I will admit, for the sake of this article, I am a Fushigi Yugi fan. It was the first anime I ever knew as a child and even now I love it, though I think it’s more for the nostalgia than the story at this point in my life.
Fushigi Yugi, to freshen the minds of those who have forgotten or have never been introduced, is a shojo comic by Yu Watase, and is the story of a fifteen year old girl named, Miaka, who is accidently transported to another world through a book called, The Universe of the Four Gods. There, she finds out she is the Priestess of Suzaku and in order to save the land of Konan and get back to her world, she must gather the seven warriors of Suzaku.
Interesting idea, especially to a twelve year old girl, such as I was, and Watase’s art is rather captivating, so I was sucked in without warning. I believe it was because I was so in love with the show that I never could admit to all of its flaws, but now, after having watched it again just a week ago, I have come away with one thing: Miaka is not and never will be, interesting.
In fact, I’d go so far as to say, the story would be incredible and doable without her ever having been in it. The number one contributing factor that led to the anime having gotten so many horrid reviews was that Miaka, I say again she is only fifteen, falls in love with the warrior, Tamahome, who is an astonishing seventeen years of age. After about, eight minutes, they fall madly in love and quite literally, every other word they speak is each other’s name.
Fushigi Yugi has an amazing cast of interesting, mysterious characters and instead, it focuses on a high school girl who eats too much and is really klutzy. The story has characters like, Chichiri, a traveling monk with dangerous sorcerer powers and an unspeakable past and Tasuki, a bandit leader who can create phantom wolves. Even the villains of the show are far more fascinating and loveable, yet every single one is thrown from the limelight in exchange for Miaka and her inability to say anything other than, I love Tamahome.
It’s frustrating to watch, even when Miaka suddenly gets mature and decides to make all these choices that will put her warriors out of harm’s way, only to consciously put herself at risk and threaten their lives. By the middle of the show, I’m weeping, begging for someone to stab her and carry on with the other characters and their stories. What’s even more depressing is that the show took too long to get off its feet, constantly reusing old footage and recapping, and so the last half dozen warriors to be introduced, Miboshi, Chiriko, Tomo, they’re almost completely two dimensional because there was no time to expand on them.
The poor reviews, horrible dialogue and rather shoddy production somehow managed to convince someone in the animation realm to give the show three OVAs and I actually am thankful for that. The OVA chapters have much better character design and are clean, fresh and beautiful. What is most important, to me at least, being the unofficial number one fan of Chichiri, is that this amazing character, who was basically ignored for the entire span of the first anime, was given his own episode that dealt with all his loose ends.
I would never say that Fushigi Yugi is horrible. I believe I am incapable of hating the show that for so long brought such pleasure to my life and horror to my wallet. However, that doesn’t mean that I won’t criticize it for thinking a glutton is more enthralling than an emperor, twins who communicate by writing on their bodies, a healer who couldn’t save his girlfriend from disease, or a bandit who shoots flames from an iron fan.
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August 3rd, 2009 at 3:02 am
I am a big fan of FUSHIGI YUUGI as well, and somehow I tend to disagree with the idea that Miaka is NOT INTERESTING ( I am rather biased, but, I cannot help that).
August 5th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Hey, they’re opinions! That’s what makes debating anime fun and interesting.
I’d like to hear you’re take on Miaka. There are moments when I enjoy her, but more often than not, my opinion is what I said in the article.
Glad to meet another FY fan, though!
August 11th, 2009 at 6:49 am
Well, there are times when the constant stream of melodrama (the constant coming together and breaking up of Miaka and Tamahome) does hold back the storyline, but at the same time I do personally believe that real life is a lot like that. Besides if Miaka is uninteresting, though to me she is more air-headed than anything else, I do also believe that at 15 most girls ARE air-headed romantics. At the same time I do think that a lot of the other characters could have been dealt with a little better…remember in the first OVA Tomo emerges the villain apparent, but it is never quite clear how he is still alive ivn the first place. Besides, the sequence where Nakago is defeated, maybe the reason why Nakago became what he did could have been explained better. Miaka, frankly becomes really impressive only towards the last few episodes and in the OVAs.
And I too enjoy corresponding with other FY fans….
August 11th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Ah yes, I do agree with Miaka doing a great job standing up for herself in the last few episodes. I cheered, actually! I wish she had found that sense of right and wrong and general courage much earlier….
She was better in the OVA, too. It is sad that Nakago, Tomo, and Miboshi especially were not given very much story.
August 18th, 2009 at 12:28 am
Yup, so what do you think of the rest of the cast? I’m just curious. Actually, I’m more than curious, it is really nice to discuss something you love with someone who shares your views.I must admit I saw FY only 3 years back, and at a considerable age, but I still went loopy over the cute looking guys, I especially love Tasuki and Nuriko, they are fun. What do you say?
August 18th, 2009 at 11:15 am
Ah, I still go all fan-girl for guys like Tasuki and Nuriko. It can’t be helped!
I think the rest of the cast is fabulous. My favorite has always been Chichiri, I especially love his OVA episode with Hikou in it. He’s so mysterious and just sort of assumes the role of silent leader, which is cool. And he’s the only one who really stood against Nakago’s skills on more than one occasion.
Tasuki is another favorite and I do like Tamahome when he’s just ‘one of the guys’ and not crying about how he can’t marry Miaka every 20 seconds. Amiboshi I like too, and I feel so bad for all the terrible things he went through!
The deaths of the seishi are so sad, but very moving so kudos to Yu Watase there.
It is nice to talk about FY with someone else. Most of my anime comrades still tease me for watching it!
August 24th, 2009 at 12:16 am
Talk about it
My friends call me a baby over and above which they pass silly remarks about the anime……it drives me murderous. How old were you when you first watched FY? I was 20, and yet I kind of just succumbed to the charms of FY. I love the songs, ‘Chijouno seiza’ is my favorite. To be very honest, the first time I saw FY, it was episode 9 when Chichiri makes his first entry, I changed the channels thinking it was a waste of time. But come Nakago in all his regalia, and I could not help but get hooked on to FY, and there has been no looking back since. 
What are the other anime that you enjoy, I like COWBOY BEPOP, COLORCLOUD PALACE, GOD!SAVE OUR KING……the list is endless actually:):)
Till next time then!!
September 7th, 2009 at 12:49 am
HEY!! Long time no correspondence. You are well I hope, probably busy. Anyway, haven’t heard from you for quite some time, so just thought I’d say Hi.
Take care!!
September 7th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Sorry, long time! I’ve been busy, busy with work. The first time I watched Fushigi Yugi, I was thirteen– I believe. So I totally fell in love! It’s just incredibly amusing that I haven’t fallen out yet, and now I’m an adult with no excuse for adoring this show.
I have some of the FY soundtracks! I love the music too, it’s so cute. Mizu Kagami is my favorite, it’s played in the third OVA.
Other animes…. Kyo Kara Maoh (God Save Our King) I love!!! Hilarious show. Also, Hellsing, Outlaw Star, Paranoia Agent, Naruto… I could go on forever. I’ve never heard of Colorcloud Palace. What’s it about?
September 8th, 2009 at 12:43 am
Hullo!
Well, I’m afraid even at 80 I will probably swoon over FY
Colourcloud Palace is better known as SAINKOKU MONOGATARI…..it is about a Japanese kingdom named Colourcloud where Emperor Riyuki meets a girl from a noble family, SHU-REI who was meant to be his consort. The girl belongs to the Hong house but they are really poor and down to earth. The plot basically centers around court politics, betrayal and of course Love. Look it up Wikipedia…for more details.
The thing i appreciate most is that in anime intimate love scene look so pure and aesthetically beautiful, even a hardcore prude cannot possibly condemn it. These beautiful couples especially Miaka and Tamahome, they taught me, made me realise that love is a wonderfull thing. I was rather cynical about these aspects of life you see
Oh, by the third ova you mean Eikoden? When is Mizu Kagami played?
Anyway till next time dear.:)
September 8th, 2009 at 2:48 am
Hey! tuned in to listen to MIZU KAGAMI, loved it. Now I’m in love with Chichiri all over again!!!