Cloud Age Symphony
Story
This page contains spoiler free information about the story of Last Exile, however there are spoilers within the Complete Story section which is marked clearly with a warning.
Introduction
On the distant world of Prestel, a war rages between the kingdoms of Anatoray and Disith. Mediated by a third party known as The Guild, battles are waged in the skies with the use of giant airships and a code of chivalry...
Claus Valca and Lavie Head have known hardship for most of their lives, and since they were orphaned as children, they have learnt to take care of themselves. Now they share an ambition to one day cross the Grand Stream, but in the meantime they earn their living flying as couriers for the Vanship Union and racing in the Norkia Cup to test their skills amongst the best Vanship pilots out there.
During the 75th Norkia Cup, Claus and Lavie find themselves taking care of a girl named Alvis Hamilton who is to be transported to an infamous battleship, the Silvana. Claus and Lavie find themselves heading off on an adventure of their own as the war between Anatoray and Disith heads into its climax. The Guild is about to make its move and the fate of Prestel rests with this mysterious girl in Claus and Lavie's care.
What is Last Exile?
Last Exile is a 10th anniversary work by Japanese animation studio, Gonzo Digimation. It has 26 episodes which are 23 minutes each and were released in 2003, airing weekly on TV Tokyo from April 7th to September 29th. The animation is a combination of 2D and 3D CGI sequences, and like many other Gonzo Digimation animations, is very high quality work.
The anime is an action adventure and has fantasy and science fiction elements; however the main stylistic theme is Steam punk. As soon as the first episode starts, you'll be stepping into a fully realised world with its own unique history, customs and fleshed out characters. The story itself begins on a personal level with Claus Valca and Lavie Head and expands into epic proportions as the series progresses.
Episode Guide
This section contains short blurbs describing the 26 episodes of Last Exile.
Episode 1
First Move
Claus and Lavie, couriers for the Vanship Union, take on a job to deliver a letter under dangerous conditions. Their mission takes them into an air battle between the forces of Anatoray and Disith where they soon discover that they may be way over their heads and in serious trouble.
For more information, check the First Move (episode) encyclopedia entry (coming soon).
Episode 2
Luft Vanship
The Anatoray fleet is caught off guard as the Disith fleet performs an illegal manoeuvre while the Guild stand by idly, allowing this unchivalrous act. Through all of this, Claus and Lavie, through their brave actions, convince Commander Mad-thane to save the rest of his fleet by retreating.
For more information, check the Luft Vanship encyclopedia entry (coming soon).
Episode 3
Transpose
Returning late from their mission, Claus and Lavie find themselves missing out on the time attack for the 75th Norkia Cup, meaning that they have to start the race dead last. Despite this, Claus and Lavie are still determined to win, however things take an unexpected turn on the final stretch.
For more information, check the Transpose encyclopedia entry (coming soon).
Episode 4
Zugzwang
Claus and Lavie find themselves delivering a mysterious young girl named Al to the infamous battleship, Silvana. However, they find themselves brushing with death as they are pursued by an unknown star-shaped ship as they try to accomplish this deadly mission thrust upon them.
For more information, check the Zugzwang encyclopedia entry (coming soon).
Episode 5
Positional Play
After a close call with death, Claus and Lavie finally deliver Al to Alex Row, Captain of the Silvana. As the Silvana leaves, Claus and Lavie find themselves compelled to ensure her safety aboard the infamous battleship and set out to find her.
For more information, check the Positional Play encyclopedia entry (coming soon).
Episode 6
Arbiter Attack
Claus, Lavie and Al have been reunited aboard the Silvana, before long they find themselves in the middle of a battle between the Silvana and the Guild. Claus makes a decision to join the fight to protect Al, but little do they know that they're being watched by a mysterious member of the Guild.
For more information, check the Arbiter Attack encyclopedia entry (coming soon).
Episode 7
Interesting Claus
The battle continues as Lord Dio of the Guild watches every move Claus makes and eventually decides to join the battle to test Claus' piloting skills. The Guild's star-shaped fighters are closing in around the Silvana and Claus and Lavie are discovering that they are no match for the Guild ships.
For more information, check the Interesting Claus encyclopedia entry (coming soon).
Episode 8
Takeback
After the battle with the Guild, the Silvana heads to a dock for repairs where the crew is able to enjoy some time out to relax. However, trouble breaks out as the crew of the Silvana begin to mix and get rubbed the wrong way by nobleman of the battleship Goliath.
For more information, check the Takeback encyclopedia entry (coming soon).
Episode 9
Calculate Alex
Claus and Lavie take part in the Horizon Cave 8-hour Endurance Race, and to add to the challenge they face off against Dio and his servant Lucciola once again. At the same time, Alex takes part in a highly exclusive auction to bid for a mysterious artefact.
For more information, check the Calculate Alex encyclopedia entry (coming soon).
Episode 10
Swindle
As the race continues, the bidding for the exclusive item known as the Gateway to Exile begins. Alex is determined to claim the item, however Maestro Delphine, the leader of the Guild, is also interested in the item. Meanwhile, Claus and Lavie battle for first place in the endurance race.
For more information, check the Swindle encyclopedia entry (coming soon).
Episode 11
Develop
Dio's curiosity leads him and Lucciola to join Claus on the Silvana, even at the risk of becoming prisoners. Meanwhile, Alex is to hand Al and the Mysterion he has learned to Vincent Alzey of the Urbanus, by order of the Emperor. Alex refuses, and so the Silvana and Urbanus must fight.
For more information, check the Develop encyclopedia entry (coming soon).
Episode 12
Discovered Attack
The battle between the Silvana and Urbanus begins and the Silvana quickly finds itself outmatched. Alex plans to lure the Urbanus into a dangerous area known as the Dragon's Fangs. The tides of the battle are against them, and this is one battle where the Silvana may finally be defeated.
For more information, check the Discovered Attack encyclopedia entry (coming soon).
Episode 13
Isolated Pawn
Tatiana and Claus have crash landed in their vanship after witnessing the loss of the Silvana during its battle with the Urbanus. Meanwhile the war between Anatoray and Disith heads into a dangerous new phase as the Disith people abandon their dying homeland.
For more information, check the Isolated Pawn encyclopedia entry (coming soon).
Episode 14
Etude Lavie
As Lavie recovers, she dreams of the past when she and Claus were still very young. Hamilcar Valca and George Head, Claus' and Lavie's fathers are sent on a dangerous mission which they never return from. Claus and Lavie become orphans but now their dreams are of crossing the Grand Stream just as their fathers had attempted.
For more information, check the Etude Lavie encyclopedia entry (coming soon).
Episode 15
Fairy Chess
The Silvana rises again after the battle with the Urbanus and Claus and Tatiana return aboard. Furthermore, the war goes badly for both Anatoray and Disith and the Anatoray Emperor proposes to start a war with the Guild which could send the country further into ruin.
For more information, check the Fairy Chess encyclopedia entry (coming soon).
Episode 16
Breakthrough
Sophia reclaims her title of Princess and returns to the Anatoray capital to persuade her father to end the war with the Disith. Meanwhile, Alex plans to attack the Guild, and the Anatoray capital is lost to the Disith fleet as they make a desperate attempt to claim land from Anatoray.
For more information, check the Breakthrough encyclopedia entry (coming soon).
Episode 17
Making Material
With the Emperor dead, Princess Sophia is next in line to become Empress, and as the Anatoray capital falls, Vincent rescues Sophia and reclaims the Urbanus. Meanwhile, the Silvana returns to Horizon Cave where the Anatoray forces prepare for their fight against the Guild.
For more information, check the Making Material encyclopedia entry (coming soon).
Episode 18
Promotion Sophia
Princess Sophia attempts to form an alliance against the Guild with the remaining Disith forces; furthermore Sophia is to become Empress. As the ceremony takes place, Maestro Delphine herself appears, declaring war on the new alliance.
For more information, check the Promotion Sophia encyclopedia entry (coming soon).
Episode 19
Sicilian Defence
The Silvana and Urbanus reunite and work together to try to find the location of Exile and try to capture it. As the Silvana and Urbanus enter the Grand Stream, the opening moves against the Guild are set in motion.
For more information, check the Sicilian Defence encyclopedia entry (coming soon).
Episode 20
Grand Stream
Maestro Delphine continues to recall Claudia Units which slowly cripples the Anatoray and Disith fleets. Meanwhile, the Silvana and Urbanus' dangerous mission to search for Exile is a success, however not all goes according to plan.
For more information, check the Grand Stream (episode) encyclopedia entry (coming soon).
Episode 21
Rook Dio
Claus and Dio return from their mission to the Silvana, however they find the ship deserted. As they search the ship they discover the crew has been captured and the ship taken over by Maestro Delphine who is searching for Dio.
For more information, check the Rook Dio encyclopedia entry (coming soon).
Episode 22
Queen Delphine
Dio, Al, Claus and Alex have been captured by the Guild and the day of the Right of the Covenant has arrived. Maestro Delphine uses Al and Alex to take control of Exile and through it all Lucciola is having conflicting emotions between his loyalty to Maestro Delphine and Dio.
For more information, check the Queen Delphine (episode) encyclopedia entry (coming soon).
Episode 23
Castling Lucciola
Lucciola must do everything he can to protect his master from those that would harm him. To that end he must confront Maestro Delphine and ask that Dio be set free. Meanwhile, the Anatoray and Disith alliance attempts to capture the Guild Claudia Units.
For more information, check the Castling Lucciola encyclopedia entry (coming soon).
Episode 24
Sealed Move
With the help of Lucciola, Claus, Al and Dio escape from the Guild fortress and return home to Norkia. Meanwhile, the Anatoray and Disith Alliance initiate a full-scale attack on the Guild forces and begin their final push to stop Maestro Delphine.
For more information, check the Sealed Move encyclopedia entry (coming soon).
Episode 25
Quiet Move
Claus must deliver Al to the Exile which is heading into Disith airspace and is pursued by the Anatoray and Disith fleets. To do so, the crew of the Silvana must help Claus and Lavie achieve their dream of crossing the Grand Stream.
For more information, check the Quiet Move encyclopedia entry (coming soon).
Episode 26
Resign
Claus and Lavie finally attempt to cross the Grand Stream just as their father's had tried years before, and the war against the Guild comes to its climax with the awakening of Exile. The war is about to end, but not before heavy losses...
For more information, check the Resign encyclopedia entry (coming soon).
Complete Story
Warning: This section contains the full story of Last Exile and is full of spoilers. If you have not watched all 26 episodes of Last Exile in full, I suggest you avoid this section until you have.
Notice: This section is not complete.