In praise of Fushigi Yuugi

[dangermousie]

(inspired by egelantier).

After all the anime I've seen, Fushigi Yuugi is still one of my favorites. (Second favorite after Trigun in fact). I wrote extensively about it when I first watched it, but surprisingly, after two or so years, my love for it is just as strong.

FY is the story of a 15 year old Japanese schoolgirl, Miaka, who ends up in the world created by a supernatural book, a world rather closely resembling medieval China. This is also a world in turmoil and Miaka ends up becoming a Priestess of Suzaku and going on a dangerous quest, meeting a whole bunch of neat characters, from hot guys to evil monsters, and oh yeah, trying to still study for her entrance exams. And of course, there is always the question of what happens to the chosen Priestess once the quest is over, and also of how to reconcile Miaka's realness, her desire to return to the real world and her family to her love for Tamahome, one of the warriors who protects her, and who can clearly exist only inside a book.

FY is the story that somehow touches on so many archetypal themes (there is a reason why it's so successful): growing up (is this fantastic world Miaka's last gasp for fantasticness of childhood), quest-logic, sacrifice, love, friendship etc. It is chock-full of everything I love in stories: dangerous journeys, fights to the death, humor, star-crossed love, and above all, awesome characters. I adore Miaka herself (I don't care how unpopular that makes me :P) who is not the sharpest crayon in the box but is unfailingly cheerful, effectively pushy, and very good-hearted. Tamahome is my anime boyfriend, no ifs or buts. He is my favorite anime character ever, and I love that he is both someone who can make me swoon at his love or heroism, yet he is not this rarified perfect knight, but demonstrably a 17 year old boy, with all of a boy's awkwardness, and with a hot temper, and a greedy streak, and roughness. And it's not just Miaka and Tamahome themselves. I love so many characters: the self-absorbed yet noble Hotohori, Drama Queen Nuriko, the rough and funny Tasuki etc etc.

And one thing I love almost more than anything is the self-referential humor. With few exceptions (such as Miaka post her belief she was raped), the anime laughs at some of its melodrama/heroic fantasy conventions at the same time as making them irresistable. I watch so many dramas/anime on a dual level, my inner 14 year old swooning, and my outser 29-year old lovingly mocking. It is rare to find an anime that does this with you.

Anyway, I started a rewatch some time back but then got sidetracked. Need to pick it up again. And it still has the best ending of any anime I've seen. My hands literally went to my mouth and I ended up crying and smiling at the same time.

Comments

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Sometimes, though, I wonder if we need to shake her for making it the "in" thing to dropkick young girls into another time or fantasy world. There have been a few...questionable...eries spawned of this.

MY first Anime were Samurai Deeper Kyo and Wolf's Rain(I started SDK first but started watching WR a few weeks later and finished it first.) MY SDK obsessings are reversed for the manga, but my WR love still randomly results in manpain posts.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

There have been a few...questionable...eries spawned of this.


Now I am remembering Pretear. *shudder*

My first anime was Escaflowne, which I loved and which is probably in my top 10 somewhere. Trigun (which is still my all time fave) was my second.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Something about the concept of Pretear feels me with cracktastic glee, but the actual show...

I've rea worse ones, though.

I liked Escaflowne, but the 2 love triangles with Allen in them and both girls ga-ga over him when I prefered both with the other guy frustrated me. And I'm not huge on the mecha armor...

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I like mecha stuff, and Allen is my favorite character in Escaflowne, so I am OK with it :)

Hitomi ends up (insofar as with anyone) with Van though, and Millerna by herself, so that's OK because much as I adore Allen, he is way too messed up to have an OTP. He needs to spend quiet time taking care of his sister and maybe in a few years...

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I am convinced that Millerna hunted down her fiance, socked him for the "I'm leaving until I'm worthy of you" type speech and dragged him off to bed (regardless, I'm convinced they got together later)

I like Allen, but he was a little TOO perfectly flawed and tragic for me to love him. I preferred Van. ACtually, if Hitomi had ended up with Allen, I likely would have hated the series, as it pretty much would have just been substitution for both of them.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

TOO perfectly flawed

How do you get to be perfectly flawed?

just been substitution for both of them

True. I think for Allen Hitomi was the woman he could finally protect. His sister disappeared, his Mother died because of it, and Marlene was married off. It was like his chance to 'do it right' (side note: I still remember shrieking when I realized that the kid was Allen's. Eeeeek! Awesome)

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

If there was a cliche for the tragic, flawed, romantic hero, Allen had it. Dead true love, true love married to another, child with true love born of adulterous relationship, tragic family history, missing loved one, true love's sister in love with him, girl who reminds him of both sister and true love, etc. He reached the point where "flawed and tragic romantic hero" felt like it was being shoved down my throat...he's too perfectly the example of the character type.

[sundae-sweet.livejournal.com]

I only read the manga for FY and truth be told I really liked it. I thought it was funny and sweet and even tragic (what happens to Yui was effed up beyond the telling of it. Though I don't get why she went all psycho bitch on Miaka afterwards).
I haven't really gotten around to watching the anime though because I don't have the cash to buy the entire set on eBay.
At the time, I honestly didn't get why people didn't like this series.I suppose it can be cliche at times, like how Miaka quickly and predictably falls for Tamamhome. Or how everyone else in the group falls for Miaka. But you have to love any couple that is so gut wrenchingly devoted to each other.
And I like how Miaka is physically portrayed with the body of a real girl, not some long legged, stick thin, impossibly long and thick flowing hair, pubescent wet dream. In short, FY is a fun romp through fairy tale wonderland. And when you you put it like that, how can you not like it?

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Yui went nuts because Nakago essentially brainwashed her...she was pretty much braindead after what happened to her and then what he told her(what 15 year old girl wouldn't be a massive wreck after getting dumped into another another world and gang raped, even if she passed out before the worse...as she believed to be the case.) Understandable to me, though she could still do with a smack or two upside the head for the boyfriend stealing part.

[sundae-sweet.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, that true. I suppose I just couldn't comprehend how Yui went from this cool, loving friend who would do anything in her power to protect Miaka to this malicious, man stealing harpy blaming Miaka for something she was powerless to stop. You'd think that at some point, Yui being such an allegedly smart girl, that squishy brain power (or at least common sense) would kick in and she'd realize that Miaka has always been her friend. In my opinion, Yui's fall from grace was one of the most shocking and tragic things about FY.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Trauma changes people, sadly. The only support and guidance she had was from the guy who was making sure she was screwed up, and was feeding her hatred. The fact that she already knew Miaka was being treated like a queen because of the book only helped.

Oddly, I've always kinda though Nakago loved Yui a bit, in a twisted way.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I thought it was funny and sweet and even tragic

Agreed.

Re: Yui. I think she just wanted to displace her shame and anger. Sort of 'why does Miaka have it easy' (though of course Miaka didn't at all). She had all this rage and it turned outwards, at a convenient target (I think it's such a difference in their personalities that when Miaka believes the same, her trauma turns inward believing she is unworthy etc etc).

And when you you put it like that, how can you not like it?

Exactly.

PS

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

You left out the part in both the anime and the manga where the sequel tries to ruin it and makes my beloved Tasuki and attempted rapist and then says it's OK because he was influenced and tries to make me join the Miaka haters by really having her be as pointless as they claim she is(which she isn't in the regular story) and by declaring even more guys are in love with her...

You should be sure to warn people not to touch the OVAs...

Re: PS

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

OVAs=Dead to Me. I haven't even watched them except for little bits.

Though I have a shameful weakness for the third OVA simply because they give Hotohori back his life and he can be with his wife and child. I don't care even that it breaks all world-building logic they established before.

Because otherwise this just killed me:



But anyway, with the selective exception of Hotohori re-embodiment stuff, I prefer to believe OVAs don't exist (same as I do for Escaflowne). And don't even get me started on them making Tamahome drippily boring...

Re: PS

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

The Hotohori stuff was good, as was finally learning Chichiri's backstory, and I concede a slight glee that Nuriko will land Hotohori in their next life(that much determination deserves a payoff...) but they in no way compensate.

I didn't realize there were OVAs for Escaflowne, just the movie.

Re: PS

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

OVAs for Escaflowne, just the movie.

That's what I meant.

Re: PS

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I forgive it much for removing the parts of the anime that annoyed me, but yeah, wasn't that great. Nothing resembling the FY OVAs or the emo-ness of Samurai X...another deserving of being on the list is the second Orphen series...first was good but the second introduced a character that completely ruined the whole thing and is the only character to make me massively FF through an anime.

Re: PS

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I hate hate hate Escaflowne OVA with a passion of a thousand suns.

My old writeup sums up my view perfectly:

It's visually astounding, and Van is actually quite a cute and angsty hero, but the story makes little sense because it has all these characters and spends about a minute on each. Also, Folken the Baddie makes me want to give him prozac. Why would you want to destroy the world when you are hot, have power, a cool flying castle and a hot chick willing to die with you? Moreover, the heroine Hitomi made an average Mary Sue look good. All she does is whine and cling to poor Van, who seems a nice enough guy with enough trouble in his life without having a clingy useless girl always weeping on him. The most (unintentionally) hilarious moment of bonding? Van tells Hitomi how he just wants to die because:
a. his people have been wiped out and he is the last one left
b. he is doomed to always fight alone
c. he only lives to kill his brother who is the evil baddie.
To which Hitomi chirps in with how they are kindred spirits and she knows exactly how he feels because she is a 15 year old prosperous schol-girl suffering from boredom and ennui (in case you can't tell, I added the last part).
Also, because of this jumping around of plots, they meet one second, he is annoyed at her for a minute or two, next he rescues her from badddies, they have almost no other interaction, and then all of a sudden she is his reason for living and salvation of the world. Of course, she talks him off the ledge so to speak, by promising to always be with him, only to disappear in a flutter of wings at the end. Which was supposed to make me weep but only made me ROFL because:
a. way to make the guy feel better. He is just going to go hunting for another set of destroy-the-world armor and
b. She was so annoying that it's probably a favor to Van and
c. Can you get any more Mary Sue?

I also don't like the Kenshin OVA because seriously, how much 'life is paiiiiin am so emo' can I take?

Re: PS

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

My problem with the Kenshin OVAs is that they completely missed the entire point of the series, which is that all he had wanted was a home and family where he could live out his life in contentment, and he found it. Though, if they'd actually SHOWN Sano fighting wild animals to feed Kenshin, I might be a touch forgiving...

Re: PS

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Agreed. Plus, they went against the ending of the manga.

Re: PS

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Yup. I'm ok with animes(and dramas, though Mars and Hana Kimi are the only ones I've read the manga for) changing the storyline, as long as I can understand why, but changing relationships and the spirit of the work? Nope, not working for me.

Re: PS

[egelantier.livejournal.com]

I think that Tsuiokuhen is pretty much Best Anime Ever - so gorgeous, so impossible angsty, so full of this 'destiny foreordained' theme, so, well, Japanese... and Battousai!Kenshin is scary and little at once,, and really, this merits another post. but second one just makes me scream in rage and want to kill a screenwriter in some nasty way.

why couldn't they left him alone to get old and die with dignity? it was still beautiful, and superbly done, and made me bawl my eyes out, but also so.. pointless. just a senseless tear-jerker, without any thought behind. like drawn-out h/c fanfic without 'comfort' part. I hate it utterly, and I refuse to consider it canon...

erm, sorry, got carried away here; Kenshin is one of my most favourite characters, and this thing they did to him (and Kaoru!) in Seisouhen was really despicable.

Re: PS

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

The first was great, though not quite as interesting as in the manga, and the contrast between Kaoru and Tomoe and Kenshin and Battosai adds a lot, IMO. But the second...I don't even mind that they died relatively young of disease(I bawled my eyes out, too) as it was fairly normal, then, but the bit where Kenji didn't like him and didn't want to go home and that Kenshin still spent his life wandering around? Hated that.

Though I do have a bit of a thing for grown up Yahiko, both there and in the manga.

Re: PS

[egelantier.livejournal.com]

grown-up Yahiko is wonderful, you have my full agreement on this. and grown-up Kaoru was amazing there too... until she started DYING in completely meaningless way, arrrgh. and I wanted to slap Kenji silly all the way.

Re: PS

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I wish Watsuki would write a Yahiko book, honestly. I don't care a lot for Buso Renkin(too much like a second rate Bleach for me) Yahiko is 2 parts Kenshin(sensibilities and responsibility) 2 parts Sano(temper, people skills) and 1 part Saito(demeanor, natural result of being raised by Kaoru.)

Kenji is...you won't how someone with Kenshin and Kaoru as parents, and Yahiko as a brother(pretty much) ended up like that. I wanted Yahiko to knock a lot more sense into him. So different from the sweet "I love my mommy and whack everyone else with my toy sword" kid in the manga.

Re: PS

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

is one of my most favourite characters, and this thing they did to him (and Kaoru!) in Seisouhen was really despicable

word word WORD. I like to pretend it doesn't exist and I have my series and my manga :)

Re: PS

[egelantier.livejournal.com]

I'm clinging to this little chapter of manga where he and Kaoru show their firstborn to Yahiko, and there's autumn, and Kenshin is all sweet and relaxed and happy. to me this is the end of canon, and everything else should be KILLED WITH FIRE.

...I think I need to rewatch Kenshin again. I miss it.

[sundae-sweet.livejournal.com]

Have you ever read the Princess Bride by William Goldman. It is the quintessential fairy tale on speed. This book has everything you could ever want in an adventure story and everything you want in a love story. I just re-read it recently and fell in love all over again. It's hero is almost exactly like Will Turner from POTC but with a sense of humor and the ability to snark at the heroine when the need arises. The heroine is a damsel in distress but one with a personality and character. Plus, there are swordfights, giants, pirates, impossible feats of derring do, people coming back from the dead, evil princes, even more evil counts. And places called the Cliffs of Insanity and the Fire Swamp. Just a great story all around.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Read it and love it :)

[lilithiasonata.livejournal.com]

I'm reading Genbu Kaiden first. ;D Then I'll read the main FY.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I love Genbu Kaiden...

[lilithiasonata.livejournal.com]

After I finish Genbu Kaiden {so I don't spoil myself on what happens} then I'll read FY. :D

[stardreemer.livejournal.com]

I think I've had this conversation with you before, but....

I just don't like FY. I want to like it. It's the kind of thing I usually like, but I just can't do it. It's a good story, it has interesting (and very attractive) characters, but every time I sit down to watch it I just can't get through it. I own it, but I don't think I've ever seen all of it.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Oh I understand. I am the same with Samurai Champloo. Objectively, I can tell it's very good but I've tried watching it four times and never could get into it!

[mycenae.livejournal.com]

I just realized that Fushigi Yuugi is what Life on Mars reminded me of. I knew LoM seemed similar to *something* but just couldn't figure it out. The settings are wildly different of course, but something in the dynamic is very similar. They're not just time travel, the main characters go to an "unreal" world, but then become very caught up in it, make friends, fall in love, have a conflicted struggle to get back to the "real" world, etc.

I never really thought of FY as having meta-humor, hmm, maybe I should go back and watch it again all the way through... I'm sure there's lots of things 14-year-old me didn't notice...

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. I really feel like checking LoM now.