A 1996 anime that actually respects the Fire Emblem soundtrack instead of burying it under generic orchestral padding. The English dub leans into its own absurdity without winking at the camera, creating something quotable that wasn't trying to be quotable. Two episodes is the real crime here, the show cuts itself off right when Mars stops being a wet blanket and the actual plot machinery starts turning. You get gorgeous '90s animation that understands movement, not just still frames with pans. This OVA exists in a weird space where it's too short to matter and too sincere to dismiss, which somehow makes it more memorable than a full series that played it safe.

A prince in exile finds temporary refuge on a peaceful island while his homeland lies under conquest. Mars, heir to the throne of Aritia, escaped the invading armies only because his older sister sacrificed herself for him, and he cannot put that loss behind him. He passes his days in the company of Sheida, the island's princess, sharing hayrides, shopping trips and quiet views from the castle walls. Still, he is uneasy, aware that a time is coming when he will have to fight. When the island's castle town comes under attack, that time arrives, and Mars sets out to gather an army and win back his homeland. The two-episode OVA is an action fantasy adventure about an exiled prince stepping into his responsibility.