Animelab.com: Anime Reviews: Rayearth

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Little Miss Maria

Posts: 0
Score: 2
Rank: 519

I've read all the mangas, but I havn't seen the anime.

The first three mangas where great. I love the storyline and all the fighting sequences. Hey, CLAMP is one of the greatest authors. It was really hilarious to. The ending of the the first season really sucked with them crying but carries on to the second season. I've read all the books of Rayearth II, also. These last books seemed very boring for me beacause the two main characters are gone. It did get better on the last book, but it seemed like the 2nd season lost everthing that was in the 1st season, but it does tye up the series. I gave it a 8 beacuse it had a great storyline, great character development, excelant artwork, but the 2nd series wasn't the best. Overall, I would recomend you to get at least the 1st season of Magic Knight Rayearth (3 books). You won't regret it!

Contributions: Reviews: 2

mpdogz

Posts: 11
Score: 23
Rank: 49

Rayearth is fine. In the first two books, at least. The 3rd book is okay. The 4th book totally lost everything. Hikaru is obnoxiously serious, Umi RARELY fights with Mokona, she rarely fights with Clef (instead she *cough* *cough* apologizes to him for being such a jerk to him), and she rarely acts all selfish and rude. All three did mature, way too fast. They were better off the other way. Presea changed to. Instead of getting all mad with Mokona, or acting a little crazy, she turns serious too. And last, Clef, also turns serious. Sure, I'd be a bit serious too if I learned my home might disappear, but I mean, you could at least keep the characters the way they are, and have them get serious about certain things occasionally, but they went overboard.

Whatever, like petit-usagi said, it's CLAMP. You can't hate it. But I still despise the 4th book... But petit-usagi, you could make yourself a little more clear. I mean your review was like this: "I love it...but I hate it....I love it...but..." no offense, but I can never tell whether you like or hate a certain anime. Please be a little more clear.

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Contributions: Reviews: 22

Dog-Girl

Posts: 0
Score: 12
Rank: 106

To tell you the truth, I've only read the manga. So far, it's GREAT! Yes, so it has a plot that is A LOT like the one from Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Dungeons and Dragons but, really, it's ENJOYABLE. It's cool, it's funny, it's beautifully-drawn, it's GREAT! Only one thing--Fuu. Everyone's saying how beautiful she is. Personally, I thoroughly disagree. I don't think fluffy hair looks good with a girl with glasses. I mean Hikaru is beautiful, Umi is gorgeous, Fuu is.... whatever. She's nice, yes, but I resent the fact that she's pretty.

Another thing-- can someone please tell me when the anime is coming to the U.S. or how I can order the Japanese version online? I love this manga...

"Stupidity...UTTER STUPIDITY!"~Tetsuo,Akira
Contributions: Reviews: 12

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This show - quite simply - is the bomb. Being CLAMP CLAMP CLAMP! CLAMP are the production team responsible for Cardcaptor Sakura, X/1999 or X, RG Veda and - yes, if you've read my reviews before, you know what to expect. ANGELIC LAYER! WAHOO!
But, this review is about the awesomeness of Magic Knight Rayearth, which consists of two TV series and a OAV.

*series one*

"Save this world, Legendary Magical Knights" is the cry that Hikaru, Umi and Fuu hear when summoned to the mystical world of Cephiro from Tokyo Tower. Now, they go on a quest after being given magic by a scarily short Mage called Clef! Their quest is to revive the Rune God and find Princess Emeraude! Think you've seen this show before in millions of other anime? Forget it. Magic Knight Rayearth boasts the "unusual world, scary enemies" outline, but it is approached differently. The girls WANT to save this world, and are already skilled fighters! One knows Kendo, one knows Fencing and one knows Archery! They just need their incredible Magic and they're off! Even the villains are incredible and are not cardboard cut outs - and just wait for the ending. I'll say nothing apart from, its not what you're expecting! Even if I spoilt it, it'd still be super powerful! With incredible characters, gorgeous animation and a compelling plot (GET THOSE GIANT ROBOTS GIRLS!) this is a magical girl, giant robot, alternate world type anime with bite and taste! This show is faithful to the Manga almost completely, with a few changes. They basically change the fights around, so they still go to THIS place but fight SOMEONE ELSE there. That kinda thing...

*series two*

um... right... well, this show is vastly different (read, almost completely) from the Manga, and whereas this isn't always a bad thing, in this case it is! Cephiro is in ruins, and various countries are invading (I can't tell you why without spoiling it!)
Hikaru, Umi and Fuu wish to return to Cephiro (again, can't say why without spoiling) and are horrified. But, determined to save the world again, they rev up their giant robots and stride into battle!
Now, where this morsel differents from its older sibling, is that they throw in a BIG BIYATCH of a villain, and a psycho-lesbian beast girl called Nova and neither of these exist in the Manga. This threat is always there, and worse still, is so simple and boringly explained in the end, that you feel cheated.
In the Manga, the invading armies are the only "villains" and yet you can't help but love them. I love the way that Lady Aska transferred into the Anime! And Tarta and Tatra were hilarious! Of course Eagle was more central to the plot, but still... I don't LIKE him! Lantis and Eagle have a bizarre kind of Subaru/Seishirou thing going on... But Lantis isn't as receptive or welcoming! I will say this, the invading armies are definitely the high point of this show! What brilliant fighting methods they have! ;)
This show pales in comparison to its predecessor. This show is darker and more sombre, the characters are stale now that we see them more often, and the plot just doesn't want to advance. If they had shortened it, and removed the Debonair/Nova faction, it would have been sweet beyond belief. The Manga (books 4,5,6) handle the story a lot better. If anything, forget this existed!
Final verdict? Its Rayearth, and its CLAMP, so I don't hate it. Unfortunately series 2 is weathered and less powerful than series 1. Watch it to complete the set, and watch it for the hilarious invading armies! And, watch it for Umi and Fuu who for some reason are never given as much plot or involvement as the annoying, over excited Hikaru. (and, even though I'm very open minded, does Hikaru have to be soooooo bizarre in the now notorious BATH scene?) Watch this, ya might like it, but you'll be let down!

***OAV***

ahh! OAV time! This story rehashes the first season and gives it an entirely more Adult edge. The girls are now naked inside their Giant Robots, they only have one spell apiece, and there is definitely something wrong in Tokyo!
In this story, Cephiro comes to Earth in some pointless reason because Princess Emeraude fell in love with a human and blallllaaaahhhhhhhhhhh...
Forget the plot. Seriously, seriously - this show took everything subtle about the plot and made it all BOLD and for the completely mentally impaired. Alcyone is no longer tragic, she's just a bitch. Ascot is just a pompous little ass who dies too late! And Ferio fighting Fuu? *folds arms* Miss CLAMP Team, I am not impressed!
This OAV, having high production values, IS gorgeous, and in some respects, is fun to watch. But, taking the sacred, subtle, hilarious and tragic nature of the TV show and turning it into a fan service filled fight-fest is just wrong. Magic Knight Rayearth (yes, even the awful Series 2) is a brilliant example of how deep and intricate a TV show can be!
For me - I think about this show in one commonly used phrase: KIDS - JUST SAY NO!

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