A Pact Fulfilled

Cherry | f | Artist/Writer & Asbel Lhant Collector This is a blog for "Tales of" scans, analysis, fanworks, and "archaeology" where I dig up really old stuff from magazines and the like. Emphasis is on Tales of Graces f in particular, with some content related to other games in the series.

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Nintendo Dream Magazine: Issue 190 - February 2010 Asbel Lhant and Sophie sketches by Mutsumi Inomata

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Tales of Magazine Volume 12 - Tales of Graces NPC Height Chart Tales of Works Special Interview - Graphic Designer Interview (from Tales of Graces)

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Tales of Magazine Volume 12 - Barona Tales of Works Special Interview - Graphic Designer Interview (from Tales of Graces)

I previously posted the bottom image from the Day One Edition Art Book over here. I’ve mirrored it this time so the layouts of the city are easier to compare. You’ll notice that the top image from Viva! Tales of Magazine includes Gloandi and is more like how the capital city is represented in the finished game.

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Richard (Lineage & Legacies) Tales of Graces f: Character Chronicle

(Note: These musings are my own interpretations and not meant to be taken as canonical fact. I just wanted to share these!)

Next we have Richard in his future arc attire! This artwork, I feel, has decided to go a bit more with the symbolic route, as there’s quite a bit going on -- and it’s all very Windorian.

First off we have the Windor crest in the background, connecting Richard to his country and suggesting that he is once again putting his kingdom and the well-being of his people first. Behind him are a group of Baronan soldiers standing at attention while holding banners with the Windor emblem and colors. Interestingly enough, in the scene this most reminds me of (the one pictured, at the very end of the main arc), the knights he commands are dressed in different armor. However, these soldiers can be found throughout Barona and the surrounding roads (Wallbridge, etc) and take orders from Richard directly, too (as we see later in the Gustworks Ruins).

Here Richard is taking charge and raising his rapier high, ready for whatever comes next on his path of redemption and making amends. The scene is framed with a border of red rose bushes, and while Richard is commonly featured with blue roses, these red ones might perhaps represent feelings of courage and gratitude.

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Richard (Main Arc) Tales of Graces f: Character Chronicle

Thus begins a little “mini project” that I wanted to start, talking about the artwork from this set of acrylic stands and can badges which I really like. Most of them are fairly straight-forward, but a few of them have some possible symbolism included. (These thoughts are my own musings and not meant to be taken as canonical fact.)

Since he was requested recently, I decided to start with Richard! He’s featured three times in this set, once for each “arc” of the game, and this is him during the main arc, right after reclaiming the throne from Archduke Cedric. I like how the background and the light from the windows is cast in an eerie red hue, indicating his connection to Lambda. There are also eight claw-like wings, which match the wings in his transformed state. All-in-all he looks very confident and smug; who knows what turn events could soon take...

One thing I found interesting is that he’s drawn with his left leg crossed over his right, but in the game and manga, he seems to sit with his right leg crossed over the left instead. According to the internet, a cross-legged sitting position can represent a closed off or reserved attitude, that you’re building a metaphorical fortress around yourself or keeping something hidden.

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Richard - Tales of Graces Anniversary Party Costume Design from the Tales of Graces Anniversary Party Event Pamphlet

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Pascal - Tales of Graces Anniversary Party Costume Design from the Tales of Graces Anniversary Party Event Pamphlet

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Malik Caesar - Tales of Graces Anniversary Party Costume Design from the Tales of Graces Anniversary Party Event Pamphlet

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if theres any richard in the graces anniversary pamphlet could you scan it? ;w; thank you!

There isn’t very much Richard content in the pamphlet and most of what is there isn’t new (his voice actor ended up being a secret guest at the event, but didn’t participate in the book -- which I still find a little strange??), but I do plan to post the remaining three costumes this week (including Richard’s!)

I’ll do some poking around and see if there isn’t anything Richard-y I haven’t posted yet that I can share to fill the void. :3

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Cheria Barnes - Tales of Graces Anniversary Party Costume Design from the Tales of Graces Anniversary Party Event Pamphlet

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Hubert Oswell - Tales of Graces Anniversary Party Costume Design from the Tales of Graces Anniversary Party Event Pamphlet

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Tales of Graces Anniversary Party Designs from the Tales of Graces Anniversary Party Event Pamphlet

Here’s the details of the rosette and other designs that everyone is wearing. All of the different countries’ crests appear in the inner circle.

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So I just realized that each of the geometric shapes in the middle circle also correspond to each of the seven characters and appear somewhere on the backs of their costumes.

Asbel: circle Sophie: diamond Hubert: triangle Cheria: heart Malik: square Pascal: star Richard: crescent moon

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Tales of Graces Anniversary Party Designs from the Tales of Graces Anniversary Party Event Pamphlet

Here’s the details of the rosette and other designs that everyone is wearing. All of the different countries’ crests appear in the inner circle.

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Sophie - Tales of Graces Anniversary Party Costume Design from the Tales of Graces Anniversary Party Event Pamphlet

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So despite my best efforts, I am late for Graces Anniversary Week, which Hubert would likely be none too pleased with me with, but on the other hand I kinda overachieved by doing art and writing, which he would probably mostly approve of. But then I didn’t get to overachieve as much as I wanted because the thing I wrote was meant to be a podfic (hence the particular quirks of the piece) and that definitely didn’t happen, so ultimately…I guess I’m a disappointment to Little Bro??? Well, a lot of things disappoint him, so that’s nothing new.

Lessons Learned — There were many things your father taught you. Your only father, of course, for what other father did you have? What other father mattered?

Keep reading

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Asbel Lhant - Tales of Graces Anniversary Party Costume Design from the Tales of Graces Anniversary Party Event Pamphlet

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New artwork of Asbel and Sophie drawn by character designer Mutsumi Inomata for the Tales of Graces Anniversary Party. This image was included in the event pamphlet (3000 yen) available from the Asobi store.

I know I’m a bit late, but Happy Anniversary, Tales of Graces! I will be posting a few other scans from the event pamphlet of the new costume designs for each of the characters and hope to do a post about the event itself once the bluray discs ship out.

What I do know about the event is that Daisuke Namikawa (Richard) was a surprise guest (which was a welcome surprise, as he is completely absent from the event pamphlet!), so the seiyuu for all of the Graces party members except for Malik, with the addition of Lambda, were all in attendance. Hiroki Tochi (Malik) was still able to participate in a pre-recorded video that was shown to guests.

In the meantime, feel free to reach out to me if there is any (official) Tales of Graces character/content you would like for me to scan for translation purposes, etc. My library is open to anyone who’d like to make use of it.