RG Veda
Reviewer: Wiggle [website] [email]Overall Rating: A
Media Reviewed: DVD
Creator: CLAMP
U.S. Licensed: Yes
Released by: Media Blasters
Run time: 90 minutes
BL Content: None (slashable, genderless being)
Genre: Fantasy
Other media: English-licensed manga
The Rig Veda is a sacred Hindu scripture, however, RG Veda the manga and anime bears virtually no resemblance to it. The popular all-female creative team CLAMP took the title and translated the names of people who appear in the Rig Veda, and created their own ten-volume manga series based on a story of their own creation. In the CLAMP story, 300 years have passed since a warrior named Taishakuten overthrew Tenkai, the rulers of Heaven, and claimed the leadership of Heaven for himself. However, a prophecy has been made that Six Stars will appear to overthrow Taishakuten, and a "black star" will destroy him.
Five of the Six Stars have already gathered, leaders of decimated clans, gathered around a young child called Ashura. Ashura is the one with the power of the "black star," which is shown by the sword that lives inside Ashura's body until it is needed. The other four protect Ashura until the Sixth Star can be found, especially Yasha, who is connected to Ashura as closely as a parent.
RG Veda was originally a manga series spanning ten volumes (available in English from Tokyopop), but the anime is only two 45-minute episodes which tell part of the beginning of the story. Some plot points are glossed over completely, such as the reasons the companions have come together in the first place, while others are dragged out unnecessarily, such as scenes between minor characters. While the entire story is not revealed, enough intriguing hints about the characters and their eventual fates are given to interest the viewer in the larger plot.
This OAV is packed full of broad-shouldered, long-haired biseinen in the classic CLAMP style. Yasha and Ashura form the central, and strangest, slashable couple. Ashura appears as a child of about 12 years, while Yasha is a grown man. However, Ashura seems to have lived much longer than appearances. Although the translation refers to Ashura as female, this isn't quite accurate. Ashura is genderless, which is actually a major plot point of the story. Is this really slash? Ashura isn't female, so it's up to you to decide. Other biseinen eye-candy includes Taishakuten, the white-haired, eternally-shirtless evil emporer; Ashura-oh, Ashura's father who appears in a flashback, slashy fight with Taishakuten; and Kujaku, a mysterious topless traveller who appears all too briefly and whose role isn't clear.
RG Veda was released in the early 1990's, and this shows in the animation and music. While the artwork is beautiful, the cel animation is at times inconsistent, but it has a beauty all its own. The music chosen for the title sequence and background is appropriate but nothing too interesting, with a rather synthesized, canned feeling.
The voice acting is excellent, especially the actress who voices Ashura. The cast also features Wakamoto Norio (Vicious in Cowboy Bebop, Takatori Reiji in Weiss Kreuz) as Taishakuten, and the ever-popular Hayami Sho (Nanjo Koji in Zetsuai and countless others) as Yasha.
RG Veda does not really feature that many slashable moments -- unless you don't mind the very strange couple of Yasha and Ashura -- but it is artistically beautiful and intriguing. This is CLAMP fantasy at its very best, and is a good measure of whether or not you may like the upcoming manga release. Plus, the DVD has recently been re-released for $10, which is a great deal for a lush, interesting anime.