The appeal and evaluation of "My-Otome 0~S.ifr~": The unknown depth of the story

My-Otome 0 ~S.ifr~ Review and details

Overview

"My-Otome 0 ~S.ifr~" is an OVA produced by Sunrise, with a total of three episodes released between February 22, 2008 and November 21 of the same year. This work is a spin-off of the "My-Otome" series, and depicts the exploits of Lena Sayers, the mother of the main character Arika, in her younger days. Set on the planet Earl, the story unfolds of an orphaned girl named Shifuru and a gentleman in black named Bruce who saves her.

■ Story

The planet Airl once possessed scientific power beyond the galaxy, but is now in the twilight of its civilization. After a period of war, humanity entrusted military power to young girls called "Otome," who maintained order. Meanwhile, Shifuru, a young girl who admires Otome, is about to be kidnapped by the mysterious organization "Schwarz," but is rescued by Bruce, a gentleman in black, and his maid Lena. Shifuru heads for Windbloom with Bruce, but her origins and hidden powers spark a conspiracy. When Shifuru bursts into tears, the moment arrives when the legendary Otome "Lena Sayers" soars into the sky.

■Explanation

"My-Otome 0 ~S.ifr~" is a work that depicts the era in which Rena, the mother of Arika, the heroine of the "My-Otome" series, is active. The story centers on Shifuru, an orphaned but strong-willed girl, and depicts the movements of conspiracies, organizations, and nations that seek the power hidden within her. When Shifuru bursts into tears, the legendary maiden "Lena Sayers" will fly into the sky, and the wheel of fate will begin to move. This work is a valuable opportunity for fans of the "My-Otome" series to learn about Rena's past.

■Cast

• Lena Sayers/Aya Endo
• Chifur Franc/Ami Koshimizu
• Elliot Chandler/Yuko Sanpei
• Bruce Wallace/Ryotaro Okiayu
• Raquel Mayor/Miri Chihara
• Sister Shion / Eri Kitamura
• Oona Shamrock/Houko Kuwashima
• M-9/Iguchi Yuka
• Kid/Tetsuya Kakihara
• Blanking/Yuji Ueda
• John Smith/Osamu Saka

■ Main staff

• Planning: Sunrise
• Original author: Hajime Yatate
• Director, character design, animation director: Hirokazu Hisayuki
• Series composition, script by Tatsuto Higuchi
• Creature design: Kazutaka Miyatake, Junichi Akutsu
• Guest mecha design: Hiroyuki Taiga, Masahiko Kaneda
• Set design: Tomoyuki Aoki
• Title logo design/Makoto Kamata
• Art Director: Masato Miyake
• Color design: Sayoko Yokoyama
• Director of photography: Takashi Suehiro
• Edited by Kazuhiko Seki
• Music by Kuniaki Haishima
• Music producer/Shunji Inoue
• Music Production: Lantis
• Sound Director: Satoshi Nakajima
• Sound Production/Techno Sound
• Producers: Naotake Furusato, Hisanori Kunizaki
• Produced by Sunrise
• Produced by Sunrise, Bandai Visual
• Publisher: Bandai Visual

■ Main Characters

• Lena Sayers Age 16 Height 160cm Weight 47kg Measurements B86/W54/H83
  A Meister Maiden who serves the Wind royal family. This talented young woman has rewritten all the records in the history of the maiden training school, Garderobe, but this is her rookie year. She is worried and afraid of her own overwhelming power.
• Sifr Fran Age 14 Height 148cm Weight 41kg Measurements B73/W53/H79
  A 14-year-old high school student in Aries. She is rescued by Bruce and his friends when she is about to be kidnapped by Schwarz. Having lost her only living relative, her mother, she is now all alone in the world, but she is a bright and cheerful girl who doesn't let that show.
• Bruce Wallace Age 21 Height 184cm Weight 75kg The gentleman in black who rescued Shifuru from Schwartz. A witty and energetic young man.
• Raquel Mayor Age 17 Height 156cm Weight 48kg Measurements B90/W57/H84
  A Meister Maiden who serves Sister Shion, she is a classmate of Rena and Elliot. She is cheerful and always smiling, making her the mood maker of the group.
• Sister Shion Age 17 Height 162cm Weight 46kg Measurements B80/W56/H82
  She is a priest dispatched by the Earl Church, the oldest religious organization on the planet Earl, and the master of Meister Raquel. A beautiful girl with an intellectual aura.
• Elliot Chandler Age 16 Height 158cm Weight 46kg Measurements B84/W56/H82
  She is one of the Five Otohime who serve under Garderobe. She secretly(?) has feelings for her former classmate, Rena, but is torn between her duties and her friendship.
• Oona Shamrock Age 21 Height 166cm Weight 51kg Measurements B88/W58/H85
  He is the principal of Garderobe and one of the Five Pillars himself. Schwarz's actions make him question Shifuru's origins.
• John Smith Age: 50 Height: 175 cm Weight: 68 kg Real name unknown. Schwarz's negotiator and de facto operational commander.
• Kid Age 19 Height 165cm Weight 59kg Real name unknown. A direct subordinate of Smith who plans to kidnap Shifur. John Smith who will later fight against Arika and the others.
• Female Slave Lord Smith's bodyguard who controls ray-like slaves.
• Blankin Estimated age: 36 Height: 210cm Weight: 620kg A combat cyborg from the Aswad fighting group. Rena and her friends' current rival.
• Katz A cyborg from the Aswad fighting group. A subordinate of Brankin. He toyed with his enemies with his quick movements.
• Rambos A cyborg from the Aswad fighting group. A subordinate of Brankin. He is good at catching his enemies off guard with tricky attacks.
• M-9
  Age: unknown
  Height 153cm Weight 78kg Measurements B77/W55/H77
  An old-fashioned combat android unearthed by Schwarz. It awakened in response to Shiful's blood. It is Schwarz's trump card, and despite its delicate appearance as a young girl, it has combat abilities that surpass those of Meister Otome.
• M-9R
  Age: unknown
  Height 153cm Weight 81kg Measurements B77/W55/H78
  An upgraded form of the M-9 based on combat data with Rena (Lone Crimson Jade).
• Ray Juggernaut Age: 20 Height: 169cm Weight: 48kg Measurements: B81/W57/H82
  She is one of the five maidens who possess the "Olive Stone of Sorrow." She is Una's assistant and the leader of the five maidens.
• Kyoko Tsumabuki Age 19 Height 161cm Weight 46kg Measurements B86/W56/H83
  The fourth of the five pillars who possesses the "Whirlwind Red Crystal." Garderobe's greatest fighter.
• Irma Vandeveld Age 18 Height 150cm Weight 40kg Measurements B75/W53/H74
  The five maidens who possess the "Silver Crystal of Ice and Snow."
• Maria Greisbert Age 39 Height 162cm Weight 48kg Measurements B84/W57/H81
  A teacher at Garderobe, she is also a maiden who possesses the "Eternal Jasper." Even the school principal, Una, has high regard for her, making her a leading figure at Garderobe.
• Miyu Height 157cm Weight 85kg Measurements B83/W56/H81
  An android that has been watching over Lena's family since before the immigration calendar. It begins pursuing its sister machine, M-9, in order to destroy it.
• Sakura Hazakura Age 17 Height 150cm Weight 42kg Measurements B78/W54/H76
  The third princess of Taiyuan and a Meister Maiden who is one year older than Rena and the others. She encounters Bruce and his group on their travels and becomes involved in the incident.
• Grand Duke of Altai Age 20 Master of Sakura and ruler of Altai. In this era, he was allied with Taiyuan and exchanged maidens. Known for his lust, he had six wives and left a dozen children with them, and after his death, Altai was in chaos for a long time.
• Shiro Age 18 Height 170cm Weight 60kg A young biologist who continues his research alone in the desert. He helps Lena who was injured in the battle with M-9.
• Reito Age: 10 Height: 121cm Weight: 24kg Shiro's cheeky younger brother.

■Subtitle

• Episode 1: If you look away, you'll die (2008/02/22)
• Episode 2: Hime and Otome (2008/07/25)
• Episode 3: I Want to Live (2008/11/21)

■ Related works

• My-HiME
• My-Otome
• My-Otome Collection: Dream Arika
• My-Otome Collection: Dream of Tsuzuki
• My-Otome Zwei
• My-Otome short anime
• Mai-Otome Maiden's Prayer

■ Theme songs and music

• TM1
  Period/1
  Finality blue
  Lyrics by Aki Hata, Music by Masanori Takumi, Arrangement by Masanori Takumi, Singer by Minami Kuribayashi
• TM2
  Period/2
  Heart All Green
  Lyrics: Minami Kuribayashi Composition: Shinya Saito Arrangement: Shinya Saito Singer: Minami Kuribayashi
• TM3
  Period/3
  It was here Lyrics: Aki Hata Composition: Katsuhiko Kurosu Arrangement: Katsuhiko Kurosu Singer: Minami Kuribayashi

■Review

"My-Otome 0 ~S.ifr~" is a very interesting work for fans of the "My-Otome" series. It is particularly appealing in that it depicts the exploits of Lena Sayers, the mother of the main character Arika, in her younger days. Lena's character is portrayed as someone who possesses great powers but also struggles with them, and her humanity is explored in depth. The appearance of a new character, Shifuru, also adds a freshness to the story. Shifuru is an orphaned but cheerful and lively girl, and her growth and adventures will captivate viewers.

The story begins with Shifur being kidnapped by Schwarz, set against the backdrop of the twilight of the civilization of the planet Airu. The scene where Bruce, the gentleman in black, and his maid Lena rescue Shifur is full of tension and thrills. Shifur's origins and hidden powers are at the center of the story, which depicts the movements of conspiracies, organizations, and nations. In particular, the moment Shifur bursts into tears and the scene where the legendary maiden "Lena Sayers" dances in the sky are very moving and will capture the hearts of viewers.

The character designs are by Hirokazu Hisayuki, and each character's personality is expressed well. Lena's design in particular is both strong and beautiful, making her visually very appealing. Shiful's design also expresses her brightness and strength well. The creature and mecha designs are brought to life in the battle scenes, creating a visual impact.

The music is also an element that enhances the appeal of the work. The theme songs "Finality Blue," "Heart All Green," and "It Was Here" are sung by Minami Kuribayashi, and add to the atmosphere of the story. "Finality Blue" in particular is a deep song that reflects Rena's inner thoughts, stirring the emotions of the viewer. The background music is also used appropriately to match the development of the story, enriching the viewing experience.

Overall, My-Otome 0 ~S.ifr~ is a must-watch for fans of the My-Otome series. Learning about Rena's past will give you a deeper understanding of the series as a whole. The new characters and story are also fascinating, and may attract new fans to the series. Despite being in the OVA format, the content is very substantial and will surely satisfy viewers.

■Recommendation

"My-Otome 0 ~S.ifr~" is recommended not only for fans of the "My-Otome" series, but also for viewers who like science fiction, fantasy, and action. It is especially perfect for those who like stories with strong female characters. It is also a compact OVA format with only three episodes, so even those who don't have much time can easily enjoy it. Please experience the exploits of Lena Sayers in her younger days and the adventures of Shifuru through this work.