Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike

Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike is a 2009 Japanese animated film produced by Production I.G. It serves as a prequel to the video game Tales of Vesperia and is the first theatrical film in the 'Tales' series. The story is set a few years before the game and follows the young Yuri Lowell and Flynn Scifo as they join the Imperial Knights. They are dispatched to a border town to investigate abnormal ‘aer’ phenomena and become involved in a crisis involving an Imperial conspiracy. The film details the friendship between Yuri and Flynn, their different ideals, and their sense of justice. It also shows the life philosophy of their mentor, Niren Fedrok, and how they eventually embark on different paths. Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike not only provides a deeper backstory for game players, but has also received critical acclaim for its high-quality production and emotional storyline, appealing to those unfamiliar with the game.