Is Moribito: Guardian Of The Spirits Any Good? – Review

Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (Seirei no Moribito) is the first in the 12-volume Moribito series of Japanese fantasy novels by Nahoko Uehashi.

The series focuses on the life of Balsa, a spear-commanding mercenary, who vows to save lives as atonement for her destructive path in the past. The story takes a turn when Balsa is hired to protect a prince with a mysterious spirit living inside him.

The series was adapted into an anime television series produced by Production I.G in 2007. The anime currently has a total of  26 episodes and is based entirely on the first novel in the Guardian series.

1. Quick Review

Moribito: Guardian Of The Spirit is set in the Shin Yogo Empire. As the Empire is on the verge of a catastrophic drought, the Star Readers of the Kingdom must come up with a solution to avoid a disastrous and extensive famine.

The ancient legends speak of the first emperor who slew a water demon along with eight other warriors to save the land from a great drought which is the current day Shin Yogo Empire. The people now await the return of a water demon which can be slain to bring them salvation.

The story takes a staggering turn when we learn that the water demon spirit resides within the body of Prince Chagum and his father, the emperor, orders for Chagum to be sacrificed to save the empire.

In a fortunate twist of fate, The Prince is saved from an assassination attempt by Balsa, a mysterious spear-wielding mercenary.After saving Chagum from an assassination attempt, his Mother asks Balsa to protect him from those who wish him harm. she once made, Balsa accepts.

Moribito is a fantasy, action, and adventure narrates the perilous yet meaningful relationship between a fierce female warrior and a prince with an unfortunate fate. With a beautiful story to tell its viewers, the series explores the glorious intricacies of life.

2.Info Card

3. Is it worth watching?

Moribito: Guardian Of The Spirit demonstrates some smooth and fluid animation for a series produced almost a decade ago. In terms of character designs, Balsa is a wonderful and realistic female lead that keeps the story growing with emotions, adventure, and action.

The color scheme in the series has a vintage anime quality to it. The creators have succeeded in making good use of its charismatic characters and vibrant environment. The interesting characters portray realistic personalities showing that a person is neither good nor evil but rather fighting for a cause they believe in.

I. Plot

Balsa, a spear-swinging warrior has taken the lives of eight people in her mysterious past.As redemption for her sins, she has taken a vow to save the same number of lives.As she travels to Shin Yogo Empire on business, her path crosses with Prince Chagum whom she saves from being assassinated.

As a result of protecting him from harm, she is entrusted with his life and becomes his bodyguard. The two characters set out on a treacherous journey to escape the Princes’  father and emperor, Mikado, who has ordered his son’s assassination.

The series has a simple plot that is molded together from each character’s unique backgrounds and diverse personalities. Moribito has great production value in terms of animation and art that plays a monumental role in bringing the story to life.

II. Characters

Balsa Yonsa

Balsa Yonsa is one of the main characters of the Moribito series.

She is a wandering spear-wielder and originally from the country of Kanbal. To repent for her past sins, Balsa promises to save as many lives as she had ended. As a result of this vow, she ends up becoming Prince Chagum’s bodyguard.

Her character may be described as a serious and headstrong woman with a wide range of skills in combat.  She also shows her kind side to the people she meets on her journey. Balsa’s incredible battle scenes, honed by extensive experience and instincts give her the ability to stand strong against the strongest of warriors.

Prince Chagum

He is Emperor Mikado’s son and involuntary host of the water demon spirit in his body.

His mother entrusts Balsa to protect him from the assassins sent by his father. The Emperor and Prince Chagum’s father hopes to sacrifice his son so that the water demon spirit within him may end his kingdom’s drought and famine.

Chagum is described as a kind boy who holds no hatred towards his father even though he wants Chagum sacrificed. Chagum and his mother share a good bond as can be seen by her desperate attempts to save him from Mikados’ wrath by asking Balsa to protect him.

Mikado

Mikado is the emperor of the Shin Yogo Empire and Prince Chagum’s father.

He orders for the death of his son to bring prosperity once more to his now drought-afflicted kingdom. Mikado’s character is a paradox as he calls for Chagum’s death but also cares deeply for his family. As a ruler, he places the kingdom’s survival over the life of his child.

III. Setting

• Location:  Moribito is set in a fantasy world similar to that of ancient Asia. Balsa is from Kanbal, a  rugged, mountainous country that looks similar to the real world Northern India and Tibet.

The geography of Moribito’s fictitious world is based mostly on the greater Indo-Chinese region as can be seen in the characters’ appearance, traditional practices, etc.

• Animation: The show has smooth and fluid animation. Animated by Production I.G, the studio succeeded in producing a great anime for its time more than a decade ago.  The 2D style of animation brings an element of a vintage quality that suits the show well.

• Artwork: Moribito uses a realistic art style when it comes to the series’ character designs and the backgrounds of its fictional world. The background displays mountainous regions, jungles, and other features that appear to be based on South-East Asia’s topography.

IV. Theme Songs

• Opening theme songs :

Title	Original Artist	Genre	Episodes	Reference Links
“Shine”	L’Arc~en~Ciel	J-Pop	1-26	Youtube Spotify Apple Music

Moribito’s opening theme song “Shine” is a snappy ballad by L’Arc~en~Ciel. The visuals in the song give us an insight into Balsa’s journey that leads her to Prince Chagum. The song is a playful interlude before the storm of drama and action that Moribito casts your way.

• Ending theme songs :

Title	Original Artist	Genre	Episodes	Reference Links
“Itoshii Hito e”	Sachi Tainaka	J-Pop	1-26	Youtube Apple Music

Sachi Tainaka’s “Itoshii Hito e” translates to “To the loved one”. The song has a calming melody that sets the mood for the series perfectly. The lyrics narrate the characters’ hopes to become stronger and an ode to the ones they hold close to their hearts.

•  Original SoundTrack (OST):  The OSTs in the series were composed by Kenji Kawai. Apart from Moribito, some of Kawai’s worked on some diverse series such as “Ranma ½” and “Maison Ikkoku”.

The music was instrumental in constructing the emotional element to the show. Balsa’s battles, the kingdom’s state of affairs, and the never-ending army of hunters were backed up by epic OSTs that created feelings of upliftment, devastation, and despair.

• Background score: The Background score in the series has a great dramatic impact. The use of traditional music created from actual instruments adds to the realism that Moribito seems to be going for.

The background ranges from fierce and threatening battle music to eerie and nostalgic tracks, adding an auditory pleasure to the visual experience on screen.

• Sound effects: The sound effects in the show transport you back in time. The sounds of weapons in battle, horses galloping, and the battle cries converge to create a comprehensive world of war.

• Voice Acting: The characters were assigned good voice actors, especially Balsa’s character, voiced by Mabuki Andou. She did an excellent job of exuding Balsa’s strong personality.

V. Action Sequences

The fighting styles of some of the characters are influenced by the Indo-Chinese region and adds a unique spin to the action seen in the series. The action scenes in Moribito are surprisingly realistic in terms of the character’s movements and techniques.

The strength behind each character’s fighting style is believable and not backed by some hidden supernatural power. The sense of realism in the action sequences raises the stakes for the characters and adds a thrilling sense of anticipation for the audience.

4. Grade: 5 out of 5

5. Final Thoughts

The series is a dramatic historical fantasy. It has a remarkable concept with well-directed pace and action scenes. The plot is simple to understand and focuses on its character’s goals. The character design and color scheme of the series brings a nostalgic old school vibe to the show. If you’re looking for a fantasy anime with a good story that takes you back to the time of empires and warriors, then you’ve struck gold with Moribito.