Mirage of Blaze

Sometimes, one wonders who they could have been in a previous life. Do you get a sense of déjà vu? I occasionally have dreams that feel so real that they happened. Perhaps we don't recall it for a purpose. This anime is about uncovering one's prior existence and deciphering all the riddles of a long-gone past to become a hero maybe.

Studio Madhouse created the stunning anime Mirage of Blaze (Honō no Mirāju), and the producers were Aniplex and Shueisha. Kudou Susumu directed the series, while the script was written by Hiroko Tokita, Kazuyuki Fudeyasu, Ryosuke Nakamura, and Yuki Enatsu, with Yumiko Masujima serving as producer. Koichiro Kameyama composed the music, while Okumura Yoshiaki directed the episode and animation.

The series premiered in the winter of 2002 and aired from January 7, 2002, until April 8, 2002. It is based on Mizuna Kuwabara's 49-volume Japanese shounen-ai light novel, released under Shueisha's Cobalt label. This anime was in Action, Boys' Love, Drama, Romance, and Supernatural genres, and the themes were Historical School. This anime has 13 episodes, each lasting 24 minutes, and it was rated PG-13 for Teens 13 and up.

The book's title inspired the animated OVA Rebels of the River Edge (2003). The storyline of the anime television series is resumed in the OVA, although various additional developments are introduced. From October 1994 to June 1997, Hakusensha published the four-volume manga series in the "Series Mystery" magazine. Mizuna Kuwabara wrote it, and Shouko Hamada drew it.

Takaya Ohgi is an ordinary high school student who wants to protect his closest buddy Yuzuru Narita and lead a regular life. That is, until Nobutsuna Naoe, a fiery and flamboyant older man, tells Takaya that he is the reincarnation of Lord Kagetora, the adopted son of a noble samurai lord named Kenshin Uesugi. Takaya's ability to exorcise demonic spirits and combat the Feudal Underworld, a group of restless warrior spirits bent on modern-day conquest, is reawakened by Naoe, himself a "possessor," or a soul reincarnated through time.

While most possessors recall their previous lives before reincarnation, Takaya does not and is frequently antagonistic to any attempt to restore his memory fully. The complex history of the characters and their past reveals why this is. Hence, as the storyline unfolds, the actual nature of the tumultuous and sometimes ambiguous connection between the two protagonists serves as the backdrop for a melodrama that spans several generations of Japanese history. The Hojo and Fuma clans, formerly at odds with and finally ousted by Kenshin Uesugi, are among the series' main villains. As they return to the living world to restart their old conflict, Naoe, Takaya, and two other possessors prepare to stop them.

Ohgi Takakaya, our protagonist, is a 17-year-old high school troublemaker who discovers he is the embodiment of Kagetora Uesugi, despite having suppressed his memories of his previous existence due to a terrible occurrence. He fiercely and exhaustingly resists the reality that he is Kagetora, firmly refusing to accept that he is anybody other than Takaya. However, he adopts a very moral attitude toward his newfound job as a "possessor" after recognizing his background's realities. Throughout the series, he develops a little split personality, mistaking his old character for his current persona, except for Naoe, who consistently refers to him as "Lord Kagetora" as a symbol of their master/vassal connection.

Tachibana, Yoshiaki Nobutsuna Naoe's current incarnation. Chiaki Shuhei Nagahide Yasuda's present incarnation is two years Takaya's senior and, on the surface, a regular high school student. He is the Tachibana family's third son and a Shingon-shu Buzan-ha monk at the Kougenji temple in Utsunomiya. He is roughly eleven years older than Takaya, and his approaches are far more methodical and meticulous. His discourse is intense and subdued, yet he has a strong and rebellious soul behind his docility and commitment. He is also madly in love with Kagetora Uesugi and has repeatedly stated that he will go to any length to get him. He is a possession and a magician, but he also appears to be able to change other people's views and memories. His introduction to the story is preceded by his unexpected and unexplained presence as Takaya's "best buddy" in his homeroom.

The artwork is impressive for the historical period in which it was made. Although the animation may have been somewhat better in several instances, the visual style was well-designed. Itsuko Takeda's character design has always made, particularly in Mirage of Blaze, anime, overall, much more intriguing to watch.

I immediately fell in love with each character because of the beautiful artwork. The visual style was appealing, but so was the character development. In my opinion, each protagonist had complex and somewhat "realistic" characteristics. A few strained and corny situations caused the main character to act abnormally. However, each character has many fascinating traits.

The sound enhanced the effects practically and colorfully. "Dramatic tension" and "terror" were largely discernible in the anime's noises. Each portion of background music worked nicely with each scene and setting. The opening theme song may have been better in some areas, but the picture sequence flowed well with the music. The music itself was pleasant. I didn't think the absence of a closing theme music detracted from the program.

It could have been a more memorable anime. But it's excellent enough to recommend watching it, but be prepared to binge it. I'd like to see what this anime is like today, with a much larger budget and more episodes to develop other characters, storylines, and relationships ultimately. Recommended under said conditions!