My first anime review in this blog! Without further ado, here goes…
Synopsis: Gakuen Alice or Alice Academy is the story of a 10-year old girl, Sakura Mikan, who is devastated when her best friend, Imai Hotaru, transfers to a special school for “genius” kids in Tokyo. Mikan runs away from home to seek out her dear friend, and finds that the school Hotaru transferred to, Alice Academy, is specifically for children who each have a special power called an “Alice”. After a teacher at Alice Academy, Narumi, discovers that Mikan has a unique Alice, she is admitted into the school. The story is primarily about Mikan and her experiences at the academy.
(from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Academy)
Genre: Comedy, fantasy, shoujo.
Status: Anime – 26 episodes, completed.
Manga – 13 volumes, ongoing.
Thoughts / Review:
TO START OFF… It opens with a really fun and catchy tune. I found myself humming it well after watching the series. Some may find it too cute but I think it’s okay. The scenes during the opening song shows Mikan following Hotaru around while Hotaru alwas slips away, mostly trying to avoid Mikan. This in itself is a sort of preview on the series’ premise and the comedic theme it also has. The colors throughout the series are mostly brilliant and bright.The 1st episode introduces us to Mikan and Hotaru and how they became bestfriends. Mikan is generally a fun, carefree, kind and emotional girl. Hotaru is intelligent, logical, tends to be aloof. Contrary to Mikan's emotional and sensitive personality. Hotaru appears cold and indifferent towards Mikan; but in reality she cares for her bestfriend a lot and she also is a kindhearted person, just not too good with handling emotional stuff. To make the introductory story short: Mikan + Hotaru = bestfriends. Hotaru transfers to another school. Mikan becomes sad. Decides to follow Hotaru. Finds Hotaru’s whereabouts. Arrives at Gakuen Alice. Adventure starts.
Due to the circumstances at hand presented in the 1st episode, While at the gates of the academy, she encounters some bad guys, gets saved by and meets Narumi-sensei (one of the teachers), crosses paths with Natsume (who has the ability to conjure fire). Narumi-sensei realizes that Mikan also has an Alice, one that is quite rare and reminiscent of someone he knew back when he was a student at the academy himself. She incidentally got admitted through Narumi-sensei’s help.
The series mainly explores Mikan’s adventures in Gakuen Alice (or Alice Academy) — a school for special people with Alices. An “Alice” is a special ability that a person possesses. Something that normal people don't have. It can range from trivial abilities to dangerous ones (i.e. the ability to manipulate shadows, conjure fire, exceptional technolgical genius, outstanding memory, read minds, etc.).
Mikan meets her classmates with “Alices.” She initially is unwelcome in the class she was assigned to as she got on the wrong foot with Natsume. Being the new kid in class, they were a bit wary of her and unsure of her ability. She goes through several challenges and gets acquainted with new friends as the series progresses. We get to meet several interesting characters and learn a little bit of their backstories as the series progresses.
MY IMPRESSION… I found Mikan and Hotaru’s friendship complementary. Though Hotaru appears a bit cruel to Mikan sometimes and even though she doesn’t openly say it, you’d know that Mikan means a lot to her. Mikan is absolutely hilarious. She comes up with a lot of bright ideas gone wrong but then it ends up unexpectedly helpful for others as well. She can be quite impulsive most of the times, doing before thinking, and she ends up in a lot of trouble. She always tries to have fun and is very considerate of others feelings. As Hotaru says mentions in the 1st episode, Mikan’s smile is one of the things she likes best because it is illuminating and makes her forget her worries as well. Mikan has a pretty optimistic and sunny disposition, one of the admirable qualities her classmates find in her.
Some of the silliest, unrealistic things happen in the story and I found myself laughing out loud so much that I lost count how many times my tummy ached from hysterical fits of laughter. Amidst the generally light and fun theme, there are also some dark and intense story arcs but is lightened up with some comedic dialogue inserted throughout those episodes.
ON EPISODES AND SCENES… There is one episode towards the end that made me cry (ep 22, I think). It’s the one in which a new character was introduced, Tsubasa’s friend Kaname. Yes, it really did made me sob a bit. It was, in my opinion, a very touching episode. One of the episodes I liked best is when Mikan performs “Little Match Girl Mikan” that was one of the most hilarious scenes ever. I also like scenes whenever Hotaru blackmails Ruka-pyon. It seems cruel, I know, but I can’t help but laugh whenever Hotaru runs around showing Ruka the “incriminating” photos of his Alice in action and seeing Ruka’s hopeless reaction. I also like the moments when Natsume calls Mikan names. He never runs out of embarrassing names for her. Also, those episodes whenever they come across Mr. Bear… hahaha. Priceless.
ON CHARACTERS… There isn’t really a particular character that annoyed me much, maybe just now and then. Although the mysterious and “evil” characters make me angry once in a while because of their cruelty to Natsume.
Some of the characters I liked best were Ruka-pyon (the “pyon” part was coined by Mikan with reference to their encounter in the forest with the giant piyo which was so darn funny), Natsume, Mikan, Hotaru, Tsubasa, Misaki-sensei, and a bit of Narumi-sensei as well. I also liked Noda-sensei even though he was only in a few episodes with just a bit of screentime.
TO WRAP THINGS UP… I cannot really compare this with the manga version as I haven’t really read it yet. So I’m basically referring the anime on this one. It’s about friendship, selflessness, kindness and loyalty.
Overall, I really liked this anime. When I came across this, I was just looking for some light entertainment and something fun to watch. If you like these types of shoujo and comedy (it’s a bit on on the “kiddie” side sometimes), and if you don’t mind cutesy characters and laughing over silly things, I’d say go and watch it!
Whenever I need a a good laugh, I give myself a dose or two of Gakuen Alice episodes. I still don’t get tired of watching it. It’s too bad there’s no 2nd season; it would have been really nice.
How about you? What did you think of it? I’d love to hear your thoughts about it. 🙂
i was wondering if there is going to be a second season????? i want to know about mikan’s past and power….
Hi rachel! There have been rumors that a season 2 will be out in 2008, but so far I haven’t heard any official news about a season 2 so I’m not so sure either.
The manga is still ongoing though so you may want to check those out while there isn’t any official word out on whether a season 2 will be done or not. You’d get to know more about Mikan’s power and what happened after the anime in the manga.
Thanks for dropping by! ^_^
thanks a lot even i didn’t understand it more
I like it a lot but can’t say much about the second season but can say this that there sure are a number of rumours going on about them
hey
they’ve confirmed making a second series on march 8th 2008 it should b viewing in japan…i cant w8 till it gets posted on youtube
btw any of you know where 2 view manga version online???
Hmm… so far, I haven’t found anything relevant that a season 2 has been confirmed. I can say it’s still just a rumor. All the news I can find on ANN regarding GA is that Tokyopop confirmed that the manga is now licensed in North America and they will be releasing it in the first quarter of 2008 (January to March 2008).
GA manga summaries can be found (translated in English) in Applechips’ site (check out my blogroll on the right side). This site has them online: (click here) =)
Thanks for dropping by! 🙂
Guess what there is a second season!!!!!!! already released in japan!!!!!
***SPOILERS ALERT***
Mikan has got a second alice- that of her mother’s. its a stealing alice. meaning it can steal another alice……….. a new girl enters the series- luna koizumi. she is HORRIBLE WICKED etc…..
Natsume and mikan share a kiss. they start showing their feelings for one another!!!!!!!!!!
i’m not gonna tell you’ll any more
(personally i think i’ve told you’ll a lot)
if more is needed you may find info on google.
and don’t worry i’m telling THE FULL TRUTH!!!!!!!
p.s. don 4get 2 thank me for this 😛
@ shisakura: Thanks for sharing that GA info! Although so far, there aren’t any official/confirmed reports for season 2 for the anime. I always check around for that (on the official site, wikipedia, ANN, etc.) The events you’re talking about happen in the manga, which is still ongoing in Japan. I do hope they make a 2nd season soon too!
OOOOps!! terribly sorry!!!! 😛 won’t do it again!!! guess i got a bit too carried away!!!! sorry again!!!!
@ shisakura: That’s OK! No problem at all. I do appreciate your enthusiasm about the series and sharing your thoughts. Thanks! ^_^
p.s. I added a “spoiler” warning in your previous comment about the events in the manga, just so other readers who don’t like spoilers would know. 🙂
Thanks hazy! and really sorry again…..
@ shisakura: No worries. ^^
guess what ??? i’ve just been to 4 ‘.com(s)’ and there is an over 60% chance that gakuen alice season 2 might not release at all 😦
but it also MIGHT be there……… but only after the mangas are completed ……….. i might be wrong ,but no harm in checking though……if i AM wrong then please forgive me and lets hope for the best 😀
THREE CHEERS FOR GAKUEN ALICE (2)!!!!!!!! ;)…….
@ shisakura: I still haven’t read anything official about it. But if ever they would decide to do a season 2, that would be really nice! ^_^
Awww….Is there no season 2?????? This is like my favorite anime 😥 Please let there be a second season to it!! If you can have the manga you can surely have the anime!!!
P.S. @hazy Wonderful blog! You go girl!
@ Kaitlynn: So far, still no announcement of a season 2.
P.S. Thank you! ^_^