Magic Knight Rayearth is an intriguing anime from CLAMP studios that begins to lose its charm about a third of the way through. Like all of CLAMP’s productions, this one has gorgeous character designs, surrealistic settings, hilarious bursts of comic relief, and unexpected plot twists. The musical theme song is also among the catchiest in recent anime history. This is enough to recommend at least the first few installments of Magic Knight Rayearth to anyone.
Umi, Fuu, and Hikaru are three Tokyo area schoolgirls who, in best anime tradition, are whisked away to a magical land called Cephiro and given a heroic quest. The girls’ personalities are clearly defined, and while they are different enough from each other for conflict, they learn to work together and become close friends. My favorite is the immature Hikaru, partly because she tends to spout cute cat ears for comic effect. Cephiro has echoes of both Oz and C.S. Lewis’ Narnia, and many of the fantastic creatures the girls encounter (including a bizarre pseudo-rabbit called Mokona) are truly imaginative. The vividness of Rayearth’s monsters compares favorably to those in Slayers and is in sharp contrast with the more literal beasties of Lodoss.
The quest itself is inspired by role-playing games and is understandably muddled. The nature of the three girls’ quest changes as the series progresses and is shaped by a plot twist that will not be revealed here. The twist is unexpected, and revamps several events that occur early in the storyline; without giving the ending away, it should be noted that said twist seems to have been prompted more by short-sightedness than by any real need to resolve the plot.
Nevertheless, if watched with suspension of disbelief, Magic Knight Rayearth can be a lot of fun for all viewers. Despite the sudden changes in the storyline near the end, it’s hard not to like the series. In fact, given the irresistible music and adorable characters, it’s hard not to recommend it. Magic Knight Rayearth is the perfect solution for long, rainy afternoons.
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