It is based on the Sakura Wars video game franchise by Sega and Red Entertainment.

The series is set during a fictionalized version of the Taishō period where magical abilities sit alongside steam-powered mecha.

The TV series was licensed by ADV Films in 2003 and was released on DVD in six volumes and a box set.

The characters and settings are based on the video games, but the story was significantly altered.

[1] Theorin Martin of Anime News Network gave the complete TV series collection a C for the dub, a B− for the sub, a C+ for the story, a B for the animation and art and a B+ for the music.