Guardian of the Spirit

Getting Seirei under the skin is no joke. Balsa is a brave heroine and a joy to watch, and faithful Tanda is the perfect best friend, but listening to Prince Chagum's strange trains of thought can sometimes be a bit tough (and episodes like "Chagum looks for friends" don't help at all). And when I have to also watch the actions of scholar Shuga, who instead of fulfilling the role of a potential catalyst, only discovers facts that the audience has long understood, I wasn't sure if I would even reach a successful outcome on the journey with the water demon egg. But it just required a little patience. The completely atypical approach of the creators, who tell the main storyline as a gradual fantasy drama and a chapter of alternative history at the same time, won me over with time, not to mention the perfect audiovisual aspect. Watching the enchanting scenery accompanied by Kenji Kawai's fairytale soundtrack simply melts the heart. At the end of the last episode, I felt like at the end of a trip full of experiences and emotions. And for a few moments, I honestly regretted that it wasn't real. (21.01.2013)