Maji de Watashi ni Koishinasai – 02

[Hiryuu] Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!! 02 [1280x720 H264] [923E2F8B].mkv_snapshot_00.25_[2011.10.10_11.46.16] [Hiryuu] Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!! 02 [1280x720 H264] [923E2F8B].mkv_snapshot_00.53_[2011.10.10_11.46.44] [Hiryuu] Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!! 02 [1280x720 H264] [923E2F8B].mkv_snapshot_06.39_[2011.10.10_11.52.58]

Two episodes in and I still don’t really know what to make of Majikoi, except it’s one of the weirdest shows I’ve seen in a while.

OP: “U-n-d-e-r–STANDING!” (真剣で私に恋しなさい)!!  by SV TRIBE

[Hiryuu] Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!! 02 [1280x720 H264] [923E2F8B].mkv_snapshot_02.00_[2011.10.10_11.48.18] [Hiryuu] Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!! 02 [1280x720 H264] [923E2F8B].mkv_snapshot_02.44_[2011.10.10_11.49.03] [Hiryuu] Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!! 02 [1280x720 H264] [923E2F8B].mkv_snapshot_03.11_[2011.10.10_11.49.29]

This notion of dropping an anime audience right in the middle of a story without trying to explain what’s happening seems to be growing in popularity of late.  It’s not a trend I’m crazy about, but sort of works here because the material is so bizarre that a sense of confusion lends something fun to the experience.  While the first ep was something like an episode of Baka Test using sengoku combat instead of shoukanjuu, this one jumped right into the main plot (I guess?) without much acknowledgment that the premiere happened.  After a pretty funny into involving Momoyo, Yamato’s bed and a cucumber (where’s Derek Smalls when you need him?) the episode focused on the search for a bizarre lost dog that’s dressed like a teacher.

Really, that was mainly an excuse for lots of chase scenes, lots of fanservice and some very well-animated combat sequences.  Why is it that one of the girls in Yamato’s harem appears to be a dog in human form?  Why is it that his group (Class F, I guess) apparently has robots in their employ?  Why does one of the girls talk through her horsie cellphone strap?  Don’t look at me – or the anime – for answers.  I guess we’re just sort of supposed to accept at face value and let the insane wash over us.

And the thing is, it sort of works.  If you’re going for random as your appeal, go all the way – and Majikoi does that.  There’s clearly something up with the lost dog, who’s way too interested in the human female anatomy, way too smart and way too good at dodging arrows – in one of the coolest animation sequences of the season – to be a normal dog.  We also have random shots of a guy with a bandaged face, Yamato flashing back to what looks like a homeless man (Jake Martinez – is that you?) who says he’s given up on Kawakami City, and Fujiwara Keiji – surely the busiest seiyuu in anime right now, even more than KanaHana – showing up as the leader of some sort of weapons smuggling ring.

Chalk this one up as another series right on the cusp, blogging-wise.  I like it but I’m not sure I like it enough to cover it weekly.  I’ll probably make a firm decision after next week’s ep.

[Hiryuu] Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!! 02 [1280x720 H264] [923E2F8B].mkv_snapshot_15.15_[2011.10.10_12.01.37] [Hiryuu] Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!! 02 [1280x720 H264] [923E2F8B].mkv_snapshot_15.30_[2011.10.10_12.01.52] [Hiryuu] Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!! 02 [1280x720 H264] [923E2F8B].mkv_snapshot_17.39_[2011.10.10_12.04.00]
[Hiryuu] Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!! 02 [1280x720 H264] [923E2F8B].mkv_snapshot_20.03_[2011.10.10_12.06.24] [Hiryuu] Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!! 02 [1280x720 H264] [923E2F8B].mkv_snapshot_21.12_[2011.10.10_12.07.33] [Hiryuu] Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!! 02 [1280x720 H264] [923E2F8B].mkv_snapshot_22.00_[2011.10.10_12.08.22]

ED: “Kimi no Maji wo choudai (君の真剣をちょうだい)” by Momoyo Kawakami, Kazuko Kawakami, Miyako Shiina, Christiane Friedrich, Yukie Mayuzumi

[Hiryuu] Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!! 02 [1280x720 H264] [923E2F8B].mkv_snapshot_22.27_[2011.10.10_12.08.48] [Hiryuu] Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!! 02 [1280x720 H264] [923E2F8B].mkv_snapshot_23.36_[2011.10.10_12.09.57] [Hiryuu] Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!! 02 [1280x720 H264] [923E2F8B].mkv_snapshot_23.44_[2011.10.10_12.10.06]
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

11 comments

  1. Z

    I would recommend dropping it. It seems they are going for an anime original season. So it's unlikely the follow up episodes will be better then this one. It's a bit sad as the VN was a best seller for a reason and a faithful adaptation would have been quite good. If you check out the VN or wiki so can you find the answers for your questions about the characters. It seems like the show assumes you have already played the game as it doesn't explain anything about the characters and it takes place after the game chronologically. But you need to be a pretty big fan of the VN to enjoy the sub par plots you generally get from the napkins of whomever they could afford to pay to write an anime original plot.

  2. b

    I believe FukuJun or Kawasumi Ayako are the busiest this season.
    Phi Brain, Horizon,Working and to an extent this(he was the robot apparently) for Jun and F/Z, Bakuman2, Shana 3 and Ika 2 for Ayako. Plus Jun still has NuraMago.
    KanaHana seems to be on break as I dont hear her on any show and I watch more than half of this season.

    Anyways, this episode was crazy and only a little hint of plot but it's fun to watch somehow. Is then VN already translated? I might try it then. Need to play Momoyo route. I like her the most.

  3. Znail, I like this despite not knowing what's going on – it has a zany quality to it that sort of works. I just don't know if I like it enough to blog it.

  4. Z

    There is a fan translation that is mostly completed (only missing Kazuko and Miyako). Momoyo route is done and it's the one I have completed, it's pretty funny. You can even play the game if you don't like adult content as all of that is part of the 'after story' that you unlock by completing a route.

    Hmm, the series isn't horrible, but it's much worse then it would have been if they followed the VN. The most interesting part of this episode is the zany characters. But the VN has that, plus a plot and a lot of comedy. The characters are even more interesting in the VN even as they seem to have simplified them some so far.

    It's also a bit strange as they talk about things that haven't been shown in the anime as if the viewer is supposed to know about it already. We have Chris talking about her father, without us having ever seen him or even informing us that she is an exchange student that transferred only recently. Wanko being called a dog isn't explained either, despite being a running joke the entire episode. I guess they may fill in the blanks in future episodes, but it really looks like it's intended for fans of the VN mainly.

  5. A

    then try reading the manga, its funny in its own way

  6. d

    dunno bout the VN peeps but the anime seems fine to me.

  7. f

    I agree with deafvader, the series looks fine. Just avoid comparing with a 50+ hours VN that can't possibly get adapted into anime completely. (even if I love it.:P)

  8. S

    I agree too. The series is fine, and I think having this other plot with Shakadou will be better than adapting one of the VN routes as I cannot seriously see any way of properly adapting a 10 hour prologue and another 10 hour route in 12 episodes.

    If anything, we should see Momoyo going all out again Shakadou which should be a treat considering they're on the same level, sorta…

  9. d

    @the 2 above/below? me: where did you get the game?

  10. M

    Haha, I just watched this episode.

    I think you're better off with Horizon if you wanted random, because all I got from this was 'lame'. Seriously – the comedy wasn't funny, the action was just some people attacking straw dolls, the characters weren't even hot, the plot (what plot?), and the randomness wasn't even that random. It was just cliché'd, which isn't bad, when done right, but this was done wrong.

    Too wrong… *suspicious*

  11. I felt that way about Horizon, actually. Lame, with a kind of "forced random", where at least with this one there was a kind of comic sensibility that I sort of liked.

Leave a Comment