12.21.09
Posted in Anime Tags: Akagi, comedy anime, Cromartie High School, Daughter of Twenty Faces, detective anime, Emma, Gankutsuou, Godannar, Kekkaishi, Kino's Journey, Le Chevalier d'Eon, list, mecha anime, Moribito, overlooked anime, Paradise Kiss, Planetes, Princess Tutu, robots, romance anime, sci-fi anime, sports anime, Taisho Baseball Girls, The Story of Saiunkoku, TV series, アカギ, エマ, キノの旅, シュヴァリエ, パラダイス・キス, プラネテス, プリンセスチュチュ, 二十面相の娘, 大正野球娘, 巌窟王, 彩雲国物語, 神魂合体ゴーダンナー!!, 精霊の守り人, 結界師, 魁!!クロマティ高校 at 10:00 am by reversethieves
Since everyone is doing their best of the decade lists we decided to throw in our two cents as well. Instead of doing a “Best Anime of the 00’s” we focused on shows from the 00’s you might have overlooked. We did not try to pick shows that will blow your mind with how obscure they are. These are just good show that you might have overlooked. We hope you find at least one series on the list you’ll really enjoy!
This is not some be all, end all of lists of shows from the decade. This is just a little nudge to say “Hey, did you see all these goodies?” Also these are shows that we have both seen, it was just plain easier to narrow it down that way. But you’ll see at the end a personal pick for each of us. What gems did we overlook in these last ten years, I’d sure like to hear!
Kino’s Journey
(Read our full review here)
Kino’s Journey is a meaty show for people who really want to sink their teeth into what they are watching. Kino’s travels take her to a new town every episode that highlights some oddity of human nature or culture. All the stories deal with philosophical concepts in a mature manner while remaining entertaining. This is best one episode at a time so the ideas presented within can be mulled over in your head for a bit before moving onto the next.
Kino’s Journey has this mix of hope and melancholy in addition to it’s wanderer feel. The span of the world Kino travels is vast like her indomitable spirit and curiosity. This is also one of those shows where you are sort of dropped into the middle and only see the wrapped up of a specific journey and a bit of growth by the end rather than a full conclusion of some kind. P.S. talking motorcycle
Daughter of Twenty Faces
(Read our full review here)
A high spirited adventure with the best parts of detective and phantom thief anime. Chizuko is a great, strong young woman who is thankfully not sexually exploited by the show. She really draws you into her journey and makes you root for her as she is helping Twenty Faces steal a priceless object or when she tries to solve a mystery. It has an excellent blend of action, comedy, tragedy, intrigue, and drama with a touch of steampunk.
We just wrote about Daughter of Twenty Faces so you shouldn’t be too surprised to see it on the list since in encompasses exactly what we are all about! The setting is really catching with its post WWII feel but intermixing steampunk. Everyone wants an adventure like this, it has that classic familiar feel to it, but its mysteries and quirks are deftly handled.
Planetes
One of the best examples of hard sci-fi you will find in anime; it takes the the best parts of the genre with an utterly believable future filled with commonplace space travel. At the same time it avoids making it dull by connecting you to the characters and their stories. You will find yourself rooting for the underdogs of the debris section as they reach for their dreams. A more mature anime with an adult storyline that does not have gratuitous sex or violence.
There is a sad lack of sci-fi anime of late and Planetes focus on a more probably and mundane future makes it a further anomaly. But within that mundanity of the job are a cast of characters each with their individual dreams, fears, and a connection to space. Think of it like an office sitcom, only better. And since this is really a story about people an interest in space is recommended but not required to enjoy this show.
The Story of Saiunkoku
(Read our full review here)
Don’t let certain people on the Internet make you avoid this show because they say it is a reverse harem. A cast of attractive male characters does not a reverse harem show make. The men all don’t dream of Shuurei. If fact almost none of them do. This a great blend of drama and politics in a unique fantasy setting. The comedy and drama is strong but Shuurei’s deft dealings with politics and adamant determination to improve the nation is what will keep you watching.
Don’t go look at The Story of Saiunkoku promotional material, just don’t, it doesn’t help our case. The story while focusing on Shuurei has a huge cast of characters giving it the feeling of literally telling us the story of an entire country. The romance of the first 10 or so episodes soon takes a backseat to Shuurei’s rise in the government and all the politics, problems, and people that come along with it.
Akagi
Don’t let the fact that you don’t know how to play Mahjong keep you from enjoying one of the most intense anime. The sheer suspense and the players reactions tell you everything you need to know. Every game is a intense life or death struggle where Akagi puts everything on the line and you can’t help but get swept away with his madness. Akagi could be playing old maid and the it would still be as captivating.
First you will watch the opening and shrug, but by episode three you will have the song on your MP3 player. Akagi himself will blow you always with his bad-assery, even at age 14 or precisely because he is only 14, and you will know his chuckle that means “you fool” well. Never has Mahjong been more intense as Akagi goes around challenging the unsavory underworld with stakes that give even the worst of them pause. And yes, Akagi would mop the floor with anyone from Saki.
Paradise Kiss
High fashion and dramatic romance combine to create a visual symphony for the eyes and an emotional one for the heart. A mature look at romance and relationships that is long enough to be an excellent character study but short enough that the melodrama does not wear out its welcome. And the whole time everyone looks stunningly sharp while it is going on.
Paradise Kiss may sell you on its awesome opening alone. If not, then consider Yukari’s dramatic journey from unsure young girl to determined young woman who learns what it is to step out on your own. Between its colorful cast of characters and its very mature romance, Paradise Kiss delivers on all fronts. It also has a hip, modern style paired with its bittersweet coming of age tale.
God Soul Combination Godannar!!
Any mecha fan will tell you that Gurren Lagann is constantly making sly little winks at the audience to see if they love old giant robot shows as much as they do. Godannar shouts its love for robots outside your window with a boom box playing the Mazinger Z theme. It has comedy played totally straight to great effect alongside well done character drama between the pulse pounding robots fights. It can be easy to miss all of the with the super gratuitous fan-service but don’t let that turn you off from a truly spectacular show.
Alright, there is little to no way you can watch this show if fan-service deters you. But even so you should atleast watch the first four episodes. Godannar is this wicked combination satire but played extra serious making it even more funny! It will leave you holding your sides from laughter but also cheering for giant robot action. And just try not to sign along with the opening. Recommended for viewing in groups.
Le Chevalier d’Eon
(Read our full review here)
It combines real life personalities from pre-revolutionary France and adds a layer of supernatural intrigue. Plus you get zombies, magic, politics, cloak and dagger, and the hottest version of Robespierre ever. The best part is that we get to see the mystery behind the conspiracy in Le Chevalier d’Eon at just the right pace so we are never bored or info dumped. Plus the actions scenes are well choreographed and dynamic.
If I had to pick one show on the list that is simply amazing, it would be La Chevalier d’Eon. It is a well-plotted globe spanning mystery with a great use of subtlety and nuance in addition to its twist on history. Everyone in the series is engaging and all have a little secret making it impossible to always know people’s motives. And best of all this show genuinely surprised me in its final revelations.
Cromartie High School
I really enjoy dry humor when it is done effectively and Cromartie High School pulls it of in spades. Even though the student body is filled with stand up comedy delinquents, a robot, a gorilla, and Freddie Mercury it is all kept in check by making the humor very subdued. The jokes could easily wear thin if the comedy was spastic but the jokes are allowed the correct amount of slow build to make this series a delight.
I always thought Cromartie High School would have done well with the Adult Swim crowd. The series is played so dry and straight as if having these scenarios occur is just a part of life. It’s a riot and you’ll wish you could go to a delinquent-filled Japanese high school too!
Taisho Baseball Girls
Taisho Baseball Girls is a fun and bright tale of a girls baseball team trying to show that they can play on equal terms with the boys. The story moves along at a brisk but relaxed pace and every episode had something that made me laugh out loud or tear up a bit. This show remind me of a historical version of Princess Nine and that is no faint amount of praise.
Taisho Baseball Girls may win you over with just its first episode’s musical tour of Taisho era Tokyo. The series has charm in spades and thanks to a well thought of cast of girls most every moment is a gem. The humor is spry but not over the top as it its tiny steps towards feminism. It also for the most part refuses to pander keeping the themes of teamwork and friendship believable. I too got a Princess Nine feeling, maybe even a little A League of Their Own thrown in!
Kekkaishi
(Read our full review here)
Kekkaishi is this strangely unknown shonen fighting anime that corrects so many of the major flaws of popular shonen fighting shows yet goes critically overlooked. It has a vibrant protagonist, a strong female secondary protagonist, and battles where the fighters have to using their brains more than their brawn to defeat their opponents. Stop complaining about why you dislike the shonen anime you are watching now and watch this instead.
Why, why, why didn’t this show get the love it so deserved? Kekkaishi has the right combination for shonen fighting, which includes a strong female lead. Tokine starts off more capable than Yoshimori and while he grows, so does she. And let’s not forget it also boasts one of the most organic romances in recent memory, one which never overtakes the plot but is in the undercurrent at all times.
Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit
(Read our prereview here)
When done right children’s literature does not mean simple literature it means literature that can be enjoyed by anyone and Moribito is based on a great piece of children’s fiction. Balsa is a great, strong female protagonist who retains her femininity while still be an amazing fighter. Also coming from a family friendly time slot in Japan means the animation is lush and smooth. The story is complex while still be accessible for enjoyment by the whole family.
Moribito stuck out to me because of its established world setting that sort of melds historical and supernatural, its just well realized quickly. Balsa is one tough lady, even though there can be spans between fighting, the fights are nicely presented. Don’t let that it’s based on children’s literature fool you into underestimating it. After you watch this, go and pick up the first two novels!
Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo
Gankutsuou is simultaneously a unique visual marvel and an amazing re-imaging of a literary classic. Gankutsuou takes one of Alexandre Dumas’s most famous tales and places it in a futuristic time while giving us the story from a previously minor character’s point of view. As long as you don’t hold the original book as unchangeable holy writ I think there is much to enjoy about this adaption.
Color, patterns, and light are all played with in the extreme in Gankutsuou and splash about in every scene. This easily lends the otherworldly feel to the story as goes its futuristic historic setting. The story unfolds in dramatic bliss as revenge and love are orders of the day thrown in with more than a few twists. Some people have complained that Gakutsuou’s style is difficult to watch but it is a unique site to behold as is its take on a classic tale.
Princess Tutu
Princess Tutu is so rare and unique that it shouldn’t be missed. A a seemingly simple fairy tale about a duck who transformers into a girl in order to protect the broken pieces of a prince’s heart takes a decidedly dark and deconstructive turn as it goes on. What is explored through the series are myths, how stories emerge, fate, and a darkness in people’s hearts among other things. Ahiru is bright and awkward but with a strength all her own and a sense of duty and love that is unrivaled. It’s just such an unexpected show!
Emma
Emma is a delightful romance in Victorian England that just feels like it should be on Masterpiece Theater. As a classic Upstairs Downstairs romance it has a charming and human cast of characters that draws you into this period piece. This is a great series to just come home to and relax with in precisely the way the slice of life genre should be. The series is immaculately researched and looks amazing. A masterpiece for anyone who loves historical fiction and well done romance.
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11.30.09
Posted in Anime, Reviews Tags: Bones, Daughter of Twenty Faces, detective anime, overlooked anime, thief anime, TV series, 二十面相の娘 at 9:28 am by reversethieves
Every year there is usually one show that goes slipping through the cracks. Daughter of Twenty Faces is not a show has gone totally ignored by anime bloggers and fans. I have found some reviews and a few single reports. But overall a show this good should be on everyone’s lips but it remains a hidden treasure only known to a few. I hope this review does a little to alleviate that fact. This review is actually a long time coming. If I remember our original plan was to post a review about this time last year but due to the last few episodes coming out very late you are only getting it now. However, this show proves that some things are worth the wait. But then again a steampunk detective/phantom thief show with an awesome heroine is always worth the wait.
When I checked Daughter of Twenty Faces out in the Spring 2008 review, I already knew it was something special. But I didn’t know if it would grow to be a great series or just an entertaining one. Either outcome was fine by me. But it just so happened that the show got better, more intriguing, and even harder to pin down as it went along. We even praised the series up and down almost a year ago on the Ani-Gamers podcast! Hisui is right, this has been a long time coming.
Chizuko Mikamo is a unfortunate young girl whose parents have passed away and left her with a sizable inheritance. While her aunt and uncle are taking care of her they are also poisoning her gain her fortune. Fortunately for her the infamous phantom thief Twenty Faces comes to steal her fortune but realizes the true treasure in her mansion is Chizuko and whisks her off to recruit her as a member of his gang. So she proves to be intelligent, resourceful, and cunning member of this rough and tumble family of thieves who take her in as one of their own. But Chizuko’s aunt wants her back to claim her fortune and Twenty Faces also has many a mysterious and dangerous skeleton in his closet as well.
Daughter of Twenty Faces has some wonderful twists and turns, especially in the beginning. The pace of the first episode is so runaway train there is no way the rest of the series would or should be that way. However, the show consistently has an up and down storytelling that gives you a breather only to take away your breath in the next episode. It is not quite clear till around episode 8 that there is more of a science and steampunk influence than was first garnered in the opening stories. This isn’t in detriment to the series but something that has to be accepted. The story pulls elements of both detective work and smooth theft to create a winning combo that is clearly a familiar with the tropes of both genres. But Daughter of Twenty Faces isn’t merely a mash up of such things, oh no, this show is fueled by mysteries of both the past and present and Chiko’s own cunning and curiosity about her mentor and father figure, Twenty Faces.
Read the rest of this entry »
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08.18.08
Posted in Anime, Reviews Tags: fantasy anime, Moribito, overlooked anime, syndicated anime, TV series, 精霊の守り人 at 8:03 am by reversethieves
I will start by saying that Moribito – Guardian of the Spirit presented a moral dilemma for us here at Reverse Thieves. We want try to review as much licensed material as possible in its licensed from. Media Blasters has not released the DVDs of Moribito but they are playing going to be playing it on Cartoon Network starting the 24th of this month. This is great because Moribito was based on a series of popular children’s novels but also has a solid mature feeling. It’s not the normal type of show for TV. And therein lies the dilemma. If no one talks about this show before it gets on TV there is a chance this will go under the radar and be taken off as quickly as it was placed on. So we decided to take a sneak peak at Moribito in hopes of getting people to watch this on TV. If this does well enough it will hopefully lead to a little more diversity of anime on American television.
So here we are towing the line, we are giving you our impressions of the first six episodes before they even air. It was already mentioned as one of the most overlooked shows in the recent seasons and that is a good enough reason for me to think this peek at it is necessary. But honestly I can’t wait to buy the DVDs of this show! It brings so many things that I love to the table, include a few that endeared me to Story of Saiunkoku. You really get that historical-esque feel, the world setting is very well done. We get some politics, danger, mystery, and some really great fighting sequences. And not to be overlooked a strong female character! But I’m getting ahead of us.
So, Moribito starts with Balsa a foreign bodyguard making her way into town to get some maintenance work done on her spear. While crossing the bridge into town she see a cart with a noble plunge into the river after the animal hitched to the cart goes berserk. Balsa throws herself into the river and saves the young noble who turns out to be Chagum, the Prince of the land. That night is approached by royal guards and is taken to the palace to be rewarded. She soon learns that she was not invited to the palace simply to get a reward for saving the Prince’s life. It seems that this incident on the bridge was not an accident but one of several attempts on the Prince’s life. The Empress asks Balsa to take Chagum, flee the palace, and protect him from the man trying to take his life, The Emperor.
Wow, if this woman keeps up the pace she has in the first six episodes she will be on my bad-ass list. Those fights in episode 3 were awesome. Balsa has a mysterious past but we do know she killed many people and is now trying to atone for it. She is a fierce fighter without killing anyone. She has a strong sense of duty and loyalty but she often pushes herself too hard. Balsa doesn’t come off as feminine but she certainly has a motherly quality about her. I look forward to seeing that develop more.
Balsa is at an interesting age. Being 30 she is old enough to be mature but still young enough to be on the top of her game. She is not the stereotypical teenage protagonist so she has had enough time to build a good amount of life and combat experience and a fearsome well earned reputation as a bodyguard. She is nowhere close to the most feminine character but there is a mother wolf nature to her protection of Chagum. She has a past filled with tragedy but she uses it to fuel her present as opposed to dwelling on or running from it. That is a refreshing change change of pace and makes her as strong a female character as her fighting ability does. She is an amazing fighter, a seasoned strategist, and an emotionally strong woman while still coming off as human with faults and vulnerabilities.
Chagum we are only scratching the surface of in these few episodes. We know he has supernatural abilities but he doesn’t control them and we know this is the reason for his persecution. He is certainly the child of royalty as the scene in which he doesn’t even realize the feeling in his stomach is hunger demonstrates well. But so far he hasn’t come off as a spoiled brat who’s demands must be met. He will be good to see grow and hopefully come into his own as he becomes more aware of the real world around him.
I enjoyed the fact that all of the characters have realistic motivations for their actions. There are no Snidely Whiplash villains. The Emperor has just as many good reason to kill the prince and he does feel remorse over doing what he thinks is right. When Shuga, the Star Diviner is brought into the conspiracy he is convinced in a realistic and plausible manner.
Many people get involved in this story, the cast is not vast (yet) but there are certainly a lot of players. This often happens with politically tied plots, so I only expect it to get more complex as we go along. Some of the most notable are Tanda a childhood friend of Balsa who is a healer; a shaman who has a grave prediction about the prince; a group of deadly hunters who are looking for Balsa and Chagum; and a young star diviner who is pulled into the plot against the prince.
The opening song is very catchy, it’s has a good deal of English lyrics, and it has nice accompanying animation. They would be very foolish to try to throw on a new opening.
I am a sucker for openings, even more so when the song is done by a band I love. L’arc en Ciel’s Shine has a great beat and sets a nice tone for the series. GREAT. OPENING. SONG. I assume this will be intact for the TV broadcast but I don’t know for sure. Everything from the opening to the fights looks great! The characters all have their own unique look and so we see a great variety.
I am firmly convinced that if you want to watch really good animation in a TV anime the shows to watch are the family friendly shows based on popular novels. Like Story of Saiunkoku this has lush well animated character designs. It obviously had a high budget and they never skimp on anything. Every episode so far has been a pleasure to watch. Production I.G. shines brightly once again. I did happen to notice that there is a wide variety of attractiveness in character designs. You have characters that range from very beautiful to very ugly and everywhere in between. In fact mostly in between. I feel all too often either everyone in a show look very good looking or extremely plain. It’s nice to see a show where the curve is closer to reality.
I recently read the novel that Seirei no Moribito as well. In an unexpected turn of events it seems that the anime is actually a more detailed telling of the story in the novel. The novel has a fast pace that while never rushed also never stops at any point either. It seems that the anime takes the plot of the novel and lets the story breath and grow more than it did in the novel. So far the anime has not taken any liberties that I think would infuriate fans of the novel. If anything I think fans of the novel will enjoy getting to spend more time with characters they loved.
Top 5 Historical-esque Series
5. Moribito Guardian of the Spirit
4. Rurouni Kenshin
3. Rose of Versailles
2. Story of Saiunkoku
1. Blade of the Immortal
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02.13.08
Posted in Anime, Reviews Tags: overlooked anime, shojo anime, The Story of Saiunkoku, TV series, 彩雲国物語 at 5:51 pm by reversethieves
Alright, we have a double feature of review goodness! We try not to but there isn’t much news to talk about as of late and besides we sped through Saiunkoku. This was mostly my fault as I basically refused to stop watching for most of Sundayand there by forced Hisu to continue as well. But it was totally worth it!
I battled being sick and being sleepy just to finish the last six episodes Saiunkoku but it was well worth it. A delightful fusion of comedy, drama, intrigue, and romance made up for a killer headache and a generally woozy feeling. The Story of Saiunkoku starts with Nabiki … I mean Shurei Ko who is a rather unusual princess. She has taken to doing odd jobs such as playing the erhu and teaching at the local temple to keep her family afloat. A recent civil war has devastated the land and left a great many people in dire straits. Her family has fallen on hard times partially due to the fact that during the civil war they spent much of their money and resources taking care of the needy people in the neighborhood. One day one of the chief advisers of the Emperor offers to pay Shurei as small fortune to tutor the young Emperor into a man worthy of the throne. It seems that since the new Emperor has taken power he has completely withdrawn from interacting with the court. Shurei has to turn the seemingly naive slacker into a proper and strong ruler of a troubled kingdom.
She accepts the offer before even hearing the request fully! But Shurei greatly cares about the well-being of her country and people and is there by very disappointed the Emperor is not taking it more seriously. As she dreams of being a government official (which she eventually succeeds at) she vows to do her best to help and support the Emperor so that he has the good of the people at heart. This stories focus is Shurei but also the kingdom itself with its politics, families, nobles, troubles, triumphs, and romances. If it wasn’t set in a fictional place I would call it historical fiction. I see this series as shojo but also a family-type show, it airs on Saturday mornings. I imagine that is why it is already two season of 39 episodes each. There is a bit of everything thrown into the mix: romance, drama, action, comedy and tragedy. It is one big play with one huge cast of characters.
I remember we were trying to figure out what age group this show was targeted at and we had an amusing conversation about whores. As it turns out, there is a brothel with a rather interesting madame that is the focal point of several stories in the “second arc.” The fan-subs we saw constantly referred to the women who worked at the brothel as whores which seemed rather harsh and vulgar with what is otherwise handled rather delicately in the rest of the series. It’s never implied that the brothel is anywhere but a place where men pay to have sex but it is clearly a high class brothel with a distinct air of class. It was therefore an odd choice for the fan-subber to pick one of the harshest terms for a prostitute in the subtitles. I’m curious if this is just a poor word choice or just a straight but odd translation from the original.
All the episodes titles come from famous Chinese proverbs. The proverbs always are critical to some plot point in the series and are often uttered by someone in the cast. I suppose that also shows that this was meant to be a show for the whole family. Often times family shows go out of there way to teach some little lesson or moral while also being entertaining. It just shows that as long as you are classy in your storytelling you can incorporate brothels into your family programming in Japan.
I mentioned this series having a lot of focus on the kingdom and therefore there are a lot of big players in this. Off the top of my head I counted 20 important people (not including Shurei and the Emperor) to the story and that was just thinking about it without looking at a character listing so I know I’m forgetting some. You have the royalty, the nobles, all the government officials, and various other players. I think the cast is really amazing though, almost as if I’m watching a play, I think of them as real people. Their interactions are dead on. And there is every type of person you can imagine all the way from a madame to head of the finance department who wears a mask at all times. The way the characters are folded into the story is done very organically and you know once you see someone they will eventually pop up again.
And it is all those wonderful characters that make the show come to life. If these characters were not so well made, I don’t think the story would be the masterpiece that it is. There are some rather mundane and standard plots in the series. But the realistic characters breath life into them. I was going into the characters individually but it seems a waste for two reasons. The first reason is that all the characters are slowly and skilfully brought into the show. Each new set of characters are added with just enough time for you to learn who they are, but never enough for them to ware out their welcome or reveal all of their layers. The second reason is that talking too much about the characters will spoil their little secrets and quirks. There is a certain charm in learning who everyone is and what their story is. Many of the characters are shown in a light that leads you to believe they are one type of character but later actions or interactions will reveal that they have more going on or different motivations than they would originally seemed to.
Of course there is one character we have to look at in depth, Shurei. She is the pillar of the series in which the show is either supported by or falls apart around. Being the most important character means that your enjoyment of her personality is one of the biggest factors in determining weather or not you will enjoy this show. That being said, Shurei is definitely a character I can get behind. She is a strong female character who can take care of herself. She is both willing and able to support and protect herself but not unwilling or unable to accept help when she needs it. She displays the kindness and softness that many a female character does, while also avoiding being a wilting flower. She is smart partially because she is naturally smart but also backs that up with the willingness to put hard work into study. She is definitely frugal but always in a realistic and often times charming manner. She is the type of woman you would want to marry. She is the type of woman I would want to marry.
Shurei at first glance seems to be a too perfect I-wish-I-was-that-girl type but that quickly dissolves as you get into the meat of the story. She is extremely intelligent, on par with her male peers, and shows little intimidation in the many political situations. In fact, she is much more confident when it comes to facts and figures than her own heart. I think this is a popular theme for strong females but shojo usually sticks with the average girl and so Shurei seems to be a departure from that.
The only cliche thing about her is that she has a fear of thunder. Having seen several shojo series and a lesser number of shonen series where they pick a phobia to give a character vulnerability. It’s not unexplained phobia and when when learn the story of why she is afraid of thunder it gives it you insight into her and several other characters. It definitely was not just added to be added so it’s not a bad mark on the show itself. It did on the other hand come to the revelation that giving a female character some phobia is a common and easy method of fleshing them out. It might be common knowledge to everyone else but it only just clicked in my head. It might also stick out because another character I just read about had the same phobia.
Well, you can’t have a good protagonist that doesn’t have fears and flaws (unless you’re seinen). If Shurei was never afraid of anything she would be completely unrelateable and unrealistic. And I think that is what’s so great about this show. While it lives in the storybook realm all the characters’ personalities are like people you know, it gives a nice kick to the fairytale angle of the whole series.
Her relationship with the Emperor is interesting because it a unusual mix of storybook romance with realistic angles. They both seem to be able to often see right through each other but at the same time have a good deal of uncertainty about what the other one is thinking. I also really like they they both support the other one’s dreams and ambitions. All too often we have the wish fulfillment fantasy of the provider who asks for and needs nothing in return. They also play well off each other. They have an amusing chemistry that makes you want to root for them. I know that it does not hurt that the Emperor is definitely the type of character that Narutaki loves.
If you looked at my Top 5 couples list, you will see these two on it. They make me all jumpy inside! This series does a fantastic job of creating a fairytale romance that isn’t a fairytale but almost practical. I never feel they are a forced coupling where nothing is explained it just is. All of their feelings and emotions come from a part of their past or personality. But you still have the fairytale because he is the Emperor and she is a princess. Ryuki is in love with her but he never hinders her path. No matter how much he may want her to stay in the palace, he recognizes and wants her dreams for her as much as she wants them herself. He recognizes her strengths and helps her, without doing things for her, even when those things take her further from his side rather than closer. Okay, so I’m totally in love with Ryuki myself. Sue me. He isn’t perfect, even though my description was glowing. But you do see a lot of growth in the first season. He becomes committed and serious about his job, but doesn’t lose all of his silly and sometimes naive thinking. Their relationship is really the driving force of the series for the first ten episodes or so but then it starts to take a backseat to the politics of the country. It is really there to show growth, change, and also to set up a love story that takes place over years and distance.
The director always keeps the pace of the story moving. All too often stories with political intrigue can get bogged down in their own weight of there story but Jun Shishido avoids that trap. That being said, I sort of wish we could have stayed a more focused on the Emperor but the story naturally drifts away from him being the most important character in Shurei’s life. The anime makes it clear that this is Shurei’s story and Ryuki is one of the most important people in her life, but he is not the be all and end all. Love is an important and generally fascinating part of her life but it’s only one aspect of it.
Friendships also play a big role (as do rivalries). They help to give depth to the series and also create a meaningful and rich history. I especially enjoy watching this relationship grow between Ryuki (the Emperor), Ran (a General of the Shaorin army), and Koyu (Vice-Secretary of the Civil Affairs). They have a familial feel to them. They work together but they also poke fun at each other, fight foes, and talk. So as the story moves away from them I was visibly disappointed. However, all the other characters pick up the slack. Such as the bond between Seiran and Ensei which is both mysterious (you find out more as the story goes along) and wonderful because there is trust.
I also liked Seiran’s relationship with Ryuki. It was unexpected and interested me. I would like to talk about it but it is a major spoiler. It really makes me think we should add a spoiler thread to the forums so we can discuss certain things after people have watched the series. In fact, after we post this I going to do just that. I know there is one character that you really want to talk about because you super love him and want to have his babies. Babies of super love.
Women are sparse in this series which only adds to the setting. It is an ancient time when women were not considered on the same level as men. But throughout the series we meet characters that challenge and break-through these ideas to help push the society forward. We literally get to watch as a new era is being born. All of the women that do appear show stature, intelligence, and courage while not losing their femininity. You have women in roles like: head of family, running their own business, and progressing the country. The series also reminds you of the responsibility of being a lady in waiting and not looking down on such roles for women.
I like that Saiunkoku gives women power but does not do it in ways that are incongruous with the setting. Shurei’s rise to being an official is fraught with hardships and massive resistance. They make it clear that she is very lucky that things have come together in a way that she can break the normal restrictions of society. Had she tried as hard as she did at some other point in the countries history, she probably would not have been able to become an official.
I would not recommend that you watch this show sick as I did because it is a show where the little details are important. Little facts, items, and relationships will come up when you least expect them to. There are some very good uses of Chekhov’s gun. You will often wait with baited breath to learn why something casually brought up in one part of the series with effect people later on. Nothing as bad as Audrey’s letter in Twin Peaks but you might wonder when a certain report is going to come into play.
OMG! Audrey’s letter! You saw me, I was practically pulling my hair out for four episodes. I like that Saiunkoku takes these things into consideration because I get obsessed with the little things. Especially since they sometimes come waaaaaaaay later, to the point you almost forgot (unless you’re me). I like that things come full circle because the writer really thought ahead. I think this somewhat stems from them originally being novels. Which incidentally I desperately wish someone would license.
Or Lothos. Lothos will see it all coming a mile away. (Lothos is a reader of this here blog). I don’t think it’s an impossibility for the novels to get licensed. The manga and book market is far healthier than the anime market. I think the probability is directly linked to how well the Twelve Kingdom novels did. If Twelve Kingdoms sold like gangbusters, then this is a sure license. If it sold poorly it is a long shot. It would have a much greater chance if someone saved the anime license from Geneon but I don’t think that is going to happen anytime soon. Prove me wrong Funimation. Prove me wrong.
If anything gives this series away as being shojo it is certainly the character designs. I can honestly say I’ve never seen a series with more beautiful guys, and the cast is 85% male. Not that I’m complaining or anything. And hey most of the guys can back up their pretty faces with fighting skills or cunning. So, hot and useful totally works in my world.
Also I would say almost all of them are very likable. How many times have you seen the pretty boy who is good at everything but you want to beat some positive personality into them? And I think our minds have been tainted by cute male (a place on 4chan) and it makes me sad. There are quite a few scenes that were clearly fodder for countless doujinshi. When you have likable beautiful male characters in compromising positions you know that the fan-girl mind is sparked like a powder-keg to draw and write smut. Nothing in the show is horribly exploitative but anyone who has seen enough doujinshi will know that certain scenes are going to be used.
Look, I don’t want go into this too much. But if cute male has taught us anything, it is this: characters don’t even have to know each other to have smut made about them! So, a series rife with beautiful men is just asking for stories to be written about it. And unfortunately, Saiunkoku doesn’t show up on cute/male very often. Did I say unfortunate? I totally meant fortunate. Yes, that is what I meant.
I will off handily mention there is the occasionally supernatural element to the series. I would say about 90 of everything that goes on is mundane and normal. There are one or two characters, and they are mostly more minor characters, that have blatantly magical powers. They will usually only pop up ever five or six episodes and their powers are usually subtle. Magic seems to be understood to exist in the world of Saiunkoku but it also seems to be very rare. I wonder how much the supernatural comes into play in the second season. I assume they keep the same balance of mundane to supernatural but there are hints that might not be the case. I suppose the only way to find out is for me to watch.
Oh and watch we shall! Probably have to review the second season as well, that is when it’s done. I want the rest of the DVDs that fit it the awesome little case that Geneon made for it! And it had little postcard posters, which are now hanging in my office. Poor Geneon, you were a service to fans! But we had to hunt for it, found fan-subs of it before it was licensed since there was really no alternative. This series is great. We have babbled on about it long enough you’d think. But no, I could go on and on about all the little things that make this series a winner. Let me just say that this is one of the best shojo series to gace television in a long time. That is my final thought.
I really hope we sell people on this series because it is another series that can easily fall by the wayside if people don’t talk about it. I think it is one of the smartest, most entertaining, older family friendly shojo fantasy series. If you watch the series and you like it tell people about it. I really want someone to pick up the anime again. I think it is the best way to get the rest of the related materials. I think that there are some series that do some things better but not as many do as many things very well as Saiunkoku. It is definitely better than Fushigi Yugi. Zing Fushigi Yugi. Zing.
UPDATE: Funimation has picked up this show along with other Geneon titles!
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