MYSTERIOUS PLAY
(FUSHIGI YUUGI)

Review by J.L.Roberts
-------------------------

Yes, Miaka is easily as annoying as Usagi/Serena.  Yes, 
the plot is a lot like a cross between Sailor Moon and 
The Neverending Story.  But with sooooo many bishonen 
running around, do you blame me for lovin' it?!

Miaka Yuuki is your typical junior high student: she 
worries about getting into high school, she hangs out 
with her best bud, she sleeps too much, eats too much, 
doesn't study enough...you get the idea.  And then, on 
a rare trip to the library, she gets sucked into Ancient
China via this magical book.  Only, this ain't your 
great-ancestor's Ancient China.  There it turns out she 
is the Suzaku no Miko (the Priestess of Suzaku, the Red 
Phoenix), eventually able to call upon his powers.  To 
do this, she has to gather her seven Seishi (Star 
Warriors).  But is anything ever really that easy??? 
ESPECIALLY in an anime??????

Like I said, this is basically Sailor Moon with a twist.
But I like it. The characters are a tad bit more 
3-dimensional than most of the Sailor Moon characters, 
which is sooooo nice for shojo stuff, and there are more
bishonen (cute guys) than you can shake a stick at!!! 
*starts daydreaming about Tamahome, Tasuki, Chichiri, 
Hotohori.....composes herself as she wipes the drool off
the keyboard*  There is some nudity, but, true to anime 
tradition, all naughty bits are conveniently covered. 
Martial arts/magical violence and, depending on 
translation, language.  Pioneer's just starting to 
release this commercially; I'm NOT impressed with the 
dub.  Spend the extra $$ to get the subtitled.  TRUST ME
ON THIS ONE.

VIOLENCE, NUDITY, LANGUAGE (depending on translation) - 
13 and up