Review of "Flaming Mirage": A moving film that transcends the boundaries between fantasy and reality

The appeal and reviews of Honoono Mirage

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

Light novel

■ Broadcast period

January 7, 2002 - April 8, 2002 Kids Station January 7, 2002 - April 8, 2002 (1st - 13th)

■Broadcasting station

Kids Station

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 13

■Original Story

Mizuna Kuwahara (Published by Shueisha/Cobalt Bunko)

■ Director

Director: Susumu Kudo

■ Production

Animation Production: Madhouse Production and copyright: SME (Sony Music Entertainment), Visual Works

■Works

©Mizuna Kuwahara/Shueisha, Aniplex

■ Story

In the Sengoku period, warlords who died without achieving the unification of the country come back to life in the present day and fight in the "Dark Warring States". In order to put an end to the Dark Warring States, there are those who use the "power of subjugation" to purify the souls of the warlords who have become evil spirits and send them to the underworld... They are the holders of the strongest "power" known as the Underworld Uesugi Army, and were given a mission by the god of war, Uesugi Kenshin. The commander-in-chief of the Underworld Uesugi Army is Uesugi Kagetora, Kenshin's adopted son, who died a tragic death at a young age in a fight for the family headship with his brother-in-law, Uesugi Kagekatsu... However, there is no sign of Kagetora among them now. 30 years ago, Kagetora suffered a devastating blow in the battle with Oda Nobunaga and lost his body, and although he was able to be reborn, an incident that occurred afterwards caused him to seal his memories himself. A young man appears before Ogi Takaya, a high school student living in Matsumoto, after a mysterious phenomenon occurs. He tells Takaya that he is a reincarnation of the Sengoku warlord Uesugi Kagetora, and introduces himself as his vassal and guardian, Naoe Nobutsuna. However, Takaya has no way of believing such a story and resists, but as he confronts the mysterious phenomena related to the Dark Sengoku period that occur one after another around him, he awakens his own "power."

■Explanation

Original work by Mizuna Kuwahara (published by Shueisha Cobalt Bunko)
The first volume of this long-selling novel was released in November 1990, and in 2010 it celebrated its 20th anniversary. The series, which now has over 60 volumes including spinoffs and photo books, has influenced a wide range of readers, and remains popular even today, even after the main story's final episode aired in 2004. The TV series is mainly set in Nikko and Hakone, in the "Conqueror's Demon Realm," and is an anime adaptation of one of the most popular episodes from the original novel, while the OVA is an anime adaptation of the sequel, "Minagiwa no Hanyakusha."

■Cast

・Takaya Ogi/Toshihiko Seki/Nobutsuna Naoe/Sho Hayami/Shuhei Chiaki/Yasuhito Matsumoto/Ayako Kadowaki/Sakiko Tamagawa/Yozuru Narita/Taki Matsuno/Danjo Kosaka/Kenyu Horiuchi/Saori Morino/Akiko Yajima/Yuiko Takeda/Ai Orikasa/Ujiyasu Hojo/Hideyuki Tanaka/Kotaro Fuuma/Mitsuru Miyamoto/Kojiro Date/Hiroshi Kamiya/Kojuro Katakura/Fumihiko Tachiki

■ Main staff

・Original work: Kuwahara Mizuna (Shueisha/Cobalt Bunko)
・Supervision / Toshio Hirata・Director / Susumu Kudo・Character design / Itsuko Takeda・Series composition / Hiroko Tokita・Screenplay / Hiroko Tokita, Yui Enatsu, Kazuyuki Fudeyasu, Ryosuke Nakamura・Art director / Masazumi Matsumiya・Color design / Chie Tanimoto・Director of photography / Hiroaki Yanagisawa・Editor / Takeshi Seyama・Sound director / Yota Tsuruoka・Music / Koichiro Kameyama・Animation production / Madhouse・Produced and written by Aniplex

■ Main Characters

・Takaya Ogi

・Nobutsuna Naoe

・Shuhei Chiaki

・Ayako Kadowaki

・Yoshio Narita

・Takasaka Danjo

・Saori Morino

・Yuiko Takeda

・Hojo Ujiyasu

・Fuma Kotaro

・Kojiro Date

・Katakura Kojuro

■ Main robot items

・Reborn
The body dies, but the soul lives on, and is reborn with a new body. At that time, memories and personality are inherited as they are. The body to be reborn can be selected as needed, and the gender can also be selected.

■Subtitle

Episode 1: Encounter in the Fiery Vortex Episode 2: Rebirth from Darkness Episode 3: Awakening of Ignorance Episode 4: Premonition of a Chain Relation Episode 5: Endless Conflict Episode 6: Scarlet Mark Episode 7: Memories of Resentment Episode 8: The End of Obsession Episode 9: Endless Void Episode 10: Sad Betrayal Episode 11: Eternal Hellfire Episode 12: Shura's Choice Episode 13: Distant Afterglow

■ Related works

・Mirage of Flame ~The Rebel of the Edge~

■ Theme songs and music

・TM1
・Blaze 2002
Lyrics: TRACY ROSE
・Composition: SAM PROJECT
Arrangement: Koichirou Kameyama Vocals: KATHY SHOWER

The appeal and reviews of Honoono Mirage

"Honoo no Mirage" is a TV anime series based on the light novel by Kuwahara Mizuna, and was broadcast on Kids Station in 2002. This work depicts an epic story of warlords from the Sengoku period who are resurrected in the present day and fight in the battle known as the Dark Sengoku period. Below, we will take a closer look at the appeal and reviews of this work.

The appeal of the story

The appeal of the story of "Honoo no Mirage" lies in its unique setting, in which warlords from the Warring States period are resurrected in modern times and wage a battle known as the Dark Warring States. The protagonist, Ogi Takaya, is a reincarnation of the Sengoku warlord Uesugi Kagetora, and lives in the present day with his memories sealed away. However, after encountering mysterious phenomena, he meets Naoe Nobutsuna, and the story depicts the process by which he becomes aware of his own power and mission. The story is a beautiful mix of history and the present, drawing viewers in.

Also, the setting of the Underworld Uesugi Army having the "power to subjugate" to end the Dark Warring States is interesting. The background of the story is explored in depth, such as the absence of Uesugi Kagetora, the commander-in-chief of the Underworld Uesugi Army, and the circumstances surrounding the loss of his body in the battle with Oda Nobunaga 30 years ago, drawing the viewers' interest. Furthermore, the concept of reincarnations is fresh, and the setting in which the soul continues to live even after the body is destroyed deeply moves the viewers.

Character Appeal

Each character in this work is unique and leaves a strong impression on the viewer. The protagonist, Ogi Takaya, is a reincarnated version of the Sengoku warlord Uesugi Kagetora, but he also has a dual personality as a modern day high school student. His process of growth and awakening evokes empathy from the viewer. Additionally, Naoe Nobutsuna is Takaya's guardian, and is portrayed as a character with loyalty and strong will. His presence plays an important role in supporting Takaya's growth.

In addition, many other unique characters such as Shuhei Chiaki, Ayako Kadowaki, and Yuzuru Narita appear. Each of them has a different background and purpose, which enriches the story. In particular, the setting in which warlords from the Sengoku period are revived in modern times is an important element that enhances the appeal of the characters.

Animation evaluation

The animation for Honoono Mirage is produced by Madhouse. Madhouse is known for its high-quality animation, and this film shows off their technical prowess to the fullest. Character design was done by Itsuko Takeda, and she beautifully expresses the dignity of the warlords from the Sengoku period and the realism of the modern characters.

Additionally, the background art by art director Masazumi Matsumiya is also superb, with the "Conqueror's Demon Realm" episode set in Nikko and Hakone depicting beautiful landscapes. The colors by color designer Chie Tanimoto are vibrant, adding to the visual appeal. Furthermore, the camerawork by cinematographer Hiroaki Yanagisawa is skillful, heightening the tension of the story.

Music Rating

The music is by Koichi Kameyama and plays an important role in adding excitement to the epic story. In particular, the theme song "Blaze 2002" is a powerful song that symbolizes the theme of the work, with lyrics by TRACY ROSE, music by SAM PROJECT, arrangement by Koichi Kameyama, and singing by KATHY SHOWER. The soundtrack also skillfully expresses the atmosphere of the Warring States period and the tension of modern times, enhancing the emotions of the viewers.

The appeal of subtitles

The subtitles of each episode also add to the appeal of the work. Words that symbolize the content of each episode, such as "Encounter in a Fiery Whirlpool," "Rebirth from Darkness," and "Awakening of Ignorance," have been selected to draw the viewer's interest. In addition, there are many subtitles that give a sense of the depth of the story, such as "Endless Conflict," "Scarlet Mark," and "Memories of Hatred," which leave a deep impression on the viewer.

The appeal of related works

"Hono no Mirage" has a related work called "Hono no Mirage: Minagiwa no Hanryakusha". This OVA is a sequel to the TV series and depicts an even deeper story. The episode "Minagiwa no Hanryakusha", which follows the episode "Hasha no Makyō" depicted in the TV series, is one of the most popular parts of the original novel and gives viewers a new sense of excitement.

Viewer ratings

"Honoo no Mirage" has been highly praised by viewers. In particular, the setting in which warlords from the Warring States period are resurrected in the present day, and the story of the Uesugi army of the underworld, who have the "power to subdue" to end the Dark Warring States, have left a strong impression on viewers. In addition, the unique characters, beautiful animation, and powerful music have also captured the hearts of viewers.

Furthermore, even though this work was broadcast in 2002, it still enjoys enduring popularity. With the original novel celebrating its 20th anniversary, there is a movement to re-evaluate it among fans. In particular, the OVA "Honoo no Shinkirou: Minagiwa no Hanyakusha" has also been highly praised, and watching it together with the TV series will leave you with a deeper emotional response.

Recommended points

The reasons we recommend "Honoono Mirage" are as follows:

• A unique setting in which warlords from the Sengoku period are revived in modern times.
• The story of the Uesugi army of the underworld, who have the "power to subdue" to end the Dark Warring States period.
• Unique characters
• Beautiful animation and background art
• Powerful music and theme song
• Deep story and moving developments
• Link with the related work "Flaming Mirage: The Rebels of Minagiwa"

This work is appealing for its epic story that intertwines history and modern times, its unique characters, its beautiful animation and powerful music. It is especially recommended for those who are interested in the Sengoku period and history, and for those who are looking for a deep story and moving experiences. Also, by watching it together with the OVA "Flaming Mirage: Minagiwa no Hanyakusha", you will be able to get even deeper impressions.

Above, we have explained in detail the appeal and evaluation of "Honoo no Mirage." This work has a story and characters that leave a strong impression on viewers, and the quality of the animation and music is high, making it a popular work that is being reevaluated. Please give it a watch.