Shojo, sci-fi, space, espers, an alien invasion and the possibility of reawakening humanity’s long lost potential…now that is a mouthful and a half to digest into a one off OVA. Can you imagine what it would be like to discover latent powers within yourself? Do you want to know the secrets of the universe? Well I can’t grant these wishes to you, but I can recommend an anime as a possible substitute. Let’s check out another half forgotten OVA from the 1980s, 1986 to be exact, as we examine Nayuta this time round.
Nayuta, the character, is yet another example of the average Japanese school girl who realizes she has a greater destiny than the humdrum life she currently knows. Walking home one day from school she encounters a young boy, Kiro, and his mother, both looking in dire straits. The mother is obviously ill, if not close to death, and Nayuta helps out by bringing them to a hospital. Mysteriously the mother would vanish after what seemed like an attempted surgery! Nayuta would then return home and would be visited by Kiro again. She invites him in and instead of using the door he just teleports into the house. Nayuta then learns the secret to his superpower lies within a golden tiara like ring around his head, a Jarun. Curious Nayuta “borrows” it from Kiro’s head while he is asleep to grant herself superpowers so that maybe it can help on her upcoming test (cheater, lol).
After school she is asked to meet up with a teacher to talk about her Jarun, but before this happens she meets a young man, Ryotaro, who helps her escape the clutches of the Azadd, an insect like alien race bent on hunting down those who take and wear the Jarun. They often go about posing as normal humans (Sounds like V, or They Live). Nayuta then meets others espers who also have Jaruns and their leader, Sozu. Over time and tribulations, including losing her family and being kidnapped by a long haired bishounen in league with the Azadd, who she comes to find she has met before ironically, Nayuta would grow and develop her latent powers.
Espers are nothing new in anime, particularly in the 1980s. Ai City, Cosmo Police Justy, Locke the Superman, Toward the Terra and even the original Mobile Suit Gundams all have some theme of of highly developed psychic powers just to name a few. Nayuta, as well as Blue Sonnet, approach this theme from a shojo angle instead and cross genre boundaries exceptionally, though not exactly in the same way. Knowing this, Nayuta has a lot going for it that checks off a lot of boxes that bring a smile to my face: sci-fi, action, character development, romantic leanings, greater human potential and challenging a threat bigger than yourself with triumph. Solid artwork is present as well, but it is the story itself that provides the essential glue… and this of course was sourced from the original manga.
Nayuta expresses one possibility of ultimate transcendence. We go beyond barriers both within and without by watching Nayuta develop out of what could be fated circumstances. Breaking barriers both within the body and the mind, as well as the confines of our Solar System, are up for grabs here. Big themes and concepts, and yet it’s all wrapped up into a singular 75 minute production! Even if Nayuta is not one of the bigger properties of anime that should not dissuade you from possibly tracking a copy down and checking it out… of course this depends on your anime preferences. My only wish is that why was the ending so open ended? Maybe thats how the manga finished?
…oh how I love 80’s one and done OVAs, so many classics to choose from!
The Classic Anime Museum 