Magic Knight Rayearth

It's a fun series, but after a strong beginning, it starts slowing down. Several episodes have very little point in the overall plot, and the Role Playing Game storyline just isn't complex enough to really fill 7 or 8 hours. Animation is decent, but occasionally they get cheap with it, especially when it comes to animating the big battles. Finally, the payoff at the ending just is not NEARLY as good as it should have been, especially considering how long the journey was. Not that I object to the ending, just that it seems like it could (and should) have built up to something much bigger. Probably worth renting or borrowing off a friend, but not worth buying.

Rayearth is a wicked famous anime..and so I finally saw it. The first season is a monster-of-the-day show..that just gets tedious. But the 2nd season is ALL plot and woo...the drama of rayearth. very gripping and exciting. A must see. Recommendation: read the manga vols 1-3, then see the 2nd season anime, then finish the manga (vols 4-6). I give it 8 of 10 stars

Season 1: What I like about this series,it was created by Clamp,(the animators of Tokyo Babylon, Cardcaptors,Chobits, RG Veda,etc), the story is about three junior high school girls,Hikaru,Umi,and Fuu who were summoned by Princess Emeraude to become Magic Knights and save an alternate world called Cephiro. What I also think about the series, the opening and ending theme songs were pretty cool. (Note): Both theme songs were performed by Sandy Fox. Another thing about this series, it was also a video game. In the show there are 2 things that the girls had to do in order to become Magic Knights. First, acquire the legendary ore called Escudo.(Note): the only person who can use the Escudo to make the weapons is master smith Presea. I know it was really sad that she died because, she give her life to create the weapons. Second, the Magic Knights had to revive the legendary Rune Gods to battle Zagato. I also think that the swordsman Ferio has a crush on Fuu after he give Fuu the Magic Orb. Another thing I like about the show is that the minions who served High Priest Zagato became their allies.(Note): they are Caldina, the illusionist, Ascot, the summoner, and Lafarga, the Swordmaster. I can't believe that Ferio is the Brother of Princess Emeraude, Ferio's memories returned to him after the Magic Knights defeated Innouva. But the end was very sad,Princess Emeraude's last wish to be with Zagato and the Magic Knights killed her.

Season 2: What I think about this season, it picks up after the first. I know that the Maigc Knight went back to Cephiro by their own will and it was in darkness and Terror. I know that Cephiro has no pillar because Princess Emeraude died. I know it was very sad. But it got even worse. Other countries are planning to invade Cephiro. Autozam, Farhen, and Chizeta.And of course, there are new characters in this season. Lantis,the brother of High Priest Zagato and Primera, the fairy. The evil side Nova, who was created by Hikaru, and Debonair. When the Magic Knight were each captured by the invaders,the girls talk to them and ask them to call off their attack on Cephiro. But it even got more, even in the final battle for Cephiro, the invaders help the Magic Knights save Cephiro and Hikaru wished for Cephiro to be free of the Pillar.

So in closing to this 2 season series, add it to your collection, you will see what I mean.

Magic Knight Rayearth is about 3 girls sent to another world, where they must gain magic in order to save everyone from evil. This is one of CLAMP's (CLAMP is a group of Japanese comic artists) best projects. Okay, it is kind of a Sailor Moon rip-off in some small areas, but most of the series is pretty original. The ending is very shocking and this anime deserves a look.

I give this anime eight out of ten purely for my love of the characters. I've been a fan of anime for four years now, and this is my absolute favorite. However, I have to be honest: It's not the best.

If you want to see an anime for pure animation, go see Suzumiya Haruhi or Mai-HiME. The animation for this series is about as bad as that of Sailor Moon. It's sketchy, and there are many places where the budget runs out. The animators constantly change, and you can tell. I've seen the whole series twice and own it on DVD, so I know. In fact, I'm watching it now. The English dub is awful. Probably the best voice actor in the whole series is Bridgett Hoffman, the voice of Fuu. In close second, I'd put Terry Roberts, the first season voice of Ferio.

Now, don't get me wrong, there are some really great things about this series. The characters are absolutely wonderful. Almost anyone can feel a closeness to a character in this series. For me, it's Fuu Hououji, for another, it's Umi Ryuuzaki. For another, it's Lafarga. There's someone you can love in this show. The characters are always changing and you see more and more of them. The plot is full of action, adventure, fantasy, mind games, romance and a strange twist at the end.

There's not more I can say about Magic Knights, other than I think everyone should watch it. That's about all