The Irregular at Magic High School: Reminiscence Arc

Alternate Titles

魔法科高校の劣等生 追憶編
Reminiscence Arc

Synopsis

A century has passed since magic became a part of everyday life. In April 1945, two siblings, Tatsuya and Miyuki Shiba, are admitted to the National University of Magic’s First High School. One of them is an inferior student with a fatal flaw as a magician, while the other is an honor student praised for her perfect magic abilities. The two of them are so close it almost seems like they’re a couple at times, but until just a few years ago, their relationship was very different and more closely resembled that of a master and servant. Three years ago, an event occurred in Okinawa that changed their relationship drastically. A prequel story that sheds more light on Tatsuya and Miyuki’s past begins!

Background

The Irregular at Magic High School began as a web novel series by Tsutomu Sato that went on to be published by Dengeki Bunko as a light novel beginning in July 2011. The original light novel ended its run with its 32nd volume that was published in September 2020. There have been two sequels to the light novel including The Irregular At Magic High School Magian Company which began its run in October 2020 and New – The Irregular at Magic High School Maidens of Cygnus which will be published in 2021.

The series has a manga adaptation that began in 2013 and adapts each of the series’ story arcs, as well as a spin-off manga adaptation titled The Honor Student at Magic High School which began in June 2012. A film adaptation titled The Irregular at Magic High School The Movie: The Girl Who Calls the Stars was also released in 2017.

Three video game adaptations have also been released including the 3D fighting game The Irregular at Magic High School: Out of Order, the JRPG The Irregular at Magic High School: School Magicus Battle, and the mobile game The Irregular at Magic High School: Lost Zero.

The Irregular at Magic High School: Reminiscence Arc is the newest season of the anime adaptation. It was first announced in February 2021 and sees returning staff and cast from season 2. It is being animated by 8-Bit and features Risako Yoshida as director and Jimmy Stone as assistant director, with Munemasa Nakamoto handling series composition and scripts, Kana Ishida credited as both character designer and chief animation director, and Taku Iwasaki composing the music. The anime’s theme song is “Ripe Aster” by Kairi Yagi. The anime will premiere in Japan on Dec. 31, 2021 on Tokyo MX, Tochigi TV, Gunma TV, and BS11.

Characters

Tatsuya Shiba (Voiced by: Yuichi Nakamura)
The direct descendant of the famous Yotsuba family of magicians. He is a first-year junior high school student. Due to being born as a “defective” magician with inferior power, he is treated like a servant as Miyuki’s guardian. He rarely expresses his emotions, so it’s hard to tell what he’s thinking, and he doesn’t seem to mind his role as Miyuki’s guardian. Though he lacks magical power, he has a high proficiency in hand-to-hand combat and is capable of defeating a military combat magician at the age of 13.

Miyuki Shiba (Voiced by: Saori Hayami)
Tatsuya’s younger sister and a first-year junior high school student. She is a direct descendant of the Yotsuba family and is a candidate to become the next head of the family. Contrary to Tatsuya, she possesses unrivaled magical abilities. She has beautiful looks with doll-like skin and jet black hair. Though her magical abilities are very high, she isn’t a skilled fighter and hasn't been trained in combat like Tatsuya has.

Miya Shiba (Voiced by: Kikuko Inoue)
The twin sister of Mayo, the head of the Yotsuba family. She is a powerful magician who specializes in mind-altering magic. However, due to her excessive use of it during her youth, she has a poor constitution. She is Tatsuya and Miyuki’s biological mother, but she is terribly cold toward Tatsuya for him not having any magical powers and she asks Miyuki to treat him like a servant.

Honami Sakurai (Voiced by: Aya Endo)
A 30-year-old genetically engineered magician with enhanced powers who is part of the first generation of the Sakura series. She is one of the best magicians in Japan specializing in anti-matter and heat-resistant defensive magic. She serves as Miya’s guardian who protects the house and takes care of her personal needs. She treats Tatsuya and Miyuki like she’s their older sister and cares for them.

Music

Theme Song: “Ripe Aster” by Kairi Yagi

• Official Site (Japanese)
• Official Twitter (Japanese)

• Original Creator: Tsutomu Sato
• Director: Risako Yoshida
• Assistant Director: Jimmy Stone
• Script: Munemasa Nakamoto (WriteWorks)
• Character Design/Chief Animation Director: Kana Ishida
• Color Design: Sakura Komatsu
• Director of Photography: Yuki Kawashita (MADBOX), Heigo Fujimura (MADBOX)
• Photography: MADBOX
• Editing: Kashiko Kimura
• Sound Director: Satoshi Motoyama
• Music: Taku Iwasaki
• Animation Production: 8-Bit