This is a list of the names of the child and elements used in the My-HiME anime series.
"CHILDs" are the different creatures that are being summoned by the HiMEs in their fight as their protector. The names and appearance of the child were based from ancient mythological creatures, monsters, and deities. Also, the child can be considered as the combination of living creatures with flesh and of mechanical or technological parts.
The life of the child was connected with the life of the most important person in the life of the HiME. If the child of a certain HiME dies, the most important person in her life will also die.
Kagutsuchi is the child of Mai Tokiha. It is a giant dragon-like creature with wings of fire. It has the ability to release fireballs from its mouth. It is also somewhat associated with whales and dolphins (hence the fin-like protrusions on its face and the sounds which it communicates with). Another reference is to the legendary phoenix as Kagutsuchi is shown to be able to be reborn from fire. Also, Kagutsuchi has the ability to fly with incredible speed because of its jet mode. There is a sword in its head, known as the Sword of Sealing. It was made by the Obsidian Lord, acting as a seal on its powers, allowing the Obsidian Lord to suppress it when needed. During the final battle, the HiME's attack on the HiME star weakens the Obsidian Lord and destroys the sword, loosening the control and allows Kagutsuchi full access to all its power to destroy the Obsidian Lord within Reito.
Kagutsuchi is based on Honokaguchi (Kagu-tsuchi), a god of fire in Japanese mythology. He is the son of two gods, Izanami no Mikoto and Izanagi no Mikoto, who are the creators of the islands of Japan. As Honokaguchi was born, he burned his mother Izanami to death, becoming a motherless child like Mai. Whether this is the cause or not, Izanagi beheaded Honokaguchi with the totosuka sword, a sword ten grips long. The sword stuck in Kagutsuchi’s head is a reference to this. His body which was cut into eight pieces, and became eight volcanoes.
Mikoto Minagi's child was Miroku. At first, Mikoto's element the claymore was introduced to be her child but later it was revealed that it was only her element. Both of her child and element were named Miroku that caused this confusion.
The true appearance of Miroku was a giant ogre like creature that carries a giant spiked club. Miroku appeared to be like a full armored warrior with three arms and a big eye in it central body but its true face has in lower part. In earlier episodes Miroku only appeared as spikes that came out of the ground at Mikoto's command. Mikoto herself does not appear to completely control the Child, who is referred to as the protector of the Obsidian Lord and attempts to block an attack against him during the final battle.
The most obvious reference for Miroku is the absolute god Miroku, Maitreya in Sanskrit, from the religion Mitra. As for Mikoto, we see her name along with Izanami’s and Izanagi’s. It’s probably why she’s always stuck with Mai. Miroku's name was adopted from Japanese term for "Maitreya Buddha" as prophesied by the Buddha before entering nirvana.
Duran was a silver wolf like creature. It was the child of Natsuki Kuga. She named Duran after her deceased pet dog. Duran was aided with a pair of cannons on its back, and also by the different mechanical parts and weapons in its hind legs, which were composed of several types of projectiles. Shizuru dies because she was Natsuki's most important person when Duran was destroyed.
Duran is probably based on Dylan from Celtic mythology, the son of Arianrhod. Dylan is also said to be the child of waves, therefore he became the god of oceans. This corresponds with how Duran comes out of ice. Another point about Natsuki is her relationship with her mother. Arianrhod had another son named Lleu, whom she almost kills. Although there is a difference of gender, Arianrhod could be Natsuki’s mother, Lleu being Natsuki, and Dylan being Duran. Also, it could be that the name of Duran was adopted from the term "Dylan" which means "ice".
Gakutenou was a strange and unidentified creature that looks like an armadillo or even lion. Gakutenou's back legs has the ability to transform into wheels, allowing Midori Sugiura, its HiME master, to move at high speeds on land and in the air and also by rotating its wheels at high power. It can also launch a tornado that can trap an enemy within. It has an extendable tail-like blade that can cut through hard stones. Its shape allows it to become a living projectile; the rocket thrusters on its back give it an incredible amount of thrust, which it uses in its Spiral Dash attack: gathering speed, it rushes forward, covering itself in energy and then physically blasting through whatever is in its path. It can go through a wall of solid stone and even the metal hull of a ship. For this ability Gakutenou can be associated with a rhinoceros.
There is no god with a name of anything close to Gakutenou. The name in Japanese describes a “state of great shock”, so strong that one doesn’t know what to do. So literally translated, Gakutenou becomes “a king that surprises even the heavens”. In Kojiki, an old Japanese text, there’s a line that vaguely translates to “Susanoo no Mikoto violently kills a woman who wears a heavenly robe”. Susanoo is a god in Japanese mythology who killed Yamata no Orochi, the eight headed dragon that symbolizes chaos, but he himself was a very rough man. Rough enough to makes Amaterasu no Mikoto, the goddess of the sun, so upset that she hid herself away, covering the world in darkness. The closest call for basis of Gakutenou would probably be Susanoo.
Harry (sometimes spelled as Hari) was the child of Akane Higurashi. Harry bears a resemblance to a giant tiger. It has the ability to manipulate wind currents to slash at enemies before drawing them into a vacuum to crush them.
When Harry was killed by Miyu Greer, Kazuya Kurauchi also died in front of her because he was her boyfriend and the most important person in Akane's life.
Seeing how Akane uses a tonfa, it brings attention to the Asian culture. Rather than a god, Harry’s origin can be found in a non-fictional source in Malaysia. Tani Yutaka’s little sister was killed in England, but the murderer was judged to be innocent. For revenge, this Japanese man began stealing valuable belongings in England and giving them away to people in Malaysia where he lived, making him legendary there. His acts of kindness, from Malaysian point of view, lead to creation of Harimau Beneficial Bandits. The character that symbolizes the group is Harimau, the word for "tiger" in Malaysia.
Nao Yuuki's child was Julia. Julia appeared as a green and yellow half-human female spider with a scorpion tail. Julia's main ability is her sharp tail similar to a stinger as well as releasing its sticky web-like strings from its abdomen and chest. Julia is also capable of emitting some kind of acidic liquid by opening its chest, possibly a reference to the venom of spiders. Julia follows in every command of Nao by the help of her element. Nao used her in robbing men that she attracts.
Julia has most likely originated from a god in Cthulhu mythology, Atlach-Nacha. Atlach-Nacha is a spider with a face of a human that is said to dwell in a hole it dug, planning to bring an end to the world. It is said to be a god that cannot multitask, therefore it becomes very upset when interrupted with what it is doing. It is also said that it can be summoned, but doing so would entangle the summoner in the web and leave them no option but to be eaten. How appropriate to Nao’s child.
Akira Okuzaki's child, a huge frog like creature named Gennai, has the ability to blind enemies with the giant spotlights on its back, allowing her to control the shadow of her enemy in the ground and allow Gennai to execute its Jigoku Gama (literally "Hell Toad") attack, which involves Gennai launching a huge spiked ball out of its mouth towards the enemy. In summoning Gennai, Akira needs to say the long incantation "Rin, Pyou (or Byou), Tou, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai, Zen (Kuji-in), Gennai, Appearance!"; however, it's debatable if this is actually necessary, as Akira later summons Gennai without the incantation.
This is another example of an origin in an existing person. Gennai is probably based on Hiraga Gennai, a scientist who lived from 1728 to 1780. He is most famous for inventing elekiter (electrostatic generator) that generate electricity. The toad is equipped with the electrostatic, as shown it being used once. As for Akira’s outfit, it must be a reference to Jiraiya. Jiraiya is a fictional ninja who rode on toad and fought for the poor by stealing from the rich.
Sister Yukariko Sanada's child, named St. Vlas (St. Vrus), was a resemblance of a knight, a piece in the game of chess, that can change its shape into a winged unicorn during its iron maiden form. It also has the ability to force its opponents into an illusion before crushing them with its large wings in the style of an iron maiden.
Sister Yukariko, being a nun, has a partial reference to Christianity. Back when Christianity was the target of persecution, the cross used to be the target of arrow, and whoever was able to stick three on it was said to be able to become a master of archery. Whether this is the origin or not, three signifies demons, such as the trident that the devils are usually drawn with. Later on, the word “hamartia”, meaning “sin”, was made due to pressure from Greece, but it literally translates as “off target”. As for Sister Yukariko’s child, its origin can be seen in a god originally named Volos. When Volos’ idol was thrown into the Pocayna River, he either became the devil, or alternately he became St. Vlas (St. Blaise), a shepherd. He is often tied together with the image of sexual suppression and male organs. St. Vlas's iron maiden-like ability is possibly a reference to St. Blaise's martyrdom.
Yukino Kikukawa's child, Diana, is a weird plant-like creature that has the ability to sprout spores that serves as mini-cameras. Also, Diana can attack its enemies by the use of its tentacle-like roots. As reported in the official guidebook, Diana is a reference to Anne of Green Gables. Anne’s best friend Diana notices how Anne is growing a mysterious plant in the forest. If Diana is a reference to this, this means Haruka represents Anne, while Diana is Yukino and her child to the mysterious plant. Also, it might be that Diana was named after the Roman goddess named Diana, the goddess of forest and of the moon.
Shizuru Fujino's child was Kiyohime, a combination of a giant squid and of the Hydra. Kiyohime's multiple snake heads serves as its tentacles, allow it to attack quickly and repeatedly, and each of its heads can spray an acidic silver poison. Kiyohime is one of the largest childs in the anime, comparibly similar in size to Mai's Child, Kagusutchi, and Mikoto's Child, Miroku, and arguably, one of the strongest.
Kiyohime is right out of the Konjaku Monogatarishū, a classic Japanese work of literature that is titled “The Story of Kiyohime”. During their travels to Kumano, a nameless old monk and a young monk named Anchin (Anjin) stop by a house to stay for a night. The owner of the house, Kiyohime (Kiyo), who’s a widow, falls in love with Anchin at first sight and approaches him to start a relationship. However, Anchin devotes himself to Buddhism, so he fears Kiyohime, and therefore lies to her by saying that he’ll return to her once he finishes his mission to Kumano. Kiyohime believes his word and waits, but Anchin does not return. Receiving no news from Anchin, Kiyohime asks a traveler from Kumano about Anchin’s whereabouts, and finds out that he had already gone back to his country. In anger, sadness, and jealousy, Kiyohime transforms into a giant snake. In fear of Kiyohime, Anchin hides under a bell but is soon found (so this makes Natsuki out to be Anchin in this case) and is turned into a snake as well. Anchin asks the old monk to send the both of them to heaven, and with the old monk’s prayers, the two of them rise to heaven together.
Shiho Munakata's child in the anime, called Yatagarasu, is a large crow like creature able to fire its feathers in projectile attacks, as well as a destructive beam attack from its beak. Oddly, this version of the mythical creature has only one leg.
Yatagarasu dwells in the sun, and is the messenger of the sun goddess, Amaterasu Omikami. Karasu means “crow”, so as easily guessed, this child is a crow. Crows are usually associated with negative images, but that’s a western influence. In Japan, it was originally a messenger of the gods characterized by loyalty, honesty, and devotion. However, Yatagarasu is usually depicted with three legs. Since Shiho’s child had only one leg, it means that loyalty, truthfulness and devotion must have been replaced with solitude, jealousy, and monopoly.
Fumi Himeno's child in the anime is actually Mashiro Kazahana, called Suishouhime (meaning Crystal Princess) in her Child form. Seeing how Fumi wields a death scythe, the best image for her would be Hades, the god of underworld. A word about her name probably comes from “hifumi norito”, a prayer that leads the spirit to heavenly peace. But since “hi” is missing, it’s probably going to stop at rest, not making its way to peace. This explains how Mashiro, who is over 300 years old, kept her soul in the present world. Mashiro, as Reito called her the queen of hell, would be put in the position of Izanami, who carries the nature of death in her character.
Alyssa Searrs' child was the giant satellite that float from outer space called Eclipse 1 Artemis. Eclipse 1 Artemis can fire a Golden Lighting by the command of Alyssa through her golden hairs, as well as missiles to defend itself.
A reference to Artemis, the goddess of mountains, sometimes the moon, and hunting from Greek mythology. A master of archery, this explains the accuracy when firing the Golden Lighting.
Element is the name for the objects that serves as the weapons of the HiMEs. Every HiMEs can summon their own element by their command. All HiMEs can do this except for the artificial HiME like Alyssa Searrs. Their elements also serve as an instrument in summoning their child. Their element are associated with their abilities and powers. Also, their elements and child has connection because their powers are connected to each others.
Her element is a set of four golden rings (bracelets) around her wrists and ankles. Each ring looks like a ring of fire when it spins, but in ordinary form it is a golden ring with emerald green magatama. When she materializes them, she engulfs herself in a pillar of flames, though she tends to keep it down to just flaming where they appear instead of all over. Her element allows her to float, giving her a unique ability in movement compared to all the other HiME as well as being able to accompany Kagutsuchi without having to ride it. She can use her element to create a fiery barrier to block attacks, or to create a flaming whip to attack with (though she rarely uses it). Her Element is apparently very strong, being able to withstand blows from even Mikoto's sword. By the use of her element, Mai summons Kagutsuchi, her CHILD, which rises out from a cyclone of fire.
Miroku is the name of Mikoto's element, a black claymore or two-handed sword (the same name as her CHILD). She is rather unique in that she never de-materializes her sword, carrying it with her wherever she goes; in the case she is separated from it, she can summon it to her location. When she uses it, she can strike it into the ground to open a dark portal, which can be used to partially summon Miroku (her CHILD) to attack as a series of sharp spikes coming from the ground or to cause a massive cutting wave (such as she does in the first episode, cleaving an entire steamship cleanly in half). Naturally, her element can be used as an ordinary sword, though capable of far more destructive power than a normal sword (as shown by her cutting just part of a truck and the whole thing splitting along an extension of the line where she had cut it). While wielding her sword, she often drags Miroku's tip along the ground while moving in a spinning motion, creating showers of sparks in the process (probably due to its massive weight relative to her more petite build, or possibly as just part of her fighting style). She is also able to summon Miroku, her child, while physically separated from the sword.
Kuga's element is a pair of revolver guns or pistols with spherical cylinder cases. She seemingly manifests these elements from an ice portal. She fires them in normal realistic intervals but apparently doesn't have to reload (a possible explanation for which is that she can also materialize new bullets as she fires).
Midori has a labrys as her Element, which she has a habit of using for show more often than combat, often carrying it like a banner instead of fighting with it. However, she has demonstrated it is not merely for decoration and that she is extremely proficient in handling it. She is even capable of using it in a very interesting method for a deadly ranged attack, throwing it to make it act as a flying spinning blade which boomerangs back to her, and catching it safely on its return.
Akane wields a pair of double-tonfa, essentially a regular tonfa, but with a second, freely spinning one attached to the outside of the ones she holds. Her Element allows her to manipulate wind currents as well as powerful cutting. Any further capabilities of her Element are unknown, as the anime showed both Akane's Child and Element in active combat for only one episode (they are seen again in the last episode, but no unique powers are used). As she does not lose her HiME status during the manga, one can see a depiction of how she would probably have fought.
Nao Yuuki's Element is a pair of twin metal claws (resembling a pair of bagh nakh) fitted from her knuckles up to her fingers. Protruding red nails from which thin red strings extend from can be used for ensnaring enemies, wrapping or cutting through objects. She has a habit of licking these nails during battles. In the manga, the nails have been shown to grow longer to fit the situation.
Her Element is a double-bladed kunai summoned with the word "on" (this has only been the case with its initial appearance, with further times she summons her Element wordlessly; most likely it was just to hold up the front of her powers being merely ninjutsu, to prevent her being identified as a HiME). She is also able to summon multiple smaller shuriken to use as throwing weapons. The kunai seems to be able to interact with one's shadow, as demonstrated when she rendered an Orphan immobile when she threw it to pin its shadow during a battle. Her manga rendition's Element is much larger.
Sister Yukariko's Element is a white bow with an ornamental horse head. With it, she can shoot flaming arrows at an opponent. Similar to Akane, what the actual powers of her Element are unknown; however, in Yukariko's case, it's due to her rarely using it onscreen, or even much at all.
Yukino's Element is a set of floating hexagonal mirrors, which she summons at the same time as her CHILD; the reason is because they work directly together, unlike the other HiME's Elements and CHILDs. Her CHILD, Diana, is able to produce 'spores' which function as mini-hidden cameras that turn invisible and float wherever she desires. Yukino can then designate specific mirrors to the spores as she likes, allowing her to be the perfect observer of any location, with no risk of detection. Her Element seems to be the only non-combat type Element in the anime, as she never uses it as such. However, it is possible that is because of both her extremely passive nature, as well as never being seen in a situation where she would need to be able to do so (it is possible she has faced Orphans off-screen). Also, since she always summons Diana along with her Element, she would quite possibly be able to rely on her for defense, while being able to observe the battle from any perspective and respond the best way.
Her Element is a red naginata with a straighter blade and more of a gap between the shaft and blade). It generally serves as a close range weapon, but the blade can also extend into a fully controlled chain-like extension, capable of tying/cutting someone up or even crushing solid metal within its coils. She has once even used her extending blade to cleanly cut off an entire face of a cliff. In Japan, the naginata was used as a status symbol.
Her Element is a deformed dark-red flute which can manipulate sound waves. With it, she can also enter a state of Astral Projection, allowing her to travel as just her soul (but still wielding the Element) to another location to be capable of attacking and directly seeing her opponent, but with no direct risk to herself and even being able to ignore the terrain.
How much direct control she has over this power is uncertain, as she seemed to only use it while sleeping, and only during the time she was at the hospital (during which she was consumed with extreme emotions, largely jealousy and anger); it could be however, that she merely didn't previously know of her own status as a HiME, and was triggering the powers unconsciously from her emotions.
Fumi's Element takes form as a large scythe. The blade is retractable but any other capabilities of this Element was not shown as the anime only showed a short glimpse of Fumi summoning it and then cut off as she charged with it, with the following 'battle' done unseen.
Alyssa herself does not have the ability to produce an Element. However, Miyu fights to defend her, filling in for the lack of one.
Clay is what is used to mend Yggdrasil, which is similar in this respect to the artificial Norse god Mokkurkalfi, that was created from clay during a battle between Thor and Hrungnir.
|
||||||||