I don't know a great deal about Japanese animation (affectionately dubbed, 
'anime'), I've seen some popular examples (Ghost in the Shell, Ninja Scroll, 
Record of the Lodoss War) but have yet to see some of the canonical work (Akira, 
Vampire Hunter D).

Just as many (if not all) religions tell the story of the world's creation, so 
do they foretell the its destruction.  Christianity's Four Horsemen of the 
Apocalypse. Ragnarok in Norse mythology.  The Hindu Night of Brahma. 'X' is a 
wonderfully modern retelling of this cross-cultural myth.  It is 1999, The Year 
of Destiny, when the chosen one will appear and seal the fate of humanity.  
Kamui, the power of god, the chosen one, must join one of two supernatural 
factions, The Dragon of Heaven or The Dragon of Earth.  The Dragon of Heaven 
seek to protect and enlighten mankind, while The Dragon of Earth seek to cleanse 
the world of man's virulent destruction, returning the planet to its natural 
form.  Will Kamui be man's savior or destroyer?  or will he make a choice at 
all.

Within the first minutes of 'X' it is clear how mythic its story is, allowing 
for a great suspension of disbelief.  What was particularly striking about this 
tale is not so much the content but the form in which it is told. The surreal, 
magical nature of myth is captured through the animation perfectly, spinning the 
viewer through Kamui's visions and enormous fantastic battles between the 
Dragons of Heaven and Earth.   

Like any good myth, 'X' explores issues of responsibility, destiny and free 
will.  Impressively weighty for what is on the surface a stylized animated 
action movie for the short attention span of the MTV generation.   It's 
tremendously satisfying to see ancient stories echoed through time into a most 
modern art form.