Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit

is the first in the ten volume series of Japanese fantasy novels, written by Nahoko Uehashi 上橋菜穂子. It has since been adapted into numerous media, including radio, manga and anime adaptations. Scholastic released the first novel in English in June, 2008. Media Blasters has confirmed that they acquired the rights to the anime and volume 1 will be released in Nov 2009.

Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit has been adapted into an anime television series, produced by Production I.G and directed by Kenji Kamiyama 神山健治, well-known for helming the Ghost in the Shell trilogy. It premièred in Japan on NHK from April 7, 2007. It is based entirely on the first novel in the Guardian series, and greatly expands the midsection of the novel.

Plot
The story centres around Chagum, the second prince of the New Yogo Empire, because the prince's body is the host for the egg of the 'Water Spirit'. This spirit originated from the Nayugu world, which is cannot be seen by the human naked eye, and exists, together with its world, concurrently with the real human world. However, his life has been secretly marked for termination by his own emperor father, in the belief that this was the resurrected Water Demon that was previously defeated by the first Emperor, who founded the kingdom. During 1 of the assassination attempts, Prince Chagum was saved by Balsa, a female bodyguard who specializes in using the spear. She has been traveling around performing good deeds in order to redeem the sins of her foster father. As the final part of her mission, she undertook to protect the young prince at the request of the Second Empress. As he began interacting amongst Balsa's acquaintances, he grew up strong and healthy, living a life that has no relation to his personal upbringing. As Balsa continues to fend off the assassins sent by the Emperor, can she protect Chagum and his body, containing the egg of the 'Water Spirit' that is hatching within?