{"id":1908,"date":"2008-11-08T23:13:53","date_gmt":"2008-11-09T03:13:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/?p=1908"},"modified":"2008-11-08T23:13:53","modified_gmt":"2008-11-09T03:13:53","slug":"maria-watches-over-us-season-1-anime-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/2008\/11\/08\/maria-watches-over-us-season-1-anime-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Maria Watches Over Us, Season 1&#8211;Anime Review"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/image\/stars\/3o5.gif\" alt=\"3 Stars\" \/><br \/>\n<span style=\"display:none\"><a href=\"\/fun\/terms-used-in-anime-reviews#oni\">oni<\/a> <a href=\"\/fun\/terms-used-in-anime-reviews#light_novel\">light novel<\/a><\/span>Nozomi Entertainment seems to have adopted a unique but sensible business model for importing <a href=\"\/fun\/terms-used-in-anime-reviews#anime\">anime<\/a>. They look for a series of decent quality that has gone for several years without being licensed. Generally this will be a series with specialized appeal, not a blockbuster hit, but with a devoted following. Having licensed it (presumably at a bargain price) they release the entire season at once as an inexpensive thinpak box set. Generally they do this with subtitles only, since an English dub is by far the greatest expense in preparing an anime for U.S. distribution.<\/p>\n<p>This is one of their latest offerings: a well-known series, beloved by some, snickered at by others, even the inspiration of a notorious parody. Naturally I couldn&#8217;t resist checking it out. I found it weirdly entertaining. I suppose the same could be said of many anime series, but this one is weirdly entertaining in its own very special way.<br \/>\n<!--more--><\/p>\n<ul class=\"ItemList\">\n<li>\n<div class=\"Item\">Original Title<\/div>\n<div class=\"Description\"><em>Maria-sama ga Miteru<\/em> (Saint Mary is Watching) <a href=\"#note_title\">[1]<\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"Item\">Genres<\/div>\n<div class=\"Description\">Comedy, Slice of Life, Yuri<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"Item\">Languages<\/div>\n<div class=\"Description\">Japanese with subtitles.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"Item\">Demographic<\/div>\n<div class=\"Description\">Shoujo<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"Item\">Contents<\/div>\n<div class=\"Description\">13 Episodes on 4 DVDs (1 box set)<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"Item\">Based on<\/div>\n<div class=\"Description\">A series of <a href=\"\/fun\/terms-used-in-anime-reviews#light_novel\">light novels<\/a> by Oyuki Konno<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"Item\">Director<\/div>\n<div class=\"Description\">Yukihiro Matsushita<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"Item\">Original Character Design<\/div>\n<div class=\"Description\">Reine Hibiki<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"Item\">Character Design<\/div>\n<div class=\"Description\">Akira Matsushima<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"Item\">Art Director<\/div>\n<div class=\"Description\">Nobuto Sakamoto<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"Item\">Music<\/div>\n<div class=\"Description\">Mikiya Katakura<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"Item\">Animation Studio<\/div>\n<div class=\"Description\">Studio DEEN<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"Item\">Broadcast<\/div>\n<div class=\"Description\">TV Tokyo 2004<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"Item\">Region 1 Publisher<\/div>\n<div class=\"Description\">Nozomi Entertainment<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This series is considered a revival of <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Class_S_(genre)\">&#8220;Class S&#8221;<\/a> fiction, a literary genre that was popular with Japanese girls in the early 20th century until it was banned by the government during World War II. It generally involved intense friendships between schoolgirls and was influenced by Western classics such as <em>Little Women<\/em> and <em>A Little Princess<\/em> (though as best as I can recall the Western originals did not include suggestions of lesbianism).<\/p>\n<p><em>Maria Watches Over Us<\/em> strikes me as social satire. We have here a story about privileged young ladies who spend their time worrying themselves sick over problems that could not be more inconsequential. Furthermore they all act sort of gay. This is about a girl&#8217;s high school in which every single student appears to be an unconscious lesbian. It&#8217;s definitely funny, but quite weird. Yet it is also curiously engaging. It is difficult not to care about these girls, even if they are silly.<\/p>\n<p>I may get some angry responses from fans who insist that I am being dirty-minded, that this is actually an innocent story about deep and beautiful Platonic friendships. It is certainly possible to view the series that way. It&#8217;s just that the closer you look at it, the more effort it takes.<\/p>\n<h3>The Parody<\/h3>\n<p>This series was popular enough to become a cultural icon, one of those anime series that everyone knows and to which other series make references.<\/p>\n<p>In particular it inspired a <a href=\"\/fun\/terms-used-in-anime-reviews\/#shounen\">shounen<\/a> parody called <em>Strawberry Panic<\/em>. While the <a href=\"\/fun\/terms-used-in-anime-reviews#yuri\">yuri<\/a> references in <em>Maria Watches Over Us<\/em> are subtle and understated, <em>Strawberry Panic<\/em> takes a different approach. Within the limits of Japanese broadcast standards it does its best to suggest that the girls are going to start ripping each other&#8217;s clothes off as soon as they are out of camera range.<\/p>\n<p>I don&#8217;t know what it says about the American anime market that the parody was licensed long before the original.<\/p>\n<h3>Parental Advisory<\/h3>\n<p>At one level this material could not be more innocuous: a gentle, nonviolent story about sincere, innocent maidens who would not so much as entertain an impure thought.<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand there are the yuri undertones which will surely bother some parents. However these are subtle enough that most children probably won&#8217;t notice that they are there. There is nothing here likely to upset a child, and I can&#8217;t imagine that any child would be harmed by it.  Younger viewers may be confused about what the characters are getting so excited about&#8211;but so may be adults.<\/p>\n<h3>Premise and Characters<\/h3>\n<blockquote><p>\nThe maidens who flock to Maria-sama&#8217;s garden pass through the tall gates again with innocent, angelic smiles. Their pure hearts and bodies are clad in deep-colored uniforms. So that the pleats on their skirts are not disturbed, and so that their white sailor collars are not set aflutter, it is customary to walk slowly and with decorum.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/11\/lillianacademy.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"Lillian Academy\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1950\" \/>The Private Lillian Girls&#8217; Academy is a Catholic high school that specializes in training the daughters of some of the nation&#8217;s most wealthy and influential families. The associated convent runs an &#8220;elevator system&#8221; of schools extending from kindergarten to college. The Academy has numerous ancient traditions and strict standards of behavior. <a href=\"#note_buddhist_school\">[2]<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/11\/soeurs.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"Soeurs\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1959\" \/>Each second-year student is encouraged to choose a first-year student to serve as her <em>&#8220;petite soeur&#8221;<\/em> (little sister). (You can tell that this is a high-class institution, what with the constant dropping of French phrases.) The <em>grande soeur<\/em> is supposed to act as a mentor and guide for the <em>petite soeur<\/em>. This serves to maintain discipline and inculcate the school&#8217;s traditions. It also serves as an excellent excuse for girls to go around calling each other <em>&#8220;onee-sama&#8221;<\/em>.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/11\/roses.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"Roses\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1967\" \/>The student council is called the Yamayuri (&#8220;mountain lily&#8221;) Council. It&#8217;s three senior members are called &#8220;roses&#8221;: the <em>Rosa Chinensis<\/em>, the <em>Rosa Gigantea<\/em> and the <em>Rosa Foetida<\/em>. They and their <em>petite soeurs<\/em>, who are referred to as <em>&#8220;en boutons&#8221;<\/em> occupy a position of great prestige and responsibility. The other students treat them like celebrities. They want to know everything about them; they want to hang out with them; they want to give them chocolates on Valentine&#8217;s Day <a href=\"#note_valentine\">[3]<\/a>.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/11\/yumi2.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"Yumi\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1965\" \/><strong>Yumi Fukuzawa<\/strong> is a shy and awkward first year student. She comes from an ordinary middle-class family and doesn&#8217;t consider herself in the same league as the school&#8217;s elite.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/11\/neckerchief.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"Neckerchief Incident\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1953\" \/>One day, while praying in front of the statue of the Virgin Mary that forms the focal point of the campus, she is accosted by <strong>Sachiko Ogasawara <\/strong>, the <em>Rosa Chinensis en bouton<\/em>, who rebukes her for wearing her neckerchief out of place and adjusts it for her.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/11\/sachiko2.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"Sachiko\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1955\" \/>Sachiko is a tall, beautiful girl from a very wealthy family. She seems cool, elegant and self-assured.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/11\/neckerchief2.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"Neckerchief Incident\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1952\" \/>The awestruck Yumi is thrilled to have such a close encounter with her.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/11\/tsutako.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"Tsutako\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1961\" \/>Yumi is approached by <strong>Tsutako Takeshima<\/strong>, an inquisitive member of the Photography Club. She has taken a picture of the neckerchief incident and she offers to give Yumi a copy if Yumi will get Sachiko to give permission to exhibit it. The two of them go to the Rose Mansion, headquarters of the Yamayuri Council, to look for Sachiko.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/11\/yamayuricouncil.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"Yamayuri Council\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1969\" \/>Meanwhile Sachiko has been upbraided by the other Council members because she has failed to choose a <em>petite soeur<\/em>. Sachiko&#8217;s problem is that she is very reserved, doesn&#8217;t make friends easily, and doesn&#8217;t know any first year students well enough.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/11\/yumisachiko.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"Yumi and Sachiko\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1948\" \/>When Yumi appears, Sachiko impulsively offers her the position of <em>petite soeur<\/em>. Though she is awed by Sachiko, Yumi feels hurt that Sachiko would select her at random, without really knowing her. Tearfully she refuses, creating a minor scandal among the student body. The ramifications of this incident form most of the plot of the first season&#8211;such as it is.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/11\/youko.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"Youko\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1964\" \/>Even though <strong>Youko Mizuno<\/strong>, the <em>Rosa Chinensis<\/em> (and Sachiko&#8217;s <em>grande soeur<\/em>) had sternly admonished Sachiko not to toy with Yumi&#8217;s feelings, the other council members begin to plot to bring Sachiko and Yumi together.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/11\/sei.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"Sei\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1957\" \/><strong>Sei Satou<\/strong> the <em>Rosa Gigantea<\/em> is loud and boisterous. She makes Yumi uncomfortable by hugging her at every opportunity. Due to this and some other incidents there is a theory that Sei is a real lesbian, and thus, by extension, the other characters are probably just good friends.  This does nothing to explain why none of the characters seem interested in boys.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/11\/shimako.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"Shimako\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1958\" \/><strong>Shimako Toudou<\/strong> is Sei&#8217;s <em>petite soeur<\/em>, even though she is two years younger. As a first year student she feels unsure of her ability to handle the responsibilities of the <em>Rosa Gigantea en bouton<\/em>.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/11\/eriko.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"Eriko\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1949\" \/><strong>Eriko Torii<\/strong> the <em>Rosa Foetida<\/em> is calm, gentle and self-possessed.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/11\/rei.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"Rei\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1954\" \/><strong>Rei Hasekura<\/strong> the <em>Rosa Foetida en bouton<\/em> is tall and boyish-looking and practices kendo. Those who are close to her know that her tastes are actually very feminine.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/11\/yoshino.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"Yoshino\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1963\" \/>Rei&#8217;s <em>petite soeur<\/em> is her cousin <strong>Yoshino Shimazu<\/strong>, a frail girl with a heart condition. She is the opposite or Rei: she looks delicate and feminine but has a tomboyish personality.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/11\/suguru.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"Suguru\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1960\" \/>Sachiko&#8217;s arrogant cousin <strong>Suguru Kashiwagi<\/strong> attends an affiliated Catholic boys school. Her family expects her to marry him for dynastic reasons, and she intends to do so, but she treats him coldly.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/11\/mifuyu.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"Mifuyu\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1951\" \/><strong>Mifuyu Uzawa<\/strong> is a transfer student who seems to be stalking Sachiko.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<\/div>\n<h3>DVD Notes<\/h3>\n<p>Though there is no English dub, the DVD offers a choice of subtitle tracks: &#8220;English subtitles&#8221; and &#8220;English subtitles with honorifics&#8221;. I recommend the latter. Attempts to find English equivalents for Japanese honorifics invariably sound stupid. If you find Japanese honorifics intimidating, read <a href=\"\/fun\/2008\/08\/16\/japanese-names-and-honorifics-in-anime\/\">my notes<\/a> on the subject.<\/p>\n<h3>Later Seasons<\/h3>\n<p>A second 13-episode season called <em>Maria-sama ga Miteru&#8211;Haru<\/em> (&#8220;Spring&#8221;) aired in 2004. A 5-episode <a href=\"\/fun\/terms-used-in-anime-reviews#OVA\">OVA<\/a> was released in 2006. Nozomi plans to release both of these shortly as box sets.<\/p>\n<p>A fourth TV season has been announced for 2009.<\/p>\n<h3>Links<\/h3>\n<p>Wikipedia <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Maria_Watches_Over_Us\">entry<\/a> (spoilers).<br \/>\nANN Encyclopedia <a href=\"http:\/\/www.animenewsnetwork.com\/encyclopedia\/anime.php?id=3150\">entry<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Notes<\/h3>\n<p><a name=\"note_title\">[1]<\/a> Fans often shorten the title to <em>&#8220;Marimite&#8221;<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"note_buddhist_school\">[2]<\/a> The Lillian Academy is supposedly based on a Buddhist girls&#8217; school that Oyuki Konno attended when she was a child.<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"note_valentine\">[3]<\/a> This is something that most Japanese high-school girls would only do for boys.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"\/fun\/terms-used-in-anime-reviews#oni\">oni<\/a> light novelNozomi Entertainment seems to have adopted a unique but sensible business model for importing <a href=\"\/fun\/terms-used-in-anime-reviews#anime\">anime<\/a>. They look for a series of decent quality that has gone for several&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/2008\/11\/08\/maria-watches-over-us-season-1-anime-review\/\">Read more &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[219],"class_list":["post-1908","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-anime","tag-maria-watches-over-us"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1908","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1908"}],"version-history":[{"count":34,"href":"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1908\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1973,"href":"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1908\/revisions\/1973"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1908"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1908"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1908"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}