Atelier Annie ~The Alchemist of Sera Island~ is the latest game in JRPG developer Gust's Atelier series. It was announced in last week's issue of Weekly Famitsu, and is the second game in the series to be on the Nintendo DS.

While she sleeps, the lazy but big-dreamer titular protagonist Annie Eilenberg is sent to the resort spot Sera Island by her alchemist grandfather along with the spirit Pepe. There is she is to train in the ways of alchemy and contribute to the development of the island resort. While reluctant and first, Annie soon learns that the person who most contributes to Sera Island's development will marry a prince and live a good, rich life, something of which she has dreamed of.

To get all the materials she needs for her alchemy and to further the island's development, Annie will need to join the Adventurer's Guild, and fight monsters and gather items while out in the field. Battles will presumably be turn-based, on par with the other games in the series.

Atelier Annie ~The Alchemist of Sera Island~ is slated to release in 2009, and will retail for 5040 yen, with a "Premium Box" limited edition retailing for 7140 yen. The official site for the game can be found here. You can check out the rest of the multitude of screenshots, character art, and concept art over at the source. The game will make an appearance at the Tokyo Game Show 2008.

Akira_EX via watch.impress.co.jp »