Mirage of Blaze:Ancient Rivals

Rating:
Summary: Win me over all the rest of animes I used to love!!
Review: Episode 5 Endless Conflict
Episode 6 Golden Emblem
Episode 7 Memories of Hateful Anguish

The main story for episode 5 and 6 deals with the ghosts from the Kasuke uprising. The Kasuke uprising was lead by a farmer named Kasuke on Matsumoto Castle to protest the taxes being raised from 83 pounds (the Edo period system of measuring rice) to 116 pounds which created a lot of hardships for the farmers and so naturally there were people who wanted to do something about these taxes. The end result of the Kasuke uprising was that Kasuke and the other leaders of this uprising were tricked and executed. Saori's middle school was built over the area that Kasuke and the others were executed at. When their remains were discovered and the history behind their deaths learned they were given a proper burial and so their vengeful spirits became guardian spirits; however someone has used spiritual guidance to send these spirits from Saori's middle school to Takaya's high school. They have also been turned into vengeful spirits and have been haunting Takaya's high school and several students have been injured in the process. It is then up to Takaya and company to find out who is responsible for this.

In episode 7 Takaya has spent his summer exercising spirits with Naoe. Their latest journey takes them to Uozu City. Takaya starts to have images in his head of events in the past but can't quite make sense of it. He also learns that 400 years ago during the battle of Otate Naoe fought on the opposing side. He fought on the side of Lord Kagekatsu. Eventually they arrive at Uozu castle were the vengeful spirits of the Ikkoshu have been attacking Uozu castle. Their presence has attracted the Uesugi 13 Generals. There's a lot of history behind all of this explained in the anime so if you want to know I suggest you buy this DVD.

Even though all of this action is going on and beautifully animated battles ensue the writers thankful left time to focus on the character relationships and some of the dilemmas they face as possessors such as the guilt of forcing out the spirits of a live person so that they can take over the body. They also have to contend with some of the mistakes that they made in their past lives and how it continues to affect them. I found all of this to be very pleasing especially the new developments in Takaya and Naoe's relationship. Overall, another really good volume.

Rating:
Summary: Mirage of Blaze vol. 2 Ancient Rivals
Review: Episode 5 Endless Conflict
Episode 6 Golden Emblem
Episode 7 Memories of Hateful Anguish

The main story for episode 5 and 6 deals with the ghosts from the Kasuke uprising. The Kasuke uprising was lead by a farmer named Kasuke on Matsumoto Castle to protest the taxes being raised from 83 pounds (the Edo period system of measuring rice) to 116 pounds which created a lot of hardships for the farmers and so naturally there were people who wanted to do something about these taxes. The end result of the Kasuke uprising was that Kasuke and the other leaders of this uprising were tricked and executed. Saori's middle school was built over the area that Kasuke and the others were executed at. When their remains were discovered and the history behind their deaths learned they were given a proper burial and so their vengeful spirits became guardian spirits; however someone has used spiritual guidance to send these spirits from Saori's middle school to Takaya's high school. They have also been turned into vengeful spirits and have been haunting Takaya's high school and several students have been injured in the process. It is then up to Takaya and company to find out who is responsible for this.

In episode 7 Takaya has spent his summer exercising spirits with Naoe. Their latest journey takes them to Uozu City. Takaya starts to have images in his head of events in the past but can't quite make sense of it. He also learns that 400 years ago during the battle of Otate Naoe fought on the opposing side. He fought on the side of Lord Kagekatsu. Eventually they arrive at Uozu castle were the vengeful spirits of the Ikkoshu have been attacking Uozu castle. Their presence has attracted the Uesugi 13 Generals. There's a lot of history behind all of this explained in the anime so if you want to know I suggest you buy this DVD.

Even though all of this action is going on and beautifully animated battles ensue the writers thankful left time to focus on the character relationships and some of the dilemmas they face as possessors such as the guilt of forcing out the spirits of a live person so that they can take over the body. They also have to contend with some of the mistakes that they made in their past lives and how it continues to affect them. I found all of this to be very pleasing especially the new developments in Takaya and Naoe's relationship. Overall, another really good volume.

Rating:
Summary: Win me over all the rest of animes I used to love!!
Review: Every emotion is blended here, if you put an effort to watch it every detail. I watched twice thoroughly, plus another for just being simply addicted to it after the first two.
The story is very deep, mixing lots and lots of japanese history. But don't worry it won't be boring as it sounds. The music is very good, making your eyes opened wide or relaxed easily. I just pointed out something here, 'cos other reviewers have done great jobs already. I'm here just to deliberate my feeling after watching all of the four dvds.. just yesterday!

Also good news here, Sony JP announced it is making 3 more volumes this year. So by next year, we in the usa may be able to grap them all! Yep! Keep' em coming

Rating:
Summary: Great but Shocking
Review: Great story line. I like the relationship b/wt takya and his
friends. The evil guys are cool too. I especially like kosaka
his english dub is great. I was confused the first time I watch
this DVD. So many name, like takya, his name is also saboro, and posible Kenshin. I was shock at ending. This is my first try at this sort of (homosexual)anime. Since I didn't see the first volume I was confuse on some part. I couldn't find the first volume at Suncoast. This DVD is great, I'll definite collect all volumes.

Rating:
Summary: The series begins to get deeper....
Review: This DVD wraps up the second short story arc of the series and begins the final and most complicated storyline. It introduces the latest villian, Ranmaru, lieutenant of Oda Nobunaga.

I was extremely confused the first time I watched this; because all of the characters had been reincarnated and/or adopted several times, they all have multiple names that it is hard to keep track of. Ougi Takaya, the main character, is also refered to as Uesugi Kagetora and Houjo Saburo [sometimes Kagetora Saburo]. An interesting side note is that the translators managed to spell Takaya's family name in three different ways in various places.

I was dared by my sister to attempt to make a chart of all of the factions and their alliances. This included feudal lords, families, hostages/adopted children, retainers, affiliated ninja clans, etc. I ended up with 6 pages of near incomprehensible handwriting.

There is an incredible amount of storyline crammed into just a few episodes. This is a series that must be watched more or less in one sitting because if you spread it out to far you quickly end up loosing track of events.

It's coveluted. It's cramped. It all hangs together and makes perfect sense.

NOTE: it is shonen-ai. If you don't like that, then don't watch it.

Rating:
Summary: The series begins to get deeper....
Review: This DVD wraps up the second short story arc of the series and introduces the newest villian on the block, Ranmaru, the chief flunky of Oda Nobunaga.

After skipping over the summer months, the plot moves on to the final and longest segment. This is by far the most complicated part of the series.

Pay close attention to the names of all of everyone introduced... most characters have 2-3 (Ougi Takaya, Uesugi Kagetora, and Houjo Saburo [sometimes refered to as Kagetora Saburo] are *all* the same person).

There is so much detail packed into 7-8 episodes that it is sometimes hard to keep track of. But it hangs together tightly, and is well worth puzzling out.

(A side note: the translators also manage to somehow spell Takaya's family name three different ways... one for the subtitles, one for the credits and one for the back of the dvd case).