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Funimation Adds Hero Tales, Master of Martial Hearts (Updated)

The North American anime distributor Funimation has announced on Thursday that it is releasing the Jyūshin Enbu - Hero Tales television anime series and the Master of Martial Hearts (Zettai Shōgeki - Platonic Heart) video anime series. Jyūshin Enbu - Hero Tales will ship in half-season sets starting this fall, while Master of Martial Hearts will ship in one DVD set in spring of 2011.

Media Factory's 2007-2008 Jyūshin Enbu - Hero Tales television anime adapts the martial-arts adventure manga of the same name from Fullmetal Alchemist creator Hiromu Arakawa, scenario writer Ryou Yashiro, and story creator Huang Jin-Zhou. The Chinese-mythology-inspired story revolves around a boy named Taitō, the prophesied seventh star of the Hokuto (the Big Dipper). Taitō must journey with his sister Laila and friend Ryūkō to recover a legendary sword.

Osamu Sekita (Cross Game) directed the series at GENCO and Studio Flag, and Naoki Sousaka adapted Arakawa's designs for anime. Yen Press will publish the second volume of the original manga in North America next month.

The five-volume 2008-2009 Master of Martial Hearts anime centers around the bishōjo character designs of adult game illustrator Jin Happōbi (Boin). The Platonic Heart is a jewel that, according to an old urban legend, can grant any wish when collected. Only a chosen few are allowed to compete in the Platonic Heart hunt, and high school junior Aya Iseshima is one of 11 girls and women who are taking part. Kaori Nazuka (Eureka Seven's Eureka, True Tears' Hiromi) plays Aya.

Atsushi Kuragami (Debiru Naebiru) has been drawing a manga version in Futabasha's Comic High! magazine since August of 2008.

Images © Huang Jin-Zhou, GENCO, Flag © 2007 Hero Tales Production Partners
© Platonic Heart Office

Update: More background information added. Funimation says that Master of Martial Hearts will ship in spring of 2011.