“Ah! My Goddess!” began as a manga series that was brought into being by acclaimed artist Kousuke Fujishima in 1988. Due to its popularity, (and the fact that Fujishima-sensei clearly enjoyed the world, the characters and the stories he was creating) the series would go on to run for a jaw-dropping TWENTY-SIX YEARS, getting its own 5-episode OVA, a light novel, a movie, another 2-episode OVA, multiple video-games, and 3 TV series along the way.
With this long running manga series having come to an end just this year, it seems only fitting that we here at Anime Vice, in a celebration of sorts to one of the greatest romance-series ever produced by any manga author…ever, devote a bit of time to reviewing one of the anime series which was based on the original “Ah! My Goddes!” manga.
(I suppose we could’ve reviewed the Manga. But…y’know…we’re “Anime Vice,” not “Manga Vice” so this seemed more fitting.)
== TEASER ==
Ironically, for a show titled “Ah! My Goddess!” the first episode of the 2005 Ah! My Goddess! Television series spends the overwhelming majority of its time NOT focused on a goddess, but rather on a human. Keiichi Morisato. A kind-hearted college sophomore who struggles to earn the respect and approval of his classmates at the Nekomi Institute of Technology but (due to the fact that he was unknowingly born beneath an unlucky star) seems to be cursed with misfortune at every turn, constantly failing at all his endeavors, and looked down on by nearly everyone.
Despite the fact that Keiichi is an extremely skilled mechanic who’s very adept at working with cars, motorcycles and any street machine that has an engine inside, his upper classmen in the Nekomi Institute motor-club always seem to saddle him with the most unpleasant and least desirable chores. Despite the fact that Keiichi is hard-working, money always seems to get taken away from him as soon as he makes it which leaves him chronically broke. And of course, despite the fact that he attempts to ask out women he likes with an earnest and open heart, they laugh at him and spurn his advances, leaving him sad and alone, with no girlfriend.
Keiichi’s situation changes however when he tries to make a phone call one night, accidentally dials the most spectacular wrong-number in history, and instead of contacting the party he originally meant to call, Keiichi is told that he’s reached…The Goddess Hotline. In Heaven. (A number which can only be dialed by people with pure hearts.) At first, Keiichi is understandably skeptical. But when the goddess who picked up the phone (a beautiful young woman named “Belldandy”) answers his call by magically teleporting into his room and saying she can sense Keiichi is a person in distress and she’d like to help Keiichi by granting him any one wish his heart desires…well…it’s clear that, no matter what happens, after tonight, Keiichi’s life is never going to be the same. What will Keiichi wish for? Will his wish bring about the change he’s long been looking for to alter the course of his luck and his life? And if the path of Keiichi’s life does change, will it be for better or for worse? Keep it here to find out next week as we move ahead to review Episode 2.
Watch "Ah! You're A Goddess!" and decide for yourself.
Kaita Mpambara works every day to try and create shows, stories, and characters that are as exciting, energizing, and entertaining as the very best works that have been given to the world by both the western and eastern animation industries. Keep up with his musings on life, the universe and everything by following him on Facebook.
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