Moribito is a beautiful but relatively unknown anime produced by Production IG and directed by Kenji Kamiyama, who is better known for his work on Akira and Ghost in Shell. Production IG has recently been increasing its output, and is starting to acquire a reputation for quality.
Visually, this anime does not disappoint, and compares nicely with its peers, although with its unique combat and flawless animation there is nothing artistically unique about it. Through 26 episodes fans get introduced to a host of unique characters and a delightfully complicated plot that leaves them yearning to learn more about this world and spend more time immersed in it. However, it has avoided mainstream popularity for a few reasons.
Summary
A Young spear-wielding bodyguard takes on the young prince of New Yogo as her charge in an effort to protect him from the Mikado. He is the eighth and final life that she must save to atone for the eight men that she has killed. This charge is unique in that the one that is believed to want him dead is his own father and he seems to be possessed by some sort of water demon that the Mikado had previously defeated centuries ago.
Throughout the show, she and her companions delve into the history of their realm as they struggle to protect the young prince and to accomplish the task that he is compelled to complete by his possession. In their journeys, they discover that not all is as it seems and the events unfolding around them may very well determine the fate of their entire country. They also discover that there are greater perils out there than those that they were aware of when they set out on their quest.
The use of spears and pole-arms as the primary weapons in this anime is an unusual choice when compared to the traditional sword. However, this choice may have resulted in some of the most unique and creative combat scenes in anime. By having the wielders switch between single and dual-handed usage, and the slower more flowing attack style of a polearm there is an almost dance-like quality to the fights. Additionally, the sharp and dull ends of the weapon allow for creative outside-the-box thinking that ends some fights quickly and lends a dramatic flair to others. Each of the fights, regardless of length, lends to the otherworldly feeling that this anime captures so beautifully.
Popularity
Those who have watched this anime rate it highly, on MyAnimeList it has a rating of 8.15 with over 70,000 users having weighed in. However, when you compare the number of ratings that this anime has received to other popular anime like Naruto, 1.4 million, or Attack on Titan, 2.4 million, it becomes clear that this anime has somehow avoided major discovery.
This may largely be due to its difficulty to access. While Scholastic had the original US distribution rights, and it originally aired on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim, it was abruptly dropped without explanation after only ten episodes had aired. Since then it has returned to Adult Swim, but showing at 2:30 in the morning. It is still not available on easily accessible streaming platforms, and currently, the only place to stream this anime is Tubi.
The real tragedy of Moribito is that more people don’t get to enjoy this treasure. Production IG and Kenji Kamiyama did a fabulous job of adapting the first book of the novel by Nahoko Uehashi. It is unfortunate that it did not receive wider acclaim as if it had then perhaps viewers would have gotten to see an adaptation of the second and following books as well. While this is not fully off the table, unless this anime is able to gain viral acclaim it is unlikely that any more of this captivating story will be shared with audiences.