Vampire Princess Miyu - Initiation (TV Vol 1)
Editorial Review:
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Toshihiro Hirano (Magic Knight Rayearth) directed both the earlier Vampire Princess Miyu OAVs and these less dramatic but more graphic broadcast episodes based on the manga created by his wife, Narumi Kakinouchi. Instead of wandering, Miyu enrolls in an urban high school, makes a few friends, and battles the local "demon-gods" or Shinma. "Larva" has become "Lava," more of a companion than a servant, who removes his stark mask to reveal the face of a standard bishonen, or beautiful boy. He and Miyu are joined by Shina, a spirit who resembles a cross between a rabbit and the Pokémon Clefairy. Hirano and the writers draw on more Western elements in these stories, despite the sakuhachi (bamboo flute) music. This version of Miyu is less aloof and more human, although she remains a formidable warrior. Still, the broadcast adventures lack the panache of the OAVs. Unrated; suitable for ages 13 and up: violence, brief nudity, grotesque imagery. --Charles Solomon
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Vampire Princess Miyu - Initiation (TV Vol 1)
Starring: Shaun O'Rourke (II) , Steven Jay Blum , Emmanuelle Chriqui , Wendee Lee , and Tony Pope Manufacturer: Tokyopop Pictures ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD  Price, Jamieson K
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ASIN: B00005M1Z9 Release Date: 2001-08-28 |
Amazon.com
Toshihiro Hirano (Magic Knight Rayearth) directed both the earlier Vampire Princess Miyu OAVs and these less dramatic but more graphic broadcast episodes based on the manga created by his wife, Narumi Kakinouchi. Instead of wandering, Miyu enrolls in an urban high school, makes a few friends, and battles the local "demon-gods" or Shinma. "Larva" has become "Lava," more of a companion than a servant, who removes his stark mask to reveal the face of a standard bishonen, or beautiful boy. He and Miyu are joined by Shina, a spirit who resembles a cross between a rabbit and the Pokémon Clefairy. Hirano and the writers draw on more Western elements in these stories, despite the sakuhachi (bamboo flute) music. This version of Miyu is less aloof and more human, although she remains a formidable warrior. Still, the broadcast adventures lack the panache of the OAVs. Unrated; suitable for ages 13 and up: violence, brief nudity, grotesque imagery. --Charles SolomonCustomer Reviews:
Beginning of a Good Anime Series.......2004-07-29
Good, but not without its flaws.......2004-05-24
Here is a summary of the three episodes found on vol. 1 - Initiation:
On "The Fang Knows" several young girls keep appearing dead. Machiyama, a young man from their school stumbles upon one of them lying in the street, drained of all her blood with two puncture wounds found on her neck. He suspects it's the work of a vampire, and he believes that that vampire is Miyu. He saw her walking away from the site, mysteriously vanishing into a cloud of mist. Suddenly she's a new classmate and so he follows her around (or tries to, anyway), determined to prove that his speculations aren't just his imagination. In the meantime a teacher is being harassed by some of her students who witnessed her doing something regrettable...something they won't seem to ever let her forget...
"At the Next Station" is my favorite of the three. Miyu has made some friends from the school she now attends and is fitting in well, but as she tries to act normal she must also deal with a shinma (stray demon) who is behind the disappearances of many beautiful women - all of whom were last seen riding on the last car of a train (can't really say much about this one without giving everything away).
On "The Forest Calls" a young man is plagued with nightmares and his behavior becomes abnormally strange after his father receives an odd looking mask from Africa that a witch doctor might have worn in the past to cast spells. Larva, however, has come face to face with the mask once before yet he does not understand its magical powers. He was unable to defeat it then, obviously, but it's slowly taking over Kouichi's life and Miyu must put a stop to the shinma's evil reign before it destroys anyone else.
The TV series for Vampire Princess Miyu is a good anime, and the music by Kawai Kenji is gorgeous and haunting, but it does not live up to the amazing OAV's. I prefer whoever did the voice and drawings for Miyu on the OAV's better for they put more emotion into her voice and expressions. Here she almost seems lifeless... Also, what ever happened to spiritualist Himiko? I haven't watched every episode yet but she hasn't been mentioned, nor seen, once. As for the fluffy, recurring character of Shiina, well I'm not too crazy about that particular addition but luckily she doesn't show up much. It's a "good" shinma that has the ability to sense things just before they're about to happen and can see far into the distance with its red, bloodshot eye when it's no longer being covered with its long white ear (kind of resembles a bunny). Overall, though, if you enjoyed the wonderful OAV's then I'd continue with this but expect to be a little disappointed. It's not as good but it certainly has its moments.
Not so interesting.......2003-12-29
And this is no exception. Beyond the titilatin of vampires and school uniforms, it really does not have much. Boring drawings, not very original concepts, and trivial story.
OAV = older is better.......2003-11-05
First of all, it is not the old series. The overall tone, mood, and atmosphere is very different this time around. Many parts were almost painful to me because of how vastly different the pacing and mood are at times. It seems like the overall chilling, sparse, and autumnal lushness of the OAV has been replaced here by an almost "silly" Sailor Moon meets Scooby Doo atmosphere. Indeed, in the later episodes, particularly the one involving the shamen's mask, I felt like I was watching a Scooby Doo episode populated by multiple Thelmas.
So I was let down. However, there are saving graces. One, this is the kind of anime that teenage girls should watch instead of Sailor Moon. There are obvious but very powerful statements made about the kinds of cravings adolescent females fall victim to - the second episode embodied this perfectly. In this installment, women fall victim to an obnoxious metrosexual-looking shinma who promises them everlasting beauty. The consequence for those who crave attention and perfect beauty is an excruciating existence of neverending loneliness.
I also enjoyed how in the first episode the creators made a very risky statement involving the obsessed geeky adolescent male who hungers after Miyu. It is at once a scathing satire of the typical anime fan (with typical obsession over illusionary anime girls) and a statement about fools who recklessly seek power and immortality. The geek eventually dies because of his obsession and his rushing headlong into illusion.
So there are pros and cons. Just remember, they made it silly and even lighthearted at times. Rent it first.
Mistaken Identification.......2002-12-10
The Fang Knows
When Matchiyama, a young high school student comes upon Miyu while she is investigating a murder he decides that she is the vampire behind the murderers. But the truth is more complex than the boy suspects and will reveal a tragic element behind the deaths. Sometimes things are even worse than they seem.
At the Next Station
Miyu transfers to a new high school and finds herself making friends with several fellow students. Especially Chisato Inoue, who takes an unexpected liking to the normally distant vampire. Miyu discovers that the neighborhood has been plagued the disappearances of a series of beautiful women, all associated with the subway. Miyu confronts the Shinma, but there is little help for the lost souls of its victims.
The Forest Calls
When an African mask has strange effects on the brother of on of Miyu's friends the vampire investigates and discovers that Lava remembers a past encounter with the Shinma behind the mask. But this spirit is not entirely evil, just deeply angry about the ruining of the forests of its homeland.
This new, made-for-TV series has been updated considerable form the original OVA. Among the casualties of the change is the Art Nouveau flavor of the first series. But this isn't a real loss, as the updated work is still just as compelling, but in a different way. Lava has been tinkered with as well, sometimes appearing without a mask. Miyu also has an additional companion, a lesser Shinma called Shiina. The story retains much of its atmospherics and dark plot and should be considered a success.
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