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Seirei no Moribito
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Animation - 9.7 |
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Sound - 8.5 |
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Story - 8.2 |
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Character - 8.1 |
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Value - 8.2 |
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Enjoyment - 8.6 |
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Average - 8.5 |
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| Average |
4.5 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
2 |
| Character |
2 |
| Value |
2 |
| Enjoyment |
2 |
| It looks like a series that costs $800,000 an episode but it doesn't 'feel' like it was worth it.
That is how I feel about Seirei no Moribito. I've wanted to like this series for a long time because it has all the ingredients required for a good series. But the execution of mixing them together is where it falls over.
Premise - Chagum, the second prince of the New Yogo Kingdom, has had an egg implanted in him by a Water Fairy - an event that occurs once every hundred years. That person then becomes the Guardian of Fairies. But the royal family finds this to be an inconvenience and want Chagum dead at all costs. The queen counters by getting Balsa, a female guard, to protect Chagum. Balsa is on a quest to save the lives of eight people to atone for a past fault. Chagum is to be the eighth. On the run from royal pursuers and Nayugu, beings from another world that are hellbent on eating the egg within Chagum, life is very hard for Chagum and Balsa.
Again, I reiterate - it sounds like a decent plot and has characters with intriguing pasts and futures. But here's the problem - the execution. Everything looks pretty and sounds decent but it is done ever so slowly it just doesn't feel interesting at all. Which is a real pity because one gets the impression the light novel was a good read. Why has the transition from novel to anime gone so wrong then?
The anime does have its good points. The animation is exceptional. Every bit of character animation, background art, flowing water, moving leaves - it is very gorgeous. The music isn't stellar but it is good. Character voices are of above average quality. But these are all aesthetic qualities. They can't carry a series.
The guts of the series - the story and characters - is the issue. The story just moves at a pace so unforgivably slow that it is hard to care when things happen or feel the true impact. There is also a continual atmosphere of foreboding and gloom that just infiltrates everyone and everything. It becomes very exhausting to watch as a result, getting to a degree of 'eveyrone is stuffed, why watch?' I wouldn't call it sadistic, but it gets close to that. As for the characters - Chagum and Balsa have all the background and details that should make for interesting characters. But they are portrayed in a very unappealing way. Feeling sympathy for them just becomes a chore, which isn't the way it should work. Heavy dialog and weak action take the soul out of this series, to the point their virtually is none.
Seirei no Moribito has all the aessthetics required for a great series but it lacks the soul or energy required. I really wish this series delivered, I had high hopes for it. In the end, its high budget fails to supply what this series really needed. Mushishi is a much better example of what the fantasy genre can do.
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1 of 4 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
8.3 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
6 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
7 |
| Enjoyment |
8 |
| Imagine that eight lives were lost at your cause. What would you do? In the case of Balsa, a spear weilding wonderer, she sets out to save eight lives or else her life would remain incomplete. She is on the brink of completing her task with seven down, but her final mission will really put her skills to the test. The crown prince was issued to be assassinated after discovering that a water spirit is using its body as its shell, but the empress refuses to let her son be killed no matter what. She hires Balsa to become her bodyguard even if it means that the water spirit is to fully hatch and bring fathom to the land. Balsa journies with Chagum around the land of the New Yogo empire in constant run of the emporer's assassin while also teaching the young prince the life of a commoner.
Guardian of the Sacred Spirit is a really deceiving anime. The first couple episodes you're treated to some very well choreographed fights that are complimented by some great aesthetic value. Later on though, much of the episodes revolve around Chagum experiencing the life of the common person. Chagum at first struggles with Balsa pushing his body to its limits on a daily basis and tears are shed when no maids are able to assist him in his chores and obstacles, though thanks to the knowledge he was taught by his many tutors, Chagum gets by with his smarts that causes commoner children to flock towards him.
It sounds pretty boring; you're expecting a badass anime where this grown woman kicks assassins ass' who attempt to kill the prince, but instead you get to watch a kid grow up? Well, it actually is pretty fun and rewarding to watch. The characters in Guardian of the Sacred Spirit are just great and rich in personality. Anime characters are most of the time emotional, but the characters here are engineered mostly by logic. It is almost like I am watching a Chinese drama instead. Most of the time when I'm watching anime, I feel like I'm watching young teens transform into adults. Here, everyone starts out as adults, even Chagum and the other kids and teenagers.
The main characters and its supporting cast are really refined and polished. They play their roles almost way too perfectly, I even dare say this is probably the most flawless anime cast out there. Note I didn't say best, just the most flawless. Balsa should be a textbook example of the mentor type character who knows it all. Tanda also plays an excellent role as the lead supporting character. Other supporting characters like Toya, most notable for his buck teeth, and Shuga, seem like your nextdoor neighbours you haven't seen in years.
The acting is just so fluid and rich, and that goes the same for its animation and sounds. The animation in particular is just so crisp in detail, and it doesn't really share any of the typical anime traits of big eyes, ecchi moments, and those comif relief signs (tear drop on the back of head, hanging jaw, falling on the ground with legs hanging in the air). The sounds are of equal value with a classical asian medievil soundtrack that fits the mood well. The anime's serious graphical interface and soundtrack blends well with the direction and theme of the anime.
I have said nothing but great things, but it just so happens its one major flaw really weighs it down from reaching The Twelve Kingdoms and Neon Genesis Evangelion status to the levels of Azumanga Daioh and Wolf's Rain (of course this is just my opinion, I think the latter two animes are great, just two notches down from the two former animes mentioned). What is this flaw anyways? One word; sloooooooooooooooow. I just cannot emphasize how slow this anime is. Sure it is nice that there is a lot of slice of life and light hearted moments, but there was still a story to it. The story moved at such a snail like pace that some of the later episodes felt uninspiring to watch.
It is unfortunate this one flaw really barred down what could have easily been an anime next to The Twelve Kingdoms. Everything about it is perfect; its glamorous and realistic animation, its acting, the unforgettable collection of characters, but unfortunately it all moved much too slow. If there was one way to sum Guardian of the Sacred Spirits in just two words while giving a clear picture of what kind of anime it is, it is this: Studio Ghibi. It honestly feels like it was made in their very hands. Fans of Ghibi will easily fall in love with this great anime, but even they may need patience for its pace.
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1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
7.7 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Story |
8 |
| Character |
7 |
| Value |
7 |
| Enjoyment |
8 |
| I finished this anime like how I drink water - extremely quickly. Seirei no Moribito is very easy to digest, with few confusing scenarios and a very linear yet engaging plot. I really liked this series, because it was fluid and unepisodic. Balsa and Chagum flowed from place to place, growing up together, while managing to evade the forces that worked against them.
It is hard to describe this anime in many words. Throughout most of it, the viewer just sits back and lets the events unfold. In the beginning, Balsa, a female body-guard who is superiorly skilled in the spear, is entrusted with the task to protect the second prince of the king. The king wishes to get rid of the prince, because legend has it that the spirit within him would cause drought for the kingdom. The second part is long, and consists of Balsa, the prince, Balsa's childhood friend, and this friend's teacher trying to find a way to get rid of/learn more about the spirit, while evading the king's men. The series ends with a climax where all forces clash in one big showdown.
The reason why this anime was such a quick watch was because it was very unepisodic. As the series progressed, the viewer was presented with newer and more information. From Balsa's past and her reasoning for becoming a body guard, to the truth of the water spirit legend, to the politics in the government, to the bonding of the characters, we are always presented with something new in each episode. As a result, each episode felt fresh and exciting. Even if the episode was a filler in terms of the overall plot, it revealed a lot about the character's personality and often times contained some interesting action scenes.
Overall, the biggest impression this anime left me was in the action scenes. I enjoy the melees, where there wasn't mindless fighting. Balsa really has a strong intuitive sense of how to protect herself and others at the same time. I also enjoyed the constant and consistent introduction of new elements to the story. This series wrapped up quite nicely, and left me with a good feeling. Despite the interesting story, character development did not really impress me too much. Watch this series if you enjoy following the journeys of a strong spearswoman and her role in unraveling the truth behind a legend.
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3 of 3 people found this review helpful.
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No
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| Average |
9.2 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
8 |
| its a well made anime i fell inlove with it immediately ive seen the first episode
chagum is suppose to be the main character since that his the guardian of the sacred spirit yet some how the story started and kinda revolves on both balsa and chagum wow im confused.
i recommend it for evry one who likes animes like princess mononoke since the animation is kinda similar
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0 of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Summoner |
(2008-02-25 06:27:33) 2008-02-23 11:00:50 |
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| Average |
6.5 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Story |
6 |
| Character |
7 |
| Value |
5 |
| Enjoyment |
6 |
| "Come, come, nahji. Come, come, nahji. Become a black cloud and come flying from the northern mountains."
Seirei no Moribito sure caught me off guard. I was expecting to see some pure action brainless shounen show, but in turn I got a pretty well thought out seinen, with few, but very good action scenes. Unfortunately, while at the same time I was pleasantly surprised, I was disappointed by the show's slow pace and a story, based on (I guess) chinese legends, which I have little passion for. This show, despite having a good start and great ending, lacks excitement in the biggest chunk - middle. There were quite a few moments where I thought about fast-forwarding some episodes, especially few filler ones. Characters on the other hand are pretty good, while not groundbreaking, they are perfectly feeling and logically reacting to their surroundings human beings (what is not the case in many shows).
Though I can't call this show great, or favourite, or whatever, it's a good watch if you don't have any 'great' shows on your watchlist. Just don't expect too much. If you are interested in ancient mythology about all these water, earth spirits and the like you'll be captivated by this show though. Recommended.
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2 of 5 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
8.5 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Story |
8 |
| Character |
8 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
| This is one of best animes of 2007 and I am certainliy glad I've watched it. It's subtle, dignified and visually immersing. If you've been looking for an anime void of the typical elements this is the one. Characters are real, vulnerable, human while the story serves as a canvas on which their stories are painted.
The visuals alone are stunning prompting me to pause quite often and let the view sink in.
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1 of 2 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
6.7 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Story |
5 |
| Character |
6 |
| Value |
7 |
| Enjoyment |
7 |
| Another series based on a popular fantasy novel. While the novel is more elaborate in depicting its world to the reader, the anime series does not follow the route of 12 Kokuki and focuses mainly in action and adventure.
I agree that this is one of the best series of 2007.The positives outweigh the negatives. The element of adventure is always present and till the last episode manages to keep the viewers interest. The fight scenes were very well animated and the central story was interesting, even if the ending wasnt anything special. Only problem that I found is that sometimes it felt just as another good anime but except the action scenes and some dramatic moments, didnt leave the viewer any other positive impression. I agree too that 12 Kingdoms was more complex but this relies more on a summary of the novel's world, or else as in the former, it would need more episodes to develop.
The characters were well animated (finally a good animated title) and with such animation it is a pity not more episodes were devoted to better character development. The viewers will not get dissapointed with the technical aspects of the series. The novels settings are very well represented and such quality is only found in animated movies for cinema. Despite that it is action oriented, battles seldom occur. In most of the episodes the background story of the characters or the main story of the water fiend is explained. A couple of episodes were boring and it remains an issue how the series would fare if they chose the 12 Kingdoms way of presentation.
Overall a good title but in the end I thought (putting animation and music aside) this could have been so much better. But lets give also the novel a chance.
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0 of 3 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
9.3 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
| In one word awesome. The graphics are among the best I've ever seen. There is detailed, and excellent sound throughout. Both befitting the great story that is being told, of a heroic fantasy journey. The characters are believable and convincing, a rare feat for a fantasy tale. I started watching this on the 2nd day of Christmas and finished in the early morning hours of the 28th. It's one of those series where you just got to know what happens next. So while I doubt it will last you long, I think it has excellent value.
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2 of 2 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
8.8 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
8 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
| If I had to sum this anime up in a few words, the words I would choose would be "Mature", "Gracefull" and "Original".
This is a rare anime where the personalities of the main characters are not expressed through excessive displays of emotion. It is fare more subtle than that and in my oppinion, this is for the better. For example, the main character of the show, Balsa, is thirty years old and displays the confidence and experience someone of her age would have. In fact, all character interaction, even that of the young prince has a gracefull air of quality and respect, enhanced by the old asian empire setting.
The world is vibrant and the quality of the animation and backgrounds, be it a city or in the middle of a primeval forest, is astonishing. If you've ever traveled through china, you'll recognize the beauty of the natural environment which exists there. (yellow mountain district, or the area near beijing and the great mountain for example) Even if you are not a fan of historic fantasies, the breath taking backgrounds and the wonderful feeling of travelling through beautifull landscapes make it worth it to watch this anime.
The story is the telling of a historic legend. And altough maybe its pacing is a weak point, it was thoroughly enjoyable.
Overall, this anime just breathes quality: from the way the characters interact, the subtle attention te detail to the glorious landscapes. And there are so many more things which make this anime a gem which I whole heartedly recommend to anyone, regardless of which genre you like.
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4 of 4 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
8.3 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Story |
8 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
7 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
| Good series are pretty rare these days, there are too many thoughtless, has done befores that sometime deter you from even watching anime. This series, while it was not great, was rather good. Originality is very rare as well and that was one of Seirei no moribito's strengths. While the storyline was not as smooth flowing as some great series, I would recommend this one to anyone who loves a story with the depth of a whole new world in it's arsenal.
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1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
9.8 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| This anime just Blew me away. Though this anime is indeed fantasy its style is similar to Rurouni Kenshin in the sense that it allows us to actually see the small happenings in the world, This adds allot of depth and beauty. While watching this anime Im sure one will realize how beautiful it really is from the amazing animation to the awesome sounds. I really feel that this anime will be among the greats. However i feel that one should have an artists heart to truly experience Seirei no Moribito.
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0 of 2 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
9.7 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| In my 5 years of watching anime, i have never really seen something unique is this in both its art and storytelling sides. If you watch this show you will get to see some of the most detailed and interesting animation you will probably ever see in an anime, you can easily see that the creators of this show had an overaverage budget to build this on and with a good story into the mix, you get an almost perfect anime.
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2 of 2 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
7.8 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
7 |
| Character |
7 |
| Value |
8 |
| Enjoyment |
8 |
| what i love about fantasy is the transcendence of having a specific goal. the entire anime became about chagum and the egg in his chest. if i asked u what was juuni kokki about, there is not one thing to focus on. the issues and concepts continued to grow and grow, but this was just too linear. jk did not just focus on how a regular girl can fit in a fantastical world, it also expanded on so many issues ranging from murder, betrayal, self loathing, trust, our own personal demons, friendship, suffering, the meaning of life, the birth of life, order, politics, what it means to be a ruler. but SnM in the beginning not only focused on the egg, but the importance of taking a life… commiting murder. but that issue was not fully developed to delved into. it came and it went.
we didnt even understand why tanda was the only one that could reject her for her murders, why did she listen to him, if killing had no weight? what made her listen? why did she leave him? how could chagum suddenly go back to a life that threatened his own and acclimate so well. my point is that in all reality, the show is not complex at all. no adult themes. no shades of gray. everyone found their niche in the end. no one was really faced with any heavy confrontation. the heaviest moral confrontation was the slap btw chagum and balsa, and that was comical. im not saying the show was bad, im just saying that i was expected to be blown away. look at the episode when balsa goes all tiger on the dude? what then, she’s fine because she didnt kill him? all was well with the world? every thing just fit too well…
or how bout all those mysterious scenes and conversations at court?? why did the head sage try and kill shuga? yet he didnt even know the truth, the head sage was just acting mysterious as a plot device. yet his attempts on shuga’s life and multiple attempted murders of the prince carried no weight. dude just came and went. what was up with the prince why was he so sickly? are u telling me that the first wife held no malice for the death and silence of her son, and the second prince was bound to ascend the throne? c’mon… balsa reminds me of motoko from ghost in the shell, she just does what she’s supposed to do or believes what she’s doing is right, there is no range in her emotional contenance. atleast motoko was redeemed in 2nd gig where we saw a completely different side of her. Balsa was boring as fucking hell. no passion for anything whatsoever. now compare her character arc to someone like yoko from juuni kokki, or caska from berserk, or saya from blood+… theres not even any point. Balsa can be summarized as hot and formidable. nothing more.
wow… that was disappointing… ~sigh~ im surprised so many of y’all liked chagum. somewhere along the line i stopped caring about everything, but tanda and balsa’s relationship. i hate being crushed with disappointment. if anything seirei no moribito has numbed my thirst for great anime. how everything led up to them fighting gigantic squids… omg… saddest thing is that they show had so much potential, and moments of greatness. what happened to the philosophical themes about murder?? that did not even play into anything… i was hoping chagum would commit patricide, and contemplate on what it means to take a life. and for fucks sake i hate balsa for not even seeming to pay attention to the one person that has been there for her for 20 yrs. yet she knew chagum for what a year? yet tanda gets no love? if u want to watch fantasy done well, fantasy as a masterpiece watch 12 kingdoms, 12 kingdoms puts moribito to shame. funny thing is that i wouldnt have been so mad if the first 3 eps werent so good. la lunga turns out to be gigantic squids… the highlight of the show? you cant see me as the cure, then there is not point waiting” every guy that has ever been in love knows exactly what tanda felt at that moment.
i remember watching 12 kingdoms for the first time, and i had no idea where the show was going, or how it would end, yet by eps 4 of SnM i would bet a billion dollars that chagum would be safe and sound in the end, and everyone will live and be happy. even when chagum was hunting with balsa, he accepted seeing death and blood so easily… yet i remember when yoko killed a man for the first time how that changed everything. or when renton in eureka seven realized that he had been killing people all that time he had been riding in the nirvash. that shit was chilling. yet chagum just went on and on, and only complained about going back home. for a show that was so detailed in art and story, it wsa ridiculously simple and linear. it might has well have been a disney movie with the best production values money can buy.
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1 of 8 people found this review helpful.
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|
andy |
(2007-11-02 01:27:46) 2007-10-26 20:17:01 |
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| Average |
9.2 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Seirei no Moribito has a totally different feel from a run in the mill TV anime. Even series` widely praised for originality like Cowboy Bebop has its share of Anime cliche`s. Seirei no Moribito conceptually feels like a Chinese Wuxia story, in the vein of Crouching Tiger. Its characters and script feel like they`re taken from Asian young adult literature (which they are), heavily emphasizing morality, virtue and heroism. It certainly is a rarity to see a TV series where you`re truly hard pressed to find even one anime cliche.
Given that it is a stand out as an Anime title in general, but certainly in the fantasy genre, and the fact that it`s such a high quality piece of work, it seems quintessential; this is the type of series that will become classic and inspire many others to come. I wouldn`t be too surprised if the main characters here became stiff character molds, new cliche`s.
A prince is thought to be possessed by a demon, and the ritual for exorcising this demon is for the emperor to kill the boy along with the demon with a sacred sword. The empress can`t bear to see her son killed, and stumbles upon a woman working as a body guard. Balsa, the body guard, accepts the empress`s request to take the boy away and keep him unharmed until adulthood. The story follows the pair as they evade assassins and discover the true nature of what is possessing the boy. While the fate of the world eventually gets involved, the real focus of the story is heroism and virtue on a smaller scale. Again and again Seirei no Moribito hits you with inspiring and heart warming stories of self sacrifice for nothing more than the sake of one person. The main characters have that dignified sense of virtue that feels iron clad, like it won`t bend no matter what kind of pressure the rest of society exerts or what kind of sacrifices need to be made in order to follow those virtues.
The central plot line itself displays that. Balsa is prepared to devote her life to save a stranger`s son because her sense of virtue and responsibility tells her that`s what must be done. As the series progresses, you`ll see that many other characters, including the antagonists (who aren`t really villains) display the same kind of benevolent self sacrifice.
The story telling does take a few missteps. Like children`s literature, it has no subtlety. There is very little to be read in the character interactions, the characters` self reflections (which are always monologued for you) or the characters` thought processes when tackling a problem. The amount of explanation the characters go through gets to be awkward. There are vocalized self-debates that walk through the logic of the character`s choices step by step. The second problem I found is a minor one: the story isn`t cut neatly at the end of every episode. The endings of the episodes can be at seemingly random places in the story, neither cutting at a cliffhanger nor a nice point of closure. This isn`t a problem at all if you`re going to marathon 4 or 5 episodes at once though.
Seirei no Moribito avoids the greatest pitfall of fantasies: taking too long to explain the intricacies of the world. Thankfully, it leaves the viewer to imagine all the minutia. All the screen time is devoted to the characters and the plot line, the power of which really makes all my complaints negligible. It reminds me of my impression of Kant (my high school level philosophy class impressions, so please, grain of salt): True morality doesn`t come from love, or sympathy, but from duty. The self sacrifice the characters make are primarily born from their sense of duty. Sometimes they endure out of love, which is touching in its own right, but what really brings a tear to my eye is their need to adhere to the principals of morality and to what extent they give to doing so.
Visually, Seirei no Moribito is yet again an outlier. The consistent detail in the backgrounds is some of the best in any TV series. The textures of many textiles, bamboo curtains, and other objects generally not given a second thought are astounding. The lighting is beautiful, and the colors are vibrant in a comforting, earthy way. The greenery almost jumps out at you, like a field of grass on a dark and rainy day. The character animations aren`t as fluid as some of IG`s other work or the visual cream of the crop TV series like Samurai Champloo. Balsa`s spear practice sessions are a glaring example of a general stiffness in the character`s motions. there isn`t much follow through in her movements that give it a fluid, human quality. It`s easy to have high expectations when martial arts are involved because fights in hong kong movies or the boxing ring can look so beautiful, and it takes an enormous amount of attention to detail to not have martial arts look awkward in animation. Samurai Champloo would be my pick in general quality for action scenes in an Anime TV series but in certain aspects Seirei no Moribito`s action scenes are more impressive . The choreography moves at a million miles an hour with many more slight, intricate techniques than any other TV series. The choreography alone is cinema quality; maybe even top notch HK cinema quality. On more than one occasion though, the choreography is so fast that the frames of animation can`t keep up. It gets difficult to tell a spear thrust from a swing when several attacks are consecutive. When the action moves too fast, it has a bit of a jumpy look. The voice acting also plays no small part. Like Saya from Blood: The Last Vampire (not Blood+), the violence and brutality, the life or death struggle of mortal combat is expressed through Balsa`s seiyuu. Most people will probably find this to be a pretty stark contrast to the general yelps of "Hunh" and "Hah" voicework you see in most action scenes in Anime. It just goes to show to what degree voice work can dramatize an action scene.
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I don`t think a fantasy Anime has moved me to the same extent that Seirei no Moribito has. It steps back from any pseudo-intellectual debate on morality, which Anime is absolutely littered with, and plays on people`s primal understandings of righteousness. It reminds me more of Heroes and Spiderman than any Anime. As a warning though, many people may think Seirei is action oriented after the first 3 episodes. There are quite a few rich, and satisfying action sequences, but it`s definitely more on the drama side as a whole, so be forewarned.
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3 of 3 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
9.8 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Seirei no Moribito is a beauty to watch. The best animation from a TV series ever. A stimulating and epic soundtrack to accompany it. An typical fantasy storyline, but a memorable world to discover. Extremely likeable characters. Awesome fight scenes. Really, there is not much not to like.
Animation
This is the best part about Seirei no Moribito. Describing it as great animation doesn`t even seem to do it justice. The fluidity is incredible. Throw in some stunning background scenes and very original fight choreographies, and what do you get? You get the best animated TV series by a longshot. Picture Princess Mononoke or Spirited Away, but for 26 episodes.
I am a little disappointed about the little amount of action scenes towards the middle of the show, because I would of liked to see more fights of such awesome quality. Just for the animation, Seirei no Moribito is worth the watch.
Sound
However, it doesn`t stop there. The soundtrack is a classic. The amount of depth it adds to the story, to the entire experience cannot be denied. Kind of makes me think about all those animes whose soundtracks try to emanate an epic feeling. Well, they should learn a thing or two from Seirei no Moribito, because its soundtrack is simply epic. Great voice acting, good opening and ending, what more is there to ask?
Story
A typical fantasy storyline about a woman and a boy saving the world. The story in itself is not all that impressive, but the execution of it is. There is a lesson to be learned, a morale to every episode. The amount of content is also impressive: you seem to be discovering something new about the world every minute of the show.
It is hard to describe just how well the story is told throughout Seirei no Moribito. There is an action packed beginning that plunges the viewer into a whole new universe; that is followed by several slower paced episodes that focus on the characters and the environment they live in; then a long build up to the moment of truth, which finally arrives amidst the building tension. There is even a final epilogue-ish episode to wrap things up.
Throughout Seirei no Moribito, I was filled with a feeling of satisfaction, curiosity, and enjoyment. Even the ending does not seem to leave me wanting more: I am simply satisfied with the overall experience. The more I think back, the more I am impressed by the perfection of this anime.
Character
I tried to keep the ratings realistic so I wanted to avoid a perfect score. It turned out to be quite hard to take off that single point I was looking for, but I guess this is the only area of the show that could be improved. But I must say beforehand that the characters are, in general, quite awesome. The main character, Balsa, is as a heroine should be: strong, smart, kind, and burdened by a tragic past. However, it is the other main character, Chagum, that really surprised me. Usually, the weak `tag along` type of character is moderately (or extremely) detestable. But Chagum, although physically weak, has a strong heart and mind, and that makes him quite interesting as a character to say the least.
Seirei no Moribito does not feature a large cast of characters, but their overall depth makes up for it so I have no complaints there. One thing that did bother me was that I would have preferred a more extensive character evolution for Balsa, because well, she`s a little too perfect. The only other complaint I have is that occasionally, some characters seemed a bit flat in their ideals and actions - especially Shuga, the Holy Sage, Jin, and the Emperor.
Value
To give a simple perspective of things: I just finished it and I am already rewatching it. The main reason, I must say, is the pure quality of the show. With such stunning animation and such epic soundtracks, it doesn`t leave you with much of a choice, because you just can`t find anything better (or equal) out there.
Enjoyment
I am simply thankful to the producers of Seirei no Moribito for making such a beautiful piece of work. The best anime experience I have ever had. I recommend this title to anyone, absolutely anyone who is looking for some pure enjoyment. I can guarantee that you will not be disappointed.
Seirei no Moribito is one of the greatest titles to date.
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10 of 12 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
9.0 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
7 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Of all the 2007 anime series I've watched so far, Seirei no Moribito takes the cake for being my favorite this year. The production values placed into creating this anime were obviously very high, and the end result is something to really admire. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Seirei no Moribito and I highly recommend this series!
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6 of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Encu |
(2007-10-27 17:38:24) 2007-09-12 00:16:54 |
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| Average |
9.2 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
7 |
| Value |
8 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Seirei no Moribito is an incredible series which I highly recommend watching if you like anime.
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2 of 2 people found this review helpful.
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|
Jenil |
(2007-10-07 13:26:52) 2007-07-29 08:05:47 |
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| Average |
8.3 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Story |
8 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
8 |
| Based on episodes 1-14.
In short, Seirei no Moribito seems to be a very good fantasy anime which reminds me by some sides of The Twelve Kingdoms, despite a quite slow story. Yet, do not expect from the first episodes a lot of action - I repeat, it is not an ACTION anime -, for you would be highly disappointed by the further outcomes of the story.
On the contrary, this anime relies strongly upon characters development, a great background with court intrigues, magic tricks as well as commonners life and a promising epic story.
In Seirei no Moribito, words matter as much as swords (or spears in this case). There are really few animes who can be set along this one. This show definetely deserves to be more popular.
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4 of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Coyle |
2007-07-29 00:15:03 |
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| Average |
9.8 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Based on eps 1-14
This anime features amazing animation with some pretty amazing fights although they do not occur that often.
Unfortunately it is pretty unknown but its definetly one of the best animes of 2007 unlike any typical anime.
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0 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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|
|
|
| Average |
9.8 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Disclaimer: this is based on Episodes 1-3.
I've watched a lot of anime in my time and based on my past experience I can tell you right away: this is going to be a classic. Probably the best of 2007 or at least in the top 3.
And yes I can tell already by Episode 3. Trust me.
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1 of 2 people found this review helpful.
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