3x3 Eyes (1994) Reviews

• A very enjoyable, though gory, animated series.

  Antzy882002-06-03

  This five-part series is a classic Japanese anime series that centres around a young student named Yakumo Fujii, who works in a gay bar in Japan. One night, while at work, he meets a young girl named Pai, who as it happens has been looking for him. Pai had previously been with Yakumo's father, the late Professor Fujii, on an expedition in Tibet. As explained in the Professor's final letter to Yakumo, which Pai had on her to give to Yakumo, Pai is the last of the Sanjiyan race and she wishes to fulfil her ambition to become a human being. In order to do this, they must locate the Ningen-Nozo (the Statue Of Humanity). A little later on that evening the city is terrorised by a fearsome, giant, winged creature named Takuhii. Yakumo escapes on his scooter, taking Pai with him. Pai, who is actually friends with Takuhii, tries to stop his attacks, but to no avail, and before long his sharp talons skewer Yakumo. Pai, however, manages to save Yakumo's life with the help of her normally-hidden third eye in her forehead (which causes her personality to alter completely). Well, she SORT OF saves his life -- he becomes a guy that looks and acts just the same, but not only can he now not be killed by anything, but also he carries the Wu symbol on his forehead (the 'sign of the void' is how it is worded in the English dubbed version I have seen). This complicates things for Yakumo, for now there is no escape from what his father asked him to accomplish -- help Pai become a human, for only then will Yakumo become a mortal again... This series is one of the best anime series I've ever seen. It's light-hearted in many places, Eddie Frierson and Rebecca Frostadt provide some more-than-commendable dubbing for the voices of Yakumo and Pai respectively (though many of the others do brilliantly too), the story never really drags, the artwork is top-notch (as you'd expect for anime), the characters are really interesting and draw you in, the animation's pretty good even though it isn't as smooth as Western animation at the best of times, the monsters that try to stop our heroes are inspired and are the work of genius, and the music's brilliant! Check out this series, but be warned; there is a lot of bloodshed that makes it unsuitable for children despite '3x3 Eyes' being an animated series.

• Immortals and Demons

  Zero_Kyori2003-04-16

  After years of waiting, 3x3 Eyes arrives on DVD. This has to be one of my favorite animes of all time. Based off Yuzo Takada's long running popular manga series 3x3 Eyes (Sazan Aizu) published in 1987. If you liked Yuzo Takada's other work such as Blue Seed and All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku, you'll like this one! 3x3 Eyes revolves around a girl named Pai. She belongs to an ancient race of three eyed demons called the Sajiyan-Unkara. They possessed the power of immortality. Pai is the last survivor of the Sajiyan-Unkara. She wishes to become human. But in order to become human, she must find the Staute of Humanity. With the archeologist, Professor Fuji's dying words, he tells her to travel to Japan to get help from his son Yakumo Fuji. This is where it begins. Basically, she meets Yakumo in a very akward way. Then he gets killed saving Pai from her own pet demon, Takui. Pai uses her Sanjiyan powers to turn him immortal. He wakes up wondering why he's still alive. After realizing what happened, Yakumo embarks on a long journey in search for the Staute of Humanity, which takes them to Hong Kong. Yakumo is forced to look for a way to make Pai mortal so he can get his old life back, so that he too can also become mortal again. But he must abandon his old life for anew. This is a very good anime. It gets better and better by the episode. The thing that makes 3x3 Eyes so great is that is has a little of everything from, drama, action, adventure, comedy, and horror. Not only is the story good, the music is too. Kaoru Wada does a great job with composing the musical score. So if you want a bit of every genre, give 3x3 Eyes out. You won't be disappointed. Once you've done that, check out the Manga.

• amazingly creepy

  GreyFox372001-04-09

  i recently saw this title and let me tell you, it is weird, gory, creepy, and very, very cool! this is a true horror/love story classic that redefines the term "horror." the animation was incredible, the gore is just perfect for all you blood fans, and the twisted monsters are enough to make you shit your pants! a must see for fans of dark, demon busting anime.

• An excellent and underrated Anime with tremendous action, mythology and character depth

  ThreeSadTigers2008-07-18

  Based on a long running Manga series by acclaimed comic book writer and illustrator Yuzo Takada - who was just twenty-four years old when the original series began in 1987 - 3x3 Eyes (1991-1995) is really one of the very best Anime adaptations that I have ever seen. I first saw it as a young teenager back in the mid-to-late 1990's and retained fond memories of those initial viewings - not to mention the characters and some of the more iconic images - until very recently when I watched the film(s) again. Nevertheless, the story stands up exceptionally well - even after more than a decade on from those preliminary late-night viewing sessions - with the film simply offering the audience a great deal of entertainment, combined with some memorable and intelligently written characters, an exciting strand of adventure that permeates the more fantastical elements of the plot and a truly unforgettable visual approach that still manages to impress this particular viewer, even when removed from the more obvious reminisces of teenage nostalgia. If you're already a fan of Anime, then this particular adaptation from celebrated director Daisuke Nishio, still best known for his work on projects like Crying Freeman (1987) and Dragon Ball Z (1989), is really one of the very best; filled with exciting action sequences and moments of imaginative fantasy that play out within an entirely believable world, rich in detail and an incredibly pervasive sense of atmosphere. I suppose you could always argue that it has certain surface similarities to the work of director Yoshiaki Kawajiri, with films like Wicked City (1987), Demon City Shinjuku (1988) and Ninja Scroll (1993) all presenting a similar world in which warring demons and mystical forces are at work beneath the quiet, everyday facade of contemporary, metropolitan existence; with the natural progression of the film(s) in question taking us closer and closer to that other-world, merely hinted at throughout most of the series here. Although the film ultimately lacks the eroticised nature of Kawajiri's work, it is still incredibly violent, with a number of prolonged sequences of torture and abuse, usually directed at the character Yakumo Fujii - who after being killed early in episode one becomes the "Wu", or "immortal companion", to the central character Pai - establishing this as one of the most extreme OVA's of this particular period. However, where 3x3 Eyes differs from many similar Anime productions of this era is in the sensitive nature of its characterisations; with the burgeoning relationship between Yakumo and the mystical and somewhat ethereal rendering of Pai suggesting a deep bond and connection that goes beyond even that of the conventional "will they/won't they" teen-pop romance. Nonetheless, there is a maturity to these characters - manifested by the very serious themes of humanity and the need to belong - which is represented by the (at-times) heartbreaking quest by Yakumo and Pai to make the young Sanjiyan a real, female human being; thus restoring Yakumo's own humanity and ending the threat of destruction from the demonic follows of slumbering demigod Kaiyanwang. Through the excellent writing, imaginative direction and sheer enormity of the detail put into these characters by both the animators and performers, the relationship between these two central characters and their need to succeed in their quest is truly captivating, whilst the film continues to reward the viewer with an entirely interesting story that runs throughout the entire series, keeping us interested from the very first episode to the last. If you're not already a fan of this particular style of Anime, then 3x3 Eyes probably won't do much to convert you; with the usual themes and preoccupations (both visually and thematically) leading both the story and the characters, as well as underlining the film's impressive, though perhaps somewhat dated, visual approach. Nonetheless, if you have some familiarity with this style of film-making, then 3x3 Eyes seriously rewards and is worth tracking down; if not for the great story, scenes of violent action and emphasis on character and emotion, then for the touching sub-textual allusions, often overlooked in this particular style of film-making.

• The defining element in anime for all fans...A must see for all fans!

  Tragedy-21998-11-14

  This is the best anime series to come from the mind of Yuzo Takada. He has created the defining element in the field of anime which represents a unique blend of varied genres...It has combined elements of action, adventure, romance, horror, and even true love! However, there exists a striking difference between the subtitled and the dubbed versions of the series. The Japanese voice actors delivered a spectacular performance and captured the youthful essence of Fujii Yakumo, Pai, Ling Ling, and the other characters of the series. The idea of the reluctant hero of Fujii Yakumo and the powerful but passive female of Pai is unique in anime and represents a new paradigm for anime. The majority of the American voice actors delivered a mediocre performance that failed to capture the raw emotional peaks and valleys of the original performance. A kudo must be given to Rebecca Forstadt whose performance of the voice of Pai was spectacular and a rare jewel to be observed. If you are a fan of anime, 3x3 Eyes is a must see for everyone.