Ueda Kana as Fukuzawa Yumi is yuriliciously uke

Am I the only one to think that Yumi's intro lines for the OP of the fourth season of Maria-sama ga Miteru contained a hint of her kansai accent? Perhaps it's because I've read Erica's notes on the 18th MariMite novel where the author, Konno Oyuki, has Yumi say something in Kansai ben and then wonder why she did that. It's a glorious and generous nod from the creator of the MariMite universe; Ueda Kana richly deserves such acknowledgment as she has well-and-truly made Yumi's role her own.

MariMite OVA 5: Ciao Sorella

I just loved how the shadow of Sei hung over the whole episode but also how we never actually get to meet her. Erica's superb translation of the relevant novel (Parts One, Two, Three and Four) was, on the one hand, showing us how the OVA has been a masterly adaption and, on the other hand, provides more detail that helps to flesh out the story even further. The best of both worlds!

[Currently experiencing hosting network issues. Might have some access problems for a while.]

MariMite Season 3 OVA Ep 4

There was just so many scenes that reminded me of the Sakaki x Kaorin sports festival episode in Azumanga. The commencing announcement. The gakuran. The dance. Much mirth on my part and thinking how Kaorin would fit into the Lilian eco-system (sans Kimura). I think Sachiko would be quite Kaorin's type but she's already taken. A real pleasure to see Yumi enjoying her soeur relationship with Sachiko. Also I have never understood the appeal of Yoshino, whom Admiral Erica Friedman raves about from her Yuri Space Administration Bureau flagship Okazu. Until this episode. Just for all the facial expressions that she causes Yumi to make, I give the thumbs up for Ms Insane Pigtails. LOL

MariMite OVA 3: Cool Brisk Breeze

While I'm waiting for the subs, I have relied on Erica's translations of the novel (parts 1, 2, 3). It seems that the anime has to de-emphasized Yumi's role in escaping from her captors while the novel makes it very clear that the captive eventually starts to order her kidnappers around and even causing them to become besotted with her. And a warm welcome back for Tsutako who furnishes photographic evidence of Kanako's stalking though that was reduced from twelve to three - the former would have waaaay scarier; overall, Kanako somehow seems generally less scary in the anime, probably because there weren't any sparkles in the initial scene with Yumi. The impact is also lessened as we're not privy to Yumi's thoughts - which are some of the best parts of the novels - as she is significantly disorientated with the idea that anyone would admire her. Oh, and no pouting from Sachiko - just a closeup of a very very sharp nose.

Quite interestingly, Kanako is voiced by Ami Koshimizu who has played a wide variety of roles including Code GEASS's Kallen Stadtfeld, Mai Otome's Nina Wang and School Rumble's Tenma Tsukamoto. She might have had other yuri-type series voice roles as Natsuko in Futari wa Pretty Cure and Mirano Entolasia in the Murder Princess OVA but I haven't seen those so would appreciate input on that. And Touko just had to be played by Rie Kugimiya, she of snarky character voice roles fame e.g. Shana in Shakugan no Shana, Louise in Zero no Tsukaima, Alisa Bannings in Lyrical Nanoha etc etc. LOL

MariMite OVA 2: Operation Ok

This OVA certainly had me "falling in love with the show all over again" - and then some more. This second installment built on the first two seasons and first OVA by showing how far the Yumi x Sachiko soeur relationship has come; only the barest hints of Yumi angst and Sachiko coldness were evident.

Although Sei is still my favourite character (well, the sky is blue after all!), I was pretty much surprised at how I have gradually come to find Sachiko an interesting and likeable character. I have to confess that I disliked her somewhat for most of the first and second seasons, mainly because of the agony that she caused Yumi. But one of the strengths of this series is how it got me to better understand each character, showed me how they grew and thus changed my views about them.

I tend to stubbornly stick to my first impression of any character. Any series that manages to change an impression from 'bad' to 'magnificent' (using Erica's word in her review at Okazu) tends to indicate that the character development is definitely more than two-dimensional. Other than MariMite, my other big personal conversion was the Full Metal Panic! series. While I loved the action in the first season, Sousuke and Chidori felt like Keitaro and Naru... with guns when GONZO and KyoAni were co-producing it but things perked up considerably for me in Fumoffu! and The Second Raid (after GONZO had been ejected) and breaking way beyond the "Sousuke does something military otaku dumb, Chidori dishes out the harisan punishment" routine, especially when Tessa was thrown into the mix.

How far Sachiko and Yumi have come was perfectly encapsulated in Sachiko's frank admission to Yumi - the latter was nothing like Youko but handles the former so well. Certainly this bears out the original troika's view that Yumi would be good for Sachiko. It was really lovely how Sachiko turned to Yumi for support when the Hanedara council appeared at the Lilian gate and after the Alice incident. On the flip side, Yuuki hits the nail on the head when he observes that Yumi has become stronger, looks like she's passed Sei's assigned homework with flying colours. IMHO this kind of self-strengthening > GAR. The younger Fukuzawa twin was also hilarously spot on when he stopped Yumi from describing her ideal boyfriend as she rattled off an excruciatingly detailed description of Sachiko's personality.

As always, Erica's translation and notes on the source novels have been immensely helpful in enhancing my enjoyment of the anime. Many thanks, Erica! I didn't have the same reading of Yuuki's mild siscon though, as his criteria seem quite male-typical-generic: he only needed to add 'Understanding' to complete the Male Standard Answers to that particular Women's Awkward Question (Examples of other standard answers - Q: 'Does this make my butt look big?' A: 'Of course not!' / Q: 'What are you thinking about?' A: 'Nuthin'.) I got a stronger impression of how Yuuki just wanted Yumi to more big-sisterly towards him as indicated by his objection to her self-description as his 'sort of older sister' and Sachiko pushing her towards him with the instruction to play her elder sister role - which she did magnificently too.

I also liked the formal meeting between the Hanadera Council (Kobayashi is cool!) and the Yamayurikai when both Rei and Shimako were slightly rattled whereas, in contrast, Yoshino was very definitely in control while Noriko just outed herself as a huge NERD. LOL

Looking forward, Kanako's made two non-voiced appearances and she does her stalker thing towards the end so I can't wait for the next installment when she finally emerges as a full member of the cast.