Final Impressions – Series Review
For better or for worse Seirei no Moribito will probably go down as the best show you did not see in 2007, much like another show of last year, Simoun. The latter show is an entirely different topic all together, so let us shift our focus back to the show at hand. For the very few of us that did watch from start to finish we can safely say that it was one of the best, if not thee best show (judging from what has come out so far of the new season) of the year. If I had to describe Seirei no Moribito in a couple of words, things such as tense, slice of life, gripping, serious, fantasy adventure, and totally awesome come into mind.
Seirei no Moribito was actually quite the simple and straight forward story of Balsa protecting a young prince bestowed of the water spirit from a kingdom and father out to kill him in fear of the worse if the water spirit was to be born.
Seirei no Moribito was not afraid of making you sit down in front of your screen and making you read 24 minutes of extremely well written dialogue. On the other end, Seirei no Moribito was not holding back when it came to its action sequences either. These were some of the most intense battle choreography I have seen in quite a long time. The early chase/fight scene between Balsa and the King’s hunters comes to mind immediately. Coupled with an excellent, I do mean excellent soundtrack, these scenes were keeping those eye-balls glued onto the screen. The animation on a weekly basis did not falter; on the contrary you were always asking yourself how the hell the show looked so good on a consistent level every week!
But really, I cannot forget the single lone factor that made Seirei no Moribito as good as it is. Balsa, the main heroin lead is such an amazing character. From bad-ass spear master to a motherly figure to a child (not her own) destined for doom she was the perfect character for this show. I find no fault with her. She wasn’t a typical stock-character, that and she looked god damn sexy all the time and had a very very sexy voice actor, in a matured woman kind of way.
The supporting characters were just as good. Chagum, carrier of the water spirit is a kid. If I hate anything in anime shows it’s when kids are the main characters. Most of the time they are whiny, follow no logic, and flat out show killers (I’m hinting at Raki of Claymore cough cough as an example). But you know what? Chagum grew on me. He had a lot of smarts in that noggin of his. He was smart, didn’t whine like a little bitch, and stood up for himself and showed those lowly scamming peasants their place in life in one episode. Tanda was cool also, but you just have to feel sorry for the guy, he never got any action with Balsa, which just makes you wish every time the show had even a small hint of romance. That’s why we need a second season please! Oh can’t forget about Shaman Torogai, ever so angry yet mostly entertaining.
A complaint to some, enjoyed by me personally, the slice of life / filler episodes did slow down the story considerably during most of the shows run. However what emerged from one of those episodes was probably one of my favorite episode of the entire series, simply titled “Neither Man nor Beast.” You’ll understand why if you watch it. Considering it had zero impact on the main story what so ever, it’s surprising what an amazing episode this was.
Coming to a close, Seirei no Moribito was a show I will not forget for some time. It had a gripping start, slowed downed in the middle for a bit, and finished absolutely perfectly. Very little flaws with the show on a whole, great characters, visually stunning animations, well choreographed fight sequences, suspenseful music, well written dialogue and well developed characters, Seirei no Moribito simply had it all, so go on and watch it today!
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They definitely need a second series. ^___^ I’m so glad that Seirei no Moribito has good source material, and a series of books, so a bigger chance at a sequel!
Poor Tanda… he’s going to have to wait again XDD
I don’t think we need another season, I mean it is really self fullfilling as it is, all the loose ends are tied.
It is one if the very few (maybe actually the only one) anime that I dare call out loud a work of art.
My favourite ep was actually the one where we get to see the fight between Jiburo and his friend for the first time, as Balza is dying…
Does Neither man nor beast refer to the episode about the tiger ?
As for romance, I do believe it was present in the show, just more suble than in your average anime with that reversal of roles, I mean if the roles were reversed, no one would doubt that ‘he’ will come back..
As for the last person she is to lay to rest, I figured they mean her father. But I realize it could also be that cursed king, rather far fetched and highly unlikely but that would be the culmination of her path towards forgiveness ??
A second season would definitely be a treat, but it isn’t needed. An mini OVA would be cool. What I am really looking forward to is the next project for this studio.
As for the romance, it was seldom brought about during the very last episodes, reference to the marriage proposals, Tanda waiting for Balsa, living peacefully with Balsa but she just shrugs it off for a later date … the potential is definitely there for, but it would look weird Balsa smooching on some guy haha.
I wish they would animate the rest of the books. I want more of Balsa and Chagum. I also want to know more of the world in which Seirei no Moribito is set in.
Thank you very much for your interesting description!
All the best,
Anat
I can say that is the best series I’ve ever seen. It kept me one episode after the other. The strong character of Balsa, she’s againts the empire, against Chagum destiny to die, she’s loyal to Jiguro that sees fighting when she is dying, must come back to Kanbal to restore his honor. This series is not the story, what make it excellent are the characters and the music.
A few weeks ago my brother came to visit and pulled up a few clips of this show on Youtube. Even with youtube’s grainy, low resolution picture, this show looks amazing. I have never been into anime, but this show intrigued me. I watched every episode over the span of three days. I kind of wish I’d taken it a bit slower, but I couldn’t help it. I have no will power! XD
The story is great, but it does have it’s weird moments. Probably because I don’t have much knowledge of Japanese culture. But, seriously, this show was awesome! We don’t have cartoons like this in America. This has a good message. It’s powerful.
Anyway, I would really like to see another season. I wanna know what Balsa is up to! Will she meet Chagum again? And what about Tanda? Seriously. Poor guy!
Yes, poor Tanda indeed but at least they had fun in their adventures. I’m sure there’d be more to the two’s relationship in the future volumes, which needs to be made into anime.
Just saw the first 4 episodes last night (yeah, I’m late) but it was incredible! I was drawn in by the character design (I’m more for realistic proportions vs. the big head, big eyes thing) and was shocked at how high the production value was. Prior to your review I wasn’t aware that it was a Production IG vehicle so that says it all right there. I’ve already reccommended it to my other anime heads. Good stuff!
Awesome anime, i knew i was watching a masterpiece the second i saw the Balsa Die Scene, and the motion capture was amazing! The episode about jiguro and especially the filler episodes were my favorite, i mean come on?! The Tiger,gambling,everything was so FRESH.
It doesn’t need a season 2, i agree…sometimes it’s better to leave masterpieces alone before digging em up and screwing everything up. Let it rest in peace, and let us remember the awesomness of it all, and of course i will be rewatching this in a month or two^^
I just watched all episodes in 2 days:P. I really liked it a lot, though there were some minor story weaknesses. Like choices that aren’t logical. But these moments were a lot less numerous then in a lot of other good series. Great graphics too.
Shitty end though.. I wanna know what happens next.. Its like they build desire to watch season 2 so that if it comes out they will keep their watchers.. Now i’m just left with the questions like: What does Balsa still have to do? That king is long gone, her father is dead a long time… And Tanda? What about him.. Will he ever marry Balsa? Will they get a child? Will they stay friends with the prince?
if i remember correctly she has to save 7 more people. she lied to the queen that chagum was the 8th life she was going to save, didnt she talked to Shaman Torogai that she did not save anyone yet?
I cried thru the entire saga. The soundtrack was stunning. Shuga’s theme when they first showed him walking to see the Head Star Reader, cry, cry, cry. Melancoly and beautiful. Cindy Robinson, aka Balsa, Mona Marshall aka Chagum was a class act. Steve Staley aka Shuga, oh man, his voice..when the prince died, crying crying..Johnny Bosch is everywhere, and no matter who he plays, he is so believable as that character.The eight soldiers, the actors were so perfect in fitting the personality. Whoever selected the actors for everyone’s characters is half of the equation of the success of this series. Many don’t know about this series. It is your diamond in the rough.I use Fullmetal Alchemist, which came near putting me in therapy, is what I measure a series by. This is at the caliber of that series. I would love for them to make a movie, in which all the characters are in it, and they all look like they do as they did in the series, but older, and Balsa and Chagum meet once again. I wanted them to tell his father of the things he had learned, his bravery, and I wanted him to stand up to his father. After what he had gone thru, who now is the wiser beyond there years, more Chagum than his father and others, who had lived in the court all there lives, never experiencing living off the land, facing monsters, facing assassins. I want a movie. It is so unfinished. I want Tanda to face off with Balsa, either he is married, or he is aggressive with her in a romantic way. I wanted romance between someone in this movie. Still I have all the volumes and it is priceless.They selected the perfect voice actors, and they came thru as professionals that no Hollywood actor could do who they pay millions to voice animated characters. They will never be at the caliber of these prof. anime voice actors that will ring your heart out from the emotions they can instill in there voices. BAck to Moribito. If I knew how to get in touch with the powers that be, I would be screaming MOVIE.