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If participating in this spotlight, will you be a first time watcher?
May 16, 2016 6:46 AM
#1
WARNING: This spotlight contains spoilers for the first three episodes!! If you absolutely can't be spoiled, please watch those and then come back and join us! Mai HiME is a lot of things. It's a comedy sketch about school girls and food. It's a magical girl anime with Pokemon (no but kind of seriously). It's a tragedy. It's a romance. It's dramatic and funny and fantastical and fanservice-y and sometimes it's worthy of how much you like it and sometimes it's not. Mai HiME focuses on Tokiha Mai, a new scholarship student at Fuuka Academy, who quickly discovers that she is actually a HiME (or 'Highly-advanced Materializing Equipment'). HiMEs are girls that have powers, called elements, that they can manifest on will, in addition to their child, a hybrid mecha-mystical beast that they summon. HiMEs fight Orphans, monsters that are terrorizing Fuuka, but Mai quickly learns that there are some powerful people behind the Academy that may have darker intentions... Our leading lady and her child, Kagutsuchi. Why is this show worthy of my time? There is a lot of bad anime out there. And for the first several episodes of Mai HiME, you may start to think this is one of them. Be forewarned - this show is not for the faint of heart yuri watchers. There are several filler episodes with a lot of fanservice, and a lot of it is so heterosexual (or yuri-baiting) that you may want to puke. But Mai HiME is not what it appears to be, in the end. A lot of people compare Mai HiME to Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica. This is a good comparison, I think - both are magical girls animes that involve dark twists and defy the genre. However, I think Mai HiME can be better compared to Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya, which contains similar comedic elements in addition to the aforementioned darkness. Mai HiME takes several surprising turns, especially towards its finale, that make it stand out from other mahou shoujo animes and ensure its appeal to people who are not traditionally fans of the genre. oooh the darkness And if that's not good enough for you, there are a ton of characters (and I mean a literal ton. 2,000 pounds worth of them) to love and hate as you see fit. There is Mai, her brother Takumi whom she cares for, her fellow HiMEs Mikoto and Natsuki, the Student Council and Executive Board, the Director of Fuuka, Nagi, the teachers, the students, the clergy. There are so many people in this show, but for the most part their roles are well-defined and it's not too many so that you can't remember who is who. Most importantly, though, is that so many of these characters are multi-faceted, interesting people who you want to get to know better. Some of them you will, some of them you won't, but it's very rewarding to watch them grow. Oh, and I guess the art is pretty great too. (Actually, to be fair, I really didn't like it at first - I thought it was too blocky for my taste. Of course, as I continued to watch the series, I grew to really enjoy the character designs and the animation.) Drunk magical girls are highly underrated. So where does the yuri come into play? So let's go on a little journey. The first time I watched Mai HiME, I was currently looking for my next yuri anime. I watched the first episode, was not hugely impressed by what I saw (and the distinct lack of yuri and the presence of a male character), and stopped. Six months later, I went back to it, actually sat through the first couple of episodes, and fell in love. Moral of the story: you cannot go into this series expecting the yuri to fall in your lap. You cannot go into this series hoping that there are no male characters, because there are, and several of them play boyfriends and love interests. You cannot go into this series without an interest in the main plot and watch it solely for the yuri. That being said, there IS yuri. And a lot of it. In varying degrees. The first degree is the yuri-baiting, with the stereotypical boob touching and snuggling, the sleeping together, the frequent 'I love you's. An example of yuri-baiting/goggle incidents. Then there is stage two yuri, spanning the goggle-worthy incidents to the heavy subtext relationships. There are at least two (arguably three) relationships in Mai HiME that involve the implication of a girl having romantic emotions towards another girl. Whether or not she reciprocates depends on the relationship, of course, but they are definitely there and occasionally brought to light. Ugh get this man away from me. Then, lastly, there is the ultimate yuri. The couple whose name will not be stated for those who are new to watching it, as you have to watch ALL THE WAY UNTIL THE END to figure out who they are. But it's well worth the wait. And if you need to know now, just tumblr search 'Mai HiME' - it's really difficult to find pictures that aren't of them. But not only is there yuri. And I mean confirmed yuri with confessions and kisses and spectacular displays of the depths of their emotions. In addition to all the cute stuff, that relationship plays a fairly large role in the plot development and conclusion. Is it the most important? No. But it definitely comes close. And for all of those members who have been struggling to find yuri romance in anime that's not focused solely on their relationship, this may be the one for you. And if not, here's Natsuki and a butt gif IN ONE. Overall, I give Mai HiME an 8/10, mostly because I want even more yuri and less filler episodes in the beginning, but I'm a tough nut to crack. As I have no idea who is and is not going to watch the show, please avoid any spoilers with the SPOILERS tag. Mai HiME is at the weird age where it's old enough that many people should know its premise and the star couple, but too old that it might be fading from others' radar, so please be considerate! Mai HiME is one season of 26 episodes. But don't worry! We'll soon be back with its sequel, Mai Otome, which has many of the same characters but an entirely different plotline and reality. And if you can't wait until then, there is a series of 27 one minute specials (which mostly involve the characters in scant clothing) as well as a special released in 2010 that almost had me in tears (from laughter). Bring on the feels! Previous Spotlight Shows Blue Drop Love Live Non Non Biyori Kinirio Mosaic Revolutionary Girl Utena (Bonus: Movie Spotlight) Canaan Ga-Rei: Zero Strike Witches Madoka Movies Rinne no Lagrange (Lagrange: The Flower of Rin-ne) Ova Showcase! Mouretsu Pirates (Bodacious Space Pirates) Saki |
anindigomoonMar 13, 2018 9:33 AM
"First of all: I am tired. I am true of heart! And also: You are tired. You are true of heart!" |
May 16, 2016 7:22 AM
#2
Now for my shameless Fujino Shizuru spam post: Note: These pictures contain spoilers!! SPOILERS!! Like big ones. And just so you guys know who the best character is, spoiler free: Although I kind of like her better in Mai-Otome... |
"First of all: I am tired. I am true of heart! And also: You are tired. You are true of heart!" |
May 17, 2016 12:16 AM
#3
I'm going to give this a download, hopefully I can watch it within the next 3 years. I might put this on my phone to watch until then. |
May 17, 2016 7:07 AM
#4
Nope, this takes place in the actual series, sometime in the first half but closer to the middle, if I remember correctly. Except yuri, a fantasy elements aren't very good. For someone that want to watch this: don't expect too much from this. I'm gonna have to disagree with this - I really like Mai HiME's plotline. I find the beginning pretty dull, but when it finally picks up it's super interesting to watch all the pieces come together. Plus the DRAMA. Is it the best executed? No way. But it's definitely still enjoyable. Plus, Mai HiME's not just rooted in fantasy, but mecha/sci fi as well. Which makes the whole thing a little more interesting. I think it's very similar to: Yes, it's big spoiler for both shows! You have been warned! Fate/stay night That show has more male characters. I've never seen that show, but if I pretend to know what I'm talking about, the main character is male, which is definitely not the case in Mai HiME, at least the anime. (The manga is a whole different story y'all, don't read it). Also the men in Mai HiME rarely do anything heroic or have roles in the fantasy aspect of it, barring maybe 3 (definitely debatable). |
anindigomoonMay 17, 2016 7:10 AM
"First of all: I am tired. I am true of heart! And also: You are tired. You are true of heart!" |
May 17, 2016 7:13 AM
#5
I'm going to give this a download, hopefully I can watch it within the next 3 years. It goes by pretty quickly once you get through the first seven or eight episodes, at least for me. |
anindigomoonJun 29, 2017 10:13 PM
"First of all: I am tired. I am true of heart! And also: You are tired. You are true of heart!" |
May 17, 2016 2:53 PM
#6
I'm gonna have to disagree with this - I really like Mai HiME's plotline. I find the beginning pretty dull, but when it finally picks up it's super interesting to watch all the pieces come together. Plus, Mai HiME's not just rooted in fantasy, but mecha/sci fi as well. Which makes the whole thing a little more interesting. I'm on opposite side - the ending is dull and forced. And do I remember it corectly... oh, yeah, I quickly rewatched the last episode everyone are alive Sci-fi/mecha? Hmm... there was something like this. |
May 18, 2016 6:43 AM
#7
Wannabiteme said: I'm on opposite side - the ending is dull and forced. And do I remember it corectly... oh, yeah, I quickly rewatched the last episode everyone are alive Sci-fi/mecha? Hmm... there was something like this. So... I actually am one of those people who really hates when people come back from the dead. I think it's frustrating and a cop out for the writers. That being said, Mai HiME was BRUTAL with the people it killed, because it was about half the cast, which made it interesting to watch but also had you hoping it got resolved in someway. In this case, I didn't think it was as much of a cop out - Miyu destroys the pillars to bring the HiMEs back, which involves resurrecting their most important person in order to gain back their child, and they're the ones that destroy the star. Mai never could have defeated the Obsidian Prince or broken the HiME cycle without them. I agree that it's kind of corny, but after all the shit they put you through, you kind of deserve it. As for the sci fi, there are of course the childs (children?), some of which are more metal than beast. And in addition, there's Miyu the android thing and Alyssa, the manufactured HiME. |
"First of all: I am tired. I am true of heart! And also: You are tired. You are true of heart!" |
May 18, 2016 3:31 PM
#8
@anindigomoon as for sci-fi, yeah, yeah, you are right. I actually am one of those people who really hates when people come back from the dead. I think it's frustrating and a cop out for the writers. That being said, Mai HiME was BRUTAL with the people it killed, because it was about half the cast, which made it interesting to watch but also had you hoping it got resolved in someway. In this case, I didn't think it was as much of a cop out - Miyu destroys the pillars to bring the HiMEs back, which involves resurrecting their most important person in order to gain back their child, and they're the ones that destroy the star. Mai never could have defeated the Obsidian Prince or broken the HiME cycle without them. I agree that it's kind of corny, but after all the shit they put you through, you kind of deserve it. It was brutal but kind of "random" deaths. I don't feel "death of child = death of loved one". It wasn't good, but I thought "death of her friends will make here stronger... bla bla bla". That would be okeish ending. This ending destroyed that feeling. It was similar as in one anime I have watched (2nd season). I shed so many tears. This guy lost his wife and after some time his only child. This was so sad story. Then last episode(s) resurrected his wife & daughter. This guy deserved happy ending so much but I felt like I got cheated - why I cried so much when everyone is alive & happy?! |
May 23, 2016 7:48 AM
#9
Wannabiteme said: It was brutal but kind of "random" deaths. I don't feel "death of child = death of loved one". It wasn't good, but I thought "death of her friends will make here stronger... bla bla bla". That would be okeish ending. This ending destroyed that feeling. It was similar as in one anime I have watched (2nd season). I shed so many tears. This guy lost his wife and after some time his only child. This was so sad story. Then last episode(s) resurrected his wife & daughter. This guy deserved happy ending so much but I felt like I got cheated - why I cried so much when everyone is alive & happy?! I completely agree with becoming frustrated when you get really upset over a character death and then they come back. I personally liked how being defeated destroyed the person you cared for most, especially because you were initially under the impression that the child dying meant the HiME died. It's a different kind of psychological experiment. The thing I was having a problem with (re: everyone NOT getting resurrected) s that what did Mai have to live for at the end if no one came back? She lost Takumi, Natsuki, and Mikoto (in a sense). Even if she succeeded, who would she have left? Tate? (and probably not even him if Shiho had been defeated conventionally) I feel like it would have been out of character for her to fight and win and then just go one with her life, because she's so dependent on helping others. If no one had been resurrected, I feel that Mai probably would have just killed herself, and that would have made for one brutal anime. Sorry everyone else who wants to watch this. I promise I'll find something else to talk about that's not in spoiler tags soon. |
"First of all: I am tired. I am true of heart! And also: You are tired. You are true of heart!" |
May 23, 2016 8:01 AM
#10
@anindigomoon she could be a nurse, work in orphanage or something like this. ps. I don't know what you can talk without spoilers. |
May 29, 2016 7:01 PM
#11
anindigomoon said: Wannabiteme said: It was brutal but kind of "random" deaths. I don't feel "death of child = death of loved one". It wasn't good, but I thought "death of her friends will make here stronger... bla bla bla". That would be okeish ending. This ending destroyed that feeling. It was similar as in one anime I have watched (2nd season). I shed so many tears. This guy lost his wife and after some time his only child. This was so sad story. Then last episode(s) resurrected his wife & daughter. This guy deserved happy ending so much but I felt like I got cheated - why I cried so much when everyone is alive & happy?! I completely agree with becoming frustrated when you get really upset over a character death and then they come back. I personally liked how being defeated destroyed the person you cared for most, especially because you were initially under the impression that the child dying meant the HiME died. It's a different kind of psychological experiment. The thing I was having a problem with (re: everyone NOT getting resurrected) s that what did Mai have to live for at the end if no one came back? She lost Takumi, Natsuki, and Mikoto (in a sense). Even if she succeeded, who would she have left? Tate? (and probably not even him if Shiho had been defeated conventionally) I feel like it would have been out of character for her to fight and win and then just go one with her life, because she's so dependent on helping others. If no one had been resurrected, I feel that Mai probably would have just killed herself, and that would have made for one brutal anime. Sorry everyone else who wants to watch this. I promise I'll find something else to talk about that's not in spoiler tags soon. I don't get you guys, are you really complaining about Mai Hime having an actual good ending? Not everything needs to be dark and hopeless. Don't get me wrong I did like all the deaths because it gave the series more impact but I would have hate an ending where everybody except Mai was dead. In my opinion it was win-win.Also have you seen the ending of the manga? Mai and Natsuki fighting over who gets to date Tate fuck that! ShixNats for ever! |
May 30, 2016 4:29 PM
#12
@Irondragon Not everything needs to be dark and hopeless. Not everything must be happy. You can something in the middle (little happy, little sad). As for the rest why I don't like "it", read my comment. |
May 30, 2016 6:05 PM
#13
@Irondragon Well I know it's a really long discussion, but if you read back a bit further you'll notice that I actually do really like the ending of Mai HiME - I thought that after all the brutality, it was nice that Mai actually got to have her friends and family back. I also thought that it was executed well plotwise, i.e. it made sense why everyone came back instead of just magically restoring them. So yeah, I also consider it a win-win. As for the manga, I got about 6 chapters in and dropped it because I hate Tate so much and the thought of Natsuki with a man just makes me feel all kinds of icky. Although I have read that at some point in another series (I think Destiny?) she outright admits that she's fallen for Shizuru, which is a plus. DON'T READ THE MANGA GUYS |
"First of all: I am tired. I am true of heart! And also: You are tired. You are true of heart!" |
May 31, 2016 3:45 PM
#14
anindigomoon said: @Irondragon Well I know it's a really long discussion, but if you read back a bit further you'll notice that I actually do really like the ending of Mai HiME - I thought that after all the brutality, it was nice that Mai actually got to have her friends and family back. I also thought that it was executed well plotwise, i.e. it made sense why everyone came back instead of just magically restoring them. So yeah, I also consider it a win-win. As for the manga, I got about 6 chapters in and dropped it because I hate Tate so much and the thought of Natsuki with a man just makes me feel all kinds of icky. Although I have read that at some point in another series (I think Destiny?) she outright admits that she's fallen for Shizuru, which is a plus. DON'T READ THE MANGA GUYS Mai-Otome has also a few sweet Shiz/Nat moments And yes don't read the manga! Also I was really sad we i found out that the Mai-Hime movie was actually an April fools joke way back :( |
Jun 1, 2016 6:41 AM
#15
The ShizNat moments are what I live for! I actually just watched the Mai Otome specials where they hinted at the movie and I was like 'wait what?' and was super excited and then super disappointed all within about ten minutes. It was an emotional roller coaster. I will say that I won't be surprised if they (eventually) do something else with it though. The OVA was released in 2010, which makes it even funnier in my opinion. |
"First of all: I am tired. I am true of heart! And also: You are tired. You are true of heart!" |
Jun 4, 2016 8:24 PM
#16
anindigomoon said: I actually just watched the Mai Otome specials where they hinted at the movie and I was like 'wait what?' and was super excited and then super disappointed all within about ten minutes. It was an emotional roller coaster. I will say that I won't be surprised if they (eventually) do something else with it though. The OVA was released in 2010, which makes it even funnier in my opinion. Personally I would love to see a Gundam series with the Mai Hime & Mai Otome cast as pilots similar to Cross Ange but without any male characters (GKY Tusk). |
Jun 18, 2016 3:00 AM
#17
I never found a torrent for this. |
Jun 18, 2016 8:46 AM
#18
Yeah I had a similar problem and was forced to watch it online, but the quality (depending on the site) was usually at least decent. |
"First of all: I am tired. I am true of heart! And also: You are tired. You are true of heart!" |
Jun 22, 2016 9:05 PM
#19
Well, I had thought that this thread was just about dead, but then I saw the two most recent posts, so now I'm happy that I can post on this thread without feeling like I'm grave-digging! Mai-HiME has a special place in my heart. It was my first encounter with yuri, Shizuru and Natsuki's relationship was my favorite part of the anime, and without it I don't know if I would've ever gotten into yuri like I have, but I could never bring myself to care about Mai. I didn't mind her as a character so much as I minded her relationship with Tate. Tate was the worst part of the show for me. He was bad enough just existing, but then Mai had to go and choose him over my preferred love interest, Mikoto, and my secondary preferred love interest, Reito! And then she even chose him as her most precious person over her brother! Why? What did she see in him? I mean, maybe Takumi wasn't all that great of a character, but Tate was certainly no better, and Takumi is her brother! Ugh! |
Jun 24, 2016 4:31 AM
#20
@ShinyKing Shizuru and Natsuki's relationship is by far one of the most interesting aspects of the anime, especially towards the end. I think that that exists regardless of the fact that it's a yuri relationship, which just means that yuri lovers have all the more reason to watch it. I also really enjoy Shizuru and Natsuki's characters (Natsuki took a little longer to grow on me), so that really helped. Mai is okay. I've gotten used to being pretty ambivalent about the main characters in series, so it's just something I just expected not to enjoy. Tate, however, is definitely the worst character in the series. He's kind of an asshole and then he kind of feels bad about it and that's all there is to him. I really never understood what foundation their relationship had for him to be her most important person. My primary thing with Mikoto is that she's still such a child. It's hard for me to imagine her in a romantic relationship with anyone, even Mai, up until Mai-Otome. I also am pretty ambivalent about Takumi, but I really like Akira, so I value what he manages to give her there. I will say, though, that Mai post-Akira's defeat was something I really enjoyed. I liked how both she and Shizuru went to such lengths to protect those they loved, while others like Midori and Natsuki sacrificed themselves for the bigger picture. |
"First of all: I am tired. I am true of heart! And also: You are tired. You are true of heart!" |
Jun 24, 2016 2:49 PM
#21
@anindigomoon Overall I really enjoyed Mai-HiME, even if it did have some dull parts and some characters I didn't like. I loved Shizuru just as soon as she was introduced, and I liked Natsuki pretty well from the beginning, so Natsuki's character development gave me something interesting to watch while I waited for those relatively rare appearances of the yuri goddess. The first half of Mai-HiME was a bit boring for me. Shizuru hardly appeared, and while I didn't dislike Mai or Mikoto, they weren't all too interesting to me, and they took the focus away from Natsuki more often than I would've liked. Tate was awful, Shiho was bad. Midori was okay I guess. Nao was intriguing though, I wanted to see more of her. Right from the point where Miyu killed Akane's Child, I was determined to hate her and Alyssa. Even at the end of the first arc of Mai-HiME, where Alyssa dies and Suou walks into a freezing lake to mourn her and try to destroy herself or something, I didn't care. I had already determined that I wasn't going to let myself feel bad for them, no matter what happened, so screw all that sad snowman flashback shit, she murdered an innocent schoolboy in cold blood and I was not forgiving her. Looking back on it now, I realize that I probably ruined the drama of the whole thing for myself, and I should've allowed myself to feel some sympathy for a dying little girl and her protector who failed to save her. So yeah, that's pretty much how the first arc of Mai-HiME went for me. Then the plot twisted a full 180 degrees, and that's when I started to really, really get into it. The drama and interactions between the characters were so good, and not just with Natsuki and Shizuru. Sister Yukariko being manipulated into betraying the other HiMEs by her lover, then repenting and killing herself and her lover; Nao becoming a victim of Yukariko's betrayal and turning against everyone; Mai thinking that Mikoto killed Takumi, then thinking that she killed Mikoto in her rage; all of these tragic events were tearing the school apart, people were dying all around, and I couldn't believe that this anime which I'd been quite bored with just a few episodes ago had gotten so good so fast. The second half of Mai-HiME was just awesome. The only part I wasn't so keen on was when they shifted the focus back to Mai and Tate, but at least I got to see Natsuki cry when she was trying to comfort Mai, that was touching. So all in all, I loved Mai-HiME when it finally picked up. What did you think of Mai-Otome? |
Flip_Flap17Jun 24, 2016 3:10 PM
Jun 24, 2016 3:11 PM
#22
@anindigomoon Just wondering, have you read Natsuki's Prelude? It was a booklet that came with one of the Japanese DVDs. It describes Natsuki's thoughts during the HiME festival. It reveals more about her past when she was a little girl, and when she was the first HiME at Fuuka Academy, before Mai and the others arrived/discovered their HiME powers. It's quite good, and generally accepted as canon. If you haven't read it I highly recommend you check it out, just Google "Natsuki's Prelude" and you can find several fan translations. |
Jun 28, 2016 4:33 PM
#23
@ShinyKing I felt pretty much the same way regarding Mai HiME in the beginning. I really hated Tate and found Mikoto pretty annoying, so the only character I was really invested in was Natsuki (who was adorable but also very predictable in her ways). I almost dropped it (again) but I had heard consistently good things about it so I plugged on through. Everything turned around for me at Episode 7, when Kazu-kun disappears because of Miyu killing Akane's Childe. Only then did I really start paying attention. But yeah, once the whole first arc ends (which I liked towards the end but still wasn't super into), Mai HiME gets really good really fast. They give you like one episode to calm down and then suddenly the Carnival is upon them. The drama and tragedy associated with it really kept me engaged, and I got WAAAAAY too invested in relationships (oh how I cried when Duran defeated Kiyohime). To be completely honest, I like Mai Otome even more than Mai HiME for two reasons. The first is that the plot is much more smooth in those initial episodes, so I didn't need the same push to get through it. The second is that there is a lot more Shizuru (who is indisputably the best character). Anything else will have to wait for the Mai Otome spotlight! I have read Natsuki's Prelude! I remember liking it, although what I was looking for was something similar in which she writes a letter to Takeda rejecting his feelings because she's in love with someone else (Shizuru) that I've seen mentioned on several sites but have still been unable to find. |
"First of all: I am tired. I am true of heart! And also: You are tired. You are true of heart!" |
Aug 28, 2016 2:14 AM
#24
I dropped the show after 7 episodes because of the lack of yuri. i'll give it another chance now. |
Aug 28, 2016 8:02 PM
#25
As someone who only watches yuri, I definitely recommend it if you're okay with getting through all the het. I personally think it's worth it in the end, and it's quite a ride to get there. |
"First of all: I am tired. I am true of heart! And also: You are tired. You are true of heart!" |
Aug 28, 2016 10:11 PM
#26
Oh hey we’re talking about this show. I remember actually quite liking otome too. In both, I really liked Shizuru and Nao and Natsuki. |
Aug 29, 2016 5:24 AM
#27
I actually like Otome better than HiME. Wait, wasn't someone supposed to make a spotlight for that too? *whistles* I promise it's coming! I feel like Nao is a supremely underrated character, but I like her better in Otome. Whereas I really like Midori in HiME, when she's trying to grow into a leadership role that never existed. |
"First of all: I am tired. I am true of heart! And also: You are tired. You are true of heart!" |
Aug 29, 2016 3:14 PM
#28
Oh man, love gang Nao. |
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