Product Details

• Actors: Amy Birnbaum, Tara Jayne, Lisa Ortiz, Jim Ensz, Keith Howard
• Producers: Peter Bavaro
• Format: Animated, Color, Dubbed, NTSC
• Language: English, Japanese
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Manga Video
• VHS Release Date: October 31, 2000
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00004WG3P
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #70,957 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Rayearth, Vol. 1 opens with a hero barely escaping an evil deity in some postapocalyptic world, followed by a scene where a woman with long blonde hair emerges from a pool of water to kiss the ring of some ruler. Then a ghostly figure appears to tell her she'll soon arrive on Rayearth. No explanation is given, not even character names, before the story abruptly shifts to Tokyo in the springtime. The cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and three young girls--Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu--are graduating from junior high and about to go to different high schools. They make a promise to remain friends forever in front of what turns out to be an enchanted cherry tree. After making the promise, Hikaru spots the fairy of the tree, which is invisible to everyone else. As she follows it, she is confronted by a male voice which asks, "Little girl, why do you see something that others do not? Why do you chase after it? Are you running away from a pain that breaks your heart?" It's an odd moment, but one that captures the sadness and neediness that is the flip side to everything good about long-term friendships. Thanks to the purity of their wish, the three girls are chosen to defend the Earth in a battle against extradimensional forces that are threatening to consume the planet. In volume 1 (of three), Hikaru must combine with the fire deity Lexus to battle the ice witch Alcyonde. Based on an original story by Clamp. --Andy Spletzer

Product Description
Three friends discover they need to change the course of destiny to save the world...and learn that faith in one's friendship is the ultimate power.

RAYEARTH is a journey into a magical world featuring extraordinary animation, superb design and loads of action...A true anime collector's series!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A video no MKR Fan can resist seeing!, March 15, 2002

By	Tonz82 (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rayearth - Vol. 1 [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I loved the entire MKR series, so i just had to see the three OAVs. This of course is the first volume out of three. They continue where the other has left off. The three volumes are actually like three parters. If you choose to check out this video let me warn you about a few things though. First off, OAV is nothing like the manga or anime. It's a completely different story line. This first volume focues more so on Hikaru and her getting her ovum jewel.
The three girls: Fuu, Umi, and Hikaru are best friends attending school but none of them are magic knights. The girls are about to graduate from school and part their separate ways. Each are going to go to different high schools in different parts of Japan, so the likelihood of seeing each other again is very slim. Hikaru is majorly distressed by this and decides to make a wish to the cherry blossom fairy(Mokona). This is where all the action begins... The mage Clef shows up in Tokyo, seeking the aide of the three girls to stop the evil Prince Eagle from merging the dying world of Cephiro with Tokyo. (See what i mean when i say different storyline).

As soon as the movie begins you'll notice major differences when you compare it too the anime series. The animation colors are not as bright and brilliant, they're a bit more subdued. This adds to a darker feel to the OAV. The music also is a lot different then in the series. Don't expect any of those TRA-LA-LA melodies. The girls are also a bit older and more mature acting. Same goes for the voice acting. Their not as squeaky and high pitched. Almost all the characters are in the movie, but their roles and personalities are somewhat changed. Expect to see a return of the childlike bratty Ascot, a much more menancing Ferio, Alycone is still a witch, and Eagle is just plain mean. Oh and hey, Emeraude is alive!

...

The plot, itself, is a bit muddled and not as fully developed as in the series. One thing I didn't like was the lack of the hand-to-hand swordplay that i've come to love seeing (no swords, weapons, or magic spells). The girls strictly use their rune gods, which are no longer robotic looking. Their more like animal spirits that interwine with the girls. The video ends leaving you hanging, wondering whether or not Hikaru survives a battle with Alcyone in her rune god. Summing it all up, I, personally, enjoyed this little twist to the MKR series. It was different but i have to say i still prefer the anime.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Based on a story by CLAMP, May 3, 2003

By	M. Hammond (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Rayearth (DVD)

This appears to be one of those re-workings of a popular title like the Revolutionary Girl Utena movie or the various Tenchi's tweaking the story as it goes along. Ascot's in mini-version as he was in the 1st Rayearth & fights against the girls who are not Magic Knights when the story starts. Ferio fights against the girls beside Ascot & Alcyone while Lantis is on neither side--he's fighting to avenge his brother (Yeah, Zagato's dead already.......No!) Eagle & Emeraude are brother & sister wreaking havok on the dimension they've invaded. Mage Clef looks older than ever--closer to Ferio than the boy-mage from the story.
I was so shocked at all the conversions I didn't (couldn't?) pay attention to all the details, but Rayearth is a place, not the mashin so the mashin Rayearth has obviously been renamed, but I forget what. The English dub is scary, although appropriate, I suppose, since good guys are bad guys so I guess we shouldn't expect Ferio & Ascot to sound the same. I didn't see LaFarge, Caldina, or anyone from Rayearth 2 beyond Lantis & Eagle.
In this alternate reality Cephiro was crumbling due to the sins of its people so the high priest was called on to provide the ultimate sacrifice to try to correct things, but Emeraude loved him & cannot acccept what happened so Eagle, using the people of Cephiro who love the Princess, invades the world Hikari, Fuu & Umi live in.
It's CLAMP, so it's easy on the eyes. The Based on bit is the warning it's not the Rayearth we are familiar with from the manga or the 2 series.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The birth of Rayearth, September 13, 2000

By	Eduardo (Venezuela) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rayearth - Vol. 1 [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The main dilemma in the OAV is that the land of Cephiro is slowly but steadily materializing into the real world of Tokyo because of the powerful magic of Princess Emeraude, Eagle Vision, and Zagato. This meeting of the two conflicting dimensions is causing tremendous upheaval, particularly on Earth, in the form of earthquakes. Guru Clef and Lantis are determined to stop them by finding the Magic Knights who have the power to prevent the impending cataclysm. In a junior high school, Hikaru Shidou was waiting for her friends under an Oriental cherry tree in the campus garden. It is rumored that a fairy resides in the tree and that she has the power to grant wishes. You could just imagine Hikaru's surprise when, after a strong quake, Mokona falls out of the tree. As Hikaru ran after Mokona (not realizing that a magical gem called an "ovum" has materialized on the back of her hand), she was followed by her two best friends: Umi Ryuuzaki and Fuu Hououji. Suddenly, the three girls were trapped and transported by a powerful force to Tokyo Tower where they saw, for the first time, a grown-up Guru Clef. Hikaru, in particular, was being guided by a mysterious voice who told her that she and her friends could prevent the destruction of Earth if they could pass the tests so that they could summon the Mashin Gods. In the meantime, Guru Clef was waging a losing battle against the witch Alcyone, who was bent on destroying him and Tokyo Tower (which is the real world incarnation of the Royal Palace of Cephiro). Though our heroines went to aid the wounded Guru Clef, they were no match against Alcyone who was now merged with her cat Mashin. Just as things seemed hopeless, Hikaru's mysterious benefactor finally revealed himself to be the red lion Mashin god, Lexus. Before the Palace of Cephiro could appear in place of Tokyo Tower, Lexus merged with Hikaru and, together, they temporarily stopped the powerful spell and defeated Alcyone. But it was not without a price, however. Lexus' energy has been depleted and he has to return to his dimension to recharge himself until Hikaru learns how to use her own magic to augment his. Hikaru herself was wounded but Lantis came and wrapped her up in his cloak.