Animation Name: Fushigi Yugi:The Mysterious Play Season 1 Suzaku Boxed set
Reviewed by: Steverino
E-Mail: spdk1@hotmail.com
Presented by: Pioneer
Released: 1999
Format: DVD
Rating: PG-13 Romance and violence, plus themes of sexual nature…etc
Genre: Romance, action
Quick Opinion: Own!!!
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For some time now I have had a membership to a magazine called Animerica Extra. Animerica Extra is a mostly Shoujo Manga anthology put out every month. One of my favorite stories in it has always been Fushigi Yugi. Last Winter I went to the St. Louis Galleria (a huge mall) and found a Sam Goody that had the newly released Fushigi Yugi OVA boxed set. I bought it even though I had not read the entire Manga. Although a little confusing, the story was great and sent me on a quest: to get the TV series. This quest ended when my financial aid showed up this year. I shelled out almost 300 buckaroos on the entire 52 episodes. The first box set is the “Suzaku” box. It has a plastic slip cover over a red 4 fold box with 4 discs. The cover of the box sports the god of the south Suzaku in gold foil. I thought the presentation of the box itself was great…what about the show?
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*CONTENT PRESENTATION*
PLOT: This is taken from the booklet…
“When best friends Miaka and Yui open the pages of an ancient Chinese book, they are transported into the Universe of the Four Gods, a parallel world to ancient China. Now, to escape schoolwork and family problems, Miaka flees to the parallel world, only to find a lot more danger and romance than she bargained for..”
Nice little set-up huh! Now for a little more in depth Review. The following episode summary will set up the first 26 episodes; hopefully spoilers will be cut to a minimum.
Episode 1: “The Girl of Legend“
Miaka And her best friend Yui are thrown into a mysterious book. When they face slave traders who want to use them for money, a young man named Tamahome saves them. Yui goes home.
Episode 2: “Priestess of Suzaku“
Miaka meets emperor Hotohori and is asked to become the priestess of Suzaku.
Episode 3: “The seven stars of Suzaku“
Nuriko, the third Suzaku warrior is found.
Episode 4: “Missing Love“
It seems as if Nuriko is trying to steal Tamahome!
Episode 5: “Bewildered Heartbeat“
Nuriko has a secret!
Episode 6: “Even if I die. . . “
Miaka almost dies fighting her own reflection.
Episode 7: “Going Home“
Taitsu-kun sends Miaka back home to recover. Where is Yui?
Episode 8: “Brief Parting“
Miaka returns to the book
Episode 9: “Enemies Unseen“
Chichiri appears!
Episode 10: “Looking for Yui“
Miaka is reunited with Yui!
Episode 11: “Priestess of Seiryu“
The Seiryu priestess appears-Yui!
Episode 12: “Only You“
Tamahome and Hotohori vie for Miaka’s love…why has Yui changed?
Episode 13: “For the sake of love“
Tamahome is held captive as Miaka looks for the remaining Suzaku warriors.
Episode 14: “Wolf in the Fortress“
The bandit, Genro, wants regain what is rightfully his.
Episode 15: “The city of resurrection“
Tasuki found as Miaka is infected with a terrible disease.
Episode 16: “Battle of Sorrow“
Mitsukake is found as he loses a loved one.
Episode 17: “Magic Flute“
The last Suzaku warrior found-the flute player chiriko
Episode 18: “Love Trap“
Miaka Tasuki and Chichiri try to save Tamahome
Episode 19: “Shattered Love“
Tamahome attacks Miaka?!
Episode 20: “Unreachable Hope“
Tamahome fights Tasuki.
Episode 21: “To protect you“
Miaka attempts suicide.
Episode 22: “I’ll never leave you“
Tamahome vs. Hotohori
Episode 23: “Shadow of intrigue“
Miaka prepares for the summoning of Suzaku. Yui meets with Suboshi, one of the Seiryu seven.
Episode 24: “Resolution”
Chiriko vs. “Chiriko”, or is it Amiboshi!?
Episode 25: “Love and sorrow”
Tamahome proposes
Episode 26: “Star Festival”
A festival takes place before the voyage to find the shinzaho.
ORIGINALITY: When reading the little excerpt from the box you might think: “NEVER-ENDING STORY!”...well yes and no. Yes it sounds similar to Never-ending Story, but no it is not at all close to it plot-wise. It is your typical girl goes to magical world, almost gets raped, big strong guy saves her, more guys show up, they all fight over her story. The originality is not that outstanding, but the story makes up for that.
ACTING/SUBBING: The nasal voices of the Japanese dub annoyed the crap outta me! I couldn’t watch it, so for my viewing I watched it in English. Everyone’s voice is done really well, including Tamahome who is played by David (spike Spiegel) Lucas(who now plays every male anime character :P)
MUSIC/SOUND: The opening song rocks! It gets you right into the mood of the show. The sound quality itself could have been better, but I didn’t expect much from an older DVD. The background music is a little over-used, but keeps the moods going in the show. Overall good soundtrack.
VISUALS: There is nothing astonishing here. The visuals are appropriate yet seem a little cheap at times, especially when there is a non-moving background that should move (ex. Flames in distance). Other than that the character designs are great (ex. Chichiri) and the colors are vibrant. All in all good!
Liked: opening song, chichiri (ya know)
Hated: Japanese dub!
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*PERSONAL OPINION*
POSITIVE: For a show that is supposed to be only for girls, I really liked it. It had the right mix of romance and fighting, but never went over-the-top. In fact when Tamahome gets pissed he scarier than goku!
NEGATIVE: some of the animation could have been a little better….it gets better in the OVAs luckily :)
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Improve: Not much to improve, Yu Watase has created a great anime!
RIYL: Tenchi Muyo, most shoujo anime
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Final Words: This show is great, ya know! I highly recommend it, ya know! Go out and see it, ya Know! (impression of Chichiri)
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Score
CONTENT PRESENTATION
PLOT: 10 of 15
ORIGINALITY: 5 of 10
ACTING/SUBBING: 13 of 15
MUSIC/SOUND: 5 of 5
VISUALS: 4 of 5
Total for CONTENT PRESENTATION: 37 of 50
PERSONAL OPINION: 50 of 50
Total for both: 87 of 100
Final Score: 87%
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SECRETS: these DVDs are really bare-bones, no secrets
