Customer Reviews

Rayearth

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I bought the first tape of this OAV, and was a bit scepticle at first. I fell in love with MKR and I had no idea how this would change it. It isnt as bad as I made myself think it would be. Nothing much has been changed. The girls already know eachother, Clef is tall, Ferio appears to be a bad guy. The mashins are completely different, but its good for a nice change for a different story line. All in all, this was a good video.

I haven't seen nothing about Rayearth except for this three long complete episodes. I bought it knowing nothing about the anime and I LIKE IT!!!

Good:
* EXCELLENT quality of animation!!!
* AWESOME ACTION-PACKED!!!!!
* "Deep" storyline (no comedy).
* One of the COOLEST character desings I ever seen (the girls and armors were the BEST).
* Realistic graphics.
* COOL concept for action-fantasy: Three kind girls chosen to save the world by turning themselves into GIANT ARMORS of dragon, bird and lion, and they can UNITE the three giant armors so they can use the ULTIMATE POWER for salvation!!!!

Bad:
* HORRIBLE quality of sound!!!!
* A little slow and boring at the beginnig.

ADIOS!!

I know many people hated this version of the series, but the bad rep is undeserved. It is a very dark version of the fabulous series of Magic Knight Rayearth. This is best seen if you have already watched at least the first season. The artwork is fantastic, the story line is unique, Clef is best in this version of the show. If you do not like variations of a good thing, or if the dark, depressing colors are not your style, or if you hated X the Movie (by Clamp), skip this OVA. If you'd like to see a new take on a Clamp favorite, then this is a must see!

If you look around the case/box/what-have-you before viewing the DVD, you'll find yourself nearly bombarded by quotes of praise from magazines and, if I'm not mistaken, anime critics. What they say can be summed up as follows: Watch it. It's good.

I agree.

Not related to the MKR series and, as properly stated on the back cover, BASED on the manga by CLAMP, the story follows Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu on one of the days before their graduation from junior high school. The girls had once made a wish under a cherry tree in which, according to legend, there lived a fairy who granted wishes. This fairy is Mokona, and ones it (the dub has made it a sort of point, both here and in MKR, that Mokona is a he) descends from the branches, the wish -- referred to as Hikaru's wish -- begins to come true.

Unlike MKR, there are no pauses for humor because there is no time for it. Cephiro's Spirit Beast Tamers arrive on Earth for the "divine test", a concept that's rather hard to grasp. (But the desire to learn what everything is is just one of the hooks of this gripping story.) Drama soars high, and with a soundtrack like the one here, you can't NOT be captivated. The mecha battles are stunning. The animation is spectacular, much better than in MKR and MKR 2. This OAV/OVA/what-have-you is incredible, and I simply must state once more how amazing the animation is. The colors, the music, characters, the light, the story -- they all weave into one epic tale. It's breathtaking.

I watched the dub first (with the subtitles), having liked the MKR dub so much. I don't speak Japanese, but the dub script and the subtitles hardly contradict each other. The dub voice artists aren't the ones from MKR/MKR 2 (sadly, since now Ascot sounds a little un-cute and it's much harder to tell the girls apart), but it's tolerable. I enjoyed it. However, the complaints I have pertain to the English dub.

Why Alcyone was given a possessed-type double voice is beyond me, since is NOT present in the original Japanese track. Also, I find it annoying that the dub voice actors (and, quite possibly, the directors) seem to think it utterly necessary that ALL mouth movements MUST be filled in with a vocal. Dub!Fuu's, "Ah, Sinos!" makes me cringe. We understand that in order to yell something you must *breathe in*. And be prepared for name changes. Umi is now "Umi Ryuzaku" and Fuu becomes "Fu (one u) Hooji" (yes, WHO-gee). Hikaru, whose last name used to be pronounced "Shi-DOU" is now pronounced "SHI-dou". (Note: If you look at the "Cephiro Chronicles" bit, everything is spelled correctly. Ironic, yes?)

Those were minor points that don't really cut into the story. It may or may not make you cry, but, if nothing else, you WILL be impressed. Highly recommended!

This ova for magic knights rayearth was good. I loved the artwork and story-line was good considering it is only 3 episodes. I like that they changed the characters a bit, and what happens to each of them too. The love aspect was played up pretty good too^^ I do recommend for anime fan to buy and have in your collection. P.S. I do recommend watching season one and two first to not get confussed watching this ova.

While this is totally different from MKR and MKR2,this anime makes the original story look like the 1st season of Pokemon.The animaton is beautiful,and the music is stunning.I am a little confused why Ferio,Eagle,Lantis,and others are on different sides.Eagle is a bit messed up,Zagato acts like some sort of mute,and I didn't know Ferio could summon killing insects.But these little concepts make the dark story better.If the the DVD had more features,I could give this 6 stars!I am really impressed,and I wholeheartedly agree with the critics.Go.Buy it.

Rayeart this is. I have enjoyed both the first and second series of Rayearth and the art is lovely indeed, but this 3 part movie doesn't come close. It looks like the plot was chopped to bits from a 26 part TV series to fit into 3 hours. In fact, it looks like the short version of Escaflowne that is available. Howerver, if there is a longer version of this 3 parter available, I would most definitely get it since this video left far too many questions. I would reccomend anyone thinking about Rayearth for the first time to watch the other two series before even touching this one.