AH! MEGAMI-SAMA! (OH! MY GODDESS!)
Genre: Fantasy / Comedy
Parental Guidance Recommended

Cover Description:
College freshman Morisato Keiichi gets more than he bargained for when he goes dialing for dinner and gets an unexpected delivery - Belldandy, a real live, honest to goodness GODDESS! Belldandy grants him a wish, and Keiichi decides that what he really needs is a girlfriend just like her. And that's exactly what he gets. The mysterious Ultimate Force that enforces all Wish Contracts comes into play, and Keiichi and Belldandy are now inseparable. Then Keiichi remembers that his dorm has a strict rule: NO WOMEN ALLOWED!

(5 episodes)

There's not a lot of Urd or Skuld.>>> by firesenshi (??.??.2001)

... but there's a lot of "Keiichiiii-sannnn!" and "Belldandy!!!" My sister who's not that fond of anime, once passed by and stopped in her tracks because of that. She sat down, thought it really cute and saw it till the end. She even recommended it to her boyfriend! Now I wonder why I don't like it. The storyline is quite endearing actually. Once discovering how Belldandy was connected to Keiichi, it's all sentimental. Touching even. To me, it's just mushy. But that is probably why this anime, in a whole medium where happy endings in love stories are extremely rare or end in nutty chaos, is much beloved by hundreds of fans.

The artwork is also one of the best. Admittedly, of course, the character designs for the goddesses are very well done. There's a lot of spice in the goddess Urd and a lot of kawaii flavor in Skuld. And since Keiichi can't get enough of Belldandy, expect to see her a lot. That is connected to my one rant in this anime. Not enough Urd or Skuld. I wish they were. But I remind myself. This is not the manga. And in a five-part OAV, where everything is all condensed, that's probably as much as you can get.

(Firesenshi's Rating: Art/Animation 9; Story 6; Characters 8; Sounds 6)

Everyone could use a goddess...>>> by MarkPoa (09.10.2003)

Oh, My Goddess is one of my favorite anime stories, so this review might be a bit biased. Still let me tell you why I liked it:

1.) It's a charming love story. While I try to stay away from movies that are too mushy, I identify too much with the main character Keiichi that I find myself following the love story and rooting for him. Who wouldn't want a goddess like Belldandy to fall for them?

2.) Belldandy, Urd and Skuld. The goddesses possess unique and individual characteristics that make them lovable in their own rights.

Plus, I love their voices, whether the English or Japanese dubs.

3.) It's gorgeously animated. Character designs for the anime really improved on the original manga designs (at least, the first few volumes of the manga). Animation is smooth and high-level...

4.) Music is very good, particularly the upbeat opening and closing themes. Sung by the voice actresses for the goddesses, too.

On the downside, there are some faults to the anime as well:

1.) Five episodes for a series is too short. For one thing, it doesn't allow the veiwers the opportunity to see some of the more enjoyable characters in the manga. Character development is also sacrificed for some of the supporting cast, such as Keiichi's sister Megumi and the antagonist Sayoko.

2.) Sometimes, Belldandy is just too good to be true. You'll find yourself wondering if you should root for Keiichi or tell him to find a more suitable girl... one that's less perfect. The fourth and fifth episodes, though, do a good job of fleshing out some of Bell's character.

Still, I would highly recommend this series to a newcomer to anime. Short, yet sweet, and with a gripping story... it's a good hook for future anime fans.

(MarkPoa's Rating: Art/Animation 9; Story 6; Characters 8; Sounds 6)