[Mai Otome] Episode 16 Discussion/Poll [Archive]

Catgirls

2006-01-25, 16:38

Welcome to this week's Episode of Mai-Otome! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/Mousefinger/Misc/catgirl.gif

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/3194/musee177oi.th.jpg (http://img83.imageshack.us/my.php?image=musee177oi.jpg)

The poll is closed until Thursday around 11:30 AM – EST. Please do not vote in the poll until you have seen the episode.

Thread Guidelines
No telling or asking for RAWs.
No Manga spoilers in the Episode thread. Please alert a Moderator if you see Manga spoilers. Use the http://forums.animesuki.com/images/buttons/report.gif button you see below each user’s name.
Keep it on-topic and discuss the episode at hand.

Discuss your expectations of the episode if not aired.
Be polite to your fellow forum members. Rudeness will lead to impotency.
As always…have fun, enjoy yourself and remember to tip the wait staff. =^.^=

Be aware that due to the very nature of these threads, current episode content will be discussed without the use of Spoiler tags. Also, since these threads go up early, unrestrained speculation about the upcoming episode will be knee-deep. If you haven't seen the Episode, I would advise you not to click into the thread prior to the Fan-sub release, or don't complain if you're spoiled.

However, if you feel that what you're about to write might be a spoiler, by all means, use the Spoiler Tags.

Example: Using this...

Arika is really Paris Hilton.

...you'll get this...

Arika is really Paris Hilton.
Please remember that only moderators can start the episode discussion threads every week.

Poll

The poll is fairly self explanatory, but just in case:

(*) = I think I threw up a little. (**) = Meh., (***) = Average., (****) = Good..., (*****) = Outstanding!

Tremalkinger

2006-01-25, 16:39

I was wondering when this was coming up :)

I have to say... either this episode or next, and I think Mai Otome is going to enter into the drama phase that made Mai HiME so amazing.

I'm hoping for good things from you, Tomoe. Don't let me down. :heh:

KiraDouji

2006-01-25, 16:48

I just want to see two things:

1. Plot Development
2. MAI

That is all.

- Kira
(Well, possibly the new openning, but that's not as big as the other two)

snow_hat

2006-01-25, 16:52

I just want to see two things:

1. Plot Development
2. MAI

That is all.

- Kira
(Well, possibly the new openning, but that's not as big as the other two)

totally agree. wanna see Mai and story development. i want to see natsuki's robe as well>.< i havent seen it yet and i wanna know who the actual 5 pillars are....

lone_wolf

2006-01-25, 16:53

I just want to see two things:

1. Plot Development
2. MAI

That is all.

- Kira
(Well, possibly the new openning, but that's not as big as the other two)

Well don't count 16 for the new OP. It's apparently going to be 17.

I just hope the 2channer's (and myself) are wrong but I guess it would make sense if Natsuki is going to materialize in episode 17.

ExAstra

2006-01-25, 16:57

I just want to see two things:

1. Plot Development
2. MAI

That is all.

- Kira
(Well, possibly the new openning, but that's not as big as the other two)

I completely agree. I want Mai to come back, damnit. The wait is killing me. I'd also like to see some drama unfold- especially in what Nagi's plans and Tomoe's motivations are.

Diodati

2006-01-25, 17:00

I was wondering when this was coming up :)

I have to say... either this episode or next, and I think Mai Otome is going to enter into the drama phase that made Mai HiME so amazing.
*fingers crossed*

I'm hoping for good things from you, Tomoe. Don't let me down. :heh:
:heh: There are a few of us who are beginning to form the Cult of Tomoe, we should be disturbed by this. But it's true, it's make or break time - she either starts doing her own barrage of skillage, or she takes a hike.

I just hope the 2channer's (and myself) are wrong but I guess it would make sense if Natsuki is going to materialize in episode 17.
Hmm, why do you hope she *doesn't* materialise in ep 17? Or did I misread your post...

Matrim

2006-01-25, 17:08

I just want one thing - Nagi to finally start implementing his masterplan.
Actually I want many more things but since I don't think there is a chance of them happening, Bagi's plan would suffice. :)

lone_wolf

2006-01-25, 17:18

*fingers crossed*

:heh: There are a few of us who are beginning to form the Cult of Tomoe, we should be disturbed by this. But it's true, it's make or break time - she either starts doing her own barrage of skillage, or she takes a hike.

Hmm, why do you hope she *doesn't* materialise in ep 17? Or did I misread your post...

I meant that I was hoping the OP would take place in episode 16 instead of 17.

--Lone Wolf

Winchester

2006-01-25, 17:19

Here's *my* hopes for the next episode, not that I'll get any of them fulfilled I don't think...

* We get to see some of the tournament - though not all, as usual (not that we'd want to, the way tournaments always bog down a show whenever they're introduced...)

* At some point, Tomoe slips in a way that lets Erstin know that she was the one that controlled Miya - and Erstin makes the mistake of confronting her in private. Tomoe kills Erstin, Arika sees it - or the results, but can't beat Tomoe.

* Eventually, Arika gets batted into the stands, and after a quick agreement with Mashiro, they activate their contract. Tomoe, seeing her objective already taken, goes apeshit, and Arika has to take her down hard.

Problems with the scenario: Where are the Guarderobe staff in all this, and why are they letting the fight go on? (It's too bad, because it's such a lovely scenario and brings so many loose ends to a close...)

SP

Tempest35

2006-01-25, 17:27

*chuckles* They probably just were getting the peliminaries out of the way and the top 20 or so Coral will have their moments in the spotlight during the 2nd half of the ep. At least I hope so. ^^

I look for an invasion from Aswald during the final bout between Arika and Nina (interrupted yet AGAIN) to close out the eppy.

On a lil side note, I find myself laughing at how much Mai's return is making such a fuss. Sunrise did good in keeping Mai away for so long - made us all giddy in anticipation of our favorite fire-wielder returning and kept us watching their show like good lil kiddies...:heh:

Blaat

2006-01-25, 17:59

Mai is the only thing I'm asking for.

Souten no Seigyoku

2006-01-25, 18:16

I just want one thing - Nagi to finally start implementing his masterplan.
Here Here! That and Arika in her Souten no Seigyoku robe :) No worries though since it looks like theyre having the mai-battle tourney so we'll get to see some action.

They better not jib us like they did with the Remus & Romulus Otome Battle or ill go off on a rant.
/queue moderator cus it might be bannable.

Akuma-sama

2006-01-25, 18:18

I'm hoping Mai is with Aswald, and we'll see her in episode 17 attacking Guarderobe with Kagutsuchi! :D

Xellos-_^

2006-01-25, 18:48

I'm hoping Mai is with Aswald, and we'll see her in episode 17 attacking Guarderobe with Kagutsuchi! :D

I miss that whale/dragon/phoneix thingy. I just love the way Kagutsuchi takes matter into his own hand in a fight. Especially when he knows his owner is being stupid. Just blast away and be sorry later.

Kona

2006-01-25, 18:55

I feel this series is going at a slower rate than MH. Well, atleast tomoe is getting the beatdown... woot.

Solitaire

2006-01-25, 18:58

Well don't count 16 for the new OP. It's apparently going to be 17.

I just hope the 2channer's (and myself) are wrong but I guess it would make sense if Natsuki is going to materialize in episode 17.

I hope they were wrong about episode 17 being the new opening. I'd rather have a new opening for 16 considering we didn't get an interesting preview for this episode anyway ><.

Xellos-_^

2006-01-25, 19:00

I hope they were wrong about episode 17 being the new opening. I'd rather have a new opening for 16 considering we didn't get an interesting preview for this episode anyway ><.

My guess is we didn't get a intresting preview for Ep16 becuase Ep16 is when things to roll. So the new op for Ep17 would more approraite becuase thats when the tone of the series (hopefully to something darker) will change.

Befgrek

2006-01-25, 19:39

I'm preparing myself for a huge cliffhanger at the end of this ep. That's more or less all I expect. I think it'll be somewhat like all the other episodes in general. Some fights in the tournament... some friendly chatter between Arika, Nina and Erstin... Tomoe looking evil, Nagi talking about is "master plan" and then, the cliffhanger. ;)

I don't think Mai will appear just yet. But of course, I'm only saying that because I've been expecting her to show up in just about every damn episode up 'till now and she STILL isn't here. So let's try some reverse psychology.

Eclipze

2006-01-25, 20:58

Be polite to your fellow forum members. Rudeness will lead to impotency.
Arika is really Paris Hilton.

...you'll get this...

Arika is really Paris Hilton.
Rofl. Especially the impotency part.:heh:

Asianknight82

2006-01-25, 21:08

SoldierOfDarkness

2006-01-25, 21:10

Probably would feel uncomfortable, though I'm sure Arika is much better now after having that chat with mashiro and pledging to be the best Otome ever. So chances are, they'll cool down and go back to making fun of each other again.

piccolo

2006-01-25, 21:13

My wishlist:

Mai kicking butt, but that won't happen until ep 18 or later Arika to being her old self. I had enough of that lovey-dovey stuff wasting air time Nina in her new black outfit going Vader Arika rescuing Nina and some kick-ass action in her saphire robe Sergey telling Nagi to stuff it Arika beating the @#$!! out of Tomoe

Unfortunately, I don't think Santa will come this week...

Vallen Chaos Valiant

2006-01-25, 21:39

What Im curious about is, is how Arika and Sergey are gonna react to eachother after what has gone down in the previous eps. theres no doubt that there will be an air of strong discomfort. And Nina catching the vibe and then pressuring Arika as to what happened between them. That'll just open a whole can of worms, wouldnt it?
Actually, if Sergay is serious about protecting Arika from the hands of Nagi, he would need to cut back on his interests and interactions with Arika. Although I believe it is futile, since Nagi would find out soon enough, Sergay need to delay Nagi from finding out Arika's identity as a possible Windbloom princess for as long as he can.

Asianknight82

2006-01-25, 21:48

Sergey has to keep going as though nothing has ever happened. And since Nina and Arika are usually together, seeing Sergey again, is something Arika cant avoid. Even though shes feeling better after letting it all out. Like most people, she more than likely havent forgotten about it, her feelings and the stuff that has happen is still in her and seeing Sergey again will only trigger it back up. She'll try to act as if nothing happened, but there will moments of uneasiness for sure. Im just waiting to see what happens, this will probably ultimately lead to a grudge match between Nina and Arika.

Kieli

2006-01-25, 21:48

Timeless Enigma

2006-01-25, 22:07

It's already that time of the week huh?

I'm not really anticipating this episode, but it's a welcome treat. What I'm really looking forward to is episode 18+, but I won't say why.

My main interest this episode is "What is the North Hound/Otome Neutralizer gonna do?" Well, I actually wouldn't be surprised if he's non-existant this episode. The new series of Sergay/Arika interactions are sure to be different.

C'mon Nina, you know you're my favourite Otome. Do you "butou!"

And yes, "Otome Neutralizer" is my new nickname for Sergay. He's a natural I tell you. :heh:

Sakuya

2006-01-25, 22:11

I'm slightly anticipating this episode but I really hope the action don't start at the end and makes it a cliffhanger. :( Also, I'd like the new opening to be in 17. That way, episode 17 will probably be the best episode out of the entire series with the new opening footage and maybe even Natsuki and Mai in Robes. So far, none of the episodes are all that great... Except for episode 1 maybe, but that's getting old already after a while.

Catgirls

2006-01-25, 22:25

Things I'm looking forward to in Episode 16:

- for it to be over so that next week all the posts will be on topic. /kidding
- Mai in any form (hoping she's very evil and frisky).
- character growth in Nina. She's grown on me quite a bit.

Tremalkinger

2006-01-25, 23:16

My wishlist (since its popular now)

- Mai
- Shizuru
- Midori

Yeah... that's pretty much it. Recent episodes have suffered from a lackluster Shizuru and non existant Mai and Midori. Here's to hoping ;)

Vallen Chaos Valiant

2006-01-25, 23:52

My list is simple:

-Miyu would enter combat for real.
-Miya would return to haunt Tomoe when she least expects it.

Sakuya

2006-01-26, 00:01

I personally would like to see some other Otome fight besides the familiar faces. Since the My Otome website put up the image of Fia Gros's Meister Robe, I'm hoping she'll appear in this episode.

Hurry up and become tomorrow already. :heh:

wombatlord

2006-01-26, 00:09

I want to see Erstin completely kick someone's ass. Anyone, doesn't matter who. I just want some action footage of Erstin kicking some ass.

Eclipze

2006-01-26, 00:51

I want to see Erstin completely kick someone's ass. Anyone, doesn't matter who. I just want some action footage of Erstin kicking some ass.
Considering the field trip episode, I dont think that can ever happen...:upset:

MattAlchemy

2006-01-26, 01:38

What I hope:

- Miya take revenge on Tomoe. She better sneak in and wham her!;)
- Mai comes in and... (Insert:) )
- Arika, and her friends fight against other Otome's doring the ending of episode15, where might smarts episode16.

Souten no Seigyoku

2006-01-26, 01:55

What Im curious about is, is how Arika and Sergey are gonna react to eachother after what has gone down in the previous eps. theres no doubt that there will be an air of strong discomfort. And Nina catching the vibe and then pressuring Arika as to what happened between them. That'll just open a whole can of worms, wouldnt it?

Totally forgot about that. Im sure arkia will say nanimo nai (nothing? or however its spelt). Nina wont buy it but unless Erstin-chan tells her whats going on, she wont have any recourse to find out. She'll get POed though.

piccolo

2006-01-26, 04:56

Actually, if Sergay is serious about protecting Arika from the hands of Nagi, he would need to cut back on his interests and interactions with Arika. Although I believe it is futile, since Nagi would find out soon enough, Sergay need to delay Nagi from finding out Arika's identity as a possible Windbloom princess for as long as he can.
Sergey has to keep going as though nothing has ever happened. And since Nina and Arika are usually together, seeing Sergey again, is something Arika cant avoid. Even though shes feeling better after letting it all out. Like most people, she more than likely havent forgotten about it, her feelings and the stuff that has happen is still in her and seeing Sergey again will only trigger it back up. She'll try to act as if nothing happened, but there will moments of uneasiness for sure. Im just waiting to see what happens, this will probably ultimately lead to a grudge match between Nina and Arika.

Part of me thinks Nagi already knows about Arika and Sergay's involvement with her education. He might be probing Sergay's loyalties a bit, just to see how far he'd go.

A gree with Kieli in that Nagi already knows of Sergey's supporting Arika. The irony is that Sergey's actual involvement in this financial support could make Nagi suspicious, as it might be conceived by Nagi that the North Hound is at work in seducing 'the Queen.' This is, naturally, dependant upon the fact if Nagi knows that Sergey originally supported Arika because he thought she was Rena's daughter. Nagi may know nothing of Sergey's infatuation with Rena.

I would agree entirely with the theory that to avoid drawing attention to the idea that Arika is Queen (for Sergey now falsely believes it), Sergey must behave as he always has: He must support her financially He must pretend she's Rena's daughter He must never let it slip that she might be the Queen He must never let Arika fall in love with him again

The good news for Arika is that Nagi is no longer interested in the Queen as he used to be. His interest now also lies in finding those who can operate the Harmonium. And as I think he is already aware that Mashiro and Arika did it the first time, he also is aware that a third person is needed. But what does he know about the requirements that we don't? Will he ever figure out that Nina, Arika, and Mashiro all know different stanzas to the same lullaby?

Other than the actual outbreak in violence, is there another reason why Sergey is sending Nina home to Nagi, so that Nagi can give Nina one of the protector's charms needed to operate the Harmonium? But if Nina goes Vader, what effect will that have upon the Harmonium once it is operated? Is Nagi trying to collect his own triad to operate the Harmonium? The Harmonium is after all why he's cooperating with John Smith

Mirtual

2006-01-26, 07:54

I just hope there will be losses on both sides. (who ever both sides are going to be).
And I hope to see Aswald doing something awesome, and I do not mean getting owned by Shizuru and Natsuki.
Some real story development.
Some Mai would be nice too, but since she does not have the leading role in Otohime I am fine with her being left for the final fight.
Darth Nina would also be quite a sight, but only if this event would come in combinition with an all out war and the seperation of all the current Otome. I don't don't think such an character development would be suited as long as the characters are bond to Garderobe storywise.
Last but not least I would like to see Tomoe getting what she deserves, althought I don't mind that happening later.

Kieli

2006-01-26, 08:48

I want to see Erstin completely kick someone's ass. Anyone, doesn't matter who. I just want some action footage of Erstin kicking some ass.
I second that. As much as I love the sweet, lovable Erstin, it's time for huggy bear to get seriously medieval. Heh heh heh heh :cool:

Souten no Seigyoku

2006-01-26, 11:25

A gree with Kieli in that Nagi already knows of Sergey's supporting Arika. The irony is that Sergey's actual involvement in this financial support could make Nagi suspicious, as it might be conceived by Nagi that the North Hound is at work in seducing 'the Queen.' This is, naturally, dependant upon the fact if Nagi knows that Sergey originally supported Arika because he thought she was Rena's daughter. Nagi may know nothing of Sergey's infatuation with Rena.

I would agree entirely with the theory that to avoid drawing attention to the idea that Arika is Queen (for Sergey now falsely believes it), Sergey must behave as he always has: He must support her financially He must pretend she's Rena's daughter He must never let it slip that she might be the Queen He must never let Arika fall in love with him again

The good news for Arika is that Nagi is no longer interested in the Queen as he used to be. His interest now also lies in finding those who can operate the Harmonium. And as I think he is already aware that Mashiro and Arika did it the first time, he also is aware that a third person is needed. But what does he know about the requirements that we don't? Will he ever figure out that Nina, Arika, and Mashiro all know different stanzas to the same lullaby?

Other than the actual outbreak in violence, is there another reason why Sergey is sending Nina home to Nagi, so that Nagi can give Nina one of the protector's charms needed to operate the Harmonium? But if Nina goes Vader, what effect will that have upon the Harmonium once it is operated? Is Nagi trying to collect his own triad to operate the Harmonium? The Harmonium is after all why he's cooperating with John Smith
Nagi already knows Sergey is doing "something" because he hints at it in ep10 (?) and warns sergey not to betray him. In any case, Nagi will get suspicious the minute Arika whips out her meister robe in public. That is assuming Nagi doesnt already know about the possibility that Arika & Mashiro made a contract. We dont know if Sergey told him of his suspicions. But even Nina realized it w/o Sergey telling her so....

Nagi knows the riddle about the Harmonium. The Player, The Singer, and the Protector. Smith was with him when he mentioned it right? Although he doesnt know what it means so he may not make the connection.

go back to ep7 and look at the harmonium. The organ keys were divided in 3 sections, each with its own seat One seat for each? A seat for the protector, the player, and the singer? The Protector is Arika no doubt. So who would be the player and the singer?

LynnieS

2006-01-26, 11:36

I meant that I was hoping the OP would take place in episode 16 instead of 17.

--Lone Wolf ;) It's here... Looks pretty nice, IMHO.

Pazu

2006-01-26, 11:51

Robes
http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/4192/robes5fl.th.jpg (http://img229.imageshack.us/my.php?image=robes5fl.jpg)

sytyue

2006-01-26, 11:57

Robes
http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/4192/robes5fl.th.jpg (http://img229.imageshack.us/my.php?image=robes5fl.jpg)

really? these guys the five pillars? aww i was always hoping mai would be one of them ><

SoldierOfDarkness

2006-01-26, 11:59

Robes
http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/4192/robes5fl.th.jpg (http://img229.imageshack.us/my.php?image=robes5fl.jpg)

Wow Juliet became a Pillar?:heh: I'm impressed. Especially for someone who just wants to live a normal comfortable life.

Solitaire

2006-01-26, 12:05

Well this definately makes sense...I hope someone will rip the opening ><. I thought Juliet fit in with the pillars especially with her cool personality and weapon. Besides that her role has been minimal so far so this is good news !

Aidan

2006-01-26, 12:12

Hmm I believe 2chan is getting raped atm... I can't see a thing.

Solitaire

2006-01-26, 12:14

Hmm I believe 2chan is getting raped atm... I can't see a thing.

Yeah >< the second link works fine for me, but none of the pictures on the first one are appearing.:confused:

Mentar

2006-01-26, 12:17

What the HECK makes you think that these 5 girls are the pillars? ;)

No way in hell. And Mai isn't even in this shot at all. What we have here is 5 meister otomes. Nothing more.

Pazu

2006-01-26, 12:22

Mai in Robe
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/9373/mai7iw.th.jpg (http://img88.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mai7iw.jpg)

Xellos-_^

2006-01-26, 12:25

Robes
http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/4192/robes5fl.th.jpg (http://img229.imageshack.us/my.php?image=robes5fl.jpg)

Nao gets the spider woman outfit :p

PaPe

2006-01-26, 12:35

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/8072/1138293236878a3ko.th.jpg (http://img231.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1138293236878a3ko.jpg)
Tomoe is TEH EVILNESS.
Also from the screenshots it seems that Chie has suspicions about her.

stillmissing

2006-01-26, 12:37

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/4734/up842903ud.th.jpg (http://img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=up842903ud.jpg)

ShinigamiRukia

2006-01-26, 12:47

Dear lord they look so awsome in their robes ( haha natsuki's hair thing gets longer!) and mai has her pink scarf! I'm so excited to see this XD

Guido

2006-01-26, 12:50

Judging from those screenshots it makes sense, at least seems to me, that the Aswald's Black Valley Knights are not really bad guys and will become in time allies with the Otome.

Diodati

2006-01-26, 12:52

Ohhh new opening. Ohhh Shizuru and Midori...

Hmm Natsuki's hairclip has turned into an antenna, I'm not keen. Like the colours on her robes though.

What the HECK makes you think that these 5 girls are the pillars? ;)

No way in hell. And Mai isn't even in this shot at all. What we have here is 5 meister otomes. Nothing more.
Well fair enough, but Nao has an upgrade, that much is definite - and it does seem a little weird that she is standing next to Pillar two and Pillar three - and there are five of them there - it's not like meisters are standing all the way out of the shot like they did with the first opening. I'm not saying they are Pillars, but I can understand why others may think so.

Tomoe is TEH EVILNESS.
Ugh. I knew it. I knew Sunrise would eventually make Tomoe turn to the dark side. All over a twisted crush. Are we expected to understand this logic. Unless she's always been a part of that side, but if she has then Ill just view that as a cop-out. And will they cut it out with the evil smiles, it's driving me insane.
And I think her actions leaves Erstin somewhat physically ill:

http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/2918/11382940074635ks.th.jpg (http://img73.imageshack.us/my.php?image=11382940074635ks.jpg)

Of course now that Erstin has 'seen' her, then Tomoe may have to finish her off...

ShinigamiRukia

2006-01-26, 12:56

Ugh. I knew it. I knew Sunrise would eventually make Tomoe turn to the dark side. All over a twisted crush. Are we expected to understand this logic. Unless she's always been a part of that side, but if she has then Ill just view that as a cop-out. And will they cut it out with the evil smiles, it's driving me insane.
And I think her actions leaves Erstin somewhat physically ill:

http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/2918/11382940074635ks.th.jpg (http://img73.imageshack.us/my.php?image=11382940074635ks.jpg)

Of course now that Erstin has 'seen' her, then Tomoe may have to finish her off...

Thats so true, how could we not see that comeing? Tomoe is an insane crazy evil maniac. whohoo!:D

Tho i wonder, do you think they will kick her out of otome school or something like that? By the looks of it did Arika beat her in a fight in this spisode?

floatingbrain

2006-01-26, 13:01

check out the Mai-HiME movie trailer screen caps! even though its supposed to be an imaginary movie, this could possibly link the MH and MO world!

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/8097/11382926966440oo.jpg

the new opening looks awesome! i hope the song sounds good. MEISTER ROBES MEISTER ROBES!

also, will mai ever NOT be hot??? (lol pun)

Guido

2006-01-26, 13:01

SUNRISE is doing on Tomoe same-of-sort clichéd twist that FEEL studio did on Kokushou in the Jinki:Extend anime.

They turned her evil because her obssessive crush on Shizuru will not be requited ever.

Aidan

2006-01-26, 13:06

http://img470.imageshack.us/img470/8724/11382944433120tt.th.jpg (http://img470.imageshack.us/my.php?image=11382944433120tt.jpg) http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/2579/11382946705631ge.th.jpg (http://img215.imageshack.us/my.php?image=11382946705631ge.jpg)
She's absolutely priceless. :cool:

Xellos-_^

2006-01-26, 13:11

lilith1013

2006-01-26, 13:17

I adore Natsuki, but dude, what is up with her hair clip? :eyebrow:

Aidan

2006-01-26, 13:29

I adore Natsuki, but dude, what is up with her hair clip? :eyebrow:

Indeed, that thing is very pointy.

Guido

2006-01-26, 13:30

The movie should be My-OtoHiME

Starks

2006-01-26, 13:31

I'll have an AAC and an Xvid+AAC rip later.

ArchDragon

2006-01-26, 13:34

Nagi already knows Sergey is doing "something" because he hints at it in ep10 (?) and warns sergey not to betray him. In any case, Nagi will get suspicious the minute Arika whips out her meister robe in public. That is assuming Nagi doesnt already know about the possibility that Arika & Mashiro made a contract. We dont know if Sergey told him of his suspicions. But even Nina realized it w/o Sergey telling her so...

I don't think Nina would realize it on her own if Sergay hadn't suggested the possibility to her.
Even the other students didn't seem to realize it, they all thought Arika simply lost her Coral gem.

Unless Nagi is indeed psychic, he shouldn't know about Arika's contract.
Or if John Smith told him that one of Schwarts' agents went missing after going after the 2 girls under the Fuuka castle.

But if Nagi is also familiar with Windbloom's incident 15 years ago, then he should know that there's only 2 people who could wear that pendant.
Rena's daughter, or the real queen of Windbloom.

bluegarden

2006-01-26, 13:35

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/4734/up842903ud.th.jpg (http://img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=up842903ud.jpg)

in the third row, second left to right
is that rado... holding mikoto???:confused:

how can rena still have her powers of she had a baby...?

and the last pic.... Doesn't it reminds you of: naruto and sasuke, or kira and shinn

ShinigamiRukia

2006-01-26, 13:37

Well, i took a look at Nao's robe, its SpiderNao, take a look for yourself XD

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/4167/image0015aq.th.jpg (http://img52.imageshack.us/my.php?image=image0015aq.jpg)

Midnyt

2006-01-26, 13:50

Nao's robe, although appropriate for her powers and fighing style, looks TERRIBLE on her.

Also, one look at the OP sequence images, and all i can say is "ABOUT BLOODY TIME!"

I'll leave it up to interpretation exactly what I mean by this.

Souten no Seigyoku

2006-01-26, 14:06

Hmm Natsuki's hairclip has turned into an antenna, I'm not keen. Like the colours on her robes though.
Im sure she gets good reception :heh:

Catgirls

2006-01-26, 14:07

Intro: link

Just in case you missed beelzebub's post, watching the intro should probably answer that question for you.That link is toast.

ShinigamiRukia

2006-01-26, 14:15

Im sure she gets good reception :heh:

If she got good reception from it wouldent she be able to hear what everyone was plotting?

Anyway, now i'm confuzzled also, why do they show arikas mom transfomed there? is it just to show her or..? Because she's dead right? or..?

mintyfresh

2006-01-26, 14:18

That link is toast.
Ah, really? ..Works fine for me..? ^^;;

I could probably rapidshare or something. . .

Ansa

2006-01-26, 14:20

OMG the new opening rocks!

MUST.HAVE.RAW.NOW!

*repeats raw 12 dozen times*

Souten no Seigyoku

2006-01-26, 14:26

If she got good reception from it wouldent she be able to hear what everyone was plotting?

Anyway, now i'm confuzzled also, why do they show arikas mom transfomed there? is it just to show her or..? Because she's dead right? or..?
More importantly, why is her robe blue? Arikas robe is pink and the picture of Rena in the castle is the same as Arikas robe.

Omniscient

2006-01-26, 14:30

Episode 16 Screencaps and Summary (http://randomc.animeblogger.net/2006/01/26/mai-otome-16/)

Wow, that was an amazing new OP (because of all the stuff they're previewing). The episode itself is quite good too - the first has Tomoe plotting while Arika and Nina train, the second part felt very calm-before-the-storm, and the final part is getting us into the meat of the action with the invasion. Nao has been chosen to be a Pillar while Shiho and Chie are going to Florence and Airies, respectively. Huge developments, lots of juicy story.

Aidan

2006-01-26, 14:36

Anyway, now i'm confuzzled also, why do they show arikas mom transfomed there? is it just to show her or..? Because she's dead right? or..?

She is dead, besides there can't be 2 sky sapphire gems, as each meister gem is unique.

But....
More importantly, why is her robe blue? Arikas robe is pink and the picture of Rena in the castle is the same as Arikas robe.

So she might be back from the dead. Oo?

edit: I'm starting to get confused now. :(

brightman

2006-01-26, 14:44

More importantly, why is her robe blue? Arikas robe is pink and the picture of Rena in the castle is the same as Arikas robe.
Since Arika seems to officially become the Windbloom Otome, judging from the OP, so I guess she is just wearing their standard blue robe...

She is dead, besides there can't be 2 sky sapphire gems, as each meister gem is unique.
Yeah, the shot of her lying on a pool of blood in the OP seems to confirm that.

Anyway, now i'm confuzzled also, why do they show arikas mom transfomed there? is it just to show her or..? Because she's dead right? or..?
In the OP, Rena "turns" into Arika... So its just showing how Rena's spirit "lives on" within Arika.

ShinigamiRukia

2006-01-26, 14:47

In the OP, Rena "turns" into Arika... So its just showing how Rena's spirit "lives on" within Arika.

OH i see, now i can make more sense of the screen caps and all, thanks!

imperialmog

2006-01-26, 14:47

Maybe Rena has that Jedi trick of appearing as some force spirit or something. Also is there anyone missing in the OP? That could be a hint as to if they off someone.

brightman

2006-01-26, 14:51

Also is there anyone missing in the OP? That could be a hint as to if they off someone.
Actually, quite a lot... For example, most Guaderobe people are absent, including all the Corals except for Arika, Nina and Tomoe...

Though that could be because the story is shifting focus away from it... Rather than the possibility that they all die... Though it could happen.

KiraDouji

2006-01-26, 14:51

Does this shape (nabbed from screencaps of 16!)

http://i1.tinypic.com/mlm6nb.jpg

seem familiar to anyone else? man, really need to see this raw...

- Kira

/mod edit: fixed link so image would show.

Ansa

2006-01-26, 14:51

Maybe Rena has that Jedi trick of appearing as some force spirit or something. Also is there anyone missing in the OP? That could be a hint as to if they off someone.
No Ers, or any of the normal classmates of Arika's. You don't see Takumi or Akira either, although I don't get the feeling that they will be killed off XD

Matrim

2006-01-26, 14:53

ShinigamiRukia

2006-01-26, 14:54

that would be just plain mean if they got killed off =(

BlackWidow

2006-01-26, 14:55

go back to ep7 and look at the harmonium. The organ keys were divided in 3 sections, each with its own seat One seat for each? A seat for the protector, the player, and the singer? The Protector is Arika no doubt. So who would be the player and the singer?

when the harmonium got opened, there was 2 out of 3 circles glowing, white and blue, meaning there one missing...maybe RED (Mai !!!). we know how much Mai love kareoke, she could be the singer :)

Catgirls

2006-01-26, 14:56

Does this shape (nabbed from screencaps of 16!)

http://randomc.animeblogger.net/image/Mai-Otome/Mai-Otome%20-%2016%20-%2007.jpg

seem familiar to anyone else? man, really need to see this raw...You might want to Right Click and save that image to your hard drive and then upload it to ImageShack.us (http://www.imageshack.us/) because he blocks "hotlinking" images off his site:

http://i1.tinypic.com/mlm63n.jpg

Edit: never mind. I found the image and will replace your URL.

Mentar

2006-01-26, 15:04

This "blue-white" robe Arika is briefly wearing in the OP looks very much like a formal "Meister graduation" robe. It's the same Akane was wearing too.

ArchDragon

2006-01-26, 15:19

This "blue-white" robe Arika is briefly wearing in the OP looks very much like a formal "Meister graduation" robe. It's the same Akane was wearing too.

I think it's a standard Meister uniform, not just for the graduation ceremony, think military uniforms.

Most Meisters wear their uniform all the time, except for Garderobe's pillars (sans Shizuru).

Pazu

2006-01-26, 15:38

Ohhh new opening. Ohhh Shizuru and Midori...

Hmm Natsuki's hairclip has turned into an antenna, I'm not keen. Like the colours on her robes though.

She is not happy about it. Look at her expression. :D

Mentar

2006-01-26, 15:39

I think it's a standard Meister uniform, not just for the graduation ceremony, think military uniforms.

Most Meisters wear their uniform all the time, except for Garderobe's pillars (sans Shizuru).

Sans Haruka, sans pretty much all other Meisters shown in episode 3...

Where do you have that from?

There doesn't seem to be a "standard" Meister uniform, because pretty much all Meisters we've seen so far have their own personalized outfit, at least in their coloring. The closest match I could see was during Akane's graduation. Though - now that I've rechecked it - it's not quite identical, only very very close.

brightman

2006-01-26, 15:47

There doesn't seem to be a "standard" Meister uniform, because pretty much all Meisters we've seen so far have their own personalized outfit, at least in their coloring. The closest match I could see was during Akane's graduation. Though - now that I've rechecked it - it's not quite identical, only very very close.
No. Arika is definitely wearing Rena's Meister robe. You can check the first OP for that. The top is identical. And judging from other official art, the bottom is too.

The graduation robe is blue also, but its not the same.

Diodati

2006-01-26, 15:49

So she might be back from the dead. Oo?

edit: I'm starting to get confused now. :(
Based on this new opening, I'm inclined to think Rena isn't dead. That pic of her in a pool of blood would seem a bit too spoilerish of the manner of her death - and the fact Sergay comes into the shot (and the art there looks a bit weird on him but anyway) makes me even more dubious.

Plus with all those wallpapers on the character-designers website of Mai and Rena (together - with Rena looking EXACTLY how she does in this new opening) - it would be strange if only one of them came back but the other turned out to be literally dead. What's the point of plugging a character so much in additional art pieces when she's never going to appear alive in the present.

Additionally about the opening: they really are going to milk this Arika vs Nina thing dry - I hope it doesn't run out of steam. I like the idea of Mashiro spending time with Aswald, it's so 'odd' that it would probably do her the world of good (in terms of how she seems to want to get out of her previous ignorance)

Im sure she gets good reception :heh:
:heh: It looks kinda dangerous to me - she'd could ram her head in someone's gut and kill 'em with that ''thing''! Maybe that will be her special attack haha - just you watch, the antenna will channel her power.

Heh this sort of stuff would only happen to Natsuki.

She is not happy about it. Look at her expression.
If looks could kill.... :heh:
Actually Midori's expression is pretty priceless as well heh. Aww bless them, I hope they both now play a much larger role.

ochibi-san

2006-01-26, 15:50

just saw the new OP and its...very gundamseed-y....
the meister outfits r pretty good and MAI! NATSUKI!

strange to see everyone so angsty and serious...
ill hav to get used to it...

brightman

2006-01-26, 15:50

Based on this new opening, I'm inclined to think Rena isn't dead. That pic of her in a pool of blood would seem a bit too spoilerish of the manner of her death - and the fact Sergay comes into the shot (and the art there looks a bit weird on him but anyway) makes me even more dubious.
You're not very familiar with Sunrise OPs, are you? Nothing is "too spoilerish" in them, especially since this OP tries so hard in imitating a Gundam OP (which tends to be as spoilerish as they get)

Plus with all those wallpapers on the character-designers website of Mai and Rena (together - with Rena looking EXACTLY how she does in this new opening) - it would be strange if only one of them came back but the other turned out to be literally dead. What's the point of plugging a character so much in additional art pieces when she's never going to appear alive in the present.
Because most of those art are of Rena Yuuki, from Cyber Formula, not Rena Sayers from Mai Otome.

Mentar

2006-01-26, 15:59

No. Arika is definitely wearing Rena's Meister robe. You can check the first OP for that. The top is identical. And judging from other official art, the bottom is too.

Hmmm, you're right. The stars on the shoulder sides seem to be exactly the same. Even though the blue seems to be alot lighter in the new OP, but this might be an issue of my raw.

And I seem to have been wrong in one other issue too: (Careful, spoiler)

As Omniscient pointed out, Nao gets chosen to become a pillar!! Nao!!

This of course lends some extra credibility to the 5-girls-5-pillars theory. Let's see where all this goes.

sytyue

2006-01-26, 15:59

just saw the new OP and its...very gundamseed-y....
the meister outfits r pretty good and MAI! NATSUKI!

strange to see everyone so angsty and serious...
ill hav to get used to it...

Agreed >< i miss the cheeryness :upset:

Diodati

2006-01-26, 16:05

You're not very familiar with Sunrise OPs, are you? NOTHING is "too spoilerish" in them, especially since this OP tries so hard in imitating the Gundam Seed OPs (which are as spoilerish as they get)
Yes well not only would it be spoilerish but it tends towards a pointless clarification - why would you put a shot of Rena 'dying' in the opening - unless it pertains to some new discovery in later episodes (about Rena 'dying') or it's simply to throw the direction into an apparent spin. Or we take it not so literally when noting its blatant decoloring (which is comparable, or rather contrasts to the later Rena moment in the OP) and the whole imagery which relates incredibly obviously to the injury of episode 1, but taken to a rather large extreme.

Because most of those art are of Rena Yuuki, from Cyber Formula, not Rena Sayers from Mai Otome.
Yes they've included her prior-equivalent but her appearance, of either, is still being hyped to the point of it being rather overkill for a character who is going to stay dead in Otome. Essentially there are many works on that website that look exactly like the Rena in this opening - not that it proves anything, I never said it did, but the whole construction of it seems to plug this character in general.

It could all be a spoiler - and Rena is dead, and the second image was just a flashback. I won't cry if that happens. Well not much.

brightman

2006-01-26, 16:11

Yes they've included her prior-equivalent but her appearance, of either, is still being hyped to the point of it being rather overkill for a character who is going to stay dead in Otome. Essentially there are many works on that website that look exactly like the Rena in this opening - not that it proves anything, I never said it did, but the whole construction of it seems to plug this character in general.
Well, I guess you need to understand Rena's situation... She was created by Hirokazu Hisayuki (the character designer of Mai-Otome) for a Cyber Formula game, and never appeared in an anime save for a brief moment in the end of Cyber Formula Sin. Judging from the amount of unofficial art that Hisayuki draws of her (even BEFORE Mai-Otome was released), she definitely appears to be one of his favorite characters.

So IMO her appearance in Mai-Otome is meant to be just a cameo due to Hisayuki's preferences, though she did get a bigger role than expected. And since there is a chance that she might be used again for a future CF anime, I think it makes sense that they don't give her that big of a role in Mai-Otome other than being someone "from the past".

The same is true for other Hisayuki creations that weren't really used, like Sarah Gallagher (a Rena contemporary in the CF world), who made a cameo in Gear Fighter Dendoh and looks VERY MUCH like the masked character in the OP2 shot with the five pillars (I guess we know her name for now).

Matrim

2006-01-26, 16:13

Hmmm, you're right. The stars on the shoulder sides seem to be exactly the same. Even though the blue seems to be alot lighter in the new OP, but this might be an issue of my raw.

And I seem to have been wrong in one other issue too: (Careful, spoiler)

As Omniscient pointed out, Nao gets chosen to become a pillar!! Nao!!

This of course lends some extra credibility to the 5-girls-5-pillars theory. Let's see where all this goes.

Talk about a hilarious twist of events. :heh: Why would they choose her when she deosn't care much about Garderobe? Maybe the role of the Pillars is different from what we thought?

Souten no Seigyoku

2006-01-26, 16:16

Sans Haruka, sans pretty much all other Meisters shown in episode 3...

Where do you have that from?

There doesn't seem to be a "standard" Meister uniform, because pretty much all Meisters we've seen so far have their own personalized outfit, at least in their coloring. The closest match I could see was during Akane's graduation. Though - now that I've rechecked it - it's not quite identical, only very very close.
No no. The uniforms are the same. The main color changes from meister to meister depending on their gem color. Their battle robe colors also depend on their gems too. Shizuru's uniform is the same color of her gem. Her battle robe also has similar colors. Natuski's battle robe also is similar in color to her gem. Haruka too. Even Nina when she becomes meister is the same. Look at her earring and compare it to her battle robe color.

Gem=Uniform (plus some white) & Battle Robe color.

Only one thing contradicts this. That being that Akane was wearing a standard blue uniform during her graduation and so was Natsuki. Akane was going to get the Malachite gem which is dark green instead of the color she was wearing. However that could be a standard uniform for graduation before they get their personalized uniforms based on their gem color

SpeedRcrX

2006-01-26, 16:18

From the secreenshot I already see, it's seems the most interesting thing is the new OP.
We get to see alot of information (Natsuki's meister robe, Mai, Rena, Evil Tomoe, Nina's meister robe, a fight between Nina and Arika....)

A lot of people already put my favorite screenshots. I can't wait to see Makimaki Shiho in action, this time around, she is the only character able to make me laugh aloud.

about the preview of the next ep :

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/5461/11382947080858ih.th.jpg (http://img214.imageshack.us/my.php?image=11382947080858ih.jpg)
We already see that Shizuru is back and it's seem we'll get a double materialize !
I can' wait to see some good action !!!

Souten no Seigyoku

2006-01-26, 16:21

Originally Posted by Souten no Seigyoku
Im sure she gets good reception

Originally Posted by Diodati
It looks kinda dangerous to me - she'd could ram her head in someone's gut and kill 'em with that ''thing''! Maybe that will be her special attack haha - just you watch, the antenna will channel her power.

Heh this sort of stuff would only happen to Natsuki.
Yea ok. Its all fun and games until someone loses an eye. :heh: :heh:

SpeedRcrX

2006-01-26, 16:24

Yea ok. Its all fun and games until someone loses an eye. :heh: :heh:

You're right. Nao be careful !!! :D

imperialmog

2006-01-26, 16:29

This sounds like a pretty good episode then. Shiho should hope the one rule about the comic relief being safe from death applies here.

I'm now just expecting the SpiderNao stories to begin. Does she get a weblaster?

Aidan

2006-01-26, 16:31

Yea ok. Its all fun and games until someone loses an eye. :heh: :heh:

Remember the shadow Otome form OP 1, she had only 1 (glowing) eye.:heh:

lone_wolf

2006-01-26, 16:33

No no. The uniforms are the same. The main color changes from meister to meister depending on their gem color. Their battle robe colors also depend on their gems too. Shizuru's uniform is the same color of her gem. Her battle robe also has similar colors. Natuski's battle robe also is similar in color to her gem. Haruka too. Even Nina when she becomes meister is the same. Look at her earring and compare it to her battle robe color.

Gem=Uniform (plus some white) & Battle Robe color.

Only one thing contradicts this. That being that Akane was wearing a standard blue uniform during her graduation and so was Natsuki. Akane was going to get the Malachite gem which is dark green instead of the color she was wearing. However that could be a standard uniform for graduation before they get their personalized uniforms based on their gem color

Ummm...Akane was wearing her country's (Florence)Meister colors. You remember the Meister she was supposedly taking over for, right? The blonde?

Natsuki was wearing her *own* Meister outfit (with a II located on the front like Shizuru's III)

Anyway for starters here are some images for comparison:
http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/7016/akanemeister9yo.th.jpg (http://img357.imageshack.us/my.php?image=akanemeister9yo.jpg)

--Lone Wolf

Guido

2006-01-26, 16:49

Didn't tell anyone that Chie had already suspected Tomoe?
http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=454003&postcount=287

Our self-boasting, Shizuru lover bitch is putting literally how to rid of competition.
Wondering if Tomoe would be the Darth Vader of Otomes or among lesbians?

And what's with Nao's Spider-man like, Meister robe?:eyespin:

ArchDragon

2006-01-26, 16:54

Tempest35

2006-01-26, 16:56

Hmmm, Nao as a Pillar, I should have called it. ^^; Very good choice though and since Mai isn't around, Natsuki knows she needs Garderobe back to full strength so she picked Nao (who's WAAAY too good to be below Shiho in my opinion) ^^ b
Now if Mai comes back, there will be 6 Pillars...w00tness.

Go Nao!! But that means that she won't be able to settle down with her nice rich man and live a comfortable life... :lol:

I never thought that the two top Coral got to battle the two top Pearl for the finals - that's kinda sweet. Learning for both sides of that.

And here everyone was worried that this was going to be a boring eppy. :D

So Tomoe's off to join Schwarz is she? Interesting girl. :D And For some reason I see Mashiro as being a Black Valley child who was taken away when she was a baby - the little blonde kid is her sibling. ^_^

Aw, no Mai/Natsuki double team...but I suppose that Shizuru/Natsuki will be a treat to watch. Please, PLEASE Mai....show up..?? :heh:

Diodati

2006-01-26, 17:07

So IMO her appearance in Mai-Otome is meant to be just a cameo due to Hisayuki's preferences, though she did get a bigger role than expected. And since there is a chance that she might be used again for a future CF anime, I think it makes sense that they don't give her that big of a role in Mai-Otome other than being someone "from the past".
Interesting. Although to me, Rena is now well past just being 'someone from the past'. She's more crucial to the final directions than most characters, and she might have choked 14 years ago. But then again anime is known for....blatant favoritism...wah.! Bu bu but....don't break my heart, I want some Rena....well I can still hope....

The same is true for other Hisayuki creations that weren't really used, like Sarah Gallagher (a Rena contemporary in the CF world), who made a cameo in Gear Fighter Dendoh and looks VERY MUCH like the masked character in the OP2 shot with the five pillars (I guess we know her name for now).
But doesn't this also prove the possibility more - that if the masked 'Pillar' is going to play an integral ''alive'' in this story then other Hisayuki 'faves' may as well...I suppose it depends on whether these two newbies 'will' make a difference or not...

And I seem to have been wrong in one other issue too:
What made you change your opinion, you seemed quite sure before they weren't! :)

Why would they choose her when she deosn't care much about Garderobe? Maybe the role of the Pillars is different from what we thought?
They seem to be developing her into a secret softie, which is a shocker in itself heh. I'm glad she is one (seemingly) - she obviously has the 'ability' and 'discipline' but clearly coaxed before. Maybe there is different criteria than we thought - although 'she' does tend to step in when real crap hits the fan.

Yea ok. Its all fun and games until someone loses an eye. :heh: :heh:
:heh: I do want Nao to wear an eyepatch, just for old times sakes!

I'm still a bit unsure on this Pillar development. If they are then;

SpiderNao (heh)
Dhuran's Antenna.
Forceful Conversion (*salutes Lang*)
The Caped Crusader (who reminds me of Berserk's Femto (http://arcticnightfall.com/berserk/images/characters/femto.jpg), for some disturbing reason)
Reigning #1 For Most Buxom Otome

These five are representing the protection of Otomes?? Lordy..,

ArchDragon

2006-01-26, 17:10

And I seem to have been wrong in one other issue too: (Careful, spoiler)

As Omniscient pointed out, Nao gets chosen to become a pillar!! Nao!!

This of course lends some extra credibility to the 5-girls-5-pillars theory. Let's see where all this goes.

Nao gets chosen to become a pillar doesn't surprise me that much.
So far, she's the only one in her class who is capable of transforming the standard Otome stick into a powerful weapon of her choice.
Even Akane wasn't able to do that against Schwarts' slave.
This confirmed my suspicion that the most important criteria to become a pillar is extreme battle capabilities.

What made wonder, however, is what becomes of Yukariko and Miss Maria.
It's probably about the right time for Miss Maria to retire, but what about Yukariko?
And where does the other 2 girls come from anyway?

-------------------------------

And the graduation butou, isn't it a bit unfair?

How can Nina and Arika have a chance at winning if they're only given Coral robes?
Might as well made them fight Meisters!!!

Unless the whole point is just to see how many hits can they take before their lights finally went out...

------------------------------

I'm still a bit unsure on this Pillar development. If they are then;

SpiderNao (heh)
Dhuran's Antenna.
Forceful Conversion (*salutes Lang*)
The Caped Crusader (who reminds me of Berserk's Femto (http://arcticnightfall.com/berserk/images/characters/femto.jpg), for some disturbing reason)
Reigning #1 For Most Buxom Otome

These five are representing the protection of Otomes?? Lordy..,

She has the most revealing robe alright, but she's not that busty, even Shizuru is bustier than her, and we know Mai and Haruka are even bustier than Shizuru.

Plus if the robe is an important part of a Meister's defense, then she doesn't seem to be capable of taking a lot of hits.

Retsoor

2006-01-26, 17:19

>> Why would they choose her when she deosn't care much about Garderobe?

Nao says a lot but it feels to me that the idea isn't truly reprehensible to her. She'll do her job, though probably not without her own peculiarities. Her choosing is also a convenient blow to Artai, who just lost half of their independent heavy artillery.

The more interesting party of this conflict seems to be woefully underrepresented in terms of personalized characters. The good guys have their quirky Otomes and Nagi & co. have their gazillion cannon fodders.

Matrim

2006-01-26, 17:25

They seem to be developing her into a secret softie, which is a shocker in itself heh. I'm glad she is one (seemingly) - she obviously has the 'ability' and 'discipline' but clearly coaxed before. Maybe there is different criteria than we thought - although 'she' does tend to step in when real crap hits the fan.

She does. But I didn't think she cared enough for Garderobe to intervene when the school is at risk, rather than her friends.

Reigning #1 For Most Buxom Otome

I thought that position was held by Haruka. :heh:

roon

2006-01-26, 17:34

That episode kicked some serious booty. Granted that the OP had me rewinding a few times once I finished... but I'm glad Sunrise is getting their gears going with this story. I almost lost faith, but now the drama will kick in.

Question though, if there's no confirmed number for the episode count, could it be possible that they extend it so that starting from ep16, this is the second season? And maybe we'll end up with 32? They do have a lot to deal with, but who knows...

Natsuki *_* ♥♥♥♥♥♥

Mich666

2006-01-26, 17:54

Can the masked otome in new op be Erstin? Same hair, same eye color...
Otherwise there is no Ers-chan in this new op....!!! :(

Asianknight82

2006-01-26, 17:55

Doesnt it seem to you, that they're going to be pull a time gap deal? Like a 2-3 yrs later sorta thing?

aikming

2006-01-26, 17:56

I thought I saw somewhere saying 26 episodes... but then... there are possibility to have more.

Nice episode especially the OP as it reveals a lot and clear a lot of speculations from the fans.

The 5 pillars, Nina's new robe, Mai appearance, Rena story, Mashiro away from castle, real enemy and the plot on Arika & Nina bound to be interesting.

Cant wait for next week.. by the way, there are preview information on Mai Otome website.. up to EP 18.

aikming

2006-01-26, 18:00

Can the masked otome in new op be Erstin? Same hair, same eye color...
Otherwise there is no Ers-chan in this new op....!!! :(

Nah, dont think she would be elevated to that position considering her status.

Doesnt it seem to you, that they're going to be pull a time gap deal? Like a 2-3 yrs later sorta thing?

Definitely does not support the speculation that the masked otome could be erstin.

Asianknight82

2006-01-26, 18:02

Oh, I wasnt even using my statement as a reply to his. I was saying in general. Theres no way Nao could be a pillar in a couple of days, as well as, Arika and Nina being Meistars. I bet theres a chance of there being a time gap.

Guido

2006-01-26, 18:04

Nah, dont think she would be elevated to that position considering her status.

Definitely does not support the speculation that the masked otome could be erstin.

She could maybe Erstin's blood-related, older sister, of course, if Ers is not an only child.

Diodati

2006-01-26, 18:05

She has the most revealing robe alright, but she's not that busty, even Shizuru is bustier than her, and we know Mai and Haruka are even bustier than Shizuru.

Plus if the robe is an important part of a Meister's defense, then she doesn't seem to be capable of taking a lot of hits.
I was actually being a little tongue-in-cheek, as nothing else sprang to mind about her. I didn't actually compare her to Shizuru and Haruka, although I do disagree a bit - the latter two probably appear more buxom than they really are - I'll account that specifically down to their materialising robes. It's almost as though they must be wearing incredible amounts of underwiring to have their breasts positioned like that - because the shaping does look very, um, 'lifted' and unphysically rounded over. Shizuru looks 'very' busty in her GEM-robe - but less so outside it (although packing a perfectly endowed set I must admit) - perhaps the metal armour is what does it - (I can't believe I'm analysing this so much) - which this other Otome doesn't seem to have much of I agree.

I thought that position was held by Haruka. :heh:
Of course of course, this Otome has deluded herself as being #1. :heh:

How I've lowered the subject matter. I think I'll go away and let people take the discussion somewhere else....

But I didn't think she cared enough for Garderobe to intervene when the school is at risk, rather than her friends.
I see what you mean. Hmm well perhaps if the opposition are so clearly endangering to her friends or just general lives then she'll overlook any inconsistant feeligns she may with Garderobe.

Matrim

2006-01-26, 18:22

imperialmog

2006-01-26, 18:32

Why is it with this information that I get the feeling that Nao might bite the dust.

AssistantArinkoBully

2006-01-26, 18:34

Or maybe the Pillar wages are sky-high? :heh:

That or they large and excessive bribes from numerous different sources for various reasons :heh:

piccolo

2006-01-26, 18:35

Part of me thinks Nagi already knows about Arika and Sergay's involvement with her education. He might be probing Sergay's loyalties a bit, just to see how far he'd go.

I agree with Kieli in that Nagi already knows of Sergey's supporting Arika. The irony is that Sergey's actual involvement in this financial support could make Nagi suspicious, as it might be conceived by Nagi that the North Hound is at work in seducing 'the Queen.' This is, naturally, dependant upon the fact if Nagi knows that Sergey originally supported Arika because he thought she was Rena's daughter. Nagi may know nothing of Sergey's infatuation with Rena.

I would agree entirely with the theory that to avoid drawing attention to the idea that Arika is Queen (for Sergey now falsely believes it), Sergey must behave as he always has: He must support her financially He must pretend she's Rena's daughter He must never let it slip that she might be the Queen He must never let Arika fall in love with him again

The good news for Arika is that Nagi is no longer interested in the Queen as he used to be. His interest now also lies in finding those who can operate the Harmonium. And as I think he is already aware that Mashiro and Arika did it the first time, he also is aware that a third person is needed. But what does he know about the requirements that we don't? Will he ever figure out that Nina, Arika, and Mashiro all know different stanzas to the same lullaby?

Other than the actual outbreak in violence, is there another reason why Sergey is sending Nina home to Nagi, so that Nagi can give Nina one of the protector's charms needed to operate the Harmonium? But if Nina goes Vader, what effect will that have upon the Harmonium once it is operated? Is Nagi trying to collect his own triad to operate the Harmonium? The Harmonium is after all why he's cooperating with John Smith

Nagi already knows Sergey is doing "something" because he hints at it in ep10 (?) and warns sergey not to betray him. In any case, Nagi will get suspicious the minute Arika whips out her meister robe in public. That is assuming Nagi doesnt already know about the possibility that Arika & Mashiro made a contract. We dont know if Sergey told him of his suspicions. But even Nina realized it w/o Sergey telling her so....

Nagi knows the riddle about the Harmonium. The Player, The Singer, and the Protector. Smith was with him when he mentioned it right? Although he doesnt know what it means so he may not make the connection.

go back to ep7 and look at the harmonium. The organ keys were divided in 3 sections, each with its own seat One seat for each? A seat for the protector, the player, and the singer? The Protector is Arika no doubt. So who would be the player and the singer?

Naturally, but I wonder if he knows more than was mentioned. In addition, Nagi also asked Smith to look for the real princess. The way Smith smiled made me wonder whether or not he came to the same erroneous conclusion as Sergey. This is a stupid move on Nagi as he's making himself vulnerable by showing Smith that he doesn't either trust Sergey, or thinks that Sergey is capable of fulfilling such a simple task. Or he's letting Smith know that patience isn't one of his best virtues.

In regards to Souten no Seigyoku's statement about the contract/Meister GEM:
I don't think Nina would realize it on her own if Sergay hadn't suggested the possibility to her. Even the other students didn't seem to realize it, they all thought Arika simply lost her Coral gem.

Unless Nagi is indeed psychic, he shouldn't know about Arika's contract.
Or if John Smith told him that one of Schwarts' agents went missing after going after the 2 girls under the Fuuka castle.

But if Nagi is also familiar with Windbloom's incident 15 years ago, then he should know that there's only 2 people who could wear that pendant.
Rena's daughter, or the real queen of Windbloom.

Sergey suspected a contract between Mashiro and Arika because he most likely noticed the blue saphire in Arika's ear and Mashiro's ring. Nagi most likely noticed the same. And it is quite likely that Smith informed Nagi of the missing Slave Master. By doing so he had nothing to loose anyway since Nagi already knew that they were after the queen. But by mentioning that detail Nagi would know in an instant that only Arika could've defeated the Slave, and that only with a contract and the blue saphire.

However, notice that since Nagi asked Smith to look for the real Queen that there were no more attacks on Mashiro directly? And neither will there be since they think she's not the woman they're looking for. How wrong I think they are. But the best way to hide something is right in the open.

So, if the castle's ever to be attacked again, I would say it's to get their hands on the harmonium or some other hidden technology

... like the particle beam device Smith installed?

Starks

2006-01-26, 18:40

teaser is coming shortly

Tempest35

2006-01-26, 18:53

So Mai is getting bumped back to mere Meister status since Nao took her 'spot'? That kinda sucks...in a way. :heh: Although it would explain why she was still wearing the Zipang crest on her Meister Robe.

Sergay did well to pick both Nao and Nina to go to Garderobe - they've come FAR. One becomes a Pillar and the other is arguably one of the strongest of the 'new batch' of Otome at only age 15.

lana3007

2006-01-26, 19:00

I see what you mean. Hmm well perhaps if the opposition are so clearly endangering to her friends or just general lives then she'll overlook any inconsistant feeligns she may with Garderobe.

I think Nao does care about Garderobe, maybe in her good old Nao way, but she cares about the students which I'd think would be a higher priority to Natsuki. Nao has been building up to be a kind of wise adviser to the other students, like with Arika, Nina and Akane. Although she wasn't one of the top three Pearls, she has done more direct helping to students in need than they had. She has a different way of dealing with things (her goons for example) which will probably come in handy when the situation goes bad.

Natsuki is probably in need of the fifth pillar as she realized that the school is in danger. And of all the current candidate for the position, Nao is obviously the best choice. As well as the fact that this gives Natsuki the added benefit of taking her away from possibly becoming another tool for Nagi to use (though I doubt Nao would have let herself get used).

Meanwhile I will just continue squeeling with joy at the fact that my favorite character is now a pillar! Go Nao!

ArchDragon

2006-01-26, 19:06

So Mai is getting bumped back to mere Meister status since Nao took her 'spot'? That kinda sucks...in a way. :heh: Although it would explain why she was still wearing the Zipang crest on her Meister Robe.

AFAIK, there's no power difference between pillars and normal Meisters anyway.
The only difference is that with normal Meisters, you can destroy them by killing their Masters.

It's probably best for Mai anyway, if anything she'd prefer to be bound to the man she loves than to an "immortalized founder".

----------------------------------------

Sergay did well to pick both Nao and Nina to go to Garderobe - they've come FAR. One becomes a Pillar and the other is arguably one of the strongest of the 'new batch' of Otome at only age 15.

Well, he personally knew 2 of the world's most talented Otomes.
It's no wonder that he can spot talented girls when they appear before him.

----------------------------------------

I think Nao does care about Garderobe, maybe in her good old Nao way, but she cares about the students which I'd think would be a higher priority to Natsuki. Nao has been building up to be a kind of wise adviser to the other students, like with Arika, Nina and Akane. Although she wasn't one of the top three Pearls, she has done more direct helping to students in need than they had. She has a different way of dealing with things (her goons for example) which will probably come in handy when the situation goes bad.

Nao seems to be completely different this time around.
While she still hates responsibility, she won't let her friends get hurt if she can do something about it.

----------------------------------------

Natsuki is probably in need of the fifth pillar as she realized that the school is in danger. And of all the current candidate for the position, Nao is obviously the best choice. As well as the fact that this gives Natsuki the added benefit of taking her away from possibly becoming another tool for Nagi to use (though I doubt Nao would have let herself get used).

I honestly think Nagi isn't even remotely interested in getting an Otome for himself.
Sending your Otome to battle means putting your own safety at risk, something Nagi would NEVER think about.

If Nao were to graduate normally, he'll probably assign her to Sergay.
Although he might contracted Nina as a leverage against Sergay.

KiraDouji

2006-01-26, 19:09

Answered my own question...
- Kira

Anime Adoru

2006-01-26, 19:14

lone_wolf

2006-01-26, 19:16

Natsuki is probably in need of the fifth pillar as she realized that the school is in danger.

True, however I thought it was the Shinso-sama that chooses the Pillars?

--Lone Wolf

SoldierOfDarkness

2006-01-26, 19:17

So Mai is getting bumped back to mere Meister status since Nao took her 'spot'? That kinda sucks...in a way. :heh: Although it would explain why she was still wearing the Zipang crest on her Meister Robe.

Sergay did well to pick both Nao and Nina to go to Garderobe - they've come FAR. One becomes a Pillar and the other is arguably one of the strongest of the 'new batch' of Otome at only age 15.

I doubt it. Mai was chosen to be a pillar with the Fire Gem. Years ago, she disappeared and thus was considered dead.

Assuming those two pillars are still active, Nao being chosen was mainly to fill in the gap that Mai left behind.

Therefore there should be a total of 6 pillars mainly because Mai is considered MIA or KIA at this point. Of course we know better but they don't.

Starks

2006-01-26, 19:27

http://media.putfile.com/Mai-Otome-16-Now-its-personal-RAW-TEASER

30 seconds of suspense.

Starks

2006-01-26, 19:30

Can the masked otome in new op be Erstin? Same hair, same eye color...
Otherwise there is no Ers-chan in this new op....!!! :(
Nope, it's feather girl...

Lower left corner of this pic proves it.

http://www2.ranobe.com/test/src/up5856.jpg

JayF

2006-01-26, 19:32

Is this Mai Otome, or is it Mai- Seed?

Wonder what the honkinh WMD would be this time.

Xellos-_^

2006-01-26, 19:49

Is this Mai Otome, or is it Mai- Seed?

Wonder what the honkinh WMD would be this time.

Mai-Seed is still better then mai-Seed Destiny.

And i hoping the WMD is still Kagutschi, I miss the whale song.

kuro_neko

2006-01-26, 20:00

I noticed that the quality of animation in episode 15 went downhill considerably. I also noticed the new opening isn't quite as flashy or swiftly animated as the original. This brings doubts about whether or not the budget has been cut (maybe to alot an extended amount of episodes past 26? maybe they extended it and spread the budget out more)....I wonder if episode 16 was back to regular quality, or was it slightly downhill again?

MattAlchemy

2006-01-26, 20:06

http://media.putfile.com/Mai-Otome-16-Now-its-personal-RAW-TEASER

30 seconds of suspense.
This... Why... *Stares at Tomoe* TOMOE! YOU!!

:confused: That's sad, imagine how that happened to Erstin, and onto Arika's head. Ow!

Elwhyenen

2006-01-26, 20:08

The animation in the OP seemed fine to me, and I personally thought the animations were better then the ones on the previous. (And plus, the new scenes were sure to squish any other problems I had with it.)

And I'd like myself to believe that the folks over at Sunrise slipped and got lazy on Episode 15 :p. I doubt that Mai-Otome will continuously show the same
"not-as-great" animations done in Episode 15, mainly because I strongly believe that Mai-Otome will remain as long as 26 episodes (and, that their budget didnt get cut.)

roon

2006-01-26, 20:08

lone_wolf

2006-01-26, 20:18

Despite the new opening not being as "flashy" as the original, I'm not sure it matters much since it's all officially Hisayuki Hirokazu. Thus, animation for the OP actually went up (or stayed the same, since IIRC the first OP was also all him).

The quality of art in 16 is great, so I think (or more like hope) since the beginning of the drama should unfold soon the animation and art will stay consistent.

Sunrise is never really consistent with their art/animation quality. Just look at Gundam Seed (and GSDestiny)... those suffered from very few episodes with official Hirai Hisashi art.

(P.S. - random, but what's with Sunrise and HH character designers? Hisayuki, Hirai... go figure ;x)

Yeah the quality will vary since *more than one team* are currently working on it (this is with any anime). They usually take turns from episode to episode.

--Lone Wolf

Solitaire

2006-01-26, 20:24

I seem to be the only one to think the first opening was the worst thing ever:heh: ...the animation wasn't really that interesting after watching it once or twice. This intro on the other hand is pure genius both animation and song wise. I still like the ending though. I love how it skips from an often angsty scene at the end of the epsiode and just goes into the upbeat do your best song ><.

QU4RK

2006-01-26, 20:47

I watched the RAW.. So this is the point where the series become really serious. The 2nd OP is just kicks ass!! Mai, Natsuki, even Nao and Nina can be seen in their Meister robes. I wonder where's Chie, Shiho, Erstin, and Irina are?? They didn't appear on the OP scene.

Eclipze

2006-01-26, 20:49

Excited excited excited!

2 days till the sub is out. @_@

In the mean time, I guess Mai might come back to pwn those slaves(like in the first OP).

I can only hope.:D

Aidan

2006-01-26, 20:54

Hmm good episode imo.

Sides get picked, the pawns are revealed and Windbloom gets invaded. They really should have called this episode: "prelude to war". LMAO at Sergey how gets a plot object delivered to him. Nina just has to see/find it and she'll be Nagy's forever.

I don't know if I lost or gained respect for Erstin. She could have gotten Tomoe into unspeakable trouble, but she kept her mouth shut. I see a couple of reasons for this:
1. She's the one that got the black letter (and is in league with Tomoe). About 0.1% chance
2. She basically sees in Tomoe something of herself. In love with another girl but the other girl isn't the least bit interested in her. Well Tomoe's case is far more extreme than Erstins.
3. She's just plain scared, too nice, god knows what, all the weak reasons you make up because you like someone. But you know what, my love for Erstin is far less than my disgust towards Tomoe.:frustrated:

BTW Rena's song is very popular, now 3 people know it. Could Erstin be Rena's long lost daughter? :eyespin:
I also love how the plot saved Arika and Nina from getting their asses handed to them.:frustrated:

QU4RK

2006-01-26, 21:05

Actually 4 ppl. Mashiro also knows the song. Erstin knows it from Arika, so she is not Rena's daughter, probably.

Sakuya

2006-01-26, 21:05

I like the new opening! However, I do not like most of the new Meister robes. Nao's is... Nina's robe is...not what I expected. It isn't as pretty as the figurine version. :heh: Mai's is... Natsuki's is... There are no words that can describe it!

As for Mai's giant Tenrin Element, that looks so weird. But I'm glad to see her again! Can't wait. Rena in Otome gear looks awesome. I also thought it was pretty weird that they ended the OP sequence on Nina VS Arika. It felt as if they ran out of time/sequences because usually their last scene is always a big cast shot of the girls. :)

SoldierOfDarkness

2006-01-26, 21:11

Timeless Enigma

2006-01-26, 21:14

Hm, episode 16 was interesting, but disappointing.

I can draw some very quick/halfbaked conclusions now:

Note that some of these aren't spoilers for future episodes since this stuff is present in the new OP, which is a very nice song btw. It seems the animators went for the Gundam SEED approach though.

1. Erstin is DEAD meat.
2. Nina will be turned to the dark side (but most of us already knew or suspected this)
3. Nao really is Spiderwoman.
4. Nina has the best looking robe so far.
5. Natsuki's robe is alright.
6. Tomoe looks tight in that new uniform.

I think that handkerchief that Arika made will be how Nina discovers the connection between Arika and her father. All it takes is for Sergay to leave it lying around or for Nina to find it and... where's that mushroom cloud pic someone posted in one of the threads?

So we finally see Mai and not a silhouette in the OP now, we see a shot of Rena lying motionless with blood around her. We also see Rena in action... I don't really know what to make of that.

With all these new faces appearing in the OP, I'm worried things are going to get messy/rushed. We have 10 episodes left to tie up the loose ends and then queue the patented Harmonium Reset.

Well... only the coming episodes can determine whether Mai-Otome will continue to keep the story coherent.

EDIT: From what I can see in the new OP, it seems like the final teams will be Windbloom/Garderobe/Aswald vs. Artai/Schwarz, should be interesting.

SoldierOfDarkness

2006-01-26, 21:21

So we finally see Mai and not a silhouette in the OP now, we see a shot of Rena lying motionless with blood around her. We also see Rena in action... I don't really know what to make of that.

Uh no it's Arika, it's just showing how Rena's legacy lives on in Arika, it's pretty obvious.

Asianknight82

2006-01-26, 21:24

Just got done watching the raws, and some really netto stuff happens.

Shit really starts hitting the fan at the end of the episode, the assault on Windbloom has begun. Arika makes a hankerchief for Sergey or should i say oji-sama. It has a big heart on it, which I think will be used as a symbol of forshadowing since Nina saw the item. Arika beats up Tomoe in the battles. So, Nina and Arika has to team up to fight Chie and Shiho in the final battle. Oh, and Arika still has feelings for good ol' Sergey

ArchDragon

2006-01-26, 21:29

Glad to see I'm not the only one. I don't get why everyone is cutting Tomoe slack. Chie knows about it and even Erstin yet no one comes forth.

Wonder how long it'll be till someone actually comes forth and says something.

Chie knows it through "gut feeling", so even if she wanted too, she can't come forward unless she has "hard evidence".

Erstin could've sealed Tomoe's fate though, or at least put her under severe surveilance.
But it's Ers-chan, so we can't really expect much courage from her.

scribbly

2006-01-26, 21:45

I'm a little worried about the international reponse to mashiro's castle canon... if that will be a part of the plot or not, I wonder. Poor poor girl. This never would have happened if someone hadn't caused a huge airplane to crash into the castle...

Midnyt

2006-01-26, 21:48

On Tomoe - Why the hell are you so...Malicious?
On Arika - You can't spell, though Points++ for whacking Tomoe with a pole at the beginning.
On Erstin - You should stand up for yourself and bust Tomoe, since what she did was NO joke.
On Nina - She is OMEGA happy this week, calm before the storm?
On Yuuko - Just what exactly were you doing to Miya's GEM?
On John Smith - This guy gets around easily does'nt he? Also Giant Moon Bukkake Cannon of doom was pwnage.
On Mashiro - Not what you were expecting, I expect lots of rage next week.

wombatlord

2006-01-26, 21:51

On Yuuko - Just what exactly were you doing to Miya's GEM?

She was recycling it in some kind of acid. Break it down to the raw materials so it can be used to make a new one, not attuned to Miya.

Sakuya

2006-01-26, 22:13

brightman

2006-01-26, 22:15

Despite the new opening not being as "flashy" as the original, I'm not sure it matters much since it's all officially Hisayuki Hirokazu. Thus, animation for the OP actually went up (or stayed the same, since IIRC the first OP was also all him). Although in my honest opinion, I think it's very flashy thanks to the new material and all the Meister robes.
All Sunrise OPs have the anime's character designer as their animation director... So OPs 1 and 2 were both Hisayuki's work (not ALL his work though, since he's just the animation director). However, animation directors don't dictate how fluid the animation is or how well its animated, the budget and the storyboard people do. Animation directors are just in charged of making the characters in each frame look consistent.

Sunrise is never really consistent with their art/animation quality. Just look at Gundam Seed (and GSDestiny)... those suffered from terrible art quality AND reused animation with very few episodes which actually had official Hirai Hisashi art.
The difference between Mai-Otome and Gundam Seed is that Hisayuki is the "Chief Animation Director" of the series, so while each individual episode has a different animation director, Hisayuki keeps those guys in check so that their styles don't deviate too much from his artwork. Seed did not have this luxury so its artwork was much more inconsistent.

Anyway, this episode merely has a smaller budget than previous episodes... Just about all anime series get an episode or two like this, unless they are extremely high budget. So its really nothing to worry about.

Eclipze

2006-01-26, 22:20

For those who've watched it already, any new music? :)
Um, if you mean new OP, then yes, there is.:D

lone_wolf

2006-01-26, 22:25

Um, if you mean new OP, then yes, there is.:D

Sakuya already knows about the new OP. I think the point was, if there was new music within the episode. I just finished downloading so I haven't seen it yet. But I'll check for new BGs unless someone already knows.

Anyone know if there was any new BG music?

--Lone Wolf

Vallen Chaos Valiant

2006-01-26, 22:27

Concerning the new OP...

I always wondered about why all the slave users of Shwartz were all men, and thought about if there were any female followers in the cult.

And now I got my answer. Behind Tomoe in the new Opening, is a whole line of female storm-troopers. It appears the women were either cyberised Asward-style or they were (more likely) given low-grade Otome powers.

So the men control the new Slaves via the black crystals, and the women fight using nano-machines directly? Makes sense.

########
So the question now, is if Tomoe is ever going to dress up as a storm-trooper... Or is she going to lead them instead? As a sort of mini-boss to Nina?

More importantly, were is Miyu? Why isn't she in the Opening? Arhhh!!!!:frustrated: :D

SoldierOfDarkness

2006-01-26, 22:35

Akuma-sama

2006-01-26, 22:57

More importantly, were is Miyu? Why isn't she in the Opening? Arhhh!!!!:frustrated: :D

Miyu-sama!! ・ﾟ・（´Д｀）・ﾟ・

:(
Well during this episode when the black letters are sent out we see a woman receiving one as well.
That "woman" had a red coral sleeve, from the screenie I've been spoiled with... it's probably Tomoe.

roon

2006-01-26, 22:58

The difference between Mai-Otome and Gundam Seed is that Hisayuki is the "Chief Animation Director" of the series, so while each individual episode has a different animation director, Hisayuki keeps those guys in check so that their styles don't deviate too much from his artwork.
That's actually what I love about MO's art. While yes, in some episodes the quality goes down a bit, it's never enough that you can actually say it's awful. This was what I disliked a lot about GS/D's art direction. So inconsistent that it bothered me, especially coming from an artist's standpoint ;)

Thank you for the explanation, though.. I was thinking Hisayuki just did the main panels and not the animation itself. Is it like that for every show or just the ones under Sunrise? I was under the impression that it was for every show... I'll have to go and check credits later.

At any rate, I already need next week please. *waits impatiently*

SoldierOfDarkness

2006-01-26, 23:09

Miyu-sama!! ・ﾟ・（´Д｀）・ﾟ・

:(

That "woman" had a red coral sleeve, from the screenie I've been spoiled with... it's probably Tomoe.

Uh no

I was talking about an actual woman.

As we see the pictures of people getting the letters, we also see a mother holding one and ignoring her daughter. You can take a look again, we see a man, then a woman, then a coral.

Asianknight82

2006-01-26, 23:18

From the New opening, Im betting on Nina and Arika being enemies. Nina fighting for Artai and Arika for Windbloom. Throwing Sergey into the mix, just stirs up the emotions even more. Its gonna be a roller coaster of a ride from here on.

Akuma-sama

2006-01-26, 23:21

Uh no

I was talking about an actual woman.

As we see the pictures of people getting the letters, we also see a mother holding one and ignoring her daughter. You can take a look again, we see a man, then a woman, then a coral.

Heeh, haven't seen the episode yet, so... :p

Staying quiet and lurking 'till I do... *pokes Doremi* no pressure, guys! :heh:

brightman

2006-01-26, 23:33

Thank you for the explanation, though.. I was thinking Hisayuki just did the main panels and not the animation itself. Is it like that for every show or just the ones under Sunrise? I was under the impression that it was for every show...
Well, the animation director's main job is to take every animator's work and edit them make them look consistent. And this is true for (I think) all Japanese animation productions.

So as a result, the way the animation looks greatly depends on the style of the animation director, and that's why we get the variations.

Tempest35

2006-01-26, 23:35

I'm watching screencaps for now. It's said here that Shiho will be the Otome of Florence while Chie will be Haruka's subordinate? Yukino > Haruka > Chie? Why would a good Otome like Haruka need a subordinate?

Because Chie has GUTS~!!!

:heh: Well, not like that but it could be a device to keep Haruka in check. That and since Ealis is one of Garderobe's formal allies, Natsuki sending her the 2nd Pearl for training beneath Haruka would be a good move insuring that anyone invading them would have a tough time about it since it is re-enforcing them.

I feel sorry for anyone who tries to take out Zipang though...bring the A1 sauce :D cuz Mai will BBQ anyone trying that against her home country.

piccolo

2006-01-26, 23:37

I think Nao does care about Garderobe, maybe in her good old Nao way, but she cares about the students which I'd think would be a higher priority to Natsuki. Nao has been building up to be a kind of wise adviser to the other students, like with Arika, Nina and Akane. Although she wasn't one of the top three Pearls, she has done more direct helping to students in need than they had. She has a different way of dealing with things (her goons for example) which will probably come in handy when the situation goes bad.

Natsuki is probably in need of the fifth pillar as she realized that the school is in danger. And of all the current candidate for the position, Nao is obviously the best choice. As well as the fact that this gives Natsuki the added benefit of taking her away from possibly becoming another tool for Nagi to use (though I doubt Nao would have let herself get used).

Meanwhile I will just continue squeeling with joy at the fact that my favorite character is now a pillar! Go Nao!

I completely agree with you. And if Natsuki wouldn't snatch her up, Nagi might, using the influence of her duty to her country, blah, blah, blah... But then Nao isn't as easily influenced as Nina, is she?

Continuing with your point of being an asset, just what kind of an asset is "Maki, maki?" Aside than her usually silly jokes, I haven't seen her do anything than chase Arika around or stuff lectures down her throat. I just loved it when Arika stood up and she fell over in her chair - even if Arika was out of it. :heh:

So, what other things can she do than spin the wheel? She must've done something to become #2 (or is it #1 now?)

piccolo

2006-01-26, 23:41

Because Chie has GUTS~!!!

:heh: Well, not like that but it could be a device to keep Haruka in check. That and since Ealis is one of Garderobe's formal allies, Natsuki sending her the 2nd Pearl for training beneath Haruka would be a good move insuring that anyone invading them would have a tough time about it since it is re-enforcing them.

I feel sorry for anyone who tries to take out Zipang though...bring the A1 sauce :D cuz Mai will BBQ anyone trying that against her home country.
I'm sure Haruka would've loved Arika since Arika has GUTS! I wonder how ballistic Haruka get upon discovering that Arika had made a contract with Mashiro some months ago already?

So, is Ealis the only one with a Pearl to help out. Does anyone know? Where does Maki-Maki go?

ArchDragon

2006-01-26, 23:42

I feel sorry for anyone who tries to take out Zipang though...bring the A1 sauce :D cuz Mai will BBQ anyone trying that against her home country.

The thing is, Mai is currently NOT a Meister.
She disappeared BEFORE she made a contract with anyone, or accepted the post of a pillar.

And after what happened to her in the past, I won't be surprised if she had stopped caring about her home country ever since.

-------------------------------------

I completely agree with you. And if Natsuki wouldn't snatch her up, Nagi might, using the influence of her duty to her country, blah, blah, blah... But then Nao isn't as easily influenced as Nina, is she?

Continuing with your point of being an asset, just what kind of an asset is "Maki, maki?" Aside than her usually silly jokes, I haven't seen her do anything than chase Arika around or stuff lectures down her throat. I just loved it when Arika stood up and she fell over in her chair - even if Arika was out of it. :heh:

So, what other things can she do than spin the wheel? She must've done something to become #2 (or is it #1 now?)

I don't think it's up to Natsuki to decide who qualifies to become a pillar.
I'm sure Nao could've refused the offer if she doesn't want to become a pillar though.
Again, even if Nagi contracted Nao, he won't send her to actually fight, since Nagi won't risk his own life.

As for Maki-maki, she seems to have a special weapon, though it doesn't look nearly as powerful as Nao's.
Besides, even a sucky Meister is still a Meister, she's still good for wiping out a country or two.
Maki-maki was #3, now she's #2 after Akane left.

piccolo

2006-01-26, 23:47

That "woman" had a red coral sleeve, from the screenie I've been spoiled with... it's probably Tomoe.
Yeah, I am curious too whether or not I was right in thinking that Tomoe has her leverage power from Schwartz, and is, in fact, one of their minions. I wonder what hold they have over her?

Tempest35

2006-01-26, 23:48

So instead of the big bonfire we were expecting from Mai, she's just gonna casually walk back onto Garderobe campus and say 'Tadaima!'.

... y'know, that sounds so much like Mai, it's possible...

coefficientX

2006-01-26, 23:50

Starks

2006-01-26, 23:51

Who is the ganguro?

lone_wolf

2006-01-27, 00:03

Who is the ganguro?

EDIT: I thought you were asking "what" a ganguro was....my bad. Obviously the last one to the left is the ganguro.

=====I'll leave this basic ganguro info for those who are still not sure what it still is=======
It basically a trend for Japanese girls to practically paint their faces black. It's very similar to "Kogaru". Ganguro bleach their hair, tan themselves (articifially most of the time) and utilize white eyeliner.

You'll see a bunch of "Ganguro" in the Ikebukuro and Shibuya area.

Here's an example:
http://www.thecalling.it/bia/iobloggo/img/ganguro_2.jpg

--Lone Wolf

SoldierOfDarkness

2006-01-27, 00:05

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/6825/pillars7nf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Hehe...this is really cute.
5 Pillars: Our Love-Love Couple, Spiderwoman, Batgirl, Aladdin

So many action-pack heroes...
:heh: :heh: :heh: :heh: :heh:

Why is she wearing a mask anyways?

And where have these Pillars been? Natsuki mentioned to Shizuru one time about recalling her back in episode 1 but where was she in the first place?:eyebrow: Are they agents that roam the world?

The thing is, Mai is currently NOT a Meister.
She disappeared BEFORE she made a contract with anyone, or accepted the post of a pillar.

From the looks of it though she had the GEm with her and since it's a pillar position she doesn't need a master.

lone_wolf

2006-01-27, 00:07

Why is she wearing a mask anyways?

And where have these Pillars been? Natsuki mentioned to Shizuru one time about recalling her back in episode 1 but where was she in the first place?:eyebrow: Are they agents that roam the world?

I suppose Natsuki sends Shizuru on occasional missions/investigations like the previous one she came back from.

--Lone Wolf

Starks

2006-01-27, 00:11

If any of you still think that the masked pillar is Erstin, you're wrong... Here's a picture of that pillar without her mask.

http://ranobe.sakuratan.com/up/src/up84331.jpg

Vallen Chaos Valiant

2006-01-27, 00:13

Let me guess... She's from Cyberformula too?:D

The way it's going, we might end up with more Cyberformula characters than Mai-Hime characters.:p

lone_wolf

2006-01-27, 00:14

Why is she wearing a mask anyways?

She probably doesn't want people catching on that she's from the Shinseiki GPX Cyber Formula: Road to the Infinity PS2 game.:heh:

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/8418/girlbody2lo.th.jpg (http://img96.imageshack.us/my.php?image=girlbody2lo.jpg)

--Lone Wolf

MattAlchemy

2006-01-27, 00:16

If any of you still think that the masked pillar is Erstin, you're wrong... Here's a picture of that pillar without her mask.

http://ranobe.sakuratan.com/up/src/up84331.jpg
I wonder how they get the idea, she doesn't even look like Erstin at all.

lone_wolf

2006-01-27, 00:18

I wonder how they get the idea, she doesn't even look like Erstin at all.

Yup! Just like the image I provided above, she's definitely from Cyber Formula. It's Hisayuki plugging all his designs....that's it!;)

--Lone Wolf

lone_wolf

2006-01-27, 00:22

Let me guess... She's from Cyberformula too?:D

The way it's going, we might end up with more Cyberformula characters than Mai-Hime characters.:p

Haruka paved the way from Cyber Formula:heh:

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/3883/girlbody23wn.th.jpg (http://img96.imageshack.us/my.php?image=girlbody23wn.jpg)

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/9794/cyberformula9gx.th.jpg (http://img96.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cyberformula9gx.jpg)

Hisayuki *really* loves his designs

--Lone Wolf

Starks

2006-01-27, 00:28

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/2774/up843348wz.th.jpg (http://img84.imageshack.us/my.php?image=up843348wz.jpg)

IT'S A GUNDAM!

Vallen Chaos Valiant

2006-01-27, 00:32

Next thing you know, people would have their arms, legs and heads cut off because Mai wants to be merciful...:D

Sakuya

2006-01-27, 00:35

Aside from the new OP, there's really not much to look forward to in this episode. It's just a very nice plot build-up once again.

1. No new music. :(
2. Tomoe should've been kicked much longer!
3. I really like the new Mashiro personality. I felt so bad that the castle didn't look like her drawing. But did she really want a castle that looked like a flower? :uhoh: How old is she?
4. When Arika made the vow to become Meister Otome, Erstin looked kind of sad before she said "yes". Does that mean she's planning to leave the school? Well, at least now we know that Erstin is not in cohorts with Tomoe. That's good. :)

I can't wait until next week. The wait is here again!

ArchDragon

2006-01-27, 00:37

From the looks of it though she had the GEm with her and since it's a pillar position she doesn't need a master.

That's my point, she has NOT accepted the post of a pillar yet.
I don't think just having the gem can get her anywhere.

Although if the gem that she brought with her into the forest is a set (like Arika's pendant), then she could have secretly made a contract with someone (most likely Sergay).

---------------------------------------

3. I really like the new Mashiro personality. I felt so bad that the castle didn't look like her drawing. But did she really want a castle that looked like a flower? :uhoh: How old is she?
4. When Arika made the vow to become Meister Otome, Erstin looked kind of sad before she said "yes". Does that mean she's planning to leave the school? Well, at least now we know that Erstin is not in cohorts with Tomoe. That's good. :)

I don't think Mashiro is seriously going to make her castle look like the drawing that she showed to Arika.
I mean, she has advisers, don't she?

From the "survival test" incident, I'm quite sure that Erstin doesn't really want to become an Otome.
Her parents must have pressured her to get into Garderobe to bolster their status.

SoldierOfDarkness

2006-01-27, 00:41

That's my point, she has NOT accepted the post of a pillar yet.
I don't think just having the gem can get her anywhere.

Again they don't need masters. If the Gem is with her then she should be able to put it into her earring. Wouldn't that be accepting it then?

Although if the gem that she brought with her into the forest is a set (like Arika's pendant), then she could have secretly made a contract with someone (most likely Sergay).

Impossible if it's a pillar position, they don't have masters so it should only be one gem.

Catgirls

2006-01-27, 00:45

Aside from the design recycling, I think I'm more bummed about this image from the new OP:

http://i1.tinypic.com/mmaqnn.jpg If that image is any indication as to what this whole show boils down to, then...bummer. Hopefully it's a "friendly" rivalry. Otherwise … that kind of literary device is kind of a yawner.

lone_wolf

2006-01-27, 00:53

ArchDragon

2006-01-27, 00:54

Again they don't need masters. If the Gem is with her then she should be able to put it into her earring. Wouldn't that be accepting it then?

I don't think so, that'll make stealing that gem the only thing you need to do to become a pillar.
I'm sure it's not that simple, there must be a contract making process similar to the ones made by other Meisters, except that Nao will be pledging her loyalty to Garderobe instead of a particular master.

Besides, Nao is replacing her soon, so even if she was a pillar, so would no longer be one.

Impossible if it's a pillar position, they don't have masters so it should only be one gem.

Not necessarily, the "master" gem might simply be placed on a central computer instead of someone else's finger.

And I don't think Mai's gem is unique in any way or form, since if that's the case, Nao can't become a pillar until Mai's gem is retrieved.

Sakuya

2006-01-27, 01:16

Natsuki's one horn looks interesting and amusing. :heh: Nao's Robe... Would she feel shamed to wear such a thing? The old Robes for Coral/Pearl/old Meisters were pretty nice. These new Robes are just going downhill with the possible exception of Nina. It still looks pretty iffy to me. :uhoh:

USCPharmacist

2006-01-27, 01:34

The Sh-t has hit the fan.....OMG!!!!!!! Can't wait for episode 17 when the clone army attack the Jedai counsel...give me the goose bumps

BTW Castle Nuke rox, reminded me of my most favorate weapon in Red Alert, the telser coil ehehhe.

I Wonder with all those otomes in the OP if we will get a scene where Meister Otomes charging against the Death (Hime) Star again ehehhe

Tremalkinger

2006-01-27, 01:34

Just finished watching the episode. I have to say... my interest in Mai Otome was waning... all this Arika / Sergey melodrama had me only vaguely morbidly interested. But now? Let's just say I wish it were Thursday again. This episode was spectacular, and promises that the rest of the series will be just as good as HiME's closing episodes.

The scene in the grass with Nina, Arika and Erstin was SO very touching, even with the ominious doubt from Erstin. I feel like they've managed to convey the bonding between the primary three quite a bit better than in Mai HiME. These three (and Irina too, to a lesser extent) have been through so much. When the drama hits, it's going to pull on the heart strings even worse than in HiME.

So.. any theories on what the addition to the castle nuked? Did Schwartz make it seem like Windbloom attacked a nearby country?

My only (mild) complaint about this episode is that Erstin has no spine. I realize that she's a cuddlebear and doesn't want to hurt anyone, but someone tried to maim one of her best friends! All she does is look mildly angsty about it? That bugged me a little. She's sweet and all, but if her lack of a spine gets Arika (or worse, Nina) hurt, I'm going to be upset.

Sakuya

2006-01-27, 01:42

So.. any theories on what the addition to the castle nuked? Did Schwartz make it seem like Windbloom attacked a nearby country?

I just noticed the obvious, that the blast somehow freed/set off that Slave army, destroying part of that train/sand boat station thing. But if they were constructing that castle all this time, how can the workers keep it a secret? Furthermore, if Arika works there, wouldn't she know?

Tokkan

2006-01-27, 01:46

So.. any theories on what the addition to the castle nuked? Did Schwartz make it seem like Windbloom attacked a nearby country?

Oh no... Schwartz just destroyed the shipyard at Sand Port, which is in Windbloom. They just made it so that the remaining population of Windbloom not under control of Schwartz can't escape that easily.

Tremalkinger

2006-01-27, 01:57

Oh no... Schwartz just destroyed the shipyard at Sand Port, which is in Windbloom. They just made it so that the remaining population of Windbloom not under control of Schwartz can't escape that easily.

Ahh... that makes sense. I knew it hit the Sand Crawler Dock place, but I guess I thought the beam kept going to its real destination. But I like your explanation better.

USCPharmacist

2006-01-27, 02:11

hummm unless you are Arika, I guess is impossible for normal people to cross the dune without being devour by sandworms XD, so the goal of Schwartz is to trap everyone in and to also prevent anyone from helping. No ship can leave and no ship can come when the castle nuke is active. So the only help is probably from flying otomes from Earlis and Garderobe (I don't think any of the other selfish countries is gonna raise a finger to help, if anything they might want to help Schwartz to steal Windbloom's secret. The Slave armies are so gonna own the school for awhile before the pillars can mount an effective counter attack because they are just so out number at the time. I don't think the coral or even the pearl can help much except helping people escape even after they are materised. The teachers and the pillars hands are tied by Aswad as shown in the preview so all hell is gonna break loose episode 17.

Oh shoot I just realize something, Irina has yello eyes....YELLOW EYES!!!! and that the shadow of the coral.....OH SHI-

Souten no Seigyoku

2006-01-27, 02:13

I think we are reading too much into the OP anime footage for hints of spoilers. The first OP footage showed Arika flying around in her meister robe, landing in front of her friends, and reverting to her coral uniform. Yet no one but Nina know shes Mashiros otome or even seen her in her meister robe. This could be footage to appease everyones desire to "see" Mai (and others) w/o putting them in the show. Sidenote: Mai's robe looks too much liker her MH school uniform. Not only the colors, but they tried to make the bottom look a bit like a school uniform skirt.

Theres no way Nao could be a pillar in a couple of days, as well as, Arika and Nina being Meistars. I bet theres a chance of there being a time gap.
Unless of course, Nagi has gone overboard with the slave attacks. Thats what it looks like by the bunch of slaves that pop up at the end. Did anyone count them? If so, countries will want to "rush" their otomes into service like in the war Miss Maria talked about.

I wont comment about a cartoon's cleavage. :rolleyes:

Andy00

2006-01-27, 02:16

Souten no Seigyoku

2006-01-27, 02:21

So Mai is getting bumped back to mere Meister status since Nao took her 'spot'? That kinda sucks...in a way. Although it would explain why she was still wearing the Zipang crest on her Meister Robe.
This would imply that being a Pillar doesnt endow the meister with any extra power(s) as I thought (& later hoped). Mai is obviously using the Fire String Ruby. So the gems themselves arent tied to pillars. Which means being named a Pillar is mostly a status thing (and the ability to materialize anytime).

Another possibility you guys havent thought about was that Nao was chosen as Pillar to weaken Nagi by depriving him of the better Otome. Nina may be Coral #1, but surely a Pearl has more experience/skill. It may also prevent him from having two Otome. Remember, he's in cahoots with Smith (shwarts) so they may have means of materializing another otome and getting around the 1 otome per master thing.

Edit: My bad. Lana already thought of the "keep Nao away from Nagi" theory

SoldierOfDarkness

2006-01-27, 02:22

I don't think so, the girl in the Dragon War had really dark skin compared to Batgirl whose skin is alot brighter. Not to mention the hair's a little different too.

And someone already mentioned it was just character rehashing.

Mentar

2006-01-27, 02:22

Natsuki's one horn looks interesting and amusing. :heh: Nao's Robe... Would she feel shamed to wear such a thing?

Sakuya, you're talking about NAO here, remember? Whoever is able to wear pink-white-horizontally-striped clowngear proudly like this in public should be absolutely immune to wearing a spiderwoman outfit ;)

lone_wolf

2006-01-27, 02:24

Sakuya, you're talking about NAO here, remember? Whoever is able to wear pink-white-horizontally-striped clownwear proudly like this in public should be absolutely immune to wearing a spiderwoman outfit ;)

LOL...I'm just wondering what the bottom half looks like.:heh: I hope it's not a web-like skirt.

--Shredder

ArchDragon

2006-01-27, 02:34

Another possibility you guys havent thought about was that Nao was chosen as Pillar to weaken Nagi by depriving him of the better Otome. Nina may be Coral #1, but surely a Pearl has more experience/skill. It may also prevent him from having two Otome. Remember, he's in cahoots with Smith (shwarts) so they may have means of materializing another otome and getting around the 1 otome per master thing.

First off, I don't think Nagi will ever send his own Otome to battle, should he ever have one.
It's not his style to put his own life at risk.
Although he might assign her to Sergay, so that if anything went wrong, it's Sergay who died.

Now if Natsuki cs. are the ones choosing the pillars, then weakening Nagi's position makes sense.
But it's not up to Natsuki at all, the founder choose the pillars, unless said founder has political awareness as well.

Btw, I don't think having more than one Meister bound to a single master is a good idea.
Since if one of them got hurt, the master will got hurt, and the other Meister(s) that are bound to him will get hurt also.
So if a country has more than one Meisters, it's better to assign them to different masters.

Starks

2006-01-27, 02:48

The Spiderwoman outfit is supposed to be a reference to her MH Child, Julia.

piccolo

2006-01-27, 03:09

Isn't Batgirl the girl who killed her oneesama in Miss Maria's story? (The 12 Dragon War, or whatever it was called)

One wonders why she hasn't aged if that's the case, but that would explain the mask. She doesn't want survivors to recognize her.
It was suggested once that Otome age differently, or show the sign of aging differently than regular humans without nanomachines.

But to what extend this might be true, if at all, I don't know nor thought about.

ryuuu

2006-01-27, 03:10

piccolo

2006-01-27, 03:25

First off, I don't think Nagi will ever send his own Otome to battle, should he ever have one.
It's not his style to put his own life at risk.
Although he might assign her to Sergay, so that if anything went wrong, it's Sergay who died.

Now if Natsuki cs. are the ones choosing the pillars, then weakening Nagi's position makes sense.
But it's not up to Natsuki at all, the founder choose the pillars, unless said founder has political awareness as well.

Btw, I don't think having more than one Meister bound to a single master is a good idea.
Since if one of them got hurt, the master will got hurt, and the other Meister(s) that are bound to him will get hurt also.
So if a country has more than one Meisters, it's better to assign them to different masters.
I think you're wrong about Nagi. You'll see, Nagi will send the only Otome his country has to battle, although we do not know if Nagi is her Master. But Nina will definitely go home to Nagi and receive an ancient Meister GEM. At some point she will fight Arika for that is what the entire Lovey-Dovey thing with Sergey worked up to. She will most likely go Vader when she notices the hanky that Arika made for her benefactor (Sergey) and realizes what Sergey has been up to.About contracts, there is no evidence that it is possible to have a Master making contracts with more than one Otome. That is not how the nanomachines seem to work and the crystal control device function. It is limited to one-on-one.

Otome can be assigned as trainees where the Meister Otome is responsible for the trainee's robe activation.

Nao, being the smart one she is, has no intentions of becoming anyone's Otome. She mentioned that about as plain as can be. And, yet, she will receive an offer that is hard to refuse. Nao will become a Pillar.

midnightlumina

2006-01-27, 03:32

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/2774/up843348wz.th.jpg (http://img84.imageshack.us/my.php?image=up843348wz.jpg)
One question, will the first series characters hijack again???

piccolo

2006-01-27, 03:34

I wish I can do time forward after watching this episode. :D Things finally start to blow up. The new OP is just incredible (and looks like a Gundam Seed OP a lot, as mentioned by some people).

Did anyone notice that there's an otome who got a black letter ? I kept feeling that it's Irina somehow. Her hair looks like the shadow of that otome. She's also in a pretty good position being quite close with Yohko (and her access to all those technology).

I've always felt that out of the otomes being showed, she has a pretty good chance to join aswald or schwarz due to her interest on technology compared to her other peers. I also suspected her because she's the one I think most people won't suspect (this is a stupid reasoning, I know).
I don't think it's Irina. Instead I've suspected it some time ago that Tomoe has connections with Schwartz. They're the only ones technologically advanced enough to alter the communicators and give Tomoe the leverage she needed to control Miya and her gang.

True, Irina could've done it, but I doubt it. She also has the technological know-how to alter the devices. But at this late in the stage, the character trends have developed to a degree that it is highly unlikely for Irina to do anything that would hurt either Arika, Erstin, or Nina, less alone do what Tomoe, the bully, tells her.

And Tomoe... She has just graduated from hurting Arika to trying to kill Arika. What progress in human development...

DoAsInfinity

2006-01-27, 03:35

One question, will the first series characters hijack again???

Don't think so, unless this series is 50 episodes long :uhoh: :eyebrow: :heh:

DwArD

2006-01-27, 03:40

Alright....first thing I woke up this morning was to check out the summary for ep 16....and I was like....WTH!? That new op was so spoilerish....but I like it:D .

Back to topic then. This definitely sounds like a decent episode, and is that Mai there? For a moment, I though Mai is going to summon her Child but she did a super-firery-kick instead. Oh well...Tomoe sure looks evil. Guess she went over to the 'dark side'. I can't believe she's so......sick to the core. Are all girls that crazy when they're jealous?

Oh my.....I can't take it anymore. I'm gonna watch the raw ASAP. On another note, the OP do reminds me of GSD. Man...I can't wait to see Arika in her new uniform:cool:

Sakuya

2006-01-27, 03:47

I watched Mai in the OP in slow motion. It seems she summons her Element, the wheel, Tenrin, and she flies through it to summon a kick. :uhoh: What's the point of that? When I was reading the screencaps and saw the giant Tenrin, I thought for a moment too that she was going to summon Kagutsuchi. That fiery thing looked like that void that Midori summoned her Gakutenou from.

And, why didn't Nina/Arika ask who dropped the vial of acid? I forgot to mention that the unveiling of the new castle, with the disappearing of each pixel was a pretty cool effect. Everything's going digital? :heh:

Takemi_Ikazuchi

2006-01-27, 04:01

red scarf of justice + kicking fetish = kamen rider

Tatiana Razajev

2006-01-27, 04:26

red scarf of justice + kicking fetish = kamen rider

That makes Mai officially awesome! Okay so I haven't watched much Kamen Rider, but I do like what I've seen of 555 and Blade. As they say "Standing By... Awakening!"

The new opening is pretty nice. Although Nao's "Spiderman" outfit is giving me flashbacks to the 90s cartoon where Spiderman strained, whined and angst over everything. I just hope they can do something about the ending. Ie mainly the animation aspect of it.

Blaat

2006-01-27, 04:28

One question, will the first series characters hijack again???

Nah the previous characters are handled like in Zeta Gundam not DESTINY ;)

To proof that this is more like Zeta here (http://randomc.animeblogger.net/image/Mai-Otome/Mai-Otome%20-%2016%20-%2022.jpg) is a picture of Bask Ohm

ryuuu

2006-01-27, 04:30

The other reason I thought the otome receiving black letter is not Tomoe:
- the new OP clearly shows tomoe's future position as an enemy (most likely as part of schwarz)
- why do they still went to the trouble of not showing who the otome is ? I feel that this is to misled the viewer by implying that it's Tomoe.
- the hair style is different (I know this sounds stupid)

Mirtual

2006-01-27, 04:50

Nice Ep.
I like the new op.
Am I the only one who thought "powned" when that new castle thing showed up?
At last we se some story development. Windbloom ist under attack now. Hu. Seeing those slaves I am wondering if Nagi is behind this.

And, why didn't Nina/Arika ask who dropped the vial of acid?
And THIS is really a good question. Maybe it is common there...

BTW, Prev shows Asward in front of Shiz and Natsu. Maybe we will get to see a real Meister fight this time.

EDIT:
I forgot to say:
Tomoe running to Aswald ... well ... to be honest I am wondering why they take her in. As far as I understood it Aswald was after their own ambition, while Tome is just ...
I like the new outfits. That spider man robe of Nao and the "batgirl" mask are a bit strange, but it could be far worse.

And who are those Otome you see around 03:49 standing in the backround next to Haruka?

NeonZ

2006-01-27, 05:37

red scarf of justice + kicking fetish = kamen rider

She even has a big belt!

Anime Adoru

2006-01-27, 05:41

Actually 4 ppl. Mashiro also knows the song. Erstin knows it from Arika, so she is not Rena's daughter, probably.

Yep, Mashiro, Arika, and Nina seem to know different parts of the song. If this was really only Rena's song, it means the three of them have been around Rena and the king and queen of Windbloom as babys very early.

Anime Adoru

2006-01-27, 05:48

I can draw some very quick/halfbaked conclusions now:

2. Nina will be turned to the dark side (but most of us already knew or suspected this)

I still don't agree. Yes, Nina will face hard times. Dutifully she'll provide her services to Nagi, she will fight Arika, etc. but in the end I'm sure the bonds Arika and Nina have built up will pull through and she will return from the brink of fully becoming evil.

This storyline is inevitable :)

Anime Adoru

2006-01-27, 05:50

I think this will be an all out war.

Oh no... Schwartz just destroyed the shipyard at Sand Port, which is in Windbloom. They just made it so that the remaining population of Windbloom not under control of Schwartz can't escape that easily.

I also thought the shot from the castle would be used to attack another country and give that country a reason for invading Windbloom. But I also only saw Sandport being destroyed, probably for military reasons.

I think the other countries will not idly stand by. Rather they will get involved quickly. They all know something about the harmonium and Windblooms advanced technology.

The real prize of course is Garderobe though. If Windbloom falls, so will Garderobe, I assume, and no country on this planet that wants to maintain its freedom can accept some other country owning Garderobe.

kari-no-sugata

2006-01-27, 06:31

I think John Smith's strategy is "First take over Wind Bloom (to get the Harmonium) then the world" type thing. That is, the only "real" initial target is Wind Bloom (and any Otome in the area). We might see some small scale Slave attacks on other countries, but that would just be to keep them pinned down - basically, to isolate Wind Bloom.

Given the prominece other Meister Otome are given in the OP, I suspect this strategy will fail in the end. Maybe what happens is that Smith seems to win but fails, then Nagi takes over for the finale.

Still, looks like in the short term that Wind Bloom will sort of fall to Smith, though not quite sure what this means for Garderobe - will Natsuki tear apart the treaty that prevents her from intervening with Wind Bloom? Maybe she'll wait until the 5 Pillars can be ready...

At a guess, looks like in the next ep Mashiro is going to have to flee into the city. I guess she eventually gets caught up with some refugees who are saved by Asward, and Mashiro ends up going all the way to the Black Vally, with Arika chasing after her. That could help reveal some interesting things. (Hmm, I wonder if Asward brought a baby back after the attack 15 years ago?) Asward are probably more interested in using technology to the benefit of everyone - which is something Arika actually says in this ep (ie how everyone should be able to benefit from the nanomachines like Erstin when healing).

Meanwhile, I suspect Mai heads back to her country - maybe she has been doing nothing the last few years or maybe she got some hints about what Schwartz are up to. Anyway, I'm sure she finds out about the Slave attacks and heads home - I'm sure she's worried about her family. I suspect she persuades Takumi that if they let Schwartz do what they want, it means their own country will be attacked next, so it's best to intervene. So she'll probably do a Meister contract with Takumi and head back to Wind Bloom to help, persuading other countries to help along the way.

Shizuru-chan

2006-01-27, 06:42

All i can say to this weeks ep is OO_OO;
Tomoe is da evil onna..lol
But great ep..i loved it:eyespin:

Aidan

2006-01-27, 07:13

If any of you still think that the masked pillar is Erstin, you're wrong... Here's a picture of that pillar without her mask.

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/3452/up843316ca.th.jpg (http://img84.imageshack.us/my.php?image=up843316ca.jpg)
[personal opinion] :p cutest girl in the show by far, as bat girl she's the sexiest. ;)
[/personal opinion] Too bad she'll only be a minor character.

djmaca

2006-01-27, 07:45

The only I can say is...

At last!!!!!!!!!! Mai's character has appeared once more....

Tempest35

2006-01-27, 07:52

This would imply that being a Pillar doesnt endow the meister with any extra power(s) as I thought (& later hoped). Mai is obviously using the Fire String Ruby. So the gems themselves arent tied to pillars. Which means being named a Pillar is mostly a status thing (and the ability to materialize anytime).

Another possibility you guys havent thought about was that Nao was chosen as Pillar to weaken Nagi by depriving him of the better Otome. Nina may be Coral #1, but surely a Pearl has more experience/skill. It may also prevent him from having two Otome. Remember, he's in cahoots with Smith (shwarts) so they may have means of materializing another otome and getting around the 1 otome per master thing.

Edit: My bad. Lana already thought of the "keep Nao away from Nagi" theory

I don't think that she used that reason to make Nao a Pillar. Nao is simply a better choice for the Pillar-ship. I just have a problem with the why of it - Why would Natsuki want to weaken Nagi? Does Sergay tell her about the letter he got from him or is she just going out on a limb? She's gonna send Chie off to Ealis where they already have Haruka (presumably to reinforce their own position)...

Befgrek

2006-01-27, 08:38

Why does everyone seem to think Natsuki is the one choosing the other pillars when it has been stated twice in the series and numerous times in this thread that it is in fact Fumi - the Shinso who somehow (do they hire old hags with crystal balls who can talk to the dead or something? Ah, this is where those old woman from the first district in Mai Hime makes their cameo's, right?) choses what to become of the pearls? Apparantly, she assigns them to diffrent countries or decides they are good material for a pillar position.

Anyway, my thoughts on this episode... Great. This was more than I hoped for. I really wished they had extented the Arika vs. Tomoe fight though, because action was the one thing the episode lacked. I like Mashiro's new personality, though I hope we'll see glimpses of the old bratty Mashiro from time to time. I really feel sorry for her since when she's finally started taking her role as queen more seriously, her country is invaded by a swarm of metallic insects. Does this mean she'll be forced to exile and will fight together with Aswald to free her country? I sure hope so.

The scene with Arika and Sergei trying to act as if nothing had happened was nice, although Nina apparantly didn't really buy it. A clash between Arika and Nina is of course inevitable, that we have known for a long time, and even if it sounds really cliché, I'm actually looking forward to that. I guess that makes me evil.

I guess those two "new" pillars won't have any big roles in this series... I mean, it feels a little late to introduce them now. Mai appearing late is forgivable, since we already know her, but completly new characters? I don't see that working out very well, seeing how the cast already is huge as it is.

...But damn those slaves for interupting the fight at the end... I want to see Chie in action!

DwArD

2006-01-27, 08:53

Nice Ep.
I like the new op.
Am I the only one who thought "powned" when that new castle thing showed up?

I thought so too. When I first saw Mashiro holding that hand-drawn picture, I was wondering....how the hell they gonna find a sunflower big enough to fit the top of her castle? I really pity Mashiro but.....seriously, having a cannon on top of a castle is waaaay better than having a sunflower:heh:

Zafo

2006-01-27, 09:17

Seeing Nao's new robe just confirms my opininion that the one who came up with the design of the clothes is either a talentless moron or does it intentionally to annoy the viewers. :heh:
Maybe there is a hope for this episode, I wonder if I should read all the spoilers...

Her meister robe design is an homage to her MH child: Julia. Same colouring, and the siperweb pattern is because Julia was a SPIDER.

Sans Haruka, sans pretty much all other Meisters shown in episode 3...

Where do you have that from?

There doesn't seem to be a "standard" Meister uniform, because pretty much all Meisters we've seen so far have their own personalized outfit, at least in their coloring. The closest match I could see was during Akane's graduation. Though - now that I've rechecked it - it's not quite identical, only very very close.

It looks to me like they all have the same style, but a differnt colouring pattern. Like any good sentai group!;) There's also several homages to thier MH colours. Like the puke-green Haruka always dresses in, even though she has a Topaz gem. Or thier patterns, like I said about the spider pattern for Julia on Nao. Furthur, look at Natsuki's silver-chrome meister battle robe and think of MH Duran's design and colours.

So Mai is getting bumped back to mere Meister status since Nao took her 'spot'? That kinda sucks...in a way. :heh: Although it would explain why she was still wearing the Zipang crest on her Meister Robe.

I don't think the three-spotted pattern is Mai wearing Zipang's symbol, I think that symbol is uniquily her's and Takumi wears it to remember her. Because when Akira held up the pill case, it was a differnt design.

Why is she wearing a mask anyways?

Because it's hot.

3. I really like the new Mashiro personality. I felt so bad that the castle didn't look like her drawing. But did she really want a castle that looked like a flower? :uhoh: How old is she?

I like her new "I'm gonna kick some ass" attitude too. But the "flower" in her castle picture is actually a stylized sun. You hear her tell Arika so in the previous episode.

[personal opinion] :p cutest girl in the show by far, as bat girl she's the sexiest. ;) [/personal opinion]

Short answer: yes. Long answer: Hell's yes!

----------------------------------------------------

Maybe it's been covered but I didn't see anyone talking about it, but did anyone notice one of the black letters came to someone wearing the coral uniform? Tomoe? Erstin? Irina? AHH!

SoldierOfDarkness

2006-01-27, 10:42

I wish I can do time forward after watching this episode. :D Things finally start to blow up. The new OP is just incredible (and looks like a Gundam Seed OP a lot, as mentioned by some people).

Did anyone notice that there's an otome who got a black letter ? I kept feeling that it's Irina somehow. Her hair looks like the shadow of that otome. She's also in a pretty good position being quite close with Yohko (and her access to all those technology).

I've always felt that out of the otomes being showed, she has a pretty good chance to join aswald or schwarz due to her interest on technology compared to her other peers. I also suspected her because she's the one I think most people won't suspect (this is a stupid reasoning, I know).

At this point it could be anyone, the shadow you saw is of the coral's shoulder which is jagged, not their hair.

One question, will the first series characters hijack again???
__________________

Doubt it, none of the 1st characters have even made as much screentime than the new ones. And considering Mai's entrance, ~17ish or later, it won't hijack it.

Her meister robe design is an homage to her MH child: Julia. Same colouring, and the siperweb pattern is because Julia was a SPIDER.

And it just so convientely looks like Spider-man.:heh:

As for Nao getting chosen to be a pillar, I guess that's what the big machine those pearls were standing in. The big machine itself is Fumi?

But if Garderobe is gonna be invaded by like a billion slaves, imagine the amount of black letters Schwarz had to send out....talk about wiping out an entire population.

moyism

2006-01-27, 11:24

Why does everyone seem to think Natsuki is the one choosing the other pillars when it has been stated twice in the series and numerous times in this thread that it is in fact Fumi - the Shinso who somehow (do they hire old hags with crystal balls who can talk to the dead or something? Ah, this is where those old woman from the first district in Mai Hime makes their cameo's, right?) choses what to become of the pearls? Apparantly, she assigns them to diffrent countries or decides they are good material for a pillar position.Actually I don't know if anyone has stated this, but I'm thinking where Youko was de-materializing Miya's GEM is also where Fumi "sleeps". Notice that huge ball shape test-tube like equipment in the middle of the room Youko was in? I have a gut feeling that Fumi's body is there in cold-lock, but they're able to access her consciousness to allow her to pick Otomes. Or alternatively, remember like the beginning episodes where Arika awakes in Youko's lab? Through her blurry vision, there seem to be a body-like object in a tube above where Youko and Natsuki were talking.

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if we get to see Fumi back in action sometime down the line....But damn those slaves for interupting the fight at the end... I want to see Chie in action!Same! I would have loved to see some Shiho+Chie VS Arika+Nina action! Honestly we better get to see Chie kick some butt in the future or else...

BTW, I was rewatching the OP for the 2309th time when I realized that Rena has a Cape of Justice(TM) similar to Mai's Scarf of Justice(TM). Dunno found that hilarious for some reason :heh:

Souten no Seigyoku

2006-01-27, 11:47

honestly think Nagi isn't even remotely interested in getting an Otome for himself.
Sending your Otome to battle means putting your own safety at risk, something Nagi would NEVER think about.
He can make his otome serve subordinates and avoid danger himself. That opens another can of worms. Which is why he wouldnt assign an Otome to Sergey. Hes not going to give a traitor a powerful weapon to use against him.

About the animation quality & Budget:
I havent noticed any difference in quality. Maybe a tad in ep15, but not 16. The budget cant be cut now because I bet the series is already animated. Unlike a long series like Naruto where episodes are being continuously made. I suspect these short series are already fully (or almost fully) animated when they hit TV. Especially the 12-13ep series. The TV studio has to watch the series to decide if they want to pick it up. Especially considering MO the series is very different from MO the manga so they cant just read the comic to decide.

I think the 2nd OP footage is awesome. Definately better than OP1.

I also love how the plot saved Arika and Nina from getting their asses handed to them.
Oh please! Shiho is comedy relief. She even got nailed by the cheapo monster in the pool episode and had to be saved by Nao. If they wouldve fought, Chie wouldve had to carry them. Shiho is dead weight. Arika beat Tomoe Coral #2 so shes not dead weight. Its 1.5 vs 2

Vallen Chaos Valiant

2006-01-27, 11:59

Actually I don't know if anyone has stated this, but I'm thinking where Youko was de-materializing Miya's GEM is also where Fumi "sleeps". Notice that huge ball shape test-tube like equipment in the middle of the room Youko was in? I have a gut feeling that Fumi's body is there in cold-lock, but they're able to access her consciousness to allow her to pick Otomes. Or alternatively, remember like the beginning episodes where Arika awakes in Youko's lab? Through her blurry vision, there seem to be a body-like object in a tube above where Youko and Natsuki were talking.

You don't need to guess, because we already know it's true. You will know more by episode 17. Visit the spoiler thread sometime.

Xellos-_^

2006-01-27, 12:00

Finish watching the raw last night and just want to make a few comments.

In the opening it show Mashiro with Rado and the Black Valley people. Could it mean Mashiro is Rado and Rena's daughter?

Also in the op we see Rena laying on the ground in a pool of blood. However Rena was NOT wearing the same clothes she on in the First Ep. The clothes does match that of what the Woman Nina remeber wearing in the swimmng poll ep.

What that all means i thought absolutely no idea but it will be intresting.

Aidan

2006-01-27, 12:01

Oh please! Shiho is comedy relief. She even got nailed by the cheapo monster in the pool episode and had to be saved by Nao.

Aren't you forgetting that Shiho didn't materialize in the pool episode? Of course she got nailed. :rolleyes:

A question (unrelated to the above), now that Shiho has been assigned to serve a country will she also get a Meister gem and weapon?

Xellos-_^

2006-01-27, 12:06

You don't need to guess, because we already know it's true. You will know more by episode 17. Visit the spoiler thread sometime.

I vist the spolier thread all the time and I miss that. Can you point out what page/post that info is on?

Aidan: I agree, i think people tend to underestimate Shiho in MO becuase 1. she is comic relief and 2. she wasn't that powerful in MH. But you don't become the top 3 or 4 pearl in your class by dumb luck or maki maki. Shiho got real talent and definetly better then people gave her credit for.

moyism

2006-01-27, 12:25

You don't need to guess, because we already know it's true. You will know more by episode 17. Visit the spoiler thread sometime.Ah. I try avoid going to the spoiler's thread so if or when something interesting happens, it'll be all new and fresh for me. :)

Thanks for the heads up though!

Vallen Chaos Valiant

2006-01-27, 12:29

I vist the spolier thread all the time and I miss that. Can you point out what page/post that info is on?
The same post that first identified the "Pitch-Black Diamond".

Since it's considered secondary news to the fact that Nina's getting her upgrade, we didn't talk about it much in the spoiler thread.
Spoilers for ep 17:
http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=454455&postcount=404
In the scan, it mentions that Shinso "rests" within that large device. The word "rest" could mean either literal sleeping/hibernation, or death (as in it stores her corpse).

Either way, she is in there, dead or alive, and you will know more in ep 17.

Xellos-_^

2006-01-27, 12:50

The same post that first identified the "Pitch-Black Diamond".

Since it's considered secondary news to the fact that Nina's getting her upgrade, we didn't talk about it much in the spoiler thread.
Spoilers for ep 17:
http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=454455&postcount=404
In the scan, it mentions that Shinso "rests" within that large device. The word "rest" could mean either literal sleeping/hibernation, or death (as in it stores her corpse).

Either way, she is in there, dead or alive, and you will know more in ep 17.

Just remeber something. When Youko was reporting to Natuski after she put miya's gem into the test tube. Natuski ask something about the "shinso." Anyone care to translate that part of it? please with cherry loli(pop)s on top:D

Souten no Seigyoku

2006-01-27, 12:56

Lets not forget a Coral Otome got a Black Letter. Gee... I wonder who that was...*cough*...tomoe...*cough* So Erstin will not get killed yet. Tomoe will either try to kill and get caught, or Ers will talk. Either way Tomoe will flee from garderobe and use the black letter.

On Yuuko - Just what exactly were you doing to Miya's GEM?

it looked like the gem was disintegrating. So maybe the gems are set for 1 user and arent interchangeable between users. So when the student leaves, her gem has to be destroyed

good lord its hard to keep up when youre 5pgs behind.

NeonZ

2006-01-27, 13:16

Lets not forget a Coral Otome got a Black Letter. Gee... I wonder who that was...*cough*...tomoe...*cough*

The shadow didn't match her hair, though. There were two small spikes to the side. IMO, if it's a known character, it's most probably Irina, she's the only main coral who has small spikes on her hair.

Of course, it could be just a random coral, or those spikes somehow weren't part of her hair. Besides, anyone who receives the black letter dies soon, and we know that Tomoe won't be dying too early.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/NeonZ/BlackLetter.jpg

Guido

2006-01-27, 13:17

Close, scrutinous observation of Evil Tomoe's Otome uniform (not Meister Robe) showcases that hasn't Garderobe's crest on it.

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/7773/eviltomoe0eq.th.jpg (http://img519.imageshack.us/my.php?image=eviltomoe0eq.jpg)

Compare that picture of her new Otome uniform with that of Garderobe's standard uniforms, and you will note that the crests are different.

scribbly

2006-01-27, 13:45

Just remeber something. When Youko was reporting to Natuski after she put miya's gem into the test tube. Natuski ask something about the "shinso." Anyone care to translate that part of it? please with cherry loli(pop)s on top:D

she asked if shinso sama was well "shinso sama wa ogenki desu ka" or something along those lines. and i don't remember how youko replied.

Xellos-_^

2006-01-27, 13:47

she asked if shinso sama was well "shinso sama wa ogenki desu ka" or something along those lines. and i don't remember how youko replied.

*gives scribbly a cherry flavor loli-pop.

Hmm, it does look like Fumi might make a entrance in the next few eps as well. Hurray for Uber Maid :)

piccolo

2006-01-27, 14:06

What an interesting episode.

Windbloom is attacked and, unless attacked itself, Garderobe stands bound by a treaty unable to intervene. But, I think, if the Slaves do attack Garderobe, the students will be evacuated home.

But hold it, how is that possible if the Shipyard was destroyed? Perhaps it was, but I don't think it'll prevent travel. We all know that Garderobe will be involved in this...

Thank goodness Arika has a contract with Mashiro. Though it would be suicidal to go against that many slaves, at least she is not bound by a contract not to do so. I hope Smith will be surprised.

It's ironic that her fight with Tomoe ended so quickly, and that Tomoe was the last person for Arika to defeat. This would imply that Tomoe defeated 1/4 of the students herself. But what an interesting difference in battle skills between the two. It's as if Tomoe lost on purpose. She sure didn't appear that upset for loosing either.

Just as Mashiro grows up and starts to become somewhat mature, she is yet blamed for another thing. For who would believe that the Queen knew nothing about the weapon built on the tower, a weapon that can strike down Garderobe anytime it desires? She did, after all, sign the documents for building it. Yikes, it pays to read what one signs.

Yeah, the biggest threat isn't the slaves, but the weapon that can strike down Garderobe. The slaves might have been summoned to protect the weapon from the Otomes.

In regards to Tomoe attempted murder, I, too, find it odd that Erstin would remain quiet about the whole incident. That's going just a bit too far. Perhaps Tomoe threatened her once? Tomoe - that is one evil woman. And I'll make a bet that it was her that received the black letter.

Xellos-_^

2006-01-27, 14:18

But hold it, how is that possible if the Shipyard was destroyed? Perhaps it was, but I don't think it'll prevent travel. We all know that Garderobe will be involved in this...
While travel is possible for some. How many oridinary people is able to corss that desert by themselves. It is the sand ships that enable mass transportation and most of the ships were probably destory in the initial attack.

Thank goodness Arika has a contract with Mashiro. Though it would be suicidal to go against that many slaves,

Like that would stop Arika.

It's ironic that her fight with Tomoe ended so quickly, and that Tomoe was the last person for Arika to defeat. This would imply that Tomoe defeated 1/4 of the students herself. But what an interesting difference in battle skills between the two. It's as if Tomoe lost on purpose. She sure didn't appear that upset for loosing either.

I thought she look very piss off at losing to Arika especialy when they announce that Shizuru was back.