One of the best OVA series of 1996, SHAMANIC PRINCESS is a well-made anime released by Bandai Visual. With character designs by Ishida Atsuko of MAGIC KNIGHT RAYEARTH and Asuka 120% (the fighting game for PC Engine and PSX), the series has a beautiful and elegant feel to it, as well as a great musical score and high-quality animation.
SHAMANIC PRINCESS is the story of a young girl, Tiara, who has been sent to Earth from the Guardian World. Tiara has magical powers, and along with her ferret-like partner, Japoro, it is her mission to return the Throne of Yord which has been stolen by Kagetsu, her lover and also a member of the Guardian World. In the beginning, Tiara finds herself on Earth where she takes the guise of a normal teenage student going to school and making friends. Tiara's assignment is sidetracked by her rival, Lena, who is siding with Kagetsu.
Lena has a partner, Leon, and they are sent to Earth ahead of Tiara to retrieve the Throne of Yord from Kagetsu. Kagetsu has convinced Lena to assist him in saving his little sister, Sara from the Throne of Yord. The Throne of Yord is a painting, which is a backdrop for Tiara's strange dreams in which she talks to Sara. There is a cosmic connection between Sara and Tiara since they were childhood friends in the Guardian World.
The Throne of Yord is the center of all power in the Guardian World, it is incredibly powerful and, as such, requires Neutralizers to regulate this great power. Neutralizers keep the power of the Throne of Yord in check, but at the cost of their very lives. Sara and Kagetsu are both Neutralizers, endowed with powers which are not their own. Tiara and Lena are Magic Users, and referred to as Princesses. The Princesses possess natural magical abilities which they learn to control and master over time. Leon and Japoro are the Partners, assigned by some unseen force to a certain Magic User. They are their protectors as well as their advisors. Partners also have the power to set up Stasis Fields, which literally stop time in an area. In doing so, this allows the Magic Users of the Guardian World to do their business without the danger of someone from Earth detecting them.
The real power of the Throne of Yord is presented in the third and fourth volumes of the series and Tiara seems to be the only person able to fight against it. Tiara uses her inner power to call her Super Form, Heil Endo Sabbath, a red-haired, elven beauty with her hair in the form of large wings. In this form, Tiara is practically invincible and is out of control. Her inner power takes her over not only in form, but also in mind.
The stunning art, animation, and background are breathtaking, very elegant, beautiful, and serene. The colors are bright in the day, but become very ominous in the night scenes in this small town on Earth. This sets the mood and tone of SHAMANIC PRINCESS and alludes to what is to come, the final fate of the Guardian World. The music empathically resounds the emotions of the series with Tiara's cheery personality to Lena's brooding hatred for Tiara.
Veteran voice actors, Yamadera Kouichi (Ryouga of RANMA 1/2) and Sakurai Tomo (Mylene Jenius of MACROSS 7) do a great job in portraying the angst-filled Kagetsu and Sara. Sa Yuri does a fine job of acting as the cheery, yet cocky Tiara, who tends to boast a lot to Lena about how her powers are much stronger. Matsumoto Rica voices Tiara's partner, Japoro, and presents him as a proud, blunt, level-headed, and very sincere individual. Yayoi Mitsuki, who plays Lena, voices her solemn, serious character very well in the way she tries to convince the headstrong Tiara to go back to the Guardian World. Finally, Yuuki Hiro, voices Leon with the formality of a butler.
SHAMANIC PRINCESS is definitely a highly recommended series for those who love Ishida Atsuko's character design. CLAMP fans will also love this series for its magical feel and beautiful artwork. The story is wonderfully written and will keep the viewer at the edge of their seats. If the fabulous art does not hook the viewer, the story definitely will!
SHAMANIC PRINCESS is set to run for six volumes with five volumes already released.

SHAMANIC PRINCESS Copyright © 1996-1998 The Princess Project / Bandai Visual - Movic Shamanic Princess Vol. 1 - The Throne of Yord: BEAL-880, 25 May 1996 Shamanic Princess Vol. 2 - Forest: BEAL-881, 25 Sept 1996 Shamanic Princess Vol. 3 - Awakening: BEAL-882, 25 Feb 1997 Shamanic Princess Vol. 4 - Morning of Prayer: BEAL-883, 25 July 1997 Shamanic Princess Vol. 5 - Guardian World: BEAL-884, 21 Dec 1997 Shamanic Princess Vol. 6 - (title unknown): BEAL-885, 25 April 1998 Each Color/30 min CAV LD/NTSC/Digital Stereo - ¥5800