Denkyu: Anime Webzine

by Andromeda

Have you ever watched an anime and fell so much in love with it that you’ve said, “I need more!”? Have you ever fell so much in love with the characters you’ve said, “I want to see what happens later on!”, after the story has ended? Yes, you most likely have. There have been dozens of characters I’ve liked and wanted to know, what happens after the crisis is over and the bad guy is gone.

Fushigi Yugi: Eikoden helped with my craving for more Fushigi Yugi. Taka, a.k.a Tamahome, and Miaka are now a few years older and are starting a new chapter in their lives. They’re getting married. It’s a happy day for everyone. Well, everyone except for, Mayo, a girl who has a major crush on Taka. Unrequited love. We all know how homicidal and crazy it makes some people.

The Universe of the Four Gods is calling for a hero once again to save the land and the people within from disappearing completely. Walking home one day, Mayo discovers the book in the trash and takes it home. Upon reading it she learns some interesting things about Take and Miaka. Coveting what she doesn’t have, and the book needing a new priestess, Mayo goes inside The Universe of the Four Gods.

Just when things couldn’t get better for the newlyweds, a pregnant Miaka collapses. Taka, finding out the reason why knows that to save Miaka and their unborn child, he must go back into the book and find Mayo. Things become worse when he finds Mayo and hears the lies she has told to the young Emperor, Hotohori’s son. But this isn’t the only problem that has arisen.

It’s been ten years since Taka (Tamahome) has left The Universe of the Four Gods. Upon his return he discovers something is tearing apart the land, destroying the book. Before he can take Mayo back he must gather together the Suzaku seven, bring back their memories, and once again save the land. Time is running out quickly for The Universe of the Four Gods and Miaka.

I enjoyed this installment of Fushigi Yugi but thought it was rushed. No, that has nothing to do with my wanting more Fushigi Yugi. For the storyline, much more could have been added to make it complete. A lot of characters are brought in but their time in the spotlight was extremely short. One thing I liked about the original series was the character development of the Suzaku seven. I know that they were being gathered again, but those who were dead were reborn.

There was very little of Miaka in it, despite her not being the main character. The story revolves much more around Taka. All the familiar main characters make an appearance. Yui – her best friend. Tetsuya – Yui’s boyfriend and Keisuke’s friend. Keisuke – Miaka’s brother. Keisuke was there when Mayo went inside the book and even tried stopping her. This time he’s reading the book while at Miaka’s bedside.

The art is the same as the series, so you will have that familiarity with it. I know I enjoy movies and OVAs much more when the drawing style is the same as the series. It makes me feel like it’s something different when it’s not.

If you are a Fushigi Yugi fan and you haven’t seen this yet, you really should.

by Otakuden

A scorched Earth ravaged by nuclear pollution and war. Leftover remnants of civilization eek out their days within domed cities. Hope, fanatical desperation, and rigid authority struggle for dominion over the masses. In the face of mass destruction, despair, and misery, how would humanity as a whole react when suddenly confronted with a glimmer of hope? How would I as an individual react?

Environmental affairs.
Antiwar sentiment.
Pacifism instead of violence.
Hope and reason instead of despair and hate.

Hayao Miyazaki has been a proponent of all the above his whole life and On Your Mark is no exception. A collaborative effort between Miyazaki-san and the Japanese pop duo Chage & Aska, On Your Mark tells an epic tale of hope in the face of destruction and desperation. Within the span of about six and a half minutes, Chage & Aska weave poetic lyrics as Miyazaki-san breathes life into their shared vision.

Chage & Aska are personified as the two heroes in On Your Mark. Average policemen, they find themselves thrust into a bloody and violent raid on a fanatical religious cult’s stronghold. Amidst gunfire and mass suicide, they discover a lone survivor amidst all the silent bodies and stench of death. Lying in a limp, crumpled mass, feathered white wings cover the pale, still body of a young girl. Who is she? Questions are irrelevant to Chage & Aska. All they see is an injured, young girl who is somehow miraculously alive. Unconscious, the only movement is of her chest slowly rising and falling with each shallow breath.

Cradled in gentle arms, Chage & Aska rush the young girl outside and find something for her to drink. Like a suckling babe, she greedily feeds on the offered straw and drink, slowly opening her eyes for the first time much to her rescuers delight. But no sooner does she wake up that strange men in even stranger full-body medical suits take the girl from their arms, thrust her into a body bag on a stretcher, and race off in their airship adorned with “Danger: Radioactive” symbols.

Left to their own troubled thoughts, our young heroes wither the night away, unable to rest or sleep as their conscience keeps drifting back to the beautiful yet frail girl they had rescued earlier that day. As the night grows long, Chage & Aska form a reckless last minute plan to rescue the young girl from the unsavory devices of the organization which had carted her away. A prisoner, she most likely would have suffered for unknown years, all in the name of science, fanaticism, and military design.

Chage & Aska raid the heavily guarded secret facility and with girl in arms, the desperate race to bring her to safety and to freedom begins. Pursued by armed men and armed vehicles, time and time again our heroes struggle to escape, never giving up because hope, freedom, and human goodwill must never be lost. Finally, they pass through the last gate out of the domed city and into the unknown. Lush green fields overflow with wild plants and flowers of infinite variety. Clear blue skies reach beyond the heavens themselves to greet our escapees. A warm breeze rustles her hair and outstretched wings. With a kiss goodbye and an angelic smile of thanks, our young lady soars up into the skies, free at last.

A young girl? An Angel? An arbiter of hope and freedom for a people who have lost their way? When hope is lost and the emotionless daily grind is the only meaning left to life – can one person, one moment of light and freedom open the doors to hope and rebirth once more?

Hayao Miyazaki, with the help of Chage & Aska, asks these very deep, humanistic and soul-searching questions of the viewer. Each of us as a person, as a human being has the ability and responsibility to take care of our home and to each other as equal individuals. Faced with the very embodiment of life and hope, would you as a person be able to let it go, to keep life and hope free for everyone? Or would you want to capture and imprison it so that you could keep it all to yourself?

On Your Mark is not licensed or available domestically, but it has finally gotten a DVD release in Japan for those who have the ability to play import DVDs. Anyone who appreciates a powerful film with a poetically scripted story and matching visuals will enjoy On Your Mark. It always manages to leave me misty-eyed by the end and with a profound sense of my humanity and wonder.

To check out all of Otakuden’s reviews, check out her blog at http://otakudenreviews.livejournal.com/

by Otakuden

In a forgotten era between strife and tranquility lies a small island resort nestled away on a tiny island in the middle of the Adriatic Sea. Within her walls there are no borders, no enemies and heroes, no war and no violence – just the resort’s chanteuse, Gina, and the magic that is Hotel Adriano. Men and women of all walks of life are welcome as long as they leave any agendas at the door. Pirates reminisce about the good old days as bounty hunters and regular citizen folk enjoy a warm meal and fine glass of wine. As the stress of the day melts away, an angelic voice fills your soul with gentle warmth as Gina sings a gentle aria.

One figure stands out amidst all the other patrons, a mix of first-time visitors and life-long regulars. Quiet and unassuming as possible, he seeks solitude and respite from the muffled festivities on the main floor. He would be just another patron if it wasn’t for the minor detail of bearing the face of a pig. Neither man nor beast, but a former WWI military pilot and childhood friend of Gina, Marcot Pagot has been indefinitely cursed to live out his life bearing the countenance of his convictions. As Gina and Marcot dine together in comfortable seclusion, they silently mourn lost loved ones and the fate which has befallen Marcot.

No longer a man or the soldier he once was, Marcot goes by the name Porco Rosso. Literally “Crimson Pig”, Porco Rosso is so named for his bright crimson red plane that he flies as Porco the pig. His plane is a one-of-a-kind work of genius craftsmanship and point of personal pride. At one time a patriot and pilot of the Italian government’s aerial forces during WWI, Porco grew disillusioned with the purpose of war and who he was fighting for. When the Italian government changed hands, power-lust and fascism became the new law of the land, In the face of such disgusting changes, Porco did the only thing he felt he could do – abandon his government and his people, embracing instead the life of a pig so that he could live free.

When not chasing after various bounties, Porco relaxes at his island hide-out, visiting Gina at Hotel Adriano for a quiet meal or to reminisce bittersweet memories. One particular bounty lands Porco in a difficult position. His precious plane wrecked Porco returns to Piccolo Company for repairs and various improvements. Under the skill and genius of Fio, Piccolo’s relative and heir apparent, Porco and his plane get another shot at life in the skies and on the seas. Wanting only to take his restored plane home to escape once more from sight and society, fate has other plans. An arrogant American pilot Curtis challenges Porco to a dogfight with Fio’s hand in marriage as the prize, stirring long-buried feelings of humanity within Porco’s heart.

Is the love of a young, spunky, beautiful plane designer enough to finally break Porco’s curse? Or will Gina, who waits patiently for Porco in her private garden, be the one who frees Porco and captures his love?

Both a melancholic love story and bitter critique socialist corruption and rampant fascism, Porco Rosso truly captures a begotten era of Italy and of life and love. Miyazaki’s absolute love for planes and all things aerial soars to new heights. Each aerial specification, gear, gauge, and design is intricately detailed with loving perfection. Each moment in flight, breath-taking maneuvers executed, targets made, and downed planes are solemnly reproduced with reverence and respect. Not only does Miyazaki want to share his love for planes and flight, but also his respect for the people and times they occupy.

To watch Porco Rosso is to inevitably fall madly in love with Italy and the untainted aquamarine waters which hold her in a warm embrace. Deep skies of azure depths stretch across the horizon and melt into the crystal clear waters. Deserted islands with virgin beaches dot its watery expanse, infinite and wise. Italy may not look now as it did then, but there is no doubt that during Porco Rosso’s time Italy was just as Miyazaki envisioned it.

Porco Rosso is one of my favorite Miyazaki movies and Studio Ghibli productions. The characters are full of depth, life, and a delicate humanity reminiscent of that particular era in history. As Porco struggles to hold onto his freedom, his humanity, and to find a purpose to caring about life again, I too recall personal battles for freedom and purpose. All the while, Gina waits patiently for an uncertain love while tending to Hotel Adriano and her valued guests. Porco, Gina, and company are like the warm winds of the Adriatic – gentle and soothing spirits of reflection and relaxation. Thankfully, Porco Rosso is available on DVD via Buena Vista and a must-have for both the casual and lifelong otaku.

Fino alla prossima volta, at Hotel Adriano.

To check out all of Otakuden’s reviews, check out her blog at http://otakudenreviews.livejournal.com/