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My-HiME - Volume 2

With the second volume of My-HiME, the show continues to be of an exceptionally high quality. If the first volume didn’t already tip you off then the second volume should leave no doubts that this is set to be an amazing series.

Four fully-packed episodes are on offer. “Rain – Tears”, episode five, delves more into Mai and her brother’s relationship as well as Mai’s personal feelings on the situation. There is little action in the episode but it more than manages to pull the strings on an emotional level. Episode six sees Mai and some friends assist with a wedding at an old shrine, but when an Orphan is awoken a new HiME is also revealed. Episode seven introduces yet another of the HiME, although this one has a much different use for her powers, and attempts to take Mikoto under her wing. Episode eight sees more Orphans appear, Mai and another HiME are forced to decide wither to reveal their powers to others when their friends are in danger of being attacked.

Worries raised by the first volume that My-HiME may become a “monster-of-the-week” type show, or to heavily reliant on fan-service are totally diminished by this volume. There is still some fan-service, for those who were worried, but the show doesn’t let it get in the way of its other elements. Nor does it use it too heavily for comedic effect; the characters personalities, script and clever dialogue are more than enough to bring the viewer to hysterics, or at very least a few hearty laughs.

Little more is revealed of the overall plot of the series, the time is spent introducing the new characters, most of whom are added to the already large roster of characters, and strengthening those already established. This is helped immensely by the high quality of the voice acting; both the Japanese and English versions are extremely well done. I can’t honestly say that (for either version) I’ve heard a voice that either doesn’t suit a character or has been unable to deliver both heavily emotional or comedic lines and sounding totally believable.

The only problem is that this is still fairly early on in the series, and it could be quite easy for the series to slip up somewhere. It is that way that My-HiME presents it self that is so special, few other series have its magical touch.

The volume ends on an extremely high and tragic note, leaving you begging for more. If you weren’t yet convinced of My-HiME’s quality, the conclusion to this volume is bound to change that.

R2 DVD Notes

Features: Japanese/English/French audio , Eng/French/Dutch sub, Mini-Episodes 1-4, Production Sketches, Textless opening and closing animations, Trailers

Release information: Publisher: Beez Released: September 18th 2006 Classification: 15 Running Time: 115mins

Notes: Some more mini-episodes add a bit more kick to the extras, although there isn't much else of note.

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My-HiME - Volume 2

R2 DVD Notes