Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit

Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit
精霊の守り人 (Seirei no Moribito)
Genre	Fantasy
Novel
Written by	Nahoko Uehashi
Published by	Kaiseisha (hardcover) Shinchosha (paperback)
English publisher	Scholastic
Published	July 1996
Manga
Written by	Nahoko Uehashi
Illustrated by	Kamui Fujiwara
Published by	Square Enix
Demographic	Shōnen
Magazine	Monthly Shōnen Gangan
Original run	March 12, 2007 – ongoing
Volumes	2
TV anime
Directed by	Kenji Kamiyama
Studio	Production I.G
Licensed by	Media Blasters MVM Entertainment
Network	NHK
English network	Adult Swim
Original run	April 7, 2007 – September 29, 2007
Episodes	26 (List of episodes)
Anime and Manga Portal

Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (精霊の守り人, Seirei no Moribito^?) is the first in the eleven volume Moribito (守り人^?) series of Japanese fantasy novels, written by Nahoko Uehashi. It has since been adapted into numerous media, including radio, manga and anime adaptations. Scholastic released the first novel in English in June, 2008. Media Blasters has confirmed that they acquired the rights to the anime.^[1] The series premiered on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming block in the U.S. at 1:30 a.m. on August 24, 2008 EST, but was dropped from the schedule without warning or explanation on January 15, 2009 after two runs of the first ten episodes. The program returned to Adult Swim during the Summer 2009 line-up with an airing of the entire series.^[2]

Plot introduction

Balsa the spear woman is a wandering warrior, who takes on the task of saving lives in atonement for a past sin. On her journey, she happens to save a prince and is tasked with becoming his bodyguard. Her services as bodyguard become necessary, as his father, the emperor, wants him dead.

Characters

(*) denotes original characters added in the TV animation.

Balsa

• Voiced by: Mabuki Andou (Japanese), Cindy Robinson (English)

A skilled warrior from the faraway land of Kanbal. She is 30 years old. Balsa claims to be a simple bodyguard-for-hire; in reality she wields her spear in order to save lives in atonement for the eight lives that were taken to protect her when she was a child. Balsa is pragmatic and intelligent and she does not hold much regard for class distinction customs. Despite her deadly skill with a spear, Balsa tries not to kill in combat. During their journey, Balsa becomes attached to Chagum.

Chagum

• Voiced by: Naoto Adachi (Japanese), Mona Marshall (English)

The second prince of the Imperial Family, who bears the egg of the water spirit. At first it is believed to be the reincarnation of a demon defeated by his ancestor, the first Emperor. Convinced that it would bring misfortune and destruction to the country, Chagum's father secretly condemns him to death. However, before they could assassinate him, his mother, the Second Empress, hires Balsa to hide and protect him. Later, it was revealed that the egg is a water-bestowing spirit that revives the land once every hundred years. The real demon that his ancestors defeated was a creature that seeks to consume the egg before it can hatch. By accepting the job to protect him, Chagum becomes the eighth and final soul Balsa vows to save to complete her atonement. During their journey together, he becomes emotionally attached to Balsa.

Tanda

• Voiced by: Kouji Tsujitani (Japanese), Peter Doyle (English)

An herbalist who lives in the mountains. His skill as a shaman is lacking, but he is a good doctor due to always having to stitch up Balsa after her many battles. He also works as a traveling medicine man, trading his wares with the local towns and cities. Tanda has also had a long standing crush on Balsa that seems to have dated several years before the start of the main story.

Torogai

• Voiced by: Ako Mayama (Japanese), Barbara Goodson (English)

An old shaman and Tanda's teacher, who proves to be incredibly competant at taking care of herself. A master of the old ways, she is in-tune with the spirit world, Nayuga. It is this relationship that allowed her to discover the spirit's true identity. She is capable of communicating with denizens of the spirit realm. She is eccentric and unfailing blunt, but never fails to tell the truth.

Jiguro

• Voiced by: Rintarou Nishi (Japanese), Kyle Hebert (English)

Balsa's mentor, caretaker, and bodyguard. Originally the leader and strongest member of the king of Kanbal's 'Nine Spears'; he 'betrayed' his country to save Balsa's life. After fleeing Kanbal, they were pursued by the other eight 'Spears'. In a series of pitched battles, Jiguro was forced to kill the men he considered his best friends. He also trained Balsa to wield a spear and she later 'inherited' his spear after he died.

Kōsenkyō Downtown (Ōgi-no-Shimo)

Tōya

• Voiced by: Mayumi Asano (Japanese), Yuri Lowenthal (English)

An orphan boy and friend of Balsa, whom he regards as his elder sister. It is later discovered that he and Saya were saved by Balsa, and that is how they became acquainted. This may be the reason why Tōya claims that he would go "through fire and water for Balsa".

Saya

• Voiced by: Ryo Hirohashi (Japanese), Erika Lenhart (English)

An orphan girl who is a friend of Balsa. Due to Balsa staying at their hut, she and Tōya have to leave the city and end up following Balsa because they would be troubled if the pursuers were to find them again. She has a crush on Toya.

The Blue Hand* (Aoi-te)

A slave trader acquainted with Balsa. Balsa buys slaves from him to serve as decoys when escaping from the manhunt.

The Swordsmith*

• Voiced by: Katsunosuke Hori (Japanese), Michael Forest (English)

A highly skilled smith who forges swords for guards of the imperial court. He was the smith that created Jiguro's spear that Balsa inherited.

The Palace (Ōgi-no-Kami)

Mikado (The Emperor)

• Voiced by: Atsushi Ono (Japanese), Chris Kent (English)

Due to the belief that Chagum was possessed and that the possession was the reason for the Drought Sign being seen, he ordered Chagum to be killed. The Emperor is the only one able to kill Chagum due to fact that was how his ancestor ascended the throne (by killing a Water Spirit), and the belief that only the Emperor knows this method.

Ni-no-Kisaki (The Second Empress)

• Voiced by: Emi Shinohara (Japanese), Tara Platt (English)

Mother to Chagum, she was the one who requested Balsa to become Chagum's bodyguard.

Ichi-no-Kisaki (The First Empress)

• Voiced by: Sayuri (Japanese), Barbara Goodson (English)

The mother of Sagum.

Sagum

• Voiced by: Ryouya Kobayashi (Japanese), Johnny Yong Bosch (English)

Chagum's older brother and the heir to the throne, who cares deeply for Chagum. When Chagum's belongings were ordered burned after Chagum was presumed dead, Sagum took over the task to protect Chagum's things. He dies from overwork in his responsibilities as Crown Prince before being able to see Chagum alive again. In the book, there was no mention of him being close to Chagum, and he dies of illness.

Star Diviners

Shuga

• Voiced by: Hirofumi Nojima (Japanese), Steve Staley (English)

Chagum's tutor; the youngest master star diviner in history. He is amongst the only three people aware of the hunters that serve in the Emperor's shadow. He investigates the real cause of the Drought Sign and Chagum's supposed death in secret. When he was growing up he had lived in a fishing village.

Gakai

• Voiced by: Hiroshi Naka (Japanese), Doug Stone (English)

A star diviner and Prince Sagum's tutor. He is stubbornly dismissive of the events that have been occurring since rumours emerged that Prince Chagum was possessed by a water demon. However, Shuga respects Gakai as a scholar and sincerely requests his help to decipher the tablets in the Star Chamber in order to save Prince Chagum after Sagum's untimely death.

Hibitonan

The chief master star diviner, later entrusted by Shuga with the responsibility of organizing the translations of the Secret Tome. He is dismissive of the knowledge of shamans and looks down at the possible advantage of consulting them for advice. While he does not believe that Prince Chagum should be killed, he does believe that the water spirit in the child is dangerous and must be dealt with.

The Hunters (Karyūdo)

Mon (No.1)

• Voiced by: Naomi Kusumi (Japanese), Jamieson Price (English)

One of the initial pursuers sent to retrieve prince Chagum after Balsa leaves with him. Head of the hunters. He respects Balsa as an opponent, particularly when he realizes that she has elected not to kill any of her enemies in spite of the advantage it will offer her in order to protect Chagum.

Jin (No.2)

• Voiced by: Masaya Matsukaze (Japanese), Jason C. Miller (English)

One of the initial pursuers sent to retrieve prince Chagum after Balsa leaves with him. After securing the prince, Jin attempts to kill him so that Chagum need not die by his own father's hands; knowing though that this act of insubordination would mean Jin's own death. He deems it a favour in return for the kindness that the prince showed him earlier in his life. He uses blowdarts as his weapon.

Zen (No.3)

One of the initial pursuers sent to retrieve prince Chagum after Balsa leaves with him.

Yun (No.4)

One of the initial pursuers sent to retrieve prince Chagum after Balsa leaves with him, which apparently left him with a scar on his nose. He also appears to have a superb photographic memory, as he was able to skim through one of Toya's record books and completely memorized the contents.

Sune (No.8)

Hyoku*

One of the warriors who wields dual broadswords (Dao). Was defeated by Madam Torogai.

Rai*

Uses a chain and sickle and Chain weapon. He was with Hyoku when he was defeated by Madam Torogai.

Taga* (No.7)

Also one of the hunters. He is very skilled when it comes to archery.

Media

Novel

The novel was first published in hardback by Kaiseisha as children's literature, but it had many adult fans. Shinchosha republished it in bunkobon format in March 2007.

Seirei no Moribito (Guardian of the Spirit) (ISBN 978-4035401506, 1996-07) (Bunko ISBN 978-4101302720, 2007-03)

Adapted into the anime series. Balsa is hired to protect a prince with a mysterious spirit living inside him.

Published in English by Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic in the summer of 2008; translated by Cathy Hirano.^[3]

Radio drama

NHK-FM Radio Drama "Youth Adventure" (Seishun Adventure)

The Guardian of the Spirit (2006) 10 episodes 7/8/2006–13/8/2006 weekdays 22:45–23:00

The Guardian of Darkness 10 (2007) 10 episodes 16/4/2007–27/4/2007 weekdays 22:45–23:00

Anime

Main article: List of Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit episodes

The series has been adapted into an anime television series, produced by Production I.G and directed by Kenji Kamiyama, which premièred in Japan on NHK from April 7, 2007. The anime runs 26 episodes and is based entirely on the first novel in the Guardian series, and greatly expands the midsection of the novel.

At the Tokyo International Anime Fair 2007 in March, Geneon announced that they had acquired the license to the anime and Scholastic announced they had US distribution rights to the novels.^[4] After Geneon discontinued its distribution division, the rights transferred to Media Blasters. The series premiered in the United States at 1:30 a.m. on August 24, 2008 on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block, but was dropped from the schedule without warning or explanation on January 15, 2009 after two runs of the first ten episodes.

On June 13, 2009, the series was back on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block in the United States at 1:30am Sundays, but was moved to 2:30a.m. Eastern time, swapping it with Fullmetal Alchemist in November.

References

1. ^ Media Blasters Rescues Seirei no Moribito License
2. ^ "Adult Swim Removed Moribito from Weekend Schedule". Anime News Network. January 16, 2009. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-01-16/adult-swim-removes-moribito-from-weekend-schedule. Retrieved January 17, 2009. 
3. ^ Interview with Cathy Hirano
4. ^ "Geneon Snags "Moribito", Original novels coming too". animeOnline. http://www.animeonline.com/index.php?page=news_details&action=details&id=100970. Retrieved 2007-03-22. 

External links

• (Japanese) official site of the novels
• (Japanese) official site of the anime
• (Japanese) Production I.G. site
• Production I.G. site
• Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit on Hulu
• Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• Guardian of the Sacred Spirit on IMDB