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'{{Cleanup|date=July 2009}} {{Infobox animanga/Header | name = Fushigi Yûgi: The Mysterious Play | image = [[File:Fushigi Yugi, Japanese Volume 1.jpg|230px]] | caption = Cover of the first edition of the first volume of ''Fushigi Yûgi'', published by [[Shogakukan]] on May 26, 1992 | ja_kanji = ふしぎ遊戯 | ja_romaji = Fushigi Yūgi | genre = [[Fantasy]], [[Romantic love|Romance]] }} {{Infobox animanga/Print | type = manga | author = [[Yuu Watase]] | publisher = [[Shogakukan]] | publisher_en = {{flagicon|USA}} {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Viz Media]]<br>{{flagicon|UK}} [[Gollancz Manga]]<br/>{{flagicon|Singapore}} [[Chuang Yi]]<br>{{flagicon|AUS}} {{flagicon|NZ}} [[Madman Entertainment]] | demographic = ''[[Shōjo manga|Shōjo]]'' | magazine = [[Shōjo Comic]] | first = May 1992 | last = July 1996 | volumes = 18 | volume_list = List of Fushigi Yûgi chapters }} {{Infobox animanga/Video | type = tv series | director = [[Hajime Kamegaki]] | producer = | writer = | music = | studio = [[Studio Pierrot]] | licensor = {{flagicon|Canada}} {{flagicon|USA}} [[Geneon]] | network = [[Animax]], [[TV Tokyo]] | network_en = {{flagicon|USA}} [[International Channel]] | first = April 6, 1995 | last = March 28, 1996 | episodes = 52 | episode_list = List of Fushigi Yûgi episodes }} {{Infobox animanga/Video | type = ova | director = [[Hajime Kamegaki]] | producer = | writer = | music = | studio = [[Studio Pierrot]] | licensor = {{flagicon|Canada}} {{flagicon|USA}} [[Geneon]] | released = October 25, 1996 | runtime = 75 minutes | episodes = 3 | episode_list = List of Fushigi Yûgi episodes#OVA 1 }} {{Infobox animanga/Video | type = ova | title = Fushigi Yûgi OVA 2 | director = | producer = | writer = | music = | studio = [[Studio Pierrot]] | licensor = {{flagicon|Canada}} {{flagicon|USA}} [[Geneon]] | first = May 25, 1997 | last = August 25, 1998 | runtime = 150 minutes | episodes = 6 | episode_list = List of Fushigi Yûgi episodes#OVA 2 }} {{Infobox animanga/Print | type = light novel | author = [[Megumi Nishizaki]] | illustrator = [[Yuu Watase]] | publisher = [[Shōgakukan]] | demographic = | label = | magazine = | first = January 30, 1998 | last = September 26, 2003 | volumes = 13 | volume_list = }} {{Infobox animanga/Video | type = ova | title = Fushigi Yûgi Eikoden | director = [[Nanako Shimazaki]] | producer = | writer = | music = | studio = [[Studio Pierrot]] | licensor = {{flagicon|Canada}} {{flagicon|USA}} [[Geneon]] | released = December 21, 2001 | runtime = 120 minutes | episodes = 4 | episode_list = }} {{Infobox animanga/Other | title = Related | content = * ''[[Fushigi Yûgi Genbu Kaiden]]'', is a prequel manga series written after ''Fushigi Yûgi'' }} {{Infobox animanga/Footer}} {{nihongo|'''''Fushigi Yûgi: The Mysterious Play'''''|ふしぎ遊戯|Fushigi Yūgi}} is a Japanese [[manga]] series written and illustrated by [[Yuu Watase]]. It was originally serialized in ''[[Shōjo Comic]]'' from May 1992 through June 1996. The manga series was given an English language release in North America by [[Viz Media]], which started in 1999. Spanning eighteen volumes, ''Fushigi Yûgi'' tells the story of two teenaged girls, Miaka and Yui, who are pulled into "The Universe of the Four Gods", a mysterious book at the National Library. The series became very popular and was later adapted into a 52 episode [[anime]] series by [[Studio Pierrot]]. The series originally aired from April 6, 1995 through March 28, 1996 on the anime satellite channel [[Animax]] and the regular cable channel [[TV Tokyo]]. The anime series was followed by three [[Original Video Animation]] releases, with the first having three episodes, the second having six, and the final OVA, ''Fushigi Yûgi Eikoden'', spanning four episodes. A thirteen volume Japanese light novel series also followed ''Fushigi Yûgi''. The novels were published by [[Shōgakukan]] from January 30, 1998 to September 26, 2003. On October 25, 2003, Watase began releasing a prequel to the manga series, ''[[Fushigi Yûgi Genbu Kaiden]]''. ==Plot== {{Original research|section|date=July 2009}} {{See also|List of Fushigi Yûgi characters}} Middle school student [[Miaka Yūki]] is under a lot of pressure to pass the entrance exam for the competitive Jonan Academy. Her friends do not believe she will get in, but she is determined to because her best friend, [[Yui Hongo]], has applied for the same school and she wants them both to go to the school together. While at the library one day, Miaka and Yui come into contact with a strange book there, known as ''The Universe of the Four Gods''. As a result of reading this book, they are then transported into the novel's universe. Inside the novel she discovers that she is the Priestess of Suzaku and destined to gather the seven Celestial Warriors of the god Suzaku in order to summon Suzaku and obtain three wishes. She falls in love with the Celestial Warrior Tamahome, who eventually reciprocates and Miaka's desire to use a wish to enter the high school of her choice begins to shift towards finding a way to be with Tamahome. Yui, who is also drawn into the book, becomes the Priestess of Seiryuu, working against Miaka out of jealousy over Tamahome. The series describes the various trials that teenagers Miaka and Yui face, both quest-driven and personal. Feeling betrayed, the two oppose one another as priestesses, bringing together their own respective warriors and vying for the chance to be granted three wishes by the gods whom they hope to summon. ==Production== {{Expand|date=February 2008}} <!-- Expand with SOURCED info that is --> Megumi Nishizaki, was inspired to write the novel, ''Eikou Den'' after a meeting with Watase and hearing her proposal of a story-idea in which Miaka gathers the re-incarnated Suzaku Seven. However, Nishizaki felt that Miaka's story was done, so she created a new character, Mayo Sakaki as someone she felt the readers could feel closer too. She felt that Mayo was a representation of all of the weakness in human character. She appears singleminded to the point of recklessness, impulsive, jealous, bitter - but at heart she is a good person. Nishizaki points out that due to all of the hardships she has faced, she's become a very jaded person and it takes meeting the Suzaku Seven to realize her innocence again.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} ==Media== ===Manga=== {{Main|List of Fushigi Yûgi chapters}} Written and illustrated by [[Yuu Watase]], ''Fushigi Yûgi'' was originally serialized in the monthly manga magazine ''[[Shōjo Comic]]''. It premiered in the May 1992 issue and ran for over four years, with the final chapter appearing in the June 1996 issue. The series was simultaneously published in eighteen [[Tankōbon|collected volumes]] by Shogakukan, with new volumes being released on a quarterly schedule.<ref name="ANN">{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=1539 |publisher=Anime News Network |title=Fushigi Yuugi (manga) |accessdate=2008-02-03 }}</ref> In 1992, [[Viz Media]] licensed the manga for an [[English (language)|English language]] release in North America. The series was originally released in a flipped trade paperback format, starting in August 1998.<ref name="VizShojoSlate" /> Viz kept the original Chinese names of characters and places, at the request of Watase, causing some confusion for fans as the anime version uses the Japanese names. For example, in the manga, Hotohori's country is named "Hong-Nan" rather than the "Konan" found in the anime series.<ref name="AODReview1">{{cite web |url=http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/manga/manga.php?manga_view=54 |title=Fushigi Yûgi (Shōjo Edition) Vol. #01 |publisher=Anime on DVD |firstname=Megan |lastname=Lavey |date=2004-04-13 |accessdate=2008-02-04 }}</ref> After eight volumes, Viz stopped publication of ''Fushigi Yûgi'', reviving it in June 2003 when it released the first two volumes in unflipped standard manga size volumes. The remaining volumes were released on a quarterly schedule, including the remaining ten volumes. The final volume of the series was released in April 2006. In the table below, the dates and ISBN numbers given for the first eight volumes are for the second edition releases.<ref name="ANN" /><ref name="VizPR">{{cite press release |url=http://www.viz.com/news/newsroom/2004/03_secondedition.php |title=Viz Announces Release of Second Edition Manga Titles |publisher=[[Viz Media]] |date=2004-03-18 |accessdate=2008-02-23 }}</ref> Viz also serialized ''Fushigi Yûgi'' in their manga anthology magazine, ''[[Animerica Extra]]'', starting with the October 1998 debut issue and running until the December 2004 issue, the magazine's final issue.<ref name="VizShojoSlate">{{cite web |url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/685.html |title=Viz Builds Strong Shōjo Slate |publisher = ICv2 |date=2001-09-06 |accessdate=2008-02-23 }}</ref> In January 2009, Viz is slated to re-release the series as part of their "VIZBIG" line, which usually combines two or three individual volumes of the original release into a single, larger volume.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-02-24/amazon-viz-adds-gaba-kawa-heaven-will-oishinbo |title=Amazon: Viz Adds Gaba Kawa, Heaven's Will, Oishinbo |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=2008-02-24 |accessdate=2008-02-24 }}</ref> ===Anime=== {{Main|List of Fushigi Yûgi episodes}} Produced by [[Studio Pierrot]], the fifty-two episode ''Fushigi Yûgi'' anime series premiered on [[Animax]] and [[TV Tokyo]] on April 6, 1995. The series aired weekly, until the final episode aired on March 28, 1996. The series was licensed for English-language release to [[Region 1]] [[DVD]] and [[VHS]] format by [[Geneon Entertainment]], then named Pioneer, under the expanded title "Fushigi Yûgi: The Mysterious Play." It has been suggested that Geneon chose to license the series based on its popularity among the [[fansub]] community.<ref>[http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=871098 Of Otaku and Fansubs: A Critical Look at Anime Online in Light of Current Issues in Copyright Law]</ref> The main series was released in eight individual volumes and as two box sets, the "Suzaku" and "Seiryū" sets. ===Original video animations=== {{Main|List of Fushigi Yûgi episodes#Original video animations|l1=List of Fushigi Yûgi original video animation episodes}} The anime adaptation was followed by three [[original video animation]] (OVA) works. The first, spanning three episodes, takes place a year after the events of the main series and has no ties to the original manga. It was released to DVD on October 25, 1996. The second OVA, which has 6 episodes, animates the last four volumes of the manga series that had been left out of the main series. The episodes were split across two volumes, with the first released May 25, 1997, and the second coming over a year later on August 25, 1998. The final OVA, ''Fushigi Yûgi Eikoden'', spans four episodes and is based on two of the light novels written by Megumi Nishizaki. Released on December 21, 2001, it focuses on a new character, Mayo Sakaki, a sixteen-year-old girl who attends Yotsubadai High School. Upon finding "The Universe of the Four Gods" in a trash bin at the park, Mayo soon discovers that the story remains incomplete. In the unfamiliar world of the book, Mayo must come to terms with her own life and the unhappiness within it. Geneon Entertainment also licensed the OVAs for Region 1 DVD release. The first two OVAs were release together in a set titled "Fushigi Yûgi: The Mysterious Play OVA". ''Fushigi Yûgi Eikoden'' was released as a single disc volume. The OVAs were released with similar packaging as the main series, to give them a consistent look.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/indepth/619.html |title=Sailor Moon Explained, Plus Fushigi Yugi, Cardcaptors, More |publisher = ICv2 |date=2001-08-12 |accessdate=2008-02-23 }}</ref> As with the main series, the English releases of the OVAs are now out-of-print ===Novels=== {{Split section|List of Fushigi Yûgi novels|date=April 2009}} Over a series of five years, [[Megumi Nishizaki]] wrote thirteen Japanese, [[light novel]]s based on ''Fushigi Yûgi''. With illustrations by Yuu Watase, ''Fushigi Yûgi Gaiden'' primarily explores the lives the various Celestial Warriors before they are seen in the manga. The only two novels to be set after the manga, ''Eikō Den (Jōkan)'' and ''Eikō Den (Gekan)'', later became the basis for the third ''Fushigi Yûgi'' original video animation, ''Fushigi Yûgi Eikoden.'' Originally published by [[Shogakukan]], none of the novels have been licensed for English release. <!-- Note, this table uses the episode list template to achieve a cleaner format --> {| class="wikitable" width="99%" |- ! style="background: #CCF" width="10" | Volume ! style="background: #CCF" | Title<ref>'''Note:''' ISBNs for all of the novels have been retrieved from Amazon.co.jp. Kanji and rōmaji titles were retrieved from [http://webcatplus-equal.nii.ac.jp/libportal/EqualFromForm Webcat Plus].</ref> ! style="background: #CCF" width="150" | Release Date ! style="background: #CCF" width="150" | ISBN {{Japanese episode list |EpisodeNumber=1 |EnglishTitle= |RomajiTitle=Genrō Den |KanjiTitle=幻狼伝 |FirstEngAirDate=ISBN 978-4094207736 |OriginalAirDate=January 30, 1998 |ShortSummary=Details Tasuki's life between joining the Mt. Reikaku Bandits and the appearance of the Priestess of Suzaku. |LineColor=CCF }} {{Japanese episode list |EpisodeNumber=2 |EnglishTitle= |RomajiTitle=Shōryū Den |KanjiTitle=昇龍伝 |FirstEngAirDate=ISBN 978-4094207743 |OriginalAirDate=July 23, 1998 |ShortSummary=Chichiri's life shortly after the accident when he loses his eye to his first meeting Miaka. |LineColor=CCF }} {{Japanese episode list |EpisodeNumber=3 |EnglishTitle= |RomajiTitle=Yuki Yasha Den |KanjiTitle=雪夜叉伝 |FirstEngAirDate=ISBN 978-4094207750 |OriginalAirDate=February 2, 1999 |ShortSummary=Details of Nuriko becoming a cross-dresser and entering the royal [[harem]]. |LineColor=CCF }} {{Japanese episode list |EpisodeNumber=4 |EnglishTitle= |RomajiTitle=Ryūsei Den |KanjiTitle=流星伝 |FirstEngAirDate=ISBN 978-4094207767 |OriginalAirDate=April 23, 1999 |ShortSummary=Amiboshi and Suboshi's tragic past. |LineColor=CCF }} {{Japanese episode list |EpisodeNumber=5 |EnglishTitle= |RomajiTitle=Suzaku Hi Den |KanjiTitle=朱雀悲伝 |FirstEngAirDate=ISBN 978-4094207774 |OriginalAirDate=July 1999 |ShortSummary=The story of Hotohori, his brother Tendō and their relationship with Hōki. This story is later told by Hōki to Mayo in the Eikoden OVA. |LineColor=CCF }} {{Japanese episode list |EpisodeNumber=6 |EnglishTitle= |RomajiTitle=Seiran Den |KanjiTitle=青藍伝 |FirstEngAirDate=ISBN 978-4094207781 |OriginalAirDate=December 1, 1999 |ShortSummary=Nakago's past and his rise to power within the Kutō army. |LineColor=CCF }} {{Japanese episode list |EpisodeNumber=7 |EnglishTitle= |RomajiTitle=Eikō Den (Jōkan) |KanjiTitle=永光伝(上巻) |FirstEngAirDate=ISBN 978-4094207798 |OriginalAirDate=February 1, 2000 |ShortSummary=Set ten years after the final events in the manga, teenage girl Mayo Sakaki goes into ''The Universe of the Four Gods''. Unhappy with her own life, Mayo wants to achieve a storybook ending with Taka, whom she has a crush on. |LineColor=CCF }} {{Japanese episode list |EpisodeNumber=8 |EnglishTitle= |RomajiTitle=Eikō Den (Gekan) |KanjiTitle=永光伝(下巻) |FirstEngAirDate=ISBN 978-4094207804 |OriginalAirDate=March 1, 2000 |ShortSummary=Continues Mayo's story as she is tricked by a false Suzaku, and saved by Miaka. |LineColor=CCF }} {{Japanese episode list |EpisodeNumber=9 |EnglishTitle= |RomajiTitle=Shugyoku Den |KanjiTitle=朱玉伝 |FirstEngAirDate=ISBN 978-4094207897 |OriginalAirDate=December 21, 2001 |ShortSummary=Tamahome's life from his training under Tokaki to when he first meets Miaka and Yui. Interestingly, this novel also tells of Miaka's backstory and her connection with Tamahome during the years of the manifestation of his powers. |LineColor=CCF }} {{Japanese episode list |EpisodeNumber=10 |EnglishTitle= |RomajiTitle=Hōmei Den |KanjiTitle=逢命伝 |FirstEngAirDate=ISBN 978-4094207903 |OriginalAirDate=March 1, 2002 |ShortSummary=Mitsukake's romance with Shōka. |LineColor=CCF }} {{Japanese episode list |EpisodeNumber=11 |EnglishTitle= |RomajiTitle=Yūai Den |KanjiTitle=優愛伝 |FirstEngAirDate=ISBN 978-4094208214 |OriginalAirDate=April 26, 2002 |ShortSummary=Chiriko's whereabouts before he joined up with the rest of the Suzaku Warriors. |LineColor=CCF }} {{Japanese episode list |EpisodeNumber=12 |EnglishTitle= |RomajiTitle=Sanbō Den (Jōkan) |KanjiTitle=三宝伝(上巻) |FirstEngAirDate=ISBN 978-4094208221 |OriginalAirDate=July 1, 2003 |ShortSummary=Explains how Tenkō used his powers to influence people to do his bidding to break the seal the four beast gods placed on him, as well as to gather the Shinzaho of Genbu, Byakko, Seiryuu and Suzaku. The two main characters are Chichiri and Tasuki. |LineColor=CCF }} {{Japanese episode list |EpisodeNumber=13 |EnglishTitle= |RomajiTitle=Sanbō Den 2 (Gekan) |KanjiTitle=三宝伝(下巻) |FirstEngAirDate=ISBN 978-4094208238 |OriginalAirDate=September 26, 2003 |ShortSummary=Continues story from part 1. |LineColor=CCF }} |} ===Video game=== [[Idea Factory]] is developing a [[Sony Playstation 2]] video game based on the ''Fushigi Yûgi'' series that will be called ''Fushigi Yûgi: Suzaku Ibun'' (ふしぎ遊戯 朱雀異聞). It has a projected release date in Japan of May 29, 2008, and will be available in regular and limited editions.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/ps2/data/944455.html |publisher=[[GameFAQs]] |title=Fushigi Yuugi: Suzaku Ibun |accessdate=2008-02-06 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.otomate.jp/fusigi/suzaku_ibun/ |publisher=Idea Factory |title=Fushigi Yûgi: Suzaku Ibun ({{nihongo2|ふしぎ遊戯 朱雀異聞}}) |accessdate=2008-02-06 }}</ref> ==Reception== ''THEM Anime Reviews'' preferred the manga to the anime, criticizing the latter's production values, repetitious dialogue, and reuse of footage in flashback episodes.<ref>[http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=44 Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play] THEM Anime Reviews</ref> ''DVD Verdict'' criticized the "convoluted" plot and "nonsensical" dialogue.<ref>[http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/fushigiyugivol2.php Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play...The Return Home (Volume 2)] DVD Verdict</ref> Another review noted that although Miaka "makes out with her boyfriend quite a bit", the climax is "of the heart and soul", despite the many battles that the characters go through. Her strength and belief in herself give her the strength and courage to change the world.<ref>[http://www.ex.org/2.8/45-essay_stereotypes.html the new stereotypes of anime and manga]</ref> Drazen considers the humour in ''Fushigi Yûgi'' to be based on [[super deformed]] caricatures and therefore strange to Western audiences.<ref name ="Drazen">{{cite book |last=Drazen |first=Patrick |title=[[Anime Explosion! The What? Why? & Wow! of Japanese Animation]] |year=2002 | month=October |publisher=Stone Bridge Press |location=[[Berkeley, California]] |isbn=1-880656-72-8 |oclc=50898281 |pages=281–282}}</ref> Winnie Chow of ''[[Animerica]]'' was disappointed by the ending of the anime adaptation, finding the final battle that resolves the series to be "lame at best" that left her cheering more for Nakago than the "good guys". Throughout the series, she notes that the scenes between Miaka and Tamahome became "increasingly sickening" and "overdone".<ref name="Animerica">{{cite journal |title=Best of the West Reviews: Fushigi Yūgi: The Mysterious Play, Vol. 16: The Last Page |last=Chow |first=Winnie |journal=[[Animerica]] |year=2000 |month=November |volume=8 |issue=10 |page=71 |publisher=[[Viz Media]] |location=San Francisco, California |issn=1067-0831 |oclc=27130932 }}</ref> ''Fushigi Yûgi Eikoden'' was panned by THEM Anime Reviews, which considered the animation to be its only strong point. In particular, the reviewer found the new main character to unlikeable.<ref>[http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=487 THEM Anime Reviews 4.0 - Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play: Eikoden<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Although the Animetric review brought up many of the same points, Animetric found Eikoden "fun".<ref>[http://www.animetric.com/def/eikoden.html Animetric.com >> Anime Reviews >> Fushigi Yuugi: Eikoden (OAV series)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== ;Fushigi Yûgi *[http://www.viz.com/products/products.php?series_id=64 Official Viz Media ''Fushigi Yûgi'' manga series site] *[http://pierrot.jp/title/fushigi/ Official Studio Pierrot ''Fushigi Yûgi'' anime series site] {{ja icon}} *{{ann|manga|1539}} *{{ann|anime|178}} ;OVAs *[http://pierrot.jp/title/eikoden/ Official Studio Pierrot site for ''Fushigi Yûgi Eikoden''] *{{ann|anime|967|Fushigi Yugi Eikoden (OAV)}} {{Fushigi Yûgi}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Fushigi Yugi}} [[Category:Anime series]] [[Category:Manga of 1992]] [[Category:Anime of 1995]] [[Category:Anime of 1996]] [[Category:Anime of 1997]] [[Category:Anime of 2001]] [[Category:Chinese mythology in anime and manga‎]] [[Category:Fantasy anime and manga]] [[Category:Geneon]] [[Category:Manga distributed by Madman Entertainment]] [[Category:Manga series]] [[Category:Romance anime and manga]] [[Category:Shōjo]] [[Category:Studio Pierrot]] [[Category:Viz Media manga]] [[Category:Sharp Point Press titles]] [[ca:Fushigi Yûgi]] [[de:Fushigi Yuugi]] [[es:Fushigi Yūgi]] [[fr:Fushigi Yūgi]] [[ko:환상게임]] [[id:Fushigi Yuugi]] [[it:Fushigi Yūgi]] [[ms:Fushigi Yuugi]] [[ja:ふしぎ遊戯]] [[no:Fushigi Yûgi]] [[pl:Tajemnica przeszłości]] [[pt:Fushigi Yûgi]] [[ru:Таинственная игра]] [[fi:Fushigi Yuugi]] [[sv:Det mystiska spelet]] [[tl:Fushigi Yūgi]] [[th:พลิกตำนานมาพบรัก]] [[tr:Fuşigi Yuugi]] [[zh:夢幻遊戲]]'