Sasami Mahou Shoujo Club is another one of those highly neglected anime which doesn’t deserve that kind of lack of attention. To give a small indication, even the RAWS stopped appearing at a certain point. When you compare this to series like Zaizen Jotaro, you have to wonder whether something’s wrong. In any case, like the title suggests, it’s a mahou shoujo, focusing on Sasami, better known from the Tenchi Muyo series. Luckily, it has absolutely no harem-elements.
This series definitely shines in its middle part. Episodes 5 till 19 are filled with some awesome character studies, a couple of very successful chaotic episodes and some extremely funny moments, all extremely well balanced into the episodes. It’s at these points where the characters become extremely touching. The first four episodes serve as an introduction. Nice and all, but nothing special, that’s not really a major flaw, though. The main problem is that this series starts to loose a bit of its flame after episode 19. It becomes more predictable, and characters aren’t as touching as they were before. Luckily, the final two episodes become worthwhile again.
Still, there’s one thing that’s consistently good over the entire anime: the graphics. Especially the use of CG is brilliant in this anime. The art of the different characters also is extremely cute. Not what you’d expect from the promo-art. The music also offers an excellent selection, though this anime makes the mistake of overusing one or two tracks a bit too much.
Overall, Sasami has been a very good example why I love neglected shows so much. They either turn out very good or very bad. In this case, it’s the former. It’s a pity. While anime like Haruhi Suzumiya get hyped to death, shows like this one get left in the shadows.]]>
Sasami Mahou Shoujo Club Review – 85/100
Yeah, I’m *really* surprised this wasn’t subbed, especially since it’s a spin off of a popular (I think) series. The same happened to Kujibiki Unbalance TV.
Hi and thanks for a detailed and extremely helpful survey of this show.
Do you mind if I put a link to your blog up on my animation art gallery? I bought a batch of animators’ sketches from this series on Yahoo Japan (it was starting at 100 yen but some madman bid me up to 1000, about $8.85).
When I got ready to put up some scans from this batch, mostly the girls in their mahou shoujo costumes, I had the akuma’s time finding enough info online even to identify the characters. Your blog was a lifesaver, and I’d like others to be able to find it too.
S
Sure, go ahead. It’s always good to know that your blog is appreciated. ^_^
At least l33t raws started distributing the raws for the second half, finding the first half was much, much harder as they aired. Still was slower than for most shows but not too horrid. 🙂
Thanks, psgels. A link to he sketch gallery (with blog quotes) is here.
S
Being a big Tenchi Muyo fan and a lover of magical girl series in particular I saw the 1st (and only so far) fansub of this episode and really liked it-wonder if and when there’ll be anymore subbed episodes (unless I do it myself)?
zrdb: well, from what I know, Korokun from m33w-fansubs is currently working on translating the series. 🙂
ummm…. does anyone no where i can find the torrents for season 2?
Hey, I know I’m a year late to be commenting on this…
I found your blog while looking for information on Sasami Mahou Shoujo Club on a Google. And I must say, you’ve really sold me on this series! And this is coming from an old-school Tenchi Muyo! fan (and Washu fangirl).
Thank you so much for blogging it and giving more details on the series. I couldn’t find any anywhere. Now I just have to decide whether to search for fansubs now or wait until the Funimation release comes out…
This is probably a bit too late to catch anyone’s notice here… but there is currently a group interested in fansubbing this anime. However, I only have episodes 1-13 and I’d like to make sure it’s a project I can finish before taking it on. If anyone has the second half of the series or is willing to seed the now-dead torrents for a bit, please contact me ne? ^^ zish13@hotmail.com
Thanks for the recommendation!
I had been debating on whether to watch this or not because it certainly -seems- stereotypical.
I’m so going to watch this…
after my tests. T_T
psgels… you don’t download them from 4shared… do you?
No, I don’t. I unfortunately watched this 7 years ago, so I don’t know where you can find it. Sorry 🙁