‘Rance 01: Hikari o Motomete The Animation’ Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary

Rance 01: Hikari o Motomete The Animation, a hentai based on one of the most popular adult game franchises in Japan, as been out for 10 years since its release.

Origin

The adult anime is based on Rance 01 – Hikari o Motomete – (ランス01 光をもとめて),  an eroge produced by Alice Soft and released on August 7, 2013.

The renowned Pink Pineapple label released its first episode on December 26, 2014. The animated version concluded on June 24, 2016 with four episodes.

Story

The barbaric warrior Rance loves nothing more than the company of beautiful women. Traveling around the continent with his faithful slave Sill Plain, Rance takes on odd jobs for a chance to appease his insatiable libido. Although his perverted instincts often land him in hot water, people from far and wide nevertheless laud his heroic feats.

While undertaking a request to locate a missing noble girl, Rance and Sill arrive in the majestic Kingdom of Leazas. As they split up to investigate several leads, Rance finds himself aiding the townsfolk with various problems, from rescuing a kidnapped barmaid to purging an undead outbreak. Amassing both fortune and females, the warrior eventually uncovers a dark secret within the kingdom that only he can stand against.

Reception

Because its first OVA was released in late December, the success of Rance 01 remains uncertain. However, it is believed to have had a good but moderate reception in Japan, as its subsequent OVAs reached the top 20 best-selling hentai titles of their year according to a Japanese store. Despite this moderate success, it is considered that the series did not perform as well as expected, especially given that it is a hentai adaptation of one of the most renowned video game franchises.

Overseas, the series also had a moderate reception, although it seems to have performed slightly better than in Japan.

Trivia

1. The hentai was animated by Seven studio and directed by Takashi Nishikawa.
2. The Rance 01 – Hikari o Motomete – eroge is a remake of the original game released on July 15, 1989.
3. In the tavern where Rance investigates the girl’s disappearance, an enhanced portrait of the original cover art from Rance – Hikari o Motomete – can be seen in the background.
4. Unlike Rance: Sabaku no Guardian, the animated adaptation of Rance 01 remains faithful to the original work.
5. During one of Rance’s battles in the coliseum, a promotional poster for the Evenicle eroge can be seen.
6. Although the hentai is set in medieval times, it includes anachronistic elements such as monitors, fire sprinklers, microwaves, and metal detectors, among others.
7. At the end of its final OVA, there is a post-credits scene showing Rance and Sill growing closer. Additionally, a caption appears that reads, “The Rance World Continues…“, hinting at a sequel that was never produced.
8. On December 22, 2017, Pink Pineapple released a Blu-ray edition of Rance 01, which includes an extra scene detailing the sexual tortures inflicted by Queen Lia. Later, on May 31, 2019, a gold disc edition was released.