Well, I have to admit, some parts were okay. Other parts I liked, but it seemed quite different in terms of the way they animated it, compared to episode 1. I’m not really sure about my feelings about this episode, it was mixed. I somewhat was bored, since I didn’t know everything they said, but I guess I didn’t laugh as much as episode 1. Despite that, my love for it hasn’t died out. I think I’ll like it more when I can understand everything (there was a lot of talking, so I couldn’t grasp a lot). For the summary, on the parts that were vague, I used the manga as a base. There’s also the opening, so I’ll write my thoughts about that as well.

OP:

O_o The opening was…interesting. In my personal opinion, it didn’t really appeal to me, mainly because of a few things. Although, there were a lot of scenes in the opening I did enjoy. I guess it did kinda fit in the anime, so I won’t bash it too much. It is called Hanaji by Yuu Kobayashi (Maria~), and it really doesn’t sound a lot like her (not in a bad way), it just comes to show you how different her voice can be. The song wasn’t terrible, to me it seemed mediocre I guess. (Please don’t kill me! Dx)

I’ll start off with the things I didn’t like, so we can end on a nice note. I think the thing that kind of threw me off were the statues of Kanako. They were just odd, to me. I also didn’t like the part when Maria rips off the top part of Matsurika’s outfit. I guess, it is suppose to depict the first episode, but it seemed worse in the opening.

So now onto the things I did like. I liked the beginning part of the opening, with the guitar and the colors. I also liked the parts when they flashed the phrases, I guess because I just made a graphic like that. XD I also liked how the opening was able to show Maria’s sadistic side, when she’s throwing around Matsurika and the Kanako statues. I also liked how the characters were drawn. The whole opening also looked so 3-D (but I shouldn’t expect any less from SHAFT).

Summary:

The episode starts off with Maria showing Kanako her new high school uniform that just came in. So she asks Kanako how it is, leading to another one of her bloody noses. They begin a small argument, and Maria does his girly act and instantly switches back to being sadistic (if it is like in the manga, they’re arguing about Kanako changing and Maria leaving). Maria reminds Kanako about the time, and breakfast coming up. Kanako decides to change under the sheets, since Maria won’t leave. She begins crying because of how things are ruined, and she also talks about wrinkling her blouse already. Maria asks if she is crying, but Kanako tells him she’s not, even though she is. He apologizes to her and leaves. Kanako becomes shocked that he actually left, but since he touched her on her head, she starts getting HIVES. Maria denies doing anything, when Matsurikaa asks why he did that.

Everyone begins talking about the new transfer student, Kanako. Kanako gets to meet her homeroom teacher, and starts admiring her as well. Kanako and Maria seem to be talking to each other with their thoughts (??). Kanako goes under her bloody nose again from the cute Maria, but then Maria scares Kanako like he usually does. It turns out that her teacher and her mother were childhood friends. Kanako is introduced in the class, but messes up her introduction. She is told to sit, and meets some of the students, who all want to meet her. Kanako begins getting a bunch of her yuri thoughts about how cute all the girls are. She then gets a her intense bloody noses, as usual. There’s a short little cut scene about how one of the students isn’t wearing her uniform, even though she is (her archery club uniform).

The students go to the entrance ceremony, where Maria is doing a speech as the student representative. Girls around Kanako begin talking about Maria, admiring her, but Kanako says her mind that Maria is really a guy. Maria notices Kanako, and waves, giving Kanako another bloody nose. All of the sudden, Kanako’s stomach grumbles extremely loud, so everyone hears. Kanako becomes so embarrassed, but Maria saves her by saying it was actually him,. Even though most people already see through it, Kanako is relieved. The current student president and Maria switch places in the speech, and there is a tension between the two. Kanako notices, then her friend gives her candy in secret.

While back in class, Ryuuken calls out for Kanako. She begins asking and wondering why she couldn’t enter  the dorm room. Maria pops up, and begins explaining things that happened with roommates of Ryuuken. He begins making accusations, and talks about incidents all related to seafood…Ryuuken becomes upset, and leaves. Maria becomes upset about Ryuuken, and why she is so popular. Kanako begins saying things that angers Maria a lot. He brings up the subject about breasts, and why the president thinks she is so great just because she has bigger breasts. He announces that he’ll wear two layers, but Matsurika tells him gaining a cupsize over one night is unreasonable, and he gets stuck staying the same slim-type bishoujo. (O.o)

Thoughts:

First, I’ve got to get some complaints out of my way, then we can move onto real thoughts. Oh and if you haven’t noticed, I don’t use a lot of images…gah my computer is almost fulled, and is totally lagged. >_< Sorry about that, hopefully it won’t stay that way…Oh and also, *goes to run and hide as a failure as a Maria fan*

Why did they have to make this scenes just shots of the manga?! It’s like one of those videos with the manga just being read. I was looking forward to him actually being colored and animated during this scene, but no, it’s a shot of the manga. They did this a couple times, I don’t exactly get why, maybe for effect?

Lol, the extra people look like they were water color painted, without faces. *Ahem, now I can go to regular thoughts*

This scene where she is introduced to the class was funny. Infinite thoughts and thanks for being with bishoujos!

Poor Kanako faints under too much bloody noses. Too many bishoujos for her to handle. Bye bye.

Scary picture. That was an awfully loud stomach growl. I mean, for the everyone in the audience to hear it, that must’ve been loud. Her expression here is priceless though.

Yes! Maria saved you! Be thankful for the Maria’s awesomeness! >:D

On a side note, there were also a lot of word bubbles too…I guess that’s SHAFT. (Person who only watched a couple episodes of SZS)

._. Seafood. Lol, it’s just funny to me, but why are all of the incidents seafood related?

I just realized I didn’t have many decent pictures of Maria. \’o'/ Here’s one! Hehe, jealous/angry/real/something else Maria! >:D

Do not say bad things about Maria. Seriously. He will come, and he will haunt you, and he will…make you want to run away. Scary Maria! XD

Preview:

Yeah, it’s a pretty bad shot, anyways…The next episode is about Ryuuken’s Fan Club, Ryuuken, the pink haired girl who barely ever talks, and you know, Kanako. I hope to see more Maria…!

Ah, Maria†Holic. And my first anime post! *ahem* Moving on. I have to admit that I was really skeptical of this at first, but after hearing how good it is from everyone else, I just had to watch it. So now I can say that I can agree with what everyone has said. It really does look good, and I can see what all the hype is about. Now I am one of those people who try to convince everyone it really is a good anime/manga, and trying to get everyone to watch it. But I guess that’s my first impression of it, so I guess we’ll have to wait and see if it is as good as it begins. So far, it’s my favorite for the holiday season. ;D

Story & Plot:

When I started reading the summary, I thought, “Oh great, is it a yuri?” I guess you can say I’m not much of a yuri or yaoi fan, it’s kind of awkward to me. But as I read the rest of the summary, my mind had changed to trap and maybe-not-so-yuri. So here is a general summary of the first episode, since it is already subbed, I suppose an in-dept one is unnecessary.

The episode begins with Kanako Miyamae who arrives to an all-girls school, determined to find her destined parter, just like her parents. (Humorously, it begins with a monologue about how girls should have a maiden heart.) Lost at this new school, she accidentally arrives at Maria Shidou’s family grounds, being greeted by her maid, Matsurika who calls her a pig lady. Maria introduces herself, and Kanako is also enthralled in her beauty and looks, calling Maria her type of girl.  Kanako accidentally slips out how she is looking for her destined mate at this school. She also notes how any contact with a boy produces HIVES, and that guys are dirty and scary. Hearing this, Maria smirks and kisses Kanako, much to her surprise. Kanako goes to the girl’s dorm and Maria goes to Archery Club. Kanako begins talking to the dorm leader, a cute little girl with cat ears and her dog. Kanako also meets her roommate, Ryuuken Ishima in which Kanako also begins blushing around. Kanako goes back to the Archery Club to look for Maria who told her she’d show Kanako around the school. Much in awe, Kanako accidentally comes in when Maria is changing with the help of her maid. As they walk around the school, Kanako suddenly pulls out a tree and throws it (scary…O.o) telling Maria, “Do not make a fool of me!” Maria plays dumb and Kanako er…grabs “that” to verify that Maria is a guy. Since Maria doesn’t want his secret out, he blackmails her. Kanako ends up giving in, and when she walks back to her dorm, she finds that Maria is there as well. And Maria tells her he will be watching her 24/7, to make sure his secret does not come out, even if she promised. (Argh, it ended up longer than I expected)

I really think the plot is quite original, for being somewhat a parody to the yuri genre. I mean, “Girl who is trying to find her destined yuri partner finds out her hopeful mate is actually a sadistic guy,” hopefully I worded that correctly. Honestly though, it sounds quite amusing to watch, and it really is. Maria†Holic is really something that is enjoyable, and something unique to me. By the looks of it, it will probably be all of the antics between Kanako, Maria, and Matsurika. I honestly think that somehow Maria and Kanako will somehow form a relationship…

Characters:

I think that is the strong point of the series: the characters. They are just so entertaining to watch, and the voice actors did their job superbly. It really is impressive, and I already love the characters in this series.

Kanako: She is a pretty good heroine for this series. She prefers the title “yuri”…huh. I guess I’m just not very fond of her being scared of guys so easily. Another thing that makes me wonder is why does she break out in HIVES after touching guys? I know she has some trauma in her childhood, but still, I wonder if she will always have it. I hope not. Kanako is somehow quite entertaining to me, I guess it’s her chibi thoughts, and her weird thoughts that just make me laugh. The voice actress did really well with Kanako as well, and I think it fits her nicely, especially when she has to switch from being polite to crazy.

Maria: He is the spotlight character! I would have been so fooled by Maria, I mean, he really looks like a girl. XD I enjoy how his personalities as well. He is really good as acting as a polite, sweet girl, but I wonder why he has to dress up as a girl…it makes me curious! >:< The voice actress, Yuu Kobayashi, is just so great being a polite young lady and then becoming a sadistic boy in like, 10 seconds. Her voice really fits both sides well, and I could’ve been fooled that that was a real boy voicing her if I didn’t know any better.

Matsurika: A very entertaining maid indeed. ^^ Matsurika is so fun to watch, because of how emotionless, she can be, yet talks bad but still follows Maria. I think my favorite part of the episode is when she says (according to the subs), “A play? You shitty bastard,” and “One or two broken ribs won’t kill you.” And in the manga, when she talks back as well. Yet she still follows what Maria tells her to do, as a loyal maid. Marina Inoue did well, and I realized she can be pretty versatile, because I would’ve never guessed that she voiced Kyoko from Skip Beat! if someone didn’t point it out.

Comedy:

Ah, Maria†Holic really is something enjoyable, and its intentions are to make me laugh. It did. I guess since it makes fun of yuri, it’s just funny. Kanako’s chibi’s thoughts, Maria’s sadistic personality, Matsurika’s attitude to Maria, it all is just funny. I really don’t have much to say, but yes, it is funny. Also, I read the manga, and the chapters have been funny as well. Sadly, there’s only 4 chapters (and 2 & 3 are really short) so it’s probably going to all be in episode 2. Most of the comedy will probably be Kanako’s torture from Maria. Ah, this should be exciting.

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All in all, I loved the first episode, and I really think that it has good potential. I’m excited to see the next episode! I recommend this anime, and the manga, so go ahead, and watch or read away! :D