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The name Yuu Watase sounded familiar as I started to read Arata The Legend. The latest manga out from Mrs. Watase and Viz Media. Turns out she’s only created some of my favorite Manga stories ever. She’s created: Fushigi Yūgi, Alice 19th, Ceres, The Celestial Legend, and Absolute Boyfriend. Mrs. Watase is known for her shojo roots and the way she draws her bishōnen men (beautiful male characters). The beautiful male characters are usually pretty innocent and get tested very early in the series to find out who they really are.

In Arata The Legend, the ruling princess is about to retire. In order for that to happen a girl from the Hime clan has to take over for her. The problem is that in over 30 years there has not been a female born to the Hime clan. Arata is urged to cross dress because when he was born, the grandmother put that he was a girl on his birth certificate. I don’t want to spoil the story, but Arata finds himself fighting for his life and in a weird twist ends up changing places with a future date Arata. Now each of them have to fend for themselves in their new world. I have to say that future Arata has a more difficult time ahead of him because people want him dead.

At times this title was a little hard to read. Some of the bigger actions were on two pages, but only the top. It was a bit confusing for me to know how to read that page. But overall this title is fun, interesting and has me totally hooked. The characters are not only interesting, but you sympathize with them and their situation very quickly. They are endearing not because they are the hero, but because they are put in these rough situations and have to be brave.

The artwork is beautiful and typical Yuu Watase. This manga is rated T for teens and I think any shojo manga reader should definitely pick this up!

Who is this “Arata” and why is he a legend? Read the following synopsis to find out:

In a world where humans and gods coexist, Arata is the unfortunate successor to the matriarchal Hime Clan–unfortunate because if he’s not cross-dressing to hide his gender one minute, he’s fleeing for his life the next! When Arata winds up in the modern world and switches places with a boy named Arata Hinohara, it’s a wonder which Arata is actually better off… In Volume 1, Hinohara is the spitting image of Arata, so he suddenly finds himself fighting people after his life! As he navigates through this foreign world filled with power-hungry warriors, who will come to his aid? One thing’s for sure–it’s not easy being Arata!

Amy Yu, Editor, VIZ Media:

“I’m really excited to see ARATA: THE LEGEND joining the Shonen Sunday imprint. The art is gorgeous, the series is action-packed and no one can create a lush fantasy world the way Yuu Watase can!” says Amy. “Fans who know her work in the shojo genre will experience a whole new side to this creative mastermind.”

If you’re interested in “ARATA: THE LEGEND“, you will find it under the SHONEN SUNDAY imprint. It is rated ‘T’ for Teens, and will cost $9.99US or $12.99CAN, and any further information you wish to know can be found at www.shonensunday.com.

(You could also try our RightStuf or Amazon stores if you’d like to buy a copy!)

VIZ Media are helping us get there by bringing out plenty of Shojo manga ideas for our bewildered loved ones to choose from. So I hope you have room on your wishlist – this could get ugly otherwise!

If you’re a fan of Arina Tanemura then you’ll probably be after THE ART OF GENTLEMEN’S ALLIANCE † – a collection of lavish drawings and designs from the hit series. There is a new manga title out by the name of BEAST MASTER, as well as the most recent volume of VAMPIRE KNIGHT, and the VIZBIG omnibus editions of FUSHIGI YUGI and HOT GIMMICK.

Gonzalo Ferreyra, Vice President Sales & Marketing, VIZ Media:

“Shojo manga fans have much to look forward to during this year’s holiday season, with a variety of selections that make wonderful gift ideas to suit any budget,” says Gonzalo. “Many of these series have dramatically expanded the core Shojo audience, receiving universal renown and acclaim. From VAMPIRE KNIGHT, which has become a national bestseller, to the launch of the wild new manga, BEAST MASTER, and gorgeous new omnibus editions of other shojo favorites, bookstore shelves have never been stocked with so much must-read Shojo manga!!”

Each of the VIZBIG editions are composed of 3 volumes from the original series, and are sized at 5-3/4 x 8-5/8 (as compared to the usual size of 5 x 7-1/2). They are loaded with extra goodies which includes new cover art, bonus colour pages, author interviews, updated text and character art!

Here is your list (with story synopsis for reference):

BEAST Master Vol. 1

Rated ‘T+’ For Older Teens – $9.99 US / $12.99 CAN – Available November 3rd

Leo Aoi looks like a crazy animal with wild eyes – and no one at his new high school will go near him! He does seem to have a special connection with animals, which intrigues overzealous animal lover, Yuiko Kubozuka. In reality, Leo isn’t nearly as frightening as he appears, but Yuiko finds out that he goes berserk whenever he sees blood! Will Yuiko be able to get through to Leo during one of these violent fits? Or will his ferocious side eventually devour her? The debut volume also includes a special bonus short story called FLY.

VAMPIRE KNIGHT Vol. 8

Rated ‘T+’ For Older Teens – $9.99 US / $12.99 CAN – Available Now!

Cross Academy is attended by two groups of students: the Day Class and the Night Class. At twilight, when the students of the Day Class return to their dorms, they cross paths with the Night Class on their way to school. Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu are the Guardians of the school, protecting the Day Class from the Academy’s dark secret – the Night Class is composed of vampires!

In Volume 8, after trying to recall her past, Yuki’s hallucinations become more vivid and she tries to strangle Zero during a fit of temporary madness. Locked in her room, all she can see is a world dyed in blood, but things will become really dangerous when the vampire Kaname comes for her and tells her it’s time to wake up and sinks his fangs into her neck!

THE ART OF GENTLEMEN’S ALLIANCE † (pictured, top right)

$19.99 US / $27.00 CAN – Available November 17th

Renowned manga artist Arina Tanemura exemplifies the shojo style with this collection of highly stylized artwork presented with a swirl of billowing ribbons, romance and heartbreak. The glossy illustrated edition features designs for all the major characters from THE GENTLEMEN’S ALLIANCE † and includes exclusive art for the North American edition and a full color double-sided, fold-out poster.

HOT GIMMICK VIZBIG Edition, Vol. 3

Rated ‘T+’ For Older Teens – $17.99 US / $24.00 CAN – Available December 15th

Miki Aihara turned the manga world upside down with her salacious, outrageous, and funny hit series which concludes in this final VIZBIG omnibus edition. If you think being a teenager in America is hard, wait until you read HOT GIMMICK These Tokyo boys and girls are really messed up!

FUSHIGI YUGI VIZBIG Edition, Vol. 4

Rated ‘T+’ For Older Teens – $17.99 US / $24.00 CAN – Available December 15th

Fifteen-year-old Miaka Yuki is transported back to an ancient Chinese kingdom by an old library book called The Universe of the Four Gods. Following the legend of the book, Miaka becomes the Priestess of Suzaku and must find her seven Celestial Warriors before she can save the kingdom and return home. In the latest VIZBIG volume, with one of the Celestial Warriors lost forever, Miaka and her men are more desperate than ever to obtain the two Shentso-Paos in order to summon Suzaku. But once Miaka has one in her grasp, it’s stolen away by the Seiryu Warrior Nakago. Miaka goes to Nakago to get it back, but he assaults her. Believing she is no longer worthy of becoming Tamahome’s bride, Miaka flees on her own, only to be saved by a man whom she initially thought was her enemy. Meanwhile, Tamahome falls under the Seiryu Warrior Tomo’s power of illusions.

If you would like more information on these (or any other) titles, be sure to visit www.viz.com.

Release Date: 20/05/2009
Languages: ENGLISH, JAPANESE
Genre: Action/Adventure, Anime, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Subtitles: ENGLISH subtitles
Number of Discs: 4
Runtime: 650.0 mins
Format: DVD, Region 4 (PAL)
Aspect Ratio: 4:3 Original Aspect Ratio

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Fushigi Yugi introduces us to 15 year old Miaka Yuki and her best friend Yui Hongo. They are Japanese middle school students who are trying to prepare themselves for entrance exams to enter the same high school together.

One afternoon, Yui has to return a book to the National Library. Much to the surprise of her friend, Miaka volunteers to go with her. While Yui is handing in her book, Miaka has a bit of a look at the vending machines. Just as she pulls out a coin to buy something, a gush of wind rushes past her and a red light is seen going up a flight of stairs.

Miaka follows the light to a reference room and finds a book written in Chinese. Yui finds her, and (as she is studying Chinese and getting good grades) reads the book aloud for Miaka’s sake. They have come across a book titled “The Universe of the Four Gods” which divulges the tale of “The Priestess of Suzaku” and informs them that whoever reads the story to the end receives a wish just like the Priestess does. As they begin the tale, they are drawn into the book by the red light. They find themselves in a desert-like environment, and discovered by a couple of vicious looking men who want to capture the girls for slave-trading.

As Miaka starts to fight them off, a young man comes to their aid and renders the slave-traders unwilling to re-attempt their capture. The girls are grateful to the young man, and while he appears happy to help he is more interested in payment by coin. Miaka tries to search for some as the young man walks off. Yui tries to follow him, but as she does the red light appears again and takes her back to the room in the library. Miaka is still stuck in the story and assumes that Yui has followed the young man to the nearest village, so she heads there in search of them both.

Eventually, Miaka finds someone who says they know the person she is looking for and will take her right to him, unaware that she has been tricked into following someone who is part of a group of men that takes advantage of girls. Luckily the young man who who saved her earlier had overheard other townspeople mention her, and he arrives to save Miaka just in time.

Both of them manage to get themselves arrested and taken to the dungeons of the local palace. Rumours of the arrest make their way to the Emperor, and somehow Miaka and her new friend Tamahome escape. They get lost in the grounds, getting separated in the process. A beautiful young man is sitting in the courtyard as Miaka rushes past, looking for an escape route. He calls out to her and tells her where the nearest exit is. No sooner does she make a motion in that direction, then the guards show up with Tamahome in custody. They go to arrest her as well but the beautiful young man orders them to release the pair. Turns out that pretty boy is the Emperor!

They are informed that there is a legend of the empire’s guardian Suzaku (a bird) where the Priestess of Suzaku will one day appear and would be known by her strange clothing (might I add that the story seems to be set in a certain ancient period in China’s history, and Miaka is wearing her school uniform!). She is to gather the 7 Suzaku warriors, and once that is completed they can summon the guardian Suzaku who will save the empire of Konan.

The Emperor, whose name is Hotohori, believes that Miaka is the priestess. She obliges, and luckily she has already found 2 of the Suzaku 7. The warriors are distinguished by red glowing Chinese characters found on their bodies. Tamahome has one on his forehead, while Hotohori has one on his neck.

It isn’t long before the 3^rd is also found within the grounds of the palace, although at first you could be forgiven for mistaking him as a woman. Nariko walks, talks and dresses like a girl – and is even a member of the Emperor’s harem. He tries to make Miaka jealous by fawning over Tamahome (whom Miaka has begun to develop feelings for) and has everyone fooled until one day where Nariko gives Miaka a hug. The other 2 find out not long after that.

Miaka and the 3 Suzaku warriors must seek out the remaining 4 and that means a road trip of sorts (and where we find out about Nariko).Of course, it’s not all smooth going and they come across various challenges along the way – the biggest one being to return Miaka to her own world when she becomes ill.

This sees Miaka return home, and Yui (who continued to read the book in Miaka’s absence) goes back into the world of the book. The only problem is Yui ends up in the territory of Konan’s enemy Kutou, and suffers some traumatic events for 3 months of that worlds time. In their own world this is only a few hours.

Realising Yui is possibly in danger when she isn’t anywhere to be found, Miaka gathers some personal belongings (and food too, because it is another one of her weaknesses) and heads back to the library. She had informed her older brother Keisuke of the book on her return home. While he is in doubt of her story, he follows her into the library and watches he disappear into the book.

He continues to read the story in place of Yui, and we find out that Yui is under the impression Miaka knew what was happening to her and didn’t care. She also revealed that she was also in love with Tamahome, although he does not reciprocate much to her disappointment. Jealous and feeling betrayed, Yui decides to take the role of Kutou’s guardian priestess, The Priestess of Seiryu.

With the entire Suzaku 7 to gather, a friend to save and a heart (as well as an epic battle) to win, how will Miaka manage that and passing her exams?

Of course, there are special features to accompany these adventures:

• Interview with Yuu Watase – Written interview with the original creator of the manga from which the anime is derived.
• Interview with director Hajime Kamegaki – Short written interview with the director of the anime series.
• Textless versions of the opening and closing themes
• Trailers for other Madman anime releases

“Fushigi Yugi” is now one of my absolute favourites, and it struck me that the reason could be because of the various similarities I could see between it and my all-time favourite “SailorMoon”.

If you like adventures, courage, magic, love and comedy then you will find it in this series for sure. It might not be one for the boys, but this has certainly become one series I am sure to watch again and again!

Images: (c) 1995 YUU WATASE / SHOGAKUKAN ･ PIERROT

Arata: The Legend (Yuu Watase)

In a mythical world where humans and gods co-exist, a ceremony marking the new governing princess is about to occur for the first time in 60 years. Only a girl from the Hime Clan may take this position, but the lack of females born to this family means that a boy called Arata must pose for the role. Meanwhile in modern-day Japan, a boy named Arata Hinohara is starting his new life in high school. He wants to put memories of his difficult past behind him, but things aren’t going to be simple when he discovers a mysterious connection to the first Arata. (Coming March 2010)

MAOH: Juvenile Remix

Ando is a high school student who has the power to make others say out loud what he’s thinking. Inukai is the mysterious leader of a vigilante group called Grasshopper, which is at odds with the city’s redevelopment plan. In this chaotic city, these two will come together to weave a story of courage, determination and confrontation.

MAOH: Juvenile Remix is based on the original novel by Kotaro Isaka. (Coming May 2010)

HYDE & CLOSER

Shunpei Closer is your average…well, slightly below average kid in junior high who finds himself in the middle of a great battle of dark sorcery. With cursed dolls coming after him one after another, Shunpei Closer’s life is in danger! If that weren’t enough, Hyde, the teddy bear given to him by his grandfather, suddenly comes alive to rescue him. With Hyde’s help, can Shunpei save himself and live to see another day? (Coming July 2010)

Artwork is copyright Viz Media