I hope to start off by cautioning those who highly oppose the shoujo-ai (girl-love) theme to stay away from this anime.  As for those who are “on the fence” or totally hooked to the theme (FYI, before watching the series I was the former, now I am verging on the latter), please read on and hopefully you will find yourself as intrigued by Kannazuki no Miko as I am. 

      The series starts with the introduction of Himeko Kurusugawa, an unpopular high school student at Ototachibana Academy.  Unknown to everyone is that she is close friends with the two most admired students in the academy; the descendant of an aristocratic family and highly talented in virtually everything (sports, studies, music, tea ceremony etc.) Chikane Himemiya, and another high achiever in sports as well as studies, Souma Oogami.  Although Himeko’s friendship with Souma is due to them being friends since childhood, her friendship with Chikane is somewhat inexplicable.  Nonetheless both Himeko and Chikane feel at ease when with one another, so much so that both view the time spent together as their happiest.   

      On the following day, which happens to be both Himeko and Chikane’s sixteenth birthday, they have plans for a special party between them to celebrate the occasion.  It is also the day Souma plans to confess his feelings for Himeko.  However, before anything could happen, tragedy strikes.  That morning, the sky was eclipsed in total darkness as a male voice commands all followers of the Orochi (a Japanese folklore demon) to awake and kill the Solar and Lunar Priestesses.  Seven people answer his call, including Souma.  He goes berserk, warps into a mecha and sets out as commanded. 

      Chikane, somehow sensing that Himeko is in danger, rushes to her just in time to witness Souma’s mecha thrust a fist into the school dormitory and pulls out an unconscious Himeko.  Having been in a trance all this while, Souma finally realises that he is about to kill Himeko and drops her in shock over the fact.   Chikane cushions Himeko’s fall and proceed to do all she can to revive her.  At the same time, Souma manages to gain control over the dark force in him and turns his Orochi-powered mecha around to protect the two girls from another follower of the Orochi at the scene.  Fuelled by anger over the fact that he was forced to attack Himeko, Souma engages in battle with the other mecha.

      What happened next is one of the most memorable series of events in the show.    While Souma delivers the final deadly blow shouting his battle-cry of “I will protect you, Himeko”, he is oblivious to the passionate scene happening behind him.  Having did what she can to revive Himeko, Chikane leans toward her and planted a “birthday kiss” on her lips!

*Points towards the image on top*. This has got to be one of the (unintentionally) funniest scenes of anime history.  And so, this marks the end of the most intriguing episode I’ve ever watched and the beginning of an extraordinary love triangle. 

      The following episode shows a priest, Kazuki Oogami (Souma’s foster brother), revealing the background of the situation to Himeko and Chikane.  There is an ancient shrine on the moon that seals an evil power.  Over time, the shrine will fall apart, releasing the Orochi sealed within.  Only the power of Kenshin Ameno Murakumo (the Sword God) can seal the Orochi within the shrine again.  And the task of summoning Kenshin can only be done by Himeko, reincarnate of the Solar Priestess, and Chikane, reincarnate of the Lunar Priestess.  Kazuki’s role in this is the same as his ancestors, to guide the priestesses through the sealing ritual. 

      Now that the foundations of the story have been laid down, I’ll move on to the review.  At first glance, this anime seems to be a mess, undecided between two main genres: shoujo and mecha.  I’m not a fan of mechas but thankfully, scenes involving them are kept to a minimum, focusing more on the development of the characters and the love triangle.  Another plus for me is the fast pacing and the almost nonexistent dragged-out parts of the story.  Explanations and character motivations are also fleshed out adequately, never leaving the viewer confused midway. 

      As for the characters, they are beautifully drawn and coloured.  Himeko and Chikane remind me of Hatsumi and Hatsuki of Yamibou, not to mention the relationship shared between both couples.  Besides that, a scene at the beginning depicting an embrace between Himeko and Chikane with falling gingko leaves really reminds me of Marimite.  However, fans of both Yamibou and Marimite will be pleased to know that the similarities are minimal and they will finally be rewarded with sufficient shoujo-ai scenes in Kannazuki no Miko. 

      Moving on to the soundtrack, the opening and ending theme songs by Kotoko seemed ordinary at first but it has really grown on me.  Both themes really suit the story down to the lyrics.  The background songs adopt a classical style as opposed to the fast-paced techno style of the OP and ED, but ultimately suit the shoujo and romance themes well.   

      Ultimately, shoujo-ai or not, Kannazuki no Miko revolves around a very touching love story between two tormented souls.  This could be reflected more effectively if the creators were to exclude the silly mecha scenes and replace them with something simple like katana fights.  I’ll definitely recommend this anime to anyone who’s open-minded enough for shoujo-ai.  However, just take it easy on episodes eight through ten and you’ll be rewarded in the end.