[ TV Series ]

< Lotsa spoilers ahead. >

Reviewer : Kylara

On certain nights, Seika City is graced by the presence of a certain pony-tailed girl, Kaitou Saint Tail. Stealing from those who have deceived others, or returning a priceless, beloved object, she has developed not only a group of adoring fans, but also a persistent pursuer - the son of a detective whom she slowly falls in love with. However, ultimately, she is Haneoka Meimi, a fourteen-year-old girl who attends Saint Paulia Junior High, and has a hot temper, a kind heart, and a warm personality. Also attending the school is the boy she's in love with, Asuka Jr., who constantly quarrels with her (even if he doesn't mean it). Supplying her with the information and thefts is her best friend, Mimori Seira, a nun-in-training. Seira's position allows people to come to her, praying to God for the safe return of their items. She relays this to Meimi, who becomes the unknown thief of justice and whose face is never seen, although she does not wear a mask. Each time, she sends a 'challenge' to Asuka Jr., letting him know where and what she'll steal. And he continues to chase her...

Carefully plotted out from the very beginning, one can note (after having seen the entire show) that specific references to some of the very last episodes appear in number one (but very subtly). The entire show's plot is carefully wound up tightly, with no loose strands or plot lines or anything of that sort. Meimi gets a pet hedgehog and it continues to pop up in recurring episodes, with even Asuka Jr. remembering it (which turns into something else). Few details go unmentioned, with every single one turning out to be incredibly important. The only thing missing in the plot is that they never quite state how Saint Tail came to be, but it seems to be unnecessary anyhow. The plot itself is warm, and gives off very fuzzy, good shoujo-y feelings. It's the type of anime that just makes you laugh, yet has its own balance of seriousness, and isn't just one or the other. That's what makes it work.

The characters all get developed sooner or later, unless they're in filler episodes. From the most annoying rival (Rina) to showing the most serious side of Seira (and showing how silly Sawatari will always be), they're carefully developed throughout the plot. Meimi, at the beginning, can only see Asuka Jr. as the most annoying boy who has ever lived (aside from Sawatari-kun, of course). Even before he changes, Meimi changes, and manages to see the truthful, kinder side of him as Saint Tail. She is completely in love with him before ten episodes have passed - yet, he's so incredibly dense, and Meimi is at a bit of a loss. Asuka is indeed dense, but in such an honest, real sense - it took him a while, but he gets to understand himself incredibly well. [And for everyone who says he's just an idiot, he did do something about it as soon as he realized.] Meimi, as Saint Tail, is given the advantage of seeing him as Asuka Daiki Jr., both the boy who chases her at night, and the one who quarrels and teases her in the day. Asuka himself is allowed to plod along, dealing with conflicting emotions of dealing with 'both girls,' but as Meimi always wished for, he realizes what's the most important.

The end of this show is fantastic, as it wrapped everything up neatly, from various drops of information to the sweetest beginning of a darling romance. Although people say that there is nothing spectacular about this anime, they are missing the glow it has. It is something you must entirely watch completely before you make a judgment on it, for if you don't, then you're missing the links that the show needs to make it work. The entire show has a darling glow about it, and though the fillers do get slightly repetitive, even they still do have some of that essence of Saint Tail. [Except maybe the horse episode, but that just as may be the exception that proves the rule.] Do I like this show? I adore it, from character to plot to even the way Sawatari bounces around with his camera. It's truly a wonderful, good mahou shoujo show. [Note: Why do some people say shoujo anime like it's a bad thing? With this show, I certainly can't see why.]