Maburaho

The whole of the story was alright. The plot line was decent but could have been developed a lot better than it was and became a much better anime. Characterization starts of pretty interesting but takes a turn for the worse as it goes along. The music is initially good but grows old a little to fast. Overall it's your standard magical harem anime. Nothing really makes it stand out from others of its kind, every niche character is included to some extent. In my personal opinion, the flow between Comedy and Romance was a little sloppy, but very standard by a technical outlook.

I was looking for something fun, something romantic, to tide me over until the next episode of The Familiar of Zero Z. Maburaho did not fill the bill.

It's your typical harem setup. A guy with a history of uselessness suddenly discovers potential within himself, and the attentions of numerous beautiful young women. And so far as I could tell (after five episodes or so) that's basically it. It has no other redeeming qualities.

I've enjoyed other harem titles, but there has to be something more than just the harem. Love Hina, for example, had excellent characterizations. By the end of the first episode, I cared about the characters, wanted to see what happens next. Zero no Tsukaima and Tenchi Muyo both also have this... plus awesome fight scenes. Maburaho's characters seem empty and forced. The fights feel like a bad shonen fight scene: a lot of the bad guy waiting around while the "hero" charges up or whatever. There is no tension, just "oh, he's going to cast one of his eight spells now, let's spend a minute and a half on that while the monster just stands around and waits." At least Louise needs the protection of her familiar to get away with that.

Not only Yuna, Kuriko and Rin are cute, especially Rin is, so to speak, a Tsun-dere. Number of magic Shikimori Kazuki can use was only 8 in the beginning and start decreasing. But power of each magic was remarkably strong. Then he loses all magic in episode 12. I think the original novel hasn't finished yet, so I don't say anything about this storyline, anything good or bad.

One thing I noticed is a voice actress of Yuna, Nabatame Hitomi. I didn't know she could speak in such a cute, lovely voice.

Maburaho is now officially one of my favorite animes of all time. It's about a guy name Kazuki, who is pretty much the outcast at his school and by his classmates because he only has limited magical ability, and because of that, he can only use his magic 8 times, and after that he dies. It's because of that, he's always picked on by his classmates and looked down by girls who pass him by.

Well one day, three girls by the name of Yuna, Kuriko, and Rin, come to his service and announces that they are interested in his genes. Turns out that Kazuki has inherited some very powerful magic from his ancestors, who was an all powerful magician. So if Kazuki mates with one of the girls, it will produce an all powerful baby. Henceforth is the reason why the girls are interested in his genes.

Yuna is the name of the pink haired one, who loves Kazuki and is not at all interested in his genes. The reason why she considers herself his wife is because long ago, when her and Kazuki were kids, Yuna promised to be Kazuki's bride if Kazuki performed magic for her, which he did and henceforth is the reason why she's his wife. I actually started liking Yuna till later on, when she becomes quite annoying and way too jealous. Still i prefer her over Chiyase(who is also a childhood friend of Kazuki)

Rin comes from a powerful clan, who at first hates Kazuki because in her eyes, he's worthless and totally unlikable. But she eventually comes to liking him, especially when Kazuki eats her bad cooking that she made for a senior, who moved away in the beginning of the series. She's actually pretty shy, but can deliver a powerful blow to those who piss her off. Actually one of my favorite characters next to Kuriko.

Kuriko is my favorite character on the series. She's the blonde one who always tries to use sexual advantages on Kazuki, and who only wanted to go after Kazuki's genes. But when Kazuki saves her from being killed by Beowolfs or whatever, Kuriko starts to fall in love with him and eventually stops going after Kazuki's genes, though she won't stop putting sexual advances on him. Loves to make Yuna jealous and is good friends with Rin (the purple haired one).

Elizabeth is the name of the silver haired ghost that appeared at the beginning of the series who pretty much follows Kuriko around and helps out Kazuki and the gang whenever they are in a jam. Seems to approve of the relationship between Kuriko and Kazuki, and will do anything to make Kuriko happy! Gets easily jealous and angry like Yuna.

Chiyase is one of Kazuki's childhood friends who is in love with Kazuki, but develops a sisterly role to him. The one who Kazuki also cares about, and who also made a Kazuki in being his bride if he performs a magic spell for her.

Those are pretty much the main characters. It's a really good show that is sure to leave you begging for more and i recommend anyone to watch it cause it's good. Maburaho is the best, ever!

I watched up to episode 5. I like this anime except opening song. Story is fun if you understand Japanese 100%, subtitle is not enough to attract audience. In the beginning, three girls were only interested in Kazuki's DNA but they get to know him episode by episode and get to love him. But I think the key point of this anime is these three cute and sexy girls because the target of this anime was for adults more than 18 years old and this anime satisfies this requirement. At last, it was found Dr. Akai was Abe Seimei. Really? His name was Haruaki, but it can be read as Seimei. But here, I want to repeat the opening song doesn't sound so good to me.

Has far as anime goes, Maburaho scrapes the bottom of the barrel, and is the type of show that gives the medium a bad name in some circles. Plot wise it's similar to Negima (add your own punctuation at the end) or The Familiar of Zero in the fact that it primarily takes place at magical school/school of magic and has a mild mannered male protagonist with latent powers surrounded by gorgeous women. A Harry Potter Harem if you will. In this case we have the ridiculously bland spineless nice guy protagonist who is the black sheep of his school, seeing how he can only use magic a handful of times before he dies. It is surprising then(actually, no not really) when the school hotties throw themselves at him because, as it turns out he has the blood of the greatest wizards in history running through him, so if he were to produce an offspring with a one of the girls.......yeah I think you see were this is going. What follows is an utterly pointless fanservice comedy with obnoxious characters that are nothing more than cardboard cut outs of genre staples and some of the most lazy writing and storytelling Ive witnessed in anime(that is really saying something...).
The only appeal I can see this show having is for it's fan service, which isn't that titillating to begin with. If its a fanservice/ecchi/harem show your looking for you can do so much better.

Grade: F

Reviewed: episodes 12/24 Format: English Dub, DVD.