The Phantom Zone Anime Review Site.

The Phantom Zone Anime Review Site.

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Distributor: Anime Works
Original Story: CLAMP
Volumes: 1 Box Set (6 discs)
Rating: 13+
Anime Code: G

3 Junior High School girls from Tokyo: Hikaru Shido, Umi Ryuzaki, and Fuu Hoohji, were spirited away from Tokyo Tower to a mysterious land called Cephiro, where magic is the norm and the land is protected by Princess Emeraude, the so-called Pillar of Cephiro.  But now she's been imprisoned.  Now Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu, must learn how to fight, how to use magic, and most importantly, how to work together to save Princess Emeraude and defeat the evil High Priest Zigato.
 
Review: I love CLAMP's work, I love fantasy, I love giant robots, MKR had all this and more including an ending that threw me for a loop.  The animation wasn't what I expected from CLAMP, but the music was beautiful, including a heartwarming opening done by Sandy Fox, who works as cast member and crew member on the series.  It seemed like the character designs came from other animes at times.  But CLAMP has always been a great storyteller and this is no exception.  Their writing style is as impressive as they are mysterious.

Action Level: 4/5
As many who have also seen the series and even the characters themselves have pointed out, the fighting looked like it was taken right out of a video game.  The magic was too (though I personally thought it was out of another fantasy anime which shall remain nameless).

Romance Level: 2/5
Fuu was the meakest of the three, yet she was the only one to get a boyfriend.  But they did part on not-so-polite terms before the final battle.  Caldina's attitude towards Ashcot seemed a little too close for comfort.  But come on, I know kids in Japan are supposed to be more mature than kids in America, and I know that at times, girls mature faster than boys, but do 14 year olds really fall in love?  I don't know, it's been a long time sisnce I was in Junior High.

Comedy Level: 4/5
I think this series was the first to use chibiness, or if it wasn't, it certainly was the first to overuse it.  Unfortunately, it got rather annoying around episode 12.  Makona burdened most of the comic relief.  The next comical character was Caldina, the southern belle.

Adult Level: 2/5
A (seemingly unnecessary) stereotypical naked magical girl transformation sequence in episode 1 (which never appears again except in brief clips during the opening scene).  But besides that, it showed people bleed, bleed a lot.

Drama Level: 3/5
It got comical during dramatic moments which took away from the overall intensity from the situation.  But the ending, the ending, as heartbreaking as it was, personified drama.

Overall Level: 4/5
Magical girls, giant robots, magic, comedy, some weird pudgy rabbit with an Ultraman-like crystal on its forehead.  There's something for everyone here.  Sandy Fox, in addition to her voice role and crew roll, sings the opening beautifully.  Definitely get the box set (though be careful, the disks have a tendancy to fall out.)