is a series of visual combat books published by Hobby Japan. The sequel to Queen's Blade, it features an all-new cast of characters, as well as reinterpretations of characters from the original series. Like Queen's Blade before it, Rebellion is also compatible with Flying Buffalo's Lost Worlds gamebooks. The first gamebook, featuring Annelotte, was released on November 29, 2008, with a total of twelve gamebooks available in Japan as of December 16, 2011.
An original video animation by Arms was announced, and released two episodes from October 2011 to January 2012. There are currently two manga adaptations based on the Rebellion universe being serialized. The first adaptation, illustrated by Riri Sagara, began serialization in Hobby Japan's online manga magazine Comic Dangan in December 2011, while the second manga adaptation, illustrated by Iku Nanzaki, began serialization in the December 2011 issue of Comp Ace. An anime adaptation by Arms aired on AT-X and other networks between April and June 2012. The anime is licensed in North America by Sentai Filmworks.
Story Set after the events of Queen's Blade, Gainos and the entire Continent has fallen under a tyrannical rule led by Claudette, the Thundercloud Queen and victor of the last Queen's Blade tournament (Leina renounces the title). Annelotte, a brave young knight and exiled princess, leads a band of rebels called the Rebel Army to overthrow Claudette and restore peace and order to the Continent.
Characters
Rebel Army
Annelotte is the charismatic leader of the Rebel Army. Formerly a member of the Knight Corps of (her father), she was raised as a boy named . However, tragedy struck when her castle was destroyed by Queen Claudette's forces. While fleeing from Queen Claudette's Assassins in the Elven Forest, she was taken in by Alleyne after being wounded and later became her student, receiving formal swordstraining from her. Seeking revenge for her fallen comrades, she formed the Rebel Army with a group of similarly-fated female warriors in an attempt to otherthrow the Queen.
It is revealed through the Bitōshi Senki visual book and through the gamebook itself that she is half-demon, and when pushed to the edge, she transforms to her demonic form, which consists of her having black hair, pointed ears, pale skin, and red eyes. Her silver armor also turns gold to reflect this change, and in this state is powerful enough to overwhelm Elina, Ymir, and Mirim, but loses all sense of reason and turns into a berserker, unable to distinguish friend from foe. Through her demonic powers, she fights on horseback with the aid of her spectral steed , and wields , a broadsword that can be converted to a lance at will. In this state, she calls herself the .
It is hinted through flashbacks of the second Queen's Blade anime adaptation that Annelotte may be Aldra's long lost sister, as a white-haired figure resembling her can be seen walking with the latter. This is further hinted by Annelotte being a half-demon like Aldra. It is finally confirmed in the third volume of the Bitōshi Senki visual book, as they both reunite and remember their past. Her official English name is "Princess Knight Annelotte", and her name is a pun on the demon Astaroth. Created by Eiwa.
and
Yuit is a young girl from the Little Elves tribe and the tactician of the Rebel Army. She is also Annelotte's childhood friend, and refers to her as "big brother". She is the daughter of Cyan, a legendary alchemist, and is a good friend of the weaponsmith Cattleya. Despite her genius IQ, she acts and behaves like a spoiled child. She controls Vante, an elf-like wind-up automaton, built by Yuit's mother, through a remote control she constantly carries, and acts under the orders written on the rune. Because of this, Vante can easily fall into the wrong hands if the remote is stolen. The two of them together are officially known in English as the .
Yuit and Vante are illustrated by Spice and Wolf artist Keito Koume.
Tarnyang and Sainyang are twin sisters from the Manchurian-like country of , an isolated region of the Continent surrounded by steep and cloudy mountains. They are the descendants of a lineage of exorcists that has been carrying the responsibility of protecting the village for generations, and are bound by an unbreakable cord called the which is wrapped around their necks. They left for a journey in the outside world to bring back the , a mysterious divine protection that has once made Shai-Fang a warm and peaceful land. It is later revealed that this "Goshintai" is actually a human, a girl called the , considered a being with god-like powers in Shai-Fang.
Tarnyang, the older sister, is a holy sword user wielding a jian with a strong-willed, but cheerful, personality. Sainyang, the younger sister and more taciturn of the two (she only whispers to her sister's ear), can use arts with a mysterious power similar to magic, but is often seen spacing out and is very weak, so she's not very useful in battle. Although Tarnyang is always complaining to Sainyang, they are sisters united by a deep bond. With their combined attack i. Their official English names are "Twin Taimashi Tarnyang and Sainyang". Created by Tomokazu Nakano.
Originally a poor rural girl from the village of , Mirim sought to escape poverty by seeking a job at the Queen's Capital. It was there that she was brought in by Ymir as a test subject for her "Strongest Project", and became a member of the Queen's Army under a high-paying salary. She is equipped with the Hyper Vibration Armor and armed with the Hyper Vibration Sword – a sword with a chainsaw-like edge, and the Hyper Vibration shield, all of which are powered by the Hyper Vibration Crystal. Despite being given the armor and weapons, she has a weak-willed personality. She eventually leaves the Queen's Army for the Rebel Army after Ymir tries to destroy her home village, in order to punish the villagers for sheltering Annelotte. She calls Annelotte .
Mirim's name is a play on the Norse mythological figure Mimir. Her Hyper Vibration armor and equipment, which have a Valkyrie motif, is also relevant to her name. Created by Hagane Tsurugi.
Luna Luna is a member from the tribe located in the southern jungles. The Calibara tribe were once rivals of the Wild Elves, but now they're mostly extinguished. She is the strongest warrior of her tribe, and is the guardian of its historic ruins where the is held. It is later revealed that this "Great Power" is the , a massive mobile fortress that Yuit's mother Cyan once sought. She sometimes greets her invaders with either a fascinating dance or a death dance. Luna Luna has the bravery of a warrior and the character of an innocent maiden, and her fighting dance is a mixture of both. She fights using four tentacles that extend from her hair, and her skin and eye colors change with her personality and fighting style. When she is in her innocent, fair-skinned form, she is known as the . Out of mockery at how Yuit addresses Annelotte, she calls the latter . Created by F.S.
A nun and an inquisitor belonging to the Holy Dynasty. A fundamentalist, she is an extremely strict, yet devoted follower of God who is known for executing heretics, usually by burning them alive. Although many call her a cruel person, she is actually a virtuous woman, but she is too serious and inflexible and does not hesitate in judging people.
In the OVA prologue, it is revealed that prior to her title as Inquisitor, she was stationed at the 16th monastery, and was invited by the Holy Dynasty to worship in the Grand Cathedral. During that time, she met Ymir following a skirmish with some drunken women, and has grown acquainted to her despite the latter's merchant-like personality. It is also shown that she tends to rush with her Holy Poses, often rendering them ineffective.
Sigui is very eager to bring down the Rebel Army, who she considers to be a band of heretics, and sees their leader Annelotte, who carries demon blood, as an abomination. She also considers the use of alchemy as a heresy (even the Holy Dynasty has divided opinions on this topic). She is armed with the and , and her fighting skills rivals Annelotte's. Like Melpha in Queen's Blade, she is also a user of the "Divine Power", the manifestation of God's miracles utilized by the provocative "Holy Poses". Later on, she has a crisis of faith, but Annelotte helps her and tells her she doesn't have to fight alone anymore. She ends up joining the Rebel Army, where she calls Annelotte . Sigui is illustrated by Odanon.
Queen's Army
Branwen is a , one of the most noble and rare beings in the Continent, also known as the for serving the dragons in the ancient times. Cool, collected and proud but also gentle in nature, she serves as a mediator for both races (though there are hardly any interaction between the dragons and humans), and is well-known among her people. Captured by the trainer (and master) , she has now become a gladiator slave forced to fight against other slaves and monsters in the Swamp Witch's Arena, ordered to fight in exchange for the life of her Dragon Ride, .
Despite being put through numerous death matches, Branwen's pride as a Dragon Descendant will not allow her to die easily. Her power as a Dragon Descendant is immense, and when she cannot suppress her anger any longer, she becomes a malevolent Dragon Warrior, pulverizing every enemy before her.
Branwen is named after the Welsh goddess Branwen. Created by Odanon.
Laila is a half-angel who was taken to the celestial world to become an angel trainee under Nanael's supervision (much to the despair of those around). However, she was not pushed around by Nanael's whims because of her "my pace" nature (doing things in her own pace), and it actually looked like she was the one in control. Despite this, they get along well. Nanael, who went on a rampage, ordered Laila to clean the chaos on the human world with the "Divine Punishment" using Holy Milk. Because she is not a true angel, Laila must wear the sacred tool , an artificial wing, to fly, and she is armed with the Heavenly Rifle which fires Holy Milk. At first Laila looks very cool-headed, but she makes so many mistakes that she might actually be very dumb. She has the power to grow in size up to a giant form, that she uses to stop the fortress Bligh when the Rebel Army tries to attack Gainos.
Laila is illustrated by Hirotaka Akaga.
Neutral
Eilin is a Dwarf from the Gemstone Mountains, a mountain in the Continent that produces gems. She has a refined and elegant personality, but loves to fight, evidenced through the giant war hammer she carries. Increasing the wealth is the pride of Eilin's clan, and she is famous for her outstanding business acumen and negotiation skills. She is the cousin of Ymir, and although she is very sassy with her, she bears a deep respect for her after losing to Ymir in a fight during childhood. She believes the current Ymir to be an imposter, and after agreeing to support Annelotte in exchange for the Rebel Army's assistance in rescuing her cousin, she goes to the Queen's Castle to confirm her suspicions. There, she meets the true Ymir, who bolts out of the room in anger at being called a fake. Failing to convince her old friend Laila to not fight the Rebel Army, when Ymir comes back Eilin notices that's not her cousin anymore. Created by Hiiro Yuki.