For those unfamiliar with Miyu, this is the story of an eternal thirteen-year old vampire princess name Miyu and her companion Larva a former enemy and evil spirit (Shinma). Miyu has been chosen to be a Guardian. It is her responsibility to send the Shinma back to the dark side. Larva after battling with Miyu joined her in her quest to return Shinma to the dark realm and make the mortal world safe once more. Of course things are a bit difficult for her being a vampire and all, having to protect those whom she should prey, but her dedication to her duty far outweighs her own physical needs (For similar Vampire to Vampire Hunter Anime read Blood the Last Vampire, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, and Nightwalker: Midnight Detective).
Having seen the legendary Vampire Princess Miyu OVA several years back, I looked forward to seeing the full-length series. I will admit at first I was not enthralled, I was expecting the dark world of the OVA. This Miyu was a little lighter in my opinion; it held a little more of a Sailor Moonish I will punish you! tone mixed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. However, in the end, the various Shinma, as well as, Miyu and Larva, proved to make the series worth the full seventy-five minutes, leaving me often saying Oh! SH*T, I didn't expect that!
The three episodes on this series gives viewers background right away on Miyu and Larva's purpose on the mortal plane-they are here to send the rouge Shinma back to the dark side. Those the Shinma possess are not of real concern to the two, because it is basically their tragic flaws that allowed the Shinma to take hold of them. So Miyu and Larva choose to allow the possessed humans to revel in the pacts they made with the Shinma for eternity, though once in a while Miyu will relieve a victim of their misery. This is what sold me on the series.
Fans of Larva will especially be pleased with Larva's role in this series. I have a feeling many a future storyline will involve this dark sidekick. But what threw me for a loop were the mortal friends Miyu has acquired. They seem a little corny and out of place. How they will play out in latter episodes will prove whether my assumptions are correct.
The more and more I watch anime; the less I pay attention to the animation. I believe I have finally crossed over to otaku-status. I now watch anime as if it were a live action show, paying no particular interests at all to the film stock but rather characters and story line. However, the editor reminds me that for those who have not totally crossed over, this is an important feature. So basically the animation for the series is atypical television style meaning, flat and kind of stiff, totally one-dimensional. But again the story and characters were just fabulous and TOTALLY made up for the mediocre animation.
Before I conclude, just a little warning: if you are expecting all out blood and gore, you won't get it. But you will get your fair share at a PG-13 price. It is obvious from watching the series that the violent content was constructed in a way that would allow the series to be aired on TV. It is violent, just not as gory, as some fans might expect.
Overall I say get the series. Nothing is perfect. But if this is as good as it gets then I'm getting in on the bottom floor!
Send your comments and or questions about this article to JenniferJ@ybfree.com.