A female bodyguard named Balsa travels back to the New Yogo Empire after a long
absence. There, she encounters Chagumu, the second prince. After saving him from
certain disaster, Balsa learns that Chagumu is not just any prince – he carries
the egg of the Water Spirit inside his body, making him the Guardian of the
Sacred Spirit, an event that happens only once every one hundred years. But
Balsa’s work is not done just yet. Chagumu’s mother, the Empress, begs Balsa to
take Chagumu away to someplace safe. His father, the Emperor does not approve of
Chagumu’s guardian status and has plans to do away with the boy. Should Balsa
agree to become Chagumu’s bodyguard, she will have the entire Imperial Court on
her heels every step of the the way. And if that isn’t bad enough, there are two
supernatural beings that want Chagumu as well – to devour the Spirit egg that
resides inside.
KMK: Guardians of the Sacred Spirit
I love anime. It’s one of those things from my childhood that I never outgrew and will probably love forever. I don’t think there should be an age limit on enjoying animation. The Japanese understand that, not so much in America where reading comic books or watching cartoons automatically relegates you to either prepubescent teen or worse infantile maturity retarded adult.
Anime, when done well, can completely absorb me in other worlds, times, and dimensions like only the best fiction can. It doesn’t matter if something is rendered on the page in print on an animation cell or computer screen or even live flesh; it’s not the medium it’s the execution that matters. Something well written and directed with the right actors delivering an emotional one two punch will touch even the most jaded anti-anime cynic.
The movies of Japanese animator and director Hayao Miyazaki stand as a towering example of how anime can rival any Casablanca or Catcher in the Rye as a great works of art. I cherish his films like Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Porco Rosso, Kiki’s Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, and Castle in the Sky.
Miyazaki doesn’t stand alone as a creator of brilliant anime. Kenji Kamiyama, one of the creators behind the amazing TV series Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C and Blood: The Last Vampire, is also working on another anime series already airing in Japan: Guardians of the Sacred Spirit. Katherine Luther from Anime.About.com has this to say:
I can’t wait. In fact I might just have to try and “find” it online. Of course my Japanese is nonexistent so I guess I may have to wait after all.
If you want to check out some anime and give it a try please give Miyazaki, Cowboy Bebop, Ninja Scroll, The Record of Lodoss Wars, Lain, Witch Hunter Robin, or Bleach a try.
