This is a tale of long ago when the kingdom was a land of fairies.
Ann Halford loves stories about fairies. Fairies created silver sugar and Anne is a sweets artist. Fairies are at odds with humans now, but their confectionery arts never went out of fashion. This year Ann is 'doing' the sugar confectionery exhibition. Nobody's going to stop her, not even her friend Jonas.
Based on a light novel (and later adapted to manga), SAFT is a 2023 release that is rated 7.48 on MAL. It is 2 seasons each consisting of 12 23-minute English dubbed episodes with CC available. The setting is fun, but it's beside the point - This is a love story.
The adventure starts in the very first town Ann encounters. A fairy hunter is brutally torturing a fairy (Mythrill Lid Pod) who is only about 6 inches high. The brutal practice is to steal one of their wings and force them into slavery. They can't escape without their missing wing and squeezing the separated wing is torture for the poor creatures (this would be alittle much for young children). Ann watches in horror and finally she can't take it. She comes up from behind the brute, buckles the back of his knee, manages to get the fairy and the wing as he collapses, and the little guy escapes. (He will join them later). She grieves the plight of the fairies. This is especially true when she goes to the fairy market and sees them chained up or locked in little cages. She asks for a battle fairy? "We would never keep anything that dangerous! But the guy at the end has one. Don't even bother, though. It's damaged goods." Fatefully, Ann goes to that last tent at the end of the last row, and peeps inside. There's a full size man fairy. He's beautiful.
"Oh, it's only a scarecrow.' What's he saying? "You. You're just a scarecrow." He's talking to Ann. The shopkeeper enters. "This one's dangerous. He killed three fairy Hunters when they captured him. He's difficult, too. He insults all my customers." Then the captive asks Ann to buy him. The shopkeeper's astounded. "He's never done that before." Ann gets caught up in the moment and decides to purchase this beat up, slightly used warrior, even though she was looking for a bigger and more burly one. The road to Lewiston where the exhibition is held, is dangerous.
Shall Fen Shall is the warrior. He's dark, handsome and brooding. He's brought to life in English by Ivan Jasso, whose voice is gorgeous. Ann promises to return his wing when his job is done. She's a naive girl who believes that fairies and "filthy humans", eh, humans can be friends. Immediately, he's agressive-flirting with Ann. He hates her. He hates ALL people. But there is something /there/.
The Bloody Highway is 1200 miles long with only fort shelters between them and Ann's destination. Not a single town is on the way. "Go ahead and start praying. Reaching the first Fort shelter alive won't be easy," Shall actually sounds bored. He's the cool type. With his sophisticated and graceful sword craft, he's lethal. He's so beautiful, however, that everyone assumes he's a "companion" fairy. 😻 Wrrrooww ~ go ahead and fan yo-self, ladies!
Things go sideways at the exhibition, so Ann's on the road. She does a stint with a sugar master and then goes to a Duke's castle. That is one of many adventures. It's a romance. Nothing less, nothing more; better than more, bested by less. The plot, writing, character development and directing are easily above average. Ann might be naive, but she doesn't seem any less significant a person then Shall.
The simple instrumental background music is amusement park worthy, but it's fine. People are drawn with the finest of lines, old-style round eyes and simple elegance. Pale colors and pastels are the palette. Many scenes have a watercolor look about them. Some of the backgrounds are flat drawings like a book illustration. It creates an air of whimsy.
The dynamics of racism and slavery are on display. Slave owners presume their superiority. That deceptive feeling is necessary to undergird their heinous practices. The treatment of the subjugated fairies is horrific and, well, just wrong. People manage to become comfortable in the midst of all kinds of horrors. Even the "kind" people drop the facade when they don't get their way. As soon as things get inconvenient, the fairies pay the price. No wonder Shall is despondent and somewhat hopeless while fighting back bitterness and hate.
We watch Shall slowly thaw around the kind and loving Ann. By the end of S1 he's devoted to her. She is still oblivious (sort of) to his inclinations, but he seems to be aware of his feelings by ep12. So much so, that he makes a grand sacrifice. As S1 ends they are separated. Shall gave up his freedom to help Ann. This sets up S2. She's going to get him back.
In S2 the concept that humans and fairies should "stick to their own kind" surfaces. A fairy king emerges, though Ann calls him a fraud. We learn about Shall's origins as well. He was made from Obsidian. S1 ends with Ann's 2nd sugar exhibition and Shall must trade his wing, or freedom, to find her stolen refined sugar. As S2 begins, Shall is stuck at the Paige Workshop with the owner's daughter, Bridget, who developed an obsession with Shall.
Ann's practically forced into working at this school, which might be the smallest one, so that she can be near Shall and try to win him back. Bridget chafes against her father's traditionalism and rigid mentality. She hasn't been able to pursue her dreams because she's a girl. She, in turn, tries to control Shall. She becomes fixated on him. On the one hand, controlling love is what she knows from her father, but on the other it's quite hypocritical.
Ann's influence lands them a top-notch gig: the yearly church festival. It's a national celebration and success will have a very positive effect on the ebbing school. A positive effect will be rewarded with Shall 's freedom, Ann's been promised. The headmaster has given his word. They are sequestered at a dilapidated castle outside of Lewiston to complete the work. One thing after another goes wrong. Most of it is due to deliberate outside interference. The main project the Paige team takes on has a snow theme. They labor over ornate snowflakes - hundreds of them. It really is very beautiful.
The manga goes on. As S2 closes, they aren't "official," but they are 90% there. Everyone else can see it and takes them as a couple. "What are you going to do?" Ann queries Shall. "Keep my promise. Stay with you. So you can be happy and free to live your life to the fullest. I'll be at your side... forever. Do as you please. Go as you wish, find someone you love. I'll support you." Ann repeats something similar back to him. Sounds like they've exchanged vows.
The anime adapts 6 of 18 volumes, so to find out what other promises they do and don't make, and maybe even a first kiss, one would have to read on, an idea as tempting as a 🍭.
QUOTE🗣 If you want to be a king, revenge and control or not things that you should enjoy.
IMHO〰🖍
📣7.5 📝7 🎭7.5 💓7 🦋7.5 🎨7.5 🎵/🔊6 🔚? ▪ 🌞6 ⚡4.5 😅2.5 😭4 😱4 😯3 🤢2 🤔3 💤0 🤗6.5
Age 11+ Language: d@mn just once, maybe twice. It's Quite romantic but pretty tame. Rated TV-PG-13: Parents Cautioned
Re-📺? Hard to say. The whole world of anime awaits.
From lite&trite to heavy&serious, here's some recs ~
Toradora-8.5,
Ao-chan Can't Study-7.8,
Emma-7.8,
Hakkenden,,
Here Comes Miss Modern-8,
Honey,
Kayuga Sama Love Is War,
Land Of The Lustrous 8,
Love Chunibyo And Other Delusions-8.4,
Maid Sama-10,
My Happy Marriage-8.3,
Ouran High School Host Club-8,
Princess Principal 8.6,
Real Girl-7.5,
Special A Class-8.2,
Violet Evergarden-9.5,
YOUR LIE IN APRIL-9.
