Otakuism

Too many shows…

Negima!? is a rather odd choice for me to watch. I’ve never read the manga or saw the first series. Then why am I choosing to watch this? Because it’s directed by Akiyuki Shinbo, the same man who’s created some of my all-time favorites, Tsukuyomi Moonphase, Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha, and Paniponi Dash. There’s no way I can miss out on one of his work’s. His touch really show’s too, with the Evangeline bits looking just like moonphase (Evangdline herself sometimes seemed the spitting image of Elfriede) and the classroom part was like paniponi, with all girls talking at once and the blackboard messages. Hell you can just tell by the camera angles. Whatever he touches is definately a stylish show above the norm.

Fortunately Negima!? itself seems to have a good story behind it. I’ve heard how the original series basically tore the story to pieces, creating the necessity for this remake/reimagining. The story is about young kid Negi who is assigned to be a teacher at an all-girls school. There’s also some bits about his father, a revered mage, fighting the vampire Evangeline, who is even now terrorizing the school. There’s also dojiko Asuna, shoo in as main romantic lead, who saw Negi use magic. Negima better have a strong cast of characters, with a whopping 30+ girls! All seem unique though, with a couple of eccentrics that caught my eye, like a girl who only cleaned her guns, a ghost, and robot. Hopefully my not knowing the source material will not hinder my enjoyment of the show, and Mr. Shinbo’s always beautiful work. Also I’ve heard the OP already and it KICKS. ASS! Sounds like it’s for a super robot show.

Jun: The Anime

I must admit I had no idea what the story behind Happiness! was. All I knew was that it involved a delicious trap called Jun, and that was that. Now I’m surprised to find out it’s actually about magic, with a competent romance element. Happiness is mainly told from the point of view of Haruhi, an up and coming mage and idol of the school magic section (the shool is split between a regualar section and magic section). When she was Haruhi was saved from some bullies by a kid with magic, who apparently she’s been obsessively looking for ever since. Yuuma is a nice kid with no magic who keeps bumping into Haruhi. Haruhi eventually give him chocolate (this being set during valentines) and hopes to see him again. Later the magic section of school is blown up (conveniant) and Haruhi joins Yuuma’s class. There’s also Anri, Haruhi’s friend and rival to the point where she actually has a magic fight with Haruhi just to find out who she likes. There’s also another girl, an upperclassmen, who seems real spacey. Can’t remember her name.

YOU LIE!

Though of course the real selling point of Happiness is Jun. Jun both looks 100% like a girl and is 100% a boy. Freaks you out that you find him hot right? Doesn’t matter. Everyone’s gay for Jun. Still seems weird that no one cares that he’s a boy. Creates some funny scenario’s though. Apart from Jun Happiness doesn’t seem all that bad. The setting is nice, we’ve seen magic and talking staffs before but there’s still a good dynamic. I like all the girls so far, though Haruhi’s kind of annoying with her stalkerish ways. There were a ton of flashbacks we didn’t need, as all the events happen in the same episode. Right now it’s pretty clear that Haruhi and Yuuma are meant for eachother and are gonna end up that way. The only challenge is how it happens. What’s with all these game adaptations being good all of a sudden?

Tired now. Sumomomo Momomo review tomorrow.