An imperial ox-cart is crossing a bridge when the ox begins to buck and shy; the cart crashes and its passenger, a young boy, is tossed into the fast-flowing river below. A young woman sees the accident and leaps in to rescue the child. However, this courageous act will bring nothing but trouble to Balsa, the boy’s rescuer. Summoned in secret to the palace by the boy’s mother, Balsa learns that this was no accident but an assassination attempt, ordered by the boy’s father, the all-powerful Mikado. Chagum, the second prince, has been possessed by a water demon and must be killed before a terrible tragedy afflicts the land. But Chagum’s mother begs Balsa to spirit her son away and to protect his life at all costs. Balsa (who works as a professional bodyguard) reluctantly agrees – and then her problems really begin. For the Mikado, advised by his Stargazers, is determined to prevent the terrible drought that will ensue if the water demon is allowed to survive. Balsa and Chagum flee – and although the canny bodyguard has many ingenious ways to trick their pursuers, not to mention sympathetic friends, the Mikado’s forces are unstoppable.

Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit takes place in Yogo, an eastern land not unlike early medieval Japan. Seasoned with elements of Chinese and Mongolian folklore, the series is based on the novels by Naoko Uehashi. It’s breathtakingly beautiful to look at, whether portraying the wintry Aogiri Mountains, the Mikado’s palace, or the village paddy fields. The character designs by Gato Aso are strikingly distinctive too.  Mention must also be made of the score by Kenji Kawai, which rarely becomes over-intrusive yet enhances the action in just the right places. The director and script writer, Kenji Kamiyama, has assembled an impressive team for Moribito – but then one would hardly expect less from the director of Ghost in the Shell.

Balsa makes a likeable, believable heroine (well, almost believable as a champion spear-wielder, if you overlook her two main assets, but this is anime-land, after all.)  Quietly courageous and resourceful, yet a demonic spear-fighter when challenged, she wears her thirty years lightly. Little by little, we learn more about her early life, and to understand exactly why she agrees to take on the burden of protecting the second prince’s life. Her young charge, Chagum, comes across as a serious-minded and thoughtful boy, who – although he’s been brought up in the rarefied air of the palace – is not at all spoiled or wilful. Plenty of colourful characters become involved in Chagum’s plight: Tanda, the herbalist, who gives them shelter when Balsa is badly wounded defending her young charge, and his teacher, old Madam Toregai, the shamaness who tells Chagum that he is carrying the ‘egg’ of a water demon within him. At the palace, we glimpse the workings of the mysterious and powerful stargazers, who advise the Mikado, including Shuga, Chagum's tutor, who doubting the official palace line that Chagum is dead, starts to make investigations of his own.

After nail-biting chases and brilliantly orchestrated fights, the pace slows as Chagum begins a new life as an ordinary boy amongst the common people. Some of the later episodes in the first set could well be seen as filler, were it not for the fact that they take time to develop the characters in greater depth. Seeing the solemn Chagum gradually making friends as he learns about everyday life (whether it be getting ready for the Summer Solstice festival in the village or just learning how to chop firewood) deepens sympathy for the prince and his dilemma. There are no dastardly villains here, either; even the Mikado is shown to grieve deeply for the son he believes he has been forced to sacrifice to save his land. And his secret guard, who track Balsa and Chagum so ruthlessly, are depicted as men of honour, warriors who respect Balsa’s skills as a fighter. By the end of the thirteenth episode of this first set of two, little has been resolved, leaving many questions to be answered in the second set.

The US dub is blessed with some fine voice actors: the ever-excellent Mona Marshall (Wolfram in Kyo Kara Maoh) puts in another convincing performance as Chagum, while Cindy Robinson (Paprika) conveys just the right blend of stoicism and maturity as Balsa. There are no extras.

In Summary
With dazzling fights, sympathetic characters, and a beautifully painted evocation of an alternate early Japan, Moribito will appeal to anyone who enjoys a stirring historical or fantasy epic.