Is Radiant Worth Your Time?

Radiant (Radian) is a French comics series written and illustrated by Tony Valente.

This action and adventure series received an anime adaptation by Lerche that began airing from October 6th, 2018, and currently released up to two seasons.

The series focuses on the main protagonist Seth who lives in a world plagued by monsters called Nemeses.

He sets out on a mission to search for the mythical Radiant which is the source of these monsters so that he can end their reign of terror once and for all.

Radiant is the first french comic series to be published in Japan as of 2015 by Japanese publisher Asukashinsha.

1. Quick Review

Radiant occurs in a fictional world dominated by powerful and terrifying creatures known as Nemeses. These creatures attack from the sky at dizzying speeds and destroy anything they touch.

Those who miraculously survive these attacks are cursed with defects and obtain a magical power called Fantasia.

Now calling themselves Sorcerers, these survivors use Fantasia to fight and defeat their attackers.

The main character Seth is a Sorcerer who makes it his mission to decimate the Nemeses.

In the company of sorcerers Doc and Mélie, Seth embarks on an adventure to destroy the source of the Nemeses: the Radiant.

He hopes to create a world where sorcerers can be free from judgment for being cursed.

The series’ highlights lie in its world-building and light-hearted humor. Radiant skillfully tackles real-world issues such as discrimination and prejudice without making the story seem grim.

2. Info Card

3. Is It Worth Watching?

Radiant is what you would call a classic shonen anime. Besides the likable hero and the interesting themes, the initial plot does come off as being rather slow-paced and generic.

Fortunately, the series picks up the pace as the story progresses.

RADIANT ANIME TRAILER 2018

The animation is great and consistent throughout the series. If you want to indulge yourself in a battle shonen anime with some good action scenes, then Radiant is a great option for you.

I. Plot

The series takes place in a world where humans are under constant threat from monsters called Nemeses.

These creatures swoop down from the sky without warning and kill anyone they come across.

The few survivors of these sudden attacks are left with defectsbut possess the ability of Fantasia as a result.

Fantasia is a form of energy within Nemeses and can also be used by their surviving victims also known as “Sorcerers”.

The story focuses on Seth who can wield Fantasia and dreams of becoming a strong sorcerer for the sake of destroying the Nemeses.

For a show that portrays violence and societal issues, Radiant is surprisingly light-hearted.

The characters are appealing and Radiant’s fictional universe is an added excitement to this action-packed series.

II. Characters

Seth

Seth is the main character of the Radiant series.

He possesses two white horns as a result of his curse and is constantly referred to as Horned Boy. Seth’s character is described to be immature and reckless.

He is prone to cracking jokes and having a good laugh even during a serious battle.

Having said that, Seth is also portrayed as a kindhearted boy with a strong sense of justice.

He hopes that ending the existence of the Nemesis by finding its source, the Radiant, will bring forth a world where Sorcerers aren’t discriminated for being different from humans.

Doc

Doc is one of the main characters of the series.

In the world of Radiant, he is a researcher from Artemis Institute who later goes on to accompany Seth in his mission to find and destroy the source of nemeses, the Radiant.

Doc’s character is a coward and gets frightened by the slightest indication of danger.

As scared as he may be, Doc cares greatly for his companions and throws himself into dangerous situations to help them.

Mélie

Mélie is the main heroine of the Radiant series.

She’s the first character to initially join Seth in his mission to find the Radiant. She is a cheery and sincere character.

Mélie is always careful when it comes to protecting people from getting their feelings hurt.

She initially lacks self-confidence which gradually increases as she becomes more powerful while fighting alongside Seth.

III. Setting

Radiant is set in a world terrorized by monsters called Nemeses that fall from the sky. These monsters destroy almost everything within their reach.

The survivors become cursed but also acquire the ability to use a magical power known as “Fantasia”, thus becoming Sorcerers.

The protagonist Seth is from Pompo Hills, a group of islands located southeast of the Estrie Kingdoms.

The world of Radiant is brought to life with vivid colors, beautiful artwork, and amazing character designs.

IV. Theme Songs

The opening theme song for the first season of Radiant is “Utopia” by 04 Limited Sazabys while the ending theme song is “Radiant” by Polkadot Stingray.

RADIANT Opening | Utopia (HD)

The second season opens with  “Naraku” by Halo at Yojohan, and the ending theme song is “Chitto mo Shiranakatta” by Emi Nakamura.

The music used in the series is upbeat and emotional which is a perfect fit for a shonen anime like Radiant. The visuals are a creative and clever way to summarize the journey of the characters.

V. Action Sequences

Radiant depicts some dynamic action scenes owing to its impressive animation and detailed artwork.

The special powers possessed by the characters give rise to interesting fights as a young hero faces tough situations and engaging battles along his adventure.

4. Grade

5. Final Thoughts

Radiant shines bright owing to its intriguing concept and world-building. The visuals are beautiful and the characters are well-designed.

The series manages to maintain an air of light-hearted comedy while still picking up on heavy yet relevant subjects such as discrimination and injustice in society.