Fushigi Yûgi

Neverending Story goes anime.

That's what I thought after episode one. =)

This is a kawaii fairy-tale that takes place inside a magical book. A girl from the real world (she is super-annoying and I hate her) is pulled into the book, in which she becomes the priestess of Suzaku, a red phoenix-bird. To bring Suzaku to life, and fulfill her wishes, she must find the seven stars of Suzaku, seven men with marks on their bodies. She falls in love with the first she finds, Tamahome, who has the make of the Ogre upon his forehead.

This is a cute show, but I was surprised of the darkness that springs forth in a few episodes. Between all the puke-kawaii "I love you - I love you too - I love you more - W'll always be toghether - Yes, I love you!", there is torture and rape. Some episodes are not for children.

Overall, I really like this one. The shrieky heroine gets slightly less annoying as the show goes on, but if you can put up with her, the rest of the characters are much more interesting.

Beautiful, fairy-tale-like and cute, with some dark streaks.

Don't miss it!

/Auryn

If this masterpiece of a cartoon series ever makes its way unscathed into American TVs, it will forever transform the image of the cartoon.

As the Japanese continue to prove time and again: cartoons are NOT for children. They are for adults.

Fushigi Yuugi is an ultra epic(33 30 minute episodes) of an earth girl and her quest to save a mysterious world. In the process she learns how shallow her earth life was and how unaware she was of who she truely is.

The many characters in this story, jump off the screen with such depth that you will shake your head at how such a thing is possible with pencil lines. Special mention needs to go to Tamahome and Nuriko who are more three-dimensional than anything Disney has yet to create in its animated classics. Please don't miss this set.

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!

I've heard so much praise for this series that I decided I have to watch it myself... What better for a fantasy freak like myself, I thought, than an anime with pretty art, an alternative fantasy universe with gods and magic, and a little romance on the side? I was wrong. "Fushigi Yuugi" is one of the worst series I've ever watched - I had to quit it halfway, I just couldn't take it anymore.

The basic story, if not too original, has potential - but it is dealt with in such an annoying and cliche way that it's totally uninteresting. I only kept watching as far as I did because I was interested in what happens to the twins.

The characters are mostly horrible - the heroine is one of the stupidest, most detestable ever to appear on screen. Sorry Miaka-fans, I just find her to be ditzy, idiotic, dependant and horribly annoying. Her male counterpart is only a little better - after a while you really get sick of the whole "Tamahome!!!" - "Miaka!!!" recurring motif. Most of the protagonists are not much better, save the wonderful characters of Nuriko and Tasuki, who really don't get enough screen time at all. Mostly I found myself rooting for the bad guys, though they also are led by the uninteresting Nakago, who may seem cool at first, but is really no more than the usual power-crazed maniac. The twins Amiboshi and Suboshi, however, are fascinating and identifiable, and really save the viewer from total boredom. Too bad they don't get that much screen time either.

The animation is pretty bad, and Yuu Watase's beautiful drawings fail to be transferred onto the screen faithfully. It is a good indication of the animation quality that Hotohori, supposedly the most beautiful man in the world, often looks squashed and deformed and very unappealing.

All in all, this series is horribly overrated, imho. For GOOD fantasy anime, check out Slayers or, if you're looking for a really fascinating story and gorgeous art, try Utena (which is the best anime ever, imho.)

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.