Customer Rating: 
Summary: Amazing anime, one of those hidden gems.
Comment: I have seen a lot of anime from a lot of different genre, and My-HiME stands out from the rest as one of the best anime I have seen. I will not give away any details to make sure not to spoil anything, but this anime has it all. It has teenage drama, action, mecha, lots of types of humor, really sad heartfelt moments, a great plot and really good character development. It also has a great soundtrack that fits most scenes perfectly, from soothing piano, to fast paced technoish battle songs, to some eerie tracks that just add to certain moments.
Now for those of you who don't like mecha, this isn't typical mecha, the ones in here are companions to the girls called HiME, not battle suits like most anime of that genre. While they do play a crucial role in the series, the series isn't centered around fighting, it's more about the emotion.
The series can be split into 3 sections. The first 7 episodes might seem a bit slow moving, but this is good as this anime has a lot of characters. These episodes each focus on a few of them so that the viewer gets to know a bit about them, get a feel for them and what they are like so that you will remember them as they appear later on. The story spends enough time with almost all the characters, and involves them with each other so that you actually want to know what happens to everyone, not just the ones that the story spends a bit more time with.
At episode 8, the anime dives deep into it's story. It starts to get really involved with it's intense, somewhat dark plot full of lots of unexpected twists that'll keep you watching.
A little while later things really change, but I won't say any more about that.
Overall this anime was a perfect balance of everything for me. I will admit that it has a few elements that some may not like (the ending being one of them), but it's impossible to please everyone. I personally enjoyed My-HiME from beginning to end. I call this anime one of those hidden gems because it never really got noticed here in North America, partly cause of the way it was released over here and the fact that they skipped the box set release after the single DVD's came out, waited two years, then released this Anime Legends box set.
I would also like to note that there is a an anime related to this. It's called My-Otome. I would not call it a sequel as it does not involve any of the events from this one, but for the most part all the same characters return with slightly different looks, some slightly different names, but in a more technologically advanced world with a whole new adventure. Some call this an alternate world spinoff, but there are little easter eggs in the series and it's OVA sequel and prequel that suggest that it's far off in the future and that the main characters are distant descendants of the ones in My-HiME. My-Otome has one big difference however in it's presentation. While the returning characters retain their attitudes more or less in this series, most of the brand new characters have more immature and childish attitudes than in My-HiME. It has a lot more silly and child-like humor which can get a bit annoying so that when the story gets serious way later on, you don't really have the same in-depth feel for each character. The story isn't as dark in My-Otome either, which is good for itself because the transition from it's happy silly nature to a dark plot would be way too awkward of a change for the viewer.
Nevertheless My-Otome, it's sequel My-Otome Zwei, and prequel My-Otome 0 are all worth a watch. Still I feel that even though the Otome series seems to be getting a lot more attention, My-HiME was still the better series in almost all aspects.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Surprise hit in my eyes
Comment: My-Hime at first was the typical girl with powers but as I came upon the second half of the series it got darker and things were revealed that I wasn't aware of. This is one of those sleeper hits that most anime enthusiast might bypass but its not. I highly recommend this title.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Worth the waiting for.
Comment: Every three centuries the powers that be draw twelve 'battle maidens' to the cursed land of Fuka where they fight each other using monstrous 'Children' to determine which is strongest. The strongest maiden, or Hime, will gain the power to control the Hime-Star which will otherwise devastate the Planet Earth. The weaker eleven will each lose that which is most precious to them, that is the person who is dearest to them.
If Mai-Hime is about anything it's about the choices you make and facing up to the consequences of them.
The time for the ritual combat has come around again and Mai Tokiha will be facing some unforeseen consequences to her decision to accept a scholarship for herself and younger brother Takumi at Fuka Academy just in time for the Hime Ritual.
If ever a series was served well by being presented in a box set, it's Mai-Hime. Initially slow-starting and a little unfocused, the plot is actually trying to make it through the necessary exposition to render all the 8 major Hime in sufficient detail that their brutal and uncompromising deconstruction is lent sufficient impact. Every weakness and emotional flaw is exposed as the contest continues, tenuous friendships and alliances are tested to the limit and each of their motivations and character are laid bare in stark clarity. Assessing the series based on the first four episodes simply doesn't provide you enough overview to judge it completely.
That said, Mai-Hime has some odd quirks that an informed buyer should be aware of. The shows plot initially suggests shojou anime, but the design of the characters and outfits and the amount of combat lands it squarely into Shounen territory. Fan service has been liberally sprinkled throughout the show, and especially during the midtro sections that introduce the next episode. Fine if you like that sort of thing, but a bit disturbing if you don't like your eyecandy underage.
Some of the characters are emotionally retarded in the finest sense of Highschool Anime and Manga, which may make more mature viewers roll their eyes. One can have too much adolescent awkwardness. They are otherwise sufficiently rounded characters that this necessary plot device stands out more than usual. The final 'frowny' point is the ending, where the writers seem to have flinched away from an unhappy conclusion to the tale at the last minute. Regrettable.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Surprising Anime Both Exciting And Entertaining
Comment: I saw a few episodes on t.v. and decided to try this series out for the price it was going for and have not regretted it since. The storyline mostly revolves around twelve girls in a private school who secretly have supernatural powers which enable them to produce unique weapons and fighting mechanical machines or animals each which is unique for each girl. But there is a cost which is if the girls machines or animals their connected with is destroyed and with that their powers the girls will loose that which is most precious to them. For the series it seemed to focus mostly on the character of Mai Tokiha one of the twelve girls who are called HIME and the4 job of the Himes is to battle demons from another dimension called ORPHANS who in the series mostly seem to attack the private school which the himes attend. Of course you'll also have a group at the school who has a different agenda on how the himes should use their powers and the mysterious leader who's controlling the orphans for his/her own agenda. The series also has the teenage angst of romance and comedy which are hilarious in some episodes but the series mostly keeps on track with the main storyline. So if you like action, humorous, angst, and romantic animes this one is for your collection....
I do want to clarify something I saw on a review about this series. this series in noway has any same-sex adult scenes I saw a review a while back on this series and I just found that so absurd and idiotic. Yes there are about four of the female cast characters who have personal feelings for another character female that seem to be romantic feeling between them but it noway goes beyond words and with one female couple a kiss but nothing past that stage. The series tires to keep the focus about the Himes, what and who they truly wish to protect, and what the ultimate agenda for the Himes truly is.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great Anime! Great Price!
Comment: One of the best new animes to come out in recent years, MyHime (or Mai Hime) is a masterpiece of writing and animation. Many anime series have pacing issues, episodes stuffed with filler to make the series longer - not this one. The plot, which is rich, complex, and emotional, comes at the viewer at just the right pace. Episodes are never wasted, although occasionally the writers attempt to lull the audience into a false sense of 'filler episode'. Often, these episodes prove to be pivital to the plot, some major event happening during an otherwise calm or peaceful day.
Better still is the price. Slimmed down from around $150.00 to collect the disks individually, this $50 set is well worth the price (especially when many 13 episode series sell for a similar price).
MyHime is one of those "something for everyone" animes, mixing mechs, mystic powers, and high-school romance in a fashion reminicent of classics like Escaflowne. Give this series a chance and I promise it won't disappoint.
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