Fushigi Yuugi
While in the National library Miaka and her friend Yui discovers a mysterious book: the Four Gods Sky and Earth. Not knowing about the magical properties of the book, they start reading it and find themselves transported in another world who looks like ancient China. Before even realising what just happened, there attacked by bandits and rescued by a mysterious handsome young man with a strange character on is forehead. While Miaka tries to find some kind of reward, Yui disappears and goes back to the library. There, she discovers that all that happens was written in the book.
Since she didn't notice Yui disappearance, Miaka can only imagine that her friend's being kidnapped by the young man that saved them. So, she goes after him and end up un a magnificent city called Konan. Her foreign looks catch the eye of some bad guys and she's being attacked again, and saved again by the mysterious young man, Tamahome.
While trying to convince Tamahome to help her find Yui, Miaka gets herself in trouble, having been disrespectful to the Emperor of Konan who was passing by. She's saved by Tamahome, but there captured and put in jail.
Miaka and Tamahome "cleverly" escape, but are separated. While searching for Tamahome, she meet Hotohori, who's actually the Emperor. Soon, she learns the truth: she as been absorbed by the book and as become Suzaku no Miko, the priestess of the southern god Suzaku. If she can find the seven seishi (means "constellation" or in this case, people with a constellation character on there body ) of Suzaku, then her wishes will come true and she'll be able to return to the real world.
Fushigi Yuugi could be called a shoujo ("girl anime"). It's first a romantic story between Tamahome and Miaka. But FY is far more then that. Frankly, I've found the storyline amazing. Being lucky, I was able to get almost all 52 episodes the same day. So, when I've started to watch that show, I could barely stop. I went through all episodes in less then 60 hours (I would have done it faster, but I had to work and sleep - luckily, I've watch most of it a Saturday). The story has suspense, action, tons of jokes... The animation is rather neat. I don't have anything bad to say about the soundtrack. I think the many adult fans of Sailor Moon would like it (I'm insisting on adult here, because the story is a bit more hard then SM). In my opinion, it's a "must see".
Six OVA episodes have also been released (if I'm not mistaken, FY original story is divided in 18 mangas. The series covers the 13 first mangas, the OVA are supposed to cover the stories of the 5 last). Right now, I've only been able to see the three first. Again, those where great and I can't wait to see the last three. The animation is much better, but I actually prefer the old one. Because the story goes faster then the original series, the OVA are much more serious, which is in my opinion a bit sad since I've loved the humor of the first series.
You love Fushigi Yuugi? Then, why not download my FY Plus theme?!
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Updated December 24th 1997
