| Average |
10.0 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Ojamajo Doremi...is the best mahou shoujo anime EVER. Nothing comes close to the drama, plot, angst, emotions, morals and kawaii-ness that flows out of every episode in Ojamajo Doremi. Now, after 4 seasons and +200 episodes, the Doremi series have come to an end.
Animation:
Top notch. For a 200+ episode series, the character designs stayed consistent, there`s enough movement in each episode to display its story and emotion, and running animation isn`t choppy like Da Capo. Facial expressions are drawn in a very unique way, with eyes on the middle of the head rather than on the top of it. Eyebrows convey emotion, and chibiness is used sparingly when needed. For once, I wasn`t annoyed by the mahou transformations and sat through each and every of them. I liked how the animators by the 10th episode of each season combined transformations to save time (like show every transformation in cut screens).
Backgrounds are vivid and colorful, and this anime has a very bright look. Everything is clear, and although no cgs are used, traditional 2d hand drawn animation is used to great effect. No thick outlines, and
animation is very detailed in most parts.
Sound:
Amazing. Each season has two openings and endings. The first season`s OP, Ojamajo Carnival, is very catchy and a great start to this anime. Each of the 4 seasons used a slow soothing jpop as an ED song, and since each episode had some emotional impact, fit this anime well. The forth season`s last episode ended with the first season`s OP, and I thought that didn`t really fit quite well with the atmosphere during that episode. But other than that, Insert songs galore (Maho ABC!) and the numerous OSTs are well worth it if you can snag a copy.
Story:
Although most people scoff at mahou shoujo shows at having a cohesive "story", Ojamajo Doremi does this very well. Each season was about the girls and their "Maho Store", whether be an accessory shop, a bakery, a magical goods shop, or a flower shop. There`s two worlds, the Maho-land and the schoollife. The Sugoi! part about this show was how much they developed each and every of the main characters. And not only the 6 witches, they also developed their teachers, their classmates, and their family. I can name almost all of the classmates in class 6-1 and 6-2, mainly because this anime weaves a story concerning each of the +20 characters/classmates.
One episode I especially liked with Episode 17 of ~motto~ season. It was about one of the classmates (forgot his name) in Doremi`s class and his mother. He didn`t like the fact that his mother was working so late in a shady restaurant. That episode was so emotional, so gripping that I had to shed a tear...AT A CHILDREN`S SHOW. Never have I seen such strong drama to back up such an anime.
The last episode of the series was also very emotionally gripping. Yuki-sensei brought everyone back, and Kotake (Doremi`s kareshi!) made a confession, and graduation was over. That episode had me so emotionally stunned that I`ve never felt this way since Kimi ga Nozomu Eien. Ojamajo Doremi had a very fitting ending, one that closes the anime very well.
Character:
THIS is what makes Ojamajo Doremi better and more powerful than any anime out there. Characters made this show. From Doremi to Onpu to the parents to the classmates to the teachers, every character was memorable. Cute Hana-chan and assertive Kotake, every character was there not to bring filler or as a waste, but instead character come back, are gone, and every of them had a story behind them.
Episode 27 of Dokkan! delved on death and the meaning of losing a loved one. It also dealt with the innocence of childhood (with Hana-chan) and festivals. A children`s show duelved on such mature themes. I was very impressed.
My favorite character was school idol Onpu. Sure she was an ass in the beginning, but through the anime she learned the true meaning of friendship, and that fame or money doesn`t bring friends. It`s one`s attitude and innoncence that love that attracts true friends. The bond between the 6 shoujo`s was amazing. It was just so...good and heartwarming.
Value:
I value Ojamajo Doremi very very highly. This is well on my top list for one of the best anime ever. Never have I seen such drama, comedy, romance, angst in a children`s mahou shoujo show. Now if only I can find the DVD`s somewhere, I would be able to patch up some missing episodes I didn`t see in Taiwan Animax.
Enjoyment:
I enjoyed Ojamajo Doremi immensely. It had me crying, laughing, thinking, all at the same time. For a 200+ episode mahou shoujo anime to do that, I was very impressed. Even the movies weren`t standard cookie cutter mahou shoujo movies (cough cough nurse angel and sailor moon). They both TAUGHT something, and I believe that an anime should teach something to the audience to be truely enjoyable.
Ojamajo Doremi...206 episodes and 2 movies. It is truely one classic anime, deserving of a worldwide audience and recognition. (even France, Germany, and Italy get Ojamajo Doremi) Truely freakin awesome and Sugoi!
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