First Step: That's A Young Girl's Big Problem
Tokiha Mai and her brother Takumi are on their way to their new school, the exclusive, ritzy Fuuka-Gakuen. Mai has many concerns. Takumi is in poor health and she has to take care of him, money isn't the best in the world, and above all, she has a strange birthmark and can see a shining red star near the moon that nobody else seems to be able to see.
On the ferry ride to their new school, they notice a body floating in the water...and thus marks the beginning of some Very Strange Things which are about to happen...
I'll admit that at first brush, this episode almost failed to hook me into the series. But a second viewing of it made me appreciate it all the more--and watching it again much later makes me love it even MORE.
One of the points of excellence of Mai-HiME is its excellent action animation and fight logistics. Pay careful attention to how Mikoto fights--the way she handles her sword is very realistic, when she could just as easily have been written away as superhumanly strong and able to swing around that enormous sword one-handed.
And hey...mass property damage. Gotta love that.
RATING: 9/10
Future Characters Who Cameo In This Episode
Come sit right back and you'll hear a tale,
a tale of a fateful trip...
Not where you typically expect to find schoolgirls...
This is a shot from the opening animation. I basically stuck it in because I happen to like this particular shot. ^_^
I couldn't decide whether to comment on the out-of-context wrongness, or the size
of the sword. So...make your own joke here, folks.
Doesn't like to be touched!
I don't THINK so!!
Neither, apparently, does she.
That hair is terrifying.
That sound you just heard was ten million yuri fans joygasming in unison.
Do you hear teh c4ll? teh c4ll of teh b00bi3z?
(Pity that shirt's not white...)
Eyes on the prize
"Turn to stone!"
Shame it isn't a little lower...
Kodak memories...
You must take this much dope to direct anime.
I like it right there just fine
But having it there is a little boring
That color works better on your tomatoes, Mai.
Mai shows off her new school uniform.
"Oh, this old thing? Just something I slipped on."
"We've done it THIS many times!"
"Aah! He's having a sudden eruption of ugly!"
Need to get that checked out
"I can't see a damn thing in this."
Low overhead
"Is this...expired?"
Japan's finally decided to do something about all these perverts molesting schoolgirls.
"50000 yen for the service, sister!"
"When I show my piece, complaints cease!"
Oldest trick in the book
And it begins. Keep in mind that they are on a boat.
I'd definitely stay out of her way.
Someone needs to teach that girl about "collateral damage"...
A summoning!
Anyone got about a shitload of wolfbane handy?
"My, what big teeth you have!"
I debated making an animated gif here, because really, the only way to impress upon you how awesome the fight logistics are in this series is to see Mikoto doing THIS. But I'm way too lazy, so I'll just describe it: in order to attack, she has to drag that thing around in a circle a few times to build up inertia. How's THAT for violating the laws of anime physics?
And they're not even in a steel mill!
That's not good...
Stress relief
And now they're fighting up on deck.
"I'm not Russian, and this ain't roulette."
"When you don't want strange people messing with your drugs, hide them under a panty."
...huh? Oh, sorry, I was enjoying the view. *cough*
I know what you're thinking. And yes, she DID do THAT.
I've heard of splitting a room, but this is ridiculous.
Mai makes it up on deck just in time to get a lapful of Mikoto.
"SIT, BOY!!"
"Oooh, pretty lights..."
The trial run of the world's most powerful laser pointer.
"Think they'll make a movie about all this someday?"
She really knows how to make an entrance.
And this is one of my favorite shots from the ending. Can you tell who my favorite character is yet? XD
On to Episode Two
Back to Mai-HiME
Back to the Anime Blog
Back to the Lurkerdrome