Fushigi Yuugi is one of the longest running anime series I have seen. It now consists of 52 TV episodes (two series) and 3 OAVs and is based upon a manga by Watase Yuu.
It centres around Miaka, a high-school student who discovers The Book Of The Four Gods in a library. The book transports her and her best friend Yui, to Konan, a country in ancient China. There she encounters a young man called Tamahome, and she becomes the priestess of Suzaku, one of the four gods. If she gathers all the Suzaku Seven, a group of seven warriors, or seishi, she can summon Suzaku, and he will grant her three wishes. Complications ensue as she is separated from Yui, who meets Nakago, a general of Kotou, a neighbouring country, which is fighting with Konan. Yui is manipulated by Nagako into becoming priestess of Seiryu, another of the four Gods, and they race to be the first to summon their god.
Fushigi Yuugi is a good blend of both shoujo and shounen manga, mixing the romance between Miaka and Tamahome, with the conflict between the two groups of warriors. Action scenes are well done, although they are not as well animated as some. The ending is brilliant, and the characters are well developed. I recommend you see this if you like anime such as Vision of Escaflowne.
Characters:
Modern day characters:
- Miaka
- Yui
- Keisuke
- Tetsuya
Suzaku seven:
Seiryu Seven:
- Nakago
- Amiboshi
- Suboshi
- Soi
- Ashitare
- Tomo
- Miboshi
Gods:
- Taitsukun
- Suzaku
- Seiryu
- Genbu
- Byakko