My Hime/My-Otome/My-Otome Zwei Triple Threat! (Blu-Ray Review)

Jan 25

By: MithrandielAfter 2 decades+ of anime fandom, I can say the following without a hint of shame or remorse:Damn. I love me some magical girls.That's right! The genre that kicked off with Sailor Moon has seen some impressive representations in the last 10+ years, including Puella Magi Madoka Magica, which really altered a lot of fans' expectations on what to expect from magical girl series.One of the series that still stands out to me is the My-Hime universe. Released in the early 2000s, My Hime, My Otome and later, My Otome: ZWEI constructed an interesting and dynamic world with crisp animation, engaging characters and a well-paced plot.Thanks to Funimation, the series is enjoying a new life in the form of a blu-ray release, and I'm here to check out these new sets!

Blu-Ray Set Review

Here they are! Pretty crisp cover art for all of them, though the sets themselves don't have alternate cover art like most of the other sets we've seen. There's something about the thicker boxes that I like, even though it doesn't have anything extra in this case, it just fills a bookcase a lot better than your standard blu-ray sized sleeve. Inside are both the blu-ray and DVD iterations of the series spread over a total of 7 discs. It does feature a director's cut of episode 26, which provides quite a treat for fans interested in...service.The My Hime: My Otome box set is of similar design, including a useful extra that helps distinguish the My Hime and My Otome universes. No directors cuts here...but there's still plenty to enjoy! Finally, there's the OVA collection of My Otome Zwei and My Otome 0, which expands on the My Otome universe on both ends. Zwei is a 4-episode epilogue OVA that introduces a new and fiercely powerful enemy for Arika and her colleagues to battle. My Otome 0 is a prequel that sheds light on the battles that Arika and Nina's mother's faced long before they were born.Overall, this collection is well built, with a couple extra nuggets to provide additional lore. If you're looking for a solid magical girl series to round out your collection, Funimation's recent revival of the My Hime universe is a great place to go. While it won't provide the same emotional punch or production quality as Madoka Magica, it's a fun and well-animated series worthy of your attention.You can pick up the series on Funimation's website here.