Earth Maiden: Arjuna

Earth Maiden Arjuna
Anime

Personally, any chance to listen to the work of composer Yoko Kanno is reason enough to sit through any TV series. Regardless, you'll find Shoji Kawamori's Earth Maiden Arjuna to be a serious mind-blower. The director who gave us "Escaflowne" and "Macross" has gotten very personal and created a unique ecological tale that is not only worth watching, but should be required viewing.

Taking place in the present day Tokyo, the plot surrounds a young woman who is near death after an accident, but, as part of her second chance at life, wakes up to her surroundings and how she is needed to protect the well-being of the planet she has previously taken for granted. When Juna realizes what she must do, she's endowed with the strength of the Earth to combat spiritual, snake-like destroyers born from human waste called the Raaja, but before she can even think of purifying the world she must first purify herself.

The art and animation can be considered excellent, with its smooth mix of cel animation, computer imagery, and live-action footages. The enthralling music suits the series perfectly, which is no surprise since the great Yoko Kanno is the one behind it.

Part environmentalist expose, part romance, part coming-of-age story, Earth Maiden: Arjuna will dazzle your eyes, ears, mind, and spirit.

Arjuna Original Soundtrack -
Into the Another World
Anime Soundtrack Review

It's no secret we're fans of the work of Yoko Kanno, a composer who's eclectic range is matched only by her unbridled creativity. Her ability to fuse disparate musical styles into a cohesive and scintillating blend is nothing short of revolutionary.

Earth Maiden: Arjuna is an anime series regarding ecological disaster, that may just come to pass as prophecy in the coming years, but regardless of your feelings for the direction and storyline, there's no denying that the soundtrack is a joy, Kanno's at top form here and the music is compelling and refreshingly original.

Below: DVD Covers for the Earth Maiden Arjuna series from Japan.