3x3 Eyes

Toei Animation’s adaptation of Yuzo Takada’s eponymous 40-volume manga series manages to combine relationship drama, even romcom, with bloody demonic battles and a supernatural adventure story. And still it remains a coherent whole, held together by the confused naivety and reckless fearlessness of protagonists Yakumo and Pai, who mostly just roll with the punches.

Directed by Daisuke Nishio (episodes one, three and four), known for his work on Dragon Ball Z (1986-1992), and Kazuhisa Takenouchi (episode two), who would later direct the Daft Punk project Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem (2001), 3x3 Eyes is a fine example of 1990s anime, with its lovely loose line work, bloody body horror, questionable fan service and combination of limited animation (where it’s possible) and spectacular full animation (where it’s necessary).

On a busy shopping street, our hero Yakumo runs over Pai, who happens to have been promised by Yakumo’s late father that his son would help her become human – because yes, kawaii Pai sometimes switches to her other personality as a three-eyed Sanjiyan Unkara demon with a notably less high-pitched voice (but the same flexible voice actor, Megumi Hayashibara). Yakumo, who is a little bit overwhelmed, quickly dies in the claws of a demonic bird, only to be resurrected by Pai as a Wu – a kind of immortal zombie. And we’re still only halfway through episode one.

In 1995, it was followed by the three-part OVA 3×3 Eyes: Legend of the Divine Demon, solely directed by Takenouchi for Studio Junio.