Arf
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This article is about the Nanoha character. For other uses, see ARF.
| Arf | |
|---|---|
| Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha character | |
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| First appearance | Episode 4 |
| Last appearance | StrikerS Episode 26 |
| Voiced by | Natsuko Kuwatani |
| Profile | |
| Age | 16 in Nanoha and A's 22 in A's epilogue and StrikerS manga[1] |
| Home world | Garden of Time |
| Information | |
| Magic system | Mid-Childa |
| Master | Fate Testarossa |
Arf (アルフ Arufu?) is a character in the Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha series. She does not appear in Triangle Heart. She is voiced by Natsuko Kuwatani. Arf is a dog-woman and the familiar of Fate Testarossa, whom she strives to protect. Her name has also been romanized as Alph.
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[edit] Arf in Nanoha
Arf makes her first appearance in episode 4, in the town with Fate in search of Jewel Seeds. She then appears in episode 5, establishing herself as a familiar that can shapeshift between human, dog-woman and a fearsome red wolf-creature. Arf appears at Uminari Onsen in human form, threatening Nanoha telepathically, and Alisa Bannings takes an instant dislike to her. In their battles, Arf keeps Yūno busy while Fate fights Nanoha.
Arf lives with Fate in an apartment on Earth, and teleports to their other home in Precia's hideout, the Garden of Time. Arf tries to tell Fate that her mother's abuse isn't right, but Fate refuses to listen and keeps coming back.
Late in the series, Arf finally strikes out at Precia, and is thrown out as "useless". She comes to Earth, injured, and is taken home by the dog-loving Alisa. Joining forces with Nanoha, Arf resolves to help Fate to see reason. While Fate finally starts to question her mother's motives, as Arf has always been there for her, she still refuses to join Nanoha and accepts her challenge to a winner-takes-all battle for the Jewel Seeds. Arf stands on the sidelines, worrying for Fate's safety, up until Fate is sent into a state of shock by the revelation that she is a clone of Alicia Testarossa, Precia's original daughter. Arf watches over Fate until she feels that Nanoha, Chrono, Lindy Harlaown and Yūno will need her, and leaves to help them. Fate joins up with the group later, and almost shares her mother's end in the collapse of the Garden of Time; Arf tries to help her, but fails, and Nanoha saves Fate. Arf is moved to tears by Nanoha's expression of friendship to Fate. Arf and Fate are arrested for their part in Precia's crimes, but will almost certainly be declared innocent.
[edit] Arf in A's
In A's, Fate and Arf join the Time-Space Administration Bureau and go to Earth to team up with Nanoha again. Their new mission is to prevent the Wolkenritter from stealing mages' Linker Cores (power source) for their Book of Darkness. Arf, now needing to blend in with the populace rather than scare them, exchanges her wolven form for that of a cute puppy, whom Alisa adores. Arf is now relegated to backup with Yūno, always fighting Zafira, who also has wolf ears and a wolflike form. Arf appears in the dream that Fate is trapped in by the Book of Darkness, as the pet of the Testarossa family; this is not the "real" Arf, but as much a construction of Fate's mind as the dream's versions of Precia, Rinis and Alicia. The real Arf also comes to join the fight against the automated defence program of the Book.
In an epilogue taking place six years later, Arf lives in the Harlaown household with Fate, presumably Chrono, and the retired Lindy. She has taught Zafira the skill to change his wolf form to a puppy form.
[edit] Arf in StrikerS
In StrikerS episode 23, Arf is shown as a kid helping Yuuno with his research and standing up for Fate saying that they should trust her more, she is strong and that she has faith in her. Fate and Arf are just as close as in the previous series. Her role in StrikerS is smaller than the previous ones.
[edit] Arf in the manga
The ongoing StrikerS manga series occurs six years after the events of A's[2] and four years before the events of the StrikerS anime series[3]. In it, Arf uses a smaller and much younger-seeming human and wolf form than in the anime. She tells Yūno that she did so to reduce the amount of magical energy she draws from Fate. Arf also says that Fate is strong enough not to need her in combat, so she has changed her role more to supporting Fate in other ways, such as doing chores, and helping Fate's mother and friends.[4]
[edit] Powers
- Transformation — Arf is, of course, a shapeshifting familiar, who can become a human, dog-woman, imposing wolf-like creature, or puppy.
- Ring Bind — A basic capture-type spell in which magic rings are used to hold the target in one place. Being a basic spell, it has a weak power. However, since it can be cast quickly and there is an advantage in its application (such as multiple targets 'lock-on', or deliberate delayed activation), it still is a very effective magic.
- Chain Bind — This binding magic can additionally cut through physical objects if "pulled" hard enough.
- Dispel Force Field — Along with Yūno, Arf attempted to use this to break the Wolkenritter's isolation field in A's episode 02.
- Transporter — Just like Yūno's ability of same name.
[edit] Defensive abilities
- Barrier Jacket — Arf's costume in humanoid form is a skimpy white top and pink short-shorts with a black cape, red belt-like garters, black gloves and black shoes, emulating Fate's own outfit. Similarly to Yūno's Jacket, she only uses her cape in combat situations. In A's, her Jacket is upgraded, giving her armored gloves and boots and thus increasing her hand-to-hand combat capability.
- Round Shield — A powerful shield that can withstand a prolonged attack. Unlike other barrier-type magics such as Protection, it can only guard in one direction.
- Circle Protection — Arf used this spell during A's to defend not only herself, but also Nanoha and Fate against the lightning bolt of destruction of the Book of Darkness. Geometrically, it is similar to Nanoha's Round Shield, but is easier to penetrate.
[edit] Offensive abilities
- Photon Lancer Multishot — A magic attack similar to Fate's own Photon Lancer. Used in season 1 episode 8.
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ This is according to the series' official website; however, it is stated in the Sound Stage 02 as well as the series itself that the nine-year-old Fate created Arf at the age of seven. The number on the official site likely refers to the character's mental and physical age, although she appears older, particularly taking into consideration her bust size. It is also to be noted that Arf does not actually appear in her humanoid form in the A's epilogue.
- ^ Stated specifically in Issue 1, page 5.
- ^ Stated specifically at the end of Issue 3
- ^ StrikerS manga, Issue 1, pages 10-11.
| Nanoha |
|---|
| Series: Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha | A's | Strikers | Triangle Heart |
| Characters |
| Main: Nanoha Takamachi | Yūno Scrya | Fate Testarossa | Arf | Hayate Yagami | Subaru Nakajima |
| Wolkenritter: Vita | Signum | Shamal | Zafira | Reinforce |
| Time-Space Administration Bureau: Chrono Harlaown | Teana Lanster | Erio Mondial | Caro Ru Lushe |
| Takamachi Family: Kyōya Takamachi | Miyuki Takamachi | Vivio |
| Scaglietti's organization: Jail Scaglietti | Uno | Due | Tre | Quattro | Sette |
| Others: Precia Testarossa |Alisa Bannings | Suzuka Tsukimura | Lutecia Alpine | Agito Zest Grangaitz | Cinque | Sein | Otto | Nove | Dieci | Wendi | Deed | Minor characters |
| Other |
| Glossary | Episodes |
