“My-Otome Zwei and My-Otome 0:S.ifr – The OVA Collection” is recommended for those who have watched “My-Otome” and no the background of the characters. While the OVA series can be watched on its own, I still recommend one to immerse themselves with “My-Otome” then “My-Otome Zwei” and last, “My-Otome 0:S.ifr”.
Image courtesy of © Sunrise. All Rights Reserved.
TITLE: My-Otome Zwei and My-Otome 0: S.ifr – THE OVA Collection
DURATION: (7 Episodes) 192 Minutes
BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition (16:9), Japanese 5.2 and English Dolby TrueHD 2.0, Subtitles: English
COMPANY: Funimation
RATED: TV 14
Release Date: January 9, 2018
My Otome-Zwei
Directed by Masakazu Obara
Series Composition: Hiroyuki Yoshino
Music by Yuki Kajiura
Original Creator: Hajime Yatate
Character Design: Hirokazu Hisayuki
Art Director: Shinji Takasuka
Anime Production: Sunrise
My-Otome 0: S.ifr
Directed by Hirokazu Hisayuki
Scenario: Tatsuto Higuchi
Music by Kuniaki Haishima
Original Creator: Hajime Yatate
Character Design: Hirokazu Hisayuki
Mechanical Design: Hiroyuki Taiga
Anime Production: Sunrise
Featuring the following voice talent – My Otome-Zwei
Ami Koshimizu/Kris Rundle as Nina Wáng
Mika Kikuchi/Angie Beers as Arika Yumemiya
Yukana/Katie Rowan as Mashiro Blan de Windbloom
Ai Shimizu/Caitlynne Medrek as Mikoto Minagi
Akira Ishida/Graham Ko as Nagi DÃ i Artai
Junko Iwao/Morgan Partridge as Akane Soir
Katsuyuki Konishi/Phil Fulton as Sergay Wáng
Kiyomi Asai/Maizun Jayoussi as Miyu
Kumiko Higa/Leah Dubbin-Steckel as Irina Woods
Mai Nakahara/Carol-Anne Day as Mai Tokiha
Mamiko Noto/Morgan Partridge as Yukino Chrysant
Minami Kuribayashi/Lori Barnes-Smith as Erstin Ho
Mitsuki Saiga/Hazel Forman as Chie Hallard
Naomi Shindoh/Melanie Risdon as Shizuru Viola
Rie Tanaka/Tracy Sutton as Tomoe Marguerite
Ryoka Yuzuki/Lori-Barns Smith as Haruka Armitage
Ryoko Shintani/Jayna Mitchell as Aoi Senoh
Saeko Chiba/Cheryl McMaster as Natsuki Kruger
Sakura Nogawa/Leda Davies as Shiho Huit
Toshihiko Seki/Ethan Cole as Rad
Youko Matsuoka/Barb Mitchell as Maria Graceburt
Yukari Tamura/Mariette Sluyter as Midori
Yuuka Nanri/Marcy Lannan as Juliet Nao Zhang
My-Otome 0: S.ifr
Ami Koshimizu as Sifr Fran
Aya Endo as Lena Sayers
Yuko Sanpei as Elliot Chandler
Akeno Watanabe as Iruma Vandebelt
Akiko Kimura as Rei Juggernaut/Reito
Discover more about the power of Otome in two exciting OVAs. After the battle of Windbloom, Arika and her friends face another threat when a strange new creature appears. In the sub-only prequel, catch a new story where the powers of HiME and Otome combine, and Arika and Nina’s mothers have their own adventure.
Back in 2004, Sunrise created the anime series “My-HiME”. Directed by Masakazu Obara and written by Hiroyuki Yoshino, the anime series lasted for 26 episodes and would lead to a new series “My-Otome” (26 episodes, 2005-2006) and two OVA series: “My-Otome Zwei” (4 episodes, 2006-2007) and “My-Otome 0: S.ifr” (3 episodes, 2008).
“My-HiME” was Sunrise’s first Moe anime series and an animation series that captivated viewers. While the anime series was released on DVD courtesy of Sunrise years ago, the license for all three series was acquired by Funimation and will be released on Blu-ray/DVD in January 2018.
“My-Otome Zwei” takes places one year after “My-Otome” and Arika is now an Otome (who still has yet to graduate from school). As various nations are coming together to hold a Strategic Otome Limitation Talks and discussion about limiting the number of Otome.
But the peace in Earl changes when a mysterious shadow figure begins to attack Garderobe, meanwhile Queen Mashiro has disappeared and Arika goes to search for her, while the Otome in Garderobe try to look into who this mysterious shadow figure is.
“My-Otome o: S.ifr” is a prequel that explains who is Arika Yumemiya’s mother is (Lena Sayers) and the origins of Nina Wang’s mother (Sifr Fran), the origins of Schwartz, Aswad and the Garderobe Academy and the Five Columns are revealed.
VIDEO:
“My-Otome Zwei and My-Otome 0: S.ifr” is presented in 1080p High Definition (16×9). The former was released in 2006-2007, while the prequel was released in 2008. OVA’s tend to have better production value and it’s quite evident with the 1080p presentation. Colors are much more vibrant, while anime production between the two series in terms of character design are different. But for the most part, the anime series looks great in HD.
AUDIO & SUBTITLES:
“My-Otome Zwei” is presented in English 2.0 and Japanese 5.1, while “My-Otome 0: S.ifr” is presented only in Japanese Dolby TrueHD 5.1. Crystal clear dialogue and music through the front channels. Japanese soundtrack sounds great with the 5.1 soundtrack but for the most part, the Japanese soundtrack is well-acted, while the English dub is very good, but kind of has an old-school anime English dub vibe.
Subtitles are in English.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“My-Otome Zwei and My-Otome 0: S.ifr” comes with textless songs and trailers.
EXTRAS:
“My-Otome Zwei and My-Otome 0: S.ifr – The OVA Collection” comes with both the Blu-ray and DVD of the series.
When “My-HiME” was released over a decade ago, it was no doubt considered as an amazing anime series from Sunrise and unlike anything they have done before.
It was the studio’s first moe anime series and one showcasing a strong female cast of characters.
With “My-Otome”, the vibe of the anime series is a bit different. A series that focuses on a girl looking for her mother, decides that she wants to be an Otome and then trying to prove her worthiness by taking part in difficult training and showing that she has what it takes to be an Otome.
With the sequel “My-Otome Zwei”, the OVA series explores Arika trying to search for Queen Mashiro who has gone feeling and a mysterious shadow who has come to Earl and is causing great trouble to the people. The series reunites Arika and Nina Wang joining forces to take on a greater evil and for the most part, it’s another sequel that is action-packed and fun to watch.
“My-Otome 0: S.ifr” is a prequel that explores Arika’s mother Lena Sayers and Nina’s mother Sifr Fan, also Headmistress of Garderobe Una Shamrock. This is an important story as Arika’s mother was often alluded to in “My Otome” and also how Arika was able to get the Blue Sky Sapphire.
But in this OVA series, Sifr is kidnapped and is rescued by Lena Sayers. But another kidnapping attempt on Sifr is made and can Lena protect her? But why all the trouble to kidnap Sifr?
For the most part, the OVA series showcases Arika and Nina (“My Otome Zwei), while the “My-Otome 0:S.ifr” explores their parents, Lena and Sifr and how those two became close friends.
It’s not an incredibly deep storyline and unlike the TV series which is thorough in introducing characters and having a consistent plot, the OVA series are more side stories and should only be watched if you watched “My-Otome”.
But I have to say my favorite is still “My-HiME” which has a much deeper, well-written storyline. But for the most part, I feel that “My-Otome” fans will no doubt love the OVA collection.
Both OVA series look very good in HD and are much better than their TV series counterparts (which were soft as can be expected from a TV series, especially an older series). But te OVA Collection features better background artwork, better character designs and detailed backgrounds.
It’s important to note that “My-Otome Zwei” is presented in Japanese 5.1 Dolby TrueHD and English 2.0 Dolby TrueHD, while “My-Otome 0:S.ifr” is only in Japanese 5.1 Dolby TrueHD.
Also, I have to note that when you put the Blu-ray in, you’ll notice the prequel is presented first and the sequel second. I prefer watching the sequel first and then the prequel second.
Overall, “My-Otome Zwei and My-Otome 0:S.ifr – The OVA Collection” is recommended for those who have watched “My-Otome” and no the background of the characters. While the OVA series can be watched on its own, I still recommend one to immerse themselves with “My-Otome” then “My-Otome Zwei” and last, “My-Otome 0:S.ifr”.
