Summary
Magic Knight Rayearthis a classic genre-busting magical girl anime from CLAMP, the same team behind such classics asChobits,Tokyo Babylon, andCardcaptor Sakura. The way the series combines classic fantasy with mech-based combat and elements ofisekaiwell before the genre took off made both the anime and manga major hits, and 30 years later, they’re both still held in high regard by fans and critics alike.
Magic Knight Rayearthis one of theshojoanimethat defines CLAMP as a group, and the series is coming back in a big way. In celebration of the anime’s 30th anniversary, it was announced thatMagic Knight Rayearthwould be receiving a new anime project, with TMS Entertainment, the studio behind the original anime, posting a teaser trailer to X and YouTube.
It’s unclear if the new project is a full-fledged reboot or a sequel, but for both fans of the originalMagic Knight Rayearthand potential new ones, the news is nothing short of incredible.
Magic Knight Rayearth’s Story Explained
Anime series by TMS Entertainment; Based on the manga by CLAMP
Magic Knight Rayearthis amagical girl animestarring Hikaru Shidou, Umi Ryuuzaki, and Fuu Hououji, three girls who suddenly find themselves transported to the fantasy world of Cephiro. There,Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu learn that they have been chosen to save Princess Emeraude from the evil Zagato, the girls being dubbed Emeraude’s magic knights. To that end, not only are they each given magical abilities relating to the elements, but they’re also paired with sentient, magical robots that they can pilot in battle called the Rune Gods, with Hikaru’s Rune God even being the titular Rayearth.
Why The New Magic Knight Rayearth Project Is So Exciting
Magic Knight Rayearthgetting a new project is exciting to think about. For starters, as good as the original anime was, considering how old it is, there are undoubtedly parts of the visuals and animation that don’t hold up that well by modern standards. As such,the newMagic Knight Rayearthanime is a chance to tell the story with much better art and animationcompared to the original; that’s true whether it’s a reboot or a new story, entirely, and it makes the prospect of it all the more exciting.
Another reason the newMagic Knight Rayearthanime is exciting is the potential of a more faithful manga adaptation. One controversial element of the original anime is how drastically it diverged from the manga through characterizations, original characters and plot lines, and even an original ending, so if the new project is a straightforward reboot, thenMagic Knight Rayearthcould finally have its manga properly adapted into animation. That would be great for old and new fans alike, so hopefully, further details on the newMagic Knight Rayearthproject will be revealed before the year is out.
Magic Knight Rayearth
Cast
Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu are transported to the magical world of Cephiro, where they’re tasked with becoming Magic Knights to save the realm. To return home, they must find the Rune Gods and rescue Princess Emeraude, whose prayers keep Cephiro balanced, relying on friendship and loyalty to succeed.
