Lunar Legend Tsukihime

What would you do if you had a paranormal encounter that no one could explain or understand? What if you find the key to a weird new world? Going on missions, finding solutions, and saving the day must be quite an adventure. Another extraordinary tale with outstanding characters is on its way!

Lunar Legend Tsukihime (Shingetsutan Tsukihime), a 12-episode anime television series, was created and directed by J.C.Staff. Hiroko Tokita wrote the script for the show, while Toshiyuki Mori composed the original music. It debuted on BS-i, TBS, and Animax between October 10 and December 26, 2003. Animax later carried it globally, including on its English-language networks in Southeast and South Asia. The anime's narrative is based on Arcueid, but because there are only 12 episodes, the team believed it would be hard to include all of the original's components. As a result, no significant location is depicted. The environment and people have also undergone some alterations.

In 2004, Geneon said it had gotten a license to distribute the show as Tsukihime, Lunar Legend. After Geneon's American operations were shut down, the series' North American license was given to Sentai Filmworks, which had just started up. Section 23 Films handled the distribution and marketing of the series and other projects. Based on a visual novel called Tsukihime, this action, horror, mystery, romance, and supernatural anime had the themes of superpowers and vampires. Each episode ran for 24 minutes and was rated R (17+) for its violence and profanity.

The dōjin circle Type-Moon produced the adult visual novel Tsukihime ("Moon Princess"), initially made available during the Winter Comiket in December 2000. It was adapted in 2003 into the manga series Lunar Legend Tsukihime, which was serialized between 2003 and 2010 in MediaWorks shōnen magazine Dengeki Daioh, with 10 volumes published, as well as the anime television series Lunar Legend Tsukihime, animated by J.C. Staff.

Between October 2003 and September 2010, Sasaki Shnen's Lunar Legend Tsukihime manga adaptation, illustrated in the same style as the anime, was serialized in ASCII Media Works' Shōnen manga publication Dengeki Daioh. ASCII Media Works compiled the chapters and published them in 10 volumes.

A year passed between the events of the original Tsukihime tale and the events of the sequel, Kagetsu Tohya, published in August 2001. After a mishap, Shiki has a repeated dream loop in which he must repeatedly go through the same day until he locates Len.

In a medical ward, Shiki Toono awakens with the capacity to sense invisible lines, or “Death Lines." All matter in Shingetsuta is composed of these tiny threads, and when one is cut, an object is quickly destroyed. Shiki learns that if he follows a thing's lines, it will eventually be destroyed. He continues to live a peaceful sophomore life while keeping his paranormal vision a secret. However, this tranquility is short-lived as Shiki returns from school and comes upon an enigmatic woman with fiery red eyes.

He suddenly experiences a mental breakdown, seems to kill the woman, then collapses. The following day, just as things appeared to be getting worse rather than better, a pair of demonic hounds attacked Shiki. The prompt arrival of the same woman from the previous day saves Shiki, who is about to die. She announces herself as vampire princess Arcueid Brunestud. Shiki and Arcueid decide to work together as they set out to learn the truth about their heritage and the recent spate of killings in the area.

The story of Lunar Legend Tsukihime starts out slowly, especially for an anime with 12 episodes. Every episode, every day, a few things happen, a little bit more of the characters' background is disclosed (just a little bit), and more and more questions are put forward. Eventually, everything builds to a rather satisfying conclusion. Despite being sluggish, the conversation and gestures are really well done, succinct, and full of passion. You get the impression from watching it that every second is worthwhile and that you would rather not miss any of it, but only if you don't expect big action scenes or climaxes.

In Tsukihime, fight scenes are rare, short, and not very dramatic, and there are no twists you didn't see coming. You like every episode equally, not only the last ones or the ones with action or twists, which I find positive. Lunar Legend Tsukihime is a story with a lot of depth, a sad ending, and a slow pace you will love.

Compared to its other aspects, the flaw of Lunar Legend Tsukihime is its characters. All characters are introduced in the first one or two episodes, and we see them in every episode, which is sort of monotonous. There are three or four significant ones; the others don't have major responsibilities. While watching Shiki, Arcueid, and their relationship grow is fun, the rest of the cast is okay. But overall, I enjoyed them all. Although 24 episodes would definitely be preferable, as there are a lot of loose ends in the Tsukihime anime, it is what it is. I recommend reading the graphic novel if you're interested in learning more.

Lunar Legend Tsukihime's art is excellent and simple, with a design resembling Fate/Stay Night. They were ideal for the narrative. So there are no issues here at all. You would most likely enjoy the graphics department in this anime.

The soundtrack to Shingetsutan Tsukihime is perhaps its best feature. From the opening credits to the battle theme, the instrumental music (such as violins) really makes the show stand out, especially when there is fighting. On February 24th, 2004, a recreation of the visual novel's soundtrack under the name “Ever After Music from Tsukihime Reproduction” was made available. Moonlit Archives and Moonlit Memoirs, two music collections for the anime Lunar Legend Tsukihime, were made available. Keita Haga wrote the music.

ReoNa's CD of the “Tsukihime - A Piece of Blue Glass Moon” theme songs was made available on September 1st, 2021, while Keita Haga and Hideyuki Fukasawa's eight-disc soundtrack was made available on November 24th, 2021.

The opening and closing themes are the two pieces of theme music utilized for the episodes. Toshiyuki Omori composed the opening theme, "The Sacred Moon," while Fumiko Orikasa composed the closing theme, "Rinne no Hate ni." Since "Tsukihime" was already used as a trademark, "Lunar Legend Tsukihime" was selected instead of the original name.

The lack of focus on the supporting characters in Lunar Legend Tsukihime is a major source of frustration for me. Even though the main characters were good, the supporting cast didn't have any sense of history or realism. Even though Yumizuka was in almost every episode, she didn't have a distinct personality that would have made her seem real. She did not have a significant part in the anime; all we know about her is that she loves Shiki.

Another excellent illustration of a lack of character development is the maid twins, who started and ended the show without any change. It is important to note that the major characters spend a significant amount of time on screen growing personally and in their relationships with each other.

Overall, I had a great time with Lunar Legend Tsukihime. Although it is not a popular anime, in my opinion, it is fantastic. As I previously stated, Tsukihime is for you if you're looking for a depressing tale with some depth and don't mind a sluggish storytelling style, lack of activities, or twists. Fairly recommended!