Tsubasa OVA: Tokyo Revelations
The three-part Tsubasa: TOKYO REVELATIONS OVA follows the group to the country of Tokyo, where they face a desolate land ruled by two warring groups desperate for water.
Tokyo is the country where Syaoran, Sakura and the gang all meet the gang from X (aka CLAMP’s incomplete epic). Though we’ve seen Sorata and Arashi in various other countries, this time they bring along Kamui and Fuuma and Subaru for the fun. And by the way, Kamui and Subaru — they’re twins. Twin vampires.
Spoiler part starts below.
Again, there were certain points along this OVA where I truly felt like CLAMP was cackling at their powers to fuck with us. When Yuuko explains that the entire journey –even from the moment when Sakura’s feathers spread throughout various worlds–was predetermined by events beyond their control… why it’s X all over again! I’ve always felt that CLAMP’s fetishism of destiny and control undermines the impact of the events that have happened. It implies that everything that Sakura, or Kurogane, or Fai, or Syaoran have done don’t really mean too much in the long run, since it was expected (or fated) that they were going to do that.
Otherwise, kudos for choosing to make an OVA instead of launching a third season. The two anime seasons were criticized for moving away from the manga plotline, thus destroying important characterizations and events as it did so. This OVA was a good treat: it stayed fairly close to the oriignal, but wasn’t too long to diminish into ugliness and cliche. Maybe I should pick up the manga again, it’s been a while since I’ve read it.
No commentsThe Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Wind
Born in Japan and raised as a human, Taiki is overwhelmed when he’s brought back to the kingdom of Tai, where he’s told he’s a kirin. With little knowledge or guidance, he must trust his latent instincts to choose a king for the Kingdom of Tai from among dozens of men and women who seek the position. Will the frustrated Taiki, who can’t even figure out how to transform into animal form, make the right choice? And more important, will he discover the kirin that lives within?
The Twelve Kindgoms: Sea of Wind focuses on Taiki, the kirin of Tai. Like Yoko, he was born in Hourai and knows very little about the traditions and expectations that are heaped on him when he returns.
Where Yoko had to learn the harsh realities of this new world practically on her own, Taiki lands straight into a cushy and protected spot. Upon his return to Yellow Mountain, which is the center of the Twelve Kingdoms and one of its most sacred areas, he is told exactly who he is and what he is expected to do. He is reunited with his lamia, Sansi, who serves as his surrogate mother slash babysitter, and is entrusted into the care of Yoka, an oracle whose sole purpose in her (immortal) life is to serve and guide the kirin.
Despite all these, Taiki remains insecure. From the very beginning, he feels that he isn’t worthy of all this attention and love, and because he doesn’t even know how to do basic ‘kirin’ things (like shapeshift). One of the oracles even mentions that Taiki’s attitude goes beyond mere humility into obsequiousness. It was unfortunate that Taiki was away from them for all those years, but has his core been worn away to the point that he was more human than noble beast?
This second installment of the Twelve Kingdoms novels was a great shot in the arm to revive my interest in this series. I’ve seen the anime many, many years ago — so even reading through the novel, there were certain aspects that felt ‘new’ to me again.
I wish that I could offer a more critical (or snarky?) review on this novel’s presentation; maybe gripe about the translation or spelling errors or cover design. But if you know my review style at all, you know that I don’t really like doing that too much. The adaptation style has improved from The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Shadow, but I don’t know if that’s due to the person doing the adaptation or the original style of the work itself. I confess that I am not fond of the flowery titles that are tacked on to the kings, Gyoso as “Peace-King” and Shoryu as “Ever-King,” but again, those are translation choices weren’t brought over to the anime version but do carry more weight in the novels.
Overall, I enjoyed my read-through of Taiki’s story. Twelve Kingdoms admittedly has a niche in my heart as one of my favorite anime series, so to be able to get more of it (in any format!) is a treat.
No commentsI named my cat Renji
2007 is turning out to be one bizarre year. I’ve attended more anime cons (Katsucon, NY Comic-con, AnimeNext, Otakon, and NY Anime Fest in Dec.) than I have in my entire fangirl career, yet I’ve watched fewer series all in all than I have since 2001. I’ve bought less manga and stopped buying R1 anime DVDs altogether. I know that I’ve burned out, and anime wasn’t as important to my life anymore.
So, why am I updating this blog now? Most of the old-time anime bloggers are gone (Ten quit updating Duh! this week) and I really didn’t care enough to get to know any of the new bloggers. Tokyojupiter seems just to be an archive of things that I used to enjoy enough to want to write and to gush about.
But, you know what, I don’t think I’m ready to hang up my blogging coat as yet. I look around my apartment and I’m surrounded by anime relics that I loved, no, love. Being an anime/manga fangirl has been a significant part of my persona all these years, and it’s introduced me to so many people who all share this same love. So I don’t update my blog for months — that doesn’t mean that I’ve stopped loving anime. I don’t think I ever will.
Thanks for reading, as always.
3 commentsArina Tanemura at SDCC
It’s funny how Viz sneaks in fairly important announcements in the unlikeliest of places.
In the July Shojo Beat issue, in the Letters to the Editor section, they’ve announced that Tanemura-sensei will be their special guest at SDCC.
…you’ll be happy to know that Arina Tanemura will be Shojo Beat’s special guest at this year’s Comic-Con International festival in San Diego, CA (July 26-29). Tanemura-sensei will be on hand during the convention to talk about her manga, meet adoring fans like yourself, and sign artwork created especially for the con… Plus, next month’s issue of Shojo Beat will feature an Arina Tanemura short story never before printed in English!
There you go! I don’t think I’ll be heading over to SD this year, but I hope that Tanemura fans will share their stories of seeing their favorite manga-ka.
5 commentsLife becomes drama
From Tokyograph: Keiko Suenobu’s manga is slated to become a drama series in June. The manga series, licensed in North America, by Tokyopop, is actually pretty tailor-made for a drama; it includes bullying, cutting, sexual predators, and all sorts of lovely high school experiences.
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