Rayearth OVA

— by Kenneth Jin-ho Cho

The mainstay story of CLAMP's MAGIC KNIGHT RAYEARTH, having spawned two television series, joins the OVA market with a new three volume series. Promising the higher quality of production an OVA series normally entails, new and updated character designs, and a somewhat skewed storyline set in an alternate universe, the simply-titled RAYEARTH OVA series hopes to continue the adventures of Fuu, Umi and Hikaru, the three Magic Knights of Rayearth.
When entering the OVA market with an existing anime television title, there are two choices that producers can follow: either offer new side stories within the existing timeline, as FUSHIGI YUUGI has done earlier this year, or develop a new story within an alternative universe, as the abortive MACROSS II series attempted to do without much fanfare. The creators of RAYEARTH have opted to produce a story loosely based on the original but set in an alternative universe.
Defamiliarizing an existing story and cast in hopes that fans will still eagerly purchase the OVAs with impatient want is a tricky method; however, RAYEARTH seems to provide, if not a "new" story, at least gorgeous new character designs and top-notch animation. The three protagonists of RAYEARTH: Hououji Fuu, Ryuuzaki Umi and Shidou Hikaru, all upcoming graduates of a missionary junior high school near Roppongi, all sport slightly new makeovers and school uniforms. Pleasant surprises are in store for the bishounen fans of the RAYEARTH saga; the male cast like Eagle, Lantis, Ferio, and a completely different Clef all seem to have come straight from the recent X movie—tall, thin and breathtakingly handsome.

The story of RAYEARTH could almost mirror X as well. At the behest of Princess Emeraude (seemingly stuck in a lucid, dream-like state much like Monou Kotori of X), the castle of Cefiro is being transported to modern day Tokyo (right above Tokyo Tower, naturally) and threatens to destroy both Tokyo and Earth (who would have thought!). Only three girls (think Dragons of Heaven), whose hearts are filled with such love and desire for one another, are bestowed the power to save Tokyo and Earth by the Fairy of the Cherry Tree: Mokona! In their way stands the legions of Lord Zagato (Alcione could be the Seer Kanoe's active twin sister) and from there action, adventure, intrigue and deceit ensue. "To save this Earth, we'll safeguard our dreams."

Comparisons aside, RAYEARTH offers an entertaining story that will keep audiences interested. Hikaru's struggle to resolve her fears of being separated from her friends Fuu and Umi after graduation serves as the basis for the RAYEARTH series. Other interesting facets of RAYEARTH are the re-designed Mashin mecha that the Magic Knights employ and the, uh, interesting pilot/mecha interface. Sans clothing, these sequences (especially the second volume) seem to be targeting a male audience (service, service!) when MAGIC KNIGHT RAYEARTH fans have usually been overwhelmingly female.
Slated for only three volumes with two already in release, the saga of RAYEARTH is jarringly short for the scale and importance the story takes on. The first two volumes are exciting and full of suspense. However, this reviewer can only hope that the third and final release will end appropriately with closure and satisfaction, unlike the disappointing third volume of the first FUSHIGI YUUGI OVA series. The RAYEARTH OVA series scores a double success in that original RAYEARTH fans will still want to seek out the OVA series while those entirely new to RAYEARTH will not really be hampered with the need to "catch up" to the old television series beforehand.