Mermaid Saga
Mermaid Saga is a manga series of the Japanese graphic artist Rumiko Takahashi. The work was filmed several times as anime and can be classified in the genres of action and horror.
The plot to Mermaids is based on the Japanese legend of Yao Bikuni.
Content
In Japan, a legend says that anyone who eats the flesh of a mermaid ( Ningyo ), attained immortality. A young man named Yuta discovers the hard way that this is more than just a legend. Together with the fifteen- year-old girl Mana, which has also become immortal by eating the flesh of a mermaid, the two are looking for a mermaid who can take this "curse" of them. The meat is very popular and many people are behind the precious treasure forth. But only few of those who eat the meat, the conversion process unscathed and attain immortality, since it is a deadly poison. Most either die or be disfigured survive without a soul Fishman, called Lost Souls. The mermaids are not good-natured creatures, but cruel beasts, which in turn chasing those few or hold that survived this transformation process to wiederzuerhalten by their consumption of meat their own youth.
Publication
Originally, the nine short stories published from 1984 to 1994 in the manga magazine Shonen Sunday the publisher Shogakukan. Later, they were grouped into three volumes: Ningyo no Mori (人魚 の 森), Ningyo no Kizu (人魚 の 傷) and Yasha no Hitomi (夜叉 の 瞳).
The manga was translated into English and French, among others. In Germany, the series was released in 2001 and 2002 in Egmont Manga & Anime in 4 volumes. The last two short stories by the third Japanese band in Germany were published as the second volume.
The first volume of Mermaid Saga was filmed in 1991 as Anime OVAs by Studio Pierrot. Directed by Takaya Mizutani, character design designed Sayuri Ikkoku and artistic director was Kazuyoshi Kanemura. The 56 -minute OVA was released on August 16th in Japan with the title Ningyo no Mori.
The first OVA was released in English at Manga Entertainment in Australia, aired on TV3 Spanish and translated into Italian and Dutch.
In 1993, a second, produced by Madhouse OVA in the Morio Asaka directed. Character designer Kumiko Takahashi and was the artistic director took over Hidetoshi Kaneko. The anime has also been translated into English and Spanish.
2003, a 13 - part television series entitled Takahashi Rumiko Gekijo was: Ningyo no Mori (高橋 留美子 劇場 人魚 の 森) produced, with the last two episodes released on DVD. Director was Masaharu Okuwaki, character designer Masaki Sato and artistic director Junichi Azuma and were Toshiyuki Tokuda. The series aired from October 4 to December 20, 2003 through the transmitter TV Osaka and TV Tokyo.
The television series was published in Italian at Polygram Video, in Dutch at Kaze animation and English at Geneon Entertainment. In German the anime series of redplanet was published.
Synchronization
The German dubbed version of the series was made by Brandt Film Berlin.
Music
The music of the first OVA Ningyo no Mori was composed by Kenji Kawai, the second of Norihiro Tauri. The opening credits of the television series, Like an angel comes from Chiaki Ishikawa, the credits title Mizu tamari by Kayoko.
Soundtrack
The OVAs each also a soundtrack was released the same year to do so. The soundtrack to the TV series was published together with the Rumiko Takahashi Anthology.
Reception
Rumiko Takahashi received 1989 Mermaid Saga 20 Seiun price. According to the journal AnimaniA Rumiko Takahashi proves with Mermaid Saga that she also masters the mystical. The manga connect the narrative of human destinies with mythology and horror. The story prick out through the dark atmosphere of the Takahashi's other works. There succeed, entrain the reader and illuminate each individual's fate in the course of the story.
According to Splash comics, the manga is Rumiko Takahashi's in typical style. The act was held mystical, scary and exciting. The later stories, however, would repeat elements already treated, presumably the author had run out of ideas. However, the end was exciting again and fit despite the openness.