Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit explained

Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit
Ja Kanji:精霊の守り人
Ja Romaji:Seirei no Moribito
Genre:Sword and sorcery[1]
Type:novel
Author:Nahoko Uehashi
Publisher:Kaiseisha (hardcover)
Shinchosha (paperback)
Published:July 1996
Station:NHK FM Broadcast
First:August 7, 2006
Last:August 18, 2006
Episodes:10
Type:manga
Author:Nahoko Uehashi
Illustrator:Kamui Fujiwara
Publisher:Square Enix
Demographic:Shōnen
Magazine:Monthly Shōnen Gangan
First:March 12, 2007
Last:August 22, 2008
Volumes:3
Type:tv series
Director:Kenji Kamiyama
Music:Kenji Kawai
Studio:Production I.G
Network:NHK-BS2
First:April 7, 2007
Last:September 29, 2007
Episodes:26
Episode List:List of Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit episodes
Type:drama
Director:Hiroshi Kataoka
Network:NHK
First:March 19, 2016
Last:January 27, 2018[2]
Episodes:22

is a Japanese novel that was first published in July 1996.[3] It is the first in the 12-volume series of Japanese fantasy novels by Nahoko Uehashi.[4] It was the recipient of the Batchelder Award An ALA Notable Children's Book in 2009.[5] It has since been adapted into numerous media, including radio, manga, anime, and taiga drama adaptations. Scholastic released the first novel in English in June 2008. Media Blasters has confirmed that they acquired the rights to the anime.[6] The anime series adaptation premiered on Adult Swim in the U.S. at 1:30 a.m. ET on August 24, 2008, 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.[7]

Synopsis

See also: Moribito series. Balsa, spear wielder and bodyguard, is a wandering warrior who has vowed to atone for eight deaths in her past by saving an equivalent number of lives. On her journey, she saves Prince Chagum and is tasked with becoming his bodyguard. His own father, the Mikado, has ordered his assassination. The two begin a perilous journey to ensure the survival of the prince. Balsa's complicated past begins to come to light and they uncover Chagum's mysterious connection to a legendary water spirit with the power to destroy the kingdom.

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) (1996-07) (Bunko, 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.[8] The novel received the Mildred L. Batchelder Award from the American Library Association in 2009.[9] [10]

    Radio drama

    The series has been adapted into a radio drama series, written by Satoshi Maruo. It aired in on NHK FM Broadcast from August 7, 2006, to August 18, 2006.

    Anime

    See 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 premiered 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.[11] After Geneon discontinued its US distribution division, the rights transferred to Media Blasters. The series premiered in the United States at 1:30 a.m. ET 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 1:30 a.m. ET on Sundays, but was later moved to 2:30 a.m. ET,[12] swapping it with Fullmetal Alchemist in November. Viz Media re-released the entire series on DVD and Blu-ray on August 26, 2014.[13] [14] [15] It also aired on their digital broadcasting channel, Neon Alley January 17, 2014, until the channel's closure on May 6, 2016.[16] [17] [18] In August 2020, Sentai Filmworks announced that they acquired the series for home video and digital release.[19]

    The series feature two theme songs. The opening title is "Shine" by L'Arc-en-Ciel, while Sachi Tainaka performs "Itoshii Hito e" for the ending title.

    Taiga fantasy drama

    The series has been adapted into a live-action taiga fantasy drama series by NHK, shot in 4K resolution.[20] It stars Haruka Ayase as Balsa. Season one was shown in four episodes in March and April 2016. Season two was shown over nine episodes from January to March 2017. The third and final season was shown from November 2017 to January 2018, also over nine episodes.[21]

    Musical

    A stage musical was produced at Nissay Theater in Tokyo in 2023, starring Rio Asumi as Balsa. It has been released on DVD.[22]

    Reception

    Daniel Baird reviewed this book and its sequel for Mythprint, praised the first volume as enjoyable both by children and adults due to "plenty of richness in its characterization and fantasy world".[23]

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Oppliger . John . Ask John: What Are the Best Sword & Sorcery Anime? . . May 12, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080725042316/http://www.animenation.net/blog/2008/07/18/ask-john-what-are-the-best-sword-sorcery-anime/ . July 18, 2008 . July 25, 2008.
    2. Web site: ja:最終回だよ!全員集合!『精霊の守り人 最終回』ついに完結!! . https://www.nhk.or.jp/drama-blog/4520/288967.html . NHK Drama . . 17 February 2018 . ja . 26 January 2018.
    3. Web site: Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (Moribito, #1) by Nahoko Uehashi . 2020-08-19 . Goodreads.
    4. Book: Guardian of the Spirit (Moribito) . 978-0545005432 . Uehashi . Nahoko . 2008. Arthur A. Levine Books .
    5. Web site: Batchelder Award winners, 1968-Present . 2020-08-19 . ala.org . Association for Library Service to Children.
    6. Web site: Loo . Egan . Media Blasters Rescues Seirei no Moribito License . . 27 March 2008 . 18 February 2013.
    7. Web site: Loo . Egan . Adult Swim Removes Moribito from Weekend Schedule (Updated) . . 16 January 2009 . 17 January 2009.
    8. Udagawa . Avery . Children's Book Translation: An Interview with Cathy Hirano . Carp Tales . SCBWI Tokyo . Fall 2006 . 7–9 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070808035317/http://scbwi.jp/pdf/Fall%202006Newsletter.pdf . 2007-08-08.
    9. Web site: Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Awards & Grants . 2023-01-23 . www.ala.org.
    10. Web site: admin . 2009-01-25 . 2009 Batchelder Award honors Arthur A. Levine Books for "Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit" . 2023-01-23 . News and Press Center . en.
    11. Web site: Geneon Snags "Moribito", Original novels coming too . animeOnline . 22 March 2007.
    12. Web site: Schedule . Adult Swim . 18 February 2013 . October 6, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111006084336/http://www.adultswim.com/schedule/onair.html . dead.
    13. News: Viz Media Announces License Acquisition of Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Anime Series . . January 8, 2014 . January 9, 2020.
    14. News: Bruno . Travis . Viz Media license rescues Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit . Capsule Computers . January 9, 2014 . January 9, 2020.
    15. Luster . Joseph . Viz Rescues Moribito Anime License . . January 8, 2014 . January 9, 2020.
    16. News: Hodgkins . Crystalyn . Viz Media Adds Moribito Fantasy Anime Series . . 8 January 2014 . 8 January 2014.
    17. News: Saabedra . Humberto . "Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit" Rescued By Viz Media . . January 9, 2014 . January 9, 2020.
    18. News: Beveridge . Chris . Viz Media Acquires 'Moribito – Guardian Of The Spirit' Anime License . The Fandom Post . January 8, 2014 . January 9, 2020.
    19. Web site: Mateo . Alex . Sentai Filmworks Licenses Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Anime . . August 25, 2020 . August 25, 2020.
    20. News: Hodgkins . Crystalyn . Rurouni Kenshin's Tatsuya Fujiwara, More Join Live-Action Moribito TV Series Cast . 24 August 2019 . . Anime News Network . 13 July 2015.
    21. Web site: Moribito Final . NHK Drama . . 13 February 2018.
    22. Web site: 明日海りお 日生劇場開場60周年記念 音楽劇『精霊の守り人』 DVD・Blu-ray . 2024-07-21 . 研音公式ショップK‐SHOP . ja.
    23. Web site: Baird . Daniel . 2010 . The Mythopoeic Society Reviews: Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit . 2023-01-23 . Mythprint.