Negima!?: Season Two, Part One (Re-imagined and Uncut)
by Jamie Marchi
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DVD details
Actor: Greg Ayres, Luci ChristianDirector: Jamie Marchi
Brand: Funimation
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); Japanese (Original Language); English (Original Language); English (Dubbed)
Format: Animated, Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 325 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-12-16
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Funimation
DVD Reviews of Negima!?: Season Two, Part One (Re-imagined and Uncut)
DVD Review: Aaaaaaand take two!
Summary: 4 Stars
Technically, there's already been an anime series -- "Negima" -- about preteen wizard/schoolteacher Negi Springfield.
But apparently that isn't stopping them from creating another parallel series, rebooting and revamping Ken Akamatsu's bestselling manga into the visually lush, fantastical "Negima!?" (see, the question and exclaimation mark mean it's a different show!). And this series is a vastly different creation -- while it's rarely faithful to the original manga's storylines, it's still a solid fantasy story sprinkled with some fun comic relief. And chupacabras.
Negi has been assigned to a vast all-girls Mahora Academy in Japan -- but things start going wrong before he even starts. Half-asleep student Asuna witnesses a small magical display, and a vampire is attacking students. A vampire who is also his student.
Even worse, the vampire Evangeline and her robotic partner Chachamaru are targeting Negi, since the boy is her only ticket out of a curse that binds her to Mahora. Even worse, her suppressed superpowers come back at the full moon -- and soon Negi's only hope of defeating Evangeline is by forming a Pactio (a magical contract). Asuna is the logical choice since she already knows about his magic, but will the stubborn girl agree before Evangeline's icy magic smashes Mahora?
But there's more trouble when a pair of disguised wizards bring news -- the legendary Star Crystal has been stolen, and it may be related to odd happenings at Mahora. As Negi tries to avoid erminehood, he must deal with a kindly resident ghost, the dangerous Library Island, camping trips with his Pactio partners, and an evil fairy that is attacking the school -- and even transports them to another dimension. Can Negi keep his class safe from whatever has stolen the Star Crystal -- and avoid being turned into an animal?
For the record, "Negima!?" isn't very faithful to Ken Akamatsu's original manga -- the first few episodes loosely follow one of his storylines, before spinning off in a totally different direction with the whole Star Crystal storyline. And rather than use the comedy and romantic woes, the first thirteen episodes choose to focus on all the magic that can be crammed into thirteen episodes -- transformations, spells, enslavement, vampires, aerial battles and chupacabras. Well, sort of.
Fortunately "Negima!?" never feels overstuffed, even though there's plenty going on here on many levels (personal, magical, and Pactiowise). The various subplots mesh together very smoothly right up to the cliffhanger, and the writers patch in stretches of quiet time where the characters talk, plot and occasionally go to class. And of course, we get some spectacular magical battles and creepy magical creatures, with one highlight being the flashback of Negi's father battling Evangeline in a ruined city.
And though the focus is on magic and action, there's still plenty of comic relief -- chupacabra clubs, meatball-shapoed spies, goofy Pactio transformations, and a hilarious scene where Negi tries fruitlessly to erase Asuna's memory. His life becomes entertainingly chaotic as more and more girls learn of his magic powers, and he's forced to make more and more Pactios.
Even if "Negima!?" had a really rotten storyline, it would be worth watching for the simply stunning animation. The entire series is soaked in dark jewel tones and swirling magical spells, with erupting jungles of ice and hedgey mazes where evil creatures lurk. Mahora is a shadowy, vaguely gothic place with lots of dim streets and a city filled with starlike lights. And the level of detail can be breathtaking -- while casting one elaborate spell, Asuna can be seen clearly reflected in Negi's glasses.
Negi proves to be a likable little hero -- earnest, courageous, unselfish and a bit tightly wound, while Asuna proves to be stubborn, brash, eccentric and almost superhumanly strong. And though there's a vast cast, they all get a measure of fleshing out -- Konoka and her hard-nosed bodyguard Setsuna, serene ninja Kaede, bookish Nodoka, and even a ghostly student who's still hanging around. The best is undoubtedly Evangeline -- especially since the writers pause to reveal what a tragic, lonely life she has.
"Negima!?" is a stunningly animated revamp Negi Springfield's adventures -- and while not terribly faithful to the manga, these dark-edged magical adventures are definitely worth watching.
Description of Negima!?: Season Two, Part One (Re-imagined and Uncut)
Studio: Funimation Prod Inc Release Date: 12/16/2008Bestsellers in DVD
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