Reiko Hikawa
Description
Reiko Hikawa is a Japanese author known primarily for her work as a fantasy novelist, with several of her stories serving as the source material for anime adaptations. She is most recognized in the context of anime for creating the original fantasy novel series that was adapted into the 1990 original video animation Gude Crest - The Emblem of Gude. Hikawa made her literary debut in 1988 with the series Basetto eiyūden Eruvāzu, a four-volume work that reportedly sold approximately one hundred thousand copies. This initial success established her as a prolific writer, and she has since authored over one hundred novels across numerous series and cycles.
Among her most notable works is the novel series Onna Senshi Efera to Jiriora, also known as The Female Soldiers Efera & Jiliora. This series, which comprises eight novels, is the foundation for the 1990 anime Gude Crest - The Emblem of Gude. The anime adaptation is a forty-five minute one-shot OVA produced by the studio J.C. Staff and directed by Kazuhito Kikuchi. It was released in Japan on June 23, 1990, and was later licensed for English release by ADV Films and Enoki Films USA, the latter under the title Jun and Sarah: Sacrifice of the Evil Spirit. The story follows two swordswomen, Efera and Jiliora, on a fantasy adventure, a premise that critics have noted is in the spirit of later fantasy anime like Slayers.
Beyond this flagship series, Hikawa has created several other long-running fantasy narratives. Her bibliography includes the eight-volume series Mitsurugi Monogatari, a trilogy of the same name, and the Asa Ō Kyūtei Monogatari series, which draws upon European-inspired Arthurian imagery. In addition to fiction, she has also published a non-fiction work on the fantasy genre titled Hikawa Reiko no Fantajii Shisetsu. Her creative identity is firmly rooted in high fantasy, often blending adventure, magic, and character-driven dynamics between heroines, with some of her character pairings being compared to the famous duo from the Dirty Pair series. Her significance in the industry lies in her status as a highly prolific fantasy novelist whose work contributed to the pool of source material adapted during the early boom of OVA productions in the late 1980s and early 1990s. While her name is not as widely known internationally as some manga artists, her novel series provided the direct narrative foundation for at least one notable anime title from that era.
Among her most notable works is the novel series Onna Senshi Efera to Jiriora, also known as The Female Soldiers Efera & Jiliora. This series, which comprises eight novels, is the foundation for the 1990 anime Gude Crest - The Emblem of Gude. The anime adaptation is a forty-five minute one-shot OVA produced by the studio J.C. Staff and directed by Kazuhito Kikuchi. It was released in Japan on June 23, 1990, and was later licensed for English release by ADV Films and Enoki Films USA, the latter under the title Jun and Sarah: Sacrifice of the Evil Spirit. The story follows two swordswomen, Efera and Jiliora, on a fantasy adventure, a premise that critics have noted is in the spirit of later fantasy anime like Slayers.
Beyond this flagship series, Hikawa has created several other long-running fantasy narratives. Her bibliography includes the eight-volume series Mitsurugi Monogatari, a trilogy of the same name, and the Asa Ō Kyūtei Monogatari series, which draws upon European-inspired Arthurian imagery. In addition to fiction, she has also published a non-fiction work on the fantasy genre titled Hikawa Reiko no Fantajii Shisetsu. Her creative identity is firmly rooted in high fantasy, often blending adventure, magic, and character-driven dynamics between heroines, with some of her character pairings being compared to the famous duo from the Dirty Pair series. Her significance in the industry lies in her status as a highly prolific fantasy novelist whose work contributed to the pool of source material adapted during the early boom of OVA productions in the late 1980s and early 1990s. While her name is not as widely known internationally as some manga artists, her novel series provided the direct narrative foundation for at least one notable anime title from that era.
Works
- Topics: Anime overview