Strawberry Panic (anime)

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Strawberry Panic

Strawberry Panic anime logo.
ストロベリー・パニック
(Sutoroberī Panikku)
Genre Drama, Romance, Yuri
TV anime
Director Masayuki Sakoi
Studio Flag of Japan Madhouse
Licensor Flag of the United States AnimeWorks
Network Flag of Japan Chiba TV, Kids Station, TV Aichi, TV Osaka
Original run April 3, 2006 – September 25, 2006
Episodes 26

Strawberry Panic (ストロベリー・パニック Sutoroberī Panikku?) is a Japanese anime series produced by the animation studio Madhouse and is apart of the media mix series Strawberry Panic! which brings together many different types of media together in a single series. The anime aired in Japan between April 3, 2006 and September 25, 2006; it contained twenty-six episodes. These episodes were later split into nine separate DVDs, the first of which went on sale in Japan on June 23, 2006; it contained the first two episodes. The anime's central theme is yuri (lesbian relationships). The relationships are depicted with minimal eroticism, and any physical relations are purely for artistic reasons. The anime is based on the short stories and manga that preceded it. Media Blasters announced on July 2, 2007 that they had licensed the right to release the English version of the Strawberry Panic anime series.

There is a slight difference in the title of the series between media and national affiliation. The original short stories, manga, light novels, and video game used the exclamation mark in the title; the anime excluded it.

Contents

[edit] Plot

The plot of Strawberry Panic is about the lives of adolescent girls who each attend one of three affiliated all-girl schools which share a campus and dormitories, which include: St. Miator's Girl's Academy, St. Spica's Girl's Institute and St. Lulim's Girl's School. Students who reside on campus live in dormitories that are referred to as the Strawberry Dorms, though the proper name is Astraea Dormitory, named after Astraea Hill where the institutions are located.[1]

The main heroine of the story is Nagisa Aoi, a young girl entering her fourth year at St. Miator after being transferred from a different school. Upon first entering the campus grounds she is overcome with joy by the overall appearance of the surrounding area, but her joy is soon turned to sorrow as she accidentally stumbles down a hill, causing her to be lost and disoriented. While walking around the grounds trying to figure out where she is, she comes across a student by the name of Shizuma Hanazono, who happens to be Astraea Hill's Etoile, a very important person who acts as a representative among the different schools and has specific duties that she must fulfill.[1] Nagisa is instantly overcome by Shizuma's beauty and finds that she cannot move. After Shizuma kisses her on the forehead, Nagisa loses consciousness and awakens in the school's infirmary. Next to her bed is a different girl the same age as Nagisa named Tamao Suzumi who informs her that they are to be roommates in the dormitory.

In the story that follows, Nagisa is introduced to other students from each of the three schools, those of which include students she admires, is intimidated by, or are merely friends that she meets while attending St. Miator. The series encompasses the relationships the characters build with each other, climaxing whenever two of the characters start dating.[1]

[edit] Episode list

# Title Original air date
01 "Cherry Blossom Hill"
"Sakura no oka" (櫻の丘) 		 April 3, 2006
Nagisa Aoi transfers to St. Miator Girl's Academy and gets acquainted with the school and fellow students. 
02 "Etoile"
"Etowāru" (エトワール) 		 April 10, 2006
Tamao writes a poem and recites it at the Literature Club. Nagisa inadvertently meets up with Shizuma multiple times and has some interesting encounters. Also, the Etoile ignores her school duties to do what she wants. 
03 "Attic"
"Yaneura" (屋根裏) 		 April 17, 2006
Nagisa is shown around the Strawberry Dorms by Tamao and two of their classmates. After accidentally interrupting a student council meeting, Chikaru Minamoto explained the three-school system and some internal politics. Shizuma continues to ignore her Etoile duties. 
04 "You on the White Horse"
"Hakuba no kimi" (白馬の君) 		 April 24, 2006
Amane Ōtori comes back from a horseback-riding competition and is greeted by the students from Spica, the school she attends. Hikari and the other Saintly Chorus members perform for Amane. Also, Hikari and Amane start talking and begin to develop a relationship together. 
05 "Younger Sisters"
"Imoutotachi" (妹たち) 		 May 1, 2006
Select first years attending Miator become room-temps for older students. One such student, Chiyo, becomes the room-temp for Nagisa and Tamao. 
06 "Greenhouse"
"Onshitsu" (温室) 		 May 8, 2006
Nagisa tries to find a club she would like to join, but she's not interested in any of them. Later, she discovers the Etoile's private greenhouse and helps with the flowers. 
07 "Thorny Trap"
"Ibara no wana" (荊の罠) 		 May 15, 2006
As Hikari and Amane's relationship progresses, Shion tries to convince Amane to run for the position of Etoile in the next election. However, unknown to Shion, Kaname and Momomi work out a different plan involving Hikari. 
08 "Hydrangeas"
"Ajisai" (紫陽花) 		 May 22, 2006
Nagisa offers her favorite umbrella to Kagome but doesn't give her name. Later, Kagome gets help from Chikaru and her friends and they start to investigate the mystery, trying to find out who gave Kagome the umbrella. Meanwhile, Tamao tries desperately to fulfill her fantasy of walking under an umbrella together with Nagisa. 
09 "Memories"
"Kioku" (記憶) 		 May 29, 2006
The "Seven mysteries" of the Strawberry Dorms are mentioned. Nagisa and Tamao start to investigate the first mystery: "The Girl of the Hallway". 
10 "Private Lessons"
"Kojin kyoju" (個人教授) 		 June 5, 2006
Nagisa starts to prepare for the mid-year exams by getting tutored by Shizuma in the French language. Nagisa also studies very much on her own with the French language and all other courses she's taking. 
11 "Meteor Shower"
"Ryuuseiu" (流星雨) 		 June 12, 2006
Nagisa, accompanied by most of her friends, go on a short trip to the beach during "summer school". While there, everyone finds their own ways of having fun with each other and they even get to participate in a test of courage later on. Meanwhile, Nagisa is just starting to discover just how much she misses Shizuma. 
12 "Summertime"
"Natsujikan" (夏時間) 		 June 19, 2006
The month-long summer holidays have started and most of the students residing in the Strawberry Dorms are going home. This leaves Nagisa, Shizuma and a couple of others left behind. Without the interference of other students, Shizuma makes her move on Nagisa. 
13 "The Roar of the Waves"
"Shiosai" (潮騒) 		 June 26, 2006
Hikari finally gets a chance to be on a "date" with Amane. However, Kaname and Momomi again try to tear apart the new bond between them for Spica's sake at the Etoile position. In the midsts of all this, Yaya's feelings for Hikari grow even stronger. 
14 "More Than Best Friends"
"Shinyuu ijou" (親友以上) 		 July 3, 2006
Yaya's incident with Hikari causes her to fear that she has lost Hikari forever. (NOTE: This second half of the season begins with new opening and ending theme songs). 
15 "Heroine"
"Hiroin" (ヒロイン) 		 July 10, 2006
Everybody at the Strawberry Dorms is pitching in for the two plays in Astraea's Drama Festival. The main play, Carmen, is the focus of everyone's attention as everyone awaits the announcement of who is to be cast as the lead roles. The second play will be Romeo and Juliet. 
16 "Behind the Scenes"
"Butaiura" (舞台裏) 		 July 17, 2006
While everyone is still preparing for the show, there seems to be some internal struggling concerning Kaname and Momomi with the others. Later, after suffering two show-stopping events, all the students involved with the play band together and put on a show the other students will never forget. 
17 "Secret"
"Himitsu" (秘密) 		 July 24, 2006
While all three schools eagerly await the election of a new Etoile couple, Nagisa learns the truth behind this tradition and receives an unexpected invitation from Shizuma in order to find out more information about Shizuma's late partner - the deceased Etoile. 
18 "Storm of Love"
"Ai no arashi" (愛の嵐) 		 July 31, 2006
During a rainy night in Shizuma's villa, Nagisa finally learns about Kaori Sakuragi, the Etoile that passed away. However, she also makes a painful discovery of exactly how close the two Etoile were, and how their shared past is far from being a mere memory. 
19 "Refrain"
"Rifurein" (リフレイン) 		 August 7, 2006
Miyuki recounts for Nagisa the events of the past few years concerning Shizuma and the now-deceased Kaori. As she tells her story, she also touches on the effects Nagisa's coming and passing had on both Shizuma and herself. 
20 "Confession"
"Kokuhaku" (告白) 		 August 14, 2006
In the aftermath of Shizuma avoiding everyone else, a cheerful Nagisa pushes on with her life, but then falls into a state of depression and ponders if coming to Miator was a good idea, which causes Tamao to recount just why Nagisa is so important to her. Meanwhile, Nagisa's first and second year friends, concerned with her mood, decide to band together to cheer her up again. 
21 "Like a Flower"
"Hana no youni" (花のように) 		 August 21, 2006
With the end of Shizuma's tenure as Etoile approaching, she prepares to abdicate her office. A final message from Kaori forces her to reconsider her life's choices, as well as her behaviour towards other people. 
22 "Duel"
"Kettou" (決闘) 		 August 28, 2006
Preparations for the Etoile election are proceeding along and consuming more of everyone's attention. After another physical confrontation with Kaname, Hikari says something to her which motivates Kaname to challenge Amane to a game of tennis. During their match, Yaya and Hikari finally have an important discussion. 
23 "Maze"
"Meiro" (迷路) 		 September 4, 2006
To counter Amane's plans of attending the Etoile election, Miyuki makes Tamao and Nagisa an offer not to be refused - enter the game together and repeat Miator's victorious history. In the end, just how do Shizuma, Nagisa and Tamao truly feel about this turn of events? 
24 "Ring of Destiny"
"Unmei no wa" (運命の輪) 		 September 11, 2006
Amane awakens after her accident, but has suffered partial memory loss - her relationship with Hikari is apparently included in what is lost. Nagisa and Tamao enter training for the Etoile Election and get an unexpected tutor: Shizuma. 
25 "Waltz"
"Enbukyoku" (円舞曲) 		 September 18, 2006
Nagisa and Tamao continue practicing for the dance in preparation of the Etoile Election, but it will take some more of Shizuma's help to improve Nagisa's chances of becoming one of the next Etoiles. Meanwhile, Amane recovers her memories when Hikari sings the song she sang when they first met. 
26 "A Beginning"
"Hajimari" (はじまり) 		 September 25, 2006
The Etoile elections have started. After reliving her memories of the past year, Shizuma makes her final decision about her relationship with Nagisa when she tells Nagisa she loves her. The two end up 'eloping' just before the announcement of who won the election, with Tamao's somewhat sorrowful blessing. Amane and Hikari go forward together to an apparently happy future as the new Etoiles. Shizuma and Nagisa embrace and lie down together on the grass. After the ending credits, Nagisa returns to her room and she and Tamao greet each other through their closed door. 

[edit] DVD release and sales

The anime has been released in Japan periodically; the first boxset, "Strawberry Panic DVD Box I" (in regular and special editions), was released on June 23, 2006. The boxset contained the first and second episodes of the series, "Cherry Blossom Hill" and "Etoile" and sold 1,918 units as of late November 2006.[2][3] The second boxset, titled "Strawberry Panic DVD Box II" (in regular and special editions), was released on July 25, 2006, featuring the third episode "Attic", the fourth episode, "You on the White Horse", and the fifth episode, "Younger Sisters"; it sold 2,814 units as of late November 2006.[4][3] The regular and special editions of the boxset are similar in content, but the special editions are packaged in jacket sleeve, and contain an original booklet which includes other merchandise, such as portable plates and straps. The special edition includes different versions of the opening and closing themes, and deleted scenes.[5]

The third boxset, "Strawberry Panic DVD Box III", was released on August 25, 2006, featuring the sixth episode, "Greenhouse", the seventh episode, "Thorny Trap", and the eighth episode, "Hydrangeas"; it sold 2,464 units.[3] The fourth boxset, "Strawberry Panic DVD Box IV", was released on September 22, 2006, containing the ninth episode, "Memories", the tenth episode, "Private Lessons", and the eleventh episode, "Meteor Shower"; the boxset sold 2,074 units.[3] The fifth boxset, "Strawberry Panic DVD Box V", was released on October 25, 2006. The boxset contained the twelfth episode, "Summertime", the thirteenth episode, "The Roar of the Waves", and the fourteenth episode, "More than Best Friends"; the boxset sold 2,595 units.[3] The sixth boxset, "Strawberry Panic DVD Box VI", went on sale in Japan on November 24, 2006 containing the fifteenth episode, "Heroine", the sixteenth episode, "Behind the Scenes", and the seventeenth episode, "Secret"; this boxset sold 2,146 units.[3] These sales figures are as of late November 2006.[3]

The seventh boxset, "Strawberry Panic DVD Box VII", was released on December 22, 2006 and contained the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth episodes, "Storm of Love", "Refrain", and "Confession" respectively. The eighth boxset, "Strawberry Panic DVD VIII", was released on January 25, 2007. This boxset contained the twenty-first episode, "Like a Flower", the twenty-second episode "Duel", and the twenty-third episode "Labyrinth". The final boxset, "Strawberry Panic DVD Box IX", was released on February 23, 2007, featuring the twenty-fourth episode, "Ring of Destiny", the twenty-fifth episode, "Waltz", and the final episode, "A Beginning".

[edit] Reception

The one aspect critics of the Strawberry Panic anime bring up the most is that the plot and characters are taken from another yuri series that preceded it, Maria-sama ga Miteru.[6][7][8] Jeff Lawson reviewed Strawberry Panic on his blog, commenting, "As far as quality is concerned, Strawberry Panic is no Maria-sama ga Miteru, but I dare say it’s very similar to Marimite in the sense that, when it’s serious, you take it seriously, and when it’s not...well, you have some fun with it."[9]

In an overall positive review on the anime by "Shirukii", the review said, "All in all, an excellent anime, a definite recommendation to ANYONE, yuri fans or otherwise. However, if you are a yuri or shōjo ai fan, you may find the lack of actual yuri scenes disappointing. There’s some groping, kissing and occasional nude embrace, but (with a few exceptions) these scenes are mostly static and probably not what you have in mind."[6] In a review of the final episode, Omni at the Random Curiosity anime blogger had this to say: "As my friend Mentar would tell me, this is another example of a show that didn’t start off the best, but matured quite well. And as much as I hate to admit it, this finale did leave me wanting to see more."[10]

Erica Friedman is the president of Yuricon, an anime convention geared towards fans of yuri anime and manga, and ALC Publishing, a publishing house dedicated to yuri. At Friedman's "Okazu" blogger, she stated that "[the anime] turned out pretty good."[11] She goes on to say, "There’s no denying that Strawberry Panic wasn't brilliant, but considering that it was meant to be trashy, it pulled out a few moments of dignity and elegance out of the trash heap."[11]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Strawberry Panic! (TV). Anime News Network. Retrieved on 2006-06-30.
  2. ^ Strawberry Panic DVD Special Limited Box I product information at Strawberrypanic.com (Japanese). Retrieved on 2006-06-30.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g AnimeSuki forums with Strawberry Panic DVD sales figures. Retrieved on 2007-03-07.
  4. ^ Strawberry Panic DVD Special Limited Box II product information at Strawberrypanic.com (Japanese). Retrieved on 2006-06-30.
  5. ^ List of Strawberry Panic products at Strawberrypanic.com (Japanese). Retrieved on 2006-06-30.
  6. ^ a b Strawberry Panic review at Anime blog ga Arimasu. Retrieved on 2007-03-10.
  7. ^ Comparison between Strawberry Panic and Maria-sama ga Miteru. Retrieved on 2007-03-10.
  8. ^ Friedman, Erica (April 11, 2006). Okazu: Yuri Anime: Strawberry Panic. Retrieved on 2007-02-03.
  9. ^ Jeff Lawson's anime blog. Retrieved on 2007-03-10.
  10. ^ Random Curiosity blog on the final episode. Retrieved on 2007-03-10.
  11. ^ a b Friedman, Erica (September 28, 2006). Okazu: Yuri Anime: Strawberry Panic. Retrieved on 2007-03-03.

[edit] External links

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