Fushigi Yûgi: The Mysterious Play

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.

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.

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 was told this was one of the best anime series ever created, well...it's not. Quite frankly, it is about as complex as Pokemon.

The characters is this series are so-so. They really aren't that great, and often times annoying.

The plot isn't unique at all. A TYPICAL shoujo girl names Miaka Yuuki goes out to find her seven warriors so she can make her dreams come true. BORING. It's the same day to day plot in every episodes. MIAKA is in trouble, TAMAHOME to the rescue. And back and forth, you can't have a moment where everyone is ALL RIGHT.

This is even more sappy than the Titanic. Oh Tamahome, I love you! I love YOU Miaka, it really will drive you nuts.

In the end, this is an awful, boring, chick-flick of an anime. Don't bother getting it, get something with more depth instead.

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!