Nightfall

The war against the Aragami, metamorphic plant monsters, reaches its climax in a battle that pits 15-year-old Momiji Fujimiya, the hereditary Princess Kushinada, and her friends against her twin sister Kaede, the sinister Murakumo, and the reborn god Susano-Oh. The struggle transcends the human versus monsters conflict to become a debate over the increasing disrespect for nature in modern Japan. That debate is heightened by numerous visual references to Shinto, the nature-centered Japanese religion: when Momiji faces her foes, her robes and the branch with woven paper streamers she waves are part of the regalia of a Shinto priestess. Blue Seed offers an unusually entertaining introduction to the "magical girl" genre because Momiji doesn't whine, as so many of her counterparts do, and the dashing Kusanagi assumes the role of protector-lover without losing his initial élan. "Contains animated violence." Suitable for ages 13 and up: violence, brief nudity, sexual humor. --Charles Solomon