Tsukuyomi: Moon Phase by Keitaro Arima

Ahoy,
Before I start this week's review I want to tell about the most amazing website known to manga/anime fans: myanimelist.net. The website, known through users as MAL, can easily be considered the anime fan's facebook equivalent. I know it's definitely old news to most, but it's new and amazing to me! The site allows you to keep track of all your current manga and anime, get recommendations and reviews, while also socializing with other fans. I just joined, and absolutely love it. Unlike most forum sites, MAL is frequently trafficked and in addition to that, MAL has an incredibly friendly network of users. My first week and I had numerous welcome comments and friend requests. :3

Okay, I'm done raving about MAL. This week, I want to review an anime series called 'Tsukuyomi: Moon Phase', which was released in 2004, though the style is reminiscent of older anime styles. I haven't read the manga, but I've skimmed the first volume, which has beautiful art! 'Moon Phase' is about a young vampire girl named Hazuki, and her failed slave, Kohei. Kohei is an aspiring photographer, who can't help but attract spirits and supernatural presences. One night on a commission to photograph a German castle, he spots a beautiful girl in the moonlight. In order to further investigate the castle, he meets Hazuki, who only desires him to be her slave and rescue her from the prison of the castle. Unfortunately, both Hazuki and Kohei get off to a bad start when Hazuki doesn't show up in Kohei's pictures and Kohei proves to be resistant to her vampire's "kiss," which would usually turn human's into slaves for vampires. Kohei unexpectedly helps Hazuki escape from the castle and takes her home with him, where they begin their friendship of convenience. With Hazuki in Kohei's home, results in a lot of trouble for Kohei and his grandfather, who happens to be a spiritual medium. The series progresses with more vampires, action, drama, and even a bit of romance. The series also surprises you with both Hazuki and Kohei's character growth in both supernatural abilities and personality as Hazuki develops special vampire traits and Kohei becomes a prized 'vampire's lover'.

Like, I've said before, I'm not a huge fan of vampire themed manga/anime series, but I was drawn to 'Moon Phase' because of its combination of humor and action. Hazuki plays a perfect spoiled vampire princess, which Kohei plays a resistant vampire slave, which already is pretty hilarious. The series also has a dark undertone, which drives a more complex plot line as Hazuki and Kohei share an unexpected romance.At times it's just too cutesy, and others it just prides itself in being too dramatic and action packed.  'Moon Phase' is a fairly unknown anime series, probably because it's getting old, but I definitely recommend it, though sometimes I'm embarrassed to say I like it more than I should. :3

Another thing I should mention about 'Moon Phase' is that it has some very random motifs, like washpans dropping on the character's heads... I still don't understand why those are included so much towards the end of the series.

See ya next week (as you can see, I'm late again and writing on Thursday... I blame school XP)
Best,
~Pseudonymous Jayne