The Magical School Lunar is a renowned institution where young witches and wizards go to receive a comprehensive education in the magical arts. Situated on a floating island that orbits the moon, this school attracts students from all corners of the magical world. The school's location on a lunar orbit gives it a unique aspect that impacts the students' learning experience. The island is bathed in an ethereal glow, providing an enchanting atmosphere that inspires creativity and enhances magical abilities. The moon's gravitational pull creates a magical ambiance that amplifies spells and makes it easier for students to learn complex magical techniques. At Magical School Lunar, students have access to an extensive curriculum that covers various magical disciplines.

Translating Magic School Lunar

Anyway, yes! I'm working on Magic School Lunar with Suppertails. Since there's no official translation to port over, this is going to be a brand-new English translation, which is being done by Video Game King.

• A full first draft English translation is complete. This needs editing, but does cover all dialogue and menu text in the game.
• Script editing and playtesting haven't been started yet.
• All graphics that need to be translated are complete, except for the end credits, and have been inserted into the game.
• We have tools to insert the new text and graphics into the game. These work but have some bugs that are still being ironed out.
• FMVs haven't been started. Tools aren't a problem, it just needs someone to a) transcribe the dialogue, and b) translate it.

And as a fun bonus, here's an amazing bug I ran into where the girls abandon their normal dialogue and start threatening the player instead.

kitty666cats

So happy to hear an update and see how close this is to finally being playable! I've been in love with the series ever since the PS1 remakes first came out back in the day. Lunar-Net forum must be over the moon right now! (there was actually no pun initially intended there, haha)

vbt

benzo12

cj iwakura

Looks fantastic. I have flashbacks to this game's evil battle frequency, so part of me wishes you could fix that, but I'm glad to see Studio Alex's last game get proper treatment all the same.

Do you have a discord and/or twitter presence on this? Also, if you need an editor, I'd be happy to help. I own the game and have played all the other Lunars.

Dodongo

Thank you so much for this!

As you probably know, Studio Alex tried to pad the playtime for this game as long as they feasibly could, resulting in two major annoyances for the player: Unskippable long FMV scenes, and a very high encounter rate. IMO they really ruin the game. Is it possible to include those in this project's scope as a side patch?

Ms. Tea

Looks like you've found me on Twitter already! I don't have my own discord server, but I am in yours already.

Also, if you need an editor, I'd be happy to help. I own the game and have played all the other Lunars.

Thank you! I have an editor lined up, but I'll let you know if that falls through. My plan is to do a pass of editing myself for readability / characterization, but after someone else who knows Japanese is able to do a pass of checking the translation.

As you probably know, Studio Alex tried to pad the playtime for this game as long as they feasibly could, resulting in two major annoyances for the player: Unskippable long FMV scenes, and a very high encounter rate. IMO they really ruin the game. Is it possible to include those in this project's scope as a side patch?

IMO the FMVs are fine; they're not really worse than the other two Lunars. I agree about the encounter rate though, which is very distracting and intrusive. I think it would be a good idea to make a secondary patch which can be applied after the translation (or to the Japanese version) to reduce the encounter rate to something reasonable.

cj iwakura

Looks like you've found me on Twitter already! I don't have my own discord server, but I am in yours already.

Thank you! I have an editor lined up, but I'll let you know if that falls through. My plan is to do a pass of editing myself for readability / characterization, but after someone else who knows Japanese is able to do a pass of checking the translation.

Appreciate the consideration, I wish them luck.

IMO the FMVs are fine; they're not really worse than the other two Lunars. I agree about the encounter rate though, which is very distracting and intrusive. I think it would be a good idea to make a secondary patch which can be applied after the translation (or to the Japanese version) to reduce the encounter rate to something reasonable.

The battle frequency is so bad that it almost makes the game unplayable, I totally agree that you should adjust it from jump street, but it's your call. I'm pretty sure anyone who's played it will be very glad you did, and those who haven't will be better off not knowing, lol.

I think the cutscenes are fine too, apart from a certain one. and I think you can guess which one if you've been a chapter or two in. (The painting.)

Dodongo

I think the cutscenes are fine too, apart from a certain one. and I think you can guess which one if you've been a chapter or two in. (The painting.)

Um. While certainly respectful for the project lead's answer, and thought that would be it, I think I'm being misunderstood here, so I feel compelled to clarify my stance.

My initial argument is that I don't think the cutscenes are a problem on their own. Only that they lack a way to skip them, which the developers enabled for the opening (you can skip it with Start) but disabled for everything else. That's about what I meant with that. I'm okay of course with the decision this isn't that important of an issue, just to reiterate.

that one cutscene, I would certainly welcome another "relocalization" patch by someone else that edits that specific Cinepack file. You do see a lot of these patches recently on romhacking dot net as compaignon patches to the main translation projects. But I still think it would be very callous and censorious of my part to request that change as part of the main translation project.

Everyone should still be able to experience any work of that period of time the way it was conceived, and it's no worse than stuff you'd see in old-school Sailor Moon. The translator is only responsible for the translation bytes inserted in the game and shouldn't really answer for that. Of course, if the translator does whatever with that, it's fine too by me.

That's why I need to make it clear here that's not what I meant by my initial post. I also apologize for indirectly casting undue attention to that aspect, or unnecessary drama, with that comment.

Video Game / Lunar: Walking School

A Gaiden Game spin-off of the Lunar series, Lunar: Walking School was released for the Game Gear, Sega's handheld system, in 1996. It serves as a Prequel, set about 300 years before the events of the first game, and focuses on two young girls named Ellie and Lena who are scouted to attend the Magic School of Iyen Island, and their various misadventures there. With its episodic approach to storytelling and its mild Tone Shift in the Lighter and Softer direction, it has similar feel to a children's cartoon.

In 1998, Lunar: Walking School was remade for the Sega Saturn under the title Magic School Lunar! (and the punctuation is part of the title.) This version extensively expands upon the original game, with overhauled visuals and music, extra playable characters, and the addition of voice acting. Many gameplay systems are redone to be more in line with the main games, and while the plot outline is the same, some events are completely removed with new ones taking their places.

At Magical School Lunar, students have access to an extensive curriculum that covers various magical disciplines. From potions to divination, alchemy to wandcraft, students are exposed to a wide range of subjects that help them develop their individual magical talents. The school also emphasizes the importance of understanding and respecting the natural world, as students are taught about magical creatures and their habitats.

This Gaiden Game contains instances of:

• Absent-Minded Professor: Professor Dadis, to an absurd degree. The heroines apprentice themselves to him, even though he seldom remembers who they are and is rarely able to teach lessons since he can't find his supplies.
• Academy of Adventure: The game's primary setting, Iyen Island, is home to a Wizarding School. Plus it is a weird place (a drifting island that drifts from port to port, with some sort of semi-predictable schedule, even!) where weird things happen on an nearly continual basis.
• Adults Are Useless: Aside from being a source of spells, the teachers generally serve little purpose, with it constantly falling upon your party's shoulders to solve every issue that arises.
• All Men Are Perverts: One of the first things the male students do is band together to steal all of the girls' food and laundry, based on the notion that this will keep them from 'overeating' and force them to wash their remaining clothes in the buff. This plot point is notably absent from the Saturn version.
• Arranged Marriage: Senia's father attempted to force her into one, leading her to become a Runaway Fiancé.
• Big Eater: Lena, to the point where she agrees to attend the school purely because they offered free food.
• Childhood Friend Romance: Between Senia and Azu - also an Interspecies Romance since Senia is a beastwoman and Azu is a regular human.
• Damsel in Distress: Elenora repeatedly ends up in this role.
• Fire, Ice, Lightning: Ellie specializes in Fire magic, Ant and Winn specialize in Ice, and Senia has Lightning.
• Floating Continent: Iyen Island, the main setting of the game, is able to move over the water. The island makes stops at different locales, broadening the types of adventures the heroes can get into.
• Floating Mask: D, the personification of Demon Castle D, manifests as a mask. Naturally, its design changes between the Game Gear and Saturn versions.
• Gaiden Game: Both versions of the game have a smaller scope and gentler tone than the other games in the series.
• Ghost Ship: In one of the new chapters in the Saturn version, the heroes explore a ghost-riddled shipwreck on a cursed island.
• Graduate from the Story: As to be expected in a game about school, in the end the characters leave to seek their fortunes in the world at large. Ellie and Lena (and Blade in Magic School) get accepted to continue their studies in Vane.
• Height Angst: Lena is a bit sensitive about her height. Naturally, this leads to Ant teasing her about it.
• I Have You Now, My Pretty: Barua takes an immediate interest in Winn, and repeatedly attempts to claim him for herself.
• Item Crafting: Light Water, Protect Water and Mystery Water do nothing on their own, but can be combined with various herbs to make different items. This only applies to Walking School, as items were completely removed from Magic School.
• Obi-Wan Moment: Old Glen gets some time to reassure and comfort the heroes before passing away from their wounds.
• Onscreen Chapter Titles: Both the Game Gear and Saturn versions feature these, though the chapter titles vary between them.
• One-Winged Angel: When Memphis manages to steal the power of the Blue Dragon , he gets a transformation to go with it. Unfortunately for him, he can't hold onto that power long, turning into a Clipped-Wing Angel in the process .
• A Pupil of Mine Until He Turned to Evil: In Magic School, this is the relationship between Memphis and Glen .
• Regenerating Mana: Simply standing around lets you recover MP, and upgrading your robes increases the regeneration rate. Defending also restores your MP.
• Rich Bitch: Layla, a stuck-up magic school upperclasswoman.
• The Rival: Ant and his two cronies seem to think that hassling the heroines is their mission in life.
• Secret Test: When they first arrive, the students are put through one as an entrance exam, where the island appears to be uninhabited. This leads directly to the boys banding together to steal the girls' food and extra clothing, without suffering any punishment from the teachers after The Reveal. Notably removed from the Updated Re-release.
• Significant Wardrobe Shift: Ellie gets a new, more heroic looking outfit in the last two chapters of the remake.
• Straw Misogynist: Your rival Ant and his friends quickly establish themselves to be condescendingly sexist twerps. Iason, the Dojo teacher, is also obsessed with manhood.
• Squishy Wizard: As all of your party members are spellcasters, none of them are particularly good at dealing physical damage.
• Translation Convention: A meta example - the Japanese title of the Game Gear version, Lunar: Sanposuru Gakuen, would be more accurately (and arguably more evocatively) translated as Lunar: Strolling School. But since a higher-profile game in the series is frequently abbreviated "L:SSS", referring to this one as "L:SS" would cause confusion.
• Updated Re-release: Magic School Lunar! heavily expands and revamps the original game, removing some events completely while replacing them with others.
• Wizarding School: Iyen.

Magic School Lunar

All is not well at the Magic School. Barua, a member of the feared Vile Tribe, has kidnapped many students of the school with a ransom demanding the power of the Blue Dragon. Instead of sending the power of the dragon, the officials send Ellie, Rena, and Senia, who attend the school as well, to rescue the students from Barua and her leader, the giant headed Memphis.

Review

I owe an apology to not only the readers of my first review for this, but also to anyone and everyone who enjoyed this anime (and you know who you are). You see, after I wrote the first review, I did some internet surfing about the general opinion, and found that it was being praised more than mocked. At this point, and after thinking hard for three days and three nights, including a rewatching, I have come to the conclusion:

I made a big mistake in the previous review.

Now, the plot is fairly simple. As shown in the old review, the idea is that Barua kidnapped roughly all the not significant students and held them hostage with the misproportioned Memphis. The ransom note has one request: the power of the Blue Dragon. Instead of sending it (in fact, even the dean of the school was baffled as they didn't have this), the school sends Ellie, Rena, and Senia, which makes for fun interactions.

Now here is where I made my mistake: I took the plot WAY too seriously. While the idea of a plot this goofy and cliche isn't too appealing, the makers decided to take it towards a more light-hearted effort, while I was expecting a much more serious affair. After finding my mistake, I decided to once more watch the anime, this time with a sense of comic relief. My findings proved it. This anime is goofy and knows it, and thus plays it over the top. Simple, I know, but it works. Heck, I enjoyed a hearty laugh here and there. This realization requires me to rewrite this review and give it a better rating.

However, let's continue the review, this time with the characters. I've never played the game this was based on at all, so I have no clue how loyal the characters are. Ellie, Rena, and Senia are your three main characters and while going to save the students, have some funny dialogue and meet up with a Lunar Flying Cat(tm) during the trek. Staying at the school is the dean, who goes into a group of emotions in his screentime, some of which include confusion, shock, concentration, and seriousness. Spectral, this one. Among the villains are Barua, the kidnapper and, arguably, the most uncontrollable anime character of all time. Heck, Asuka Soryuu Langley was Belldandy compared to this girl. Barua will go into a mad frenzy with a whip in hand at a moment's notice, which seems to happen far too often. Memphis doesn't seem to mind, he's got his head set on the power of the Blue Dragon. and what a head it is. Seriously, Memphis's head is the third biggest object in the latter half of the feature. However, as we learned from Torgo from Manos: The Hands of Fate, big body part=comic material. The final two significant characters are a random yellow dude (don't ask me, I just calling them as I see them) who serves as both a character and, tempoararily, as our narrator. Also on the cast is apparently a cohort of the villains named Minotaurus. wait, a blue haired femme fetale with a dull witted minotaur sidekick named "Minotaurus". where have I heard this before?

. yeah, it sounds like Puyo Puyo. Personally, I prefer Rulue over Barua. for the safety of my walls, thank you.

Finally, I touch on the artwork for reanalysis. Now that I viewed this anime openly, it looks pretty good for a mini-movie. It's no five star classic, but it's substantial for a ten-minute production. However, I can still say that the art for the characters is nowhere near good, but it's not the worst I've ever seen (go to Powerpuff Girls Z for that one). Sadly, while I can change my view on the art, I can't do the same for the animation, because the awkward pace does not help this at all, sadly. By comparison, the Pikachu shorts for Pokemon movies have decent animation and decent art, which is one-up from this. While I openly dislike the Pikachu shorts, I can't help but think of them as decent for a young audience or as a "warm-up", and I can say the same of this.

After debating with myself, I decided this deserves at least a three. No more, no less, but you can chalk down a couple stars if you prefer serious subject matters. — Jake L Godek

Recommended Audience: Since there isn't much in the way of blood or heavy moments, this is an anime everyone can watch . if you want to watch it, of course. The only noteworthy part is the animated violence.

To further enhance their magical education, students at Magical School Lunar reside in dormitories that are fashioned like miniature castles. These dormitories are assigned according to their magical affinity, creating a sense of unity among students who share similar magical strengths. Living among peers with similar abilities encourages collaboration and the exchange of magical knowledge. The faculty at Magical School Lunar consists of highly skilled and experienced magical practitioners. These teachers are not only knowledgeable but also nurturing, fostering an environment where students feel supported in their magical journey. They guide and mentor the students, help them unlock their potential, and encourage them to push their limits. Beyond the classroom, Magical School Lunar offers a plethora of extracurricular activities and clubs for students to explore their interests. From joining the Quidditch team to participating in magical theater productions, students are encouraged to pursue their passions and develop well-rounded magical talents. The school's calendar is marked by various magical events and celebrations. The annual Moonlight Ball, for instance, is a much-anticipated event where students showcase their magical talents and dance the night away under the moonlight. The school also hosts the Triwizard Tournament, a prestigious competition that tests the students' magical prowess and problem-solving skills. In conclusion, Magical School Lunar provides a unique and enchanting educational experience for young witches and wizards. With its lunar orbit setting, comprehensive curriculum, nurturing faculty, and vibrant extracurricular activities, this school nurtures students' magical talents and prepares them for a successful future in the magical world..

Reviews for "Astronomy and Spellcasting: The Fusion of Science and Magic in Lunar Schools"

1. Jane - 2/5 stars: I was really disappointed with "Magical School Lunar". The storyline felt cliché and unoriginal, following the same old tropes of magical boarding schools and chosen ones. The characters were flat and lacked depth, making it hard for me to care about their stories. Additionally, the writing style was lackluster, lacking the descriptive language and engaging dialogue that I look for in a fantasy novel. Overall, I found "Magical School Lunar" to be a forgettable and uninspiring read.

2. Michael - 1/5 stars: I absolutely hated "Magical School Lunar". The plot was predictable and felt like a rehashed version of every other magical school story out there. The characters were shallow and lacked any real development. The dialogue was cringe-worthy and unrealistic, making it difficult to connect with the story. Furthermore, the pacing was off, with significant lulls in action followed by rushed and chaotic scenes. I regret wasting my time on this book and would not recommend it to anyone.

3. Sophie - 2/5 stars: I had high hopes for "Magical School Lunar", but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The world-building was minimal, and I found myself struggling to envision the magical school and its surroundings. The writing style was simplistic and lacked the sophistication I typically enjoy in fantasy novels. The romance subplot felt forced and lacked chemistry between the characters. While the concept had potential, the execution left much to be desired. Overall, "Magical School Lunar" was a lackluster read that failed to capture my imagination.

Navigating the Lunar Labyrinth: Challenges of Magical Schooling on the Moon