There was a time many years ago when the world was peaceful and free from war. Humans could go where they pleased without fear of attack by the horrors of the past. This all changed when a woman named Pandora opened the box within which the demons had been sealed and once again brought back everything evil that had been sealed away long ago. Wars between the mazoku (demons) and humans sprung forth, mazoku attacked humans mercilessly and no one ever felt safe any more. And yet, there was still hope for the humans as the mazoku leader, the Daimaou Chestra, was still sealed away in the box. The great nations battled the mazoku constantly to protect the box and the key, and time passed.
The main character of the story is Hamel, an eighteen year old boy who seems normal enough at first glance, until you notice his talking crow companion named Oboe and oversized violin. With this violin Hamel is able to play magical music that is able to inspire emotions and manipulate people like puppets, which he will use mercilessly despite the fact that it wears away the manipulatee's lifespan.
While 'rescuing' the village of Staccato from mazoku attack Hamel meets a young girl named Flute who joins him voluntarily at first, but regrets this decision the more time she spends with him.
He's called a legendary hero, but what exactly is so heroic about him? How is his music able to affect people the way it does? Why does he have this obsession with going north? And what the hell is with that hat?
Later on joined by Raiel, the self-proclaimed Warrior of Love pianist who nevertheless is extremely oversensitive when it comes to girls (see: huge nosebleeds) and Trom, the selfish young prince of Dal Segno who is extremely skilled with the sword - when he's not terrified and unable to move.
The villains behind the constant mazoku attacks are the mazoku generals Bass, Drum, Sizer and Guitar, who seem to be awfully too familiar with Hamel and keep mentioning something about a successor to the Daimaou...
The Violinist of Hameln is a 37 volume manga series, mostly gag-filled and music-centred but with a much deeper, darker story the further on it progresses. You can read the first five and a half volumes at Arr!! Here there be manga!! (or the continuing scanlation project at Scythe GP) but if you think you know what the story is all about after that you're not even close. ^_^ (The artwork also progresses a great deal throughout the manga as well)
A great series, one that I couldn't possibly recommend enough, and if you have any opportunity to pick up the manga you should do so without hesitation. It's 37 volumes long and hasn't been translated into English, but trust me - I can't understand Japanese and even just looking at the pictures got me completely obsessed with the series. ^_^ It's so original, I need about seven hands to list all my favourite characters, and it can make you laugh so hard or cry so much without even seeming to lift a finger. TEN THOUSAND MILLION GOLD STARS!
