Episodes: 26

Year: 2007

Alternative Title: Guardian of the Sacred Spirit

Status: Complete

Subbed by: Anime- Kraze Fansubs

Seirei no Moribito Official Site (Japanese)

Rating: Awesome

Review: Balsa the Spearwielder, wanders around the lands as a bodyguard. In order to atone for her sin of other people having given up their lives for her, Balsa has vowed never to kill anyone and to protect eight lives as a bodyguard. In the New Yogo Kingdom, trouble is brewing. The Emperor has ordered the assassination of his second son, Prince Chagum, who is possessed by a water fiend and will thus bring great drought upon the land. One day it so happened that Balsa saved Prince Chagum from drowning in the river. The Empress called for Balsa and entrusted her with the job of protecting Prince Chagum for life. Balsa accepted the request – Chagum would be the eighth life she would save. Follow Balsa as she faces danger and adversity and puts her life on the line for Chagum. Will she be successful in saving the eighth life she has vowed to save? Is Chagum merely possessed by a spirit or is there more to this supernatural mystery?

Seirei no Moribito is an interesting action-packed anime with a strong plot. It takes place in a world where spirits and supernatural happenings are considered normal and completely possible. In this aspect, it reminds me of Miyazaki’s Spirited Away. The story is fast-paced with no fillers or meaningless episodes. The character development is really amazing as we can see Chagum’s character grow stronger with Balsa’s guidance and the bond between them grow stronger. Amidst Balsa and Chagum’s adventure, the plot also includes a good amount of court politics that dominates the Imperial palace and its influence on the future of Chagum. The animation is crisp, bright and colourful. The many fights that fill this story are skilled and well worth watching. All in all, a wonderful anime not to be missed!

If you like Seirei no Moribito, check out:

Saiunkoku Monogatari: Set in mythical imperial times, the story follows Kou Shuurei’s attempts to transform the Emperor into a responsible ruler and to pursue her dreams of bringing prosperity to the country despite being a woman in ancient times. Like Seirei no Moribito, Saiunkoku Monogatari contains a heavy emphasis on the politics of governance. Like Balsa, Shuurei is the female lead whose wisdom and strength change lives.