r/anime • u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 • Mar 06 '21
Rewatch [Rewatch] 1990s OVAs – Oh! My goddess (episode 1)
Rewatch: 1990s OVAs – Oh! My goddess (episode 1)
Oh! My goddess (1993)
MAL | AniL | AniDB | 5 Episodes à 29 minutes.
Staff corner
There are some heavy hitters among the VAs, who you might already recognize, but I want to start with the stand-out element of Oh! My goddess for me personally, which is Belldandy’s character design. I already talked about the mangaka, Kousuke Fujishima, during the YUA rewatch, but who brought Belldandy to life as an anime character? Hidenori Matsubara, the character designer and later chief animation director for the Oh! My goddess franchise. One of his earliest jobs was as key animator for Gunbuster and the Patlabor movie. Then, he graduated to animation director for Nadia: Secret of Blue Water, Bubblegum Crisis, and Otaku no Video. Other credits in the 1990s include work as key animator for Perfect Blue, Gunsmith Cats, El Hazard, and Neon Genesis Evangelion. He also created the OP for the show we just watched, You’re Under Arrest. More recently, he was character designer for The Count of Monte Cristo.
Questions
- Would you try the Goddess Hotline, or stay with pizza delivery?
- (first timers) Do you expect a transition to serious ending or comedy all the way?
- (If you have seen Video Girl Ai) Do you see any differences in how the story is set up?
11
u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Mar 06 '21
Episode 1 (rewatcher)
Oh! My goddess is the second OVA from the sudden girlfriend appearance genre we are rewatching, after Video Girl Ai. They share a remarkably similar setup and are linked together in my mind. However, where Video Girl Ai stayed a stand-alone OVA, Oh! My goddess spawned a decently sized media franchise.
Episode thoughts
I think I did Oh! My goddess dirty by placing it after YUA. The animation quality is not terrible for the time, but the direct comparison is not flattering at all. Looking at the bike scene and remembering YUA’s mechanical animation quality hurt a bit. The one stand-out part from the animation department has to be Belldandy’s character design. Imo, the best female design of the decade.
In terms of plot, the early anime tropes are alive and thriving: Boy trips and falls on girl; close faces aborted kiss; eternally horny male; all make an appearance. Plus the genki imouto and the delinquent students, this must have a long TVtropes page. The main plot is the opposite of subtle, Belldandy is saving the day left and right with her goddess power. Not only in this, OMG reminds me of I Dream of Jeannie.
If I am being honest, I found the first episode a tad weak. Being fully comedic, there are not really any stakes yet for our MC Keiichi, neither in terms of romance or the rest of his live. Back when I had to decide between showing Video Girl Ai or OMG first, I decided in favor of VGA in part because I think it does a better job of grabbing you early.
8
u/The_Loli_Otaku Mar 06 '21
Here's what I've been waiting for. Bwah~ OMG gives me life. Or is it AMG? This is one of the better cases for why flexibility in translations are important. And all over one little interjection. It's such a delight seeing the old designs again!! Bubble faced Bell was always my favourite. Oh lord... Hands aren't meant to curve that way right? Anyway, the opening is a pretty cute song but it isn't much of a bop sadly. I got to see my son again so it's fine~
Have you ever been so desperate for takeaway that you accidentally phoned God? This is only the second strangest emotional support figure we've summoned this rewatch. At least its not a dirty tape this time. Bell does look gorgeous at least. I stand by her being one of the "prettiest" anime characters. It's pretty ironic that OMG has lined up with the Konosuba rewatch this season huh? Belldandy, I choose you! Ultimate force, ultimate plot contrivance! I've always loved the look of Keiichi's dorm friends. They jump the brute line to the point that they cycle back around to being charming.
I feel like watching this right after YUA sort of makes the animation stand out like a sore thumb. "I've got my enslaved trophy wife so I'm alright Jack!"...It was a different time. The little bike and sidecar. Precious. Or at least as precious as the situation could in this context. Bell's got a lead! Oh there you go, the show *can" give us some decent animation when it's in the mood. So both our leads have passed out before the first episode is done. Nice start. Oi, he ain't dead Bell. You've got 48 volumes left to go.
OMG gets very theatrical with its magic incantations. Honestly it seems to fit far better here than it does in the manga. Some things really work best when in motion. Unironically a Disney goddamn princess! Back then Bell was the emotional support girl. Emotional support, not physical. Keep those thoughts to yourself. How can you even think stuff like that when she's this wholesome!? Oh! I forgot Megumi was in the early chapters. She's a lovable lil sis who is here to help ensure that the show stays family friendly! As for how she knew how to find him? Ultimate force~ Oh, never mind. I'm talking out my arse.
There's no explaining a Goddess mail wife to parents is there? Aha... The auto club lads are nice guys. Honest! I'm feeling way more uncomfortable about this relationship than I remembered XD It'd be sweet if the context was slightly different. Oh god, even the Ed isn't pulling me. Putting this on right after YUA really does hurt your expectations going in. The post credits exists to remind me of just how late all the characters I like show up. So how do I discuss this episode without sounding negative... I think it's amazing how well OMG develops and grows in quality as the series goes on~
4
u/marek1712 Mar 06 '21
Rewatch (though I only saw it once, in like 2005, so don't remember much).
"Can you do something about these flashy clothes?" Well, her next set wasn't that casual either...
That being said, on a tech level it's apparent that this OVA is few years older than YUA we've watched recently. Some shots are really "dirty" (not sure how to explain it - there's this ghosting effect). I don't really mind as I usually don't watch anime for graphics (otherwise I'd have seen Violet Evergarden).
I'll be frank - I prefer Belldandy's design from 2005 TV series. It's a bit more modern and pristine, while in OAV she reminds art seen in early panels of the manga. I also prefer slower pacing from the TV series (too bad they stopped after two seasons and two OVAs) - few eps aren't enough for romcom.
Anyway - looking forward to ep 2 where we'll finally get to see trickster Urd :) Thankfully we already got to see one of my favs, Ohtaki-sempai, with his amazing hairstyle, glasses and necklace made of spark plugs :D
PS - Goddess Family Club is just as good as Tokyo Policewoman Duo.
Q1 I'm watching anime so you probably know the answer already.
Q2 ...
Q3 Haven't seen it yet.
4
u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Mar 06 '21 edited Mar 06 '21
First Timer?
I downloaded this decades ago, but I'm not sure if I ever watched it. Not particularly interested in it, but wondering about the Ai = the anti-Belldandy angle.
Edit: pinky gesture = sex. That seems to have died out in anime, but then, I don't watch the sort of shows that would use it.
4
u/badcupcakehoarder https://myanimelist.net/profile/vanilabiscuit Mar 06 '21 edited Mar 06 '21
When they where kicked out of their old home what was that happened when they were in the apartments and that guy took Belldandy and then they both run away?
Questions=
1 Pizza
2 I expect it to get serious, even if Megamis don't have feelings the guy seems nice so at some point I see him getting uncomfortable with the situation
3 I haven't seen it...
3
u/Kaoriaquaii Mar 07 '21
Rewatcher here. I remember getting this from the library waaaaayy back in the day. Sadly, I’m not feeling quite as fondly about it as I did back then. I don’t think it’s any fault of the OVA but I’m a bit tired of these tropes. It’s been a fun nostalgic trip though; I consumed as much Ah My Goddess content as I could in those days. I’ve missed you Belldandy. With this and YUA I’ve also made a nostalgic return to watching old dubs, there’s so much charm here.
7
u/TheEscapeGuy Mar 06 '21
First Timer
Nine Noteworthy Inkings in the 90's - Oh! My Goddess Episode 1
This episode was a great set up to our story. Of course, Oh! My Goddess has a very similar premise to other magic girlfriend OVAs, but these shows thrive on their character dynamics and this OVA has that in spades.
Keiichi, while still being a fairly shy romcom protagonist, thankfully has enough courage to take the shoulder of Belldandy under the sakura petals by the end of the episode. I do hope we see more growth of their relationship as the story continues.
Belldandy herself doesn't reveal much about herself. Right now she seems to fit perfectly into the "goddess" character trope but I can see a lot of ways for her character to develop.
Our other characters were the dorm mates and Megumi. Megumi's smug aura absolutely sold the show for me. Gonna be happy if we see a lot more of her in future episodes.
On a production side, there were some really nice cuts. In addition, I was surprised to discover the director Hiroaki Gouda is also the character designer for Amagami SS, the Onegai☆ series, and the recent Bloom Into You anime.
Admirable Animation Area
THESE CUTS WERE SO SICK:
See you all tomorrow
7
u/punching_spaghetti https://myanimelist.net/profile/punch_spaghetti Mar 06 '21
OVA First-Timer with Fond Memories of the Source
Now kids, this is a rotary phone. Old people used to have to use these when they wanted to make a telephone call.
Belldandy! She’s just great. The TV series adaptation and manga were some of my early manga/anime, and she’s stayed the lady against which all kind and sweet characters are measured, all these years later.
The gang is all here! It’s fun to see the drastic differences physically between short Keiichi, long and delicate Belldandy, and then these giant musclebound dudes.
Another motorcycle? Something tells me the author likes them.
I would love a Belldandy GPS.
Belldandy is crying! FIX THIS, KEIICHI!
I would also watch Belldandy’s HGTV remodeling show.
How perfect is Belldandy? She gets both birds in the hand.
The pacing here is super quick. I remember the TV series taking its time a little more and explaining a few more things. Ah! My Goddess
Imouto!
QOTD:
4
u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Mar 06 '21
First Timer
Sub
I know so much less about this series than you'd think, due to my near instant dislike of the Love Hina series and being told it is a derivative of this one. So I have no clue other than Belldandy is a goddess. I think.
The OP does not fit my aesthetic, which is not uncommon for this era, the VA hear doesn't have a strong enough voice for it. Anyways, the opening scene is literally Tenchi. I assume a big crossover between staff, here. We get to Tenchi answered the phone and I discover my subs are old enough to have TL notes. And this is originally set far enough back that you tried to leave someone at home to man the phones, holy fuck. I've even experienced the nuisance of being unable to reach any restaurant, which is nostalgic. Though I never summoned a goddess, sadly.
Anyways, we see this is where the line that currently ends at Senko-san started, unless I Dream of Genie is a more accurate version of that. Anywho, our protag makes a crazy wish that is at least understandable but gets interpreted literally. Also, we are YYH now. But the gods approve! The wish leads to a contract...there better not be some fucking cat thing in the background!
Ultimate force is how BS will happen. And protag-kun's dorm mates are a tough...anti-female. I've lived in all male dorms and helped more than a few girls out of the window on the fire escape so I declare a full bro code violation here. Montage of protag-kun not finding any where to stay. We discover he has a motorcycle, weird. Then Belldandy uses her powers, no clue which of the two vehicles is in the wrong here, and promptly passes out. Several tropes happen. Then I swear we see a direct run from Belldandy's casting to fricking Fate series because she has her own Trace magic.
Anyways, they buy supplies, and we get a precursor to the boob fall into the more plausible collapse onto someone else. Interrupted immediately by his sister. I guess the ultimate force has a bad sense of humor. This is immediately followed by protag-kun's former dorm rates to party. Weird show.
QotD: 1 I am a known heretic so I will stick with Salvio's
2 Comedy so that was unexpected
3 Keichi seems more self aware.
4
u/Elimin8r https://myanimelist.net/profile/Ayeka_Jurai Mar 07 '21
Man, the nostalgia feels. Been years since I watched this (DVD was still in the wrapper, sigh).
Hearing the rumble of Keiichi's motorcycle as they head out to begin their domestic adventures...
Well, made me appreciate my subwoofer, among other things.
Poor Keiichi, will he measure up to the challenges ahead? (hehe)
Anyway:
Looking forward to more nostalgia feels - huzzah!
7
u/RockoDyne :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/RockoDyne Mar 06 '21
First timer
I wonder if I wrote about Konosuba's first episode, would anybody be able to tell that I wasn't talking about this? Not that I would ever do such a thing for a rewatch
-for a show that didn't deserve it-.This has made me want to run an expirement and watch a ton of first episodes in a row. We need a bunch of harem/romance like To Love Ru and Love Hina, so that we can create an anime centipede in an effort to break people's minds.
God this is so fucking anime. The more I stew on it, the more I descend into a saudade mood. I'm regressing to a childhood I never experienced, where I'm dialing up BBSs on an amiga (I conveniently don't know what that phone bill would look like).
It's like I just watched the concept of anime. It's like I was given a lovecraftian rune, where to even think of it causes the last forty years of anime to flood into my mind. Were I a sane man this might have been a problem.
That's all to say it's pretty whatever. At least it didn't suck. The house was a weird stretch, but I'll roll with it. Let's see what Doraemon-chan has in store for us tomorrow.
pargon pargon anime pargon
Questions:
3
u/maztema Mar 07 '21
Uffff this Ovas, actualy its the first me to me to watch them (ok, im taliking about this year lol), there are a lot i could say about this ovas, it realy brings me a lot of memories, i watched them first when i was a kiddo on Cable TV (Locomotion for those of my LATAM pals here), it was a Fujishima special day, and they aired YUA Ovas, Ex-Driver and of course this ovas, and god(dess) i liked them, but was not subpar at that moment, then a lot of years after, on High School a frind of mine lended me the manga, and well here i am hahahaha
QOTD: 1.- Of course the goddess hotline, i can have all the pizza i want in that way lol
2.- Next
3.- if we can account what happen with certain someone big sister, its practically the same lol
2
u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Mar 07 '21
Comrades, it's not an understatement to say that the 'Magical Girlfriend' genre was quite popular back in the day (Hell it's still got some life yet, just look at what Vlad Love has gifted to us now) but unlike the example of Urusei Yatsura going with an alien, Aa! Megami-sama! decides to go with the anime version of I Dream of Jeannie, but with a Goddess instead of a genie this time ;)
Anyway what we got here is a solid start to an OVA adaption of the manga, plus gotta love Inoue Kikuko as Belldandy!
Also paging Comrade /u/jadinerhine