Vampire Princess Miyu – Initiation
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Toshihiro Hirano (Magic Knight Rayearth) directed both the earlier Vampire Princess Miyu OAVs and these less dramatic but more graphic broadcast episodes based on the manga created by his wife, Narumi Kakinouchi. Instead of wandering, Miyu enrolls in an urban high school, makes a few friends, and battles the local “demon-gods” or Shinma. “Larva” has become “Lava,” more of a companion than a servant, who removes his stark mask to reveal the face of a standard bishonen, or bea… More >>



I was looking forward to this, because some japanimation is very good. But that seems to be mostly movies, I have not see any TV shows yet that I found I truly liked.
And this is no exception. Beyond the titilatin of vampires and school uniforms, it really does not have much. Boring drawings, not very original concepts, and trivial story.
Rating: 2 / 5
I like it . It`s different then the OAV . For one thing Larva CAN TALK! but what I love most about itis the music . Love the music.
Rating: 5 / 5
Alright Tokyopop for releasing the excellent TV Series Vampire Princess Miyu. It has 26 episodes in all and the are all very well animated (better than the OAV) and more of a shoujo anime than the OAV. It is les than a horror show and more of a magical girl show, consisting of Miyu’s rival, a small bunny-like ally, and a three parter about where larva came from!! Of course, you’ll have to wait until future volumes come out.
This volume has the first 3 episodes on it, the first one is about a big lizard and it isn’t like all the other episodes. The 2nd episode really starts the plot line going: Miyu makes some friends in an all girls school and really gts to live life as a normal human.
You should buy this tape RIGHT AWAY if you even THINK you might like this show. It won’t disappoint you!
Rating: 5 / 5
After getting hooked with “Cowboy Bebop” and the movie “Spirited Away” (gifts from my beloved ^_^) I began my own venture into anime, deciding first to check out Vampire Princess Miyu as it sounded very interesting. I did, however, start with vol.’s 1 & 2 of the OAV’s which I recommend before watching these as it will answers many questions some might have, like how did Miyu become the guardian and why is Larva’s devotion to protect her unwavering?
Here is a summary of the three episodes found on vol. 1 – Initiation:
On “The Fang Knows” several young girls keep appearing dead. Machiyama, a young man from their school stumbles upon one of them lying in the street, drained of all her blood with two puncture wounds found on her neck. He suspects it’s the work of a vampire, and he believes that that vampire is Miyu. He saw her walking away from the site, mysteriously vanishing into a cloud of mist. Suddenly she’s a new classmate and so he follows her around (or tries to, anyway), determined to prove that his speculations aren’t just his imagination. In the meantime a teacher is being harassed by some of her students who witnessed her doing something regrettable…something they won’t seem to ever let her forget…
“At the Next Station” is my favorite of the three. Miyu has made some friends from the school she now attends and is fitting in well, but as she tries to act normal she must also deal with a shinma (stray demon) who is behind the disappearances of many beautiful women – all of whom were last seen riding on the last car of a train (can’t really say much about this one without giving everything away).
On “The Forest Calls” a young man is plagued with nightmares and his behavior becomes abnormally strange after his father receives an odd looking mask from Africa that a witch doctor might have worn in the past to cast spells. Larva, however, has come face to face with the mask once before yet he does not understand its magical powers. He was unable to defeat it then, obviously, but it’s slowly taking over Kouichi’s life and Miyu must put a stop to the shinma’s evil reign before it destroys anyone else.
The TV series for Vampire Princess Miyu is a good anime, and the music by Kawai Kenji is gorgeous and haunting, but it does not live up to the amazing OAV’s. I prefer whoever did the voice and drawings for Miyu on the OAV’s better for they put more emotion into her voice and expressions. Here she almost seems lifeless… Also, what ever happened to spiritualist Himiko? I haven’t watched every episode yet but she hasn’t been mentioned, nor seen, once. As for the fluffy, recurring character of Shiina, well I’m not too crazy about that particular addition but luckily she doesn’t show up much. It’s a “good” shinma that has the ability to sense things just before they’re about to happen and can see far into the distance with its red, bloodshot eye when it’s no longer being covered with its long white ear (kind of resembles a bunny). Overall, though, if you enjoyed the wonderful OAV’s then I’d continue with this but expect to be a little disappointed. It’s not as good but it certainly has its moments.
Rating: 4 / 5
OK, I admit right off, I’m a severe Kyuuketsuki Miyu fangirl. I adore the OAVs, and initally was suspicious of the telly series, because the actors were changed. (Ok, so Shiozawa-sama died in the interim, sadly.) But. I happened to see a couple episodes in a convention film room, and I was blown away. It’s still Miyu, still riveting, but there’s more action, episodic plot rather than one overlying plot, and Miki Shin’ichirou. (Hmm…who’s a Weiß fan?) Admittedly, it was the promise of Iwanaga Tetsuya and Yuuki Hiro that made me buy this DVD…but really, it’s amazing. Not as hyper-kawaii-fast paced as some other anime, but definitely captivating. The new little shinma companion adds kawaii factor, and overall it’s not as brooding as the OAV. The character designs are more shoujo now (bigger eyes, etc), and the movement is smoother. I can’t wait to get the next volume!
Rating: 5 / 5