Series synopsis
The Beast Player Erin, also known as 獣の奏者 エリン is a Japanese animation drama sci-fi & fantasy television series that premiered on NHK BS1 on January 10, 2009. It ended on December 26, 2009. It stars Eriko Hirata, Nanase Hoshii, Kenichi Suzumura and Naoya Uchida.
In the war against neighboring countries, the Grand Duke’s warriors use dragon-like beasts called Touda as weapons. Touda are admired across the nation and villages take great pride in breeding them. Erin lives in one such village with her mother, Soyon, who is the best beastinarian in the country. However, life in the village is not so straightforward: Soyon is also an Ariyo, a woman of the Mist People - a race that is feared by humans for its mystical abilities. So that she and Erin can stay i ...
Premise
In the war against neighboring countries, the Grand Duke’s warriors use dragon-like beasts called Touda as weapons. Touda are admired across the nation and villages take great pride in breeding them. Erin lives in one such village with her mother, Soyon, who is the best beastinarian in the country. However, life in the village is not so straightforward: Soyon is also an Ariyo, a woman of the Mist People - a race that is feared by humans for its mystical abilities. So that she and Erin can stay in the village, Soyon must flawlessly fulfill her duty capturing and disciplining the Touda; but while Erin wants nothing more than to become a beastinarian, she also feels sorry for the Touda and recognizes that there’s far more to them than meets the eye. Can Erin ever become an ordinary beastinarian when her deepest instincts tell her there is a better way to interact with the Touda?
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Eriko Hirata as Soyon
- Nanase Hoshii as Erin
- Kenichi Suzumura as Ial
- Naoya Uchida as John Tousana
- Akira Ishida as Duke Damiya
Episodes
This series spans 2 seasons with 60 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 10 | January 9, 2010 | March 13, 2010 |
| Season 1 | 50 | January 10, 2009 | December 26, 2009 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Summary Episode 1 | January 9, 2010 |
| 2 | Summary Episode 2 | January 16, 2010 |
| 3 | Summary Episode 3 | January 23, 2010 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Erin the Green-Eyed The first episode, introducing the heroine of the story; a 10-year-old girl named Erin and her mother Soh-yon, a beastinarian who cares for Tohda in the Tai-Koh Region in the Village of Ake. |
January 10, 2009 |
| 2 |
Soh-Yon the Healer A Touda rider from a neighboring village comes to the Village of Ake seeking medicinal help for his Touda. Soh-Yon is called to the Touda and, with Erin's help, manages to revive the Touda. |
January 17, 2009 |
| 3 |
The Battling Beast Erin sees the fearsome side of the Tohda during an exhibition for the Duke. |
January 24, 2009 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | NHK BS1 |
|---|---|
| First aired | January 10, 2009 |
| Last aired | December 26, 2009 |
| Runtime | 25 minutes |
| Status | Ended |