My Hime

Summary: >

Mai recently transfered to a new school with her sickly brother. Mai discovers she's been selected to bear the mark of a Hime, and given control of a powerful mecha/spirit. In a cycle which happens every few hundred years, the Hime battle each other until only one remains to seal the Obsidian Prince. Mai refuses to get involved, but she doesn't have a choice. Other Hime are determined to defeat her, and the price of a defeat for a Hime is to lose the person they cherish most.

Thoughts: >

My (or Mai) Hime is often regarded positively, and I think it had potential, but I pretty much hated this anime the more I watched. I wanted to like it, but couldn't. Many think otherwise, but I stand by my view that My Hime is kinda crap.

Aside from Mai, the characters are weak. In earlier episodes they tend to be annoying, and partake in the endless boring fluff. This is where the problem starts, because I'm already disliking most everyone in the show.

The plot thickens, as mysteries about the girls, their powers, and this whole "hime" thing grows. In parts it's interesting, but the show tries to push the mystery aspect when it's clearly holding back to pad time. There are occasional battles between giant mecha things, which fairs well enough but the part that makes this anime worth watching are the consequences for losing.

Later episodes of My Hime are spent emotionally devastating absolutely everyone. I disliked so much of this show, however I respect the guts required to raze everything to the ground. Even in the sloppy way done here, that's pretty bad ass. Then it ruins it by back peddling on everything, which left me fairly disgusted. The plot is decent, but strung out so long I was indifferent by the time it mattered.

There are good points to this anime, with the fear of loss, drama, and some good plot twists. Being stuffed with so much dull filler, weak characters, and then punishing melodrama (only to take it back)... I'm really not sure why this one is so fondly remembered. I can't say I think of it this way.

Screen Caps: >