Magic Knight Rayearth

Mangaka: CLAMP
Pub. Date: 1994
# of Vols.: 6

TV Series: 1994 (49 Episodes)
3 OVAs

Hikaru, a normal, cheerful schoolgirl, Umi, a student of an elite school, and Fuu, a student from a school for very bright students, each find themselves transported to the world of Cephiro one day while on a school fieldtrip to Tokyo Tower. They learned they were summoned to save the dying world, and only the three prophesied knights can do this. The princess (also the pillar) of Cephiro was kidnapped by her High Priest and if they don't find her it will bring ruin, as her will is what supports Cephiro. But the girls learn their mission and true reason for being summoned isn't quite so simple.

The second season of the series begins with the girls being summoned back to Cephiro. They had left so abruptly before and worse still feel guilty for the tragedy they could not avoid. But they hope a second visit will allow them to do something more for the people they've grown to love. When they get there, Cephiro is in even worse shape, with monsters that are a reflection of the people's heart running rampant. The Knights are needed once again. And external forces threaten as neighboring countries want to invade Cephiro and take the pillar system if not become the next pillar themselves. And Hikaru learns she left the shadow of her heart behind in Cephiro, and it manifested as Nova, leaving Hikaru to battle herself and her need to come to terms with what happened.

The OAV takes a different route. It is neither a continuation of the TV series or part of the storytelling, but a separate alternate universe type storyline, and much darker and perhaps targeted at a slightly older audience than the series. Cephiro, under Eagle, invades Earth and the three girls are the chosen defenders. They must find each of the gods they must pair with and fight for Tokyo and the Earth.

Rayearth is a special case for the magical girl genre, in that it takes from the genre and is partly part of it, though not quite a pure incarnation so much. CLAMP mixes the mecha genre, RPG/fantasy-adventure genre, and shoujo, magical girl genre to make Rayearth. And sometimes they get a bit tongue-in-cheek on each. For instance, at one point the girls comment how they're fighting just like in a RPG, and are shocked Hikaru would not know what this is, which leads the other two to go into a mini-lesson.

Magical Companion
Mokona-magic rabbit with jewel on his forehead

Magical Phrase
Shidou Hikaru
Flame Arrow
Ruby Lightning
Spiral Flash (three knights together)

Ryuuzaki Umi
Water Dragon
Sapphire Whirlwind
Ice Blade
Spiral Flash (three knights together)

Hououji Fuu
Winds of Healing
Emerald Typhoon
Winds of Admonishment
Emerald Cyclone
Spiral Flash (three knights together)

Magical Items
Gloves, Swords...