ssjakira1's Full Review: Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play Vol. 8 - Summoni...
Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.
I suppose I really shouldn’t nap even though it would be lovely and I’m all snuggly in my wolfy fur (not really, just a faux fur vest). Well, when all else fails – Fushigi Yuugi!
Watase Yuu is responsible for this girls’ anime, though I’m not familiar with anything else she’s done the way I am with a few other creators. But if you like you can look her up on the internet and see if there’s anything else you’d be interested in. Ladies and gentlemen, we are now on Volume 8, and after these next four episodes (yes, we get four this time!) we will officially be halfway finished! Whoo! Therefore, anyone coming in now needs to check out Volume 1 first because this series is one you really do need to see from the beginning. All the events are based upon things that have come before and you would have any clue of what on earth (or in this case, in a book) of what is going on. And if you have plans on seeing this series, I figure if things haven’t gone wrong by now, I don’t think it’s suddenly going to go downhill (please don’t go downhill…). Anyway, you’ll ruin your appetite if you get ahead of yourself!
Before Now: Miaka Yuuki is a 15-year-old schoolgirl who discovers an old book called Universe of the Four Gods after following a mysterious bird. She and her friend Yui are both eventually sucked into it and have become characters in the book, which Miaka’s brother Keisuke is now reading. Miaka has since met the protective Tamahome, near-perfect Emperor Hotohori, cross-dressing Nuriko, fox-like Chichiri, brash Tasuki, formidable Mitsukake, and musical Chiriko in the land of Konan. All six are chosen protectors of the Priestess of Suzaku; the Suzaku Seven. Yui has since met up with Nakago, a strange foreign general of the land of Kutou, who also happens to be one of the Seiryu Seven – giving Yui the title of Priestess of Seiryu. Miaka and Yui are now enemies…but in the end will they be able to be friends and escape the book?
Right, let’s take a look see at the episodes that are in this volume. Since each episode slips right into the next one, the info I give you is going to be pretty basic, seeing as I don’t like dishing out spoilers.
Episode 23: It’s time to summon Suzaku! Yay! But Nakago has a plan to ruin the ceremony – what could he possibly have up his sleeve this time? Haha – and Tasuki cracks me up in his brief moment of, er, glory.
Episode 24: Ok, now it’s time to summon Suzaku and bring peace to the land of Konan and save Yui and allow Tamahome and Miaka to be together forever. But what’s that sound…?! Haha, and I still love Tasuki.
Episode 25: Well everyone, time to be off! Off to find the Shinzaho!! Thanks Taitsukun! And oh, hi, my name is Miaka and I’m the biggest idiot on the face of the earth…honestly, what is her problem??
Episode 26: Face to face – will Miaka get some sense and explain herself to Tamahome, or is she just going to keep being stupid? And when Tamahome comes home to see his family...wait, no, that can't be right - it makes no sense!
So the music within the show is a little older, some saxophone for tender moments, which is amusing, and then there’s the opening and closing songs. They’re pretty good and can get stuck in your head – I somehow end up humming one of them right before I turn on the show. They’re both pretty upbeat and I like both of them for that.
The animation is still good and I don’t think that fact is going anywhere. Though something amusing has occurred to me just now concerning Miaka’s clothes. There are times when she’s changed into pajamas and everyday clothing from Earth – but where did she get them? Japanese girls don’t normally run around with spare clothes in their backpacks do they? Hmmm. Anyway, as for the voices encountered before, they’re the same and I’m enjoying/accustomed to them. I do have to say that Nuriko absolutely cracked me up near the end of episode 26 and even though the VA is female and Nuriko is a guy, I've grown to really like her/his voice. Ah, and finally we get to hear Chichiri’s voice in serious mode – and get a nice long look at his face…mmm, Chichiri’s kinda hot and his voice is reeelly nice, hehehe. Dude, take the mask off more often – no one cares! Honestly! And everyone’s noticed that Tasuki has little fangs by now right? Aren’t they cute?! Hahahaha…
I’m still not a big fan of times during the story when things are in the middle of being serious and something comedic happens, and though I suppose it’s just to keep things light, it can be a bit awkward and unnecessary. I guess it’s because of the age group this anime sort of aims for, but it can be annoying and ruins the mood. The story is still progressing along nicely, with some unexpected twists and turns – although this whole Chiriko business isn’t too much of a big surprise, though it can be a little confusing at first. But aww, his voice is cute – I wonder….Shippou from Inuyasha? Hard to say, the IMDB doesn’t have the VAs for the Fushigi Yuugi series, just the OAV (original animation video – not for TV or the movies, just straight to video, you know, like Disney does with every sequel they’ve ever made).
A brief warning for all you parents out there – I don’t know what you allow your child to see and not see, so I’ll just point out that there is a tiny bit of swearing, violence (including some blood and death), a bit of nudity, some sexual content, and a bit of cross-dressing (though Nuriko isn’t wearing a dress anymore, he’s still in love with Hotohori, asking Miaka to wish for him to be a woman). So really, it’s up to you. I’m sure a 15-year-old can handle it, but they’re your kids!
There are 52 episodes on a total of 16 volumes, and things are still interesting. Back at episode 16 I wondered just where they could go, what with all seven warriors and all. Well, now I know. Either way, I’m glad I’m borrowing these, because I’m too cheap to shell out that much cash. Besides, I’d get the DVD versions anyway just to get my hands on the subtitled version. I like to compare.
Volume 8:
23. Shadow of Intrigue
24. Resolution
25. Love & Sorrow
26. Star Festival
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