Mahou Sensei Negima! Movie: Anime Final

What the hell?
That was probably the first impression that most people got when they watched this movie, especially with all the hypes it had before it went out.

There will be spoiler in this review and I beleive that with the pathetic story and directing it had this shouldn't affect your enjoyment.

The movie start with near ending scene from the Mahou Sensei Negima's mahou sekai arc manga.
To start with, there were already some modification to the original plot before the alternate ending switch had been turned up such as Fate dying.
Not that bad I guess I could still buy it but here's the catch.

We ... are then thrown a few day before the graduation ceremony. What happened to the magical world? We have no clues yet but everything seem to hold for now.
Still fine? Yeah I thought so too.

We then learn that Negi must chose one girl which he will do an official pactio with and that the rest of the class will forget every memory linked to magic as well as the fact that Negi is a mage. Mage can only have one partner afterall-- wait what?
Where the flying fuck did this came from?

Of course we were introduced the concept of a magister magi having one more official and potent pactio with the partner he/she chose to live his/her life (basically his/her lover) with but it was never said anywhere that magister magi are limited to one pactio.
Let's not forget the following point which further emphasis the stupidity of that statement:
-The hero of the world Nagi, had more than one pactio
-Most of the girl are directly linked to the magical world even without Negi's help.
So seriously, where the flying fuck did this come from and how would it takes effect anyway? It sound like a desesperate attemps at creating drama but at the same time it sound so forced and impossible that you just know it's bullshit.

Oh well at that point I already stopped carring about matter like that and was ready to accept everything that would be thrown at me without thinking much about it.
Oh god, was I courageous at that time.

After the revelation the girls try to get Negi's attention for becoming 'the chosen one' and Mars decide to come hug the Earth.
Yep you heard well, the producer hadn't forgotten our beloved magical world and at that moment you'll know that you are in for something big.
If only.
We are then revealed that it was Negi's plan to merge the two world (random use of magic is convenient) but that it started 30 years too early (for no reason again). Everyone wonder what will happen and are desesperate, then Asuna talk about Negi becomming a magister magi to solve the problem.
Why? Did they wrote the script when they were drunk?

The flashback scene with Negi and Asuna suggest that at the moment they fought the mage of the beginning their link was as strong as a magister magi and her partner but this does not make any sense.
Let's say it straight.
The reason why there was a "power increase" (Because in reality it was just Asuna cancelling all of the mage of the beginning's magic while Negi's magic goes for the offensive) against the mage of the beginning was because of Asuna's power as the imperial princess and was not linked to the pactio.

Which mean in this case that Negi wouldn't be able to do something similar with anyone but Asuna which render the whole argument about who to chose very obvious.

After that we have scumbag Negi fucking logic in the ass by making an official pactio with his whole class.
Yes you heard me well; His whole class.
I can already hear you 'Wasn't that suposed to be impossible hence why Negi had to chose one?' and to that I'll answer that's why logic won't be able to sit down for a while.

Then when the power (of love) of his whole class combined Negi managed to break the barrier around Mars but this is not enough to stop Mars's wrath.
Chao then come back from the future (sure is convenient) to add her power to the already too much rainbow beam of love that finally manage to fused both world together.

End.

Was that movie suposed to be a joke? Like seriously? There were so many plothole, it was so pathetic, character were out of character, so full of random convenience and the movie was contradicting itself.
I'll take that as a major elevated to the fan.
Ken definitively doesn't give a shit about the serie.

Shaft did a good job as usual when it comes to the animation but the visual is the only thing someone sane would ever watch this movie for.

To the negima fan that considered watching this movie: Act like it never existed and move on, this was horrible.

Esta review también está en español.

Well, before starting the review, I just want to clarify something: this film is not related to the Mahou Sensei Negima anime, nor the Negima!? anime. This is the direct sequel of Mou Hitotsu no Sekai, and is the alternative ending from the manga. So, if you didn't read it, or you aren't up to chapter 334 (cause yes, this is really advanced), then this movie is not for you. Understood? Great, then let's begin.

Today is February 24, and regarding Negima, these are crucial times. The manga is almost ending, with only three chapters left... and the future doesn’t look ... too bright. Fans don't lose hopes, yet, they're uneasy. But hey, while we are waiting, this film bring us a different ending, an alternate path, and supposedly, the original way Akamatsu was going to finish this giant story.

The film starts showing scattered parts of chapters 310 to 334. That's right, 24 chapters in less than five minutes. But, those parts are more informative than anything, and you know how what happened: Negi is petrified, Ala Alba is trying to rescue Twilight!Asuna (epic moment for Natsumi and Kotaro) from Cosmo Entelechia, Chachamaru nukes the original Fate with her kill sat, lots of Fates appear and crush many of the good guys, Negi awake and convince the original (and not nuked after all) Fate (third one, actually) to join him, the members of the original Cosmo Entelechia return including the Mage of the Beginning, Ala Rubra arrives with Eva and kick the evil dudes asses, and finally, Asuna and Negi slice in two the Mage of the Beginning, who was actually Negi's father. All that in five minutes. Now, to the proper story of the movie:
Having defeated the Life Maker, Asuna use her royal powers to solve the imminent apocalypse that threatened Mundus Magicus. With that inconvenience cleared (for now, at least), Negi and Co biggest concern are the preparatives for the graduation. However, the Principal tell Negi that, if he want to become a proper Magister Magi, he has to chose one of his students and create a permanent pactio (it doesn't have to be one of his current partners necessarily), and the rest of the class will lose any magic-related memory. And not only that, the decision has to be made before the graduation, so Negi has only one day to think... Obviously, the girls will find out immediately, and although they don't like this whole business, they're willing to accept whatever Negi decides, but trying to gain his attention for (possibly) their last day together.

Told this way, the story doesn't sounds bad, right? I mean, is not the more action oriented film ever, and of course we would all love to see the fight between Ala Rubra and Cosmo Entelechia, or Negi, Setsuna, Kaede or Mana fighthing anyone... but this movie wasn't supposed to adapt those parts, and they were only shown for instructive reasons (I suppose). No, the problems start shortly after half of the film. Obviously I can't give more details (cause, if I keep writing, I will end telling you the whole movie, and that's not the idea), but the plot inconsistencies begin to pile up, and less logical stuff just keep happening. And the most important thing: the resolution of the story is a mess. We also don't have lots of fights (like I already stated), but the ones presents are pretty cool, yet too short. Way too short.

As for the characters... despite being an 80 minutes long film, every girl participates in a satisfactory way, having their own special moments, or at least a few lines. All the girls have in mind that in less of 24 hours their life is going to change big time, except for the chosen one (and even her will experiment some changes, like... all her friends losing their memories)... and possibly a few more exceptions (like certain girl with the magic-cancel ability, or people with pactios, but with other people). Anyway, it's amazing the maturity with which the girls handled the situation, especially compared to the manga (good YHVY, the behavior of these very same girls in the parallel events of the manga...). And just as a curiosity, I found amusing the way Haruna and Akira trades roles, in a very subtle way. You'll understand why...

The animation is excellent. Really, is superb, like in the OVAS. Beatiful 2-D drawing, good 3-D effects (but not overused, like in the Yue OVA), fast attacks, flashy magic (seriously, those magic circles can't become cooler) and mahou shoujo transformations (present in all the girls that have a card, and especially awesome in Nodoka and Yue's case). And of course, this is Negima, so fan service is involved, with a good ol' bath scene (and others too).

The sound quality is as good as the animation. The three songs present in the film are played perfectly, once again, by an excellent group of seiyus. Even the hard stuff like the latin pronunciation is really good. The voices are the same from the OVAS, with only the absence of Tanaka Hazuki, Ku Fei's original voice actress.

So, to round things up, the technical level of this movie is superb, and the story is weak. It looks like we just can't get a Negima adaptation that leave no doubts (I mean, why can't we get a proper adaptation? Is for the Ecchi? Seikon no Qwaser was way worse!). From the beginning, it was obvious that a film so short can't give that much (look at the Haruhi movie... it lasted more than 160 minutes... and was adapting just a 300 pages novel!), especially with all the characters Negima have. There's virtually no action. The story unfolds in an erratic, something meaningless way, and even contradicts the manga a few times (it kind of remind me the first anime in that sense). The outcome wasn't satisfactory. But of course, not everything was bad, there are lots of fun parts, and the characterization is very good, at least most of the time.

As for the recommendation... of course you are going to watch it. This is not any series, this is Mahou Sensei Negima, the manga you read more than 330 chapters (quite possible 352, right?). Regardless of all its faults, all the omissions, all the missed opportunities... this is another ending, a different point of view. Of course you are going to watch it. I know you will, reader n_n.
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Bueno, antes de empezar propiamente, vale la aclaración: esta película no tiene nada que ver con el anime Mahou Sensei Negima o con Negima!?. Esto es la continuación directa de Mou Hitotsu no Sekai, y es el final alternativo que se había concebido para el manga, así que si no lo leyeron, o no llegaron al capítulo 334, esta película no es para ustedes. Entendido? Bueno, empecemos.

Hoy es 24 de febrero, y en lo que respecta a Negima, estamos en momentos cruciales. El manga esta a 3 capítulos de acabar, y los pronósticos no son favorables. Sin embargo, no se pierden las esperanzas. Peeeeero, mientras esperamos por el desenlace, esta película nos trae un final distinto, un camino alternativo, el que al principio Akamatsu había pensado para terminar su obra.

La película arranca mostrándonos flashes de los capítulos 310 hasta el 334. Y cuando digo flashes es en serio: son 24 capítulos en menos de cinco minutos. Aunque bueno, ustedes ya saben cómo va: Negi esta petrificado, Ala Alba intenta rescatar a Asuna de las manos de Cosmo Entelecheia, se despiertan muchos Fates que pulverizan a varios miembros del grupo de los buenos (siendo Chachamaru partida en 2), Negi se despierta, convence al Fate original (el tercero, en realidad) de que se una a él, aparecen miembros del Cosmo Entelecheia original, mas el Life Maker, llega Ala Rubra y Eva, los exterminan, se libera a Asuna, y junto a Negi, liquidan al Life Maker, que resulto ser el padre de Negi. Todo eso en 5 minutos. Ahora va el planteo en serio de la historia:
Habiendo sido derrotado el Life Maker, Asuna usa sus poderes reales para resolver el inminente Apocalipsis que asolaba Mundus Magicus. Ahora, la preocupación más grande que tienen Negi y sus estudiantes es apurarse a prepararse para la graduación. Sin embargo, el director Konoemon le plantea un problema a Negi: si quiere convertirse en un Magister Magi real, debe elegir a una sola de sus estudiantes para forjar un contrato definitivo (no siendo obligatorio que sea una de sus partners actuales), y todas las demás perderían cualquier memoria relacionada con la magia. Ah, y dicha decisión debe ser tomada el día de la graduación, por lo que Negi solo tiene un día para decidirse... Obviamente, las chicas se enteran, y aunque no les hace mucha gracia, están dispuestas a aceptar cualquiera sea la decisión de Negi, y queriendo hablar al menos una vez mas con su profesor antes de que todo se acabe.

Dicho así, la historia no pinta mal, cierto? Quiero decir, por supuesto que a todos nos hubiera gustado ver la pelea de Ala Rubra y Eva vs Cosmo Entelecheia, o a Negi, Setsuna, Kaede, Chachamaru o Mana peleando... pero esta película no se suponía que adaptara esas parte, y solo nos mostraron como para plantear la situación. No, los problemas empiezan un poco después de la mitad de la película. Obviamente no puedo dar detalles (por que si no terminaría contando toda la película, y no es la idea), pero las inconsistencias argumentales empiezan a apilarse, y cosas cada vez menos lógicas empiezan a surgir... y para redondear, el desenlace es insólito. Tampoco hay mucha acción que digamos, pero hay un par de peleas que son interesantes.

Vamos a los personajes. A pesar de ser una película de solo 70 minutos, la verdad es que casi todas las chicas participan de forma medianamente satisfactoria, con algunas escenas para que se luzcan, o al menos, para que hablen. Todas tienen en mente que en menos de 24 horas su vida está a punto de cambiar, excepto para la elegida... y otras excepciones (como cierta chica con la habilidad innata de cancelar la magia... o las que tienen pactios con otras personas). Como sea, es increíble la madurez con que las chicas manejan la situación, especialmente comparado con el manga (por Dios, el comportamiento de estas mismas chicas en los sucesos paralelos del manga...). Y a modo de curiosidad, me pareció sorpresivo como los roles de Akira y Haruna se intercambiaron, al menos de forma muy sutil. Ya se van a dar cuenta...

La animación es excelente. En serio, es soberbia, al igual que en las OVAS. Hermoso dibujo en 2-D, efectos 3-D presentes, pero no se abusan (como en la OVA de Yue), ataques rápidos y fluidos, magia vistosa, y transformaciones a lo mahou shojo (presentes en todas las chicas que usan sus cartas. Hay algunas muy buenas, especialmente las de Yue y Nodoka). Y como esto es Negima, también hay fan-service aunque tampoco muy exagerado... para los parámetros de Negima.

El sonido sigue las líneas de calidad de la animación. Las tres canciones presentes en la película son interpretadas de forma impecable, una vez más, por un grupo de seiyus simplemente excelentes. Las voces son las mismas de los trabajos anteriores, con la excepción de Tanaka Hazuki, la seiyu original de Ku Fei.

Entonces, para redondear, a nivel técnico es soberbio, a nivel historia deja que desear. Parece que no podemos conseguir algo de Negima que no deje dudas. Desde su génesis era obvio que una película de solo 80 minutos no iba a dar para mucho (quiero decir...miren la película de Haruhi... duraba más del doble, y adaptaba una novela de menos de 300 páginas!) especialmente teniendo en cuenta el amplio elenco presente en esta serie. Prácticamente no hay acción. La historia se desenvuelve de forma un tanto errática, a veces sin sentido, y hasta contradiciendo al manga. El desenlace no fue mi parte favorita. Pero tampoco es que todo sea malo y la historia la allá hecho un chico de primaria, hay varias partes divertidas, y la caracterización de los personajes es muy buena, al menos la mayoría del tiempo.

En cuanto a la recomendación... ¿a quién engaño? Esto no es una serie desconocida, que puede atraer a tal o cual grupo de personas, esta película está dirigida a personas que leyeron 330 capítulos de un manga. Es obvio que, si llegaron a eso, tienen que ver este final. Sin importar todos sus defectos, todas las omisiones, todas las oportunidades perdidas... la tienen que ver. Aunque claro, sin importar lo que yo diga, de todas formas la van a ver. Se que si n_n.

So out of 31 middle school students ranging from a 10 year old looking vampire, a robot, a ninja, a silent book girl, to a rowdy questionable pedophile, who would you choose as your magical partner? Of course there's always the easy answer...

*This review is a potenial spoiler of the manga series, cause the movie itself expects you to have knowledge of the manga series latest chapters.*

STORY: Mahou Sensei Negima Anime Final is the next long awaited, yet honestly unwanted, adaption of the original negima manga, yet as the title speaks for itself, this will be the final anime. Does it botch itself up? In ... a way yes, but there's a silver lining at least: This movie is actually just an alternate ending for the series, where it ends the manga from the 330th chapter mark (The manga ends at 355 chapters), and sets itself up for an ending where nothing more can continue forth with some problems of course.

The movie starts off with a huge recap spoiler for chapters 308 to 332 (If I got the chapter numbers wrong, please someone correct me), showing various chapters fly by with brief moments from each chapter sequence, from Kotaro's attack against Fate, the ending of Negi's fight with Fate, to the end of the fight against the mage of beginning (And his true idenity). So right from the get go, if you have yet to read the manga up to that point, checked out the manga, or have no knowledge of the manga, then you're wasting your time has this has nothing for the latter two while for the former, it offers nothing but spoilers.

Now right away a good percentage of potential viewers are reduced, but how does the beginning affect the overall movie? After very exciting spoiler-rific opening, featuring potential new enemies, and several fallen allies and a major antagionst, what can one but expect an exciting conclusion... Of who will Negi Springfield choose as his permament partner...

I'm not going to say I'm completely disappointed, this direction the movie takes is just as gripping as an all-out magical final battle with the world at stake...... Who am I kidding? This just gives you an empty promise, a shameless bait and switch that many shonen series movies do (Bleach Jigoku-Hen! What was the point of Ulquiorra in the beginning?). But anywho, the plot is centered around, after the magical world arc, Negi Springfield having to choose one of his 30 (31) students right before their graduation day no less, to become his true partner while the majority of them will lose not only their pactio card (Their proof of contact as a temperary partner with Negi and their source of magic powers via magical artifacts), but all of their memories of anything magic related as well, with Negi having to make that choice before the next day.
As you would expect, the movie spends the majority of it's time focusing on the 30 (31) students, from wondering one will get chosen, to making attempts to convince Negi to chose so and so, to simply giving up and excepting their fate and decide and have another meaningful moment with their teacher (By moment I mean big flashy battles) while the ones who will most likely not lose their memories ponder at the fact of how lonely that would make them become.

Most of these scenes are borderline depressing, and shows deep character maturity between the series most noteworthy friends like Ayaka and Asuna, Kotaro (Yay! He's in the movie!) and Natsumi, and Setsuna and Konoka (Which they continue to come across as so much more than just friends as any reader of the manga series can tell you) with Nodoka and Yue's being the best of the friendship development as they show how happy they are to be in love with the same person and will accept it if the other gets chosen instead over the other. And as the movie gradually moves on the promised day, the tension is sky high when Negi tries furiously to decide on a permanent partner, a world threatening situation arrives as Negi and his chosen partner are the only ones can stop it.

And the review will end here... Why? Because it's impossible to not spoil it, but let's just say Negi's decision is so cliched, so safe, and just ruins the build up from thirty-fourty minutes prior. Two promises, left broken by rather good build up that only ends up in disappointment, I just can't go further than there without giving major spoilers.

ANIMATION: Arguably a step down from the ovas Shaft released a few years ago, with even the big battles looking kinda sloppy. Character designs are very true to the source material, something any Negima fan can appreciate after watching the first two Negima anime adaptations. Though my major gripe is the random panty flashes... I know Negima is an ecchi series (It's one of the more creeper ones in fact), but even in the manga it irks me, and movie changes nothing (Especially the bath scene with many of the classmates washing two of own in a rush to see their teacher, though it isn't Negima without the obligatory inappropriate fan service so what can I do?).

SOUND: It's okay, nothing more, nothing less. The loud graduation song sung by the whole class towards the end of the movie does have a great emotional impact, telling you that it is indeed the end, but other than that nothing really sticks out as well as this. The ending theme that plays during the end so pretty decent too, it kinda sounds like another remix of Happy Material from the first Negima anime.

OVERALL:
The Good:
+ Decent music, the song at the end before the credits is pretty emotional towards long time fans of series.

The Mixed:
+/- Great build up, showing good character development and almost saddening conflicts / The pay off is only disappointment.
+/- Good animation / Sort of a step down from the ovas.

The Bad:
- Only readers of the manga can really get something out of this movie besides spoilers.
- The conclusion of Negi's decision, it down rights brings the whole movie down.

Sure there's a lot of material that will saddly never see the screens of TV sets (Like my personal favorite: the Rakan vs Negi fight, it is the single greatest fight of any shonen series, without a doubt), and the movie only raises your expectations to only drop them on the floor like an egg, but it isn't worst Negima adaptation at least, and plenty of the long time fans can still get something out of it. Though there is a something that bugs the shit out of me: Is Rakan Nagi's true partner? It's a pretty jarring issue if you take what the movie offers, by that I mean if you accept the movie's inconsistencies.