Dragon Quest: Legend of the Hero Abel

When Tiala turns 15 in the quiet village of Ariahan, the elder Yogi gives her a mysterious red jewel that is linked to the Great Dragon, a creature whose blood is said to grant eternal life. That gift makes her a target, and the demon Baramos kidnaps her to exploit the jewel's power. Abel, a boy who grew up with Tiala, tries to rescue her but fails and is entrusted with a blue jewel that can seal the Great Dragon. Armed with that counter-jewel and a fierce determination to bring Tiala home, Abel crosses dangerous lands, faces monstrous foes and dark schemes, and learns that the struggle over the dragon's power has deeper costs than anyone expected. The summary stays clear of later plot surprises.

First broadcast in 1989, Dragon Quest: Legend of the Hero Abel lists Katsuhisa Yamada, Rintaro, and Takeyuki Kanda as directors and credits Takashi Yamada as creator. The voice cast includes Masako Katsuki as Tiara, Toru Furuya as Abel, Keaton Yamada as Yanack, Takeshi Watabe as Baramos, and Toshiharu Sakurai as Mokomoko.

As a television anime it had no theatrical box office, airing on TV rather than spawning a cinema run. Its distribution was limited compared with bigger franchise adaptations, so it didn't register in box office charts.

The series never became a mainstream hit and remains relatively obscure, mostly noticed by collectors and fans of vintage anime. It hasn't produced widely cited quotes or iconic scenes outside niche circles, though some viewers remember its late 1980s animation style and the way it blends fantasy tropes with lighter, comedic moments.

Critical and fan reaction is mixed to lukewarm, reflected in modest user scores on niche databases. Viewers often point to uneven pacing and dated production values, while others appreciate the straightforward heroic premise. The show centers on themes of friendship, duty, the lure of immortality, and the moral questions that come with powerful artifacts.