Mai-Hime music (Upd: TV anime “Mai-HiME” / “Mai-Otome” 20th anniversary event with YK & FJ & Hanae on Sept 20, 2025)

[CloisteredFlame]

I think Yuuka is on Mai-Otome

She is Nao Yuuki , a red hair girl.
(Spoiler warning)
https://youtu.be/ei36fYLXVY0?si=vSfZNvikpWlvh4Po

Oh Nao! I see.

She was a sadistic/hard-edged girl, so it's cool Yuuka played that character as opposed to the brighter ones.

She had to use a darker/lower-pitched voice most of the time to convey the personality. Cool!

 

[george1234]

Exactly while looking i saw she is on Macross Frontier somewhere too.

 

[grunty]

Oh Nao! I see.

Quite unhinged compared to FJY, no? XD

 

[CloisteredFlame]

Quite unhinged compared to FJY, no? XD

Exactly. It gives me new context for her as a vocalist, and I wonder about her singing some darker music with that tone.

 

[george1234]

Wasnt Kioku no Mori a darker song ? Also i think even now she could contribute in an FJ album if Kajiura asked her and sing it as a guest.

 

[CloisteredFlame]

Wasnt Kioku no Mori a darker song ? Also i think even now she could contribute in an FJ album if Kajiura asked her and sing it as a guest.

Not dark dark, like a villain or morally grey character.

 

[grunty]

@CloisteredFlame Think you're going to watch Otome too?

 

[CloisteredFlame]

@CloisteredFlame Think you're going to watch Otome too?

I'm not yet sure.

Mai-Hime ended with sufficient closure not to need a sequel, which I'm assuming Mai-Otome is. Am I right?

What's the allure of Otome?

 

[grunty]

I'm not yet sure.

Mai-Hime ended with sufficient closure not to need a sequel, which I'm assuming Mai-Otome is. Am I right?

What's the allure of Otome?

It's not really a sequel. It's a completely* new story with same* characters.

 

[george1234]

Ι thought it was prequel since they re younger on otome but i guess you re right

 

[CloisteredFlame]

It's not really a sequel. It's a completely* new story with same* characters.

Huh. But Mai and others graduated from Fuka so... Does it follow the graduands or their juniors, or all of them?

Curious, though it's a bit of a time investment to watch it (I tend to binge), and I have work tomorrow (I'd want to start immediately, if at all).

 

[grunty]

Eh, easiest way to think of it is an alternate universe take on the same principal character and story ideas. Maybe not even "the easiest way to think about it", but it just is exactly that (unless I'm forgetting some details).

I've not rewatched Otome since it aired probably so I was thinking of joining you on your journey, lol.

 

[CloisteredFlame]

Eh, easiest way to think of it is an alternate universe take on the same principal character and story ideas. Maybe not even "the easiest way to think about it", but it just is exactly that (unless I'm forgetting some details).

I've not rewatched Otome since it aired probably so I was thinking of joining you on your journey, lol.

Okay, let's do it!

Then we can compare notes here on what we liked and didn't like.

 

[CloisteredFlame]

I hope there was equally good music.

 

[grunty]

I hope there was equally good music.

Oh so (rather than OSTs) you're coming in with familiarity from lives only? Nice.

 

[CloisteredFlame]

Oh so (rather than OSTs) you're coming in with familiarity from lives only? Nice.

Yeah, in terms of Kajiura's music, I was basically just exposed to live performances all around (including MVs for Kalafina's specifically).

 

[grunty]

So other than major themes/songs via lives you are essentially still a complete newbie to the world of Kajiura OSTs? I didn't realize, lul. In the words of le kowz, "intadasting".

Other than My-HiME just now, have you actually seen any anime with Kajiura? Not even Madoka? I imagine everybody is probably suggesting Madoka and Fate/Zero to reactors on youtube, lol.

Wish I could get you to watch NOIR and MADLAX, but I'm not sure how you would handle Mashimo's directing. XD

NGL kinda glad I gave you a little push on My-HiME at least. XD

 

[Decretum]

I hope there was equally good music.

It's very string-heavy, but kinda in a whimsical/celtic way. It's a lot of fun and works pretty well with the show.

Also, yeah, Nao is great. Watched Mai-Hime last year and hated it, but she was the best. I'm curious to see what you think of Otome, lol.

I loved Noir and really liked Madlax as well, so I second grunty's recommendations!

 

[george1234]

So other than major themes/songs via lives you are essentially still a complete newbie to the world of Kajiura OSTs? I didn't realize, lul. In the words of le kowz, "intadasting".

Other than My-HiME just now, have you actually seen any anime with Kajiura? Not even Madoka? I imagine everybody is probably suggesting Madoka and Fate/Zero to reactors on youtube, lol.

Wish I could get you to watch NOIR and MADLAX, but I'm not sure how you would handle Mashimo's directing. XD

NGL kinda glad I gave you a little push on My-HiME at least. XD

Mashimo directing is like the greek director Angelopoulos who makes boring scenes drag for too long @yuki.n will know. But he gave complete freedom to Kajiura and let her shine.

@CloisteredFlame you definetely need to watch the works Kajiura made music for its the best way to understand why it was made like this and will make you appeeciate the lives even more.

 

[CloisteredFlame]

Not even Madoka? I imagine everybody is probably suggesting Madoka and Fate/Zero to reactors on youtube, lol.

Oh I saw Madoka last year after seeing all the YouTube comments talking about Mami and speaking about the characters instead of the music. They were also raving about how the anime looked deceptively cute, but episode 3 was earth-shattering, and with "Magia" playing at that scene. I was too intrigued to let it go, since I was really into "Magia" (and Hikaru's MV performance of course).

I don't think I'd ever watched a Shoujo/Magical girls anything before Madoka, so it was interesting to see from that perspective.

I'm curious to see what you think of Otome, lol.

I am also curious to see what I would take from it