Plot: What’s it about?
As this story unfolds over a rather extensive amount of episodes and covers a lot of ground, it would be hard to summarize even the basic premise. So if this synopsis seems thin or understated, remember that I’m discussing a large scope anime series and in truth, I’d rather tell too little than reveal too much. Miaka Yuki is a junior high student who dreams of big things, but finds her real life to be less than impressive. Her friend Yui is very smart and does well in school, but Miaka has to study all the time and even then, she struggles in some classes. But when Miaka and Yui venture to the library to return some books, a chain of events is put into motion that changes their lives forever, to say the least. As the browse the books, they come across one titled The Universe of the Four Gods, which turns out to be more than the usual reading material. The book has powers that suck the girls inside, trapping them inside a world they’ve never even dreamed of. A close call with slave traders starts their adventure, but soon, Yui ends up pulled back outside the book, leaving Miaka on the inside, to fend for herself…
I became immersed in this series after I borrowed the first disc from a friend, as the characters were wild, the stories were fun, and the scope was quite large, so there’s always a lot going on here. And since the series takes place over so many episodes, all the little nooks & crannies can be explored, which means there’s never a dull moment. I admit, some episodes come off better than others, but I never found one to be bad per se, just that some were handled better than others. I’ve learned by watching this with others that the more bizarre segments could split an audience, but I thought they were well done and added to the fun. The characters run across a wide spectrum and while some are annoying at times, their annoyances fit well into the storylines, so no need to complain, really. The series is a shade predictable, especially to those who watch a lot of anime, but the events still work well enough, which is what counts. The only other quibble I have is that some episodes are a little slow in terms of storyline, but most run at a brisk pace and this is a large tale, so those slow moments are often required.
This release from Pioneer contains the first twenty-six episodes of the series, spread over four discs and placed within an elegant, attractive package. You’ll find the four discs within a nice digipack case, adorned with nice artwork, which then slides inside of a frosted, well crafted slipcover. This protects the cardboard digipack well and also looks terrific, so it all comes together nicely here. You’ll also find a booklet inside the case, which has some character information, as well as chapter & episode listings, to make navigation of the episodes simpler. I know the price seems steep, but you get so much content in terms of just episodes, plus bonus materials and of course, Pioneer’s handsome case and artwork add to the allure. So if you’re interested, this box set is well worth a look and while the cost is high, this release is well worth the investment. Of course, if you enjoy this selection of episodes, make sure to pick up Pioneer’s other Fushigi Yugi releases, so you can see how it all comes together.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in full frame, as intended. The episodes have been spaced across four discs, so no worries about compression arise and that’s good, since this series has some terrific visuals. I did see a couple or minor glitches, but only a few over all twenty-six episodes, so I see no reason to raise much of a ruckus. The colors are bold and rich, with no signs of errors, while black levels are accurate and well balanced also. I saw no dirt or marks on the material either, so I think this treatment deserves some nice marks.
Audio: How does it sound?
As usual, Pioneer offers both Japanese and English language options, but I’d stick with the original Japanese, as it is superior in all respects. The audio remains clean and well presented at all times, with no harshness or muffled moments to report. I found dialogue to be sharp and at the proper volume level, so it is never drowned out, but also never overpowers the other elements, so the balance stays in check throughout. The music and sound effects come across well here also, with some good use of the speakers, to enhance the atmosphere and of course, enrich the impact of the musical score. In addition to the dual language tracks, you’ll also find optional English subtitles, in case you’ll need those.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release includes a relationship guide (to keep track of everyone), an interview with the series’ creator, and footnotes about the episodes on each disc.
