Mahoromatic

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Mahoromatic
まほろまてぃっく (Mahoromatic)
Genre	Science fiction, Seinen, Comedy, Tragedy
Manga
Authored by	Bow Ditama, Bunjuro Nakayama
Publisher	TOKYOPOP Carlsen Wani Books Editorial Ivréa Freebooks
Serialized in	Comic GUM (COMICガム)
Original run	1998 – 2004
No. of volumes	8
TV anime : まほろまてぃっく (Mahoromatic)
Directed by	Hiroyuki Yamaga
Studio	Gainax Shaft
Network	BS-i, AT-X
Original run	10 September 2001 – 28 January 2002
No. of episodes	12
TV anime : まほろまてぃっく ~もっと美しいもの~ (Mahoromatic ~something more beautiful~)
Directed by	Hiroyuki Yamaga
Studio	Gainax Shaft
Network	BS-i
Original run	26 September 2002 – 16 January 2003
No. of episodes	14

Mahoromatic (まほろまてぃっく, Mahoromatikku^?) is a sci-fi romantic comedy manga and anime series which contains the elements of the literary genre of tragic dramas. It is about a former female android soldier, Mahoro. Driven by guilt from her actions during her combat days, she decides to dedicate the rest of her life to serving the son of her late commander as a maid.

Contents 1 Characters 1.1 Misato Residence 1.2 Classmates 2 Manga 2.1 Original Manga 2.2 English Version 3 Anime 3.1 Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden 3.1.1 Episode Summaries 3.1.2 Theme Songs 3.1.3 Production Details 3.2 Mahoromatic: Something More Beautiful 3.2.1 Episode Summaries 3.2.2 Theme Songs 3.2.3 Production Details 3.3 Mahoromatic: End of Year Special 3.4 Mahoromatic: Summer Special 4 DVDs 5 Music CDs 6 Merchandise 7 Trivia 8 Endings 9 External links

[edit] Characters

Note: names are given in Japanese style, last name followed by given name.

[edit] Misato Residence

• Mahoro Andou (安藤 まほろ, Andō Mahoro^?) (CODE: V1046-R MAHORO)

Voiced by: Ayako Kawasumi (Japanese), Bridget Hoffman (English)

Mahoro is an android created by VESPER to fight an alien invasion in the 1980s. She is immensely powerful and fast, and is considered to be a formidable opponent by her enemies.

Being an android, she has a limited life span. At the beginning of the story, she has just 398 days to live, and is given the choice to do anything she wants by VESPER. She chooses to become a maid for Misato Suguru: his father was her superior commander, and she was forced to kill both him and an alien when the alien took him hostage.

Mahoro has a very sunny disposition and is friendly to just about everyone—she becomes a welcome regular at the market and becomes famous at Suguru's school for working for him. She also quickly becomes an excellent cook, able to emulate and recreate dishes from the best restaurants.

She is, however, extremely hostile towards anything ecchi, or perverted. A good portion of the story's humour comes from Mahoro chasing after Suguru's secret stash of pornographic magazines which, given her training, she is easily able to find. She is well known for this attitude from her catch phrase: "Ecchi na no wa ikenai to omoimasu"—"I think that dirty thoughts are bad." Mahoro and Shikijo-sensei's dislike of one another stems from this—Shikijo is constantly trying to have an illicit relationship with Suguru.

Mahoro is very concerned about her appearance, often not allowing herself to wear normal clothes as she is concerned that it would look bad to the neighbours given her position as a maid. She is also obsessed with her small breasts, and some stories actually deal with her rivalry with Shikijo (who has very large breasts), as well as her techniques and requests to VESPER for larger breasts.

She still has access to many of her weapons and gadgets from her VESPER days, and is able to pull out her gun at any time. She also has access to the "silpheed", which when worn on her back allows her to fly, as well as her support mech, Slash. She is able to call both the Silpheed and Slash at a moment's notice from the badge she wears on her maid uniform. In addition, she still can use her fully equipped and armed BMW sports convertible and motorcycle.

Mahoro was created using Saint alien technology, giving her a true soul and a pure heart. Later in the series it is revealed that Mahoro is directly connected to the memories of Matthew, who on some occasions supplies Mahoro advice.

Mahoro has no surname: the name Ando (short for android) was created by Suguru.

• Suguru Misato (美里 優, Misatu Suguru^?)

Voiced by: Fujiko Takimoto (Japanese), Derek Stephen Prince (English)

Suguru Misato is a Junior High School student living in Tokyo. He lost both his parents earlier—his mother, and years later, his father. While he believed his father was killed in an accident during a business trip, he was actually a commander (and Mahoro's commanding officer) in VESPER and was killed-in-action during the alien war. Although relatives offered to take him in, he refused and lived alone prior to Mahoro's arrival.

He is very smart with an IQ of 130 and makes a favourable impression on members of the opposite sex.

Suguru had a whole stash of dirty magazines which were all thrown away when Mahoro first arrived. Although he continues to try to smuggle them in and hide them, Mahoro will often find them—leading to comical confrontations between the two. Suguru uses a whole range of creative tactics to conceal his magazines, and is capable of running away very fast when being chased.

Suguru hired a maid because of the filthy state of his house. He was expecting an older woman, and Mahoro's arrival completely surprised him.

• Minawa Ando (安藤 みなわ, Andō Minawa^?) （CODE: 370）

Voiced by: Ai Shimizu (Japanese), Willow Armstrong (English)

Minawa is first introduced in Mahoromatic ~Something More Beautiful~. Clumsy and anemic, she ends up living with Mahoro and Suguru and going to school under the pretext of being Mahoro's younger sister. She claims to be a runaway member of The Management, but is later revealed to have been sent to gather information on VESPER's battle android Mahoro after being promised a heart in return. Mahoro, however, convinces her that the fact that she can cry means she already has a heart. Suguru's friend Hamaguchi develops a crush on her, and, despite her shortcomings, it is later insinuated that they form a relationship.

• Slash (スラッシュ, Surasshu^?) （CODE: V1046 R9-SLASH ZERO）

Voiced by: Keiichi Noda (Japanese), Lex Lang (English)

Slash is known as a "support mech" and assists Mahoro during combat. He has the form of a panther and can be summoned at any time by Mahoro. Although he can speak, his mouth never moves except during times when he expresses emotions. Although used for combat in the past, he often now acts as a guard dog around the Misato residence and a friend to the Misato's dog—a role he was not thrilled to take in the beginning.

He is friendly but tough and will lend a helping hand when asked. Although Mahoro is Slash's master, he will now take commands from Suguru: since Suguru is Mahoro's employer, he is also her master and thus Slash's master as well.

[edit] Classmates

• Saori Shikijo (式条 沙織, Shikijō Saori^?)

Voiced by: Yumi Takada (Japanese), Wendee Lee (English)

Saori Shikijo is Suguru's teacher in Junior High School and is extremely attracted to him. She has a shota complex, or an attraction to young boys. Many of the jokes stem from her attempts to openly seduce Suguru and the ways in which her attempts are foiled by Mahoro.

She is a heavy drinker and as a result is often broke. A while after Mahoro arrives at the Misato household, she becomes a regular as she invites herself for dinner on a daily basis despite Mahoro's protests.

Shikijou-sensei and Mahoro are openly competitive and often will compete with each other: usually with Mahoro gaining the upperhand. She has much larger breasts than Mahoro, which she flaunts when comparing herself to Mahoro or in taunting her. Her large breasts are also the focus of her many attempts to seduce Suguru.

• Rin Todoriki (等々力 凛, Todoriki Riki^?)

Voiced by: Manabi Mizuno (Japanese), Dorothy Elias-Fahn (English)

Rin is the brown-haired and tallest member of the "Triomatic". She has designs on Suguru but does not let it affect her strong friendships with Miyuki (who has an equal "crush" on Suguru) and Chizuko (who at times has expressed interest in Suguru).

Rin has also the most physically developed breasts of the Triomatic, which at times causes consternation with Miyuki and Chizuko. For the most part, Rin seems almost embarrassed when the other two complain about her breasts, but as the series goes on she becomes more and more comfortable with her "advantage".

Rin's family is wealthy (coming from a long military line), and lives in a palatial estate filled with numerous pieces of art and wealth.

• Chizuko Oe (大江 千鶴子, Ōe Chizuko^?)

Voiced by: Asami Sanada (Japanese), Melissa Fahn (English)

Chizuko is a cheerful and bright, short blond-haired girl, and is the most innocent of the "triomatic". Chizuko enjoys devouring food and has an extremely adept sense of taste, being able to identify the exact restaurant that a dish has come from and the exact origins of ingredients.

Chizuko will often scream with absolute delight when she tastes Mahoro's cooking and immediately provide the restaurant the dish originated from. While initially mistaken as a scream of horror, her friends know that it is a sign of culinary approval from her.

• Toshiya Hamaguchi (浜口俊也, Hamaguchi Toshiya^?)

Voiced by: Hideki Ogihara (Japanese), Dave Wittenberg (English)

• Kiyomi Kawahara (川原 清巳, Kawahara Kiyomi^?)

Voiced by: Atsushi Kisaichi (Japanese), Kirk Thornton (English)

• Yoshimi Tanaka (田中 佳美, Tanaka Yoshimi^?)

Voiced by: Tomoko Kaneda

[edit] Manga

Mahoromatic (まほろまてぃっく, Mahoromatikku^?) is a manga series by Bow Ditama and Bunjuro Nakayama. Originally serialised in Gum Comics, it has been compiled into eight tankōbon volumes published by Gum Comics.

[edit] Original Manga

• まほろまてぃっく 第1巻 「美里家のメイドさん」

Translation: The maid of the Misato Residence

Published: 10 Oct 1999

ISBN 4-8470-3326-4

• まほろまてぃっく 第2巻 「陽射しくらくらメイドさん」

Translation: The maid, dizzy in the sunlight

Published: 10 Jul 2000

ISBN 4-8470-3354-X

• まほろまてぃっく 第3巻 「過去に追われるメイドさん」

Translation: The maid, chased by her past

Published: 3 Mar 2001

ISBN 4-8470-3383-3

• まほろまてぃっく 第4巻 「いろいろ夢見るメイドさん」

Translation: The maid, dreaming all sorts of things

Published: 10 Oct 2001

ISBN 4-8470-3413-9

• まほろまてぃっく 第5巻 「今日も元気なメイドさん」

Translation: The maid, full of energy today too

Published: 10 Jun 2002

ISBN 4-8470-3370-1

• まほろまてぃっく 第6巻 「笑顔の素敵なメイドさん」

Translation: The maid with the lovely smile

Published: 3 Mar 2003

ISBN 4-8470-3440-6

A special version was also produced, where a plastic figure model of Mahoro was packaged with the manga, along with a special cover.

• まほろまてぃっく 第7巻 「涙で動くメイドさん」

Translation: The made who runs on tears

Published: 10 Oct 2003

ISBN 4-8470-3454-6

• まほろまてぃっく 第8巻 「美里家のまほろさん」

Translation: Mahoro-san of the Misato Residence

Published: 5 Dec 2004

ISBN 4-8470-3479-1

The special version contained a crystal Mahoro, as well as a special cover.

[edit] English Version

The English version was published by Tokyopop.

• Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden 1 "The Misato Residence's Maid"

Published: May 1 2004

ISBN 1-59182-729-9

• Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden 2 "Fun in the Sun"

Published: July 1 2004

ISBN 1-59182-730-2

• Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden 3 "The Running Maid"

Published: Sep 1 2004

ISBN 1-59182-731-0

• Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden 4 "The Maid of Many Dreams"

Published: Dec 15 2004

ISBN 1-59182-732-9

• Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden 5 "The Ever-Energetic Maid"

Published: Mar 8 2005

ISBN 1-59182-915-1

• Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden 6 "The Maid With The Wonderful Smile"

Published: Jun 7 2005

ISBN 1-59182-916-X

• Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden 7 "The Maid Moved By Tears"

Published: Oct 11 2005

ISBN 1-59532-625-1

• Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden 8 "The Misato home's Mahoro-san"

Published: Jan 11 2006

ISBN 1-59532-808-4

[edit] Anime

The manga proved popular, and was adapted into two anime series by Gainax: "Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden" and "Mahoromatic: Something More Beautiful" (まほろまてぃっく~もっと美しいもの~, Mahoromatikku: Motto Utsukushii Mono^?)

The first series consisted of twelve episodes and ran from September 10, 2001 to January 28, 2002 on BS-i in Japan, and more or less followed the manga to the third volume.

The second series also followed the manga, culminating in the story's end. This series ran from September 26, 2002 till January 16, 2003.

A television special, "Mahoromatic: Summer TV Special" (まほろまてぃっく夏のTVスペシャル, Mahoromatikku Natsu no Terebi Supeshiaru^?), set in the days when Minawa had become a regular part of the household, was produced and aired around Summer 2003.

[edit] Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden

[edit] Episode Summaries

Season 1

Ep00 Special

Ep01 In the garden where the hydrangea blooms

Ep02 Woman teacher Saori 25 years old

Ep03 There is a grave, and it makes me empty feelings

Ep04 I shoot your heart

Ep05 8-634 is fine

Ep06 The moon, flower, complexion with anxiety

Ep07 Maid-san run after by the past

Ep08 The person who has perfect mind

Ep09 Limelight

Ep10 Fate as a soldier

Year End Special

Ep11 My important human

Ep12 To the scenery which I dreamt before

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Season 2 - Motto Utsukushii Mono

Ep01 Return of the Maid

Ep02 From Today on, You Are Minawa

Ep03 Dreams Should Be Grand

Ep04 Looking For A Lost Object

Ep05 Will I Catch A Cold Tomorrow?

Ep06 Doing Delightful New Year Things

Ep07 Don't Ever Come Back Again!

Ep08 Grandfather and Grandson

Ep09 Sweeter Than Love, But a Bit Bitter

Ep10 Things I Like

Ep11 A Wish, The Color of Cherry Blossoms

Ep12 Annunciation

Ep13 End of a Dream

Ep14 Na-Geanna

[edit] Theme Songs

• Opening Theme: Kaerimichi

Translation: Our Way Home

Singer: Ayako Kawasumi

• Ending Theme: Mahoro de MAMBO

Singers: Triomatic (Asami Sanada, Manabi Mizuno, Yumi Kikuchi)

[edit] Production Details

• Original Story: Bunjuro Nakayama & Bow Ditama
• Director: Hiroyuki Yamaga
• Character design/Chief animation director: Takamura Kazuhiro
• Art design: Masahiro Satō
• Art Director: Naoko Kosakabe
• Colour Coordinator: Yōko Mitsuhashi
• Editor: Takeshi Seyama
• Sound Director: Yoshikazu Iwanami
• Director of Photography: Tsuguo Ozawa
• Music: Toshio Masuda
• Animation Production: GAINAX & Shaft

[edit] Mahoromatic: Something More Beautiful

[edit] Episode Summaries

[edit] Theme Songs

• Opening theme: Soleil

Translation: Sun

Singer: Ayako Kawasumi

• Ending theme: Triomatic Ran! Ran! Ran!

Singers: Triomatic (Asami Sanada, Manabi Mizuno, Yumi Kikuchi)

[edit] Production Details

[edit] Mahoromatic: End of Year Special

Shown after Episode 9 (Making it 9.5) These feature a refresher of all the events so far along with NEW conversations and discussions between characters. Both Season one & two have this special, but it has never been translated into English

[edit] Mahoromatic: Summer Special

Released after the second season, this episode takes place during the second season and revolves around the issue of Suguru's ecchi no hon (dirty books).

[edit] DVDs

A series of six DVDs were released in Japan for both seasons.

A series of six DVDs were released in America for both seasons.

A series of three DVDs was released in Europe for season one.

[edit] Music CDs

Music CDs, including dramas were released in Japan. Several of these CDs were later released in the United States with cover book translations.

[edit] Merchandise

Gashapon sets were produced in 2005 featuring Mahoro and Minawa in their maid costumes.

A PlayStation 2 game by Konami of the same name was also produced for the series. It followed the style of a visual novel with full voiceovers and text accompanying pictures and minigames.

[edit] Trivia

• Mahoro's favourite saying is "Ecchi na no wa ikenai to omoimasu", which translates roughly to "I think that dirty thoughts are bad." Mahoro's aversion to erotic or perverted material naturally fueled much humor considering the fanservice many Gainax works are famous for.
• Another frequently-used phrase in the series is "That isn't the problem here", said each time by a different person.
• Mahoro is mimicked in another non-Gainax series, Hanaukyo Maid Tai ~Le Verite~, where the main male character, Taro is forced to dress like Mahoro, at a manga convention. He even says "Ecchi na no wa ikenai to omoimasu!", greatly attracting people.
• Triomatic, who sing the ending themes, are also the seiyuus for Suguru's three friends, and usually these songs parody some element of the series, with "Mahoro de MAMBO" being a song all about how good Mahoro would be for fan service, with Mahoro trying to complain, and "Triomatic Ran Ran Ran" being a marching song where they tease Minawa instead, and the gullible Minawa falling for it.
• In Mahoromatic Something More Beautiful, during the Hiryuu Dark Ages Martial Arts Festival, Mahoro and Minawa are confronted by three (otherwise friendly) individuals who attempt knock their flowers off using a "Jet Stream Attack". The Jet Stream Attack was the special attack of the three members of the elite Zeon unit the "Black Tri-Stars" in the 1979 original Mobile Suit Gundam. In fact one of the three attackers yells "Use my head as a spring board" a play on the Black Tri-Star member Gaia's "I ain't no gull darn springboard!" as the Gundam launched itself off the head of Gaia's Dom unit.

[edit] Endings

The Anime's Ending
The last episode, "Na-Geanna", is much darker in tone and style than the rest of the series. It takes place on a different planet twenty years after Mahoro's death. With the exception of a cameo appearance by a remarkably unchanged Shikijo-sensei (who is hinted at as possibly being an android herself), the rest of the characters' stories are left unfinished, although a picture at the bar appears to show Rin Todoroki and Kiyoni Kawahara as a couple - Suguru had "decided to never return to Japan, to that town where Mahoro no longer was." Suguru is now a renegade hunter of the last "Management holdouts" with a price on his head, only memories of Earth, cyborg body parts, and a sole companion whose greed makes him try to kill Suguru to collect the bounty. As Suguru is either dying or badly injured, Mahoro reappears alive, asking to take him back to Hiryu (a vision which he greets with wry skepticism). The only explanation for this is oblique - Matthew comments that as Saint sets off to resume wandering the galaxy, she will leave behind on Earth a "memory of springtime" that has been disturbing her, and will not be needed on the journey.

The Manga's Ending
The manga ends similarly to the anime, except that the tone is far lighter and more consistent with the characters as we remember them. Suguru has been working as a commander within Vesper, and still keeps in touch with his old friends - which allows a proper close to the other characters' stories. Instead of simply reappearing twenty years later, Mahoro was reborn as a human baby shortly after her death. She remembers Suguru, and at twenty (when the story closes) she comes to find him just as he returns from the final battle with the last vestiges of Management.

[edit] External links

• (Japanese) Main Official Site
• (Japanese) Gainax Mahoro Anime Site
• (English) Pioneer Animation Site