Fushigi Yuugi, known as Mysterious Play on it's Pioneer English video version, was created by Watase Yuu, a Japanese manga/comics artist who specialises on shoujo (girls') comics. The story was first published on Shogakukan's Flower Comics on the late 80s and ended on 1996 with manga #18 with a total of 106 manga episodes.
The manga became so popular, Fushigi Yuugi was also made into a 52 episode anime series, produced by Television Tokyo. The TV series ran for almost a year in Japan -April 1995 to March 1996. Like on most anime, there were some small differences on the story from the manga version. The 52 episode series was based closely on manga #1 to #13. In addition to the television series, 2 OAVs (Original Animation Videos) were created to finish the story.
The Story...
Fushigi Yuugi is one of the most beautiful (Flame's #1 fave anime!) Japanese animated series ever! The story is full of romance, humor, drama, adventures, action, beautiful artwork and music. Both men and women can enjoy this anime. Fushigi Yuugi, or "Mysterious Play" is the story of Miaka, a young Junior High School girl, and her best friend Yui.
The story begins when Miaka and Yui visit the national library and stumble upon a forsaken room where they find a mysterious looking book called "The Universe of the Four Gods". Enchanted, the girls sat down to read it. Unknown to them, this book is an enchantment and has magical powers that will actually teleport them into the fictional world of the book. Once inside the book, Miaka and Yui find themselves in a beautiful world resembling ancient China, with evil bandits on every corner and a mysterious hero who rescues them. But Yui and Miaka don't remain together for too long, before Miaka notices it, Yui is sent back to the real world and Miaka is left by herself. Thinking that Tamahome, the handsome guy who had rescued her and Yui, knew where her best friend was, she follows him and that's when her unforgetable adventure begins changing her life forever.
Miaka becomes the Priestess of Suzaku, the girl of legend who undertakes the mission to save the kingdom of that city, Konan, by gathering the seven celestial warriors (who they call "The Suzaku Seven") ,and earning the power of Suzaku (their God) to make her wishes of finding Yui, help her new friends, and return home, come true. Little does she know of the dangers and evil that's waiting for her and her protectors, the Suzaku Seven.
The Susaku seven include Tamahome, Hotohori, Nuriko, Chichiri, Tasuki, Mitsukake, and Chiriko. Each of them have different special powers that were given to them by their god Suzaku when they were born, and unique personalities, and one of them is sure to win your heart! Fushigi Yuugi is known for it's extraordinary characters who you learn to love. Once the story takes a turn for the serious drama, it gets very, very intense and you will be left wondering what happens next and wanting to see how it ends. No other anime has touched my heart the way Fushigi Yuugi has... It's a story you will never forget!