Dances with the Dragons (されど罪人は竜と踊る Dances with the Dragons, Saredo Tsumibito wa Ryū to Odoru: Dances with the Dragons, lit. “Yet the Criminal Dances with the Dragons”) is a Japanese light novel series, written by Labo Asai and illustrated by Miyagi, who was later replaced by Zain. It was originally published as Saredo Tsumibito wa Ryū to Odoru (されど罪人は竜と踊る) by Kadokawa Shoten, who released eight volumes between 2003 and 2006 under their Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko imprint. It switched publishers in 2008 to Shogakukan, who have published twenty-one volumes as of January 2018. A manga adaptation of the original series with art by Yaku Haibara was serialized in Kadokawa’s Beans Ace magazine. It was collected in a single tankōbon volume. An anime television series adaptation animated by Seven Arcs Pictures aired from April 5 to June 21, 2018.

Synopsis

A long time ago, dragons were the only creatures capable of wielding magic, which they used to terrorize humanity, until humanity learned to channel magic through special formulas and spells called “jushiiki”. Those capable of using jushiiki became known as jushikiists, and became crucial in fighting dragons throughout the years, until a peace treaty was enforced to prevent both races from wiping each other out. In the modern day, Gayus and Gigina are two jushikiists who take special jobs from a variety of clients in the city of Eridana.

Dances with the Dragons
Cover art of the 20th light novel published by Shogakukan, featuring Gayus Levina Sorel (right) and Gigina Jerde Dolk Melios Ashley Boeuf (left).
されど罪人は竜と踊る Dances with the Dragons (Saredo Tsumibito wa Ryū to Odoru: Dances with the Dragons)
Genre	Dark fantasy
Light novel
Saredo Tsumibito wa Ryū to Odoru
Written by	Labo Asai
Illustrated by	Miyagi
Published by	Kadokawa Shoten
Imprint	Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko
Demographic	Male
Original run	2003 – 2006
Volumes	8
Light novel
Written by	Labo Asai
Illustrated by	Miyagi (Vol.1–13) Zain (Vol.14–present)
Published by	Shogakukan
Imprint	Gagaga Bunko
Demographic	Male
Original run	2008 – present
Volumes	21
Manga
Saredo Tsumibito wa Ryū to Odoru
Written by	Labo Asai
Illustrated by	Yaku Haibara
Published by	Kadokawa Shoten
Imprint	Kadokawa Comics Ace
Magazine	Beans Ace
Demographic	Shōnen
Published	2006
Anime television series
Directed by	Hiroshi Nishikori Hirokazu Hanai
Produced by	Junichirō Tanaka Ryō Yasumura Reo Kurosu Toshiyasu Hayashi Atsushi Chiku Shunsuke Hasegawa
Written by	Takayo Ikami
Music by	Takashi Ōmama
Studio	Seven Arcs Pictures
Licensed by	NA Crunchyroll Funimation
Original network	TBS, BS-TBS
English network	SEA Animax Asia
Original run	April 5, 2018 – June 21, 2018
Episodes	12