Takahashi Rumiko Gekijou - Ningyo no Mori
Rumic Theatre - Mermaid's Forest

By: Jasconius
Date: Friday, October 31, 2003

Another series based on Rumiko Takashashi's older mermaid short stories, Mermaid's Forest seems to be the bloodier, more depressing of the two, at least judging from first episodes.



The first story in this series, A Mermaid Never Smiles, tells the story of how Yuta, a man who is cursed to live forever after eating the flesh of a mermaid, meets Mana, a girl raised by mermaids so that they can eat her and be rejuvenated. Apparently the mermaids have to eat the flesh of a human who is fed mermaid flesh in order to sustain their youth, and when they eat it, they attain the form of that girl. Yuta has come to the mermaids' village in search of -them-, because he has heard that mermaids can do something about his curse, but he learns that all they can do is give him poison of their blood, to make him able to die. The whole story is a little depressing, but they're nice enough to give you a happy after-ED scene with a little hope for Yuta and Mana's future.



I've always been more of a fan of Rumiko Takahashi's short stories rather than the really long series, and while this one seemed a little disjointed, it was overall pretty enjoyable. Fans of her mermaid stories shouldn't be disappointed. Oh, the OP theme has grown on me too... o/~ Oh please, come down like the angel o/~ Whoever Ishikawa Chiaki is, she has a pretty voice that goes along nicely with this series. (NOTE: Yes, I now have been reminded that Ishikawa Chiaki is the singer for See-Saw, thank you.)