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Vampire Princess Miyu - OAV (Vol. 1)

Vampire Princess Miyu - OAV (Vol. 1)

List Price: $19.98
Your Price: $17.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Not your common vampire story...
Review: The beginning of the adventures of the vampire Miyu. Trapped in the body of an eternal child, Miyu is forced to return stray shinma (god-demons) to the dark in which they were originally sealed. In this 4 episode OVA, (Original Video Animation) she is persuded by a woman spiritualist who keeps interfering in her task, who believes Miyu to be the monster. The adventures of Miyu are later continued in a 26 episode TV series, which has not been commercially translated as of the date of this review. Until Animeigo gets around to bring us the TV series, the OVA's will not disappoint you. (If you are interested in the 26 episode TV series, contact Animeigo and let them know you are interested. As someone who has seen both the OVA's AND the TV series, I assure you it's worth it!)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: An interesting and thoughtful anime...
Review: There is no denying that the animation in Vampire Princess Miyu is gorgeous (only surpassed by the manga illustrations) and it's quite an interesting and different vampire story.

Following the plights of a young vampire girl named Miyu we watch as she and her trusty bound guardian Larva hunt the Shinma and banish them from the human world.

Larva is actually Shinma himself, but has been bound as a servant to Miyu. He is a beautiful looking man, but unfortunatly he never takes off his mask (in the OVA) to reveal his beautiful face.

Miyu is a very innocent and young looking girl, but she is really wise and quite old. She is strong willed but seems to be carrying a very heavy burden...

*** Classic vampire fans may beware. This is NOT your typical vampire story (but in no means is it a bad one) Miyu is understanding, and essentially guarding, to the humans... in no way a bloodthirsty monster!

The anime does have very dark and brooding tones, and also very dark and brooding music (which is excellent) but it is no guts and glory horror-flick. It is very deep.

I reccomend it to all, especially the subtitled version!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Enter the Princess
Review: These episodes mark the first appearance of Miyu, a vampire who has been chosen to hunt demonic creatures called Shinma. Shinma feed on human misery and disaster, which they accomplish through a variety of seductive schemes. Miyu's companion on this lonely, and often grim, task is Larva, a Shinma with whom she has shared blood. In these early stories, it is never clear if the hero of the stories is Miyu or Himiko, a young spiritualist who perceives Miyu as a threat just as great as the demons the vampire hunts.

In the first episode, "Unearthly Kyoto," Himiko comes to the city to investigate the strange circumstances surrounding young princess Aiko, who pricked her finger on a rose, and now has been unconscious for 60 days. At first, this seems to have nothing to do with a series of deaths in which the victims are found drained of blood. It is only when Himiko is confronted by the creature doing the killing and Miyu who is hunting it, that she comes to believe that Aiko is more than a victim of a tragedy.

Then, in "Banquet of Marionettes," Himiko, hired to find and eerie doll that has suddenly appeared and disappeared, again crosses Miyu's path. This time Himiko is granted insight into Miyu's own struggle with ninjo and giri (duty and desire) when the vampire competes with a Shinma for the love of a boy. However, Miyu is frustrated as we watch this Kabuki-like puppet show unfold.

Artistically and story-wise, these OAV episodes are the best of the Miyu series so far. The work, often very dark and Gothic provides perfect settings for the disquieting, tragic tales. What the TV series has that the OAV does not is a high standard of animation, while these tales are most often drawn minimalistically against a beautiful, but static background. All deserve careful attention, as both series are significant deviations from the traditional 'Vampire Hunter D' fare.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Enter the Princess
Review: These episodes mark the first appearance of Miyu, a vampire who has been chosen to hunt demonic creatures called Shinma. Shinma feed on human misery and disaster, which they accomplish through a variety of seductive schemes. Miyu's companion on this lonely, and often grim, task is Larva, a Shinma with whom she has shared blood. In these early stories, it is never clear if the hero of the stories is Miyu or Himiko, a young spiritualist who perceives Miyu as a threat just as great as the demons the vampire hunts.

In the first episode, "Unearthly Kyoto," Himiko comes to the city to investigate the strange circumstances surrounding young princess Aiko, who pricked her finger on a rose, and now has been unconscious for 60 days. At first, this seems to have nothing to do with a series of deaths in which the victims are found drained of blood. It is only when Himiko is confronted by the creature doing the killing and Miyu who is hunting it, that she comes to believe that Aiko is more than a victim of a tragedy.

Then, in "Banquet of Marionettes," Himiko, hired to find and eerie doll that has suddenly appeared and disappeared, again crosses Miyu's path. This time Himiko is granted insight into Miyu's own struggle with ninjo and giri (duty and desire) when the vampire competes with a Shinma for the love of a boy. However, Miyu is frustrated as we watch this Kabuki-like puppet show unfold.

Artistically and story-wise, these OAV episodes are the best of the Miyu series so far. The work, often very dark and Gothic provides perfect settings for the disquieting, tragic tales. What the TV series has that the OAV does not is a high standard of animation, while these tales are most often drawn minimalistically against a beautiful, but static background. All deserve careful attention, as both series are significant deviations from the traditional 'Vampire Hunter D' fare.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent Work of Art
Review: This iso ne of the first anime series I owned and was very happy to see AnimEigo port it to DVD.

The story centeres around the relationship of the little girl Miyu and a Spiritualist named Himiko in the context of a race of beings called Shinma (meaning God & Demon) that once lived on earth but now reside in The Dark.

This particular DVD containes the first two episodes where a mysterious vampire is going around Kyoto draining the blood of women and another shinma is changing girls at a school into dolls.

Both stories are excellently written, but I feel that more time could have been added to them since these are not-standard TV shows. The art is beautiful as usual and the plot decives are well used.

Definitely woth the investment.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Vampire Princess Miyu....
Review: This movie is a continuation of a story about a girl named Miyu. It is her job to banish Shinma into the darkness, and she cannot grow old and die until all of them are gone. Because of how many Shinma there are, it seems as if this is an eternal task, and she lives a life of sorrow. Her companion, Lavra, is a shinma too, and to complete her quest she must one day send him into the darnkess as well. The story has a very interesting, though sad, plot. The characterization is also to be commended. It is overall a very good and well-written series.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Masterpiece
Review: This one is the classic Vampire Miyu OVA in late '80s (there is a new series in the late '90s). A master piece made by AIC/SouEShinSha/Hirano Toshihiro. The original story came from Gakino, who married Hirano later.

The animation made a unpreceded success in illustrating Miyu's soul. The music is astonishing, made by Kawai Genji, and still very popular today. There are four episodes in this series, and the episode 3 is a really good one.

Here is the introduction for all of the 4 episodes: Episode 1 - The background, introduces Miyu and Himiko. Episode 2 - The plot, shows Miyu's skills to handle things around her. Episode 3 - The life, talks how Miyu thinks about her life, both as a vampire and as a lady. Episode 4 - The shock, which looks back into the history and gives the truths - that how and where Miyu came from, and what Himiko really is.

In the 1980's the golden age of Japanimation (before the bubble bursts), this one is literally a must-see for japanimation fans. I couldn't recommend you more that you got to experience this one; However, the pack format and schedule are arguable. If they can put all four episodes out at once, it will be much better.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Miyu is really cute
Review: This story is made with a idea that Shinma (written as 2 words in japanese: God-Devil) needs to be perished out of the bright world and Miyu is a hunter of Shinma. She hunts Shinma as her destiny according to her words. She is not working for human. When this story was made, the japanese tended to accept any logic like that idea can be OK, but another idea will be OK too. That is the why this kind of story was accepted widely in Japan. (Not by kids, but older than 17-18 years old boys)

But the main reason why this story is still watched all over the world is that Miyu is really cute girl. Without this reason, not so many guys will watch, I strongly believe.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Quite good...
Review: This very well-drawn anime is about Miyu, a vampire girl whose job is to hunt down Shinma (demon-type things) who have escaped from the netherworld into the physical plane. Character design and voice acting are great (except in the dubbed version, Miyu's voice is a tad annoying), and the story is absolutely excellent!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great anime, great buy!
Review: Vampire Princess Miyu is one the nicest animes to have arrived at my doorstep in a long time.

A highly stylish story with roots deeply set in Japanese culture and mythology (although the word and idea "Shinma" was coined by the creator), this anime is a story well told. The character designs are great, none giving the "been there, done that" feel some character designs give off in other animes. Indeed, Himiko, Miyu, Larva and the whole cast feel totally unique, in look and personality. Miyu herself is neither good nor evil. While she claims to give humans their "desire" she also preys on them. Even though she slays the Shinma, in the second episode particularly, we must question whether Miyu is a more noble character than the monsters she fights.

The art is beautiful, and if you buy anime for the artwork, this is a must buy. The music and settings all move the mood to a higher level, and it fits wonderfully. Both the concept and execution exceeded my expectations, telling a gripping story.

One quick note, just because this anime has the word "vampire" in it, don't expect a "Demon City Shinduku" or a "Vampire Hunter D" style blood festival. VPM is a mature tale about the supernatural, without resorting to sex and gore. Also, this anime is from the mid 1980's, for any of you who refuse to watch older anime. Shame on you, because this is excellent, no matter what the date.

The only real detraction I want to make is that the DVD is 50 minutes long, when the entire 100-minute series could be on one DVD, if AnimeEgo tried. Oh well, nevertheless, if you would like a mature, cerebral story of the supernatural with astounding visuals, and have even a minor interest in Japanese folklore, this little series was made for you.


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