Jewel Pet
Number of episodes: 52
Production Studio: Studio Comet
Fansub Release Viewed: SFW
Likelihood of US Release: Low
The magical Jewel Pets, once the possession of magicians, come to the human world and study magic themselves.
Episode Summary
In a magical land, small animals learn magic and are then turned into Jewels to travel to the magic forest. While her classmates are busy being transformed into jewels, Ruby, a rabbit, is off playing. The stork delivering the Jewel pets to the forest is overcome by a gust of wind, and the Jewels spill, falling to Earth. Ruby, who is being punished for going off and playing instead of becoming a Jewel with her classmates, is sent to Earth to retrieve her friends. Down on Earth, a student named Rinko, who earlier that day became her class representative, is on her balcony observing the night sky. A group of shooting stars has just fallen, and one in particular seems to seek her out, and falls into her water glass to become a red jewel.
When Rinko is on the way to a jewelry store the next day to inquire about the jewel, she and her friend encounter a robbery in progress. They’re rescued by a man from an agency that has to do with the jewel Rinko possesses. He gives Rinko a notebook, and tells her that her job is to find the missing Jewels that have fallen to Earth, and turn them back into animals. She transforms her ruby, which turns into, appropriately, Ruby the Rabbit. The notebook states that this Jewel Pet is good for courageous magic, so Rinko asks for a dose of courage to help her speak in front of large groups. Instead, Ruby accidentally blows a hole in the ground, and from that point forward, Rinko seems to have the worst luck. At her school assembly, she’s dreading speaking in front of the new students, but Ruby shows up and helps to calm her. It may not be the magical courage she was hoping for, but she finds herself calm enough to give her speech.
Thoughts
I think that, after watching this show, I never have to watch another anime again. This one episode has demonstrated a keen understanding of the human condition and writing which surpasses everything else I’ve ever seen in my life. There is simply nothing left that can satisfy my soul they way that this show has in a mere 25 minutes of breathtaking animated excellence.
Psyche!
Really, this series is like any other kids’ show, in that it has tie-in toys, makes a decent effort to present some sort of moral lesson, and is tooth-rottingly cute to boot. It’s not around to blow your mind or provide fodder for essays or other methods of academic analysis; it exists to sell some toys and look cute. You know, like a booth babe at an electronics convention.
It’s kind of pointless of me to fault a series for trying to sell merchandise, when some of my favorite series as a kid were nothing but thinly-veiled toy tie-ins (and if you think that there was some deeper meaning behind Care Bears or He-Man, I welcome you to email me so we can discuss that). This show is completely accessible, colorful and cute with a multitude of little collectible characters to memorize, each with their own special traits that kids can identify with [Ed – like Naruto]. The main character is sweet and cute and has flaws that almost anyone can relate to (who among us has zero problems getting in front of a group and speaking? I'm betting it's a vast minority).
There’s little left to say about this show. I’m betting that most people who read the reviews on this site won’t care enough to give the series a second glance, but perhaps a younger sibling or cousin might enjoy the colorful cuteness of the show. It’s never too early to breed the next generation of anime fans, as far as I’m concerned.
Pros
- The show is colorful and easily accessible
Cons
- There’s little to interest most experienced anime fans or people older than 8 years old
