Plot: What’s it about?
Although she seems to be a normal, beautiful young woman, Himiko is much more than that, with a past rich in mystical mysteries. As an infant, she was made a part of an odd energy ceremony by mistake and the result sent her into another world, where she remained until she became a teenage girl. The ceremony involved an energy with a mind of its own, which is why the priests used to choose their next queen, who needed to be a leader who guide them out of dark times, with invading forces looming on the horizon. This energy, called Bokka winds up surrounding Himiko instead of one of the candidates, but when the invading troops arrive at the temple, Himiko is shot into another world, while the others remain behind. But a young man was also impacted by the Bokka, one named Kutani and he would stay by Himiko’s side as the years passed, while the two became very close friends. Himiko knows little of her origins, but she knows the temple ruins are involved, which is why she and Kutani return to the site to look around. As she browses the ruins, the Bokka surges out and into her system, engulfing her and pulling her back into the world she once left, as she is needed there. Kutani grabs her and is also pulled into this other world, but little do they know what perils await them…
This series isn’t the most original anime release out there, but Legend of Himiko has some nice moments and overall, is worth a look. You can tell the series had a limited budget, as animation seems a little out of whack at times and isn’t always consistent, as some later episodes look thinner, if that makes sense. I suppose the bulk of the funds were spent on the lush opening sequence, as it looks stunning and really sets the stage for the show itself, which simply cannot live up to the sequence’s high standards. Even so, the animation is solid and while the character designs do remind me of other anime titles, the visuals are up to par and given the show’s short supply of resources, I think the work done is more than acceptable. As you watch Legend of Himiko, you won’t be overwhelmed by what you see, as some of the material will bring up memories of other anime, but it has enough fresh moments to keep it all interested, without question. I really liked some of the visual touches and characters, while the storyline remains above average and even scales a little higher as the episodes continue. This three disc collection from Central Park Media contains the entire series, packed into one neat, easy to store slipcase. So for fans of light, fun anime, I more than recommend Legend of Himiko, especially in this complete collection.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in full frame, as intended. I was pleased with the overall treatment here, but the show’s low budget is evident at times, as the source materials seem a little worn here and there. The main issue is some grain that shows up in darker scenes, but this is never a serious problem, so don’t be too concerned. The colors are in proper order in most scenes, though a few do show overly red hues, which can compromise flesh tones and other red based elements, though again, this proves to be only a minor distraction. The rest of the colors come across quite well and look bright, bold, and free from errors. I saw no troubles on the contrast side of things either, as black levels stayed clean and smooth at all times. A few small hiccups aside, these episodes look about as good as we could expect.
Audio: How does it sound?
This release offers viewers two options in this area, the original Japanese soundtrack in Dolby Digital stereo or the English dub version in a 5.1 surround option. I know the temptation is there, but rest assured, you’re better off with the Japanese soundtrack, since it is a solid choice and of course, the intended format for the material. The audio is clean and more active than you might think, with some good spacing use and a great overall presentation. It won’t shake the pictures of the walls, but with this material, even a DTS ES option couldn’t work that kind of magic. The dialogue is crystal clear and never distorted, while music and sound effects come through as well as possible, a terrific audio treatment. This disc also includes optional English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The three discs each come with an assortment of extras, so I’ve broken down the supplements disc by disc. On the first volume, you’ll find background & character sketches, a selection of artwork, character profiles, Japanese trailers, and textless opening & ending sequences, which are nice to have on deck. The next disc is home to another selection of artwork, some character profiles, Japanese trailers, a cool music video, and some outtakes from the English language version of the series. The third and final disc houses yet another collection of artwork, Japanese trailers, and character profiles, but you’ll also be able to peek behind the scenes of the production of the English language edition.
