View source for Magic Knight Rayearth

{{Short description|Japanese manga series by Clamp and its adaptations}}
{{Infobox animanga/Header
| name            = 
| image           = MagicKnightRayearth.jpg
| alt             = A book cover. Near the top is text reading Magic Knight Rayearth. At the side, text reads Tokyopop. Below the number one in white is a framed picture of a girl clad in red and pink wielding a sword against a background of flames. White text at the bottom reads Clamp.
| caption         = Cover art of Tokyopop's re-release of ''Magic Knight Rayearth'' I Volume 1, featuring Hikaru Shidou
| ja_kanji        = {{ruby|魔法騎士|マジックナイト}}レイアース
| ja_romaji       = Majikku Naito Reiāsu
| genre           = {{ublist
 | '''''Magic Knight Rayearth:'''''
 | [[Isekai]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Loveridge |first1=Lynzee |title=8 Anime That Were Isekai Before It Was Cool |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/the-list/2017-08-19/.120298 |website=[[Anime News Network]] |access-date=December 5, 2018 |date=August 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206110856/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/the-list/2017-08-19/.120298 |archive-date=December 6, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> [[Mecha anime and manga|mecha]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shepard |first1=Chris |title=Rayearth OAV VHS 1-3 - Review |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/rayearth-oav/vhs-1-3 |website=[[Anime News Network]] |access-date=December 5, 2018 |date=January 8, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205193443/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/rayearth-oav/vhs-1-3 |archive-date=December 5, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> [[sword and sorcery]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://anime.about.com/od/toppicks/tp/Best-Sword-Sorcery-Anime.htm |title=Sword & Sorcery Fantasy Anime (Top Best List) |first=Serdar |last=Legulalp |website=[[About.com]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140812195120/http://anime.about.com/od/toppicks/tp/Best-Sword-Sorcery-Anime.htm |archive-date=August 12, 2014 |date=May 28, 2014 |access-date=May 12, 2020}}</ref>
 | '''''Rayearth:'''''
 | [[Dark fantasy]]<ref>{{cite web |author=Carlos Ross and Christi |title=Rayearth |url=https://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=205 |work=THEM Anime Reviews |access-date=July 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723064554/https://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=205 |archive-date=July 23, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref><!-- Note: Use and cite reliable sources to identify genre/s, not personal interpretation. Please don't include more than three genres (per [[MOS:A&M]]). -->}}
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type            = manga
| author          = [[Clamp (manga artists)|Clamp]]
| publisher       = [[Kodansha]]
| publisher_en    = {{English manga publisher
  | AUS = 
  | NA  = [[Kodansha USA|Kodansha Comics]]
  | UK  = 
}}
| magazine_en     = {{English manga magazine
  | NA  = [[Tokyopop (magazine)|MixxZine]]
}}
| demographic     = ''[[Shōjo manga|Shōjo]]''
| magazine        = [[Nakayoshi]]
| first           = November 1993
| last            = April 1996
| volumes         = 6
| volume_list     = 
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type            = tv series
| director        = [[Toshihiro Hirano]]
| producer        = Mikihiro Iwata<br/>Michihiko Suwa<br/>Shigeki Nakamura<br>Masahito Yoshioka
| writer          = Keiko Maruo<br/>[[Nanase Ohkawa]]
| music           = [[Hayato Matsuo]]
| studio          = [[TMS Entertainment|Tokyo Movie Shinsha]]
| licensee        = {{English anime licensee
  | AUS = 
  | BI  = [[Anime Limited]]
  | NA  = [[Discotek Media]]
}}
 | network        = [[Nippon Television Network System|NNS]] ([[Yomiuri TV|ytv]])

| network_en = {{English anime network
| SG = [[Okto|Kids Central]]
}}
| first           = October 17, 1994
| last            = November 27, 1995
| episodes        = 49
| episode_list    = List of Magic Knight Rayearth episodes
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type            = ova
| title           = Rayearth
| director        = Toshihiro Hirano
| producer        = 
| writer          = Manabu Nakamura
| music           = [[Toshihiko Sahashi]]
| studio          = TMS-Kyokuichi
| licensee        = {{English anime licensee
  | AUS = 
  | BI  = Anime Limited
  | NA  = [[Manga Entertainment]]
}}
| first           = July 25, 1997
| last            = December 10, 1997
| runtime         = 45 minutes (each)
| episodes        = 3
| episode_list    = 
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type            = anime
| title           = 
| director        = 
| producer        = 
| writer          = 
| music           = 
| studio          = 
| licensee        = 
| network         = 
| network_en      = 
| first           = 
| last            = 
| episodes        = <!-- This parameter should only be incremented when new episodes air or when a [[Wikipedia:Identifying reliable sources|reliable source]] can confirm a specific number of episodes. -->
| episode_list    = 
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer|portal=yes}}

{{Nihongo|'''''Magic Knight Rayearth'''''|{{ruby|魔法騎士|マジックナイト}}レイアース|Majikku Naito Reiāsu}} is a Japanese [[manga]] series created by [[Clamp (manga artists)|CLAMP]]. Appearing as a serial in the [[List of manga magazines|manga magazine]] ''[[Nakayoshi]]'' from the November 1993 issue to the February 1995 issue, the chapters of ''Magic Knight Rayearth'' were collected into three [[Tankōbon|bound volumes]] by [[Kodansha]]. They were published from July 1994 to March 1995. A sequel was serialized in the same manga magazine from the March 1995 issue to the April 1996 issue. It was published by Kodansha in three bound volumes from July 1995 to April 1996.

The series follows three eighth-grade girls who find themselves transported from modern-day Japan into a magical world, where they are tasked with rescuing a princess. ''Rayearth'' combines elements from the [[magical girl]] and [[Mecha anime and manga|mecha anime]] genres with [[Parallel universe (fiction)|parallel world]] fantasy. The manga was adapted into two [[anime]] series in 1994 and an [[original video animation]] (OVA) in 1997. A new anime project has been announced.{{citation_needed|date=November 2024}}

==Plot==
{{Main|List of Magic Knight Rayearth characters}}
[[File:Tokyo Tower M4854.jpg|thumb|left|alt=A picture of a |''Magic Knight Rayearth'' begins with the protagonists' field trip to the Tokyo Tower (pictured).]]

''Magic Knight Rayearth'' focuses on three eighth-grade girls: the tomboyish, headstrong but short {{nihongo|[[Hikaru Shidou]]|獅堂 光|Shidō Hikaru}}; the quick-tempered and no-nonsense only child {{nihongo|[[Umi Ryuuzaki]]|龍咲 海|Ryūzaki Umi}}; and the intelligent and ladylike {{nihongo|[[Fuu Hououji]]|鳳凰寺 風|Hōōji Fū}}. While on a field trip to the [[Tokyo Tower]] with their respective schools, the girls find themselves drawn into another world, Cephiro. There they learn that Cephiro is influenced by one's will and that the Pillar maintains Cephiro through prayer. The girls are then tasked with rescuing the current Pillar, [[List of Magic Knight Rayearth characters#Emeraude|Princess Emeraude]], from her abductor, the high priest and [[antagonist]] [[List of Magic Knight Rayearth characters#Characters of the first season|Zagato]], after which they will be returned to Tokyo.

Guided by the creature [[List of Magic Knight Rayearth characters#Characters of the first season|Mokona]] on their quest, the girls discover their respective element-based magic and awaken the three {{nihongo|Rune-Gods|魔神|Mashin}}, creatures who can take the form of giant robots that the girls must pilot. As the girls progress on their journey, they overcome their differences, learning how to work together and accept each other as friends. After the girls find Zagato, they fight and are able to destroy him. After this, they finally reach where Emeraude is imprisoned, but the three learn that she had fallen in love with Zagato, which had hindered her ability to pray solely for Cephiro's well-being. Feeling responsible for her actions, she had imprisoned herself, and eventually summoned the Magic Knights to kill her, as no one from Cephiro could harm the Pillar. Her dark side then takes over, seeking to destroy the Magic Knights for killing her love. After a short defensive fight against Princess Emeraude, the Magic Knights have no choice but to kill her. They then find themselves transported back to Tokyo.

The second part of the series deals with the complications caused by Princess Emeraude's death. Set a year later, it opens with the three protagonists struggling with their guilt and despair over their role in her death. Meeting again at Tokyo Tower, they find themselves transported mysteriously to Cephiro again, and discover that only a single piece of Cephiro remains, which holds a castle where the survivors gather to take refuge. With the Pillar gone, Cephiro is, for the most part, defenseless, and the girls are saddened to learn that a new Pillar must be chosen by the Pillar system before the whole planet is destroyed. Not only that, three warring planets have begun their attempts to conquer the Pillar-less Cephiro: Autozam, a technologically advanced world which intends to use the Pillar system to remove the pollution in its air; Fahren, whose childish ruler [[List of Magic Knight Rayearth characters#Lady Aska of Fahren|Lady Aska]] plans to use it to turn Cephiro into a world of her whims; and Chizeta, an overpopulated world whose sibling rulers [[List of Magic Knight Rayearth characters#Tatra|Tatra]] and [[List of Magic Knight Rayearth characters#Tarta|Tarta]] plan to use it to make Cephiro into a colony.

As the Magic Knights help defend the castle, they each agree that the fate of the planet should not be the responsibility of only one person which, like Princess Emeraude, effectively prevents that person from ever being able to live and love freely. What's more, there is a mostly unspoken risk that when a new Pillar is chosen, something may eventually hinder them from praying solely for Cephiro's well-being, cause them to summon new Magic Knights to kill them, and bring Cephiro to near-destruction again until a new Pillar is chosen, causing the cycle of events to continue endlessly. As such, [[List of Magic Knight Rayearth characters#Lantis|Lantis]], a powerful magic swordsman and Zagato's younger brother, wishes to end the Pillar system for those reasons.

Eventually, Mokona narrows the candidates down to two: Hikaru and the sickly [[List of Magic Knight Rayearth characters#Eagle Vision|Eagle Vision]] of Autozam, who is friends with Lantis and, as such, wishes to end the Pillar system for him with his eternal sleep. As the two undergo the test to become the new Pillar in a recreation of Tokyo, Mokona reveals itself to be the creator of Cephiro and its laws, both of which it had created after sadly witnessing the violence and destructive nature of the people on its earlier creation, Earth. It was responsible for bringing the three girls back to Cephiro. In the end, Hikaru becomes the new Pillar of Cephiro, and brings Eagle Vision back to Cephiro from the Tokyo recreation with the help of Fuu and Umi, against Mokona's insistence that only one may return. Hikaru then rejects the Pillar system, decreeing once and for all the fate of the planet should not be the responsibility of one person. Mokona accepts their decision and leaves with the three Mashin. The manga concludes with the three girls' returning to a new Cephiro to visit their loved ones, as they work with the rulers of the other planets to solve their planets' problems, and contemplate Mokona's wish to allow the three protagonists to bring change to Cephiro.

==Development==
During the celebration of the publication of the ''Soryuden'' novels, which Clamp had illustrated, the group was asked by Hideki Yamaguchi, editor for the Japanese ''[[Shōjo manga|shōjo]]'' (targeted towards girls) [[List of manga magazines|manga magazine]] ''[[Nakayoshi]]'', to do a series for the magazine.<ref name="Kiseki"/> The editor-in-chief wanted a story that could appeal to [[Elementary school|elementary]] readers and older, while Clamp wished to bring in younger fans.<ref name="Animerica"/> Without direction from the editors, the group decided on a series combining robots, as they were fond of [[Mecha|robot anime]]; [[role-playing game]]s (RPGs), which saw popularity in Japan at the time; and fantasy, to counterbalance the robots, which they thought alone would be off-putting to their target audience.<ref name="Kiseki">{{cite book|title=Clamp no Kiseki|volume=4|year=2005|publisher=Tokyopop|location=Los Angeles, California|pages=5–6}}</ref> According to Ohkawa, the magazine's success with the [[magical girl]] manga ''[[Sailor Moon]]'' (1991–97) made it possible for the group to pitch a [[Serial (literature)|serial]] with robots to its editors.<ref name="Animerica">{{cite book|chapter=Nanase Ohkawa|author=Oshiguchi, Takashi|editor=Trish Ledoux|title=Anime Interviews: The First Five Years of Animerica, Anime Manga Monthly (1992–97)|year=1997|location=San Francisco, California|publisher=Cadence Books|pages=172–81|isbn=1-56931-220-6}}</ref>

{{quote box
 |quote  = ''Rayearth'' intentionally traces out an RPG world, but I don't consider it an RPG world, myself. You can tell it's not a simple world, the kind where there's a princess, a villain who kidnaps her, and the main character who saves the day and lives happily ever after. Even if the main characters ''thought'' that's the world they got into ...<ref>{{cite book|chapter=Nanase Ohkawa|author=Oshiguchi, Takashi|editor=Trish Ledoux|title=Anime Interviews: The First Five Years of Animerica, Anime & Manga Monthly (1992–97)|year=1997|location=San Francisco, California|publisher=Cadence Books|page=179|isbn=1-56931-220-6}}</ref> 
 |source = —writer [[Nanase Ohkawa]]
 |width  = 25%
 |align  = left
}}

A friend of Clamp, illustrator Takeshi Okazaki, created the "Rayearth" part of the title, while Ohkawa thought of the rest.<ref name="Kiseki"/> At that point, Clamp had completed a "basic" idea of the plot.<ref name="Kiseki"/> For the names of the characters, they drew on car names, feeling that they would be interesting and memorable for children, who might otherwise have difficulty learning the names of characters in [[katakana]].<ref name="Kiseki"/><ref name="Animerica"/> The inclusion of giant robots gave the artists some difficulty, as the massive scale of the robots made it impossible to depict the characters and robots in the same frame.<ref name="Kiseki"/> The artists also omitted the cockpit of the robots, to show their faces instead.<ref name="Kiseki"/> Greatly anticipating the ending to the first part of the series, Clamp found the protagonists' initial adventures in Cephiro "really easy" to create.<ref name="Kiseki"/> Ohkawa noted that, had their target audience been older or male, they would have considered stopping the series with the conclusion of part one.<ref name="Kiseki"/> The second part, however, proved difficult for the group to create, as they felt as if they had "written [them]selves into a corner".<ref name="Kiseki"/>

''Magic Knight Rayearth'' explores "fate, grim destiny, and sacrifice," as do many of Clamp's works.<ref name="Animerica"/> According to Ohkawa, who believes in choosing one's fate, humanity's fate is caused by one's actions; Cephiro is merely an exaggeration of Earth.<ref name="Animerica"/>

==Media==
===Manga===
Written and illustrated by [[Clamp (manga artists)|Clamp]], ''Magic Knight Rayearth'' appeared as a [[serial (literature)|serial]] in the Japanese magazine ''[[Nakayoshi]]'' from November 1993 to February 1995. [[Kodansha]] collected the chapters in three ''[[tankōbon]]'' volumes. The first was published on July 22, 1994; the last was released on March 6, 1995.<ref name="Clamp-net"/> The sequel also appeared in ''Nakayoshi'' from March 1995 to April 1996.

In 1997, [[Tokyopop]] licensed ''Magic Knight Rayearth'' for an English-language translation in North America, and serialized it in its manga magazine ''[[Tokyopop (magazine)|MixxZine]]''.<ref name="Animerica"/> The English version of the manga was at first issued in a flipped left to right format, but was re-released in the original right to left format in later editions. The English version of the manga also at first continued the volume numbering through the two series, such that ''Magic Knight Rayearth II'' volumes #1–3 were numbered as volumes "#4–6" (i.e., the 2000/2001 release of ''Magic Knight Rayearth'' volume 4 has the same content as the 2003/2004 re-release's ''Magic Knight Rayearth II'' volume 1).

It would appear that Tokyopop has lost their license for the series, as [[Dark Horse Comics]] announced at their [[San Diego Comic-Con]] 2009 panel that they would be publishing the series in a new [[anthology|omnibus]] edition in honor of Clamp's 20th anniversary.<ref name="DH_CC">{{cite web |title=Dark Horse - San Diego Comic-Con International 2009 |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/convention/2009/san-diego-comic-con-international/dark-horse |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=2009-07-25 |access-date=2009-07-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090730202833/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/convention/2009/san-diego-comic-con-international/dark-horse |archive-date=2009-07-30 |url-status=live }}</ref> Dark Horse published the omnibus editions from July 6, 2011, to April 12, 2012.<ref name="Omnibus Vol. 1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/17-764/Magic-Knight-Rayearth-Volume-2-TPB|title=Magic Knight Rayearth Volume 2 TPK :: Profile|publisher=Dark Horse|access-date=August 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202224759/http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/17-764/Magic-Knight-Rayearth-Volume-2-TPB|archive-date=December 2, 2013|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

After Dark Horse Comics' license expired, [[Kodansha USA|Kodansha Comics]] licensed it and released the series digitaly and in two hardcover box sets containing three volumes each in honor of the manga's 25th anniversary from November 26, 2019, to December 29, 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-03-13/kodansha-comics-vertical-add-bakemonogatari-cells-at-work-code-black-granblue-fantasy-manga/.144500|title=Kodansha Comics, Vertical Add Bakemonogatari, Cells at Work! Code Black, Granblue Fantasy Manga|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=March 13, 2019|access-date=March 30, 2020}}</ref> At [[Anime NYC]] 2022, Kodansha USA announced that they would release a paperback edition,<ref>{{cite web|title=Fall 2023 New Print Licensing Announcement|url=https://kodansha.us/2022/11/23/fall-2023-new-print-licensing-announcement/|website=kodansha.us|publisher=[[Kodansha USA]]|access-date=November 24, 2022|date=November 23, 2022}}</ref> with the first volume released on December 12, 2023.

The series is also licensed in French by [[Pika Édition]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pika.fr/new/node/1381|title=Magic Knight Rayearth volume 6|publisher=[[Pika Édition]]|access-date=2009-08-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614100429/http://www.pika.fr/new/node/1381|archive-date=2013-06-14}}</ref> and in Spanish by [[Planeta DeAgostini]] and later by [[Norma Editorial]].

====''Magic Knight Rayearth''====
{{Graphic novel list/header
 | Language       = Japanese
 | SecondLanguage = North American
 | Width          = 75%
 | LineColor      = FCC
}}
{{Graphic novel list
 | VolumeNumber    = 1
 | OriginalRelDate = July 22, 1994<ref name="Clamp-net"/>
 | OriginalISBN    = 4-06-334642-0
 | LicensedRelDate = January 1999<br/>August 5, 2003<br/>(unflipped re-release)
 | LicensedISBN    = 978-1-892213-00-6|LicensedISBN_note=<br/>{{ISBNT|1-59182-082-0}}
}}
{{Graphic novel list
 | VolumeNumber    = 2
 | OriginalRelDate = November 22, 1994<ref name="Clamp-net"/>
 | OriginalISBN    = 4-06-334643-9
 | LicensedRelDate = March 1999<br/>October 14, 2003<br/>(unflipped re-release)
 | LicensedISBN    = 978-1-892213-08-2|LicensedISBN_note=<br/>{{ISBNT|1-59182-083-9}}
}}
{{Graphic novel list
 | VolumeNumber    = 3
|OriginalRelDate=March 6, 1995<ref name="Clamp-net">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210200457/http://www.clamp-net.com/works/rayearth|archive-date=2012-02-10|url=http://www.clamp-net.com/works/rayearth|title=CLAMP公式ウェブサイト|publisher=[[Clamp (manga artists)|Clamp]]|language=ja|access-date=2009-08-20}}</ref>
 | OriginalISBN    = 4-06-334644-7
 | LicensedRelDate = September 1999<br/>December 9, 2003<br/>(unflipped re-release)
 | LicensedISBN    = 978-1-892213-16-7|LicensedISBN_note=<br/>{{ISBNT|1-59182-084-7}}
}}
{{Graphic novel list/footer}}

====''Magic Knight Rayearth II''====
{{Graphic novel list/header
 | Language       = Japanese
 | SecondLanguage = North American
 | Width          = 75%
 | LineColor      = FCC
}}
{{Graphic novel list
 | VolumeNumber    = 1
 | OriginalRelDate = July 26, 1995<ref name="Clamp-net 2"/>
 | OriginalISBN    = 4-06-334659-5
 | LicensedRelDate = June 2000<br/>February 10, 2004<br/>(unflipped re-release)
 | LicensedISBN    = 978-1-892213-43-3|LicensedISBN_note=<br/>{{ISBNT|1-59182-266-1}}
}}
{{Graphic novel list
 | VolumeNumber    = 2
 | OriginalRelDate = December 18, 1995<ref name="Clamp-net 2"/>
 | OriginalISBN    = 4-06-334660-9
 | LicensedRelDate = March 2001<br/>April 6, 2004<br/>(unflipped re-release)
 | LicensedISBN    = 978-1-892213-52-5|LicensedISBN_note=<br/>{{ISBNT|1-59182-267-X}}
}}
{{Graphic novel list
 | VolumeNumber    = 3
 | OriginalRelDate = April 23, 1996<ref name="Clamp-net 2">{{cite web|url=http://www.clamp-net.com/manga/rayearth2|title=CLAMP公式ウェブサイト|publisher=[[Clamp (manga artists)|Clamp]]|language=ja|access-date=August 20, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090729043136/http://www.clamp-net.com/manga/rayearth2|archive-date=July 29, 2009|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
 | OriginalISBN    = 4-06-334661-7
 | LicensedRelDate = June 2001<br/>June 8, 2004<br/>(unflipped re-release)
 | LicensedISBN    = 978-1-892213-72-3|LicensedISBN_note=<br/>{{ISBNT|1-59182-268-8}}
}}
{{Graphic novel list/footer}}

===Anime===
{{Main|List of Magic Knight Rayearth episodes}}

The anime series aired first on [[Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation|Yomiuri Television]] and other [[Nippon Television Network System|NNS]] stations in Japan on October 17, 1994, and ended on November 27, 1995. It was directed by [[Toshihiro Hirano]] and co-produced by YTV and [[Tokyo Movie Shinsha]] (now TMS Entertainment). The anime had 2 seasons, lasting 49 episodes altogether.

The TV series was licensed in the U.S. twice, first by [[The Ocean Group]], which was supposed to air on [[Fox Kids]] in a test pilot run in the 1990s, and second by [[Media Blasters]] and was dubbed by [[Bang Zoom! Entertainment]] from 1999 to 2000.

The anime series was also aired on the [[Philippines|Philippine]] television network [[ABS-CBN]] in 1996, dubbed in [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]] and airing every Sunday at 9:00 am for the first season and 10:30 am for the second season in 1997. It was popular with Filipino female children and became one of the Philippines' highest-rated anime series of the 20th century, helping to revitalize Filipino interest in anime. It was later aired on [[GMA Network]] on November 26, 2001, but on a weekday basis and with a [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]] dub produced by Telesuccess Productions.

It was released on both VHS and DVD. [[Discotek Media]] re-released the series on DVD and Blu-ray on January 31, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-11-21/discotek-adds-rayearth-tv-saint-seiya-the-lost-canvas-descendants-of-darkness-igpx-lupin-iii-bank-of-liberty/.81314|title=Discotek Adds Rayearth TV, Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas, Descendants of Darkness, IGPX, Lupin III: Bank of Liberty|publisher=Anime News Network|date=2014-11-21|access-date=2014-11-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141125051356/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-11-21/discotek-adds-rayearth-tv-saint-seiya-the-lost-canvas-descendants-of-darkness-igpx-lupin-iii-bank-of-liberty/.81314|archive-date=2014-11-25|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Knight-Rayearth-Complete-Collection-Blu-ray/dp/B01MQVNWEL/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1538188219&sr=8-1&keywords=magic+knight+rayearth|title = Magic Knight Rayearth Complete Collection Blu Ray| website=Amazon |date = 31 January 2017}}</ref> [[Anime Limited]] announced that they had acquired the series for release in the United Kingdom and Ireland.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://animeuknews.net/2018/10/anime-limited-sword-art-online-alternative/|title=Anime Limited To Release Sword Art Online Alternative & More|last=Stevens|first=Josh A.|publisher=Anime UK News|date=October 28, 2018|access-date=October 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131221906/https://animeuknews.net/2018/10/anime-limited-sword-art-online-alternative/|archive-date=January 31, 2019|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

A new anime project was announced to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the anime series on July 2, 2024.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pineda|first=Rafael Antonio|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-07-01/clamp-magic-knight-rayearth-manga-gets-new-anime-project/.212711|title=CLAMP's Magic Knight Rayearth Manga Gets New Anime Project|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=July 2, 2024|accessdate=July 2, 2024}}</ref>

===OVA===
A three-part [[original video animation|OVA]] was released in Japan a few years after the end of the manga and the TV series (July 25, September 26, and December 10, 1997). The OVA was named simply ''Rayearth'', and its story was quite different from the original. The characters are all the same, but the relationships, places and events changed radically.

In the OVA, Hikaru, Umi and Fuu are already friends who go to the same school and will soon be leaving for high school. Suddenly, a strange [[fairy]] (which turns out to be Mokona, the creature from the original series) appears in front of them. At the same time, strange monsters and wizards start to appear in the city of Tokyo. One of them is Clef, who tries to guide the three girls in order to let them become the Magic Knights, awaken their ''Mashin'' and fight against the evil wizards from Cephiro, who are trying to invade the human world. In this version, Ferio, who is a sorcerer under Princess Emeraude's command, is not her brother. Eagle Vision fills that role instead, as well as being the main antagonist after he tricked Zagato to commit suicide in order to bring upon a false balance to Cephiro. His ties to Autozam are non-existent in this version, as he is a citizen of Cephiro from the start. He would put a spell on Emeraude to convince her that Zagato is still alive, so that the sorcerers of Cephiro can continue to exist on Earth as the two worlds would soon merge and each sorcerer would battle against the Magic Knights. Lantis is also introduced right away as being an ally to the Magic Knights and against Eagle's plans. The only other characters that are in the OVA are Ascot and Alcyone, with none of the other characters are featured.

The OVA is licensed in the U.S. by [[Manga Entertainment]], who opted to use a different New York-based voice cast for its English release, which was produced by [[NYAV Post|Skypilot Entertainment]].

===Theme songs===
; '''Opening themes'''

Three opening themes were used in the series and one in the OVA ''Rayearth'':

'''''Magic Knight Rayearth''''':
* Episodes 1–20: {{nihongo|"Unyielding Wish"|｢ゆずれない願い｣|"Yuzurenai Negai"}} by [[Naomi Tamura]]

'''''Magic Knight Rayearth 2''''':
* Episodes 1–22: {{nihongo|"I Can't Hate You"|｢キライになれない｣|"Kirai ni narenai"}} by {{nihongo|Ayumi Nakamura|中村あゆみ|Nakamura Ayumi}}
* Episodes 23–29: {{nihongo|"Still Embracing Light and Darkness"|｢光と影を抱きしめたまま｣|"Hikari to Kage o Dakishimeta mama"}} by Naomi Tamura

Media Blasters' early English DVD release used "Still Embracing Light and Darkness" as the opening for ''Magic Knight Rayearth 2'' episodes 1–22, due to licensing issues. The original openings from episodes 1–22 were included as an extra on the early DVDs, and was only in Japanese, however this isn't the case with the remastered sets, in which the dubbed openings were removed, meaning all three openings are left intact.

;'''Ending themes'''

Three ending themes were used:

'''''Magic Knight Rayearth''''':
* Episodes 1–20: {{nihongo|"The Courage Leading to Tomorrow"|｢明日への勇気｣|"Asu e no Yūki"}} by {{nihongo|Keiko Yoshinari|吉成 圭子|Yoshinari Keiko}}

'''''Magic Knight Rayearth 2''''':
* Episodes 1–22: {{nihongo|"Lullaby - Let me embrace you tenderly -"|｢ら·ら·ば·い〜優しく抱かせて〜｣|"Lullaby ~ Yasashiku Dakasete"}} by {{nihongo|[[Minako Honda]]|本田 美奈子|Honda Minako}}
* Episodes 23–29: {{nihongo|"It Will Shine Someday"|｢いつか輝く｣|"Itsuka Kagayaku"}} by Keiko Yoshinari

Media Blasters' early English DVD release used "Lullaby ~ Yasashiku Dakasete ~" as the ending for ''Magic Knight Rayearth 2'' episodes 23–29, due to licensing issues. The original ending from episodes 23-29 was included as an extra on the early DVDs, and was only in Japanese, this again was eventually rectified in the remastered sets, in which, like the openings the dubbed endings were removed meaning all three endings were left intact.

In the early English releases of the TV series, [[Sandy Fox]] sang both the available opening and ending themes in the English dubbed version.

'''''Rayearth''''':
* OVA: "All You Need Is Love" by Naomi Tamura

==Video games==
A number of [[video game]]s have been released that are based on ''Magic Knight Rayearth''. [[Magic Knight Rayearth (video game)|''Magic Knight Rayearth'']], an adventure [[role-playing video game|role-playing game]] (RPG) set in the first TV season, was released for the [[Sega Saturn]]. It was the last officially released game for the console in the North America. All other games based on the manga are Japan-only releases, including a [[Super Famicom]] RPG, a [[Sega Pico]] title called ''[[Magic Knight Tanjou]]'', two short RPGs for [[Game Boy]] (the second one titled ''Magic Knight Rayearth 2nd: The Missing Colors''), a [[raising sim]], and another RPG for [[Sega Game Gear]].

The series appears in the ''[[Super Robot Wars T]]'' game, released in 2019, as well as 2021's ''[[Super Robot Wars 30]]''.

==Reception==
''Magic Knight Rayearth'' has been well received by English-language readers. According to Dark Horse Comics, almost 200,000 copies of the series have been sold in the United States.<ref name="Omnibus Vol. 1">{{cite web|url=http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/16-763/Magic-Knight-Rayearth-Omnibus-Edition|title=Magic Knight Rayearth Omnibus Edition :: Profile|publisher=Dark Horse|access-date=August 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721133241/http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/16-763/Magic-Knight-Rayearth-Omnibus-Edition|archive-date=July 21, 2013|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The first volume of Tokyopop's re-release of ''Magic Knight Rayearth II'' placed 44th on the list of the top 100 bestselling graphic novels for February 2004, with an estimated 1,446 copies sold.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/4432.html|title=Top 100 Graphic Novels Actual -- February 2004|date=March 16, 2004|publisher=ICv2|access-date=August 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515122637/http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/4432.html|archive-date=May 15, 2013|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The first volume of Dark Horse's omnibus edition appeared at the 83rd place of the list of the top 300 bestselling graphic novels for July 2011, with an estimated 1,069 copies sold.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/20796.html|title=Top 300 Graphic Novels Actual -- July 2011|date=August 11, 2011|publisher=ICv2|access-date=August 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917105108/http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/20796.html|archive-date=September 17, 2013|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The second volume placed 109th on the list for April 2012, with an estimated 942 copies sold.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/22843.html|title=Top 300 Graphic Novels Actual -- April 2012|date=May 7, 2012|publisher=ICv2|access-date=August 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917041537/http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/22843.html|archive-date=September 17, 2013|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

==References==
=== General ===
* {{cite book|author=Clamp|author-link=Clamp (manga artists)|title=Magic Knight Rayearth|volume=1–3|year=2002|publisher=[[Tokyopop]]|location=Los Angeles, California}}
* {{cite book|author=Clamp|title=Magic Knight Rayearth II|year=2003|volume=1–3|publisher=Tokyopop|location=Los Angeles, California}}

=== Specific ===
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite web |last=Divers |first=Allen |date=25 August 2003 |title=Procrastination is a State of Mind - TT |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/tankobon-tower/2003-08-25 |publisher=Anime News Network}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20010219070338/http://j-pop.com/anime/reviews/03_magicoav.html J-pop.com] review of OVAs
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040407172007/http://www.animerica-mag.com/features/rayearth.html ''Animerica'' review]
* [http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/16-763/Magic-Knight-Rayearth-Omnibus-Edition ''Magic Knight Rayearth''] at [[Dark Horse Comics]]'s official website
* {{Anime News Network|manga|1565}}
* {{IMDb title|qid=Q127717083}}

{{Magic Knight Rayearth}}
{{Clamp}}
{{Nakayoshi}}
{{TMS Entertainment}}
{{TMS Entertainment OVAs}}

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