Chivalry of a Failed Knight: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.5

Chivalry of a Failed Knight: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie Review

Chivalry of a Failed Knight arrives on physical media in 2026 in a complete-series set from Sentai Filmworks. The anime first appeared in 2015, blending action, magic, comedy, and an unexpectedly sincere examination of limitations and self-discovery. This particular release includes all 12 episodes in a standard Blu-ray collection, giving fans of the series another way to experience the property and offering newcomers one of the more enjoyable fantasy-school anime of its era.

The release is an especially compelling one for collectors who value having entire series preserved in physical form. While Chivalry of a Failed Knight did not experience the same long-running franchise success as some of its contemporaries, its blend of engaging characters, energetic action, and unexpectedly sincere themes make it a valuable acquisition regardless.

This review will discuss the series, the quality of the animation and video, the supplemental features, and the value of this particular release.

Chivalry of a Failed Knight centers on Ikki Kurogane, an aspiring Mage-Knight who has fallen behind because the system designed to find promising talent considers Ikki to be somewhat lacking. In this world, people known as Blazers have demonstrated the ability to summon weaponry from within themselves. Ikki's abilities are not significantly stronger than the average citizen, which has earned him the disliked nickname of "Worst One."

His prospects seem likely to continue heading downward until Stella Vermillion arrives. A fellow Blazier and accomplished fighter, she has come to the academy as a princess, and her first encounter with Ikki is a duel in which the loser will have to obey the winner. She is prepared to face an enemy who is barely competent, but Ikki's combat abilities are considerably stronger than most might suggest. Ikki and Stella continue to meet and compete, forming a bond that eventually becomes a romance.

Their story is an easily recognizable one. The anime fan will be familiar with the "underdog" protagonist, the prestigious academy, the exceptional but aloof rival, and the tournament-style competition meant to test an individual's skill. What the series does especially well is to create a compelling character in Ikki and to embrace the relationship between Ikki and Stella without shying away from the romance.

Ikki is not a "dark horse," because the abilities he has access to are genuinely somewhat limited. His natural talent is not dramatically stronger than his opponents, but he has observed their techniques and studied their preferred tactics. He is methodical in his advancement, making his successes all the more satisfying. Ikki also has enough humility that he is unlikely to become overly arrogant about his accomplishments, and in turn, the series does not depict him as having some hidden power that he should have recognized earlier.

Stella is a lively character, and one of the series' charms is her competitiveness and smugness in thinking that she is likely the strongest. Her relationship with Ikki is one of the primary sources of drama, and she becomes more interesting as she reveals layers of vulnerability. The connection between them adds greatly to the series' appeal, more so than the similar traits in some anime that focus more on the action.

The supporting cast creates an engaging ensemble, though the brevity of the season means not every character is given enough time to develop. Series that air on television have to find ways to create compelling drama regardless, and Chivalry of a Failed Knight does not always succeed. Ikki and Stella do not always have much to talk about, and the pacing often prioritizes action and competition over interpersonal discussion. Some viewers may find the show's embrace of certain fan-service tropes to be distracting, especially when it comes at the expense of drama and action.

That said, this is a series that is very much about its central romance. Ikki and Stella are not significantly different people, but they genuinely like each other and they have a good amount of chemistry. Their presence is the primary reason to watch the series, even if an alternative version might focus more on the action and less on the romantic elements. The overall premise is a familiar one, but the characters are not without charm.

The action takes center stage in this series. Battles are quick, dynamic, and require a good amount of skill to be fought effectively. Ikki's knowledge of his opponents' techniques provides him with advantages, and the series is especially effective at depicting the kinds of precision and timing needed for dueling.

The action is enhanced by the series' romantic elements. Ikki and Stella are not particularly serious people, but they care deeply for each other and they enjoy competing with each other. It gives the fights a certain kind of emotional weight, since the audience has developed a fondness for the characters who are facing off against each other.

The season is not perfect, but it makes up for it in charm. With only 12 episodes, the series is not easily deep enough to fully explore every character and every element in the world. Viewers looking for a definitive ending or an in-depth examination of Ikki's world would do better to watch a different anime.

The primary strength of Chivalry of a Failed Knight is its relatively straightforward approach. It features enjoyable characters who share a romance, and it examines their relationships with each other and the world around them. It is not surprising that the series continues to be popular, as people are fond of underdogs in an underdog story, and it delivers an appropriate amount of action and drama.

Chivalry of a Failed Knight: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Sentai Filmworks, Chivalry of a Failed Knight is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original television aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The high-definition video looks wonderful and makes good use of showcasing the series and its animation. Colors pop on the release.

The series makes good use of its contrast between school life and the more spectacular battles fought outside it. Character designs are colorful, scenes are often brightly colored, and the drama of the fights is emphasized by moments of flashing light. Stella's flaming attacks provide a particular kind of vibrancy, but Ikki's dueling skills are showcased just as well through the quickness of his movements and the precision of his strikes.

It is fitting that the series is presented in high-definition. The bright colors are appropriate for an anime, and the details in the characters' designs are worth seeing more closely. The series has a particular kind of appeal, in that it provides viewers with a more interesting alternative to the action- oriented shounen shows while preserving many of the same elements.

The animation is at its best when it is focusing on individual moments rather than on trying to produce special effects. The sword fights are quick but detailed, and the characters' movements help to convey their emotions. Fights that include a variety of techniques and that are not filled with long pauses are likely to be the most enjoyable ones for viewers.

There are some issues with the series' television production, however. It is easy to examine the show's good points, but the anime industry has had to adopt certain measures in order to meet the demand for its product. Scenes are sometimes stretched out using repeated images, or the characters are depicted with simpler animations to save both time and money. The fights are exciting, but it is hard to deny that some of them could have been better animated, or that some episodes could have been longer.

These are the limitations of the original animation, but it is worth being aware of them as well. No amount of careful transfer magic can improve on animation that was created with an eye towards cost-effectiveness rather than quality.

The series' vibrant character designs and dramatic action sequences are well-suited to this presentation. High-definition allows the details to be seen more clearly, but the original animation is not without its flaws.

Chivalry of a Failed Knight: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2026 collection includes both English and Japanese audio, with English subtitles. The release is presented in English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (with English subtitles). The lossless audio encoding helps preserve the details in the production. The English subtitles are well done.

The Japanese track is well-suited to those who would appreciate the performances of the voice actors. The energy in the characters' voices helps to convey the drama in fights, and the conversations between Ikki and Stella are particularly noteworthy. Fans will appreciate the original audio.

Action anime typically make good use of their sound effects, and Chivalry of a Failed Knight is no exception. The clang of steel and the flash of magical energy helps to set the tone of each battle, and the sound effects combine with the music to dictate the pacing of the fights. It is particularly important to listen to the series' character interactions, since the drama is what elevates it beyond typical action fare.

The English version is an appropriate choice for those who might find the need for subtitles to be a distraction, or for those who simply prefer to listen to the characters speak in English.

The inclusion of two language tracks is much appreciated, and the series' action sequences and character conversations are worth listening to.

Chivalry of a Failed Knight: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Japanese Promos (HD, 00:51)

Clean Opening Animations (HD, 4:36)

Clean Closing Animation (HD, 1:32)

The clean openings and the clean closing are well-appreciated additions to the release, and they allow the viewer to examine the show's character introductions and dramatic sequences without having to sit through the standard credits. Such things are a welcome addition to any anime collection, and collectors are likely to enjoy the chance to view the openings again.

Viewers who are interested in the show's production and who wish to see the openings and the closing more closely will be pleased with the inclusions. Those who are not particularly interested in the videos will find that the collection has very few special features.

That is not to say that there is nothing of value included, but rather that the collection has few features worth discussing beyond the anime itself. There are no commentaries, documentaries, interviews, or other collectible items to speak of. Viewers hoping for an extensive look at the production of Chivalry of a Failed Knight will be left with few options.

Chivalry of a Failed Knight: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Chivalry of a Failed Knight: Complete Collection is a good release for those who enjoy the series. Its primary appeal is the same appeal that it always had: engaging characters, a lively romance, and entertaining action. The series does not always succeed, and the audience should be aware of its weaknesses. The collection is not worth the suggested retail price, but it becomes a good purchase at a discounted rate.

The video and audio presentation are excellent, but that is more than can be said for the collection's special features. A worthwhile complete-series release, particularly at a discounted price, with the show's character chemistry and action providing the primary reasons to own it.