If you’re a JRPG fan, then Bandai Namco’s Tales series needs no introduction. But even if you are, you might be unfamiliar with the title “Tales Of Luminaria” and might be thinking, “When did THAT happen? Did I miss one?” Sort of….Tales of Luminaria is a mobile game.

And go figure that of all the Tales games released by Namco in the last five years, Luminaria has to be the one to get its own anime. But just like the game, it’s free! Also, just like the game, it’s free up to a certain point.

Namco has uploaded the first ten minutes of the Tales of Luminaria anime, which officially debuts tomorrow, to the Funimation YouTube page. The full title is Tales Of Luminaria: The Fateful Crossroad, and it is produced by Kamikaze Douga x Anima. See what you think, and read on for some backstory…

Long ago, this land was home to beasts the size of mountains.
Mana overflowed from their remains, drawing people who sought that power, and civilizations sprang up. People came to revere these mana-producing creatures, which they named “Primordial Beasts.” They built their lives around them. Thus began the worship of the Primordial Beasts.
 
Time flowed ever onward, to the present day…War erupts between the Jerle Federation, an alliance of countries who worship the Primordial Beasts, and the Gildllan Empire,which has enjoyed explosive development thanks to advanced technology.

The fires of war are stoked with each passing day. Leo, a young federation knight-in-training, heads out to complete a mission in Lunne, a town formerly under imperial control, now located near the border. With him are his childhood friend and fellow trainee, Celia, and their instructor, Lisette.

Who should be waiting for them but Hugo, a former friend turned traitor to the federation, now a soldier of the empire…

If you enjoyed the clip, you can watch the whole thing on Crunchyroll and the Funimation app starting January 20. The Tales Of Luminaria game is out on iOS and Android.

©BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.
Character Design／Shun Saeki