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[ café reviews ]

ray_t001.jpg

Magic Knight Rayearth
Episode 1: Densetsu no Magic Knight Shidou!
(The Birth of the Magic Knights!)


Copyright: © Kodansha / Dentsu / YTV / TMS-K (Japan), © 1999 Anime Works (North America)
Length: 25 minutes
Rating: NR, contains violence, Parental Guidance Suggested
Format: Subbed (VHS)

Screenplay: Ohkawa Nanase Maruo Keiko and Nakamura Osamu Director: Hirano Toshihiro Producers: Suwa Michihiko, Nakamura Shigeki and Yoshioka Masahito Character Design: Mokona Apapa and Mick Nekoi English Version Executive Producer: John Sirabella and Doug Lu Translation by: Rika Takahashi


[ plot summary ]

vhs jacket

Princess Emeraude has been kidnapped by the High Priest Zagato pitching the land of Cephiro into utter chaos. For without the power of Princess Emeraude's prayers the peace and constancy people have always knkown is slowly eroding as is the very land itself. Using the last of her powers, Princess Emeraude prays for the Magic Knights to come forth and save her beloved land. Bust just what does her praers bring forth? Three grade 8 students visiting Tokyo Tower on a school trip. What kind of Junior High School goes to Tokyo Tower for a school trip anyways?!? However, 3 different schools end up at the famous tower bringing together the three people destined to become the Magic Knights/ However, things aren't all that easy, after all they can't even do magic; or can they??


[ capsule review ]













Magic Knights Rayearth is a cute series meant for pre-teens and up although adults may find it a touch too cute depending on their mood. overall the animation is a bit of a mixed bag with some nice detail in certain scenes but tending not to flow very smoothly. How to reconcile the two?!? There is also liberal use of the super-deformed style of animation which is in keeping with the lower age bracket aimed for by this series. Overall, this first episode provides a good introduction for the primary characters and, if you associate colours with character types, you'll have a good idea of the personalities of the three people who are to become the Magic Knights. Personally I found the premise of the story to be a touch weak. Really now, is it that easy to bestow magic on people? Usually it's an inborn trait or some such, but here we find that it can be given to people instead. Likewise, the story is often quite tongue in cheek and can get a touch wearisome after awhile. The characters also are not very realistic and tend to be a touch 2-D, but as this is the first introductory episode we need to wait and see what will happen in subsequent episodes with regards to character development.

Interestingly enough, the translations for the sub-titles were a touch of a mixed bag. Parts were well translated aiming for the overall meaning using idiomatic English while others were a touch awkward. The translations of the magic spells being cast are a good example of the more awkward translations. All in all this makes for a rather silly and fairly mindless introduction to the series. - JN, 00.04.17



[ café rating ]

Original: Subbed: Dubbed:
Story: N/A 2 stars N/A
Direction: N/A 3 stars N/A
Acting: N/A 3 stars N/A
Animation: N/A 3 stars N/A
Music: N/A 3 stars N/A
Translation: N/A 4 stars N/R
Overall Rating: N/A 3 stars N/A



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Page last modified 2000.04.17