Search - Maria Watches Over Us - Season 1 on DVD

Many years in the waiting

Kara Stenberg | Alaska | 06/28/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I became a fan of "Maria-Sama ga Miteru" (aka "Marimite" - I am gonna have a hard time calling it by its new US name) several years ago via fansubs over the internet. As soon as it was licensed and put up for pre-order, I put in for my copy.

Marimite is easily my favorite anime of all time (and I watch a wide variety of anime). It's an elegant shoujo drama; nothing huge really happens but every event is a catalyst for character development, something which this series has in spades. I honestly have not seen many series - even live action - that have the level of character development that this anime has over the course of its (so far) three seasons. I chalk that up to Marimite being based on well-written light novels of the same name by Konno Oyuki.

The stories themselves are simple and are slow-paced, much like the setting at a Catholic girls-school where moving calmly is preferred. The drama is more realistic than most anime, though kicked up a notch for effect: Yumi is torn between watching her idol from afar or coming so close to her as to feel diminished herself; Yoshino struggles with a heart condition that prevents her from actively being the spitfire she is in personality; Rei, Yoshino's cousin, must get over her need to protect Yoshino and let her be the firey person she is; elegant Sachiko must learn its okay to rely on others... and more. ;)

The characters themselves are not cookie-cutter replicas you have seen before, each becoming more three-dimensional as the episodes unfold stories highlighting each character (well, if you include season 2). Once season 2 is released and you watch it with its flash-back episodes and go back to review the entire series, you suddenly gain insight into why different characters (like Sei) act the way they do. It just shows how well-written the entire thing is, that it was largely planned ahead of time. No episode is a stand-alone; they all mesh together to paint a portrait of this group of girls who we watch bloom and grow into their own strengths over the course of the series.

The animation itself is very good and pleasing to look at. On a few occasions you get an odd, slight shift in style or weird character proportions but they aren't so bad as to take away from the story. Flowing hair and uniforms and details in the changes of season are all well used.

The music is classical, no ill-fitting pop tunes. This minimal approach adds to the air of elegance and propriety of the school, as well as to highlight that despite such expectations, our characters are colorful people, breaking molds as they go.

Humor is realistic and smart; there is no use of chibi or stylised faces (except for one occasion I can think of).

Right Stuf has stated that this release will include two subtitle tracks - one with everything translated and another with honorifics intact (yay!).

Lastly, for those of us so inclined, there is yuri content, largely in the form of Sei, who once fell for another student at Lillian (their school). Two episodes are devoted to this. Overall, the series is quite gay-friendly and though it doesn't dwell on the topic, it is respectful and more realistic than most series out there that use such elements as service."

Many Delightful Hours Spent

Erica Friedman | 08/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Based on a series of light novels by Konno Oyuki, "Maria-sama ga Miteru" is the story of an average girl, Fukuzawa Yumi, who is drawn into the rarified world of her school's Student Council. Led by the elegant and refined three Rosas, the Council seems to live in a world of its own that most students can never touch.

Until one morning, one of the most unapproachable of the Council members, Ogasawara Sachiko, unexpectedly fixes Yumi's uniform tie, plunging Yumi into a complex test of her affections and allegiance.

The season box set has two subtitle tracks - one with Japanese style honorifics, and one without. It comes with video extras - shorts that spoof the "making of" the series, and a cel phone charm as a physical extra. The translation is very decent, and the menu is very simple and straightforward. It's an excellent bargain at the price, as well.

With a romantic setting, a little Yuri flavoring, a lot of humor and a dose of pure shoujo fantasy, Maria Watches Over Us is one of the best series to ever be adapted into an anime.

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