Warning: Spoilers at your own risk.
Episode 01: Balsa the Female Bodyguard

Background:

Seirei no Moribito is loosely translated as Guardian of the Sacred Spirit and is based on a series of fantasy novels by Nahoko Uehashi and directed by Kenji Kamiyama (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex). Not surprisingly, the outstanding animation is from Production I.G. who has made some solid shows like Blood+ of recent notice.

Show:

The female warrior Balsa’s character design resembles that of Saya from Blood+ but since Production I.G. likely had a part in the animation, this is not surprising. However, the character design is in general not too homogenous like some anime. Characters do have distinguishing facial features and so forth. As aforementioned, the animation is very fluid - the background is very lush and considerably detailed. This is a world of nature and all sentient beings are connected to it. The premise, a fantastical one, is about the prince of the kingdom of Yogo Chagum who gets an egg deposited inside him by a fairy. From this, he has feverish fits at night which causes rumours to spread about the royal family. The emperor, worried about his ability to control the kingdom decides to assasinate his son. There can be no doubt about royal blood being divine and pure.

Balsa is a wandering spirit, proud (she does not kneel when the royal carriage passes by) and it is later revealed, has some sins to repay. Her skill with the spear is formidable and in the very beginning, she proves her skills by saving Chagum when the oxen is provoked and falls into the river. There, she witnesses a bubble of light surrounding them when they are submerged under water. In the city, she is approached by guards who are at first hostile but submit to her when she proves her strength. In an emotional exchange (on Chagum’s mother’s part), she agrees to protect Chagum. To divert attention from their escape out of the palace, Balsa suggest that they burn the prince’s sleeping chambers. Balsa is given some money and they are on the way - away and on the run. He would be the eighth of eight people she needs to save.

Thoughts:

Although the characters have obviously not had a chance to develop in the first episode, Balsa is relatively agreeable. The premise isn’t original by far - doing good to balance the bad in one’s dark past but nonetheless, well executed it often works. Chagum is where a lot of the show will fall on - because the viewer has to feel that he is necessary to save (not just because Balsa has the motivation, or because his mother doesn’t want him to die). If the viewer can’t care about his fate, then it will become annoying to watch Balsa go out of her way (even if it’s for the sake of abstract ideals). It seems that Chagum is quite thoughtful and non-whiney, so there is hope. If anything, the animation is probably one of the best this season and I believe in Production I.G.’s story developments.

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Category: Episode Synopsis

A. Papillon is not amused.