“Maria the Virgin Witch” is an entertaining anime series that manages to balance action, comedy and drama with efficacy. It’s a short anime series but nevertheless, a damn good one. “Maria the Virgin Witch” is recommended!
Image courtesy of © Masayuki Ishikawa – KODANSHA. All Rights Reserved.
TITLE: Maria the Virgin Witch
ORIGINAL AIR DATE: 2015
DURATION: Episode 1-12 (300 Minutes)
BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition, Japanese 2.0 and 5.1 TrueHD, Subtitles: English
COMPANY: FUNimation
RATED: TV MA
Release Date: September 27, 2016
Originally created by Masayuki Ishikawa
Director: Goro Taniguchi
Series Composition by Hideyuki Kurata
Script by Hideyuki Kurata
Music by Masato Koda
Character Design by Yuriko Chiba
Art Director:Â Shigemi Ikeda
Anime Production: Production I.G.
Featuring the following voice talent:
Hisako Kanemoto/Alexis Tipton as Maria
Ai Kakuma/Lara Woodhull as Anne
Bin Shimada/Barry Yandell as Guillaume
Kana Hanazawa/Leah Clark as Ezekiel
Kensho Ono/Austin Tindle as Joseph
Kenta Miyake/Jeremy Inman as Yvain
Kikuko Inoue/Caitlin Glass as Michael
Mamiko Noto/Colleen Clinkenbeard as Viv
Mikako Komatsu/Jerry Jewell as Priapos
Miyuki Ichijou/Linda Leonard as Martha
Natsuki Hanae/Joel McDonald as Gilbert
Sachiko Kojima/Alex Moore as Lolotte
Takahiro Sakurai/Sonny Strait as Bernard
YÅko Hikasa/Whitney Rodgers as Artemis
Don’t miss this intriguing tale of magic, war, and sexual politics from Production I.G., the studio that brought you Eden of the East, FLCL, and Ghost in the Shell! In the time of the Hundred Years’ War, a young and powerful witch known as Maria leads a reclusive existence. Shunned by the church – but beloved by a few locals – Maria endeavors to use her magic to bring an end to the warfare she so despises. Using her magical ability, she aids humanity alongside her two familiars: a seductive succubus and an incubus who’s a little incomplete. Though she seeks only peace, the archangel Michael despises the way she uses magic to interfere with human affairs and decrees that should she ever manage to lose her virginity, her powers will vanish! To ensure that Maria no longer mixes magic with warfare, Michael sends the angel Ezekiel to keep a watchful eye on the virgin witch. In theory, his plan is sound. But keeping a fiery young woman bound by the rules of a higher power might prove too daunting even for an ever-vigilant angel.
In 2008, Masayuki Ishikawa (creator of the manga series “Moyashimon”) created the manga series “Junketsu no Maria” (which translates to “Maria the Virgin”).
With three volumes created, an anime adaptation was created by Production I.G. from January through March 2015.
The series is directed by Goro Taniguchi (“Active Raid”, “Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion”, “Infinite Ryvius”), screenplay by Hideyuki Kurata (“Android Ana Maico 2010”, “Bamboo Blade”, “Dragon Crisis!”, “Kamichu!”), music by Masato Koda (“Rozen Maiden: Zuruckspulen”, “Arpeggio of Blue Steel”), character designs by Yuriko Chiba (“Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion”, “Brave Story”, “Berserk”) and art direction by Shigemi Ikeda (“Black Cat”, “Basilisk”, “Bastard!!”, “Afro Samurai”).
And now the anime series has been released on Blu-ray and DVD courtesy of FUNimation.
The anime series is set in France during the Hundred Years’ War between the House of Plantagenet (rulers of the Kingdom of England) against the House of Valois (rulers of the Kingdom of France).
Tired of the warring nations and deaths, Maria, a virgin witch uses her succubus and incubus familiars to manipulate the opposing factions and using large-scale illusions in order to help the people and maintain peace.
While witches are seen as heretics, because of Maria’s ideal of helping people, she becomes to be appreciated (and depended on) by villagers but the Church brands her as heretic because she denounces God.
While Maria questions when she will lose her virginity, thanks to the people around her that keeps wondering if she will ever lose it, Maria starts to wonder if she will ever lose her virginity.
Meanwhile, the Archangel Michael has heard of what Maria has done and is upset that she interfered with human affairs and makes the declaration that if she loses her virginity, she will lose her magical powers. He also forbids her from using any magic and sends an angel named Ezekiel to watch over her.
But when more fighting begins to happen again, Maria wants to interfere to stop the fighting. But will she? Or will she try to keep to herself?
The main characters of “Maria the Virgin Witch” are”
- Maria – A very powerful witch who doesn’t like to see people fighting and killing each other. So, she interferes to the chagrin of the Church and Archangel Michael.
- Artemis – Maria’s succubus familiar who often teases Maria for her virginity.
- Priapus – Maria’s incubus familiar who lacks a penis because Maria doesn’t know what it looks like.
- Ezekiel – An angel sent by Archangel Michael to watch over Maria and that she doesn’t uses her power. She begins to sympathize with Maria.
- Joseph – Serves under Guillaume and is in love with Maria. He is a virgin and is always there for her.
- Garfa – A mercenary of the French army who is upset with Maria and wants revenge for her interference (and for losing an arm).
VIDEO:
“Maria the Virgin Witch” is presented in 1080p High Definition. While I haven’t read the manga to know if the character designs are inspired from the manga, I will say that compared to other Production I.G. series, the character designs are much simpler in terms of line art but the background art is well-detailed. Colors are vibrant but like most TV series, there is a slight softness. But for the most part, animation is well-done and Production I.G. did a great job animating this series.
AUDIO & SUBTITLES:
“Maria the Virgin Witch” is presented in Japanese 2.0 Dolby TrueHD and English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD. Dialogue and music is crystal clear through the front channels and I heard no distortion while watching this anime series. The voice acting is fantastic for both Japanese and English soundtracks. Of course, with the English 5.1 soundtrack having better use of more audio channels.
Subtitles are in English.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“Maria the Virgin” comes with the following special features:
- Episode 1 Commentary – Audio Commentary featuring director Sonny Strait (voice of Bernard), voice actress Alexis Tipton (voice of Maria) and Austin Tindle (voice of Joseph).
- Episode 12 Commentary – Audio commentary featuring director Sonny Strait (voice of Bernard), voice actor Chris Rager (voice of Galfa) and Leah Clark (voice of Ezekiel).
- Textless Opening and Closing Song
- US Trailer
- Trailers
EXTRAS:
“Maria the Virgin Witch” comes with a slipcover and both the Blu-ray + DVD discs for the series.
I have to admit that I was surprised that Masayuki Ishikawa’s “Junketsu no Maria” would receive an anime adaptation, because only three volumes of the manga series have been created.
But considering that popularity of the manga series, the chapters created are enough for a full season and the response for the anime series has been quite positive.
For one, it’s a unique storyline that takes place during the Hundred Years’ War and involves a powerful witch who is good and wants peace, a powerful archangel and the Church and its belief that all witches are heretics and for the most part, how religious beliefs can cause issues between those who support Maria, but at the same time, do not want to risk their status or their family status by supporting a witch.
Throw in other characters and of course, comedy that teases Maria of her virginity and what you get is a action-packed comedy at first, but then the series suddenly becomes more serious and dramatic when Maria loses her powers and the Church captures her and wants to imprison her as a heretic.
For the most part, while I don’t know the differences between the manga and the anime, I will say that “Maria the Virgin Witch” manages to have an ending that is quite fitting.
As for the Blu-ray release, picture quality is colorful and dialogue and music are crystal clear. Voice acting is magnificent and for special features, you get two audio commentaries, textless opening and endings and trailers. Just make sure you listen to the first audio commentary because it’s one of the more wilder (and enjoyable) audio commentaries I have heard in my life… poor Alexis Tipton.
Overall, “Maria the Virgin Witch” is an entertaining anime series that manages to balance action, comedy and drama with efficacy. It’s a short anime series but nevertheless, a damn good one.
“Maria the Virgin Witch” is recommended!
