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The Best Episodes of Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1

Every episode of Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1!

Binge this in 10h 25m•Peaking at 8.2/10

Balsa the spearwoman is a wandering warrior, who takes on the task of saving lives, in atonement for a past sin. On her journey, she happens to save a prince, and is tasked with becoming

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  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1 Episode 8 - Swordsmith
    8.2/10(62 votes)

    S1:E8

    Balsa visits a great swordsmith to get a new blade for her spear. The smith agrees to forge her new blade, once he is convinced that Balsa did not kill the prince.

    Director:Toshiya Niidome
    Writer:Taiki Sakurai

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  2. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1 Episode 6 - Death on Aogiri
    7.8/10(55 votes)

    S1:E6

    Unable to determine Balsa's exact position, the Emperor's hunters split up. At the Aogiri Mountains they see Balsa and Chagum dragged down a cliff by a large wolf. They assume that Balsa and Chagum have died.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1 Episode 19 - Flight
    7.7/10(50 votes)

    S1:E19

    Chagum runs away in an attempt to return to the Yogo court and avoid being killed by the La Lunga (egg-eater). Determined to keep Chagum safe and bring him to Hunter's cave, Balsa goes after him. Seeing Chagum's distress, Balsa vows to keep him alive even if she must sacrifice her life.

    Director:Hiroshi Yamazaki
    Writer:Ryo Higaki

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  4. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1 Episode 24 - The Last Hope
    7.7/10(52 votes)

    S1:E24

    Balsa, Tanda, and the hunters chase after Chagum. Shuga and Torogai learn that the spirit will be born in another location and race to get there before dawn. When Balsa's group encounters the two La Lunga, Tanda learns how to harm the creatures, allowing the group to kill one of the egg eaters.

    Director:Kiyoko Sayama
    Writer:Taiki Sakurai

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  5. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1 Episode 3 - Mortal Combat
    7.6/10(64 votes)

    S1:E3

    Balsa discovers that she and Chagum are being followed. She has no choice by to fight against the pursuers. In the confusion Balsa loses Chagum. She manages to rescue him but due to her wounds, Chagum must carry on by himself to Tanda's hut.

    Director:Toshiya Niidome
    Writer:Taiki Sakurai

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  6. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1 Episode 17 - The Water Wheel in Flames
    7.6/10(50 votes)

    S1:E17

    Shuga locates Chagum and Balsa in the city. The watermill is found by the emperor's hunters and they lay a trap. This is prevented when Tōya risks his life and sets fire to the watermill. Seeing the fire, Balsa and Chagum set off to find the Inishie Village.

    Director:Kiyoko Sayama
    Writer:Shunpei Okada

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  7. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1 Episode 20 - The Hunter's Cave
    7.6/10(50 votes)

    S1:E20

    Shuga and the hunters arrive in Inishie Village. Torogai tells Shuga of the egg eater. Shuga agrees to return to court and starts deciphering the remainder of the secret tome. Balsa, Chagum, Torogai and Tanda move to Hunter's cave, where they prepare for winter.

    Director:Kohdai Kakimoto
    Writer:Taiki Sakurai

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  8. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1 Episode 22 - Time of Awakening
    7.6/10(53 votes)

    S1:E22

    Balsa continues Jiguro's story, and reveals the reason behind her oath to save eight souls. Balsa begins to train Chagum as they await the spring.

    Director:Koichi Hatsumi
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1 Episode 26 - Departure
    7.6/10(56 votes)

    S1:E26

    Chagum returns to the palace and is named Crown Prince and Divine Hero of the People. While Chagum is reunited with his mother, Balsa contemplates the future. Chagum meets with Balsa and wants to run away with her, but Balsa's words give him the courage to stay. Her pledge finally fulfilled, Balsa departs for Kanbal.

    Director:Masayuki Yoshihara
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1 Episode 13 - Neither Man nor Tiger
    7.5/10(54 votes)

    S1:E13

    Balsa gets challenged to a duel by a former rival. The rival targets a traveling couple in order to draw out Balsa's anger. She attempts to protect the couple but ends up engaging in a fierce duel and allows her anger to overwhelm her. She wins the fight but thinks that she killed him; breaking her vow to never take a life.

    Director:Masaki Tachibana
    Writer:Shunpei Okada

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  11. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1 Episode 21 - Jiguro Musa
    7.5/10(53 votes)

    S1:E21

    The winter arrives and the mountains become impassable. Balsa tells Chagum the story of her guardian, Jiguro; how 24 years ago he decided to go against his Emperor in order to save Balsa's life.

    Director:Toshiya Niidome
    Writer:Shunpei Okada

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  12. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1 Episode 25 - Celebration
    7.5/10(58 votes)

    S1:E25

    Balsa's group locate Chagum. The physical world and Nayug begin to merge. Balsa and the hunters manage to hold off endless waves of La Lunga long enough for the sun to rise. Tanda successfully extracts the egg and Chagum's life is saved.

    Director:Masaki Tachibana
    Writer:Shunpei Okada

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  13. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1 Episode 1 - Balsa, the Female Bodyguard
    7.4/10(77 votes)

    S1:E1

    A female spear-wielder, Balsa, is recruited to protect the second prince of Yogo, Chagum, from his own father. The Emperor is determined to kill him, believing the prince is possessed by an evil water spirit.

    Director:Toshiyuki Kono
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1 Episode 18 - The Ancient Village
    7.4/10(49 votes)

    S1:E18

    Balsa, Chagum and Tanda travel to Inishie village in hope of learning the ancient story of the water spirit. They locate the village and listen to the ancient story. Chagum is horrified to learn that the spirit's "guardian" must die for the spirit to be born.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1 Episode 15 - Young Death
    7.3/10(50 votes)

    S1:E15

    While gathering more information on the drought sign, Shuga finds proof that Chagum is alive. Shuga wishes to tell the prince's brother, Crown Prince Shagum, whose health has been weakened by the recent events. However, he is unable to, fearing the Emperor will discover Chagum's location.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1 Episode 16 - In All Earnestness
    7.3/10(48 votes)

    S1:E16

    Chagum's brother, Shagum, dies from overwork and grief leaving Chagum the heir to the throne. Shuga learns from the ancient scroll that the water spirit is not evil, and must be born in order to prevent the drought. Armed with this knowledge, Shuga leads the search for Chagum to bring him back to become the crowned prince.

    Director:Koichi Hatsumi
    Writer:Taiki Sakurai

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  17. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1 Episode 2 - The Hunter and the Hunted
    7.2/10(65 votes)

    S1:E2

    Balsa makes preparations to leave the capital with Chagum. She must leave the city without being noticed; a task made difficult by the prince who has overcome with the grief of leaving his family. The Emperor dispatches four secret hunters to recover the prince and kill Balsa.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1 Episode 7 - Chagum's Resolution
    7.2/10(53 votes)

    S1:E7

    In order to remain hidden until next spring, Balsa buys a watermill and settles there with Chagum for the time being. To pass the time and make some money, they use the mill to grind grain for the local villagers.

    Director:Kiyoko Sayama
    Writer:Ryo Higaki

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  19. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1 Episode 12 - Solstice Festival
    7.2/10(52 votes)

    S1:E12

    Chagum challenges a boy to a rucha match on the Summer Solstice festival. He asks Balsa to train him to fight. He fights the boy and wins the match. After the boy's father insults Chagum, Balsa steps in and defeats the father.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1 Episode 23 - In Pursuit of Sig Salua
    7.2/10(51 votes)

    S1:E23

    Spring has arrived and Chagum has grown physically and mentally. Chagum and Balsa are reunited with Shuga and the eight hunters. The power of the Sacred Spirit begins to influence Chagum's actions, and La Lunga finally appears to claim the egg.

    Director:Toshiyuki Kono
    Writer:Ryo Higaki

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  21. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1 Episode 9 - Shuga's Thirst
    7.1/10(55 votes)

    S1:E9

    Shuga tries to figure of if the drought sign is diminishing. He gets permission from the head star-diviner to translate the ancient stone scrolls, that record the history of Yogo and are rumored to contain information about the drought.

    Director:Norihiko Nagahama
    Writer:Shunpei Okada

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  22. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1 Episode 10 - Soil and Hero
    7.1/10(53 votes)

    S1:E10

    Tōya teaches Chagum how to act more like a city dweller. After Chagum sees through a rigged gambling game, he is determined to teach the men a lesson and help the people get their money back.

    Director:Shigeru Ueda
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1 Episode 11 - Flower Wine For Tanda
    7.1/10(51 votes)

    S1:E11

    Unhappy with her arranged marriage, Saya's soul leaves her body. Tanda performs a soul call to guide her back. However, Tanda's soul becomes trapped in Nayug and needs Balsa's help to return to his own body.

    Director:Toshiyuki Kono
    Writer:Ryo Higaki

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  24. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1 Episode 14 - The Knot
    7.1/10(51 votes)

    S1:E14

    Torogai makes contact with the water beings of Nayug and discusses Chagum's current condition. Torogai discovers that the official Yogo founding history is false, and recounts her escape from the knot.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit Season 1 Episode 4 - Torogai's Letter
    7.0/10(58 votes)

    S1:E4

    Following Balsa's direction, Chagum successfully reached Tanda's house in the mountains. Balsa is able to catch up, but must now recuperate her strength. Balsa and Tanda nurture their relationship in the process.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Swordsmith" is the best rated episode of "Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit" season 1. It scored 8.2/10 based on 62 votes. Directed by Toshiya Niidome and written by Taiki Sakurai, it aired on 5/26/2007. This episode is rated 0.4 points higher than the second-best, "Death on Aogiri".