Fushigi Yûgi

Fushigi Yuugi is by far one of the most powerful love stories out there. Although you do have to put up with the gushy love, there is trauma and tragedy that negate this, not to mention the added comedy bonuses through out the series. There are characters that impress; Tamahome, Nuriko, Hotohori, Tasuki and Chichiri and villains that make you wish they'd get theirs.

It's a classic story of good versus evil, betrayal and of course love. Bring a box of tissues for this story and be prepared to be blown away by the outstanding performances of the voice actors who bring these characters to vivid and beautiful life.

I first watched this in the I-channel and was immediately hooked. I kept missing episodes, so I begged my friend for a burnt copy. I absolutely loved it and later got the DVD set.

Summary: Miaka and best friend opens book. They get captured into the book and live their life in this new world. They later on get split apart and became enemies, and now Miaka has to find a way to get both her and her best friend out of the book, but new problem arises. Oh no, what will they do!?

Why I loved it was because I discovered this anime on my own without any recommendations, and without any criticism; it was all on my own finding and I enjoyed it on my own without any expectations. All of the characters had a story and they were all presented very well in the anime. I thought the plot was very well placed and it had a very good point, but we all have to catch the meaning ourselves instead of thinking it's just another anime about love.

As much as I adore this anime, there were a few things about it that annoyed me, and that was because it was too lovie-dovie. Tamahome and Miaka keep having that weird problem where they decide not be together again, and then get back together moments after. That part was repetitive, but I could tell it was still essential to the anime.

A reason why I really liked this anime was that, this isn't just about love. IT ISN'T! It's about Miaka. It's about how she has matured into this beautiful blossom that's wiser, and more responsible. Through her experience with her best friend and her new friends--it became an adventure. Some of my friends said she's too young, but that isn't true. I first fell in love at the age of fifteen also, so it's reality/fantasy. I can tell why most wouldn't like it, but I loved it. I thought it was funny and romantic. It gives you this hope that love does conquer all whether it's true or not.

I still cry watching FY. Every time that I watch it, I find more reasons to love it more, and then other reasons that gets me annoyed. Anyway, if this anime isn't your thing, then I recommend FY's OAV. It's shorter, and it might explain a lot more in a short amount of time. But anyway, I do highly recommend it. At least watch it once and watch it all the way through. If mushy love stories aren't your thing, then you will be disappointed.

note: Please do not get the sequel for this. You will want to hang yourself... Well, if you like FY, then maybe you'll like the parodies in between the sequel's episodes.

This is the best TV show i have ever seen. I have the box set and i watch it all the time! The characters are sooo good! Yuu Watase is just awesome. You can't beat her. You get so caught up and might i mention that it is ADDICTIVE. You watch the first 5-10 episodes and you will have to watch all the way to 52! Tasuki is the best though everyone is wonderful! I was never a big anime fan, but i LUV THIS! Basic plot: Girl unhappy with life gets trapped in a magical book set in ancient china, finds the guy of her dreams, becomes a priestess, becomes enemies with her best bud, and learns quite a bit about herself!

This is NOT pokemon, i wouldn't recommend anything past the first few episodes for kids under 12 or 13.

IMPORTANT: GET THE SUBTITLED VERSION!!!!! PLEASE!!!The dubbed version (from what i have heard) totally BUTCHERS it!

WATCH IT!

Miaka Yuuki is your average Japanese Junior High student... She goes to school, has a best friend, looks forward to her first boyfriend, and has an entrance exam to take. She also makes below average grades which look even worse when compared to genius-girl best friend Yui's grades. She's obsessed with food, sleeps in class, and has a mother who would like her to get into the best high school in Tokyo.

Things seem impossible until Miaka finds a book- The Universe of the Four Gods, Sky and Earth, locked away in a closed off part of the library. As Yui reads the first lines to her (they are in Ancient Chinese), a red glow pulls the two girls into the magical book. Soon the girls are rescued by a handsome young man, Yui gets pulled back to the real world, and Miaka is offered the chance of a life time: If she becomes the heroine of the book, finds the seven people with the mark of the Suzaku Stars, then summons Suzaku to protect this ancient chinese country, then Suzaku will grant her wishes. But things heat up when Miaka leaves to the real world, only to find Yui is missing. As she goes back looking for Yui in the book, she learns that the neighboring country is looking for their own Priestess to summon that country's god. But where would they find a girl from another world that could?

Miaka's journey then becomes one to rescue her best friend. What could possibly be the reason why Yui would become Miaka's enemy and even be sending people to try and kill her?

This show is not made for kids. It has many funny moments, though it covers very serious topics including rape, sex, suicide, and murder. The only problem I had with this series is that the beginning credits give away too much, so don't watch them until you reach episode 25. The episode previews ruin things throughout the series, so also skip these if at all possible. This is my favorite series from any country. On a scale of 1 to 10, its at least a 20! This is one book that you nor our heroine will be able to put down until the last page is turned- and then you'll have to check out the OAVs!

This show, far and away was the best anime, and perhaps story I have ever seen. The plot is incredibly intricate, the characters (with minor exceptions) are all intricately written (There is not a single un-sympathetic character in the show), and has a soundtrack that does nothing but push the emotions shown in the show to their limits.

However, it does deal with some adult subject matter, and does some things that will make you think long and hard about it for days, weeks, even years afterwards. The plot twists usually cannot be seen in advance, save for a minute or less before they happen. Even so, there are a few that will throw even the most critical show watcher (they did me!). By far, though, the show is best experienced if you go in with an innocent mind, and let Yuu Watase do her magic... you won't regret it.