How to ensure that an entire kingdom wants you dead.
This is where I insert another disclaimer about the fact that I've already watched part of this show before, kinda like with Baccano!. But this time, it wasn't "WTF, I am completely confused and a little bored" but rather "Holy crapsicles, this 26 episode series is being released on 8 DVDs". And remember, this was coming at a time when the industry was totally imploding and boxsets were becoming the norm. I think Media Blasters was contractually forced into this, as they tried various things to get people to buy the show despite the disc count. The way I got into the show was that Media Blasters released 2 DVD sets of the series -- I bought the first of these at a Best Buy clearance, watched it, and then waited for a sale on the remaining volumes. (And then bought an empty box to hold them. (What? They needed a home.))
The DVDs are in Super Jewel cases, which are kinda like DVD-sized CD cases. They're pretty cool.
Anyway, the show. Yes. Well, Moribito (Seirei no Moribito or Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit) is the tale of Balsa, a bodyguard. She's heading to the country of Yogo in order to get her short spear fixed, as it has been heavily damaged on her journeys. On her way into town, a royal procession on another bridge is disrupted when the ox hitched to the prince's litter kicks up a fuss and dumps said prince into the river. Balsa (who is a little like Batman in that she is always prepared) attaches a wire that was in a holder on her wrist to her spear, throws it into a sturdy tree, and dives in to save the boy. She's successful, but not without the help of a mysterious blue light emanating from the young royal that saves them both.
When she gets the prince to dry land, his attendants threaten her life for looking directly at him. Balsa's all "you're welcome" under her breath, but prudently moves off towards the town. When she realizes she's being followed, she lures the four men into a deserted side street and defends herself once they draw their swords. Luckily for the men, they are trying to deliver an invitation from the prince's mother, the second queen.
After being treated to a bath and a feast, Balsa's sleep is interrupted when the second queen and the prince arrive in her bedchamber. The queen asks why Balsa became a bodyguard, and Balsa tells her that she killed eight people and is trying to save the lives of eight others in order to have the murdered ones rest in peace. The queen explains that the mikado, her husband, is trying to kill their son because he is afraid of him. She begs Balsa to defend her son, showing her all the jewels that will be hers if she accepts. Balsa is really annoyed by this, as she really doesn't have a choice. The jewels are worthless, as she can't sell them without being arrested, but she agrees to defend the prince. Balsa tells the queen's servants to set fire to the prince's bedroom to divert attention while they escape.
Balsa and the prince, Chagum, head back to town. Balsa hides the jewels and Chagum's crown and sends two of her friends, orphans that she has helped, out collecting supplies for them. The orphans get everything she asked for -- except for a horse, which really hurts Balsa's plans. Because the mikado's agents know that Chagum is alive, and follow them out of town. After a brutal fight that leaves Balsa's spear decapitated and her gut stabbed, the roles of the protected and the protector are reversed. Chagum must hurry to the healer Tanda in order to save Balsa's life.
That's just the main thrust of what is going on in these four episodes, and I love every bit of it. Balsa is a female warrior we rarely see nowadays: older, battle-scarred, and extremely badass. Everything about her works, and I adore the fact that she has a deeper voice than you'd usually find in the main character. Chagum is getting quite the arc to grow and prove himself -- he's been so sheltered that he doesn't know what's wrong when his stomach growls. The dynamic between the two characters is fascinating: Chagum originally dislikes Balsa for upsetting and threatening his mother, then is forced to rely on her in order to survive.
The CG animation has held up well (they insert real sky and water in a lot) except for the end credits. The grass there looks really fake.
I've watched the next DVD as well, but there's a lot more action scenes there that I can't wait to revisit.