Gakuen Alice ep.1

November 1, 2004 | 13 Comments

If you're interested, there are some scans from various anime magazine on the series info page. Ditto with other October anime series' info sections. Anyway, this episode turns out to be a rather good first episode. If you like Kodomo no Omocha I think you'll be amused at this little title. The choice of colors for the animation are also appropriate with bright colors dominating most of the scenes. Opening and Ending theme-wise, there's nothing out of the ordinary here. In fact, the opening makes the series looks too kiddy. Teddy also looks kind of crappy here. If you see the manga version, it actually has furs. Here, however, it looks as if someone has shaved its body or something.

The episode starts out differently from the manga with Mikan trying to prevent her school from being closed down. She then begins to memorise the time when she first met Hotaru in the 3rd grade and how the two became close ever since. One day, however, Hotaru tells Mikan that she's leaving for a school in Tokyo called Alice Academy. Mikan is devastated upon finding out about this and becomes worried when her friends mentioned that the place is similar to a prison because even your parents can only see you after graduation. Another friend mentioned that since Hotaru is an 'Alice' it's possible that they send her there so people can protect her. There's also whispers that Hotaru's parents have been moving from one place to another because they have to run away from something.

In the end, Mikan can't stand being separated from Hotaru any longer and decides to go to Tokyo herself. Upon arriving there, however, two older guys try to trick her into coming with them. Thankfully before anything can happen, a blonde-haired guy appears and claims to be a teacher from Alice Academy. Mikan and the other two guys think that he's a liar but before the two guys can take Mikan with them in their car, the blonde-haired guy uses his power to convince the guys to leave Mikan behind. When he's about to use his power on Mikan so she'll go back to her hometown, however, he fails. As a result, he decides to take Mikan with him to Alice Academy. While on their way to the Academy, however, someone throws some kind of explosion on the street. Once the dust settles, the blond-haired guy tells Mikan that the person is none other than one of the Academy's students, Hyuuga Natsume.

Impression:

Ever since I read the manga, for some reason I developed an immediate dislike to Hotaru. It's just that sometimes I get the impression that she looks down on Mikan and only sees her as a tool or excess baggage. Admittedly, Mikan is not the easiest person to be with. She's loud, noisy and quite hyperactive. But I think it's perfectly normal for someone of her age. I don't know why they tone down Hotaru's atttitude in the anime version but she certainly becomes more likeable here. It makes me wonder how the animators will approach the chapter where the two eventually meet again. It's also nice to see that Natsume already making an appearance in this episode. I hope they won't tone his bad attitude down like they do to Hotaru though because that's what makes him interesting. If you think Hayama of Kodocha is one little devil, wait till you see the things that Natsume does to torture Mikan and others.

Posted by Garten

Comments

November 4, 2004 | Tsukinoko wrote:

Please! Tell me this is downloadable!!! I have followed Gakuen Arisu from when it started coming out as a Manga. I currently have all five out so far and am scheming to get the sixth when it comes out on November 19th (although I'll have to wait another month more as it takes that long to get to Sydney...). But! It has been a big favourite ever since I started and I'm DYING to see it a.s.a.p! I know it only started last Saturday, but when it comes available online, someone tell me pleeeeeez!

Thankyou,
Tsukinoko ^.~*

tsukinoko@hotmail.com

November 4, 2004 | Garten wrote:

The raw torrent is available at this place. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any seed at the moment. But since Naisho is going to sub the title, I assume this series will come up on Animesuki soon.

November 4, 2004 | ume wrote:

Hi, your page came up while I was looking to see if anyone else out there watching Gakuen Alice. And, rest assured, you're not the only one to see similarities between this and Kodocha. :) I'm really excited to see this get animated, because hopefully it will increase the number of fans here in w-fandom.

It's probably just a difference of opinion, or perhaps you haven't read much of the manga? I was always under the impression that while Hotaru seems to treat Mikan coldly, it's only on the surface. In fact, she does take care of Mikan quite a bit, and she softens up more when she's around Mikan. It has more to do with the fact that Hotaru doesn't relate to people well and isn't able to express her emotions well either. She kind of lacks the whole ability to intereact socially with other humans in a normal manner.

So, what the anime does, as almost all anime does, is make this (and other things) more imediately obvious to the viewer.

Anyways, sorry about the long babbly comment. ^^; I'm just glad to see that there are other people watching this. :D

November 4, 2004 | Garten wrote:

I've only read the first volume of the manga so that's why I don't know much about Hotaru just yet. I should really read more but I haven't got the chance yet. I' m glad to know there' s a reason behind that cold atttitude.

I don't mind with the comment. Feel free to do so again in the future. I'll like to know what hardcore fans of this series think of the animated version. BTW, what does 'w-fandom' stands for?

I know what you're saying about the anime makes things more obvious for the non-readers because the same thing happens to some of the other series this season (ie.Bleach)

November 5, 2004 | ume wrote:

Well, I hope you do eventually get a chance to read more of Gakuen Alice. :)

Anyways, w-fandom, stands for western fandom.

November 12, 2004 | neko wrote:

i hope somebody releases a soft sub that goes with the raw episode, i would really like to see this!

November 15, 2004 | Tsukasa-chan wrote:

I really need the sub version :/

December 15, 2004 | Tsukinoko wrote:

Mikan-chan speaks with a Kansai dialect - my most favouritist and most practised Japanese!

Tsukinoko ^.~*

P.S. Looks like the DVD's in the development stage already! otanoshimi!

March 14, 2005 | Chris wrote:

I've had a look at the first volume of the manga. The manga doesn't work for me at all. I find the anime version much better, it's funnier, easier to follow and I prefer its modified character designs. Maybe it's my missing imagination but I think it's the voices and the animation that make it funny for me. In the manga, Hotaru wasn't really funny, in my opinion.

April 6, 2005 | priscilla wrote:

i love this and i have just seen it for the first time. i think all the characters are well put. i have always loved over the top funny anime and romantic like love hina, preater, paradise kiss, princess ai, and so on

May 23, 2005 | nitra wrote:

im looking forward to redaing this book i never herd of it before now so i would like to find the manga or anime some wear to enjoy it what i dont get is how do aamericans get the manga or anime from asia or pacific because i really dont know what goes on over there plus do tokyo have a stion just for anime just like in america we would have disney channel or CARTOON NET WORK give me the 411

April 13, 2006 | vanessa wrote:

i really like this anime! it's my favorite actually, i'm just glad that they air it on animax. alice academy is in english version here so i don't have to look at the subtitles and the graphics at the same time, no hassles! anyways, it's not just alice academy but chronicles of the wings, detective conan and fushigiyuugi (a.k.a. curious play) too, may i say many more?! i mean a lot of awesome animes. i'm really an anime fan so i'll be glad to share some comments and the like...

December 14, 2007 | blanca wrote:

hi perdon pero me gustaria saber si alguien supiera si alguien sabe como puedo conceguir el manga o si hay mas episodeio porque yo ya he visto la serie y me gustaria saber si hay mas episodios por favor me gustaria saber lo me gusto mucho la serie al vertlo y me encantari saber si hay mas episodios y ver el manga porf avor me dirian
atte
blanca