Mai-Otome - 03 October 20
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Short Summary:
After Mashiro gets tricked into agreeing to the battle after her coronation, preparations get underway throughout the city for the celebration. In her lab, Yohko explains to Arika about how the gems and the nano-machines work to create the robes. Meanwhile, Nina, after being told by Sergay that he doesn’t think she’ll lose, remembers going through a photo album as a kid and seeing a picture of a girl with her hands on the shoulders of a young Sergay. Nina runs off after getting a comforting hug from Sergay. He, however, hears singing coming from the woods. Finding Arika sitting in a clearing, he tells her that she won’t win against Nina. Arika is quite determined to pursue her dreams, so Sergay asks her about the song she was singing. Arika says that it’s an old lullaby passed down in her family. The next day, as various dignitaries arrive, Arika once again affirms that she won’t lose, this time to Nagi in front of Nina. Mashiro’s coronation goes through without a hitch and afterwards Shizuru activates a robe on Arika while Natsuki activates Nina’s. The two start a heated battle where Nina performs some unrelenting attacks. Arika is surprisingly quite resilient and recovers after each attack, even getting in a head-butt in. Elsewhere, Shizuru is investigating a disturbance in the throne room and comes across a hooded figure who reveals himself to be the same armored foe from the beginning of the first episode. She transforms and starts to fight him, but one of his attacks rips a hole through the castle, crumbling a still under-construction building. Nina and Arika’s fight is interrupted by the chaos that ensues as pieces of it come falling down.
Fabulous, fabulous episode. My preference leans towards the second half (which is dominated by fighting), but the first part does a good job of giving bits of background information. That part also features the two masked men, one of them whose hair resembles Midori or Mai. But like I said, the Arika vs. Nina and the Shizuru vs. Rado battles are the highlights of this episode for me. Nina makes several very impressive moves, but while Arika starts out faltering, she actually does fairly well all things considered, especially towards the end of the fight when she blocks Nina’s Kamehameha-style attack. And the more I listen to it, the more I like the background song used for this fight. Oh, and Shizuru still kicks as much ass as ever.
The animation is a tiny tiny bit off for this episode. I probably wouldn’t have noticed it if it weren’t for the fact that the faces look a little different in the first half. In the second half, I was too busy paying attention to how good both fight scenes looked to care. And if that didn’t make up for it, then the introduction of several “old” characters (namely Kazu, Yukino, and Haruka) did.
Next episode will feature the conclusion of Shizuru’s fight, along with how Arika becomes an Otome. The preview shows Arika and the power of the Sapphire holding up something heavy, Haruka grabbing Arika’s chest, AND a bath scene. But what I find the most interesting is the title: “Blazing Transfer Student!!” I wonder what that could mean….
Fury at 5:53 pm on October 20th, 2005
that person in the 2nd picture looks like mai in a way
Omni at 5:55 pm on October 20th, 2005
I had that same thought…
Fury at 5:59 pm on October 20th, 2005
so lets all agree that, thats mai ^^
Omni at 6:15 pm on October 20th, 2005
The interesting thing is that next episode is called “Blazing Transfer Student.”
Onimusha at 6:16 pm on October 20th, 2005
I’m more sure that’s Midori…. but if it is Mai (or even it is Midoir), I’ll be happy!
Fury at 6:21 pm on October 20th, 2005
nah it looks more like mai, but im more curious about that iron mask she wears
Fury at 6:24 pm on October 20th, 2005
and like Omni said “Blazing Transfer Student”, that blazing has something to do with mai, and mai-otome is looking to be a 13 episode thing so its gonna go fast paced. see check out the episode schedule http://cal.syoboi.jp/tid/684
moyism at 7:20 pm on October 20th, 2005
blast them for leaving it off on a good part!
The Nina VS Arika battle was pretty sweet, esp with the bgm reminding me of the Mai-HiME Festival days. Also sort of liked how they interchanged that battle with the *spoiler* *spoiler*. Shizuru definitely is getting some extra character service, what with her transformation sequence. Looks a lot better than the standard Coral Robe as showed by Nina. Also pretty cool as it seems the pillars (I could be wrong) can activate others’ GEMs; making for some good yuri moments
omegastar at 7:46 pm on October 20th, 2005
Actually, I’m pretty sure that’s Midori. I don’t think Mai would be presented so early in the show, given his appearance in the OP; plus, the “blazing” transfer student is a title more appropiate for Midori, the “Burning 17 year-old” ^^U
JT at 7:49 pm on October 20th, 2005
guys..u think they can summon children like duran and kagatsuchi?
riku at 7:58 pm on October 20th, 2005
dude if you look at the opening close enough Mai shows up but a bit shadowed
JT at 8:01 pm on October 20th, 2005
btw i think mai and all thise are dead the ppl who look like them ae descendants..this is too into the future, its not earth.
Fury at 8:30 pm on October 20th, 2005
that looks more like mai to me and its never to early for mai to appear, give her some credit, how long did it take kira to appear in destiny, its liek the same here
moyism at 8:33 pm on October 20th, 2005
JT, I’m almost positive Mai-Otome is a *alternative universe*. It’s not set like 98234092802943 years in the future from Mai-HiME. They’re two separate entities with just the same and new characters. Natsuki in Mai-HiME is no way related to Natsuki in Mai-Otome etc etc.
JT at 8:36 pm on October 20th, 2005
makes more sense
hmph sooo much yet to find out
washi at 8:48 pm on October 20th, 2005
>and mai-otome is looking to be a 13 episode thing
*horror* Is this likely to be correct?
JT at 8:55 pm on October 20th, 2005
this may be completly wrong…MAY..(keyword) but i think nina is gonna end up being the “bad person” kinda like mai and mikoto situation.
Anza at 9:09 pm on October 20th, 2005
The episode number isn’t confirmed either way yet but remember Mai-HiME was confirmed for 13 eps until nearly episode 11.
Anza at 9:21 pm on October 20th, 2005
Also where are you getting the mask guy = Mai/Midori, it’s voice by Reito’s VA from Mai-HiME meaning it’s like to be… A GUY.
moyism at 9:33 pm on October 20th, 2005
Anza, they mean the other person who was with him. 2nd pic…