Ranked #506

Nurarihyon no Mago OVA

The past isn't always easy to deal with. In fact, I doubt anyone in this world has ever had a perfect past, where there's no pain. Whether it's physical ore emotional, the past is something we sometimes look back and reexamine certain events; to see how it was played out and what to make of it.

Nurarihyon no Mago OVA are two special episodes produced by the animation studio, Studio DEEN to give viewers a look at a blast from the past. In general, it explores some history of a main character and what he's been going through. It's not easy considering there's a secret and one that may change his outlook on others forever. Hence, begins a special presentation at our very special Rihan Nura, the second supreme commander and son of Nurarihyon and Youhime.

The OVA contains both sadness and comedy, mixed together in a little package of two episodes. For the humorous side, there is the onsen which spells out the fan-service part. In a typical manner, there's the skin-ship and accidental glazes. However, it shifts to a more serious mood later on with doses of the past. As stated from the synopsis, there is a secret and one particular woman has the knowledge of it. When we look back into the past, there's that certain feeling of realizing the revelation and how to take it in. For Rihan Nura, there's a feeling of both shock and anger at the revelation. It's not surprising considering what he has already gone through. In fact, his reaction easily allows viewers to visualize what he has been holding in his mind all this time. It's a mixed package of all type of emotions for him.

For Nura clan though, there's even more than meets the eye (literally as one of character from the first episode gets a freezing surprise to it). The past of Nurarihyon is indeed something fans may wonder about and luckily enough, the concept is touched up in these two episodes.

Other factors in the OVA still uses themes from the original series. Many of the supporting characters makes their cameos (some more noticeable than others) while there's also the presence of the yokai. They are presented in the same way as supernatural beings. More importantly though, the OVA explores more of a particular character, a snowy yuki-ona whom is given a special task to accomplish. It's humorous to watch especially with what she is instructed to do but at the same time, it's Setsura who wants the best for her.

There's still action in these episode especially in the later half although not as well presented as I had anticipated. More so though, there's questions that I originally had but never seemed to got answers to. Among other factors, the artwork remains consistent enough with the original series. Nothing's really changed and that sense of mixture of historical/fantasy themes are still within the episodes. The soundtrack/OST of this is not very noticeable with the follow up of rock like music near the endings. However, there's still a sense of nostologia. It's been years now since the original series have made it on screen and season 3 is still a question in some fan's minds. Well, paint me curious but I'm hoping for a bright future to this series for a wrap up, just like for the clan of Nura. read more