Saki Achiga-hen: Episode of Side-A Specials

Fantastic !!! These episodes are the best thing this series has to offer for its viewer. After watching them i wanted to see more....

For those who are wondering these 4 special episodes are the sequel to the tv series Saki Achiga-hen:Episode of Side A and start off with the player's second match in the semifinals on the national stage were the tv series left off. And if you thought the tv series was good this has even better stuff to offer and will not disappoint you at all.

In these 4 episodes the 5 girls from Achiga High-School have fantastic development and managed to overcome their ... weak points thus improving their play style during the Mahjong matches. The visual vocabulary is rich and is well used for depicting the play style of the characters during the matches. The innovative strategies and the little flashbacks for each character manage to flesh out the reason and passion of each player for Mahjong. This anime manages to connect you to the tensed atmosphere and feel the aniexity of each player during their Mahjong matches. Greatness!

What I liked is that these episodes despite their limited time they still managed to portray the bonds and motivations of Achiga's opponents from the semifinals. The girls emotions, passion and determination are beautiful displayed during the Mahjong matches and the brilliant use of the visuals enchanted me. Well done Studio Gokumi!

The outcome of the matches is unpredictable and the element of surprise was well handled until the last minute. Once you start watching these episodes you will stay in alert mode until the end. I gotta say that from a show with cute girls the rich variety of themes created a harmony between the story&characters. Enjoy!