Spirit of Wonder

{{Infobox animanga/Header

| image = Spirit of Wonder v1 cover.jpg

| caption = {{Transliteration|ja|Wideban}} volume cover

| genre = Steampunk{{cite web|last=Pinon|first=Matthieu|title=#TBT : Spirit of Wonder| url=https://animeland.fr/2017/09/28/tbt-spirit-of-wonder/ |website=AnimeLand |access-date=December 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012212543/http://www.animeland.fr/2017/09/28/tbt-spirit-of-wonder/ |archive-date=October 12, 2017 |language=fr |date=September 28, 2017 |url-status=live}}

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Print

| type = manga

| author = Kenji Tsuruta

| publisher = Kodansha

| publisher_en = {{English manga publisher|NA=Dark Horse Comics}}

| demographic = {{Transliteration|ja|Seinen}}

| magazine = {{ubl|Weekly Morning {{noitalic|(1986–1988)}}|Monthly Afternoon {{noitalic|(1989–1994)}}}}

| first = 1986

| last = 1994

| volumes = 1

| volume_list =

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

| type = ova

| title = Miss China's Ring

| director = Mitsuru Hongo

| producer =

| writer = Michiru Shimada

| music = Kohei Tanaka

| studio = Ajia-do Animation Works

| licensee = {{English anime licensee

| NA = AnimEigo

}}

| released = June 3, 1992

| runtime = 42 minutes

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

| type = ova

| director = Takashi Annō

| producer =

| writer =

| music = Hayato Matsuo

| studio = Ajia-do Animation Works

| licensee = {{English anime licensee

| NA = Bandai Entertainment

}}

| first = January 25, 2001

| last = January 23, 2004

| runtime =

| episodes = 5

| episode_list =

}}

Spirit of Wonder is a Japanese anthology manga series written and illustrated by Kenji Tsuruta. It was serialized in Kodansha's Seinen manga magazines Morning and Monthly Afternoon from 1986 to 1994. A single-episode original video animation (OVA) animated by Ajia-do Animation Works and released by Toshiba-EMI, Spirit of Wonder: Miss China's Ring, was released in 1992. Another five-episode OVA was produced and released by Bandai Visual from 2001 to 2004.

Overview

Spirit of Wonder consists of self-contained short stories, whose common factor is that they revolve around scientists developing absurd inventions, with plots involving treasure hunting, time travel or space travel. The stories are inspired by science fiction authors like H. G. Wells, Jules Verne,{{cite web|last=Macdonald|first=Christopher|title=Los Angeles Anime Festival|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2003-04-16/los-angeles-anime-festival|website=Anime News Network|access-date=December 8, 2022|date=April 16, 2003|archive-date=November 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104224322/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2003-04-16/los-angeles-anime-festival|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Bürk|first=Katja|title=Spirit of Wonder|website=animePRO.de|url=https://www.animepro.de/anima/db/285_spirit-of-wonder-manga|access-date=December 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161217112057/https://www.animepro.de/anima/db/285_spirit-of-wonder-manga|archive-date=December 17, 2016|language=de|date=April 2, 2010}} and Edmond Hamilton.{{cite web|last=Toole|first=Mike|title=Spirit of Wonder|url=http://www.animejump.com/index.php?module=prodreviews&func=showcontent&id=361|website=Anime Jump|access-date=December 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050320142445/http://www.animejump.com/index.php?module=prodreviews&func=showcontent&id=361|archive-date=March 20, 2005|date=October 18, 2003}} The title was inspired by the Spirit of St. Louis aircraft, flown by Charles Lindbergh on the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight.{{cite web|last=Gunther|first=Nickel|last2=Groenewald|first2=Michael|title=Spirit of Wonder|url=https://www.splashcomics.de/php/specials/25|website=Splash Comics|access-date=December 8, 2022|language=de|date=February 25, 2002|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230814165425/https://www.splashcomics.de/php/specials/25|archive-date=August 14, 2023|url-status=live}} The first nine chapters, which were published in Weekly Morning, feature different protagonists, times, and places, while the last three chapters, which were published in Monthly Afternoon, feature the only recurrent protagonist, Miss China.

Media

=Manga=

Written and illustrated by Kenji Tsuruta, Spirit of Wonder was irregularly published for 12 chapters (including a pilot chapter) in Kodansha's Seinen manga magazines Weekly Morning (and its special editions) and Monthly Afternoon from 1986 to 1994.{{efn|List of chapters and magazines:

Chapter 0—Weekly Morning #38 (1986){{cite web|script-title=ja:The Spirit of Wonder 掲載誌|url=http://www.ne.jp/asahi/bump/s-tsuruta/maniac/80s/kenji/sow0-8.html|website=Shuji Tsuruta's Personal Web Site|access-date=December 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041201035204/http://www.ne.jp/asahi/bump/s-tsuruta/maniac/80s/kenji/sow0-8.html|archive-date=December 1, 2004|language=ja|url-status=live}}
Chapter 1—Morning Open Zōkan #4 (1987)
Chapter 2—Morning Open Zōkan #5 (1987)
Chapter 3—Weekly Morning #14 (1987)
Chapter 4—Weekly Morning #20 (1987)
Chapter 5—Weekly Morning #30 (1987)
Chapter 6—Morning Colorful Zōkan #2 (1987)
Chapter 7—Weekly Morning #42 (1987)
Chapter 8—Weekly Morning #1 (1988)
Chapter 9—Monthly Afternoon (January 1990){{cite web|url=https://order.mandarake.co.jp/order/detailPage/item?itemCode=1053662765|publisher=Mandarake Inc.|access-date=December 7, 2022|script-title=ja:月刊アフタヌーン 1990/01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207074826/https://order.mandarake.co.jp/order/detailPage/item?itemCode=1053662765|archive-date=December 7, 2022|language=ja|url-status=live}}{{efn|The issue was published in 1989.{{cite magazine|title=Contents|url=https://order.mandarake.co.jp/order/detailPage/item?itemCode=1057209204|magazine=Monthly Afternoon|publisher=Kodansha|issue=November 1989 issue|access-date=January 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240113073020/https://order.mandarake.co.jp/order/detailPage/item?itemCode=1057209204|archive-date=January 13, 2024|language=ja|no-pp=y|page=Table of contents|quote={{lang|ja|[…] 当選者の発表は, アフタヌーン1月号(11月25日発売) 誌上にて行います。}}|url-status=live}}}}
Chapter 10—Monthly Afternoon (May 1991){{cite web|url=https://order.mandarake.co.jp/order/detailPage/item?itemCode=1057208008|publisher=Mandarake Inc.|access-date=December 7, 2022|script-title=ja:月刊アフタヌーン 1991/05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207091840/https://order.mandarake.co.jp/order/detailPage/item?itemCode=1057208008|archive-date=December 7, 2022|language=ja|url-status=live}}
Chapter 11—Monthly Afternoon (January 1995){{cite web|url=https://order.mandarake.co.jp/order/detailPage/item?itemCode=1057209165|publisher=Mandarake Inc.|access-date=December 7, 2022|script-title=ja:月刊アフタヌーン 1995/01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207091906/https://order.mandarake.co.jp/order/detailPage/item?itemCode=1053317082|archive-date=December 7, 2022|language=ja|url-status=live}}{{efn|The issue was published in 1994.{{cite magazine|title=Contents|url=https://order.mandarake.co.jp/order/detailPage/item?itemCode=1057209204|magazine=Monthly Afternoon|publisher=Kodansha|issue=November 1994 issue|access-date=January 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240113075517/https://order.mandarake.co.jp/order/detailPage/item?itemCode=1057209165|archive-date=January 13, 2024|language=ja|no-pp=y|page=Table of contents|quote={{lang|ja|[…] アフタヌーン1月号(11月25日発売)誌上にて。}}|url-status=live}}}}}} Kodansha released a collected volume (numbered as first) on March 23, 1988, under the title The Spirit of Wonder;{{cite web|title=ＴＨＥ　ＳＰＩＲＩＴ　ＯＦ　ＷＯＮＤＥＲ（１）|url=https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000002138|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=December 7, 2022|language=ja|archive-date=December 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207124336/https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000002138|url-status=live}} years later, when the series was finished, a single 407-page {{Transliteration|ja|wideban}} volume, which collected the twelve chapters, was released on August 22, 1997.{{cite web|title=Ｓｐｉｒｉｔ　ｏｆ　Ｗｏｎｄｅｒ|url=http://shop.kodansha.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=3198456|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=December 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123062626/http://shop.kodansha.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=3198456|archive-date=November 23, 2005|language=ja}}

In North America, Dark Horse Comics and Studio Proteus partially published the series in five issues (only publishing the Miss China stories),{{cite web|last=Cheng|first=Eugene|title=Spirit of Wonder|url=http://www.ex.org/1.2/27-spirit.html|website=Ex.org|access-date=December 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980522204852/http://www.ex.org/1.2/27-spirit.html|archive-date=May 22, 1998}} from April 1, 1996,{{cite web|title=Spirit of Wonder #1 (of 5)|url=https://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/94-157/Spirit-of-Wonder-1-of-5|publisher=Dark Horse Comics|access-date=December 7, 2022|archive-date=December 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207124338/https://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/94-157/Spirit-of-Wonder-1-of-5|url-status=live}} to August 1, 1996;{{cite web|title=Spirit of Wonder #5 (of 5)|url=https://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/95-293/Spirit-of-Wonder-5-of-5|publisher=Dark Horse Comics|access-date=December 7, 2022|archive-date=December 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207124338/https://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/95-293/Spirit-of-Wonder-5-of-5|url-status=live}} they were later collected in a single 152-page volume on June 24, 1998.{{cite web|title=Spirit of Wonder|url=https://www.darkhorse.com/Books/47-625/Spirit-of-Wonder-TPB|publisher=Dark Horse Comics|access-date=December 7, 2022|archive-date=December 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207124338/https://www.darkhorse.com/Books/47-625/Spirit-of-Wonder-TPB|url-status=live}}

==Chapter list==

{{Graphic novel list/header

| Language = Japanese

| OneLanguage = yes

| Width = 70%

}}

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 1

| RelDate = August 22, 1997{{cite web|title=Spirit of Wonder|url=http://www.kodanclub.com/cgi-local/comic.cgi?id=008-00018-01-001|website=Kodan Club|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=December 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080419113444/http://www.kodanclub.com/cgi-local/comic.cgi?id=008-00018-01-001|archive-date=April 19, 2008}}

| ISBN = 4-06-319845-6

| LicensedRelDate =

| LicensedISBN =

| ChapterListCol1 =

00. {{nihongo|"What a Vast and Wonderful Universe"|広くてすてきな宇宙じゃないか|Hirokute Sutekina Uchū Janai ka}}
01. {{nihongo|"Leaving One Night by the Light of the Full Moon"|満月の夜月へ行く|Mangetsu no Yatsuki e Iku}}
02. {{nihongo|"To Invoke the Stars"|星に願いを|Hoshi ni Negai wo}}
03. {{nihongo|"Little Melancholy"|リトルメランコリア|Ritoru Merankoria}}
04. {{nihongo|"The Young Scientists' Club"|少年科学倶楽部|Shōnen Kagaku Kurabu}}
05. {{nihongo|"See You Later, God Willing"|潮風よ縁があったらまた逢おう|Shiokaze yo Enga Attara Mata Aō}}

| ChapterListCol2 =

06. {{nihongo|"Marsy in the Land of Time"|時間の国のマージィ|Jikan no Kuni no Mājii}}
07. {{nihongo|"Natsuko"|夏子}}
08. {{nihongo|"The Young Scientist Club on Mars"|少年科学倶楽部火星へ|Shōnen Kagaku Kurabu Kasei e}}
09. {{nihongo|"Miss China's Melancholy"|チャイナさんの憂鬱|Chaina-san no Yūutsu}}
10. {{nihongo|"Miss China's Wish"|チャイナさんの願事|Chaina-san no Negai-goto}}
11. {{nihongo|"Miss China Strikes Back"|チャイナさんの逆襲|Chaina-san no Gyakushū}}

}}

=Original video animations=

==''Miss China's Ring''==

An original video animation (OVA) episode, animated by Ajia-do Animation Works and released by Toshiba-EMI,{{cite web|script-title=ja:about 鶴田謙二|url=http://www.bandaivisual.co.jp/sow/tsuruta.html|publisher=Bandai Visual|access-date=December 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515103101/http://www.bandaivisual.co.jp/sow/tsuruta.html|archive-date=May 15, 2009|language=ja}} titled {{Nihongo|Spirit of Wonder: Miss China's Ring|The Spirit of Wonder チャイナさんの憂鬱|Supiritto Obu Wandā Chaina-san no Yūutsu|{{lit.}} "Miss China's Melancholy"}},{{cite web|title=The Spirit of Wonder Liner Notes|url=https://archive.animeigo.com/liner/out-print/spirit-wonder.html|website=AnimEigo|access-date=December 8, 2022|archive-date=April 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423081044/http://archive.animeigo.com/liner/out-print/spirit-wonder.html|url-status=live}} was released on June 3, 1992.{{cite web|script-title=ja:The Spirit of Wonder チャイナさんの憂鬱|url=https://japancontentcatalog.jp/details/ja/anime/3179/|publisher=Japan Content Catalog|access-date=December 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207105523/https://japancontentcatalog.jp/details/ja/anime/3179/|archive-date=December 7, 2022|language=ja|url-status=live}} In North America, the first OVA was licensed by AnimEigo and released on LaserDisc in February 1996;{{cite AV media|title=Spirit of Wonder: Miss China's Ring|type=LaserDisc|isbn=978-1-56567-176-8|date=February 1996|publisher=AnimEigo}} they later released it on DVD on January 10, 2001;{{cite web|title=Anime Dates and Delays|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2001-01-06/anime-dates-and-delays|website=Anime News Network|access-date=December 7, 2022|date=January 6, 2001|archive-date=December 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207131507/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2001-01-06/anime-dates-and-delays|url-status=live}} however, three months later, AnimeEigo announced that it would go out of print.{{cite web|title=AnimEigo Slashes Prices, Spirit of Wonder Out of Print|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2001-04-16/animeigo-slashes-prices-spirit-of-wonder-out-of-print|website=Anime News Network|access-date=December 7, 2022|date=April 16, 2001|archive-date=December 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207130004/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2001-04-16/animeigo-slashes-prices-spirit-of-wonder-out-of-print|url-status=live}}

==2001 OVA==

Another four-episode OVA was produced and distributed by Bandai Visual. It included two stories: {{Nihongo|"Scientific Boys Club"|少年科學倶楽部|Shōnen Kagaku Kurabu}} (two parts) and {{Nihongo|"Miss China Short Stories"|チャイナさん短編集|Chaina-san Tanpenshū}} (two short episodes; "Miss China's Shrinking" and "Miss China's Planet"). Two DVDs were released on January 25 and July 25, 2001.{{cite web|title=Spirit of Wonder Vol.1|url=https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/BCBA-665|website=CDJapan|access-date=December 8, 2022|archive-date=January 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111042521/https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/BCBA-665|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Spirit of Wonder Vol.2|url=https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/BCBA-666|website=CDJapan|access-date=December 8, 2022|archive-date=January 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111042522/https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/BCBA-666|url-status=live}} A "Wonder Box" DVD box set, which included the 1992 OVA, the four-episode OVA, and an exclusive short, {{Nihongo|"Miss China's Sakazuki"|チャイナさんの盃|Chaina-san no Sakazuki}}, was released on January 23, 2004.{{cite web|script-title=ja:Spirit of Wonder 鶴田謙ニ WONDER BOX [初回限定生産]|url=https://www.neowing.co.jp/product/BCBA-1803|website=CDJapan|access-date=December 8, 2022|language=ja|archive-date=January 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111042522/https://www.neowing.co.jp/product/BCBA-1803|url-status=live}} In North America, the four-episode OVA was licensed by Bandai Entertainment;{{cite web|last=Koulikov|first=Mikhail|last2=Dong|first2=Bamboo|title=Bandai Entertainment - Anime Boston 2003|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/convention/2003/anime-boston/5|website=Anime News Network|access-date=December 8, 2022|date=April 23, 2003|archive-date=May 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524235905/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/convention/2003/anime-boston/5|url-status=live}} it was released on September 16, 2003.{{cite web|title=Spirit of Wonder|url=http://www.bandai-ent.com/products/product_details.cfm?id=254|publisher=Bandai Entertainment|access-date=December 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051122180142/http://www.bandai-ent.com/products/product_details.cfm?id=254|archive-date=November 22, 2005}} In Europe, it was released by Beez Entertainment; unlike the other English releases, it included the "Miss China's Sakazuki" short (English-subbed only).{{cite web|last=Moure|first=Dani|title=Spirit of Wonder (of 1)|url=http://www.mania.com/spirit-wonder_article_78331.html|website=Mania.com|access-date=December 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206154724/http://www.mania.com/spirit-wonder_article_78331.html|archive-date=December 6, 2008|date=May 4, 2006}} In Australia and New Zealand, the OVA was released by Madman Entertainment on June 21, 2006.{{cite web|title=Spirit of Wonder|url=http://www.madman.com.au/actions/catalogue.do?method=view&releaseId=6048|publisher=Madman Entertainment|access-date=December 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121131831/http://www.madman.com.au/actions/catalogue.do?method=view&releaseId=6048|archive-date=November 21, 2007}}

Reception

=Manga=

Reviewing the Dark Horse edition, which only included the Miss China chapters, Eugene Cheng of EX made positive comments about the series, praising its "beautiful art", "unique style", "delightful characters and charming story", lauding as well Tsuruta's artwork and his "skillful use of scenery, perspective, and contrast", ultimately calling the series: "easily one of the best manga currently available in America." Manga critic Jason Thompson commented that "its detailed artwork makes this manga live up to its name: a sweet if unresolved love story, similar to the comics of Kozue Amano (Aqua, Aria), in which the characters often stop and gaze at the scenery," and called the Miss China stories "[e]njoyable but slight, with no real ending."{{cite book|author=Thompson, Jason|author-link=Jason Thompson (writer)|title=Manga: The Complete Guide|type=Kindle|date=July 3, 2012|publisher=Del Rey Books|isbn=978-0-345-53944-1|pages=1152–1153}} Kevin Pezzano of SciFi.com called Tsuruta's artwork "simply breathtaking, with incredibly detailed and complex lines that nevertheless are very clear"; however, he called the story "[not] quite as good as the art", "little unclear," and that it can be "safely forgotten." He also criticized the fanservice, noting: "at times it seems that there are more panty shot panels than story panels." Pezzano concluded: "if you pick this manga up, just let the art and concepts wash over you, and try not to get offended at Miss China's outrageously lame accent."{{cite web|last1=Pezzano|first1=Kevin|last2=Ortiz|first2=Mariela|title=Spirit of Wonder (Manga)|url=http://www.scifi.com/anime/anime.cgi?25477|website=SciFi.com|access-date=December 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011225202635/http://www.scifi.com/anime/anime.cgi?25477|archive-date=December 25, 2001}} Mariela Ortiz of the same website also praised the artwork, commenting: "[e]ach page is drawn with painstaking attention to detail, you can't just read the words to understand the story." Ortiz criticized the fanservice as well, commenting, however, that "[it] is to be expected in this genre."

Reviewing the entire manga, Mario Vuk of Splash Comics enjoyed the anthological format of the series and highlighted Tsuruta's hatching technique, which makes the art look "classic,"{{cite web|last=Vuk|first=Mario|title=Comic-Besprechung - Spirit of Wonder 1|url=https://www.splashcomics.de/php/rezensionen/rezension/750|website=Splash Comics|access-date=December 8, 2022|language=de|date=November 26, 2001|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230814165142/https://www.splashcomics.de/php/rezensionen/rezension/750|archive-date=August 14, 2023|url-status=live}} and called his artwork: "very appealing and rich in detail."{{cite web|last=Vuk|first=Mario|title=Comic-Besprechung - Spirit of Wonder 2|url=https://www.splashcomics.de/php/rezensionen/rezension/751|website=Splash Comics|access-date=December 8, 2022|language=de|date=January 18, 2003|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230814165151/https://www.splashcomics.de/php/rezensionen/rezension/751|archive-date=August 14, 2023|url-status=live}} Vuk also called it "simply a beautiful work with classic charm and a not excessive amount of comedy."{{cite web|last=Vuk|first=Mario|title=Comic-Besprechung - Spirit of Wonder 3|url=https://www.splashcomics.de/php/rezensionen/rezension/752|website=Splash Comics|access-date=December 8, 2022|language=de|date=June 15, 2002|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230814165159/https://www.splashcomics.de/php/rezensionen/rezension/752|archive-date=August 14, 2023|url-status=live}} On the other hand, Andrés Accorsi of {{ill|Comiqueando|es|Comiqueando}}, while praised Tsuruta's artwork as well and highlighted it as its main feature, commented that the scripts have "very notable flaws," with conflicts that "lack dramatic force," adding that Tsuruta "wastes an alarming number of pages on scenes that add nothing to the plots," and concluded: "Spirit of Wonder entangles you in a tangle of ridiculous, whimsical, hackneyed or simply poorly planned or poorly resolved situations. A pity."{{cite web|last=Accorsi|first=Andrés|title=Spirit of Wonder|url=https://www.comiqueando.com.ar/columnas/santo-grial/spirit-of-wonder/|website={{ill|Comiqueando|es|Comiqueando}}|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805215518/https://www.comiqueando.com.ar/columnas/santo-grial/spirit-of-wonder/|archive-date=August 5, 2021|language=es|date=September 1, 2020}}

=''Miss China's Ring''=

Christopher Macdonald of Anime News Network (ANN) said that Miss China's Ring is "quite simply, is unique, and very weird; but also very fun. Macdonald commented that Tsuruta's original character designs and artwork were "nicely {{sic|compli|mented|expected=complemented}} by good animation" in the OVA, and recommended it to "any one who is looking for a nice, short, heartwarming story devoid of any heavy material," noting however that "anyone looking for a movie with strong, complicated plot, or overwhelming emotions, will probably be disappointed by Spirit of Wonder."{{cite web|last=Macdonald|first=Christopher|title=Spirit of Wonder DVD - Review|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/spirit-of-wonder/dvd|website=Anime News Network|access-date=December 9, 2022|archive-date=December 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209061401/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/spirit-of-wonder/dvd|url-status=live}} Mariela Ortiz of SciFi.com said that the characters, particularly Miss China, "come off as stereotypical," "with her accent and fighting skills", adding, however, that it "does not detract from the story." Ortiz called the OVA a "funny and heartwarming tale, and an enjoyable anime."{{cite web|last1=Ortiz|first1=Mariela|last2=Lin|first2=Shu-Chun|title=Spirit of Wonder : Miss China's Ring (OVA)|url=http://www.scifi.com/anime/anime.cgi?25344|website=SciFi.com|access-date=December 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011224081630/http://www.scifi.com/anime/anime.cgi?25344|archive-date=December 24, 2001}} Shu-Chun Lin of the same website called it "a lovely and cute love story," adding that while the story is not complicated, "it is very enjoyable and entertaining. It is very sweet and lovely anime you may like to see and experience that warm and sweet feeling on your own."

Mike Toole of Anime Jump described it as "a nice break from the tidal wave of action and comedy fare flooding the market," but also called it "surprisingly insubstantial," expressing that "one wishes that there was a little more meat to the story."{{cite web|last=Toole|first=Mike|title=Spirit of Wonder: Miss China's Ring|url=http://www.animejump.com/index.php?module=prodreviews&func=showcontent&id=360|website=Anime Jump|access-date=December 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050327071836/http://www.animejump.com/index.php?module=prodreviews&func=showcontent&id=360|archive-date=March 27, 2005|date=October 18, 2003}} Chris Beveridge of AnimeOnDVD praised its animation, commenting that it was "nicely done with a few really nice sequences." Beveridge commented that he "enjoyed the heck out of this show", and concluded: "[i]t's not a show that everyone will be drawn to, but if you're looking for something a bit off the beaten path, this is something worth trying."{{cite web|last=Beveridge|first=Chris|title=Spirit of Wonder|url=http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/disc_reviews/103.php|website=AnimeOnDVD|access-date=December 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021231022913/http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/disc_reviews/103.php|archive-date=December 31, 2002|date=January 10, 2001}} Jim Lazar of the same website said that "the charming story revolves around Miss China's attraction to Jim and one of the doctor's amazing inventions." He also said that the story "isn't an epic tale, but it's very charming and keeps you interested throughout the short 45 minutes."{{cite web|last=Lazar|first=Jim|title=Spirit of Wonder|url=http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/alt_reviews/553.php|website=AnimeOnDVD|access-date=December 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061101193029/http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/alt_reviews/553.php|archive-date=November 1, 2006|date=February 18, 2002}} Writing for Otaku USA, Paul Chapman commented that while. "[t]here’s nothing wrong" with the OVA, the title character is "something of a stereotype." Chapman said that the animation is "adequate though not spectacular," calling as well the color palette "soft and gentle, with a lot of muted pastels appropriate to the wistful, melancholy tone of the story." Chapman said that he did not particularly like the OVA, adding that "[i]t’s not bad, but it’s not outstanding, either."{{cite web|last=Chapman|first=Paul|title=The Vault of Error – Spirit of Wonder: Miss China’s Ring|url=https://otakuusamagazine.com/the-vault-of-error-spirit-of-wonder-miss-chinas-ring/|website=Otaku USA|access-date=December 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024123819/https://otakuusamagazine.com/the-vault-of-error-spirit-of-wonder-miss-chinas-ring/|archive-date=October 24, 2020|date=December 27, 2012|url-status=live}}

Notes

References

External links

{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805085554/http://www.bandaivisual.co.jp/sow/top.html|date=August 5, 2011|title=Official OVA website}} {{in lang|ja}}
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