Post by Ki no Kotori on Apr 13, 2005 20:58:41 GMT -5
So I finally had an opportunity to sit down and watch the Onmyoji TV series!
Based on the same series of books by Yumemakura Baku as the two Onmyoji movies, this Japanese TV series actually pre-dates them, having been broadcast in Spring of 2001. However, we are still following the adventures of Abe no Seimei and his "Watson", Minamoto no Hiromasa, as they deal with supernatural occurances in 10th century Heian-Kyo.
Like many Jdrama series, Onmyoji is structured in 10 45-minute episodes, which are grouped into story arcs.
Compared to the movies, the storylines are better, but the actors are not. Seimei is played by Inagaki Goro (from SMAP), and the character lacks the playfulness that Nomura Mansai brought to the movie version. This Seimei is rather cruel and anti-social. Hiromasa (now played by Sugimoto Tetta) is older this time, but still somewhat clueless. There is little chemistry between the two characters--you get the sense that Seimei tolerates Hiromasa rather than them being friends.
However, the creepy storylines are neat. Very poignant stories, with just a touch of horror.
Costumes: go with the movie. They cut corners on this, and a lot of the garb didn't seem to be Heian. It was like they had maybe one or two Juuni-hitoe to go around, so the top female characters of each episode got to wear them, and then everyone else got what was left over, which looked like it was from the Muromachi period? Narimasa's garb wasn't too bad, but Seimei almost seemed to be wearing Kamakura-era clothes. (Not as well versed on men's clothes, sorry).
The Onmyoji TV series has not been subbed (or even fansubbed) into English, although there's a Chinese sub out there (which is what I watched--not that I can read Chinese). However, my Japanese isn't that great and I could still follow what was going on, so give it a try! You might find it under the alternate title of "Yin-Yang Master".
Because of the SMAP connection (the guy who played Seimei is in the band), it's not that difficult to find.
Ki no Torahime
Based on the same series of books by Yumemakura Baku as the two Onmyoji movies, this Japanese TV series actually pre-dates them, having been broadcast in Spring of 2001. However, we are still following the adventures of Abe no Seimei and his "Watson", Minamoto no Hiromasa, as they deal with supernatural occurances in 10th century Heian-Kyo.
Like many Jdrama series, Onmyoji is structured in 10 45-minute episodes, which are grouped into story arcs.
Compared to the movies, the storylines are better, but the actors are not. Seimei is played by Inagaki Goro (from SMAP), and the character lacks the playfulness that Nomura Mansai brought to the movie version. This Seimei is rather cruel and anti-social. Hiromasa (now played by Sugimoto Tetta) is older this time, but still somewhat clueless. There is little chemistry between the two characters--you get the sense that Seimei tolerates Hiromasa rather than them being friends.
However, the creepy storylines are neat. Very poignant stories, with just a touch of horror.
Costumes: go with the movie. They cut corners on this, and a lot of the garb didn't seem to be Heian. It was like they had maybe one or two Juuni-hitoe to go around, so the top female characters of each episode got to wear them, and then everyone else got what was left over, which looked like it was from the Muromachi period? Narimasa's garb wasn't too bad, but Seimei almost seemed to be wearing Kamakura-era clothes. (Not as well versed on men's clothes, sorry).
The Onmyoji TV series has not been subbed (or even fansubbed) into English, although there's a Chinese sub out there (which is what I watched--not that I can read Chinese). However, my Japanese isn't that great and I could still follow what was going on, so give it a try! You might find it under the alternate title of "Yin-Yang Master".
Because of the SMAP connection (the guy who played Seimei is in the band), it's not that difficult to find.
Ki no Torahime