Shelf Life

Magica the Gathering

My attitude about these characters completely changed in part two. Instead of feeling like they were generic, I felt like they were familiar characters with long back stories outside of the series, like the characters in Giant Robo (except not as good). Maybe it's because it's based on a light novel series that I feel like these episodes were extracted from a much, much longer story and aimed at an audience of readers in a sort of “best of” compilation.

The highlight of this set is a two-episode arc explaining a bit of Mikan's back story, focusing on the Shinto sect she's from and introducing her older sister. Mikan's sister didn't feel like a throw-away character like she might in some other series; instead it felt like a lot of work went into rounding her out. The same thing can be said of several other characters introduced in this set; Sekiren, a fightin' Buddhist monk (reminiscent of Corpse Princess's monks) and a pantsuit wearin' female bodyguard, Daphne, both have long stories of their own. An extra-tough cutie villain, Fin Cruda, is introduced in the final arc, and it seems like there should be at least one side-story novel about his complicated life.

The show proceeds in small arcs with some stand-alone episodes. I complained last time about the over-the-top Christmas episode, and this set has an even more ridiculous wedding episode, plus a requisite hi-jinks heavy beach episode that pales in comparison to the wedding shenanigans. It's too much to go into without spoilers, but the wedding episode is something viewers will either love or hate.

I didn't notice at first, but both DVD sets come with rather long black and white booklets filled with information about the show's many magic systems, cast interviews, character profiles, and the like. I guess I looked over the books because the spines are plain white. Right Stuf absolutely bends over backwards to include great extras like this. If I had any interest in watching Rental Magica a second time it would totally be Shelf Worthy, in part because of the extra mile Right Stuf went to to translate this 141 page book.

The animation quality is quite high. Some of the incidental music sounds orchestral instead of synthesized. Unfortunately I just can't see this high budget show taking off in America. There's just something about it that makes it unmemorable. I could see where it might have a big fandom in Japan, since there are plenty of characters, lots of lore, and a lot to like… but it's just not for me.[TOP]

Nearing the end of the fourth season, Toko acts like a jerk to protagonist Yumi, even though it seemed like they were sure to become “soeurs”. Toko even goes so far to run for student counsel for mysterious reasons.

A friend of mine once read a book on the history of salt and I laughed at him because it sounded incredibly boring, on par with something like a videogame where you watch paint dry. It turns out that the history of salt is full of adventure (or so I've heard). I'm not saying Maria-sama is as boring as salt, but there is an episode where the dramatic ending hinges on protagonist Yumi deciding not to fret about something anymore.

80% of this show is girls talking about their feelings. If you didn't roll your eyes just now, this is the show for you. But here's a warning: You will want to drink tea while watching this show. When the girls aren't drinking tea and chatting about the relationships of student council members, they are throwing parties to cheer up Yumi. The parties also involve tea. Get some water boiling water ready before you crack open the DVD case.

I complained about a couple off-model episodes at the beginning of this season, but the rest of season four has exceptional production values. Admittedly, when I say “high production values,” I usually mean that the show adds an expensive-looking third or fourth level highlight on the characters' hair. Sometimes Maria-sama uses some subtle (and pricey) CG, which seems weird outside of an action show. Once or twice there is a crazy (difficult/expensive) camera move during a key dramatic moment. Either a lot of money went into this or it is incredibly cost effective to make a series where the characters drink a lot of tea (probably both).

No spoilers as to whom, but a friendship break-up totally goes down in this season. I have, in real life, had friend break-ups, and I have to admit that sometimes it can be like a break up with a lover. The thing about Maria-sama is that the seour relationships are so much like lovers' relationships that the result is indistinguishable from an actual breakup. Tears are shed. Loyalties are tested. Chicks get depressed. It's a rough time.

Impressively (or maybe weirdly), the end theme song lyrics play into a key metaphor of the season arc. I found this metaphor, and a few other metaphors about hearts and emotions nearly insufferable, but your mileage may very.

If nothing else, the world of Maria-sama is surprisingly engrossing. It draws you in, and the world of the show feels hermetically sealed. After all, Maria-sama takes places in a unique fictional Japan where cell phones were never invented (the creator has said as much). [TOP]