Arjuna
Synopsis
Juna Ariyoshi is an ordinary Japanese schoolgirl, who possesses a childlike curiosity and a strong admiration toward nature. One day, while on a trip with her boyfriend, Tokio Oshima, Juna dies from a motorcycle accident. However, she is given a chance to live by an individual named Chris Hawken. He offers her powers that make her the avatar of time; in exchange, she must fight to protect the Earth from evil forces called raaja, which are born out of the toxic pollution human beings have caused. She soon discovers that this is no easy task. While trying to master her newfound powers, she must also seek answers to deep questions about the ways science and technology have taken away humans' primal and instinctive connections with nature. With the help of Chris, his assistant Cindy Klein, and a powerful international organization named SEED, it is up to Juna to overcome her fears and find a way to stop the raaja from destroying everyone and everything she cares for. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
Audience reception is polarized, with some praising its artistic merit and environmental themes, while others criticize its heavy-handed messaging, flawed plot, and unlikeable characters. The strong environmentalist message and philosophical undertones resonate with some viewers, while others find it preachy and poorly executed. Despite its flaws, some find it to be a unique and thought-provoking series.
Strengths
- Spectacular artwork and animation quality, especially for its time.
- Epic and emotionally resonant music score by Yoko Kanno.
- Meaningful exploration of the relationship between Juna and Tokio.
Weaknesses
- Preachy and overly didactic in its environmental message.
- Poorly paced with episodic plots that lack focus and a confusing ending.
- Characters can be annoying with forced development and poor communication.