Customer Reviews

Mermaid Forest - Quest for Death (Vol. 1)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One of Rumiko Takahashi's most successful "side projects" is the Mermaid series, about a pair of immortals struggling to find a way to become mortal again. Don't expect the wacky action of "Ranma 1/2" or the mythic fantasy of "Inuyasha." Instead, this is a gritty, melancholy fantasy story.

It centers on mermaids, and what eating their flesh does to human beings. A tiny number become beautiful immortals who never age and can't die, unless their heads are cut off. But most people either cough up blood and die, or turn into bug-eyed purplish monsters.

In the first episode, Yuta has been wandering the earth for five hundred years, trying to find a mermaid so he can become a mortal again. One day he journeys to a tiny, secluded village, populated by eerie women who stab him to (temporary) death -- and are keeping a pampered teenage girl named Mana hostage. Yuta spirits the naive girl away, finds out that she's an immortal -- and learns the gruesome fate that the women have in store for her.

Later on, Yuta takes Mana on a cruise on the ocean, which brings back memories from a few centuries before. He was washed ashore on a small island, and soon fell in love with the chief's feisty daughter Rin. But a local pirate headman's wife, Isago, is after mermaid flesh, and is willing to kill to get it.

In the second part, Rin is captured by the pirates, and they now have a dead mermaid, which they think will give them immortality. But Isago has secrets of her own, and her own motives for wanting the mermaid's flesh. Now Yuta must save Rin from the pirates, who are turning into monsters -- even if he can't live happily ever after with her.

The first three episodes set up the series, which has Mana and Yuta wandering through modern-day Japan. But "Village of the Fighting Fish" also gives us an idea of how lonely Yuta was before he met Mana. It's a compellingly different look at mermaids and immortality, and Takahashi did it well.

Her series tend to be on the upbeat side, so the melancholy and darkness of the Mermaid Series is a major change. The old woman's lament about wandering forever shows why human beings shouldn't be immortal. But even this dark story is optimistic: Even if Mana and Yuta aren't cured of their immortality, they aren't alone any longer.

The animation is sharp and clear, and the voice acting is definitely well-done: Yuta sounds mature and tired, Isago sounds slimy and seductive, and both Mana and Rin sound a bit bratty but strong. And fans of Takahashi's original comics will be pleased to see that the stories very closely mirror the original writing.

"Mermaid Forest: Quest for Death" is the start of an all-too-short series. Beautifully animated, poignant and intelligent fantasy.

Mermaid's Forest is an anime adaptation of Rumiko Takahashi's Manga "Ningyo no Morii" released stateside as "Mermaid Saga" through Viz Comics LLC. Mermaid's forest was first adapted into anime in the early 90s as two 45 minute OVAs. This latest anime adaptation, released domestically by Geneon, is an 11 episode series which aired in Japan in 2003 on NHK.

Mermaid's Forest TV series is a fairly faithful adaptation of Rumiko's self-proclaimed "side project" Mermaid Saga. The manga (and Anime) are a departure from Rumiko's usual lighthearted romantic comedies and are in fact very dark and at time violently graphic. She has not abandoned her ability to create great believable characters which is truly where this anime shines.

Based around the mythical belief that anyone could be granted eternal life if they eat the flesh of a mermaid, Mermaid's Saga follows main characters Yuta and Mana. Yuta is a 500 year old man who partook of the mermaid's flesh and was granted immortality. He has wondered Japan searching for others like himself and a way to become mortal. Along his way he encounters Mana, a young girl who he soon realises has also ate the flesh of a mermaid. The first episode on this disc shows us the circumstances of the couples first meeting and quickly delves into the mysteries and the darker/terrifying consequences of eating mermaid flesh.

Each episode cross references each other but if viewed alone could easily be enjoyed as a stand alone story. Fans of Rumiko's work will no doubt want to pick up this essential series for their DVD collection. For those otaku out there who really look for great characters in addition to strong storytelling will really want to join Mana and Yuta on their journey through the Japanese countryside. The stories are at times strange and terrifying but always entertaining. HIGHLY Recommended!

*

Takahashi Rumiko is best known for her silly & wacky antics type of storytelling ("Urusei Yatsura"; "Ranma Nibun-no-Ichi"; "Inu Yasha"). But 'Rumi-chan' has also touched the "Dark Side," and with surprising effectiveness. This presented itself when her publisher agreed to run a series of manga stories by her which came to be popularly known as the "mermaid saga."

In 1991, the first "OAV" ("Original Animation Video") of one of those stories-- "Ningyo no Mori" ("Mermaid Forest") --was released; this was followed two years later with the release of another OAV of a second Rumiko "mermaid" story -- "Ningyo no Kizu" ("Mermaid's Scar"). Ten years would pass before anything new from Takahashi-san's "mermaid saga" would be presented in animated form.

In July of 2003, Japanese television aired an anthology series called "Takahashi Rumiko Gekijyou" ("Takahashi Rumiko Theater") -- a showcase for a collection of her individual story ideas, which were all independent of one another. Three months later, the first episode of "Takahashi Rumiko Gekijyou: Ningyo no Mori" ("Takahashi Rumiko Theater: Mermaid Forest") was aired -- the program title being modified slightly with the added 'tack-on' at the end to distinguish it specifically as the animated adaptation of her "mermaid saga" and that, unlike the earlier "Gekijyou," this sort of 'second season,' if you will, would be an extended run of a series of interrelated stories. Labeling the entire series "Mermaid Forest," however, is a bit of a misnomer, as the title refers to one specific story of that name, but it's really nothing to nit-pick over.

Because the artwork & animation techniques used here are not nearly as refined, and everything feels too rushed (or to put it another way, because everything feels too "televisiony"), this series does not engage the viewer with quite the same degree of dark depression & gloominess that is experienced in the OAVs. Even so, the stories as presented here are just dreadful enough to make you realize that this ain't no "kiddie-fare!"

As with the previous "Takahashi Gekijyou," this series consists of 13 total episodes, although there are in actuality 8 separate storylines adapted for this series -- including brand new animated adaptations of the OAV stories (ironically, it was one of these-- "Ningyo no Kizu" --that was never aired during the series' televised run).

The 'English dubbed' audio track, though not great, is passable, but the original Japanese audio dialogue track seems to better capture the spirit of the main characters, Yuta and Mana.

[[My only real gripe is that Pioneer/Geneon could not have taken the extra time to simply release this entire series (only 4 discs) as a complete box set.]]

Mermaid's Forest is an anime adaptation of Rumiko Takahashi's Manga "Ningyo no Morii" released stateside as "Mermaid Saga" through Viz Comics LLC. Mermaid's forest was first adapted into anime in the early 90s as two 45 minute OVAs. This latest anime adaptation, released domestically by Geneon, is an 11 episode series which aired in Japan in 2003 on NHK.

Mermaid's Forest TV series is a fairly faithful adaptation of Rumiko's self-proclaimed "side project" Mermaid Saga. The manga (and Anime) are a departure from Rumiko's usual lighthearted romantic comedies and are in fact very dark and at time violently graphic. She has not abandoned her ability to create great believable characters which is truly where this anime shines.

Based around the mythical belief that anyone could be granted eternal life if they eat the flesh of a mermaid, Mermaid's Saga follows main characters Yuta and Mana. Yuta is a 500 year old man who partook of the mermaid's flesh and was granted immortality. He has wondered Japan searching for others like himself and a way to become mortal. Along his way he encounters Mana, a young girl who he soon realises has also ate the flesh of a mermaid. The first episode on this disc shows us the circumstances of the couples first meeting and quickly delves into the mysteries and the darker/terrifying consequences of eating mermaid flesh.

Each episode cross references each other but if viewed alone could easily be enjoyed as a stand alone story. Fans of Rumiko's work will no doubt want to pick up this essential series for their DVD collection. For those otaku out there who really look for great characters in addition to strong storytelling will really want to join Mana and Yuta on their journey through the Japanese countryside. The stories are at times strange and terrifying but always entertaining. HIGHLY Recommended!

I have to say that I am very big fan of the Mermaid's series novels as well as the OVA's but this adaption of the mermaid series for me is a dissapointment.

I mean, the stories are so good, they should have gotten better treatment. For one thing the Mermaid manga is very violent and Takahashi draws it in such a way so that it compells it's viewer with lasting effects, the TV show however is unable to achive that effect. Another problem with the series is concerning the artwork, the humans are drawn well while the monsters portrayed come up short. The way Takahashi san drew the monsters in the books was very well done, they came across as being grotesqe and frietening. The TV series however drew them in such a fasion so they came across as looking silly and almost comical. The music in the series also fails to impress, there are times when a very serious situation is happening on screen but the music sounds almost comical.

Overall, although it's not bad show it could have been one of the best horror animes of all time, but unfortuantely it fails to impress. I am giving the DVD four stars based soley on the fact that the storys are still excellent.

Yuta is a young man on a quest to find mermaids. The reason that he wants to find them is that over 500 hundred years ago him and some of his fisherman friends had a little feast of cooked mermaid meat. You see, the legend goes that if you eat the flesh of a mermaid you will become immortal. The problem for Yuta and his friends was the other half of the legend. Only a very tiny percentage of the people that eat it become immortal. The rest either die a horrible death soon thereafter or are transformed into mindless deformed monsters. Yuta is one of the lucky few to attain immortality but he is tired and wants to grow old and die a normal death. He holds out a slim hope that a mermaid will be able to revert him back to his original lifespan. When he comes upon a village of old women who hold a young girl captive he might get a clue to his quarry. That's if they don't kill him first!

Mermaid Forest is a pretty faithful interpretation of Rumiko Takahashi's manga Mermaid Saga, except like Inuyasha, it censors most of the blood and gore that would have given it more of an edge and adult feel. I felt that this lack of bravery really undercut the horror elements. Besides that, it seems a quality if average show. In the second two episodes in which Yuta flashes back to a time when he was caught up in the feud between two rival pirate villages and falls in love, the emotional poignancy of the show really shone. If it continues along those lines, then Mermaid Forest will develop into a really good anime.

Wow all the great reviews raving about Elfen Lied being the #1 horror anime show ever. Man did anyone try Mermaid FOrest out instead? Like Elfen Lied this show has it all and more. This show has a wonderful story that is centric to the characters. The story is about the characters which is the best type of story to do. This show is very scary and creepy and inteligent. The characters change over the short 11 episode series. No fillers. Also this show is such a great show. Nothing beats it. It is the most down to earth story that I ever saw. The Mermaids in this story is horrific. They are very ugly and scary and what happens to the people that eat Mermaid flesh is disgusting! I actually wetted my pants after watching a few scenes that never happened ever before while watching any media! This show is worth every centand I recommend the box set too. It is a nice collector's item. If you looking for a horror show get this! Elfen Lied doesn't compare at all to this. This show ain't just about blood and guts like Elfen lied and while Elfen lied does a good story and characters etc. this show has it even better and in less time. only 11 episodes. Cop this show today! It is a wonderful show and a masterpiece. I watched countless anime like Fullmetal Alchemist, Berserk, Cowboy Bebop, Paranoia Agent, Monster, Blue Gender, Fruits Basket, Trigun, Gungrave, Gantz, Last Exile, Samurai Champloo, Boogiepop Phantom, Ghost in the Shell STand Alone Complex, Elfen Lied, Gravitation, Neon Genesis Evangelion, etc. etc. etc. and this show beats every anime show and movie out there! I have never seen a perfect all around diamond classic show. There is no flaw to anything in this show! Nothing is wrong aobut this show. It really seems like this show was made and directed by god in heaven go pick this up and thank me later. 1 also this show is not a clichein any way or shape or form

Mermaid Forest is the story of a man named Yuta, who 500 years ago age mermaid flesh, as a result he is immortal and have been traveling around the world looking for a mermaid to change him back into a normal human being, on his travels he meets Mana, a girl who is forced to eat mermaid flesh by her strange guardians and who in turn also becomes an immortal. Mermaid Follows Yuta and Mana as they seek a cure for their immortality and at the same time try to do good and find solace in one another's company, half the episodes in the series is placed in present time while half is placed in Yuta's past as he remembers the pepole he have met during his long life.

Quest for Death has less horror in it then the other volumes of the series, sure there are some monsters and the constant theme of half cannibalism as everyone is searching for mermaids to eat, however these first three episodes is more of the typical someone eat mermaid flesh (witch in most of the cases will just kill you or turn you into a deformed one, a ravaging monstrosity, only a lucky few become immortal.) and then have to be taken down. The later episodes have less fights, less violence but are allot more creepy.

Quest for Death contains three episodes, one single episode in witch Yuta means Mana and discover the truth of why her guardians are keeping her captive and one double episode which is set in Yuta's past where he have to help a tribe of fishermen against a brutal clan of pirates who seek to destroy them as they are looking for mermaid flesh so their leader can become immortal, both episodes are good, also since this is an anthology of stories using the same characters instead of one continuous story you do not technically need the other volumes in the series to enjoy this one.

The animation of Mermaid Forest is bad, movements are very jerky and about every shortcut is used, there is allot of talking heads, still shots that slowly zoom in or out while narration go and the fights are usually done with seeing the character standing there with a weapon, the cutting to a black screen, hearing a slash sound and seeing some blood splatter and then seeing the looser sinking to the ground. Now in an anime like this the story is more important than the animation, however the animation get so bad at times that it disturbs the enjoyment of the story, at least for me, this is the kind of anime series which give ammunition to anime haters who say anime never have good animation. The colors in this series however are bright and the character designs are beautiful if a bit generic, the background to are good and fit perfectly to the mood of the show.

The music of Mermaid Forest blend well with what is going on on the screen, the opening theme is Jpop but is rather good Jpop, it fit the show, the ending theme is in my mind boring but all in all the music is good.

The characters we meet in Mermaid forest is interesting and most make you feel for them, that is part of the horror as allot of the stories tell of the tragic fates of pepole who where once good but who have been twisted in some way by mermaid flesh. Yuta is a good character but I have a problem with Mama, she is completely emotionless and seams to me to just be there to have a pretty female character for a male lead to fall for and nothing more. I have not heard the dub so I can not comment on that, but the sub is good.

I recommend Mermaid Forest, it is a good anime series full of horrors and tragic characters. Quest for Death is a good first volume, despite some problems with the female main character and the animation this series get the thumbs up from me.

The story line had potential, but I wasn't impressed with this anime. My boyfriend and I bought the first volume just to see if we'd like it, and we didn't even finish it, and ended up selling it on ebay. It's not often that we won't even finish a series.

after reading the manga i bought this dvd and if you liked the manga you'll like the dvd too.it has a great story looks good too.