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E A R T H
G I R L A R J U N A
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Reviewed
in December, 2001 by Mark Vallen, Jeannine Thorpe, and John
Lentini
©.
Screen shots generously provided by John Lentini.
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(Comments
by John
Lentini)
What would happen if you ever crossed over the threshold between
life and death? You may want to ask the main character in
the series Chikyuu Shoujo Arjuna (Earth Girl Arjuna).
Ariyoshi Juna not only crossed this line, but came
back again with a new sense of purpose... as Juna was
given a unique look at the world unlike you or me. You see,
after her short trip back from the afterlife, Juna
had this tremendous sense
of the world around her. It may be hard to explain, but trust
me, when you look into the first three episode roller coaster
you'll see what I mean. It's
quite a ride from the start, the story is so high paced you
can get lost in a hurry. Chikyuu Shoujo Arjuna can
make Serial Experiments Lain look like a nursery rhyme
at times. However the story will give you and the characters
time to catch up, to make a tremendous mix of story, animation
and music.
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With
the right mix of CGI animation and music from the ever popular
Kanno Yoko, you can't go wrong with Arjuna. Of course
Kanno-san's music fits this series perfectly, as you'll notice
some of the songs are sung by her choice performer, Sakamoto
Maaya. Also you'll want to keep an eye on the unique array
of characters. Kris, who's body may not be well, but
his mind can blow away the best of them, literally. His cute
sidekick, who can play some mind games as well, Cindy.
There's even a domestic rival for Juna later down the series
named Sayuri, voiced by the ever talented Hisakawa
Aya.
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However
the character that is most intriguing to me is, Ooshima
Tokio, who is very much interested in Juna. Tokio is voiced
by another talented seiyuu named Tomokazu Seki, known
for his roles in Vision of Escaflowne (Van) and Fushigi
Yuugi (Chichiri). Tokio may not have the privilege of
riding a Dragon or being a Mage, but Seki-san does a fantastic
job of delivering all the emotion that needs to be behind
this character. So we hope you like this series as much as
we did. It's probably the most well rounded television series
I've seen come out of Japan this year, so enjoy, and remember,
your perception of life can tell you all you need to know
about it.
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(Comments
by Mark Vallen)
This is one of the most amazing works of animation
I've yet seen, and to think it was a television show in Japan!
Earth Girl Arjuna will first stun you with it's
incredibly lavish
animation, but the knock out punch comes with Arjuna's intense
environmental message. Not since Hayao Miyazaki's,
Princess Mononoke has an audience been confronted in
such a direct way with
the issue of environmental destruction and the role each of
us play in it.
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The
Arjuna anime goes beyond "Mononoke" in terms
of driving it's message home. While viewing Miyazaki's period
piece, audiences can easily distance themselves from the film's
characters... who so easily destroy the natural world around
them. "Arjuna" on the other hand, places the audience
inside the story. When the character of Juna
tries to take a bite from a fast-food Hamburger, and instead
has mad visions of all the deforestation, pesticide use, and
animal slaughter that went into the Burger, every viewer becomes
acutely aware of their own place in the Earth's
fragile ecology.
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Not
hamstrung by being over serious or preachy, "Arjuna"
instead wraps it's message and profound moments in a highly
watchable anime full of mysticism, spirit creatures, and incredible
animation that will hold you spellbound. The CGI effects in
this series represent some of the best of what's possible
in animation today, and the show's high production values
are on par with that of a full budget animated movie. Thoughtful
and thought provoking, Earth Girl Arjuna is a delightful series
you need to see!
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(Comments
by Jeannine Thorpe) As
one who's always believed that Art was meant to expand people's
minds and perceptions of the world, I fully embrace Arjuna
as not just one of the best anime I've ever seen... but some
of the best Art I've ever seen put to film. Just when the
unbelievably smooth and realistic animation and perfectly
composed music score sends you over the edge, the profound
environmental, social, and philosophical issues that the film
addresses literally grab you by the throat and won't let you
go. Don't let the title of the series deceive you... this
is not a silly hybrid of Sailormoon and Captain
Planet.
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On
the contrary, Juna's new powers enable her to see the essence
of life and death all around her, and grants her the ability
to see the world through the perspective of any living thing.
Simple acts such as stepping into a puddle or taking a bite
of a fast-food hamburger give her overwhelming visions that
she cannot control. Her normal teenage life is changed forever,
for exactly how can one block out all of the horrors and suffering
of the world? Juna's true struggle is the struggle of the
modern age: the loss of traditional lifestyles versus the
convenience of civilization, and how everything and everyone,
from the tiniest insect to the entire planet, is affected
by mankind's actions.
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