Mirage of Blaze
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| Mirage of Blaze | |
|---|---|
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| 炎の蜃気楼[ミラージュ] (Honoo no Mirage) |
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| Genre | Action, Drama, Historical, Romance (Yaoi), Supernatural |
| Light novel | |
| Authored by | Mizuna Kuwabara |
| Artist | Shouko Hamada (novels 12+) |
| Publisher |  Shuueisha |
| Publish date | November 1990 – April 27, 2004 |
| No. of volumes | 40 |
| TV anime : Mirage of Blaze | |
| Directed by | Susumu Kudo |
| Studio | SME Visual Works |
| Network | Kids Station
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| Original run | 2002-01-07 – 2002-04-08 |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| OVA: Mirage of Blaze: Rebels of the River Edge | |
| Directed by | Fumie Muroi |
| Studio | Madhouse |
| No. of episodes | 3 |
| Released | 2004-07-28 (Vol 1), 2004-09-29 (Vol 2), 2004-11-26 (Vol 3) |
Mirage of Blaze (炎の蜃気楼[ミラージュ] Honoo no Mirāju?) (2002), a shōnen-ai anime series directed by Susumu Kudo, is based on a series of novels written by Mizuna Kuwabara (桑原水菜).
Difficult to classify, Mirage of Blaze is equal parts melodrama, historical romance, and supernatural fantasy. Japanese history predominates a heavily structured plot, which mainly involves the continued aggression between magic using guardians, or "possessors," and the denizens of a "feudal underworld," or the restless souls of long-dead samurai attempting to re-ignite ancient war on the modern plane.
The TV anime series has since been released in North America by Media Blasters. The series has aired on Encore Action and Encore WAM.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
[edit] TV Anime
Takaya Ohqi a typical high school student, wants nothing more than to protect his best friend Yuzuru Narita and live a normal life. Until Nobutsuna Naoe, an intense and charismatic older man who informs Takaya that he is in fact the reincarnation of Lord Kagetora, the adopted son of a noble samurai lord, Kenshin Uesugi. Naoe, himself a "possessor," or a soul reborn through time, reawakens Takaya's abilities to exorcise evil spirits and fight the Feudal Underworld, a collection of restless warrior spirits bent on modern-day conquest. While most possessors remember their former lives before being reincarnated, Takaya does not, and is often hostile towards any effort for the complete recovery of his memory. As the plot unfolds, the complex history of the characters and their past suggests why, and the true nature of the tempestuous and somewhat ambiguous relationship between the two leads provides the backdrop for a melodrama that spans several generations of Japanese history. Chief among the antagonists of the series are the Hojo and Fuma clans, once at war with and eventually overthrown by Kenshin Uesugi. As they ascend to the living world to renew their ancient war, Naoe, Takaya, and two other possessors gear up to prevent that from happening.
[edit] OVA
The OVA Rebels of the Rivers Edge (2003) resumes the plot of the TV anime, yet incorporates several new developments, among them the question of unswerving loyalty and personal honor. Takaya is sent to Kyoto to investigate the re-awakening of the Ikko sect and Araki Murashige, a one time member of the Ikko sect who has since deserted the clan. With the help of his vassal and fellow possessor Haruie, the two are successful in tracking him down, only to discover that Murashige is after a 400-year-old mandala (a Buddhist ritualistic artifact and meditative aid) made of the hair of the deceased Araki clansmen. Unfortunately, by the time they meet up with Murashige, Haruie recognizes him as Shintarou, her former lover in a past life. Whether it's true or not, and despite the confusing emotional complication of this development, Takaya orders Haruie to eliminate Murashige once he becomes a true threat to the balance of power. Meanwhile, Takaya finally reunites with Naoe after a prolonged period of estrangement. Unresolved sexual and psychological tension dominates their initial exchange, and it's uncertain whether these two powerful possessors will resolve their differences and work together against this latest threat.
[edit] Characters
[edit] Uesugi Clan Possessors
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Takaya Ohgi (仰木高耶 Ohgi Takaya?) Age: 17 |
Possessed by: Kagetora Uesugi
Voiced by: Toshihiko Seki (Japanese), and Edward Villa (English).
A 17-year-old high school delinquent who finds out that he's actually the reincarnation of Kagetora Uesugi, despite having repressed the memories of his prior existence due to a traumatic incident. Abrupt and outspoken in demeanor, he defiantly and exhaustingly denies the fact that he is Kagetora, refusing to believe that he is anyone but Takaya. He nonetheless exhibits a highly moral attitude towards his new found duty as a "possessor" once he accepts the reality of his past. Through the course of the series, he develops a minor split personality, confusing his ancient persona from his current persona (i.e. Takaya Ohgi vs. Kagetora Uesugi). All of the Uesugi possessors, as well as close friends, call him "Takaya" unless he's in his Kagetora persona, save Naoe who always calls him "Lord Kagetora" as a mark of their master/vassal relationship. He's a very powerful magic user, capable of exorcising spirits and demons and constructing an energy barrier against attack.
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Yoshiaki Tachibana (橘義明 Tachibana Yoshiaki?) |
Possessed by: Nobutsuna Naoe
Voiced by: Sho Hayami (Japanese), and James Lyon (English).
The current incarnation of Nobutsuna Naoe. He is the third son of the Tachibana family and is a monk of Shingon-shu Buzan-ha at the Kougenji temple in Utsunomiya. He is about eleven years older than Takaya, and much more methodical and deliberate in his methods. Intense and understated in speech, he nonetheless harbors a passionate and rebellious nature beneath his veneer of docility and allegiance. He wields a similar form of energy magic, and is capable of sensing demonic or supernatural auras. Takaya and all other members of the Uesugi clan call him "Naoe."
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Shuhei Chiaki (千秋修平 Chiaki Shuhei?) |
Possessed by: Nagahide Yasuda
Voiced by: Yasunori Matsumoto (Japanese), and Lex Lang (English).
The current incarnation of Nagahide Yasuda, the same age as Takaya, and on the surface a typical high school student. He is a possessor and magic user, but apparently also has the ability to alter the perceptions and memories of others. His arrival in the series is accompanied by his sudden and mysterious appearance in Takaya's homeroom as his "best friend." His loyalty to the Uesugi clan is at first questionable, since his whereabouts and intentions were unknown before his abrupt arrival in Takaya's life. He has a laid back personality and is slow to anger, and is concentrated and precise in combat. All the Uesugi clan possessors call him by his ancient name Nagahide, save Takaya who calls him by his current name, Chiaki.
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Ayako Kadowaki (門脇綾子 Kadowaki Ayako?) |
Possessed by: Haruie Kakizaki
Voiced by: Sakiko Tamagawa (Japanese), and Julie Ann Taylor (English).
The current incarnation of Haruie Kakizaki, originally male. Somewhere in her past, whether by accident or design, she switched gender. She is a female college student about 21 years of age who rides a Yamaha FZR400 motorcycle called "Ecchan". Despite her decidedly feminine appearance, everyone calls her by "Haruie". She is easy going and friendly with a bit of a competitive streak. When she first meets Takaya, she challenges him to a motorcyle race and beats him easily. She is a powerful exorcist and dependable in combat. In the OVA series, Rebels of the Rivers Edge (2003), her past experiences are developed in greater detail.
[edit] Episode Guide
[edit] Volume One: The Summoning
- Episode One: Ill Fated Destiny
- Episode Two: Professor From Darkness
- Episode Three: An Imperfect Awakening
- Episode Four: Premonition of a Chain Reaction
[edit] Volume Two: Ancient Rivals
- Episode Five: Endless Conflict
- Episode Six: Golden Emblem
- Episode Seven: Memories of Hateful Anguish
[edit] Volume Three: Darkness Descends
- Episode Eight: At the End of Obsession
- Episode Nine: Endless Void
- Episode Ten: Sorrowful Betrayal
[edit] Volume Four: Tragic Love
- Episode Eleven: Eternal Blaze
- Episode Twelve: Choices of Conflict
- Episode Thirteen: Twilight of Beyond
[edit] Cast
[edit] Cast (Japan)
- Toshihiko Seki: Takaya Ohgi
- Sho Hayami: Nobutsuna Naoe
- Taiki Matsuno: Yuzuru Narita
- Ai Orikasa: Yuiko Takeda
- Akiko Yajima: Saori Morino
- Fumihiko Tachiki: Kojuurou Katakura
- Hideyuki Tanaka: Ujiteru Hojo
- Hiroshi Kamiya: Kojirou Date
- Hiroshi Naka: Nue
- Katsunosuke Hori: Genan Hojyo
- Kazuaki Ito: Kinue
- Kazuya Nakai: Sinya Asaoka
- Kenyuu Horiuchi: Danjo Kousaka
- Miho Yoshida: Minako
- Misa Watanabe: Maiko Asaoka
- Mitsuru Miyamoto: Kotaro Fuuma
- Rokuro Naya: Ujimasa Hojo
- Ryotaro Okiayu: Nobunaga Oda
- Sakiko Tamagawa: Ayako Kadowaki
- Shigenori Sôya: Kasuke
- Tomokazu Seki: Ranmaru Mori, Satoshi Hatayama
- Tomoko Mura: Miya Ohgi
- Yasunori Matsumoto: Shuhei Chiaki
- Yoshiyuki Kaneko: Kenshin Uesugi
- Yukitoshi Hori: Masamune Date, Shingen Takeda
[edit] Cast (English)
- Edward Villa: Takaya Ohgi
- James Lyon: Nobutsuna Naoe
- John Riggins: Yuzuru Narita
- Mari Devon: Yuiko Takeda
- Colleen O'Shaughnessey: Saori Morino
- Michael Forest: Kojuurou Katakura
- Kurt Strauss: Ujiteru Hojo
- Peter Doyle: Kojirou Date
- Steve Kramer: Nue, Shingen Takeda
- Michael McConnohie: Kinue
- Kazuya Nakai: Sinya Asaoka
- Michelle Ruff: Minako
- Mia Bradly: Maiko Asaoka
- Johnny Yong Bosch: Kotaro Fuuma
- Dave Mallow: Ujimasa Hojo
- Julie Ann Taylor: Ayako Kadowaki
- Steve Staley: Ranmaru Mori, Satoshi Hatayama
- Kari Wahlgren: Miya Ohgi
- Lex Lang: Shuhei Chiaki
- Bob Papenbrook: Kenshin Uesugi
- Kim Strauss: Masamune Date
