舞-乙HiME (Mai-Otome)

[jamuko]

MORE UNFORESEEN POSTER TIME! (I'm sure you all remember that last time... uh, yeah... >_> )

Well, now that the first episode of Mai-Otome has been aired in Japan and the manga has been running since August, I think it's worthy of a topic. (Not that I've seen/read them yet... eh... )

ANN doesn't have too much on this yet aside from staff and vocal cast, but here is a thread with a good amount of info: http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=38083. (There are also some nice pictures from magazine scans, here: http://www.animepaper.net/scans/Mai-Otome/.)

It's an indirect sequel to Mai-HiME. A few of Mai-HiME's characters are returning, but appear to have changed quite a bit... for example, apparently, Mikoto is a cat. XD

Keep an eye out for subs... they should be coming soon. >.<

Here's hoping this series is as good as the first.

[Chromer]

RE: 舞-乙HiME (Mai-Otome)

Looks.....great? >_<

[Moogy]

Awesome. Mai-HiME was great, hopefully this will be even better.

[Kefit]

I just watched the raw of the first episode.

This series is going to be unbelievably awesome.

And most of the main characters of Mai HiME will be showing up. Thus far we have seen, either somewhere in the first episode or in the OP, Natsuki, Shizuru, Akane, Shiho, Nao, Miyu, MikotoCat, Haruka, Fumi, Mashiro, Yukariko, Aoi, and Chie.

Mai, Yukino, Midori and Alyssa have not made any appearances at this point.

Oh, and this series is going to rock. I'm preparing myself for another wild wide.

[Omegix]

the sub came out like an hour ago, it is on www.animesuki.com .

[Deji]

Awesome is one of the many ways I can say this show is. I just finished it, and if you haven't seen Mai HiME, go watch it before this. I particularly like the guest apperances, as well as the first episode theory showing that the show hasn't changed direction, just built what HiME established very well.

For good note, torrent is at

(I know you like to help out, but we can't post links to torrents. We all know where to get it anyway. --Squeek)

[Moogy]

I watched the first episode, subbed, last night. Freakin' awesome.

[jamuko]

Whee... finally got to see it (obtaining anime while in a dorm is a bit more difficult).

Seems like they're pulling a CLAMP here and reusing all the characters again in an alternate setting. Awesome... all the ones Kefit mentioned, plus the guys. I saw Nagi in the OP, and that guy who always talked to Natsuki by the tree in Mai-HiME (forgot his name -.- ) showed up too. There were also people who looked suspiciously like Tate and Takumi with new hairdos... I've yet to see anyone who resembled Reito/Lord Kakuyo, though.

Haha, it's funny seeing Mashiro so energetic. It seemed weird at first that the episode was so lighthearted, but I remember that Mai-HiME started out that way too. ^^; I hope this story gets really compelling as it progresses, too.

Such an unusual mix of mecha and magical girl... this is going to be awesome.

[Kefit]

It is worth noting that the ominous EVIL looking armored man figure at the beginning of the episode (during the 14 years ago segment) is voiced by the same person who voiced Reito in Mai HiME.

I forgot to mention in my last post that Akira has also not appeared in any form.

So are these characters going to show up at all? Who knows. Maybe they will randomly appear when we least expect them. Maybe they will show up in the most mundane way possible (and thus completely surprising us). And maybe Sunrise just wasn't able to secure the VAs for some of those characters for another series.

I suppose we shall just have to wait and see.

[Squeek]

I can already tell without even looking it up that Kajiura Yuki is doing the music for this one as well.

Anyway, so far, it seems like the main character is way too hyperactive. She needs to be toned down a bit. I can see why she would be, but it was kind of annoying.

And, while this subber did a decent job, I'd be willing to wait and see if Static is going to pick this up as well.

~Squeek

[jamuko]

Yeah, her hyperness seemed like a little too much to me too... I figured it was just because I was used to Mai, though. Well, we'll see.

Oh, and Static is indeed picking this one up. X3 It said somewhere... on their forums maybe. I'll get those eventually for burning purposes, but I can't make myself wait that long to see them when they come out... -.- I was crazy thankful to Yesy for subbing Mai-HiME so quickly when the anxious suspense between episodes reached its height around episode 20 and after.

[Moogy]

www.static-subs.com - It's under Projects.

[Squeek]

And Static has released their version(s) of the show.

I'll be watching their version later considering how poorly the other group did theirs.

~Squeek

[jamuko]

Aw, they didn't do that poor of a job... I do want my songs subbed though. T^T

But since Static appears to be more on the ball with releasing them quickly this time, I suppose I can wait for them. But if the suspense level rises dramatically, I'm going for whatever I can get my hands on first... -.-


*Sorta-spoilerish speculation below*


Also... observing some things. There is another HiME star by the moon, only it's blue this time.

There is an evil-looking person in the OP that looks a lot like Mai... similar hair and eyes from what you can tell, and also has Mai's spinning flame symbol thing (the thing that looks like the Sharingan from Naruto >.> ). They also have the glowy rings around their wrists and ankles, but all of the Otome seem to have a thing like that now. This person's silhouette (in the first OP shot; goes by quickly) also looks a lot like a pheonix... which could signify a rebirth, but it also reminds me of Kagutsuchi. (On another pheonix-y note, it seems all the Otome battle uniforms have some part that looks like pheonix tail feathers. I noticed this when Arika's stone "went off" while they were falling in the episode, but it's even more apparent on Shizuru's uniform. Kind of interesting, seeing as the characters appear to be "reborn" from the last series. ) AAaaand, they are holding a sword that looks like it could be Miroku. I don't have a reference of it handy to compare, but it looks like it to me.

Also, that little birdy on Miyu's hat in the OP might be Alyssa. XD Hey, if Mikoto can be a cat, it's possible... it is yellow and hanging around with Miyu, after all.

Onnnnee more thing. There was a stone that made that guy's eyes turn yellow. Reito had something like that going on as well...

Alright, enough observation/speculation for now. (I loved Mai-HiME for that, and this seems to be just as promising. X3 )

[Kefit]

Episode 2 has been subbed, and it is hilarioustastic.

Shiho, Nao, and Chie are all completely and utterly INSANE now, although I suspect that much of that was due to the tone of the episode - I am sure that each of them will be far more sane when it comes time for the show to get serious.