Tokyo Babylon

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Tokyo Babylon (1993)

is a shōjo manga series created by CLAMP. In 1991, it was made into a two-part anime OVA series, and the two OVAs are now available in the United States in both DVD and VHS. There is also a live action movie entitled Tokyo Babylon 1999. The English manga has been licenced by TOKYOPOP.

[Spoiler warningSpoiler warning]: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Names are in Western order, and are romanized according to TOKYOPOP's spelling.

The plot is told in a series of substories, 2-3 per volume. While it begins with a monster of the week approach, with somewhat independent running chapters, the plot gradually becomes continuous and backstory is introduced. The focus throughout the manga is on the development of the characters and the relationships between them.

The main characters are the onmyouji (omyōji) (literally yin-yang magician, also translated as spirit medium or shaman) Subaru Sumeragi, his twin sister Hokuto Sumeragi, and the veterinarian Seishirou Sakurazuka. The plot involves Subaru and Hokuto protecting Tokyo from spirits by exorcising them, aided by Seishirou's somewhat subtle interference. It also involves Seishirou's love for Subaru and the development of Subaru's reaction to it; from rejection through acceptance to a growing romantic attachment; until the tragic twist in the final two volumes.

Characters from Tokyo Babylon make significant appearances in other CLAMP works, including X (a.k.a. X/1999) and Tsubasa.

The OVA's are similar in content to independent stories taking place in the middle of the manga series. The second OVA gives hints toward the overall plot line.

In terms of plot timeline, the movie takes place after the ending of the manga and before the beginning of X.

Major characters

Subaru is an extremely talented onmyouji (also referred to as a yin-yang sorcerer or spirit medium) and the 13th Head of the Sumeragi clan. He tends to be rather shy, but is extremely kindhearted. He constantly wears gloves over his hands for reasons known only to his grandmother. A shadowy childhood moment may provide the answer.

In the story of X/1999, Subaru is also a Dragon of Heaven.

Hokuto is Subaru's eccentric twin sister. She is quick-witted, bold and impulsive, the polar opposite of Subaru. While she lacks most of Subaru's strong spiritualistic abilities, she is still able to cast spells unique to her. She always means well and acts in Subaru's best interests. Hokuto is the designer of the outrageous outfits she and Subaru often don.

In X/1999, she appears in flashbacks of the memories of Subaru, Seishirou, and X/1999's Kakyou Kuzuki.

While he works as a friendly veterinarian who happens to hit on Subaru a lot, Seishirou is actually one of the Sakurazukamori, an assassin who uses onmyoujutsu (yin-yang techniques) to kill. Victims are fed to a demonic cherry tree, whose white blossoms are dyed pink from the blood of the bodies buried beneath it (something similar to this is used in XXXHOLiC). The question to be answered is how will this knowledge affect Subaru...
Seishirou also appears in X/1999 as a Dragon of Earth and in as a dimension-hopping hunter.

External links

[geneSIS] (general fansite)

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