his most respected, Danna. After the Final Battles, Alviss finally succeeds in killing Phantom with the key from Vestory Ginta gives him, banishing his hated enemy from existence (without even having a fight as Phantom no longer has any wish to hold on to living) and frees himself (and Rolan) of the tattoo. A Guardian ÄRM user.

• • 13 Totem Pole Chain: Alviss's main attacking ÄRM, a Guardian ÄRM. Given to him by Gaira. It has the following forms;
    • Rod Mode: The guardian becomes a long staff used as a close range weapon.
    • Guardian Mode: Causes one or more giant totem poles to erupt from the ground. They can also separate to fire each section at their opponent.
  • Ring Dagger: A ring weapon ÄRM that becomes a dagger. He uses it to activate the Gate Keeper Clown, and is later seen on Alviss' finger, though he does not use it in battle.
  • Caged Bird: A Darkness ÄRM that traps someone inside a cage and turns that person into a bird.
  • Gate Keeper Clown: The Dimension ÄRM that brought Ginta to MÄR Heaven. it was also the same ÄRM that brought Danna to MÄR Heaven. It broke after it fulfill its purpose. It has also been stated during its first appearance it determines the number of people who can come though by the roll of a die.
  • Cross Shield: A weapon ÄRM that creates a large shield with a cross on it.
  • Sealing Skull: A Darkness ÄRM that is used to bind an opponent's movement. However, the user feels extreme physical pain.
  • A Baoa Qu: A guardian ÄRM that brings out a skull with its lower jaw attached to a sharp, arched claw and on where should be its cheeks two 3-piece claws. When the user activates it the 4 parts will separate and reveal a giant malicious eye which, when catches sights of the opponents, will trap them inside a glass ball and detonate from within.

• Nanashi

Captain of "Luberia," a group of thieves who steal other people's ÄRMs, he joined Team MÄR to fight against the Chess Pieces in order to get revenge for the comrades murdered by the Knight Peta due to their not heeding his warnings to avoid the Chess Pieces. He is a major playboy, flirting with almost any pretty woman he meets, especially Dorothy. Nanashi has a mysterious past which he holds no memory of. His consciousness only started after being saved by Galian at the end of the 1st War Game, when Galian was still the leader of Luberia and found Nanashi severely injured in the middle of nowhere; hence the name 'Nanashi' (no name). Since then he has become a part of Luberia, and finally ended up being their leader when Galian left the role to him and came to the Chess Pieces. Beside an empty memory, there's also another thing suspicious about Nanashi: he has the same scent as Ginta, which was hinted in the 1st volume, as the scent only a resident of another world has. He uses lightning-based Nature ÄRM.

• • Electric Eye: Nanashi's main ÄRM. Strikes opponents with a bolt of lightning. Every time he uses it, he remembers Galian.
  • Crystal Balls: Dimension ÄRM used to see events in other parts of Märchen. He shows Ginta and company the destruction of other cities.
  • Andarta: A Dimension Ärm that teleports him and his companions to places he's been, like his base or Vestory.
  • Griffin Lance: A Weapon ÄRM in the shape of a lance with a griffin's head.
  • Thousand needles: A Weapon ÄRM that creates giant needles from the ground surrounding Nanashi, both for defence and attack.
  • Aegis: Holy ÄRM given to Nanashi by Alviss before the Final Battles. Creates a shield to protect and heal the user.
  • Jimnote: A giant eyeless electric eel Guardian ÄRM that he got in Kaldea.

CHESS PIECES

KING

• Unknown- The true leader and most likely the most powerful member of the Chess Pieces. He controls Queen (Diana) via mind control, and through that tightens his grasp on the loyalty of Phantom. It's later revealed that King is actually the Orb which Phantom and Diana stole from Kaldea's protection 8 years ago. A Guardian ÄRM user.

QUEEN

• Diana- Queen of the Chess Pieces, the only of the two tops known to others. She was once Dorothy's loving and caring older sister, but at the same time hid inside her an immense craving for power, which led to the scandalous event in Kaldea 10 years ago: she fled the island after stealing 798 powerful ÄRMs, including Babbo. She also unsealed a malicious soul which the sorcerers for a long time had held under imprisonment then transferred it into Babbo. She then alone created the Chess Pieces, started with giving Phantom the Zombie tattoo and Babbo, thus making him the top Knight. 2 years after that, the queen of Lestava died and Diana was picked as the new queen. She and Snow spent another 2 years of blissful happiness until the Chess had developed into a military force powerful enough to announce their destruction upon MÄR-Heaven. The soldiers of Lestava gathered warriors around the world to counter them, thus forming the Cross Guard with Diana as the Queen, gave them ÄRM to fight the Ches. In private, she gave Alan the Monban Piero to summon Danna, who became their commander to fight against Phantom and finally succeeded in striking him down at the cost of his own life. The Chess then retreated into darkness, returning MÄR-Heaven to peace, which would have seemed never again destructible had the King of Lestava not fallen illness and led to Diana revealing her true identity. Knowing this, Alan and Snow ran away from the castle and ruined Diana's plan, which later forces Diana into sending Rou to kidnap Snow. Details for this plan are still unknown, except that for this, Snow's role is indispensable. It's later revealed that Diana is actually under the King's mind control. She is struck with a fatal attack by Dorothy, an act which also frees her of the King's grasp and returns her to her normal self, once more being Dorothy's loving big sister before she dies. A Guardian ÄRM user.

KNIGHTS

• Phantom

The #1 Knight of the Chess Pieces. Phantom is a living corpse, having the zombie tattoo curse embedded on his right hand. Six years ago, he was defeated by Danna, who gave his own life striking Phantom down. When Ginta breaks Babbo's seal, Phantom's is also broken, leading to his resurrection. Phantom disguises himself as "Tom" in order to watch Ginta's battle skills. Although he seems to Ginta and the rest of MÄR an evil man, Phantom possesses a charismatic aura so strong that it attracts his warriors into obediently being under his commands. Behind that merciless exterior is a kind and considerate side which even evokes love and respect towards him, especially from Kandis and Rolan. It's later revealed that he's also a Kaldean, and a wizard boy who has exceptionally powerful magical power. When he was 10, he was attracted by the Orb's power and frequently visited it, which consequently resulted in him plan to take the Orb out of its place. However, he was discovered and ordered to be killed by his own parents. They declined to obey, and instead hanged themselves, but to Phantom the excuse was never reasonable: he kept thinking that was the Kaldeans who murdered his parents to cover the true secret behind the door and therefore, nurtured inside his heart one immense hatred for humans in general, and Kaldea in particular, which only intensified during the 10 years he was in jail, until the time Diana came to his rescue under the Orb's control. Being deeply grateful for this one woman who set him free and, mostly under the Orb's suggestion, he obediently carried out her order and they escaped together with the ÄRMs in Kaldea, to the outside world where they later built the Chess. Like Diana, after he's defeated by Ginta he regains his original self, as the King can no longer make use of him. He chooses to die at Alviss's hands as he also wants to escape from every sin he has caused and be free. A Guardian ÄRM user.

• • Babbo: Phantom's previous ÄRM. Babbo was used for destruction and evil until Phantom died in the 1st War Game and Alan sealed Babbo away. Babbo's memory was lost when he was sealed away, and now he hates Phantom and his horrible doings. In the past Babbo's eyes were red and had the ability to give someone a Zombie tattoo.
  • Zombie Tattoo: Not an ÄRM, but a tattoo created by one of Babbo's old powers. It allows Phantom to resurrect himself every time he is killed. Since the Zombie Tattoo is connected to Babbo, if Babbo is broken Phantom will be killed and if Babbo is sealed so is Phantom. So far Phantom has used this on Alviss, Rolan and Peta, marking his recognition of these three: the qualifications to exist as a being the same as himself, an immortal that surpasses those he considers detestable humans.
  • ????: a Guardian ÄRM in the shape of an atrocious-looking flame orb chained to a halberd. Used against Ginta in Kaldea. When ordered, the orb will enlarge itself and engulf opponents.
  • Phantom Glass: a Guardian ÄRM, a mirror which traps opponents inside it and breaks together when the user orders it to.
  • Endless Soul: a ghostly Guardian ÄRM which has identical appearance to shapeless spirits and draws life energy.
  • ????: a shield Guardian ÄRM consisting of hexagonal fragments. Can also separate and shoot at the opponent together.
  • I-X: Ten Guardian ÄRMs which Phantom embeds into his newly sewn left hand (destroyed by Danna 6 years ago). Some have wills, while others do not and the strongests amongst are II and V. Phantom can summon more than one in an attack. They were destroyed by Ginta's Gargoyle and Puss in Boots.

• Peta

One of the thirteen knights of the zodiacs, the one hunted by Nanashi for revenge for killing his comrades. He's Phantom's right-hand-man, the one closest and probably the most faithful to him. They share an intimate relationship inspired by their dream of conquering MÄR-Heaven, for Peta knew Phantom from before Phantom became a zombie by the curse. Phantom even gave Peta the Zombie tattoo, but he did not have time to let it cover his body prior to his fight with Nanashi in the Final battles, and thus could not be revived after dying at Nanashi's hand. He portrays himself as a very cunning and sly character, therefore in spite of the fact that his fighting skills pale compared to those of Halloween's or Chimera's, Peta is still ranked very highly inside the Chess as a tactician. When Phantom died in the 1st War Game, he went around MÄR-Heaven to recruit warriors and eventually reconstructed the power and authority of the Chess. A blood-themed ÄRM user.

• • Magic mirror ring: a Dimension ÄRM, used to record something then allow him to broadcast it over any/multiple reflective surfaces (even the moon) or through other communication type dimension ÄRMs.
  • Chain soldier: (anime) A Guardian ÄRM that creates an armored solider with chains for weapons.
  • ???: Weapon ÄRM. Spiked orbs which drain blood of opponents and turn them into stone to attack.
  • Death scythe: Weapon ÄRM. A scythe, engraved with a gory vulture's head.
  • ???: Ghost ÄRM. A set of very sharp blood-colored claws.
  • ???: Weapon ÄRM. A round mirror which bounces attacks back away from the user.
  • Abyss Cannon: Guardian ÄRM. A monster compiled of ghosts.
  • Blood Body: an ÄRM which recreates the body of the user and makes it immune to any physical attacks using blood. The more blood Peta drinks into his body the more effective this ÄRM will get.
  • Body Eye: Guardian ÄRM. An one-eyed monster surrounded by giant bats. Destroyed by Nanashi's Jimnote.

• Ian

A former Rook of the Chess Pieces. He met Ginta when hunting after Snow with Loco and had a fight with him. When Phantom gave out the order to set MÄR-Heaven ablaze, marking the Chess' return to power, he went searching for a rematch with Ginta and lost. This led to him being imprisoned and having his lover, a Pawn named Gido, punished by a Knight on Halloween's order. After witnessing Ginta's strength in the battle with Garon, he went to Phantom and asked for the strongest Shuuren no mon to retrain himself. By the time he reappears, he already has the qualifications for a Knight and after killing Rapunzel on Phantom's order, he filled in the opening of the 13 Zodiac and became one himself. In front of his new peers, he swears he will find out the one who punished Gido and kill him, who, later in the Final Battle, comes out of the shadow as Chimera. After losing to Dorothy in the final battle, Chimera runs off and Ian, chasing her to the castle, easily defeats the weakened Knight. He eventually persuades Chimera to give up and returns Gido to being human. A Weapon ÄRM user.

• • Python whip: A pair of weapon ÄRMs that are snake shaped whips.
  • Octopus: An 8 armed whip ÄRM that can regenerate, it is powerful enough to beat a weakened Alan, but is no match for the new Ginta and Babbo. After his training in the Shuuren no mon, he upgrades it into a more deadly weapon with various forms.
  • Devil's bond: A Darkness ÄRM which creates a chain binding the user and the opponent. Used to wear out both's magic. If used for a long time, one might die.
  • Iron Maiden: A Darkness ÄRM with the shape of the Iron Maiden, a device of torture created in the 15th century. It does not work as one normally does though, since it's used to crush opponent. It prevents the user and anyone who touches it from using healing ÄRMs.
  • ????: It is unknown if this is an ÄRM or a weapon. Essentially a set of big claws attached to the user's wrist.
  • ????: It is unknown if this is an ÄRM or a weapon. A set of big fans used to make wind to blow back opponents.
  • Moon Fall: Weapon ÄRM. Crescent boomerangs used to destroy Babbo's version 2's bombs.
  • Healing Angel: A healing Holy ÄRM, it heals injuries to a point. After using it on Gido, he gives it to Ginta, and later Snow and Ed the dog are seen using it.
  • Perinton: A Guardian ÄRM with monstrous form. It can emit energy from its mouth, much like Ginta's Gargoyle, which it was destroyed by.

• Halloween

One of the Thirteen knights of the zodiac, a.k.a Haritsuke no Halloween 'Halloween the Crucifixed'. He is in second command of the Knights and is the one who fused Ed and Alan together. It's later revealed that he's Alan's homeless friend from a distant childhood. Every other kids bullied and hit him, except for Alan, who used to protect him. Since that time, he has wished for the same power as Alan, not for protection, but for the sake of his crushing all other weaklings. After killing all the kids bullying him, he left the town and eventually, after so many years, appeared in front of Alan as Halloween of the Knights. Sometimes Alan calls him Tomato-head, because of his mask. A flame Nature ÄRM user.

• • Igneel: A darkness ÄRM. The one that combined Ed and Alan together.
  • Jack'o'Lantern: A nature ÄRM that creates explosive Halloween pumpkins.
  • Flame Hand: Nature ÄRM, most often used to create hands for Halloween (since he got himself tied to the cross). Can make enormous flame balls or shoot flames at the opponent.
  • Grave Heir: Guardian ARM. Crosses which shoots up from underground, similar to Alviss' 13 Totem Pole.
  • Wakantanka: Guardian ARM. A monster with a skeletal body. Destroyed by Alan's Saint Anger.

• Rapunzel

Maniac big sister of the Bishop Girome, whom she shares the same liking of massacring women, given by the past they experienced: both were abused by their mother and killed her. Her most favourite killing method is decapitating people, which doesn't leave the Chess' members as exceptions but she eventually ends up getting beheaded by Ian, since Phantom didn't quite approve of her massacre against her own underlings. She always tells her opponents that they're ugly and that she is beautiful, despite being quite far from most visions of beauty herself, having drill-like hair, a manly body, and a deep voice. Arrogant and riotous, she's greatly disliked even by her fellow Knights, despite herself being one of the weakest Zodiacs as Vidar has revealed. She uses ice Nature ÄRM user.

• • Ice spikes: A nature ÄRM which creates several streams of giant icicles along the ground. It can also be used to make a sort of bear trap out of two spiked walls.
  • Hair master: A nature ÄRM allowing her to manipulate her already odd hair, turning it into several tentacle-like drills.

• Chimera

A fighter who attacks with claws, and is apparently very cruel. It's later revealed that Chimera is actually a woman who uses Ghost ÄRMs, which allows the user to use his/her body as weapons. When the 1st War Game ended, she was going to get married to a man from the Chess whom she loved deeply. When others found out about this, they took him away on their wedding day and returning her prayers only his ring finger. Even more so, they decided to punish her for attempting to marrying a Chess member knowing who he was and tortured her, scarring her face. Bereaved of her beloved person and even her life as a normal woman, Chimera was rendered hopeless and desperate until she met Peta, who took her into the Chess, gave her ÄRMs, and named her Chimera. As time passed, she got stronger after relentless battles and eventually ended up being one of the most powerful and inhuman Knights, for now her sole purpose in life is to inflict the pains she took upon those who made her life miserable a thousand times over. Her power seems to be third among the Knights, being inferior only to Phantom and Halloween, but still loses to Dorothy in the final battle, and is later hunted by Ian for making his lover Gido into a half-monster. She peacefully dies at Ian's hands (as she was greatly weakened after the fight with Dorothy) after giving him the ÄRM to turn Gido into a human again, regretting everything she's done and wishing them to have the happiness which she and her dead fiance couldn't have.

• • ????: A ghost ÄRM. Turns the user's hand into a stretching monster-headed arm with sharp, canine-like teeth.
  • Howling Demon: Ghost ÄRM. Turns the user's hand into a monster's mouth which shoots energy.
  • Ogre Hand: Ghost ÄRM. Used to turn the user's hand into long, giant clawed stretching arms.
  • Kimaira: Ghost Guardian. Merges with the user, and has drills for hands.

• Vidar

An old man with a tree growing out of his head, concealing his magic powers. He is always seen carrying a wood cane, inside which he hides his ÄRMs. Unlike most Knights, he is relatively friendly, though still wicked. It's later revealed that he is also the one who fought Jack's father, Jake, in the 1st War Game and won, which consequently brought about Jake's death, but loses to Jack himself in the 2nd one. One of the Six most powerful Knights. A plant Guardian ÄRM user.

• • Seed Cannon: A Nature ÄRM summoning cannons to fire fruits and vegetables as bullets.
  • Bomb Grass: A Guardian ÄRM which summons a strange kind of exploding trees.
  • Yddrasil: A Guardian ARM which calls out an enormous tree. It was destroyed by Jack's Kikazoku Fore.
  • Deadly Field: A Dimension ÄRM. Used to wither all the trees around the users, with the exception of the grass on top of Weasel's head.
  • Bird of Dry Wood: A wooden bird Guardian ÄRM which rots plants. It was destroyed by Jack's Kikazoku Fore.

• Rolan

The first knight fought by MÄR, brought into the War Game by Phantom. He possesses a Zombie tattoo received from Phantom by his own will to, as he often states, 'walk on the same path Phantom's taken'. His fondness and respect towards Phantom is due to his debt to him in the past, starting from his parents' death after which he was left alone. Everyone was ignoring him until Phantom came and took him along then taught him many things that later became his strength as one of the Knights' strongests, though he still acts nervous and girly, sometimes even in combat. He regards Alviss as his counterpart: both are children whose most respected one are the two side's leaders (Danna for Alviss and Phantom for Rolan), and both received the Zombie tattoo. He occasionally attempts to persuade Alviss into joining the Chess. After Phantom vanishes into nothingness, he and Alviss are free of the curse. He uses explosive Nature ÄRM.

• • Stone Cube: A Nature ÄRM which makes giant stones cubes to crush the enemy. It has an explosive attribute. He can also make a snake out of magma using this ÄRM.
  • Rapier Whip: A Weapon ÄRM, it's a sword that can stretch itself like a whip. It explodes when its tip touches an opponent.
  • Ailes d'Angel: A Weapon ARM. It's actually the feathers adorning his shoulder. It can call out wings and shoot feathers at the opponent.
  • Cockatrice: A giant eagle Guardian ÄRM whose breath can petrify opponents. Destroyed by Alviss' A Baoa Qu.

• Ash

Unlike other knights, he is very playful, enjoying having fun with children despite having the appearance of a grim reaper with its tongue sticking out. He joined the Chess in the hope of using their immense power to conquer the world, ending all other wars countries might bring up, preventing the deaths of the children he loves. He fights Ginta in the fifth round of the war games, and tries to persuade the boy into giving up on fighting Phantom, since he doesn't want a child his children's age die in the battlefield. After acknowledging Ginta's resolution, he decides to give up the fight, thinking Ginta might actually be able to defeat Phantom. A Dimension ÄRM user.

• • Split Part: Dimension ÄRM. Allows the user to split his body to attack in different directions.
  • Shadowman: A nature ÄRM that allows Ash's shadow to attack his enemy. Alan also has this ARM.
  • Psysho-sphere: Dimension ÄRM. Creates a different dimension that cuts off the opponent's magic in half.
  • Walking bomb: Weapon ÄRM. A bomb that enlarges itself every time a participant of the fight gets wounded, and ignites when it gets large enough.
  • Death: a Guardian ÄRM resembling a grim reaper, it has the ability to split its body like its master. It was destroyed by Ginta's Gargoyle.

• Kandis

She loves Phantom and is willing to do anything for him to get his commends. She intends to kill Ginta due to his wounding Phantom in Kaldea; however, she was blocked by Ash since he already chose the boy as his opponent, forcing her to battle Jack instead, resulting in a draw. She uses stone Nature ÄRM.

• • Stone axe: A large axe Weapon ÄRM.
  • Boulder fang: A Nature ÄRM in the form of stone claws fused with her hands. It can launch sharp rock shards from under her enemies.
  • Grand boulder: A Nature ÄRM which creates giant boulders.
  • Gauge of blessing: A scale in the shape of a clock, used to measure the injuries her body takes and change them into enormous magic power to summon her Guardian ÄRM, Gorgon.
  • Gorgon: a Guardian ÄRM in the shape of Medusa's head, which turns whoever looks into her eyes into stone. Destroyed by Jack's Mehitos.

• Galian

Former leader of Luberia and savior of Nanashi. After the 1st War Game ended, he met Peta and left Luberia to join the Chess Pieces, fascinated by their power. He picks Nanashi as his opponent in order to prove to the younger man the path of power he's taken was the right one, but still can't win Nanashi's true one: to defeat the Chess Pieces and avenge their victims. After the death of no.1 Knight Phantom and Queen Diana, the Chess practically falls apart and he returns to his old home with Nanashi. He fights with lightning Weapon ÄRM.

• • Hiraiken: A sword which absorbs lightning.
  • Electric Feather: A weapon ÄRM made of feathers which emit electricity.
  • Electric Frisbee: A weapon ÄRM consisting of electrified frisbees.
  • ????- A Darkness ÄRM which erases memories. Used on Nanashi.
  • Magic Rope: an urn containing ropes which tie the opponent.
  • Torpedine: an electric ray Guardian ÄRM, which was destroyed by Nanashi's Jimnote.

• Kouga

Sensitive about his ugliness, he hates Alviss for being so handsome. He's extremely arrogant and dense, and refers to himself as a lord. Alviss considers him nothing more than a loud-mouthed Knight even weaker than Rapunzel who isn't worth killing. He was defeated by Alviss. A user of ninja-themed Weapon ÄRMs.

• • Daimonji: A Weapon ÄRM thar creates a giant shuriken with 5 blades.
  • Sunjai Goku: A Dimension ÄRM that cretes quicksand around his opponent's feet.
  • Mukade: A Weapon ÄRM that turns into a huge centipede-like insect attached to the user's hand to attack.
  • Enmaku: A Dimension ÄRM which creates red mist to steal magic from enemies.
  • Kung Fu Frog- A Guardian ÄRM that summons a huge pink frog to attack with martial arts. It was destroyed by Alviss' A Baoa Qu.

• Pinocchio

A puppet made by Diana, it was ordered to defeat Dorothy to become human. Like his namesake, his nose grows when he lies, but it transforms into a cannon after a while and can be use to shoot his opponents. Besides ÄRMs, he's also able to use his body as weapon. He gets smashed under the fangs of Dorothy's Guardian ÄRM, Toto. He uses Weapon ÄRMs.

• • Saw Blade: Weapon ÄRM. Creates 3 saw-like swords Pinocchio can use as weapons.
  • Fastitocalon: A guardian ÄRM that creates a giant whale to attack his foes. Inside Fastitocalon is a slime which melts people down to their bones upon contact. Destroyed by Dorothy's Guardian ÄRM, Toto.

• Magical Rou

A clownlike character that played with Snow when she was younger by order of Diana. He was later sent into the war games in order to kidnap Snow. He uses circus-themed ÄRM.

• • Blade Ball: A weapon ÄRM that creates a ball with sharp blades extending from it.
  • Flare Wheel: A nature ÄRM that create flame hoops to attack the target.
  • Bubble Lion: A nature ÄRM that resembles a bubble hoop creating lion-shaped bubbles to attack.
  • Card Knights: A guardian ÄRM that creates card soldiers.
  • Mimic Medalion: An ÄRM that mimics the ability of an opponent's ÄRM.
  • Nightmare: A guardian ÄRM that creates many eyed, sharp-toothed spherical objects, which fly around and attack. Destroyed by Snow's Undine.

BISHOPS

• Shaton: One of the level 1 bishops, the three strongest Bishops. She has cat ears and tails, and is often heard mewoing. She is a playful person, which only makes her more troublesome as an opponent for Alan, who is, ridiculously in contrast to his looks, a cat-phobia. She uses cat-themed ÄRM.
• Hamerun: Another one of the level 1 bishops, Hamerun is a midget. He has no background or special skills, and lost to Alviss in the 5th round of the war games.
• Emokis: The last of the level 1 bishops., Emokis is an ugly, fat little girl who believes she is beautiful and that Snow is ugly. She uses Guardian ÄRM.
• Oruko: A foolish strong man who uses a body hardening ARM. He's a psychotic killer who enjoys destruction, but gets struck down by Nanashi's Electric Eye. Exhausted and frightened by the opponent's power, he tries to run away from the fight in the caves and encounters Phantom, who kills Oruko for his cowardice. He uses Nature ÄRM.
• Girome: A psychotic little man who enjoys killing women. He attacks Vestory along with Oruko, but is soon beaten by Babbo's Gargoyle form. He has a rematch with Ginta in the 4th battle and loses again. He is the younger brother of Rapunzel, and is a user of ice-based Nature ÄRM.
• Garon: The father of Leno and Pano, he is very large and fights with 10 ÄRMs at once. Despite this, Ginta's Gargoyle easily defeats him. A Nature ÄRM user.
• Maira: A guardian ÄRM user wearing a black cloak. He fights Dorothy in the second round of the War Games, and is eaten by Toto.
• Mr. Hook: A pirate-based Bishop who fights Snow in the third round of the war games and wins despite being in the weakest rank of Bishop, level 10. Rapunzel kills him after he loses to Alviss. He uses Weapon ÄRM.
• Kollekkio: A blue goblin bishop. He lost to Jack and was later decapitated by Rapunzel. He uses Weapon ÄRM.
• Aqua: A pretty girl wearing a sea-themed ball dress who fights with aquatic-based Guardian ÄRM. She acts very girly despite her fighting skills, annoying and confusing much of MÄR. She is defeated by Nanashi, who worries about what will happen if she loses and turns the match into a tie, she won the Janken game for her life but Girome kills her.
• Avurutuu: A clown-looking masked man, fighting with Weapon ÄRM. He was quickly and easily defeated by Dorothy and was killed by Rapunzel. While the other lost bishops killed by Rapunzel were challenged to Janken for their lives and lost, Avurutuu lost too quickly to be given a chance of survival, and was simply killed outright.

ROOKS

• Kannochi: A Darkness ÄRM-using clown-looking rook who fights simply to seek thrills, with no real intention of massacring anyone. He melts away after Ginta uses Alice to reverse his darkness ÄRM.
• Loco: A Darkness ÄRM user with the appearance of a little girl, but she is actually 32 years old, due to her ÄRMs causing her to become younge with each use. She defeats Nanashi due to his being unwilling to kill her. She was a participant in the War Game from 6 years ago, and knows that Dorothy is Diana's sister.
• Leno: Pano's brother, and the first enemy fought in the war games. Alviss easily defeats him.
• Pano: Sister of Leno and the only Chess Piece to win in the first war games round. She beats Jack in their first fight with a shot to the crotch. However, his Magic Mushrooms defeat her in the third round. She uses Weapon ÄRM.
• Fuugi: A wind Nature ÄRM user, he fights Snow in the second round of the war games and loses.
• Alibaba: An arrogant Rook, he tries to fight Alan to move up to Knight class with a victory, but is easily defeated and killed by being thrown into a volcano (though in the anime adaptation, he is saved by one of Phantom's Dimensional ÄRM). He fights with Guardian ÄRM.

Other Characters

• Koyuki: The classmate of Ginta back in Japan and the only person who believed in his stories of a different world. She looks exactly like Snow from MÄR and is able to experience the events taking place there through dreaming.
• Gido: Ian's lover and the only Pawn of the Chess Pieces to have an individual identity so far. After Ian lost to Ginta the second time, Halloween has Ian punished by having Gido tortured, and Chimera transforms her into a half-monster with her body fused with tentacles, being made incapable of even holding normal conversation. Eventually she is returned to her human form by Chimera's ÄRM.
• Edward (Canine): A loyal servant of Snow, originally merged with Alan but separated again thanks to Babbo's "Alice" form.
• Bell: A tiny fairy that follows Alviss around, as she has a crush on him. They first met when Gaira was training Alviss.
• Pozun: The "judge" of the War Games. He announces the fighters and declare the winner. He is a servant of the Chess Pieces, as seen when he takes orders from Halloween.
• Ginta's Mom: She is an author who writes fantasy stories, which her missing husband and son are extremely interested in. Constantly worried about Ginta's disappearanace, despite Koyuki's reassurances.
• Danna/Boss: Ginta's father and the leader of the Cross Guard during the first war games. He defeated Phantom in the final battle, and is most likely dead.
• Gaira: He fought in the first war game six years ago with Danna and Alan. He trained Alviss and assisted in training Ginta, Jack and Babbo. He loses in the preliminaries of the second war game to Chimera.
• Poko: Formerly Diana's servant inside the Lestava castle, he was cursed to be a permanent resident in Pinocchio's Guardian ÄRM, Fastitocalon. He possesses a body that won't melt even if touched by the whale's insides, and has the ability to activate and deactivate one's ÄRMs as he wills. When Dorothy is swallowed, they make a deal and he activates Toto in exchange for being kissed, and they ride out of the darkness.

Trivia

• The witch Dorothy has a Guardian ÄRM which is a huge dog which she calls Toto, in a clear reference to The Wizard of Oz. In a later part of the manga, Dorothy pulls out a Tinman Guardian ÄRM, as well.

• Pinocchio's saw Weapon ÄRM is based on one of the first versions of Pinocchio, where his maker found a tree that had been struck by lighting while searching for a suitable tree to cut down to make his next puppet using that kind of saw. Additionally, his Guardian ÄRM Fastitocalon is a reference to the whale that swallowed him.

• Nanashi has an identical appearance to Joker, a character of Nobuyuki Anzai in his previous series Flame of Recca. Joker was stabbed in the stomach and created a black hole to suck in both him and his assailant, supposedly dying but of course leaving no corpse. As Nanashi has the smell of another world, just like Ginta, and he remembers nothing about his past except that Galian found him severely injured while wearing Joker's bracelet, it's possible that they are in fact the same character.

• The Weapon ÄRM, Magic Hammer, used by the Bishop Korekkio, has the ability to reduces one's height. It is quite similar to a hammer from Doraemon, which increases one's height.

Music (Anime)

Japanese cast

• Motoko Kumai as Toramizu Ginta
• Ai Shimizu - Koyuki/Snow
• Banjou Ginga - Babbo
• Daisuke Sakaguchi - Jack
• Juurouta Kosugi - Allan
• Koichi Sakaguchi - Edward
• Masaya Onosaka - Nanashi
• Mitsuki Saiga - Phantom
• Saki Nakajima - Dorothy
• Souichiro Hoshi - Alviss
• Hiroshi Matsumoto - Halloween
• Katsuyuki Konishi - Ash (ep 39+)
• Kentarou Itou - Mister Hook
• Kimiko Koyama - Aqua
• Kouichi Toochika - Peta
• Kumi Sakuma - Candis
• Megumi Toyoguchi - Gido
• Rie Kugimiya - Bell
• Sawa Ishige - Loco
• Shinji Kawada - Ian
• Susumu Chiba - Rolan
• Toshihiko Seki - Danna

English Cast

• Spike Spencer - Toramazu Ginta
• Michael McConnohie - Babbo
• Michelle Ruff - Koyuki/Snow
• Yuri Lowenthal - Alviss
• Derek Stephen Prince - Phantom
• Sam Regal - Jack
• Wendee Lee - Dorothy/ Ginta's Mother

External links

• act=idx A marchen awakens romance text based RPG.
• Template:Ja iconMAR Heaven
• Template:Ja iconTV Tokyo's Official site
• Template:Es iconKougan Anki

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