Mai-Otome - 1

At long last the new season of anime has arrived and about time too! I thought I might have to end up watching all those dreaded harem anime just for a fix! :x

To begin this season's viewing is a not-so direct sequel to Mai-HiME namely called Mai-Otome (My Maiden). It's set in another dimension from it's predacessor and has lots of magical girl transforming, weapon-wielding maids! Phew!



We start off on this 'epic' adventure with a slightly deprived girl lost in a desert called Akira. She managed to scrounge aboard the 'Titanic' and bumps into upper-crust-fighting 'Chinese' girl called Nina Wong. It seems like this Nina has a father-complex and her father looks almost exactly like the extremely annoying Tate, from Mai-HiME. It's a conspiracy I tell you!
Meanwhile, El Presidente-Natsuki and First-Lady Shizuru (THE couple) discuss the formalities of whatever they were talking about with tea and biscuits.
Mashiro who was so 1337 in Mai-HiME, how has turned into a whinging, spoiled princess and jumps of a building (sadly not to kill herself) from evil badguys and shadowy men. Of course, rather predictably Nina and Akira - the unlikely duo come to her rescue.
Sometime later, an EVA-like mecha is summoned to destroy the princess, oh noes! Using her noble kiss, Mashiro let's Nina use her 1337 Otome power. Akira stands there like a dummy gawping - before her pendant/medallion glows and she gains MAI-POWERS.
El Presidente and First Lady travel in a limo, Akane joins them to help out. First Lady and Akane go to the rescue and bail Nina and Akira out of trouble! Yay! Shizuru's weapon is now more S&M guaranteed!



The world of Mai-Otome seems to be America 1930's inspired, but slightly more futuristic - a cross between Sakura Taisen's steam powered Taisho-Era and Final Fantasy VIII's Dollet. I feel it's probably already become predictable as there isn't enough mystery to make me go 'OMG!'..it's more like 'What a crappy pendant!' This episode wasn't a bad one at all, but nothing compared to Kannaduki no Miko episode 1. You might spot a few Mai-HiME character cameos!
Akira is slightly annoying, Nina is a bit cold and Mashiro's personality turned anti-clockwise!

Predictions for series:
- Akira's long lost mother is Mai, from Mai-Hime.
- Nina turns out to be Akira's half-sister!
- Shizuru turns out to be a psychotic lesbian (again!)
- Mai appears and turns out to be the evil force for the Otomes to battle.
- The Otome will turn against each other, Shizuru leading the way.
- Natsuki and Shizuru will fall out at least once!
- The school was only using Otome for building up as weapons against Mai.
- Mashiro is really not Royal..but Akira is!

and..so forth!
I'll definately keep watching, for more Shizuru-ness.

Overall: 6.5/10

I await Mai's grand return! :D