Customer Reviews

Moribito: Guardian of The Spirit (Collector's Edition)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Volumes 1 and 2 of this anime were released in several different versions. Both volumes were released seperately, together in a 2 pack and also together in this version, with an art box to hold all future volumes. I'd say this version is your best bet seeing how it will hold all the DVDs for the series... as oddly shaped as they are. Then again, we all know upon the completion of the series animeworks will release a different boxset containing all volumes. I recommend this version.

Really, there's not much to say. This is a quality anime with good action and a solid plot. The characters are likable, and there's not even too much gore, for those who are sensitive to such things. The world seems well thought-out, and I enjoy the pacing of the story. This was actually well worth the purchase price.

It's not the typical hyper-chibbi-tentacle stuff. So, if you're bored and hyper and looking to just watch a bunch of explosions, this isn't for you. But if you are looking for a good story, with some intrigue, and characters who aren't bouncing around like a Saturday Morning Cartoon, you owe it to yourself to watch this!

There are no tentacles. No Japanese school-girl uniforms. Just a good story using high-quality animation; with characters with their own motivations. Characters you'll find yourself rooting for! Not too many GOOD anime come up, these days. So, this was a nice surprise. Check it out, you wont be disappointed.

The Emperor's younger son has been possessed by a water demon. Social norms demand that the Emperor kill his son, but in order to prevent the public from learning of the disgrace to the honor of the ruling family, he has assassins arrange for a fatal accident. The anime begins when a wandering female bodyguard named Balsa foils yet another "accident". The Prince's mother knows what is going on and hires Balsa to protect her son.

The culture is similar to Japan's Heian Era (before the rise of the samurai as a distinct social class) but the two moons in the sky belies that. I have to say in all honesty that this is one of the best anime series that I have ever seen. For me it's as close to perfection as I am ever likely to experience. In fact I was so taken by it that I saw all 26 episodes in only 4 days. I don't think I've ever done that before. (Well, maybe the first time I saw Record of Lodoss War. It was so long ago, I'm not sure.) In terms of character, voice acting (Japanese---as a rule, I don't like dubs), story, action, animation, and BGM it is top-notch. Whether it is the sweep of natural vistas or the pomp and splendor of life at court, the visuals are stunning. It takes the time to develop the characters so that they feel like real people. Chagum, for example, grows from a pampered prince into a young man. One of the things I really like is that the story has no true villains. Even the assassins who are sent out to murder Balsa and her ward are behaving as their society dictates by being loyal to the Emperor. Even the "bad guys" have nobility of character. If Hayao Miyazaki were still making TV series, this is what they would be like. It has much in common with Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke. As much as I liked that movie, Moribito is better. It is directed by a young guy named Kamiyama Kenji, who also directed GITS-SAC I & II and GITS-SAC: Solid State Society. He's a protégé of Oshii Mamoru and a director to be watched.

Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit is in the classic tradition of Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, Hemingway's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" and Spielberg's "Saving Private Ryan", - an epic journey with a handful of characters, each noble in their own way and each struggling with conflict, always taking the difficult path of duty and honor, and paying the personal costs such duty demands. The story telling, the animation is rich, and the action scenes exciting and filled with meaning. They picked a top-flight story, deep in tradition and the best of human character, loyalty and courage. Then they added the finest anime artists and some of the top talents in voice animation. Cindy Robinson's performance as the heroine, Balsa, is nothing short of amazing. While every aspect of this film is top flight, to close your eyes and listen to her tell the tragic story of her youth is as wonderful as watching Marlon Brando or Meryl Streep. There has not been as subtle a portrayal of pathos and personal duty in the history of Anime. Her casual honor is like that of Humphrey Bogart, Lynn Redgrave or James Dean - just amazing voice work that reflects the training of the best method actors. A deep sense of loss, pathos and duty with a smile comes through in every word Ms. Robinson utters, and it simply transforms the story into both epic and tragic. Greer Garson's performance of quiet duty amidst tragedy in "Mrs. Miniver", James Dean's vulnerability in "East of Eden" or Tom Hanks resignation to duty in "Saving Private Ryan" approach what Ms. Robinson has perfected here.

The script is an excellent story, but there is a great deal of exposition. Robinson takes it in stride, and is superlative, making the story come alive. You could say that the entire production supports her stunning performance.

The film score is beautiful, poignant and compassionate. The opening and closing songs are fine, but it is the score during the story that is truly exceptional, and always supportive and relevant to the situation at a very sensitive, feeling level. The score expresses the attributes of the characters and their inner challenges while never intruding, always adding greater depth and realism to the visuals and acting.

Younger children will not be as excited as older adults. Those of us who passed our twenties some time ago will marvel at this story. The relationships between mother and child; friend and mentor; youth and age; destiny and hope are explored on many levels. Love that is given freely knowing it can never be returned, and the happiness of simply being alive are portrayed with a depth, patience and sensitivity rarely seen in film. There isn't a single episode without a moment of perfection that leaves a lump in your throat. If you can get through this series without shedding tears for these characters then you haven't been watching. The direction, pacing and beautiful scenery pull you in, and you are pulling for these characters every step of the way.


Certainly Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit is one of the top five anime of all time, and probably one of the top twenty five motion pictures, anime or live action.

If you remember the excitement and awe of witnessing a new Hayao Miyazaki film, prepare to be elevated to the next level. Only the finest film classics have expressed as deeply, and moved us as greatly as the poetry and artistry of this epic.

No spoilers:

What a beautifully drawn series! I was immediately in awe of the artwork as well as the talented voice acting. The pace was also very nice.

First I will deal with what I felt was lacking (and why the series rated 4 stars instead of 5):

((( Here is a little anime production background. A series is usually picked up by a television station based on a manga or novel. Then they source an animation studio to produce the film. The television studio sets a budget and timeline. Here is the problem: often the series takes longer to produce or costs more money than expected. The television studio wants to keep the releases televised on the advertised dates, and even speeds up the releases for popular shows so they can maximize viewers and advertising revenues. SO this series seemed to be a little rushed towards the end. not the animation studio's fault. Another series this happened to is Ergo Proxy (Geneon was going bankrupt and they sourced most animation out to Korea after the first couple of episodes). It's a sad state of affairs, but DVD sales are down and studios don't get the animation budgets they used to. )))

The show seemed to hit a giant speed bump right at the start of the final disc. The animation took a nose dive and where the story had moved along well, it started to feel rushed. There was no real sense of apprehension either. For some reason, the show felt as if everything was going to work out and that none of the main characters could come to harm. (not saying if that happens or not, just that was the impression I felt). If you view the extras and listed to the actors and director speak of the production, they had to fill several episodes with extra content that was not in the original novel and then had to rush some of the final episodes. This is right out of the director's mouth.

Now, on to the good things. I felt the characters very well portrayed and very deep and complex. Balsa is a strong heroine and is wonderfully deep. The supporting cast is all interesting as well. I felt that the Mikado and his guards could have been more developed though. But the core group of characters are all excellent and Chagum really does grow up and evolve throughout the series.

Animation is on par with Ghost in the Shell SAC (same studio), at least until the finale. To fit with the theme, everything is a little more colorful with a lot of green, orange, and brown used (less grays and blacks). It suits the feudal era of this series.

Basically, if you like good storytelling and deep characters, then this is for you. It has some action, but is all ages appropriate at the same time. The 'monsters' at the end are not really too scary and are not very well drawn anyway! If it were not for the 'filler' episodes and the rushed (and less quality animated) finale, this would be a sure 5 star rating!

Nothing but good things to say about this series.

As one who prefers action, doesn't mind gore, and won't complain about sex scenes, I admit I was a little timid about Moribito from the 1st ephisode. Seldem been more wrong in my life. Ended up watching the complete series (aired on adult swim/cartoon network) By and far one of the best series I've seen to date. Easily worth the investment. Won't say too much but you quickly get attached to the characters and feel for their plight. Buy it, buy it, buy it.

This is a must watch! If you have netflix, you can watch the whole series on instant watch. This is one of my new favorite animes

The anime is great and the whole, reason why I bought it was because L'Arc~en~Ciel sing the opening song. SO I was very happy the anime is good too.