Sun Tzu and Anime: Alderamin on the Sky Character Analysis

Fri Nov 21 2025

Sun Tzu and Anime: Alderamin on the Sky Character Analysis

It’s time to warm up the coming winter chill, courtesy of another look at Sun Tzu’s exceptional wisdom rating more of anime’s finest.

As a quick refresher, here’s how the rating system works. Sun Tzu cited Five Essential Victory Factors: Morality, Weather, Terrain, Good Leadership, and Preparation. All under consideration can receive 0-10 points in each category. However, he also cited Five Fatal Failings of Leadership: Recklessness, Cowardice, A Hasty Temper (Anger for simplicity), Delicacy of Honor (DOH), and Caring Too Much About the Troops (Over-caring). All under consideration can lose 0-10 points in each category. At the end, the scores are tallied, and the results reveal how effective a character is in Sun Tzu’s eyes, with the best aiming for 40 or better.

This time, we’re analyzing a truly epic lot: the protagonist and his main associates from the classic Alderamin on the Sky. As always, to keep things fair, we’ll look at them in the order they were formally introduced.

Character Analysis: Ikta Solork

Alderamin on the Sky: Ikta Solork

Victory Factors

Factor	Score	Reasoning
Morality	8	Despite his laziness and reputation as “a sarcastic a**”, he’s a great person, namely when defending his friends, like when he saved Nana when her village was attacked.
Weather	10	Thanks to his awareness, experience, and training under Onorai Kon, this isn’t an issue.
Terrain	9	Due to his keen eye and inherent knack for the outdoors, this isn’t an issue either.
Good Leadership	8	He’s a natural strategist and tactician, plus isn’t afraid to defy/circumvent incompetent superiors, although the continual trauma he endures takes a huge toll, particularly when he faces the Alderans.
Preparation	9	He’s a skilled planner, like when he used the hidden tree bridges to surprise Sarhiaslag, and his photographic memory helps him move more efficiently than most.
Total	44

Fatal Failings

Failing	Score	Reasoning
Recklessness	-8	Serious red flag. He constantly underestimates others, most infamously General Safida’s mistreatment of the Sinack, and is extremely impulsive, like with his rampant womanizing and constantly looking for ways to dodge work.
Cowardice	-5	He’s pretty bold initially, yet the pressures of war slowly drain his confidence.
Anger	-6	He’s got a temper, one that’s easily triggered when anyone hurts or insults his companions, like when Chamille inadvertently took a shot at his late mother.
Delicacy of Honor	-6	He’s very cocky, although he’s slowly tempered by experience, hence the slightly lower rating.
Over-caring	-7	Slight red flag. He constantly worries about his friends and peers; moreover, he famously told Alkiniks his highest priority is “protecting people.”
Total	-32

Final Assessment

Score: 12 (Great potential, yet deeply flawed)

Character Analysis: Yatorishino Igsem

Alderamin on the Sky: Yatorishino Igsem

Victory Factors

Factor	Score	Reasoning
Morality	6	She’s got a good heart, yet famously revealed after the initial skirmish with the Alderans she’d destroy her own moral compass to follow orders.
Weather	7	She’s capable, yet badly misread the situation in the Alafatra Mountains, namely when she wanted to relieve the fort without acclimating to the higher altitude first.
Terrain	7	She’s got a good eye, but tends to ignore some obvious signs, like when she got caught off-guard while saving Chamille from her rogue bodyguards.
Good Leadership	5	She’s got some good points, yet her stringent upbringing makes her extremely inflexible, as well as very indecisive.
Preparation	5	She’s very well trained, but is so rigidly disciplined she often winds up winging things.
Total	30

Fatal Failings

Failing	Score	Reasoning
Recklessness	-9	Major red flag. She constantly underestimates others, something that nearly got her killed when facing Chamille’s ex-bodyguards and Kalakarm’s leader Jin.
Cowardice	-6	She’s very insecure over her future, despite Ikta’s constant assurances he’ll always be her “left hand”.
Anger	-7	Slight red flag. She’s a hothead, as well as easily triggered, particularly by Ikta’s inanities, although seeing her comrades killed is a close second, like when she witnessed Major Towak’s death.
Delicacy of Honor	-5	She’s pretty cocky initially, although experience tempers her pretty quickly, hence the reduced rating.
Over-caring	-7	Slight red flag. She’s in love with Ikta, even if she doesn’t know how to admit it, and she’s very protective of Chamille.
Total	-34

Final Assessment

Score: -4 (Nightmare scenario)

Character Analysis: Haroma Becker

Alderamin on the Sky: Haroma Becker

Victory Factors

Factor	Score	Reasoning
Morality	10	She’s an angel: compassionate, gentle, and extremely empathetic, especially with her patients.
Weather	8	She’s pretty frail, yet quickly recognized the effect of the Alafatra mountains’ high altitudes on her comrades.
Terrain	7	She’s a tad clumsy, yet realized faster than most that the Alafatra field hospital needed to be at a lower elevation to alleviate troops’ symptoms.
Good Leadership	4	She’s got a few good points, but is still more follower than leader.
Preparation	5	She’s steadily improving, yet failed the Military Academy entrance exam twice and often has trouble retaining information.
Total	34

Fatal Failings

Failing	Score	Reasoning
Recklessness	-8	Serious red flag. She often underestimates others, and has a bad habit of impulsively “bypassing the filter” when answering questions, something she never truly gets over.
Cowardice	-8	Serious red flag. She’s very shy and insecure, something that costs her in debates.
Anger	0	She doesn’t get angry, so no worries here.
Delicacy of Honor	0	She’s very modest, so no worries here either.
Over-caring	-8	Serious red flag. She constantly worries about her comrades, namely Ikta, feelings that grow exponentially when she learns of his past with the Sinack.
Total	-24

Final Assessment

Score: 10 (Great potential, yet deeply flawed)

Character Analysis: Matthew Tetdritch

Alderamin on the Sky: Matthew Tetdritch

Victory Factors

Factor	Score	Reasoning
Morality	8	He’s a good person, although he does have an initial selfish streak when it comes to building his family’s military reputation.
Weather	5	He’s okay most of the time, but didn’t handle the thinner air of the Alafatra Mountains very well.
Terrain	5	He’s got a good eye, yet completely ignored the high-altitude conditions in the fort rescue, then got caught off guard during the Alderan night attack.
Good Leadership	4	He can handle basic orders, but is still more follower than leader.
Preparation	4	He can research tactics, yet usually winds up winging everything else.
Total	26

Fatal Failings

Failing	Score	Reasoning
Recklessness	-9	Major red flag. He constantly underestimates others, something that nearly got him killed fighting the Sinack, and is very impulsive, most often when embarrassed or annoyed by something Ikta says.
Cowardice	-7	Slight red flag. Despite his bluster, he’s shy and easily intimidated, something he famously displayed during the night assault when he asked Ikta how to remain calm and composed in a fight.
Anger	-8	Serious red flag. He’s a hothead, plus easily triggered, like when he tried to brag to Torway of his family’s lineage, as well as when Ikta and Yatori jab at him for his inanities.
Delicacy of Honor	-7	Slight red flag. His pride and need to prove himself often make him go overboard, namely during the battle with Alkiniks.
Over-caring	-3	He worries about his friends, especially Ikta, although it’s tempered a little by experience, hence the lower score.
Total	-34

Final Assessment

Score: -8 (Nightmare scenario)

Character Analysis: Torway Remeon

Alderamin on the Sky: Torway Remeon

Victory Factors

Factor	Score	Reasoning
Morality	10	He’s a wonderful person, generous, compassionate, and very kind-hearted.
Weather	10	Due to his training, keen sense, and sniper skills, this isn’t an issue.
Terrain	8	He’s a tad clumsy at first, yet experience soon gives him a tremendous boost, most famously when he managed to ambush and wipe out most of Kalakarm.
Good Leadership	6	He’s shaky at first, but gets a little better throughout the series, particularly after the mock battle.
Preparation	7	He’s very good at training and adapting to his new air rifle, yet still winds up winging everything else.
Total	41

Fatal Failings

Failing	Score	Reasoning
Recklessness	-7	Slight red flag. He often underestimates others, most infamously his older brother’s bullying.
Cowardice	-4	He’s pretty shy at first, but experience soon hardens him, hence the lower rating.
Anger	-2	He only gets angry once, and it took a lot to set him off, so no worries here.
Delicacy of Honor	0	He’s very modest, so no worries here either.
Over-caring	-5	He worries about his comrades, especially Ikta, whom he feels indebted to.
Total	-18

Final Assessment

Score: 23 (Capable, yet moderately flawed)

Character Analysis: Chamille Kitra Katjvanmaninik

Alderamin on the Sky: Chamille Kitra Katjvanmaninik

Victory Factors

Factor	Score	Reasoning
Morality	7	She’s got a good heart, although she’s also got a selfish streak, something that cost her several times during her initial moments with Ikta.
Weather	6	She’s aware of her surroundings, but her frailty often holds her back.
Terrain	5	She’s got a keen eye, yet her inexperience often hinders her, like when she nearly drowned during the storm.
Good Leadership	8	She’s got an amazing mind for someone so young, considering how she recognized the extent of the Empire’s corruption well before most, then asked Ikta to solve the problem by rising to the top of the Imperial army to “lose a war.”
Preparation	5	She can study and gather facts well, but usually wings everything else.
Total	31

Fatal Failings

Failing	Score	Reasoning
Recklessness	-9	Major red flag. She constantly underestimates others, and she’s extremely impulsive, usually when she’s angry or annoyed, like when she tore open her finger in a fit of rage.
Cowardice	-2	She gets scared a lot initially, yet grows bolder with experience, hence the lower rating.
Anger	-8	Serious red flag. She’s got a fiery temper, one that’s usually triggered by something Ikta says or does, thus making her lash out at him.
Delicacy of Honor	-5	She’s pretty cocky initially, although experience tempers that quickly, hence the lower rating.
Over-caring	-7	Slight red flag. She’s gravely concerned for the Empire, plus she’s overly fond of Ikta.
Total	-31

Final Assessment

Score: 0 (Nightmare scenario)

Character Analysis: Suya Mitcalif

Alderamin on the Sky: Suya Mitcalif

Victory Factors

Factor	Score	Reasoning
Morality	6	She’s a good person at heart, although her tendency to hold grudges, especially with Ikta and her superiors, tends to hold her back.
Weather	5	She’s observant, yet misunderstood Ikta’s plan for the supply depot in the mock battle, then blew it during the Alafatra campaign.
Terrain	5	She’s okay, but didn’t navigate so well during the march to the mock battlegrounds, and often got caught off-guard during the battles with the Alderans.
Good Leadership	3	She had a good start, yet fell apart when the Alafatra campaign turned ugly, then was crippled by doubt when some of her close comrades were killed.
Preparation	4	She can drill troops and train well, but mostly wings everything else.
Total	23

Fatal Failings

Failing	Score	Reasoning
Recklessness	-10	Epic red flag. She constantly underestimates others and is extremely impulsive, most often when she’s angry, confused or annoyed, something that hit full force when Deinkun punched Ikta in the Sinack village.
Cowardice	-8	Serious red flag. She’s pretty brave at first, but the injustice of the Alafatra campaign destroyed most of her confidence.
Anger	-7	Slight red flag. She’s got a short fuse, and is very easily triggered, particularly when someone hurts her comrades.
Delicacy of Honor	-2	She’s pretty cocky initially, yet war soon tempered most of her ego, hence the drastically lowered rating.
Over-caring	-7	Slight red flag. Her love for her comrades runs deep, so much so that losing some of her older friends in the first major battle with the Alderans almost destroyed her.
Total	-34

Final Assessment

Score: -11 (Nightmare scenario)

Character Analysis: Nanaku Daru

Alderamin on the Sky: Nanaku Daru

Victory Factors

Factor	Score	Reasoning
Morality	8	She’s a great person, an ardent champion of her people, and a loyal ally.
Weather	10	Due to her training, keen eye, and enhanced physicality due to the Alafatra’s high altitudes, this isn’t an issue.
Terrain	8	She knows the mountains cold, yet was a tad clumsy when fighting the Alderans.
Good Leadership	4	She’s capable, but sadly fell for Kioka’s bait, and tends to go rogue in the heat of the moment.
Preparation	5	She can train and plan very well, yet still winds up winging most battles…often to her detriment.
Total	35

Fatal Failings

Failing	Score	Reasoning
Recklessness	-9	Major red flag. She badly underestimated both Kioka and Safida, and she’s very impulsive, namely when someone threatens her people, like when she attacked the men who murdered her grandparents.
Cowardice	-4	She’s very bold, yet froze when Yatori defeated her, then did it again when she got caught out in the open during the first battle with the Alderans.
Anger	-8	Serious red flag. She’s got a violent temper and is very easily triggered, particularly when those she loves are threatened.
Delicacy of Honor	-4	She’s very cocky initially, but reuniting with Ikta and learning she’d been tricked tempered most of it, hence the lower rating.
Over-caring	-7	Slight red flag. She’s in love with Ikta, plus her love for her people is unconditional, something that badly hurt her when fighting Safida.
Total	-32

Final Assessment

Score: 3 (Nightmare scenario)

Reviewing the Results

This was a motley assortment, yet they all managed to work together to protect each other from the hell of war. That sort of camaraderie makes a unit incredibly successful, particularly against those expecting corrupt officers and poor judgment. However, that harkens back to what’s been said from the beginning: follow Sun Tzu, and you’ll win; ignore him, and you’ll lose.

Alderamin on the Sky Characters: Victory Factors Analysis

Character	Morality	Weather	Terrain	Leadership	Preparation	Final Score
Ikta	8	10	9	8	9	44
Yatorishino	6	7	7	5	5	30
Haroma	10	8	7	4	5	34
Matthew	8	5	5	4	4	26
Torway	10	10	8	6	7	41
Chamille	7	6	5	8	5	31
Suya	6	5	5	3	4	23
Nanaku	8	10	8	4	5	35

Alderamin on the Sky Characters: Fatal Failings Analysis

Character	Recklessness	Cowardice	Anger	DOH	Over-caring	Final Score
Ikta	-8	-5	-6	-6	-7	-32
Yatorishino	-9	-6	-7	-5	-7	-34
Haroma	-8	-8	0	0	-8	-24
Matthew	-9	-7	-8	-7	-3	-34
Torway	-7	-4	-2	0	-5	-18
Chamille	-9	-2	-8	-5	-7	-31
Suya	-10	-8	-7	-2	-7	-34
Nanaku	-9	-4	-8	-4	-7	-32

Alderamin on the Sky Characters: Final Scores

Character	Final Score	Assessment
Ikta	12	Great potential, yet deeply flawed
Yatorishino	-4	Nightmare scenario
Haroma	10	Great potential, yet deeply flawed
Matthew	-8	Nightmare scenario
Torway	23	Capable, yet moderately flawed
Chamille	0	Nightmare scenario
Suya	-11	Nightmare scenario
Nanaku	3	Nightmare scenario

Article by:Andrew Nickerson

Andrew's originally from Massachusetts, and has studied military history/tactics/strategy for almost 30 years. He has a BA in History (English minor) from UMASS Lowell and JD from Mass. School of Law. He can be found on Twitter (@AndrewNickers19) daily, analyzing characters via Sun Tzu.

Fun Fact: Andrew's a huge fan of anime music. He particularly recommends Crescent Love (Brighter than the Dawning Blue), Dream Riser (Girls Und Panzer), and the fight theme to Zoids: New Century.