Two Halves Options

[Shiidou Hikaru]

Hikaru being split into two halves brings to mind the episode from the original Star Trek series where Kirk was split into two halves, a good half and an evil half. One of the main points of that episode was that neither half can exist without the other, both must coexist together. This same concept is also played out with Nova and Hikaru. Without a good half, Nova is foolish and destructive. Without her assertive evil half, Hikaru's heart is crippled by guilt and cannot function as a leader of the Magic Knights. And in the end, they both realize the need that they have for each other, and reunite to make Hikaru whole again.

[Mel Barry]

WHA? Since when did Hikaru have an evil half? Is this something in the anime version? I've only read the manga. I don't know where to get the anime but I don't really like dubbed anime.

[Shiidou Hikaru]

Lol, yes, Nova did not exist in the manga. And all of the plot surrounding Hikaru's battle within herself (vs Nova) was added along with the character Nova when they made the anime. The licensed DVD's that are sold in the US are dual language, so you can watch it in English, Japanese or Subbed (the way I watch it myself).



Dubbed anime in general is something that I'm wary of. Some dubbing companies do excellent work (see Cowboy Bebop), but others are lousy. So some awareness of who did the dubbing tells me a lot about what the dubbing work will be like.

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[Mel Barry]

Oh, thank you for informing me. I have never thought of that. I just assumed dubbed versions were done by all the same company or something like that. Well, now I know. Thank you!

[Shiidou Hikaru]

Well, for the most part you were right Mel, most dubbed anime leaves a lot to be desired, and I normally take it subbed. Truly good dubs aren't made very often. Either the translation, acting, or directing is bad or some combination of those elements. For example, what happened with the MKR dubs was that some of the voice actors/actresses were cast wrong and the directing wasn't very good, but the translation was decent and the storyline was left intact. And that's a lot of what most dubs are like, some good points and some bad.



With that aside, however one thing I can never forgive is censoring. When a dubbing company starts editing out scenes and entire episodes, when they start changing the story, the plot or removing subplots altogether, they are destroying a work of art in my opinion. What was done to Cardcaptor Sakura and Sailor Moon was a crime, a crying shame ...



Sorry for going on like that. v.v

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[Mel Barry]

It's fine, the more you say, the more informed I become. Another reason I like manga more is because in anime, details in clothing and such things get lost. I know it's hard to animate things with a lot of detail, but CLAMP does such beautiful artwork and has such nice details in clothes that get lost in the anime version (or at least in the couple episodes I saw).

Okay, back to the subject of the two halves of Hikaru ^_^ Does Hikaru get split up physically? Or is it mentally, like Gollum in Lord of the Rings movie (if you've seen it). And how does she get "split up"? I'm kinda confused on that.

[Shiidou Hikaru]

In a way it's both. I can tell you how it happened, but first I need to know if you've read the Rayearth manga cover to cover and know the entire story. Because if you haven't, what I would tell you would completely spoil the ending of the first manga set.

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[Mel Barry]

Yes, I've read the entire mange series. (I own the second set). I would really appreciate if you told me. (It's kinda scary to think of Hikaru like Gollum ~_~' )

Thank you!

[Shiidou Hikaru]

Oh dear, Hikaru isn't schizophrenic like Gollum at all, Hikaru and Nova are distinct beings. First, Cephiro is a world of the will. Its magic can be used to make people's hopes, dreams, fears, etc. into physical realities. The monsters in Cephiro were made created by the fears of the people that live there. Nova was made in the same way by the emotions of Hikaru. Next, when the first Rayearth series ends, Hikaru is utterly devastated by what happened, in the anime it is to a much greater degree than with Umi and Fuu. Being the leader and primary motivator of the three Magic Knights, Hikaru took all of the responsibility upon herself, believing that she was to blame for everything that happened including the sufferings incurred by her friends Umi and Fuu. Hikaru in her heart hated herself, and it was this hatrad that created the irresponsible and evil creature Nova - a mirror of Hikaru. This whole plot is developed very well in the second season of the anime, and what I've given here is just a brief overview. If you get the opportunity Mel-chan, you should really see the anime, I really think that you would love it. ^_^

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