It is Red Entertainment and Sega's successful franchise. As of July 2005, five games have been released as part of the main (numbered) series, as well as many other spin-offs and related titles. Sakura Wars has also spawned several anime series, a movie, manga and novels, as well as live-action musicals.
Compilation of the Dreamcast versions of Sakura Taisen and Sakura Taisen 2 in one
UMD, with reformated transparent lip boxes for a "full screen" effect.
Compilation of Sakura Taisen, Sakura Taisen 2, Sakura Taisen 3, Sakura Taisen 4, two desktop accessory(?) collections, and Sakura Taisen 3 Drama Download in four
DVD-ROMs
Four-part
OVA prequel to Sakura Taisen depicting the formation of the Imperial Assault Force, with the last episode taking place sometime in the middle of the game.
Title translates to "Sakura Wars: The Gorgeous Blooming Cherry Blossoms"
Released in North America as Sakura Wars by
ADV Films, and included in the Sakura Wars OVA CollectionDVD box.
Six character study episodes about the Imperial Assault Force, taking place during Sakura Taisen and Sakura Taisen 2.
Title translates to "Sakura Wars: The Radiant Gorgeous Blooming Flowers"
Released in North America as Sakura Wars: Return of the Spirit Warriors and Sakura Wars: Wedding Bells by
ADV Films, included in the Sakura Wars OVA CollectionDVD box.
Three-part
OVA prequel to Sakura Taisen 3, covering the formation of the Paris Assault Force, with the last two episodes taking place shortly after the beginning of the game.
On-going (as of April 2007) manga written by Ouji Hiroi, art by Masa Ikku, and serialized in
Kodansha's
Magazine Z.
Based on Sakura Taisen.
Translated and released in North America by
TOKYOPOP.
Live Performances
From
1997 onwards, the
voice actors of the series performed onstage and in-character as their Sakura Wars counterparts in a series of live-action musical stage shows. By
2001 to
2006, the Teikoku Kagekidan (Imperial Assault Force) performed two major musicals in a year: a New Year's Show and a Summer Kayou Show, in addition to multitudes of other smaller shows where one or more characters make appearances. Some of the stage performances could be seen in the series' other forms of media.
In
August of
2006, the Teikoku Kagekidan held their final summer show. Although the live-action shows still continue as of May 2007, they are no longer focused entirely on the Teikoku Kagekidan.
Summer Kayou Shows
Ai Yueni (Because of Love)
Notes:
First Summer Kayou Show
Performed from July 19 to 21, 1997
Appeared briefly in Sakura Taisen and in the manga.
Tsubasa (Wings)
Notes:
Second Summer Kayou Show
Performed from August 11 to 16, 1998
First show to include characters Reni Milchstraβe and Soletta Orihime
Includes the Paris Hanagumi Tokubetsu ("Paris Flower Division Special) Mini Live Show on August 13, where the Paris Flower Division performed live for the first time.
^The subtitle for this remake, "In Hot Blood" (熱き血潮に, Atsuki Chishio ni) refers to passage #26 from "Midaregami", a poem written by
Yosano Akiko, a famous early 20th century poet.
^The subtitle "Prithee Do Not Die" (君、死にたもうことなかれ, Kimi, Shinitamou koto Nakare) refers to the title of a poem by
Yosano Akiko. The poem is known for depicting her feelings when her younger brother went off to fight in the
Russo-Japanese War.
^"Is Paris Burning?" (巴里は燃えているか, Pari wa Moeteiru ka) refers to a famous quote from
German dictator
Adolf Hitler when he asked about
GeneralDietrich von Choltitz's progress in destroying the City of Lights. Paris was not burning, however, as Gen. Choltitz had disobeyed Hitler's orders and not leveled the city.
^"Fall in Love, Maidens" (恋せよ乙女, Koi Seyo, Otome) is the first line from "Gondola no Uta" ("Song of the Gondola"), a popular song written in
1915 by
Shinpei Nakayama and
Isamu Yoshii. The song is also used as a plot device in
Akira Kurosawa's Ikiru.
^The subtitle for this game, "Farewell, My Love" (さらば愛しき人よ, Saraba, Itoshiki Hito yo) is the same as the Japanese title for Farewell, My Lovely by
Raymond Chandler
^A zero inserted into a franchise series' title usually indicates a prequel feature, detailing that the product takes place before the events of the "real" product, as with the
NintendoGameCube game
Resident Evil 0.
^Maria: "Yes, Squad Leader. I'm looking for Maeterlinck's 'The Blue Bird.' I was thinking if I would reread it again as a reference for this play...... and I've finally found it. A mysterious journey during which Tyltyl and Mytyl search for the blue bird." Translated by Kayama at
GameFAQs.com. Retrieved on
2007-
04-26.