Lunar Legend Tsukihime

Tsukihime is a nearly flawless anime, with only one major problem that I can think of – at only twelve episodes, it’s far too short. Mysteries are solved, characters part ways, and the main character, Shiki, moves on in the blink of an eye. This series will fit nicely on almost any anime collector’s shelf.

Tsukihime initially reminded me of Hellsing. The openings are even similar, with shots of a “zombie” crowd and blood sitting, waiting to be served to a vampire. Hellsing’s lead vampire is named Alucard, and Tsukihime’s lead vampire is Arcueid; both of them hunt a different, lesser class of vampire. Ultimately, these similarities are superficial, and Hellsing and Tsukihime tell completely different stories. Still, if you’re interested in seeing powerful vampires duke it out, Tsukihime will not disappoint.

The background music for the opening, Toshiyuki Omori’s “The Sacred Moon”, is enchanting and mysterious, and strongly reminds me of an Enigma song; the ethereal sounding boy’s choir makes this song especially haunting.

Despite the fact that Tsukihime is a horror anime, it is also a complex mix of romantic thriller and mystery. The way that Akiha, Ciel, and Arcueid know things about each other, and what is going on, and the way that this is misinterpreted by the other characters is fascinating dramatic irony. All of this is gradually swept aside as the plot is revealed and the action builds.