Vampire Princess Miyu
Publisher
MVM
Director
Toshiki Hirano
Production
AIC, Group Tac, TV Tokyo
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Series
Running time
26 episodes
Year
1997
Vampire Princess Miyu
By Jonathan Chapman
23rd May 04 First of all this isn't for kids or people with short attention spans. The series is a little hard to get into, but once you're in, you're hooked. The quality of the animation/storyline are superb. There are few other series that are even compariable. Each episode has a certain irony, lesson, or just gothic atmosphere tht make the series utterly addicting. The series seems at first to be a ripoff of Sailor Moon (due to the whole girl school thing) but quickly seperates into a mystical film noir series with cutting edge visuals and indepth storyline. Instead of the typical girl-worrying-about-making-a-good-impression-on-a-boy type of story, this series focuses on indepth gothic tales in which good people often die or wish to as the Shima corrupt them. Miyu uses the school merely as a cover to uncover Shinma activity. While the story might start out a the school, it rarely ever stays there for more than a few minutes. And if you're worried about there being too much intrigue and not enough action, don't! There is a superb balance of story and action. I cannot stress enough that this series is what anime was supposed to be. This might possibly be the best series you ever buy. Miyu was born as a human, but was transformed by ritual into the guardian of the Earth from escapees of the Demon World (called Shinma). Partially a curse, she is forced to drink the blood of others to survive and can never have an adult body. Miyu has a rival (explained intricately throughout the series), a frost spirit that also appears as a girl that causes her must sorrow. The series is set in modern times, but at the same time is Miyu's remembrance of her past. Miyu tolerates only two Shinma to exist in the mortal plane, one that has been blood-bonded to her (Larva), as well as a little Shinma with magical powers of perception. Larva is her bodyguard and proves to be quite the fighter as the series progresses. Each episode is truly a masterpiece of art and story (with the exception of the last few episodes). While the ending leaves a little to be desired (mainly story), the series always keeps the plot fresh and original. I was truly blown away. The ending is, like most Anime series, a bittersweet victory/loss. If you like this series you will most likely like Hellsing, Vampire Hunter D, DarkStalkers, and Nightwalker. 9/10
-- Jonathan Chapman 23rd May 04
Vampire Princess Miyu Images  
|
