nobahn's Anime

1. The setup is given;
   Felicitá is the one-and-only daughter of the Papa of the organization, maybe even mafia, known as the Arcana Famiglia. The Famiglia is made up of people who have made contracts with the Arcane cards, and have received special abilities due to this. The Papa has decided it's time for him to retire and give up his seat to a new male who has control over an Arcane. To decide who in the "family" gets this seat, he calls for a tournament between Arcane users. To the winner, he promises the "Papa" seat, a wish of the winner's choice...and his daughter's hand in marriage. Refusing to accept this, Felicitá decides to fight to choose her own path, with her friends Liberta and Nova fighting for her freedom by her side. [From Encyclopedia entry]
2. White kitten?
   Filler episode?
3. So, there's this annual children's festival.....
   There's a relationship between Jolly and "Elmo".
4. The history of Dante and Libertà.
5. The history between Nova and his parents' attempt to betray Mondo.
6. A test of the Arcana powers of Nova, Libertà and Felicitá.
7. Luca, Pace and Debito hike to harvest a herb garden.
   "Gli Amanti" -Felicitá
   Filler?
8. Jolly explains to Nova, Libertà and Felicitá that Elmo is a humunculus.
9. Felicitá decides to heal Mondo even though she will lose her memories.
10. Felicitá regains her memories, yet Mondo is still in peril.
11. The 3 make their own decisions -- and get closer, as a result.
12. The very end of this episode negates all of the taut drama that occurred leading up to and through most of this episode [CON].

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1st OP song

• I like shoujo and I dislike shounen.
  
• Also, this is definitely "inspired" (if that's the appropriate term) by Maria-sama ga Miteru. See: https://fast.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/compare.php?anime_list=6176-3150
• Having now watched the 26th episode, I can now say that the main difference between Maria-sama ga Miteru and Strawberry Panic! is that the former revolves around platonic soeuers while the latter focuses on romantic love.
• I like the internal monologues!
• I find it strange that Madhouse did the primary animation on this series because the animation is quite limited. Because of the minimal animation I was never going to rate this at 11/11; I was wondering if I was going to rate it at 10/11 or at 9/11. I have decided to rate it at 10/11 (Excellent) because of the last episode.

The animation budget is obviously quite limited......
8. ep.#8| "Hydrangeas" is pretty funny! It's rather unfortunate that some of the animation is disjointed.

11. #11| "Meteor Shower" The girls look up at the night sky; some with close friends and others who are lonely.
12. #12| "Summertime" The month-long summer break has started, and most of the students residing in the Strawberry Dorms are going home. This leaves Nagisa, Shizuma and a few others left behind. Without the interference of other students, Shizuma makes her move on Nagisa.
13. "The Roar of the Waves"| Hikari finally gets a chance to be on a "date" with Amane. However, Kaname and Momomi again try to tear apart the new bond between them for the sake of Spica's bid at the Étoile position. In the midst of all this, Yaya's feelings for Hikari grow even stronger, and she eventually vents them by suddenly kissing a shocked Hikari. (Lots of Sturm und Drang here.....)
14. "More Than Best Friends"| Yaya's incident with Hikari causes her to fear that she has lost Hikari forever. An effort by Nagisa and Tamao allows them a reconciliation--and another chance at being best friends forever.
15. "Heroine"| The students are excited as the get ready to stage two plays in the Drama Festival. The main play, Carmen, is the focus of everyone's attention as everyone awaits the announcement of who is to be cast in the lead roles. The second play will be Romeo and Juliet, prompting a furious competition among the second-years for the role of Romeo.
16. "Behind the Scenes"| While everyone is still preparing for the Festival, there seems to be some internal struggling concerning Kaname and Momomi with the others. Later, after suffering two show-stopping events, all the students involved with the play band together and put on a show the other students will never forget.
17. "Secret"| While all three schools eagerly await the election of a new Étoile couple, Nagisa learns the truth behind this tradition and receives an unexpected invitation from Shizuma in order to find out more information about Shizuma's late partner-the deceased Étoile.
18. "Storm of Love"| During a rainy night in Shizuma's villa, Nagisa finally learns about Kaori Sakuragi, the Étoile that died. However, she also makes a painful discovery of exactly how close the two Étoile were, and how their shared past is still far from being a mere memory.
19. "Refrain"| Miyuki recounts for Nagisa the events of the past few years, filling in details of the relationship between Shizuma and the now-deceased Kaori, whom they have both grieved for, over the past three years. As she tells her story, she discusses the impact that Kaori's passing has had on the two of them, and reflects, as well, on the effect that Nagisa's arrival has also had on them.
20. "Confession"| Nagisa falls into a state of depression and wonders if coming to Miator was a good idea, which prompts Tamao to recount just why Nagisa is so important to her. Meanwhile, Nagisa's first- and second-year friends, concerned over her mood, decide to band together to cheer her up. The episode ends with Tamao talking to a sleeping Nagisa, and confessing her love.
21. "Like a Flower"| A final message from Kaori forces Shizuma to reconsider her life's choices, as well as her behavior towards other people.
22. "Duel"| During a tennis match, Kaname admits that she both hates and loves Amane, because of her inability to ever surpass her at anything. Kaname's lover, Momomi, overhears this and after the match, they break up. Amane becomes persuaded to join the Étoile election, with Hikari as her partner.
23. • The puppet scene with the three girls had me smiling.....
    • The kissing scene is dramatic.
    "Maze"| To counter Amane's plans of attending the Étoile election, Miyuki makes Tamao and Nagisa an offer not to be refused: enter the game together and repeat Miator's victorious history. Both Nagisa and Shizuma end up in an internal conflict as to how they truly feel. Tragedy strikes when Amane falls off her horse just as she is about to tell Hikari about her feelings.
24. "Wheel of Fate"| Amane awakens after her accident, but has suffered partial memory loss-and among the lost memories is her relationship with Hikari, which leaves Hikari heartbroken. In the meantime, Nagisa and Tamao enter training for the Étoile election and get an unexpected tutor: Shizuma.
25. "Waltz"| Nagisa and Tamao continue practicing for the dance in preparation of the Étoile election, but it will take some more of Shizuma's help to improve Nagisa's chances of becoming one of the next Étoiles. Meanwhile, Amane recovers her memory when Hikari sings the song she sang when they first met.
26. "A Beginning"| The Étoile elections have started. Shizuma makes her final decision about her relationship with Nagisa when she tells Nagisa she loves her in the middle of the ceremony, and the two end up 'eloping' just before the announcement of the winner of the election. While Amane and Hikari go forward together as the new Étoiles, Shizuma and Nagisa finally embrace their love.

Also liked the OP.

• Lip-synching is noticeably off (CON)
• There seems to be editing (cuts) issues (CON)
• Rated "G". No wonder it seems aimed at younger children.....
• I've gotta say, having Odille -- daughter of Rothbart -- sending zingers into her father's ego gives the movie a much-needed boost!
• I have to wonder how faithful the dub is to the meaning of the Japanese script.....
• The bird in the bird cage is nice symbolism. (PRO)
• What role are those squirrels supposed to play? A Greek chorus?
• So has Odille's goal been to marry Siegfried this entire time? If so, then she's truly a living, breathing 3-dimensional character.
• This cannot be denied: Odille is the sole character that is interesting. (PRO)
• 0:56:45| Technical problem with the audio volume. (CON? See above.)
• 0:57:45| Technical problem with the audio volume. (CON? See above.)
• 1:09:45| Technical problem with the audio volume. (CON? See above.) Pity about Odille; I rather liked her.
• 1:10:25| Symbolism (PRO)