My-Hime: Complete Series
(
TV) (2004-2005)
My-Hime: Complete Series Blu-ray offers solid video and audio in this enjoyable Blu-ray release
Sometimes special powers are a curse...
Mai Tokiha and her brother Takumi have just transferred to the Fuka Academy, where a lot of strange things have been happening lately. They learn of the existence of the HiME, girls with supernatural powers capable of summoning powerful entities known as "Children". It soon turns out that Mai is one of those HiME, although her powers have not yet fully awakened!
However, being a HiME is not as easy as it sounds - all this power comes with a steep price, and there will come a time when the girls will not only have to put their lives on the line, but also what's most precious to them...
For more about
My-Hime: Complete Series and the My-Hime: Complete Series Blu-ray release, see
My-Hime: Complete Series Blu-ray Review published by Neil Lumbard on March 11, 2023 where this Blu-ray release scored
3.5 out of
5.
Starring:
Mai Nakahara, Carol-Anne Day, Caitlynne Medrek, Tomokazu Seki, Akira Ishida, Toshihiko Seki
Composer:
Yuki Kajiura
»
See full cast & crew
My-Hime: Complete Series Blu-ray Review
Reviewed by Neil Lumbard, March 11, 2023
My-Hime is an action-adventure anime with a compelling and exciting concept for anime fans. The series features animation
produced by acclaimed studio Sunrise (Cowboy Bebop, Mobile Suit Gundam Wing). From the original concept by Hajime
Yatate, My-Hime is produced by Hisanori Kunisaki (Macross Frontier, Aquarion Evol) and Naotake Furusato
(Outlaw Star, Gear Fighter Dendoh). Originally broadcast on TV Tokyo, My-Hime is the beginning of a
popular anime franchise and a saga full of exciting action for animation fans.
Mai Tokiha (Mai Nakahara) has begun her school year at the Fuka Academy. Attending the school alongside her brother, Mai discovers a world
that is far more complex than she ever expected to discover. The school gathers HiMEs, special girls who have an ability to summon.
As these powerful girls are still unlocking the full potential of their unique powers, the journey is one that continues to be full of surprises. Mai
meets the surprisingly cat-like lady Mikoto Minagi (Ai Shimizu) and the blue-haired Natsuki Kuga (Saeko Chiba). As the girls end up working
together, the experiences at Fuka Academy provide experiences that none of these gifted HiMEs will ever forget. Can Mai master her uniquely
powerful abilities?
The characters are one of the main reasons the series is as compelling and entertaining as it is. The cast of characters on My-
Hime certainly help to enhance the series and make it a more fun and thrilling ride. Audiences will find the characters to be relatable in
some respects. The central protagonist of the tale, Mai, certainly is a headstrong young woman. Her character is full of determination to succeed
and this wonderful quality is something that makes the tale more compelling for viewers. A strong protagonist and one that viewers will enjoy
getting to know. The supporting cast of characters is interesting as well (providing the series with a more robust sense of depth and character
development).
The animation is one of the most rewarding elements of My-Hime as well. The art style is simply stunning. The art direction by
Shinji Takasuka (Koihime Musō, Lupin III vs. Detective Conan) is a outstanding element of the production. It is obvious
that the team of animators involved on the production did an exceptional job with the series and bringing it to life. The series was made in a
transition period for the anime industry and as such some of the animation looks a little bit dated by modern standards (with some CG elements
looking particularly dated at times). Nonetheless, the main elements of the animation look remarkably impressive and this is where the series
shines the best. An excellent effort overall and a great showcase for the gift of art director Takasuka.
The character designs by Hirokazu Hisayuki (My-Otome Zwei, Queen's Blade: Rebellion) certainly help to enhance
the animation and the storytelling. The character designs are distinct and creative looking for these characters. The design element is one of the
reasons the series became such a popular success. Becoming a franchise, the character designer understood how to make compelling characters
with interesting animation. These designs certainly fit the respective personalities of the characters well.
The cinematography by Takashi Suehiro (Dinosaur King, My-Otome) is another impressive and rewarding
element of the production. The series has an outstanding visual element to it and this is inherit in the cinematographic style. The results by Suehiro
are effective and certainly provide the production with robust visuals and a flair that is undeniably compelling. Any good production needs a strong
visual language to succeed and the cinematography for the series certainly fits the bill.
The score composed by Yuki Kajiura (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Sword Art Online) is an impressive
and beautiful aspect of the release. The music is a highlight of the entire series production and the series simply would not have been the same
without the effective score composed by Kajiura. The score finds a perfect balance of action and character-based storytelling. The composer has a
great knack at giving action sequences the right ingredients for a compelling and exciting experience.
One of the compelling elements of the series is the action sequences. My-Hime has a nice and robust sense of action-packed
energy. These sequences certainly provide action-anime fans with some pulse pounding excitement. The battle sequences are entertaining and are
well staged (with a good sense of action choreography to keep the series more exciting). While not as good as some of the best action series, the
results here are still impressive and add to the fun.
The series was written by Hiroyuki Yoshino (Sound of the Sky, World Trigger). My-Hime has a
fun and exciting sense of energy. The scriptwriting reflects the exciting elements of the production. This is a remarkably effective script for a fun
action-anime franchise and the results certainly help the series provide a good balance of adrenaline-infused fun and character-centric elements as
well.
Directed by Masakazu Obara (Accel World, The Girl Who Leapt Through Space), My-Hime is a success.
The anime has all the right ingredients. The production benefits from the keen visual sensibilities of director Obara. The director has fun exploring
the action-packed world of My-Hime and providing audiences with a thrilling experience. The series looks incredible with a strong
creative style: the animation soaring and the production merits working exceptionally well.
My-Hime: Complete Series Blu-ray, Video Quality
Arriving on Blu-ray from Anime Limited, My-Hime is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original television
broadcast aspect ratio of 1.33:1 full frame. The series has an impressive animation style and it translates well for the high-definition presentation. This
is an exceptionally animated series and the colorful animation is well reproduced with the high-definition encoding. The colors certainly look remarkable
on the release and this is one of the strengths of the encoding.
The release does have some drawbacks, though. Some scenes and selections of animation appear softer than ideal (which is no surprise given the
time-period in which the anime was produced) and there are also examples of aliasing detracting from the overall viewing experience. These elements
certainly are disappointing and show some of the inherent limitations of the animation and its transfer to high-definition. Though the source animation
has some flaws that the presentation cannot bypass, the release still looks reasonably crisp and engaging. A solid encode for the release.
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