July 24, 2012
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SERIES REVIEW: Moribito Guardian of the Sacred Spirit (2007)
26 Episodes
GENRE: Japanese Action-Drama Anime
SUMMARY: Balsa, a stout spear-wielding bodyguard from a foreign land, must protect the second prince Chagum to atone for her troublesome past. It is the royal family who reluctantly are seeking the prince’s death due to his possible possession by a water demon causing the magical world of Niyug to be spill over into our reality.
REVIEW: I don’t think everyone would like this show like I liked it. It’s just one of those shows that has a special place for me. It’s set in an alternate world with a feudal Japanese feel. They do a good job of really separating out the different cultures and subtley giving each one its own slightly different feel. The art and fight scenes are quality. The characters are what most people would find issue with. They are kind of all simple, bland, and duty-driven but that’s what’s appealing to me. It’s kind of the central focus of the series: the steady resolve and self-empowerment of common people. They speak to themselves a lot to clarify what’s going on to the audience, but it works. I really enjoyed it. I had already seen it once but woke up a couple mornings ago with this series fresh in my mind and a strong desire to see it. Still one of my favorites.
ART: 8/10
STORYTELLING & PLOT:7/10
CHARACTERS: 9/10 (probably 6-7/10 for most people)
OVERALL: 8/10