Mermaid Forest OAV

Title:Mermaid Forest OAV
Ningyo no Mori
人魚の森
Overall:Rent
Keywords: , , , , , ,
Notables: Animation - Studio Pierrot
DOI Mika
Original Concept - TAKAHASHI Rumiko
TAKAYAMA Minami
YAMADERA Kouichi
Legend states that eating the flesh of a mermaid will bestow immortality. Yuta and Mana do not remain dead for this reason. Unfortunately, mermaid's flesh affects people differently. Trying to help her sister Towa, Sawa creates a problem that will affect both of them for the rest of their lives. And now Towa's plans threaten both Yuta and Mana.
(Summary Courtesy of Anime News Network)


Single OAV episode released on August 16, 1991.
Animated by Studio Pierrot and TMS Entertainment
Based on the story from Rumiko Takahashi's Mermaid Saga manga series.
Formerly licensed by Central Park Media in the 1990s where it had a VHS release before CPM's rights to it expired.

Also see the later chapter of Mermaid Saga in OAV form, Ningyo no Kizu and the 2003 TV anime remake of Mermaid Saga stories, Ningyo no Mori.
OverallArtAnimationCharacter Design MusicSeries StoryEpisode StoryReviewer
Rent 7 7 7 7 7 Ggultra2764 [series:2548#1552]
While I did say that the animated take on this story from Mermaid Saga was weak in it's adaptation for the 2003 TV series, this OAV adaptation is a major improvement from the later take on the story. None of the melodramatic elements from the TV series are here as music is properly conveyed in tense situations and developments with Towa's plans actually feel suspenseful as the OAV does a solid job in depicting how warped Towa's personality became from her twin sister's plans. Even though this OAV is only based on one part of Mermaid Saga, it does offer some exploration into how Yuta gained his immortality. Still though, it does have its rough elements as first-time viewers will be scratching their heads over who Mana is as the OAV doesn't explore her character and it doesn't provide proper focus on how the doctor assisting Towa in her plots came to love her, which makes this element not look too convincing. Still, this adaptation on Mermaid Forest is of greater quality for me than my exposure to its take from the 2003 TV anime and is worth a look if you're a fan of Rumiko Takahashi's work.

Last updated Saturday, April 07 2012. Created Saturday, April 07 2012.

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