From Far Away

From Far Away (Japanese name Kanata Kara) is a Shojo series about an Ordinary High School Student named Noriko, who is whisked into a magical world filled with dragons, deerlike horses and a world populace in fear of a being called the Awakening. The Awakening is foretold to, well, awaken a destructive being known as the Sky Demon. All of the nations of this world are racing to find the Awakening and to use its powers to control the Sky Demon.

Noriko, shortly after falling into this world, is quickly found by a man named Izark, who, initially against his wishes, takes up arms to protect the young girl. The story takes off from there, focusing on Noriko's troubles of learning about this dangerous world, its language and why her unwilling protector really doesn't like being around people.


 * Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking: Whilst Noriko is kidnapped by the Mooks of Lord Silent Mask, she takes a looksie into Izark's mind when he's trying to rescue her (sic) "What is this feeling? Such a swirl of emotions! Sorrow... Anxiety... Anger... Hatred... Irritation.."
 * Badass: Tons, but Izark and Gaya stick out the most.
 * Badass Damsel: Noriko may lack physical prowess due to being an Ordinary High School Student and a non-athletic one at that, but she's a quick thinker, savvy enough to know that she has to learn the language of the world she was thrown in, and when in distress, proceeds to try her best to escape, or at least make everyone feel she's still willing to fight her way out.
 * Barrier Maiden: With a few moonstones, Noriko graduates into this in the final battle.
 * Big Bad: Rachef.
 * Bishonen: And how! We have Izark, Banadam, Agol, Rachef, Irk/Irktule, Keimos...
 * At least, before Keimos becomes an Eldritch Abomination.
 * Chastity Couple: The farthest Noriko and Izark have gone (onscreen at least) is kissing, of which the number of times you can count on one hand, and despite the various amounts of alone time they have had.
 * Cool Old Lady: Gaya il Baska, BIG TIME.
 * Crowning Moment of Funny: When the townspeople of a farming town speculate about the origins of the three-man band (Izark, Noriko, and Doros) who have stopped by to find work. The plot they come up with is a medieval version of a soap opera, and it is hilarious.
 * Made even more funny when Izark actually uses one of the rumors (the one where the Official Couple is an eloped princess and knight duo) to hide their true identities, and Noriko freaks out at the implications. Eventually leads to a...
 * Crowning Moment of Heartwarming: where Izark pledges lifelong loyalty to Noriko, as a knight would.
 * Defrosting Ice Queen: Izark is a genderbent example. From all that glaring to actually teasing and laughing at (and with) Noriko, he comes a long way.
 * Dragons Are Dinosaurs: Even though they look like the typical wyvern, there is a species of flying creatures called winged dinosaurs.
 * Eldritch Abomination: The Source of Evil. Keimos as well, after being influenced by the Source of Evil's malicious power.
 * Five-Bad Band:
 * Big Bad: The "Source of Evil".
 * The Dragon: Rachef, though he has the qualities and motives of a Big Bad.
 * The Brute: Keimos. Could also qualify as The Dragon to Rachef's Big Bad.
 * The Evil Genius: Gorya the Seer.
 * The Dark Chick: Tazasheena, though she likes to think of herself as The Dragon to Rachef's Big Bad.
 * Foe Yay: A lot.
 * Freudian Excuse: Rachef has some serious mommy issues.
 * So does Izark...
 * Friend to All Living Things: Doros.
 * Guardian Entity: Irk and the spirits of the White Wood who guard Noriko and Izark, and by extension their allies. They're also useful for information gathering and setting up protective barriers.
 * I Should Write a Book About This: Noriko sends a couple of diaries of her travels to her family on Earth, and encourages her fantasy novelist father to write a book based on them.
 * Light Is Good and Dark Is Evil, oh so much.
 * Love Redeems: Noriko's love for Izark, definitely, but also
 * Mama Bear: Gaya's friendship with Izark starts out because of her protective instincts.
 * Manly Tears: Izark when looking at Noriko, who has been hurt after trying to teleport a long distance by herself to escape Rachef.
 * Nakama: The main cast. Duke Jeida also seems to be trying to build this dynamic with the good leaders of other nations.
 * Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: When Tazasheena
 * Official Couple: Banadam didn't stand a chance.
 * One-Winged Angel:
 * Overly Long Gag: The whole Noriko-is-a-princess ruse exasperates said fake princess.
 * Plucky Girl
 * Power of Love: Any time  Noriko is always able to   through this method. Also earlier, when the two gain a telepathic connection with each other.
 * Heck, the series runs on a combination of this and the Power of Friendship.
 * The Rival: Keimos Lee Goda.
 * Those Two Guys: Duke Jeida's sons, Rontarna and Koriki, whose names we don't really get to find out until Volume 12.
 * Those Two Girls Anita and Rottenina, Miss Zena's assistants.
 * Token Mini-Moe: Geena Haas.
 * Translation Convention: Done with talk bubbles. Noriko's would be in a double outline, whereas everyone else had normal bubbles. The exact opposite applied when Noriko first fell into the alt world.
 * Say My Name: Noriko's constant calling of Izark. It's the first "word" she learns in the new world she's been thrown into.
 * Seers: Miss Zena and blind girl Geena Haas on the protagonist side. Gorya and Tazasheena on the antagonist side.
 * Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism: Waaay over on the idealistic side. It doesn't come across as being hammy, however.
 * Walking the Earth: All the good guys are doing this.
 * Where Are They Now? Epilogue: Every nation that Noriko and Izark have stopped by in gets to tie up loose ends with the help of the same band of protagonists. The lesser antagonists who have survived up to this point get what's coming to them, too. Even the family and friends that Noriko leaves behind in the real world get their own montage.
 * White-Haired Pretty Boy: Irktule, in a nice-guy version. Mildly justified in the fact that he's a magic tree spirit.
 * Wholesome Crossdresser: Wei of the Gray Bird Tribe.
 * Wholesome Crossdresser: Wei of the Gray Bird Tribe.