Hayou no Tsurugi: Shikkoku no Mashou

Hayou no Tsurugi: Shikkoku no Mashou was released in 1992 as a direct-to-video original video animation produced by the studio Magic Bus. It emerged during a period in the early 1990s when the OVA format was a primary vehicle for Japanese studios to experiment with darker fantasy themes and elaborate character designs that did not necessarily require the long-term commitment of a full television series.

The production sought to blend traditional sword-and-sorcery elements with the stylized aesthetic common to late-bubble-era animation. While Magic Bus was known for its collaborative role in larger projects, this particular work remains a niche entry in their catalog, characterized by its attempt to capture the high-stakes, moody tone prevalent in the fantasy adventure genre during that decade. It is viewed by contemporary enthusiasts as a quintessential example of the mid-tier animation projects that populated the rental market of the era.