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Ayakashi: Tenshu Monogatari
Dec. 5th, 2007 02:36 amAges ago, a lone warrior surviced a battle and wandered lost before collapsing. A goddess saw him and took pity on him, sending rain to quench his thirst, a bend to ease his hunger, a flower to ease his loneliness, and many other gifts, and eventually fell in love with him. With her help, the warrior conquered the surrounding lands and became their lord and, once his goal was achieved, he abandoned the goddess. Because of her folly, the goddess and her people were exiled to Earth and became the Forgotten Gods. No longer of heaven, the Forgotten Gods must eat humans to survive, and settle into the castle of Shirasagi-jo, which soon acquires the reputation of being cursed. In her grief and guilt, the goddess becomes a falcon and leaves her people forever, and her people turn to her young daughter, Torihime, as their leader.
Should any of the Forgotten Gods fall in love with a human, they will lose their power and eventually die, but should Torihime fall in love with a mortal, all the Forgotten Gods will lose their powers. Years later, a young falconer, Zushonosuke, encounters Torihime at a river near the castle while looking for his lost falcon, Kojiro, who has been promised to the shogun. On a whimbecause he's cute, Torihime spares Zushonosuke's life, and there is, of course, only one way the story can go from there, and only a few ways it can end.
If Yotsuya Kaidan is the Vengeful Spirit story of Ayakashi, then Tenshu Monogatari is the Angsty Epic Romance. Before long, the forces of both the Forgotten Gods and Zushonosuke's lord are arrayed against the lovers. There's running away together, abandoned mortal lovers, betrayals, murder, samurai armies, swordfights,Zushonosuke getting manlier hair and clothing for the Big Battle, and many other wonderful things, including two rascally demons who may be trying to save Zushonosuke's life, or they may just be trying to get the castle's rumored treasure.
Unlike Yotsuya Kaidan, Tenshu Monogatari has no framing story or narrator, but instead just straight up tells it's story. It also has less stylized art. While the framing and designs(AMANO!) were a large part of the appeal of Yotsuya Kaidan, this approach is definately better suited for Tenshu Monogatari, which is a straightup romantic fable that allows for fun lines like:
"You do not fear me? but i eat human beings." *hand clasp* "But you've helped me in the past!"
or
"They entered our castle" "That's hardly a reason to eat them!"
and, naturally, the ever classic:
"If I must die, let it be by your hands."
(Personally, I think that one always shows up because it keeps the speaker from getting killed.)
I head off to bed with a pretty MV. I gain great amusement from a romantic Japanese myth having an MV set to what appears to be a Russian ballad(there are a few on the f-list who can confirm or deny this far better than I.) It works quite well, though.
Have I mentioned this anime is awesome and I am possibly in love with it? A pity more like this doesn't get licensed so I can know about it.
Should any of the Forgotten Gods fall in love with a human, they will lose their power and eventually die, but should Torihime fall in love with a mortal, all the Forgotten Gods will lose their powers. Years later, a young falconer, Zushonosuke, encounters Torihime at a river near the castle while looking for his lost falcon, Kojiro, who has been promised to the shogun. On a whim
If Yotsuya Kaidan is the Vengeful Spirit story of Ayakashi, then Tenshu Monogatari is the Angsty Epic Romance. Before long, the forces of both the Forgotten Gods and Zushonosuke's lord are arrayed against the lovers. There's running away together, abandoned mortal lovers, betrayals, murder, samurai armies, swordfights,
Unlike Yotsuya Kaidan, Tenshu Monogatari has no framing story or narrator, but instead just straight up tells it's story. It also has less stylized art. While the framing and designs(AMANO!) were a large part of the appeal of Yotsuya Kaidan, this approach is definately better suited for Tenshu Monogatari, which is a straightup romantic fable that allows for fun lines like:
"You do not fear me? but i eat human beings." *hand clasp* "But you've helped me in the past!"
or
"They entered our castle" "That's hardly a reason to eat them!"
and, naturally, the ever classic:
"If I must die, let it be by your hands."
(Personally, I think that one always shows up because it keeps the speaker from getting killed.)
I head off to bed with a pretty MV. I gain great amusement from a romantic Japanese myth having an MV set to what appears to be a Russian ballad(there are a few on the f-list who can confirm or deny this far better than I.) It works quite well, though.
Have I mentioned this anime is awesome and I am possibly in love with it? A pity more like this doesn't get licensed so I can know about it.
