xxxHOLIC (FIRST - FOURTH COLLECTION)
June 11th 2009 01:38
Category: Videos, Television
Based on the original manga xxxHolic by CLAMP
Director: Tsutomu Mizushima
Screenplay by: Michiko Yokote et al
Producers: Yoshihisa Nakayama, Toyoaki Iwasaki, Matsushita Takuya, Sudou Naomi, Katsuji Morisita, Naohiro Tafu & Ikuko Kano
English Voice Cast: Colleen Clinkenbeard (Yuko), Todd Haberkorn (Watanuki), J Michael Tatum (Domeki), Cherami Leigh (Himawari), Leah Clark (Maru), Brina Palencia (Moro) & Carrie Savage (Mokona)
Produced by: Kodansha, Ayakashi Workshop & TBS
English Version Produced by: FUNimation Ltd
Released by: Madman Entertainment
Running Time: 100 minutes Rating: PG
Somewhere in the midst of the hurly burly that is the sprawling metropolis of Tokyo there exists a rather strange shop. So what I hear you say, in a city as big as Tokyo (and Tokyo is fairly big by anyone’s standards) there are bound to be dozens if not hundreds of strange shops surely? No not like this particular premises, not by a long shot, you see this particular shop grants wishes. And then there is the fact that its entire façade does kind of look out of place amidst the office blocks to the right hand side and behind it coupled with the lush looking traditional garden stretching from the front to the back it is a very unusual looking place. It tends to stand out, although that might only be apparent to those who are potential ‘customers’, those who are seeking something that cannot be bought anywhere else in the city that is Tokyo. But I’m getting ahead of things…
This particular shop or perhaps business might be a more apt term is run and owned by Yuko, a mysterious woman who has the ability to grant wishes, for a price. As she herself explains there must be balance in these things, nothing more or nothing less otherwise the universe itself can become unravelled. The price of such things is variable in actual substance but usually results in the customer giving something of equal consequence to the wish they receive from the enigmatic and vulpine Yuko. All this our hapless hero Watanuki finds out after stumbling into the premises after being mauled by a rather disgusting looking spirit. A budding master chef Watanuki has been troubled by spirits from a fairly early age and he’d like nothing better than not to be bothered such beings, a peaceful care free life is what he thinks he’d have if the spirits were no longer bothering him.
And so he tells this desire to Yuko, and naturally she says that she will grant his wish but there is a price to pay. He will have to work for her in order to pay off his debt. And so begins Watanuki’s journey into the seemingly magical world that exists alongside what everyone else terms the ‘real’ world. This is a Japan that is very much the economic power house and technological innovator as it is home to ancient nature spirits and deities of field and forest, but it seems as if only the rare few can actually perceive this blending of two worlds. For most people they only see the ‘reality’ to which they have been raised to perceive from earliest childhood, namely that of corporations, technology and the hustle and bustle of modern city life.
This particular anime series also meshes with another anime series Tsubasa, both of which are based on manga series of the same name and produced by CLAMP, the near legendary manga artists who have become something of major name both in their home of Japan and the United States. In this particular volume though we see no interaction between the worlds of Tsubasa or xxxHolic, although Yuko is more than capable of manipulating both space and time to whatever ends so far there is no crossover as yet. Instead it seems that most of the drama that unfolds is essentially the interaction between Watanuki and his employer, Yoko, as well as Watanuki and his various companions from school and a cast of various other characters that cross the paths of both Watanuki and his mistress the rather exotic looking Yuko.
As a character Yuko does tend to stand out, she has a certain vulpine air and look to her that makes you wonder just what is going on behind those eyes of hers. And there is always an air of mystery about her, as if even what is slightly revealed in the ongoing drama is only just the slightest, tiniest tip of the iceberg. Truly an interesting character although no doubt one who is hard to work with, as I suspect that the makers of the show and CLAMP probably found that too much focus on Yuko and she ends up dominating the show, something I suspect is not meant to be the case.
If there is a driving theme behind this series it would be I suspect something of a revelation, a showing to the seemingly hapless Watanuki that all is not what he expects or suspects it to be. As his time as Yuko’s employee unfolds he comes into contact with more than the usual amorphous, malevolent and somewhat gruesome spirits that he is usually the subject of attention for. He encounters a rather shy female mountain spirit, a rain spirit with bright red hair and a very distinctly Merry Poppins look and mode of transportation as well as the every hungry Mokona. It is almost as if Yuko is ever so subtly telling him as he works for her, are you really sure that you don’t want to see any more spirits? As not all spirits are ugly, parasitic creatures just interested in making life bad for people. Sure no one wants to willingly see such entities but then again as Yuko points out when she and Watanuki first meet; the reason why such spirits are attracted to him is due to his own genetic makeup. This ‘curse’ is a result of his blood not just some cruel twist of fate or sick joke by life.
Holic, as it is often called, is certainly an interesting series. Although sometimes it can get a little creepy, the episode where the main characters are telling ghost stories in a temple at the dark of night gave me the hebbie jebbies for a night or two. If you get around to watching this series then you’ll soon see the episode I am talking about, it seems so mundane but when you get a load of the visuals then maybe you’ll be a bit freaked. This is definitely a series that is worth watching, it has nice tight stories, good animation and the right mix of the strange and unusual coupled with humour, quirkiness and everyday.
Director: Tsutomu Mizushima
Screenplay by: Michiko Yokote et al
Producers: Yoshihisa Nakayama, Toyoaki Iwasaki, Matsushita Takuya, Sudou Naomi, Katsuji Morisita, Naohiro Tafu & Ikuko Kano
English Voice Cast: Colleen Clinkenbeard (Yuko), Todd Haberkorn (Watanuki), J Michael Tatum (Domeki), Cherami Leigh (Himawari), Leah Clark (Maru), Brina Palencia (Moro) & Carrie Savage (Mokona)
Produced by: Kodansha, Ayakashi Workshop & TBS
English Version Produced by: FUNimation Ltd
Released by: Madman Entertainment
Running Time: 100 minutes Rating: PG
Somewhere in the midst of the hurly burly that is the sprawling metropolis of Tokyo there exists a rather strange shop. So what I hear you say, in a city as big as Tokyo (and Tokyo is fairly big by anyone’s standards) there are bound to be dozens if not hundreds of strange shops surely? No not like this particular premises, not by a long shot, you see this particular shop grants wishes. And then there is the fact that its entire façade does kind of look out of place amidst the office blocks to the right hand side and behind it coupled with the lush looking traditional garden stretching from the front to the back it is a very unusual looking place. It tends to stand out, although that might only be apparent to those who are potential ‘customers’, those who are seeking something that cannot be bought anywhere else in the city that is Tokyo. But I’m getting ahead of things…
This particular shop or perhaps business might be a more apt term is run and owned by Yuko, a mysterious woman who has the ability to grant wishes, for a price. As she herself explains there must be balance in these things, nothing more or nothing less otherwise the universe itself can become unravelled. The price of such things is variable in actual substance but usually results in the customer giving something of equal consequence to the wish they receive from the enigmatic and vulpine Yuko. All this our hapless hero Watanuki finds out after stumbling into the premises after being mauled by a rather disgusting looking spirit. A budding master chef Watanuki has been troubled by spirits from a fairly early age and he’d like nothing better than not to be bothered such beings, a peaceful care free life is what he thinks he’d have if the spirits were no longer bothering him.
This particular anime series also meshes with another anime series Tsubasa, both of which are based on manga series of the same name and produced by CLAMP, the near legendary manga artists who have become something of major name both in their home of Japan and the United States. In this particular volume though we see no interaction between the worlds of Tsubasa or xxxHolic, although Yuko is more than capable of manipulating both space and time to whatever ends so far there is no crossover as yet. Instead it seems that most of the drama that unfolds is essentially the interaction between Watanuki and his employer, Yoko, as well as Watanuki and his various companions from school and a cast of various other characters that cross the paths of both Watanuki and his mistress the rather exotic looking Yuko.
As a character Yuko does tend to stand out, she has a certain vulpine air and look to her that makes you wonder just what is going on behind those eyes of hers. And there is always an air of mystery about her, as if even what is slightly revealed in the ongoing drama is only just the slightest, tiniest tip of the iceberg. Truly an interesting character although no doubt one who is hard to work with, as I suspect that the makers of the show and CLAMP probably found that too much focus on Yuko and she ends up dominating the show, something I suspect is not meant to be the case.
If there is a driving theme behind this series it would be I suspect something of a revelation, a showing to the seemingly hapless Watanuki that all is not what he expects or suspects it to be. As his time as Yuko’s employee unfolds he comes into contact with more than the usual amorphous, malevolent and somewhat gruesome spirits that he is usually the subject of attention for. He encounters a rather shy female mountain spirit, a rain spirit with bright red hair and a very distinctly Merry Poppins look and mode of transportation as well as the every hungry Mokona. It is almost as if Yuko is ever so subtly telling him as he works for her, are you really sure that you don’t want to see any more spirits? As not all spirits are ugly, parasitic creatures just interested in making life bad for people. Sure no one wants to willingly see such entities but then again as Yuko points out when she and Watanuki first meet; the reason why such spirits are attracted to him is due to his own genetic makeup. This ‘curse’ is a result of his blood not just some cruel twist of fate or sick joke by life.
Holic, as it is often called, is certainly an interesting series. Although sometimes it can get a little creepy, the episode where the main characters are telling ghost stories in a temple at the dark of night gave me the hebbie jebbies for a night or two. If you get around to watching this series then you’ll soon see the episode I am talking about, it seems so mundane but when you get a load of the visuals then maybe you’ll be a bit freaked. This is definitely a series that is worth watching, it has nice tight stories, good animation and the right mix of the strange and unusual coupled with humour, quirkiness and everyday.
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