In praise of Fushigi Yuugi
Aug. 16th, 2007 11:22 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dangermousie(inspired by ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
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.
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.
