Fuyumi Ono

This is something that I've always wondered about.

In the first story arc, when they dye Yoko's hair to hid that it is red, why didn't they dye completely different color, like black, rather than just a dark reddish brown. I mean her hair still looks red, just a really dark dull red. Seems like black would have been a better choice (or blue even considering the setting). Was there some specific reason they didn't dye it black?

(*POSSIBLE SLIGHT SPOILER*)

Also considering the setting, blonde would not have worked at all considering only kirins are blonde. What do you guys think.

Yah, after watching the series a few times (maybe like 5 by now, ROFL) I finally got that. Her hair WAS dyed, just to that..... red... brown... Now, its never happened to me before, but the emperor of the land wanted my head on a platter I would probably dye my hair as different as I could, rather than... just a little darker... :?

She must have watched superman and tought
"Hey, If Clark Kent can do it with just glasses. I can do it with just dying my hair"

On the other hand it could just be some japanese secret ninja hair-fu thingie.

found the old copy of chap 1 i down loaded and watched it. then 2 and 3 now im up to 8. luckily the place i watch it you can only watch 74 mins every hour or I would get no work done.
Amazing story and good art. i don't like the anime style but not I can live with that.
I curse you and give you thanks in the same breath.

I'm glad you are getting a chance to watch this series Orb, and finding it interesting. I think it has to be my favorite production of all time. All I can say is -- it starts fairly interesting, but just gets better and better the deeper you go.

Dang, makes me want to watch another round of it now, heh. Think I will.

It's such an awesome story, I can't stop myself.

You're up to 8? ah yeah, you're not even at the really good parts yet. This is one of my favorite stories ever; and there there is quite a following of people who do love it.

In fact I've heard the Junni Kokki books referred to as the japanese Lord of the Rings. I'd probably have to agree.

Well, glad you're liking it. And I know what you mean about not getting anything else done. First time I watched the series I would often watch 3 episodes in one sitting.

you are right it does get more and more interesting. the characterization is great. I love the way the they evolve and grow. of course its novel writing 101 to have your characters change though a story but this done with such imagination that i am completely caught up in each of their stories and the choices being made.

Ya the characters are all so beautifully developed, many of them hovering between the borders of good and evil. And the cool thing is they are all so unique from each other. The characterization is my favorite part of this series. That and the background mythos that is part of the world. It's so well-developed.

Just wondering, are you watching the sub or dub version?

Have to ask because the Japanese voice actors are outstanding! I believe it's a real art in Japan to be a voice actor (seiyu) and they take this profession pretty seriously. Though I can't really understand Japanese, the voice actors of the subtitled version really give the story incredible emotion and depth with their intonation and expression alone.

I think this really differs from American voice actors who most often seem to approach voice acting as if it's a stint for Saturday morning cartoons. I listened briefly to the American dubbed Juuni Kokki and well, you can just say part of my soul died.

Just my two cents, but the original voice acting in this series is just so polished, so high production, while the American dubbed version kind made me feel like I was listening to Scooby Doo.

I have been slowing down with all my class work but im up to 22 now I think. I am listening to the Japanese version. I agree with you the voice acting is very good. One thing I like about the voices is that they are not your typical anime voices (not that i have listened to a lot of them)where the guys seem like they are always yelling and the girls have that silly baby way of talking. the voices here seem like real people are talking.

Oh absolutely about the voices. But it not just limited to the voices really. The characters actutally act like real people. They're believeable characters. That is something that most animes fail miserably at--though those animes probably arn't even trying for real characters.

Juuni Kokki really is one of those stories that transcends it genre.

I agree. The characters are real and dimensional. The voice actors really bring them to life (the series/actors have captured them very well from the books). It's like even the kirin, who are divine, merciful, all that, can have character flaws and very distinct personalities. The dynamic between each kirin and his/her king (you meet several in the series) is very interesting.

22 is one of my favorites, if it's the one I'm thinking of ("A Letter") and a transition from one arc to the next, which is also my favorite. Well seems everyting is my favorite in this series.