Just watched a whole slew of these episodes, and they’re pretty darn slick. This series definitely deserves more attention than it gets!
Set in the Heian period, but with a mythical twist, Otogizoushi centers on Hikaru, a daughter of the Minamoto clan. The clan has been commanded by the Emperor to retrieve the magatama (looks like half a yin-yang), a legendary artifact that was stolen by a shadowy mountain clan. Unfortunately, the eldest son of the clan, Raikou, is deathly ill, so Hikaru masquerades as him in order to uphold the family honor. Together with her trustworthy guard Tsuna, she ventures out to recover the mystical artifact, believing that its return to the palace will revitalize the deteriorating empire and restore her brother’s health. Unfortunately, the ministers left out some very important details concerning the truth about what the magatama is…
Dark and occult to the max, Otogi starts things off with a bang, beginning with its kickass intro song “Zen”, a hard-driving synth piece that somehow matches well with the historical backdrop. Although the animation and detail are not as fluid as say, Fullmetal Alchemist, it certainly has a very distinctive look, as if the backgrounds were painted with ink and watercolor.
Beyond the Mulan-style twist, the series reeks with style, with Japanese religious influences dominating the scene. Aside from the main action, political machinations abound in the capital, lending to a sort of Twelve Kingdoms/Junni Kokki feel to the series. I think those who liked TK will enjoy Otogi as well, as it contains a mix of action and intrigue against a semi-historical backdrop.
On a side note, the magatama shape scares me now…ever since it was horribly misused in the wretched Ikkitousen, I’ve been cringing at the sight of it. In every scene with it, I half expect some scantily clad high school chick to jump out and start a fight :/
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Ender – who has written 219 posts on Sea Slugs! Anime Blog.
One of the original founders, and the first to attempt a coups d'état.
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Aye, this series definitely needs more publicity. I dare say it’s the best new series this season. A mix of intrigue, adventure, and romance. If the storyline remains consistent beyond the magatama arc, this could rank as one of the top animes in my book.
BTW, I’m glad you’re blogging this title.
OMG, so THAT is what the magatama does?! It makes scantily clad schoolgirls fight???