Maria Holic - The excellent trap series

by feal8714. April 2011 09:51

Hello,

This time we'll change a little subject and we'll go review a manga/anime series featuring a magnificent trap (one that really doesn't look like it) named Maria+Holic of which the second season is actually on air in japanese televisions. (till now they're following strictly the manga so I should likely know already the outcome of this second season unless they go for an anime original ending)

Maria Holic

Let's start with a synopsis :

The story centers on a sophomore named Kanako who enrolls in all-girls school because she has a phobia of men and wants to find her destined yuri partner. She meets a captivating freshman named Mariya who fits her criteria — except her seemingly ideal mate happens to be a cross-dressing sadistic boy.

This is a comedy series and it's really evident from the synopsis that all the jokes will revolve mostly around the yuri Kanako search and the Mariya sadistic approach to punish Kanako.

Maria HolicMaria Holic

The series by itself is pretty good, the story is fluid enough and the jokes funny even thought sometimes the series drags too much on the Yuri part at a point that for a non-fan of the Yuri genre may get a little annoyed.

Fortunately there is Touichirou Kanae, the priest of the school that is able to break these moments with his inner thinkings and strange idea about the situation (sometimes cause of Mariya thought) like the "Tchaikovsky syndrome" and many others will likely follow in the anime as they cover more manga material.

Maria Holic

My favourite episode is most likely the "Tchaikovsky syndrome" episode with Father Kanae basically stalking Kanako everywhere (loved how Father Kanae end up bribing the "God" to enter the female dormitory) thinking he's doing it for her own good and not knowing Kanako has a critical fobia of man. Laughing

Maria Holic

Talking about the manga series, the graphical quality is top notch as well and most of the story remains the same (with some slight change) while some new story are added in the midst of the bunch covered by the first season.

The new material (after the first season of the anime) starts from the fourth volume onward and at the moment there are eight volumes. (I own only seven at the moment)

Maria Holic

And yes, these are the covers of the volume I own featuring a different girl in Kanako's "harem" for each volume, the quality of the artwork should be pretty evident from this image!

The characters of this series are not too many and there is enough time given to backstory building that is a necessary step to create a natural chemistry of jokes around the personality of each one of the girl.

Maria HolicMaria Holic

My favourite character is by far the Dorm Leader (God/Boss) with her secretive ways, strange talking and the continous switch between dark and happy aura during the series. (Loved the scene where Yonakuni discover the secret door and is reprimanded by her)

Also nice Ryuuken Ishima for the funny scenes she manage to create with her popularity and incredible naiveness. (like standing in the middle of the classroom as a guard for Kanako from her admirers Laughing)

Maria Holic

The graphical quality of the anime is top notch with a very good style of girls (resembling a lot the manga one) and with the particular stylistic choice typical of a Shaft production. The animation is mostly consistent and there are no major problem in the animation.

The sound quality is pretty good even thought there are only few very famous seiyuu working on this project like Marina Inoue in Matsurika's role or Ryouko Shintani in Sachi's role.

Maria Holic

Concluding, this is a suggested series to anyone looking for a fun and relaxing comedy series with plenty of girls for the whole duration of it.

See you soon,

feal87

 

Comments (12) -

4/14/2011 3:34:45 PM #

Mario

Ahhh, 2nd season is airing? good news!
Honestly this anime surprised me..since I found it by chance, knowing nothing about the plot.. lucky me.
Kanako and Kanaes interior monologues are simply awesome!

Mario | 28 Comments - starstarstar | Reply

4/14/2011 3:40:14 PM #

feal87

It's a nice series, and Shaft has done a good job animating it. Hope to see a third season in the future (as the manga is still running)

feal87 | | Reply

4/14/2011 5:18:54 PM #

baka~

Even though this anime won't penetrate the standards of godly, this never fails to amaze me even after all the years between season 1 and 2

baka~ | 114 Comments - starstarstarstarstar | Reply

4/14/2011 5:36:04 PM #

feal87

I still can't believe Mariya is a man...:[

feal87 | | Reply

4/14/2011 8:46:47 PM #

Mario

It's unfair! :o

Mario | 28 Comments - starstarstar | Reply

4/15/2011 9:45:44 AM #

Keiri

There's Shizu, no? But yeah, they're not the same person. Anyway, faves are still Dorm Leader for being God, and Matsurika for her stabbing mouth.

Keiri | 80 Comments - starstarstarstar | Reply

4/15/2011 9:52:44 AM #

feal87

Matsurika is one of the funniest ever with her abuse-spewing mouth against everything and everyone (Mariya included).

feal87 | | Reply

4/16/2011 6:23:17 PM #

Ephemeral Dreamer

Nobody mentioning the president after all she suffered from Mariya's antics? I feel pity for her. -_-

Favorite character is, of course, Matsurika, for her personality and enduring sharp tongue, even after recently watching the 1st episode of the second season.

Ephemeral Dreamer | 52 Comments - starstarstarstar | Reply

4/16/2011 8:40:57 PM #

feal87

The president is one of the few characters I totally ignored in the series. Didn't like her that much...

feal87 | | Reply

4/19/2012 12:25:19 PM #

raisuke16

i would have enjoyed this series if not for my friend's spoilers...

raisuke16 | 127 Comments - starstarstarstarstar | Reply

4/19/2012 12:30:12 PM #

feal87

This series was golden anyway, after all its a comedy!

feal87 | | Reply

4/19/2012 12:56:54 PM #

raisuke16

yes indeed...for me,the best comedy series after kaichou wa maid-sama...

raisuke16 | 127 Comments - starstarstarstarstar | Reply

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