Strawberry Panic – Series Review

October 1st, 2006 by Shirukii

Hawt.

This was my first venture into the wonderful world of yuri/shoujo ai and I do not regret it at all. Though not the best anime I’ve seen, Strawberry Panic (henceforth called Yuri Panic) was unexpectedly good. When I first thought of yuri, strong images of unnecessary girl on girl fanservice flooded to my head and led me to a bias against it. And as most anime fans will attest to, fanservice for the sake of fanservice (and I use fanservice in its panty-flashing connotation) can and often will ruin a scene, episode or even the entire series. That being said, I avoided the genre like the plague. However, ravings of Yuri Panic’s deep plot and character relationships intrigued me enough to risk it.

Yuri Panic revolves around the daily happenings of three interconnected all girl schools, Miator, Spica and Le Rim. The students have seemingly been brought up to despise men and the gender is completely non-existant in this world. I don’t know if it’s a direct result of the previous point but ALL the girls have a completely natural and instinctive attraction to members of the same sex. It’s not even questioned, it’s just how it is, in this world they’re all lesbians. Now this may seem like a set up for the copious amounts of fanservice that I mentioned before, but surprisingly, Yuri Panic doesn’t go down that road at all. In fact, actual yuri scenes were so few and far between (until the end) that if there was a guy or two in the mix, we’d have a perfectly normal harem.

If you’ve read my reviews and summaries in the past, you know that I value characters over all other aspects. The amount of character drama that was in this anime was off the charts and the relationship web was the most elaborate I’ve ever seen. The sheer volume of characters was intimidating at first, but they all had their places. The main characters were distinctly identified as such, whereas third party and supporting characters played their minor roll and relegated to background scenery, it was all very well done.

Although there was a lot drama in the series, it wasn’t all good. There were scenes and arcs that seemed to be forcing the action forward and it turned out horribly. Actually, the ratio of good:bad drama in Yuri Panic was roughly 1:1. The show’s quality in almost all of its aspects (animation, plot, sound, voice acting, action) was very inconsistent. When it was good it was AMAZING, but when it sucked I really had to struggle through episodes. However, overall, I think the good outweighed the bad.

The animation, as mentioned, was inconsistent. The fluidity of motion and the scenery varied over a huge spectrum. Sometimes we were presented with beautifully fitting and detailed backgrounds and character designs accompanied by fluid movement and detail. Other times it looks like the a whole episode was put together by a flash newbie learning the basics of tweening. Although not a crushing blow to the overall appeal, when a climactic and dramatically charged scene is accompanied by terrible animation and detail, it definitely detracts from the effect.

The music and BGMs were excellent for the most part. The OPs and EDs for both seasons were catchy and fitting, I even dled them to listen in the eternal breaks between episodes. The BGM music was particularily well done, ESPECIALLY the occasional piano classics, I’m a sucker for classical background music. Although the music isn’t about to stick with me for months to come (a la Haruhi) it got the job done and complimented most scenes very well.

Seiyuus…I’m sort of on the fence on this. Some characters were a perfect fit while others were just plain annoying. Thankfully, most of the main character’s seiyuus did a good job, Tamao, Rokujou and Shizuma standing out as excellent. The second party characters, unfortunately, were not represented as well…Yaya, that girl with the bear and Nagisa’s room maid were particularily annoying. Overall I think they did a pretty good job, but the high tension scenes would have been just that much more convincing if the voice acting had been executed flawlessly =(

All in all, an excellent anime, a definite recommendation to ANYONE, yuri fans or otherwise. However, if you are a yuri or shoujo ai fan, you may find the lack of actual yuri scenes disappointing. There’s some groping, kissing and occasional nude embrace, but (with a few exceptions) these scenes are mostly static and probably not what you have in mind. To those who are terrified of yuri because of the parallel phenomenon of yaoi *shudders*, like I was, fear not! This is not at all what you think it might be like. Yuri Panic has a great base storyline, dramatic plot, memorable characters and decent execution, definitely worth the time. It’s basically a story about an all girl school filled with sexually deprived, sapphic schoolgirls…with a description like that, you can’t help but watch! XD

Oh, and if you’ve just finished Yuri Panic and are looking for a replacement, I think Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru in the fall season is looking to be a good stand in. Alternatively, check out Maria-sama ga Miteru, which is essentially the same show, but with even less yuri…which can be either a good or bad thing, depending on how much you like the yuri aspect or how much you love the drama aspect.

But enough rambling, go watch this, nao! You won’t regret it

~ Shirukii ~

46 Comments »


46 Responses to “Strawberry Panic – Series Review”

  1. on 01 Oct 2006 at 4:43 pm1 Anga

    I laughed how much efforts authors made to remove all signs of men. I don’t remember any mention that men even exist there, not that it’s bad thing. =)

  2. on 01 Oct 2006 at 4:56 pm2 Shirukii

    The Men:Women ratio (in harems, dramas and love-romances) is so horribly unbalanced in favor of women. To completely wipe men off the face of the planet, as Yuri Panic did, made me laugh XD The inexplicable attraction to other girls that resulted was definitely not a bad thing =)
    ~ Shirukii ~

  3. on 20 Oct 2006 at 7:05 pm3 Okami no Yuri

    A world where all women love women…I wish I was there…

    Needless to say I loved the series, I wish it was longer and when this ended, I was like “Crap what am I supposed to watch now?” Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru luckily cleared that up.

    Seriously if manga of this wasn’t still in progress I would fly to Japan and petition for an OAV or a second season just because I don’t want to see this series go T-T

  4. on 23 Jan 2007 at 7:41 pm4 farr_eina

    I’m totally agree with Okami no Yuri…LOL…
    This is my first time watch yuri anime and undoubtly I loves this anime…
    I’m also wondering is there any chances for Strawberry Panic! Season 2 or OVA just like School Rumble…hmmmmm….

  5. on 11 Feb 2007 at 6:33 pm5 PsychoSoul

    Anga: Actually, there was ONE mention, the author of “Carmen”(even had his picture, the only shot of a man in the entire show), but thats about it. Well, maybe the mention of Miyuki’s marriage, unless its a world where all marriages are lesbian.

    Tho i do agree, I don’t mind the lack of men in the anime.

  6. on 14 Mar 2007 at 6:39 pm6 Donna

    ILOVE this pic it’s ssssoooooooo totally awesome and i agree HAWT!!! You rock just for posting it! I love you for it THANK YOU!!!! ~he he~

  7. on 15 Mar 2007 at 1:37 pm7 Lisa

    This picture is so fuckin hot…. Its like a fairytale that needs to come true bout chicks once in a while…

  8. on 12 Apr 2007 at 1:54 pm8 .::TenSai::.

    oooh that is sooo goood but need more ecchi

  9. on 19 Apr 2007 at 1:38 pm9 ryan

    im a dude and i can do nothing but respect the fact their being who they are but ive only watch ep 1 and i think kannazuki no miko is better the pic nice but creepy as for the boy on boy shit it shoudnt exist man girl on girl that shit is hot !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  10. on 01 May 2007 at 2:50 pm10 little berry*

    hii! O.O *baba*

    amo esa serie>!!

    veo k soi la primera k escribe en español xD

    hermosa!

  11. on 16 May 2007 at 3:52 am11 HungDoll

    That’s not really fair for us yaoi fans is it. But I guess it’s just a typical man thing. It’s okay for women to be lesbians, but not for men to be gay to them.

  12. on 20 May 2007 at 5:10 pm12 Julieto-chan

    I kindof agree with u about the voices. in some parts of the episdodes it would be low and muffled and in others it would be really loud an a little high pitched.But the music was always good and so was the whole layout of the episodes. And i think men shouldn’t exist in the first place we should all just turn into those gender changing lizards that they only turn into guys to reproduce and then BOOM they are gurls agian.ANd its true that a woman and a woman can be together but a guy and a guy looks wrong!

  13. on 09 Jul 2007 at 4:27 pm13 yukina

    konnichiwaaaaaaaaaaaaaa¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡
    haha esta re genial yo adoro el yuri como el yaoi y el hentai
    *O*
    muy buena la imagen n.n
    esta de lo mejor *¬*
    q lindo asi yo estaba con una amiga el viernes
    hahaha
    XDXD soy un poko rara =
    pus esta re bueno la imagen demaciado se podria decir n.n
    y pus eso aios se cuidan n.n
    sayonara
    matta ne!!!!!!!!!

  14. on 24 Jul 2007 at 8:45 am14 morella

    does anyone know what song is in ep 23 when shizuma demolishes her room?
    i was trying to find it and i came up with nothing

  15. on 20 Aug 2007 at 12:39 am15 slipa

    does anyone know of a good place to watch/download this (with more quality than youtube)? Sounds interesting, im really looking forward to watching it.

  16. on 21 Aug 2007 at 4:19 pm16 BlackRainWillFall

    I loved this series. Sure, some of the characters bugged the crap out of me and the actual yuri scenes were at a minimum. But even so, I still lurve this series.

  17. on 22 Aug 2007 at 4:13 pm17 memski_man

    err… regarding on your previous post on your old blog

    regarding the Strawberry Panic vs. Maria-sama ga Miteru

    it was been settled at http://www.animesuki.com long time ago.

    pls venture on the marimite link found in there…

    ~~~~

    on my point,

    if you have watched SP first, then you can say marimite copied the style of SP

    if another have watched marimite first, then you can say SP copied the style of marimite…

    if my memory serves me right, it was mentioned in animesuki that marimite was the first one to be created (in terms of manga) than sp..(correct me if im wrong)

    hope this clears things up

  18. on 27 Sep 2007 at 10:07 am18 Chelissa

    please give me permission to link the image of strawbwerry panic i love it.

  19. on 18 Oct 2007 at 2:33 pm19 bubbleum

    Yep, the very first yuri/shoujo ai anime I’ve watched and till now it’s the best romance anime I’ve seen. Agreed on most points of the review, except about the drama – can’t really understand what you mean by ‘good:bad drama 1:1′ … It was all good, heartbreaking at times, but that’s why it’s a drama after all. Maybe only in 18ep it got a little stereotyped, with all the lighting and thunders on the exact dramatic moments, but that’s classic, Love it. And about the music – it’s all a matter of taste, personally I like the OPs and the soundtrack.
    Oh, and about who copied who – it’s true Marimite is created before SP, but to state they are alike it’s like saying that all romance films/books/animes copied each other just because they have a few points of contact or the so called stereotypes – the piano scene and the storm i.e. is just classic…
    To finish: ‘a Definite recommendation to ANYONE’!

  20. on 26 Oct 2007 at 11:35 pm20 EleCoR

    i love strawberry panic,,
    i just wish a second season is coming out soon,,
    and i hope that they focus it more on the relationship of shizuma and nagisa this time with a little bit of rough waters along the way,,

  21. on 13 Nov 2007 at 9:17 pm21 Gustavo

    Buena serie eria mas vacan si siguiera la serie

  22. on 19 Dec 2007 at 3:32 am22 Nari-chan

    Hontou ni kawaii-desu! Nya~ suge kire da ne xD? Shoujo-ai wa =Q=

  23. on 15 Jan 2008 at 6:29 pm23 sexy emo girl

    that is so fucfing hot i wnt to make it my back ground on my computor. i absolutly love strawberry panic i first saw it when i was like twelv and iv wanted to see more for like ever but have never realy got the chance till now and im like 15 and still remember what its caled.
    ps: go lezbos you rock!!!!

  24. on 17 Jan 2008 at 6:15 pm24 Meeky

    i LOVED strawberry panic! its my fave anime so far!

    there is a mention of 1 guy…when they’re saying that Miyuki is bethrowed to that guy but thats it. thats the first and last mention of him or any other guy for any reason.

  25. on 27 Jan 2008 at 5:53 am25 Nicole

    is that 2 girls??

    Darkmagic22@hotmail.com

  26. on 19 Feb 2008 at 6:34 pm26 eatme_biitsh

    :O !!! Lokooo amo esta serie ! :B Eske Shizuma… (L) Es tan preciosa ! es como mi mujer perfecta ! :P Hehehehehe

    eatme_biitsh@hotmail.com
    http://fotolog.com/taintedxl0ve

    Bay ! :D

  27. on 31 Mar 2008 at 2:26 am27 steffi

    hmmmmmmmmm………………………………nice pic huh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    itz awesome……….

  28. on 31 Mar 2008 at 11:58 pm28 NamelessFace

    If you liked Strawberry Panic for its characters, then you’ll love Maria-sama Ga Miteru for everything it is. Its the same basic premise except the yuri is more subtle and the plot and characters have more depth.

    Strawberry Panic does have the bennefit of having a resolution, though, and that is a good thing to have in a Yuri show, where things tend to get… “weird” after a few seasons.

  29. on 15 Apr 2008 at 7:10 pm29 fairy

    chinga no hay img. de yuri!

  30. on 22 Apr 2008 at 5:29 pm30 shui.neko

    amo el yuri..!!*o*

    el yaoi..el lemon ii un poko el hentai..!!

    pero me utta ma el yaoi..
    lo amo lo amo..*¬*

    eso soi una yaoi fanatika

    pero soi mea rara pq aaammo el yuri

    ii en personas tamben

    eso ..

    de un uke..

  31. on 26 Apr 2008 at 7:00 am31 strawberrypanicrules

    i was curious at first about strawberry panic after reading this review i decided to watch the first episode and see how it spand out and i just loved it i mean for the girls out there who will read this will probably besaying now typical guy cant wait to see the sex scenes can he but in all truth that is not what i thought in the slightest ok i may have been woundering (in the case of hikari and amane) oh my god your in love why the hell havent you kissed yet but that would have been all i mean seriously i was looking for them to have sex i wouldnt have stay glued to the screen till the last episode and have searched countless hours on the net and signed numourous paticians to get a second season would i. i dont no why i just couldnt prize my self from the monitar screen and when i wasnt watching i was woundering what would happen next.your gunna say obsessed i no but was just sooooo great. i just loved the plot and every thing about it i have to say my view of yuri has really changed and i still to this day havent found a yuri as good. i suggest to those who havent watched it and are thinking of doing to just do it ok its only in subs and before strawberry panic i hated subs but you will not regret it me and my friend still can’t get over the amazing plot of nagisa&shizuma and hikari&amane

    and if a second season comes out email me at gamersparadox@hotmail.co.uk

    p.s.
    to elecor :
    in my oppion they story between hikari and amane is better than nagisa and shizuma’s story but i think more could still happen to both couples but i just think hikari and amane look toooo cute together and hikari’s funny (she still calls amane amane-senpai when in the rule of japanese language when people are that close the senpai is not needed)

  32. on 10 May 2008 at 10:32 am32 Saka

    OMG I WANT SOME BABII!

  33. on 13 May 2008 at 3:01 pm33 emo

    love lesbiannnnnnnnn

  34. on 15 May 2008 at 2:07 pm34 Kimi

    I LOVE THIS MANGA/ANIME! :) one of my faves!!!! Plus the girls are cute……. my girlfriend reads the manga… (I’m a girl too by the way)

  35. on 22 May 2008 at 2:17 pm35 Misato Katsuragi

    Sólo estaba buscando una imagen para poner en el display y me encontré con esta serie xD Ahora me dieron ganas de verla *¬* Amor lesbi wiii!!!!! XD

  36. on 22 Jun 2008 at 7:52 pm36 nikix

    i lover yurii ^^

  37. on 27 Sep 2008 at 1:15 pm37 tuti

    aiiiii……sabe esse site é muito loko + eu axo q ta faltanto algumas fotos + xocantes + safadas + porno
    ^^

  38. on 30 Sep 2008 at 1:47 pm38 suzy

    i’ve never watched the show whats it like ?

  39. on 05 Oct 2008 at 4:02 am39 tobicasu-kun

    wow ryan thats a lil odd why is it strange for guy on guy im totally straight and i dont mind watching it every once in a while
    and just that pic got me interested thnx tons

    chaotic-jirachi@hotmail.com
    e-mail if youre interested i a chat :)

  40. on 31 Dec 2008 at 9:15 am40 Dan

    I just finished watching it a second time I feel so sad like I lost a freind. Like idk what to do now??

  41. on 01 Jan 2009 at 10:56 pm41 DuffGirl

    I’m really in love with this animation too, i hope make a second season soon, cause, i you read the last EP called ” the beginning”
    maybe is a new start, but i really HOPE ShizumaxNagisa still being a couple ’cause gosh i they both really make me feel like ” oh cool, years without seeing a very nice anime work ”

    So if, some one, like to talk about this, cause i really want to talk about points view , and etc, please add me

    wh0a.business.-@hotmailes

  42. on 05 Jan 2009 at 4:21 am42 Stephanie

    Like everyone else here, i LOVED this series. It was absolutely breathtaking in certain areas. SPOILERS ALERT!!!!: The scene where Shizuma burst into the cathedral, bellowing, full-lunged, that she loved Nagisa was pretty profound.

    It was almost like the love she felt for Nagisa had beaten her. The way she shouted, was almost angry; like she was scared at the thought of new love, but it was so powerful within her that she couldn’t supress it. I think that made Shizuma somewhat angry, because it’s easier to be cold. And love makes Shizuma vunerable.

    I sooo didn’t explain that correctly, but i know what i meam, and that’s all that matters lol

    take care people
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

  43. on 12 Jan 2009 at 12:06 pm43 mãe

    no teu cú

  44. on 18 Jan 2009 at 6:36 pm44 himemiya chikane

    ola … me han disho musho de esta serie… porfa diganme
    komo se llama porfiiiis! :D:D mandenme el nombre si
    pueden a : bixiituuh@hotmail.com

    PORFIIIS KIERO VERLA!!

  45. on 28 Apr 2009 at 2:05 pm45 mixi2

    hello!

    Ahhrgg I want so much that this anime will go on…does anyone know where you can ask or so for a 2 season ??

  46. on 07 May 2009 at 2:54 pm46 anon

    I love this series <333 Nagisa is so cute!
    I also love Marimite. Considering there aren’t that many yuri anime series to choose from… why not enjoy both XD

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