Magic Knight Rayearth is a series that was recently released in Japan as a television series.  The first season is now over.  An OAV series is also currently being released.  Magic Knight  Rayearth was supposed to come to American television in the Fall of '96, but it never happened.  So you'll have to find it yourself

SYNOPSIS

Magic Knight Rayearth takes place in present day.  We start at Tokyo Tower where several school are having a school trip there.  And here is where we meet Hikaru Shidou, Umi Ryuuzaki, and Fuu Hououji.  Hikaru is a childish 14 year-old, Umi is the city fencing chapion, and Fuu is a genius.  Suddenly, time is frozen as the three girls hear a voice which is that of Princess Emeraude, the ruler of Cefiro, a distant planet where magic rules.  With the Princess' power they are all transported to Cefiro.  There they meet Clef, a powerful priest who also gives them the ability to use magic.

Hikaru is the first to receive her magic, just as the trio and Clef are being attacked by the Alcyone, one of Priest Zagato's minions and Clef is turned to stone.  Cefiro is a world of will as well as magic.  If you belive it, it will happen.  And so, because Hikaru is very passionate, she is also very strong.  With the thought of protecting her new found friends, she is able to beat Alycione because of her strong will.

From there, the three girls travel to the Forest of Silence, where all magic is useless.  There they are to seek out a woman named Presia who will provide them with weapons for their journey to become the Legendary Magic Knights, the saviors of Cefiro.  To their surprise they not only meet Presia, but a very interesting creature named Mokona.  Much like how Ryo-oh-ki brings comic relief to Tenchi Muyo, the same goes for Mokona.  He too resembles a rabbit.  The only sound he utters is "BOO."  Mokona is a magical creature who will guide them through their journey and also provide them with whatever they need, like food and shelter.

This was one and half episodes I just introduced to give you a basic idea of the story.  The Magic Knights also meet many other characters as they travel through Cefiro.  This anime is meant for the younger audience like SailorMoon.  However, the OAV is aimed at an older audience.  I suggest watching the OAv over the TV series.  I liked the OAV much better than the TV series because it wasn't as childish.  What I mean by childish is that there is a ton of SD (super deformed) and there is a constant reminder of huw much the three girls love each other and their commitment to saving Cefiro.

MAJOR CHARACTERS (Click on character name to see image)
 
Hikaru Shidou
Hikaru is the strongest of the group.  She takes charge in the beginning and gives encouragement to the group.  She is 14 years old and has the power of fire when she recieves her magic.  Hikaru is also the favorite of Mokona.  The series doesn't give much information about the characters before meet them.  The only other thing they give is the Hikaru has a dog name Hikari.  Hikaru also wears the color red.

Umi Ryuuzaki
Umi is the city fencing champion and is well known throughout her and other junior high schools.  She is also somewhat self-sentered.  Most of the time, all she wants to do is go home to Tokyo.  Umi controls the element of water and is represented by the color blue.

Fuu Hououji
Fuu is the smart and logic one of the group.  There is very little known about her.  She is also 14 years old like the other two girls.  She also falls in love with one of the resisdents of Cefire, Ferio.  Fuu's magic is the power of the wind and she wears green.

Princess Emeraude
The Princess is the "Pillar of Cefiro."  Being the Pillar means that she must rule and support Cefiro with her will.  All she has to do is pray for Cefiro's peace and happiness.  Seems easy...but what happens when the Pillar falls in love with someone.

Clef
Clef is a powerful priest that hopes to save Cefiro from its fates od destruction.  He provides the girls with magic and helps them through their journey.

Alycione
She also has the power of magic like most of the characters.  Alycione controls ice.  She was once a student of Clef's but fell in love with the Priest Zagato and now works for him.

Mokona
Mokona is a cute magical creature that resembles a rabbit.  He adds a little comic releif to the story and only utters the word "BOO."  He travels with the Magic Knights and guides them through Cefiro.  He can also provide the girls with whatever they need, like food and shelter.

Presia
She is the woman who provides the weapons for the Magic Knights.  She was also the carer of Mokona before the girls arrived.  Presia's most important significance is that she creates the weapons that the Magic Knights need to defeat their enemies.

Ferio
Ferio is a mysterious swordsman the girls run into in the Forest of Silence.  He makes up differnet stories to account for his past, so the three don't trust him.  He uses them to find his way out of the forst, but also helps them to overcome some of the forest's monsters.  And Fuu and he end up falling in love.

Zagoto
Priest Zagoto is the one to blame for the destruction of Cefiro.  He kidnaps the Princess and holds her captive, weakening her powers to pray for Cefiro, for a reason we do not know.  We only find out why at the very end of the first season.

Ascot
Ascot is another member of Zagoto's army.  His power is to control monster, though he actually considers them his friends.

Caldina
Caldina also works for Zagoto and is a friend to Ascot.  The only reason she works for Priest Zagoto is money.  She is greedy for money and she threatens towns for it.

Inova
Inova is the strongest, magical creature in Cefiro.  He was a loyal servent to Princess Emeraude but now is loyal to Zagoto for a reason we do not learn until far into the first season.

Lafarga
He is the most powerful swordsman in Cefiro.  His blows split the ground.  Lafarga is also the Captian of the Guard of Princess Emeraude, but is manipulated by Zagoto through mind control after the Princess is kidnapped.

Seles
He is the machine that uses the element of water.  Umi controls Seles.  Seles's alternative form is of a dragon.

Windam
Windam represents the element of wind.  He is controled by Fuu.

Rayearth
Rayearth is the machine of fire.  Rayearth can also be seen as a lion with a mane of fire.  Hikaru control him.