Strawberry Panic

Nagisa Aoi begins her new school life as a transfer student at St. Miator’s Girls Academy, one of three prestigious all-girls institutions atop Astraea Hill. Getting lost on her first day, Nagisa encounters a mysterious student whose elegance and charm is so bewitching, she ends up in the infirmary.

There to greet her when she awakens is Tamao Suzumi, her roommate, who enthusiastically introduces Nagisa to the daily life and social structure on campus. Most notably, Tamao informs her of the existence of an exceptional student representative among all three schools—the Etoile, or "star." Eager to meet this person, Nagisa learns that the ethereal beauty she met earlier, Shizuma Hanazono, is the one and only Etoile herself! Not only that, Shizuma seems openly interested in Nagisa! Her interactions with Shizuma naturally make her a hot topic on campus; yet despite being so captivated, Nagisa can’t help but wonder if something is off.

Strawberry Panic! follows the everyday routines of Nagisa, Shizuma, and her friends at St. Miator’s, St. Spica, and St. Lulim as they navigate through the challenge of relationships while confronting hidden feelings, lingering regrets, and new possibilities.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Hanazono, Shizuma Main

Nabatame, Hitomi Japanese

Aoi, Nagisa Main

Nakahara, Mai Japanese

Suzumi, Tamao Main

Shimizu, Ai Japanese

Minamoto, Chikaru Supporting

Nakajima, Saki Japanese

Nanto, Yaya Supporting

Kuwatani, Natsuko Japanese

Ootori, Amane Supporting

Kaida, Yuuko Japanese

Konohana, Hikari Supporting

Matsuki, Miyu Japanese

Rokujou, Miyuki Supporting

Noda, Junko Japanese

Byakudan, Kagome Supporting

Fukui, Yukari Japanese

Sakuragi, Kaori Supporting

Iwamura, Kotomi Japanese

Maruyama, Hajime Producer

Watanabe, Kazuya Producer

Sakai, Akio Producer

Tafu, Naohiro Producer

Reviews

Jan 3, 2025

dynasty-scams

Recommended

A lot higher energy and more varied than one would expect; what looks like a kind of bland fanservicey seasonal-yuri of another era is in fact a disjointed, rich, highly individual piece that often feels like three different shows stitched together. It's never exactly substantial, and its characters are neither consistent nor complex, but there's never a wasted moment, the cast is consistently charming, the drama is high and the show is shocking frank and yet not leering in the way it represents sex. Ultimately works as a kind of cocktail of every yuri trope which yet existed in the genre's early-aughts infancy, composed in ... a spirit of fun in which it's constantly asking the audience to share.

I think Tamao should've been allowed to kill someone after that ending, though.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Oct 6, 2022

TropicalFrost

Mixed Feelings

There are not very many yuri anime out there. Among them, not many sink its teeth into character-driven plots or relationships with drama that is more than mere 'misunderstandings.' What Strawberry Panic attempts to portray are various views of first-love in the setting of Astraea Hill. Love at first sight. Love for someone admired by all. Unrequited love. The loss of love. And, learning to love. Along with the joys, sorrow, anguish, and bliss that comes with it.

An ambitious undertaking for sure. However, one that, even with 24 episodes, was not executed well. The pacing often either stagnates or jumps around; while the overall ... story can be followed despite this, what the characters experience feels off. Something intense happens one moment, then whiplashes to another mood the next. Two events may be happening at once, but they don't share similar qualities, sometimes they conflict, causing confusion in the viewing experience. Thus, the pacing feels, incoherent at times.

I am not one to suggest alternatives to the plot to make the story better; that would make an entirely different material. But I will say that there are elements with potential that could've been used to more naturally and further develop characters. It is brought up several times, "what is an Etoile?" This show would have you believe it is the most popular person(s) on campus, but I believe the characters think it represents more than just that. Without much spoilers, as an unused element, I think it's high up there. Another element would be the wider world. The entire show takes place on Astraea Hill, an isolated campus. But the world beyond the campus is almost never mentioned; not for describing someone's past, nor for their future. If characters were to think beyond their campus, or relate their campus to the wider world, some developments would be more natural.

Perhaps my biggest criticism with this show is how some character arcs were lacking: both in cause-and-effect, and resolution. To give credit where it's due, when something big happens, it does affect the character(s) involved. They will cry their hearts out, open their hearts to those close, and find comfort with friends. But... what happens next...? The same thing, then again, and again. It is incredible how these characters do not grow through their experiences, only to fall prey to it again and again without addressing why. One thing I love in other shows like this, is how a character has grown into a stronger person by the end of their ordeal; be it in how they carry themselves, or how they interact with others. But in this show, if you watch the first the first three episodes, and the last 3 episodes, the characters stay mostly the same, save for one... kinda.

In conclusion, Strawberry Panic certainly kept me tuned-in. But not in excitement, but rather how incredulous of an event would have to occur to further these characters. I do think the premise and themes are interesting, but not expanded upon to the extent that would make it inspiring. Not every work needs to have a deep intrigue to it, nor does it have to lean towards such an extreme. But this work fails to dive deep enough to accomplish what I think it wants to do.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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Jan 10, 2025

Diako

Not Recommended

This anime has a really heavy start, animation, sound, even the lore was awful from the start, the anime is not really bad after chapter 12. It starts to be a little better, and it only goes up, but that's just to the last episode, I wish i never watched this anime. Literally, the last episode was going well until the last scene. WTF is wrong with this? Who actually think this was a good idea? More characters were hurt that anything else, makes no sense from a perspective of a viewer. I think the rating of "7" is literally people that haves a good ... memory of this anime when they were young, otherwise I cannot explain it. Overall 5. And is not a spoiler, but if someone is going to watch it after reading this, be ready to be disappointed in 6 of 10 characters, including the 3 main characters.

Reviewer’s Rating: 5

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Extremely dramatic anime

by RobertBobert

33 Entries · 6 Restacks

Enneagram 4 Characters

by porcelain_wings

49 Entries · 13 Restacks

Yuri/Girls Love/Shoujo Ai/Lesbian/GL ✩

by KiwiWatcher

47 Entries · 86 Restacks

	Poll: Strawberry Panic Episode 7 Discussion sifma - May 24, 2008	28 replies	by Kingdom_64 »» Jan 27, 3:02 PM
	Poll: Strawberry Panic Episode 4 Discussion lsumi - Jul 24, 2008	21 replies	by Kingdom_64 »» Jan 3, 2:55 PM
	Poll: Strawberry Panic Episode 3 Discussion lsumi - Jul 24, 2008	25 replies	by Kingofallkings »» Dec 19, 2024 10:23 PM
	Poll: Strawberry Panic Episode 1 Discussion bluesilo - Apr 1, 2008	34 replies	by x_scolopendra_x »» Oct 27, 2024 9:41 AM
	Poll: Strawberry Panic Episode 26 Discussion ( 1 2 3 ) sifma - Jun 2, 2008	112 replies	by x_scolopendra_x »» Oct 27, 2024 9:25 AM

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