Although Mai Otome is a sequel to Mai Hime, some of the only relations I see between the two series is just the characters. Some of the characters have even had a full personality make-over like Mashiro. In Mai Hime, she was wise and strong, but the Mashiro in Mai Otome is the very opposite. Midori as well, she's fierce and defintely not as clumsy as the Midori we all know in Mai Hime. However, some of the characters still have the same personalities and relationships, like Natsuki and Shizuru. SO what are the differences or simmilarities that you see in the two series?

I liked Mai HiME Better. It had a much more solid story line, and unleashing HiME powers didn't look like a power rangers styled transformation. Mai Otome doesn't really deserve the title of sequel to Mai HiME, but that doesn't mean that it isn't a good anime in its own. Its just feels like they're targeting a different audience, and are more oriented towards fanservice perhaps.

I liked Mai HiME's twisted serious and sad story line. The ending was crap though. I wouldn't have minded them dead... it was the start of what you see in Otome now. Everything is all peaches and cream in the end and we all live like nothing happenned. WTF.

Wow, its like you read my mind.

SPOILER (click to view)

I really liked Mai-Hime because of the twisted story lines, sad story, and how most of the good characters died off toward the end. I especially dont like that most Japanese Anime tend to end for the most part, badly ( did anyone else notice this trend or is it just me and the guy who posted above? ).

Watching Mai-Otome, the similarities are abundant. Parent-Child / Meister-Master, the character names, most of their personalities, even some notable scenes from Mai-Hime were basically copied and duplicated in a different scenery ( Natsuki trying to hitchhike a ride ). I'm sure these similarities won't stop there, but I still expect atleast the last 2-3 episodes leading up to the final battle to be entertaining to watch.

Well I have to say this Mai-Otome is NOT a sequel to Mai-Hime it has nothing to do with Mai-Hime it has the same characters thats all. I don't see why people think that it is a sequel it's not even based in the same world. It's just like Futakoi and Futakoi Alternative same character different world they have nothing to do with each other.

I'd hardly call Otome a "sequel" to HiME. If anything, it's a parallel universe type thing, using recycled characters to raise anticipation for the show itself. Yes, I do enjoy HiME, even with its extreme lack of Mai and Mikoto. But, in my opinion, it is nothing compared to HiME.

SPOILER (click to view)

Although Otome shares some of the same aspects as HiME, such as betrayals, plot twists, major turns of events, confused emotions, uh.. *lesbians*.. HiME pulls these aspects off much better, in my opinion. For instance, the fight between Mai and Mikoto. Two seemingly unseperable people, whom you never see argue, at each other's throats, eager to rip something out. Who would've seen that coming? Certainly not I. And when it did, it came with a bang. Quite possibly the highlight of the series to me. Otome-wise, the highlight at this point seems to be Erstin dying and Nina fighting Arika. But, I'm sure many, as well as myself, saw that coming a mile away. I can remember many threads on 4chan where everyone was saying "Erstin = dead". And then, Arika versus Nina. The new opening made that painfully obvious.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that Otome is much more predictable than HiME. HiME's plot twists were bizarre, and I rarely saw them coming. That was its strong point: how it left me surprised at every turn. Otome, though its story is way above par, doesn't leave the surprised feeling. The recycled characters was a bad move to make, too, I believe. Sure, I sometimes anticipate next week for a new episode to see what happens, but recently, all I've been like is "Mai show up yet? No. Maybe next week." "MAI?! Ugh, not yet." "MAI?!?! WHAT?! Only a preview!? Bogus!" Et cetera, et cetera.

Overall, HiME > Otome. The fanbase surrounding Otome, a large chunk of it anyhow, is to purely see old characters they liked in a new scenario. I think, to strengthen the overall anticipation for the story itself, rather than "WE WANT MORE SHIZ x NAT", it would've been a better idea to have an original cast.

I'd have to agree as well about it being called a 'sequel'. It's more like a different reality that includes characters from Mai Hime than a sequel since it has nothing to do with Mai Hime. However, Mai Otome is still an interesting series, but so much different from the plot in Mai Hime, except the Hime and Otome both have similar destinies that they must carry.

Because the worlds are different, mai hime characters would be different a bit from their versions from Mai Hime. Mai HIme was a lot more serious than Mai Otome, but Mai Otome does has its moments as well. THe two are DEFINETLY different, but both are still enjoyable.

Well since they stated that the people of Otome came from earth, it seems to be a sequel to HiME, IMO. Even Miyu is the same Miyu from HiME, from what's been stated. Anyway one noticiable difference is how cool Miyu has become, i always look forward now to seeing her appear.

Actually i think its not a sequel at all... its just tt they reused the characters found in MH & used them in MO. But i know everyone knows tt until now theres not much things tt we can connect MH & MO together...

But what i like abt it being its 'sequel' is tt MO didnt get overshadowed by the main character ie Mai of MH, & still continued with Arika, Nina & Mashiro, tts a very gd pt tt GSD did not managed to do, although they are both from Sunrise.

I see Mai Otome as either an AU Mai Hime sequel or an AU Mai Hime series. Either way it's AU and better in my oppinion... As for similarities, well every character has some similarities, even it's only a little, with their Hime counterparts, there are alot of Hime references, and scene similarities used in Otome, there is a large amount of hints dropped as to what happens in the end for both etc.

Well to the whole "sequal" thing, I think they stand apart like the spiderman and ultimate spiderman. Same characters, different world, different etc. But I do agree they do keep the whole general theme of destiny in both series. Although Mai Hime was more serious Otome (in my opinion) has a shine of its own. As well the powers of the individuals vary to a certain extent, but that just makes the 2 different and good in their own way.

So in the end I'm stuck between which of the series are better or I like more.

angelicdemoni

Well I have to say this Mai-Otome is NOT a sequel to Mai-Hime it has nothing to do with Mai-Hime it has the same characters thats all. I don't see why people think that it is a sequel it's not even based in the same world. It's just like Futakoi and Futakoi Alternative same character different world they have nothing to do with each other.

i concurr.....it seems to be more of a parallel universe when compared....HiME takes place on Earth and Otome doesn't......not to say that i prefer one over the other...but i just don't make a comparison between these series as they are VERY able to stand alone from each other just fine

I honestly like Mai Hime much more than the series Mai Otome. Mai Otome is so confusing and practically brings up question for literally EVERYTHING. Mai Hime's plot was great, sad, dramatic, funny, and understandable. There is just too many questions in Mai Otome especially since the series is closing ot end quickly and as they say, "Too much of anything will always be bad." I just hope they manage to cram all of the answers to our questions in the remaining episodes. Otherwise, this series won't go so great.

Mai-Hime is better hands down. The setting, character personalities, development is just a lot better in my opinion. The modern setting in mai-hime is just more interesting than the chivalristic/futuristic? world of mai-otome.

Mai-HiME and Mai Otome...hmmm, i've thought about the comparison between the two. Just as a precursor, this is just my opinion. Otome is not a sequel to HiME. It isn't a whole different dimension. Aside from character appearance and name, they really have nothing to do with each other. I loved the first series. It was funny, has not-so subtle undertones and had lots of action. I loved the twist of darkness at the end as well.

NOW, Mai Otome, i also like. It started off as a silly comical show about girls wanting to be maids in power suits. It was silly, it was fun...it was all the things that HiME was. It's still going on now, but at this point in the anime, the series turns surprisingly dark and has some interesting plot twists. One reason i like Otome a little more than HiME is because now I recognize all the important characters and when I see them, i like to compare how the new version of the characters are different than the older version. You can't really do that with HiME cause in that series we're seeing them for the first time.

I'll have to save my final judgement till after the series is over though.