box543's Full Review: Magic Knight Rayearth - TV Series Season One
I first came across Magic Knights Rayearth in Mixxzine, an American magazine that translates Japanese manga (comics). I fell in love with the distinct visual style of CLAMP (the all-female group of artists that created Rayearth and other well-known series like Card Captor Sakura and X) and found the storyline to be a charming version of a well-worn shoujo (girl's comic) theme.
Basic Plot
Three girls (Hikaru, Fuu and Umi) from our world are transported to a magical world called Cephiro. Cephiro is a planet held together by the prayers of its princess. Unfortunately, Cephiro is now a very troubled planet because its princess has been captured and is unable to pray for the world's peaceful stability. However, there is a legend that three girls from another world will travel to Cephiro, become the Magic Knights and save the planet from its certain doom.
With the help of friends, enemies and a fuzzy bunny-creature named Makona, Hikaru, Umi and Fuu set out to become the Magic Knights. The journey is arduous though and because Cephiro is a land where the strength of one's heart rules, just fighting their battles isn't enough to save the world.
I'll leave the story there because I would hate to spoil it for you. I will say, however, that I was surprised by the ending. - I didn't see it coming until the final couple of episodes.
Animation
I like the CLAMP style of artwork, but many people don't. CLAMP has an unusual way of drawing faces - especially eyes and eyebrows. Look at the cover of the video/DVD and if you don't like the style, I wouldn't recommend the series. The look stays the same and if it bothers you, you won't be able to pay attention to the plot as fully. Personally, I enjoy the distinctiveness as well as CLAMP penchant for excellent costuming.
Because Rayearth is shoujo anime (meaning its intended for a younger, female audience) , it uses a lot of bright colors: Pink, lavender, azure, very Easter-y. However, as the series progresses and the story becomes more intense, the colors do become darker and more inline with the seriousness of the plot.
I' am a big stickler for background animation. Nothing makes me lower my opinion of a series more than slap-dash scenery. In Rayearth, however, the backgrounds are spectacular! They really make Cephiro come alive. From the floating mountain to the deep forest, the scenery is meticulously perfect and definitely complements the characters and plot.
Characters
The characters in the series are well-developed, but still one-dimensional enough to explain in a few sentences. The fact that you can describe them in few words, does not dilute their essence or screen presence.
Hikaru seems to be the leader of the three girls. Like her red hair would suggest she can have a firey temperament. However, this only flares when someone she cares for is in trouble. Of the three girls, she is the most dedicated to the cause of Cephiro from day one. To go along with her red hair and firey temperament, her magic ability is flame.
Fuu is a quiet, intellectual girl who is able to calmly analyse situations. Her magic power is wind. And for all of you out there who think that the brainy girl in the glasses never gets the hunky guy - Fuu does!
Umi comes across as spoiled and bratty. Umi is Japanese for "sea" and like her name would suggest, her magic power is water. Umi is the last of the three girls to fully understand their mission.
Makona is a rabbit-like critter with a jewel in its forehead that helps lead the girls on their quest. It was given to the girls by Cephiro's most powerful magician, Clef. Makona can only say "Puu"; you'll either love this character or hate it.
A few other characters: Emeraude is the princess of Cephiro. She called the girls to the world to become the Magic Knights. Ferio is a wandering knight in the rough. Zagato, well, he's just gotta be evil - look at his big pointy shoulders!
Music
I love the opening and ending songs; they are very catchy and enjoyable. Unlike many series, I ended up watching the songs more often than I fast-forwarded through them. The background music was always fitting and appropriate. However, until the last four episodes, I never thought it was all that spectacular. The music in the last episodes was amazingly well orchestrated and really helped to convey the mood.
Voice Acting
I watched the subtitled version of the series, and I really thought that the voices fit the characters. I just wish I knew what Yuri Shiratori was thinking when he had to keep repeating "Puu" through the entire series! Of all the characters, I must say that Fuu's voice actress impressed me the most; Kasahara Hiroko has a prefectly soothing and fitting voice for Fuu. I could I have no clue what the dubbed voices sound like.
Cover Art
The art on the video boxes is very well-done. Not at all cheesy like some video covers that look like someone threw them together on a dare in five minutes. The artwork on the covers is true to the animation style as well - another plus.
Audience
I think this series would work well for viewers 10 and older. It does deal with death and has a few scenes with blood in them. None of the fighting scenes are violent and most non-monster conflicts end with the "evil" person coming over the "good side." But, like I said, it has death and blood - so, some kids might be troubled by that.
People who dislike cutesy shows, shouldn't watch Rayearth. If the pastels don't get you, then Makona will. I've heard that Makona is saccharin enough to make some people go into shock. :)
I think that this would be an excellent series for parents and children to watch together as the plot is grown up enough to engage most adults.
General Thoughts
I really like Rayearth and plan on watching the series over again. I found the show to be engaging from the first episode up until the last. I think a lot of my enthusiasum was due to the fact that the characters and plot evolved throughout the show. Nothing stayed static, but instead elements build upon each other to create a wonderful tapestry of a show.
I would recommend that you buy the VHS boxset or DVD boxset, if you know that you like the series because it is cheaper than buying each volume separately. Individual VHS volumes run about $25 to $30 a tape. I've seen the VHS boxset going for <$100 and the DVD boxset going for <$120. There are five tapes in the Rayearth I series, each with four 30-minute episodes.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.