Nina the Starry Bride

Nina the Starry Bride
First tankōbon volume cover
星降る王国のニナ
(Hoshifuru Ōkoku no Nina)
GenreFantasy[1]
Manga
Written byRikachi
Published byKodansha
English publisher
MagazineBe Love
DemographicJosei
Original runOctober 1, 2019 – present
Volumes13
Anime television series
Directed byKenichiro Komaya
Written byYuka Yamada
Music byNatsumi Tabuchi
StudioSignal.MD
Licensed byCrunchyroll
Original networkTokyo MX, BS Asahi
Original run October 10, 2024 – present
Episodes3
icon Anime and manga portal

Nina the Starry Bride (Japanese: 星降る王国のニナ, Hepburn: Hoshifuru Ōkoku no Nina, lit. "Nina from the Kingdom of Falling Stars") is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Rikachi. The series began serialization in Be Love in October 2019. As of April 2024, the series has been collected into thirteen tankōbon volumes. An anime television series adaptation produced by Signal.MD premiered in October 2024.

In 2022, Nina the Starry Bride won the 46th Kodansha Manga Award in the shōjo category.

Premise

Nina is an orphan living in the fantasy land of Fortuna. Discovered by Prince Azure, her unusual blue eyes bears a similarity to the deceased Princess Alisha, who was due to be married off to a powerful neighboring country. Thus, Prince Azure hatches a plot to have Nina take Princess Alisha's place, but the two become drawn to each other.

Characters

Nina (ニナ)
Voiced by: Minami Tanaka[2] (Japanese); Jill Harris[3] (English)
Azure (アズール, Azūru)
Voiced by: Yūichirō Umehara[2] (Japanese); Ben Stegmair[3] (English)
Sett (セト, Seto)
Voiced by: Koki Uchiyama[2] (Japanese); Austin Tindle[4] (English)
Muhulum (ムフルム, Mufurumu)
Voiced by: Nao Tōyama[5] (Japanese); Emi Lo[6] (English)
Dytus (ダイタス, Daitasu)
Voiced by: Tatsuya Tomizawa[5] (Japanese); Daniel Van Thomas[3] (English)
Yor (ヨル, Yoru)
Voiced by: Seiichiro Yamashita[7]
Bidoh (ビドー, Bidō)
Voiced by: Kaito Ishikawa[7]
Toat (トート, Tōto)
Voiced by: Shun Horie[7]
Hikami (ヒカミ)
Voiced by: Mitsuki Saiga[8]
Anne (アン, An)
Voiced by: Masumi Tazawa[8]

Media

Manga

Written and illustrated by Rikachi, the series began serialization in Be Love on October 1, 2019.[1] As of April 2024, the series' individual chapters have been collected into thirteen tankōbon volumes.[9]

In February 2021, Kodansha USA announced that they licensed the series for English publication.[10] During their panel at Anime NYC 2022, Kodansha USA announced a print release for Fall 2023.[11]

Volumes

No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1 March 13, 2020[12]978-4-06-518717-3April 13, 2021 (digital)
October 24, 2023 (print)[13]		978-1-63-699045-3 (digital)
978-1-64-651860-9 (print)
2 July 13, 2020[14]978-4-06-520217-3May 11, 2021 (digital)
December 26, 2023 (print)[15]		978-1-63-699097-2 (digital)
978-1-64-651861-6 (print)
3 October 13, 2020[16]978-4-06-520983-7June 8, 2021 (digital)
March 5, 2024 (print)[17]		978-1-63-699148-1 (digital)
978-1-64-651862-3 (print)
4 February 12, 2021[18]978-4-06-522365-9August 17, 2021 (digital)
May 14, 2024 (print)[19]		978-1-63-699303-4 (digital)
978-1-64-651863-0 (print)
5 June 11, 2021[20]978-4-06-523658-1October 19, 2021 (digital)
June 25, 2024 (print)[21]		978-1-63-699420-8 (digital)
978-1-64-651864-7 (print)
6 October 13, 2021[22]978-4-06-525681-7February 22, 2022 (digital)
September 24, 2024 (print)[23]		978-1-63-699632-5 (digital)
978-1-64-651865-4 (print)
7 February 10, 2022[24]978-4-06-526769-1August 16, 2022 (digital)
October 29, 2024 (print)[25]		978-1-68-491399-2 (digital)
978-1-64-651866-1 (print)
8 July 13, 2022[26]978-4-06-528572-5December 20, 2022 (digital)[27]978-1-68-491600-9
9 November 11, 2022[28]978-4-06-529878-7May 2, 2023 (digital)[29]978-1-68-491893-5
10 March 13, 2023[30]978-4-06-531144-8August 15, 2023 (digital)[31]979-8-88-933100-1
11 August 10, 2023[32][33]978-4-06-532772-2
978-4-06-532789-0 (SE)		January 9, 2024 (digital)[34]979-8-88-933421-7
12 December 13, 2023[35]978-4-06-534052-3May 14, 2024 (digital)[36]979-8-88-933490-3
13 April 12, 2024[9]978-4-06-535302-8September 10, 2024 (digital)[37]979-8-89-478011-5
14 September 12, 2024[38]978-4-06-536824-4——

Anime

An anime television series adaptation was announced on November 30, 2023.[2] It will be produced by Signal.MD and directed by Kenichiro Komaya, with scripts written by Yuka Yamada, character designed by Kyoko Taketani, and music composed by Natsumi Tabuchi.[39] The series premiered on October 10, 2024 on Tokyo MX and BS Asahi. The opening theme song (from episode 02 onwards) is "nina" performed by Maaya Sakamoto, while the ending theme song is "Hoshi no Dengon" (Messages From the Stars) performed by Nao Tōyama.[5] Crunchyroll is streaming the series three days ahead of its Japanese broadcast.[40][3]

Reception

Nina the Starry Bride won the 46th Kodansha Manga Award in the shōjo category in 2022.[41] Yuka Shiraishi from Real Sound [ja] listed the series as the sixth Best Manga in 2021.[42]

Brianna Fox-Priest from Otaku USA praised character designs and story, and stated "There are more thrilling romance manga out, but this one has room to grow. Judging by the covers of future installments, Nina The Starry Bride has more story to unfold".[43] As part of Anime News Network's spring 2021 manga guide, Rebecca Silverman and Lynzee Loveridge reviewed the series for the website. Silverman praised the main protagonist, artwork, story, and stated "It is worth reading. The art is clean and shows some beautiful use of detail especially in the clothes, there is just enough intrigue to keep things moving". Loveridge had similar opinions about the series.[44]

References

  1. ^ a b 宿命を背負った少女を描くファンタジー、リカチの新連載「星降る王国のニナ」. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. October 1, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Cayanan, Joanna (November 30, 2023). "Rikachi's Nina the Starry Bride Manga Gets TV Anime Adaptation, Reveals Cast". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Dempsey, Liam (October 4, 2024). "Nina the Starry Bride English Dub Reveals Early Release, Cast & Crew". Crunchyroll. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  4. ^ Tindle, Austin [@austintindle] (October 24, 2024). "Ready? Sett! Go! I voice Sett in Nina the Starry Bride, a new fantasy romance anime airing on @crunchyroll. Huge shoutout to @caitlinsvoice and the whole Nina crew!" (Tweet). Retrieved October 25, 2024 – via Twitter.
  5. ^ a b c Cayanan, Joanna (July 31, 2024). "Nina the Starry Bride Anime's Video Reveals More Cast & Staff, Theme Songs, October 10 Debut". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  6. ^ Lo, Emi [@KitsuneSqueak] (October 14, 2024). "You can hear me as the precious and precocious prince, Muhulum, in Nina the Starry Bride on @Crunchyroll! Super grateful to @caitlinsvoice for having me 💕" (Tweet). Retrieved October 14, 2024 – via Twitter.
  7. ^ a b c Cayanan, Joanna (September 12, 2024). "Nina the Starry Bride Anime Reveals 3 New Cast Members". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Hodgkins, Crystalyn (November 4, 2024). "Nina the Starry Bride Anime Reveals 2nd Promo Video, More Cast". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  9. ^ a b 星降る王国のニナ（１３） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  10. ^ Mateo, Alex (February 22, 2021). "Kodansha Comics Licenses 'Girlfriend, Girlfriend,' Nina the Starry Bride, More Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  11. ^ "Fall 2023 New Print Licensing Announcement". Kodansha USA. November 23, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  12. ^ 星降る王国のニナ（１） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  13. ^ "Nina the Starry Bride, Volume 1". Kodansha USA. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  14. ^ 星降る王国のニナ（２） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  15. ^ "Nina the Starry Bride, Volume 2". Kodansha USA. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  16. ^ 星降る王国のニナ（３） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  17. ^ "Nina the Starry Bride, Volume 3". Kodansha USA. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  18. ^ 星降る王国のニナ（４） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  19. ^ "Nina the Starry Bride, Volume 4". Kodansha USA. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  20. ^ 星降る王国のニナ（５） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  21. ^ "Nina the Starry Bride, Volume 5". Kodansha USA. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  22. ^ 星降る王国のニナ（６） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  23. ^ "Nina the Starry Bride, Volume 6". Kodansha USA. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  24. ^ 星降る王国のニナ（７） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  25. ^ "Nina the Starry Bride, Volume 7". Kodansha USA. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  26. ^ 星降る王国のニナ（８） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  27. ^ "Nina the Starry Bride, Volume 8". Kodansha USA. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  28. ^ 星降る王国のニナ（９） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  29. ^ "Nina the Starry Bride, Volume 9". Kodansha USA. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  30. ^ 星降る王国のニナ（１０） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  31. ^ "Nina the Starry Bride, Volume 10". Kodansha USA. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  32. ^ 星降る王国のニナ（１１） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  33. ^ 星降る王国のニナ（１１）特装版 (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  34. ^ "Nina the Starry Bride, Volume 11". Kodansha USA. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  35. ^ 星降る王国のニナ（１２） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  36. ^ "Nina the Starry Bride, Volume 12". Kodansha USA. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  37. ^ "Nina the Starry Bride, Volume 13". Kodansha USA. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  38. ^ 星降る王国のニナ（１４） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  39. ^ Mateo, Alex (February 29, 2024). "Nina the Starry Bride Anime's Teaser Trailer Reveals Main Staff, October Premiere". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  40. ^ Hazra, Adriana (May 6, 2024). "Crunchyroll to Stream Re:Zero's 3rd Season, Nina the Starry Bride, Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  41. ^ Mateo, Alex (May 11, 2022). "46th Annual Kodansha Manga Awards' Winners Announced". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  42. ^ Shiraishi, Yuka (December 22, 2021). 「2021年コミックBEST10」白石弓夏編 ヒロインをどれだけ愛せるかが推し作品のキーポイント. Real Sound [ja] (in Japanese). Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  43. ^ Fox-Priest, Brianna (July 28, 2021). "Nina The Starry Bride [Manga Review]". Otaku USA. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  44. ^ Silverman, Rebecca; Loveridge, Lynzee (May 27, 2021). "The Spring 2021 Manga Guide: Nina the Starry Bride". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 9, 2022.