Stretch -- Mai-Otome Zwei

I was reading your review. You must have forgotten the end of Mai-Otome. Both Mai and Mikoto are in that series. Mai was a Meister then and Mikoto was some sort of special being, which is why she's called Neko-kami in "Zwei."

Hehe I mentioned that in my review too.

Maybe stretch broke off early because Mai wasn't there? But in this one Natsuki has a 'thing' for Mai, or at least IMHO

I watched Mai-Otome first, then Mai-Hime, so maybe that's why I didn't recognize Mai and Mikoto--I would have never seen them before, and assumed they were insignificant characters... either that or my memory is even worse than I'd feared. So, is the world of Mai-Otome in fact earth in the distant future? If so, is Mai immortal, or has she been reincarnated, or a time-traveller, or what?

I get the impression that the world of Mai-Otome is set in the future and on set on another planet. I don't know that this was expressly stated in the anime or not.

There was a small hint when Miyu (Who still says 'SEARRS' inside) looked at Arika and then had a vision of Alyssa when she was asked why she is here.

Basically, same world, Many Many years later. I guess somehow they learned to harness the Hime powers and give them to all.

Of course it puts a whole new spin that a Hime must be a virgin.

Oh and in this world, Mikoto must've won. She's a God now.

It may be Earth, but to be honest, I got the feeling that they traveled to a distant planet. For starters, we have a different star for the Otome. I felt they came from Earth at some time in the past for whatever reason, but who knows.

If it is Earth, something bad happened to wipe out all of the nation states of present day.

As for Mikoto, she was something special in "Mai-Otome," because she was awakened from sleep, right? It seemed like she was some powerful force back then, and I assumed that's why she had the title Neko-kami (Cat god). But it has been a while since I saw that title.

You don't remember the End? When Miyu went underneath the school to the original Pillar spot from Mai Hime? That couldn't have been moved from 'earth'. And when she did the 'RED' star appeared? And it turns out there was a legend about the red star?

That was the final link to Mai Hime. And Mikoto was the 'Crystal' Princess like Mashiro was? And of course a Post Apocolyptic (Boy did I spell that wrong) Earth is a very common theme.

I rewatched the final episode of Mai-Otome last night, and sure enough, Mai and Mikoto were all over the place. The first time around, there were too many characters for me to keep track of, and I assumed they were just two more Otome who happened to get some lines in the final episode.

Actually Stretch, Mai and Mikoto appear in at least 4 different episodes and one of them is dedicated to them. Arika gets lost with Mashiro in a valley and meet Mai and Mikoto.

"You don't remember the End? When Miyu went underneath the school to the original Pillar spot from Mai Hime? That couldn't have been moved from 'earth'. And when she did the 'RED' star appeared? And it turns out there was a legend about the red star?"

Its been a LONG time since I saw the series so I guess I forgot that. Too much other anime pushed it out I guess. lol

Anime Insider magazine describes Mai-Otome as an "alternate universe sequel", in case anyone cares.

Interesting. I wonder if that was their assumption or if they actually know something.

Of course it was an Alternate Universe...when it was called Mai * Maid......

I remember the original premise was Alternate Universe...then everyone hated the title so much that they changed everything but left the maid factor in and called them Otomes... In fact I remember that Mashiro was a guy in the original version, wearing pantaloons.

Lots of things change, but then I guess they decided 'It's Earth After all' and added the whole Pillars and Miyu scene. After all they didn't explain who Searrs was, everyone who has seen Mai Hime knows who they are.

By "original version" do you mean a manga?

No, when they first published Mai Otome to the Trade Mags (Such as NewType), it was called Mai 'Star' Maid. The Otakus rose up and said that is a stupid idea, and all was changed 3 months later.

It is also a Manga which does feature Mashiro as a guy (he is pretending to be his mother...a girl).