Magic Knight Rayearth is a popular manga and anime series created by Clamp. The story follows three teenage girls named Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu, who are transported to the magical world of Cephiro. In Cephiro, they are chosen to become Magic Knights and save the world from an evil ruler named Zagato. One of the antagonists in Magic Knight Rayearth is a character named Ascot. Ascot is a young boy who has the ability to communicate with animals and control them. He is also a skilled magician, using his powers to summon and control monsters to fight for him.
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He s still a fine summoner, yet he went as far as learning some self defense spells from Clef, because he doesn t want to rely completely on others when things get rough for Umi. At any rate, the lively Chizeta s dancer seems to particularly enjoy teasing Ascot about his untold love for the blue Knight, and about his extreme shyness.
He is also a skilled magician, using his powers to summon and control monsters to fight for him. Ascot is initially portrayed as a villain, as he is under Zagato's control and fights against the Magic Knights. However, as the story progresses, Ascot's character begins to develop and his true nature is revealed.
[WIW] Magic Knight Rayearth (1 Viewer)
There's always the question of what's left to write after something like that. Maybe they could have just ended the story there. I'm sure it'd have still made an impact - even now, most of the attention that this series gets seems to be focused on the first part. But they didn't. They came up with a lot more to say about this world and these characters. And I'm very glad they did - because it's what comes next that makes this series what it is for me.
This is also where the anime and manga start to seriously diverge (though they do eventually both come around to similar endings). Part II is three manga volumes, the same length as Part I, but the anime is 29 episodes, 50% longer - and even the first part of the anime was badly stretched out at times. Fortunately, they got there by adding a new faction with multiple new characters and massively rewriting the story to integrate them, so the pacing is much better. No more monster-of-the-week episodes!
Rayearth Part II was also the first manga I ever bought, because of that. After I heard that it was so different, I had to rush out and see that version too. I don't think it's quite as good as what the anime ended up being, but it has a few elements I prefer, as well as some interesting setting and backstory info that didn't make it into the anime. Also it's gorgeous! Have I mentioned how gorgeous the manga is before? Like, see that picture of Emeraude and Zagato together at the end of the last episode, with all the detail and flowing hair and everything? That's like every page of the manga. It's a shame that most of that had to be dropped in order to animate it.
Now, with a new segment of the story starting up, what else are we going to get? A new opening! Although this is actually not the opening that I saw back when I first watched it - see, the US release initially left out the second opening due to copyright issues, replacing it with the third one. Which is a little bit spoilery when you see it so early! Until rewatching the series a couple years ago, I had no idea about any of this - it was quite a surprise to reach this point and see an opening that was completely new to me pop up instead of what I was expecting.
Unfortuately. I wasn't missing too much. The second opening is pretty weak. It doesn't have much of a sense of place, story, or coherence - just various characters displayed one after the other. And half of the action bits are recycled animation. But at least it's good at not being spoilery!
And hey, new characters!
Like this girl. Oh, yes. This girl.
And a whole bunch of other jokers! Suddenly, this anime has a lot of characters.
Okay this bit of action is pretty cool. And it leads into.
Rayearth facing down a devilish-looking Rune-God? And. is that Tokyo Tower in the background? Are they going to be fighting on Earth this time.
Actually, no. Not in this version of the story. They do in the manga and the OVA! But not here.
It's time to go back to Cephiro! After how delightful their last trip was, how could they ever stay away?
Ascot is named after a car, "Honda Ascot".
Ascot is a "Shoukanshi" or Paru which means Summoner.
His name is also spelt "Ascott".
Pajero's name is inspired by "Mitsubishi Pajero".
Vigor's name is after "Acura Vigor".
His first appearance is in ep. 6
It is shown that he is not inherently evil, but rather a lonely and misunderstood child. He longs for friendship and resents being used by Zagato. As the Magic Knights befriend him and show him kindness, Ascot's loyalty shifts, and he becomes an ally rather than an enemy. Ascot's character arc in Magic Knight Rayearth is a compelling one, as it explores themes of friendship, redemption, and the power of compassion. Through his journey, Ascot learns to trust others and find his own strength. He also contributes to the overall development of the story and the growth of the main characters. Overall, Ascot is an intriguing character in Magic Knight Rayearth, adding depth and complexity to the narrative. His transformation from antagonist to ally highlights the importance of understanding and empathy, making him a memorable part of the series..
Reviews for "The Tragic Story of Ascot's Past in Magic Knight Rayearth"
1. Amy - 2/5 - I was really excited to watch "Magic Knight Rayearth Ascot" as I had heard great things about it. However, I was sorely disappointed. The plot felt rushed and the characters were underdeveloped. It was difficult to connect with any of them and I found myself losing interest halfway through. Additionally, the animation quality seemed lacking and I felt like the action sequences were poorly executed. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this anime to anyone looking for a captivating and well-paced story.
2. John - 1/5 - Honestly, "Magic Knight Rayearth Ascot" was a complete waste of time. The plot was confusing and all over the place, with no clear direction. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it impossible to care about their fates. The animation was subpar and the dialogue felt forced and cheesy. It feels like a cheap knock-off of better magical girl anime series. Save yourself the disappointment and skip this one.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - As a fan of the fantasy genre, I was excited to start "Magic Knight Rayearth Ascot." Unfortunately, the show fell short of my expectations. The world-building was weak, leaving many unanswered questions and leaving me frustrated. The pacing was all over the place, with action scenes that felt rushed and moments of unnecessary filler. The main characters also lacked chemistry and their interactions felt forced. I appreciate the effort put into the animation, but that alone couldn't save this lackluster series.