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Elements
In anime the elements frequently appear as a basis for magic, representing the basic components of the natural world and life itself. The Western elements are
fire, earth, water, and air, and according to some a fifth element of spirit. The Eastern elements are fire, earth, water, metal, and wood.
Fire: Symbolic of inspiration, also resurrection and birth sometimes. Can be seen as a purification, or a symbol of divinity. Wisdom is another. Also associated with lightning, the sun,
light, and the heart. It can be a symbol of destruction, or of warmth and illumination. Oriental gemsmiths assigned the ruby to the element fire. The color of the element is red.
Water: The element associated with fertility, life, creation, and purification. Oriental gemsmiths
assigned the sapphire to the element water. The color of the element is blue.
Air: The element air is related to wind, and can be a symbol of spirit.
El Hazard
In this series, the three priestesses of Mt. Muldoon have powers based on the Western elements. Shayla-Shayla, the red haired priestess, has command of fire. Miz has power over water.
And Afura Mann has power over wind.
Sailor Moon
The powers of the Sailor Senshi (Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Venus) are based on the Asian elements. In the East, the planets are associated with elements,
and this carries over to the senshi. Sailor Mercury's powers are based on the Asian element water associated with the planet Mercury (known as Sui-sei, the water planet, in Japanese).
Sailor Mars' powers are based on the Asian element fire, also associated with her planet. The Japanese name for the planet is Ka-sei, fire planet. Jupiter in Japanese is Moku-sei or the tree
planet. Jupiter's
powers represent the Asian element of wood (Oak Evolution), though this is seen more readily in the manga than anime. Sailor Venus' powers are based on the Asian element of metal,
also associated with her planet. The Japanese name for Venus is Kin-sei, or the gold planet. Her metal attack comes with the Love Me Chain, the others are based on her
Roman origin (Love and Beauty Shock). Sailor Saturn's attacks don't deal with the element of earth, though in the East the planet Saturn is associated with that element. The Japanese
name for Saturn is Do-sei, earth planet.
Rayearth
The powers attributed to each Magic Knight are based on the Western elements. Hikaru has powers of fire and her mashin is Rayearth of the Fire Shrine (a lion, which is an
animal associated with fire). Umi has powers of water and her mashin is Selece of the Water Shrine (a dragon, an animal of water in Japan and China). Fuu has powers of wind or air and
her mashin is Windam (a phoenix, an animal of the air). In the OAV, when the powers of the knights are taken by Eagle, the elements swirl together to form a sphere of the Earth,
representing not only the last element but also that the elements are the components of life or the planet.
Cardcaptor Sakura
Earthy, Firey, Windy, and Watery are the four element cards of the Clow Deck, and four of the higher magic cards. They too are based on the Western
elements.
Corrector Yui
Yui wears a variety of elemental suits in the manga: Fairy, Wind, Water, Heaven, etc.