Template:Oh My Goddess Infobox-Generic
Oh My Goddess! (ああっ女神さまっ, Aa! Megami-sama!), also known as Ah! My Goddess, is a seinen manga series by Kosuke Fujishima currently serialised in Kodansha's monthly Afternoon magazine. Originally a fairly typical magical girlfriend romantic comedy, it has grown to feature a lot more action over time, and of recent years has put a greater focus on developing the mystical aspects of the world it is set in. Since the manga was first published there have been four anime offshoots. Though each of these contain the main characters, and are based around the same basic concept as the original manga, each has taken a unique interpretation on this concept, and as such should be considered separate canons. The only exception to this is the more recent TV series, which follows the plots of the manga quite closely, with only superficial differences.
Being a mechanical otaku [1], Fujishima frequently bases whole chapters, or even story arcs, around mechanics, especially motorcycle mechanics. There are also several story arcs related to racing, which is an important aspect of the manga, as well as being a significant plot device in each of the anime canons. The two central characters are both exceptionally gifted at racing, and most of the main characters exhibit some degree of skill in racing and/or mechanics, making this also a significant device for character development.
Portions of Norse mythology are incorporated in the original manga. For instance, the three Goddesses are loosely based on the Norns Urd, Verdandi, and Skuld, who represent the past, present and future respectively. The Goddesses access a computer system called Yggdrasil, which in Norse mythology is the tree that holds up the world; the Norns were also said to work at the foot of this tree. The theme is to add dramatic color and is not strictly held to.
Plots
Oh My Goddess! (Manga)
The manga was first published in 1988 as a spinoff from the manga You're Under Arrest (逮捕しちゃうぞ, Taiho Shichauzou); Fujishima had added a four-panel gag strip to You're Under Arrest in which the main characters prayed to a goddess. The gag was very popular, and Fujishima liked the look of his drawings of the goddess so he began drawing a full-fledged manga for the goddess. Oh My Goddess! was published in the Japanese publisher Kodansha's monthly Afternoon magazine, where it was very warmly received; it has been a staple of Afternoon ever since. A complete collection of the manga to date would run over 200 chapters (over thirty collected volumes). As the manga's popularity increased, an OVA was made based on it. With the OVA's success, the stage was set for two TV series and a movie to follow. Due to its length, only part of the plot, the one common to the OAV and TV series as well as the manga shall be included. Sites with more lengthy and detailed synopses are listed in the External Links.
The plot of the manga (and of most OMG series) centers around a good-natured, yet hapless and girlfriend-less college freshman named Keiichi Morisato. He is often imposed upon by his elder dorm-mates and brow-beaten into taking phone messages and doing miscellaneous chores for them. One day, while alone in his dorm, an attempt to relay a message to one of his senior dorm-mates is surprisingly redirected. To his surprise, he discovers that he has actually dialled the number of the Goddess Technical Help Line (or Goddess Relief Line, literally translated); before he can explain his error, a beautiful goddess (Belldandy) has materialized within his room. She tells him that her agency has received a system request from him, and has sent her to grant him one wish. Understandably, Keiichi is skeptical, thinking it more plausible that his dormmates are playing some manner of practical joke on him. So he seeks to defuse the prank by asking Belldandy to stay with him forever, thinking that when the wish was refused, as it must be, he would have turned the tables on them.
The wish is granted. But Keiichi soon discovers a downside to this wish: Belldandy must live with him, but the dormitory is adamantly male-only, and so Keiichi and Belldandy are forced onto the street. As luck would have it, Keiichi's motorcycle had just been repaired, so both could ride on it. Their attempts at finding shelter at various friends' houses fail due to various reasons, so Keiichi is forced to seek shelter from a fierce storm in an old Buddhist temple. The next morning, they are greeted by a young monk who is the sole inhabitant of the temple. He welcomes them and allows them to stay for a little while until they can find lodging; he then immediately puts them to work maintaining the temple grounds. When Belldandy uses her powers to save Keiichi, the priest begins to fear that Belldandy is no ordinary girl, rather a foreign demon or sorceress of some sort. He investigates, and is eventually persuaded of Belldandy's intrinsic goodness when he witnesses her solicitous care of the temple premises and her perfect mediation technique; he decides to go on pilgrimage to India, granting the two lovers permission to remain in the temple contingent upon its good maintenance. Due to luck, or perhaps divine intervention, the two now have a home.
Oh My Goddess! (OVA)
A five episode OVA series titled Oh! My Goddess (ああっ女神さまっ, Aa! Megami-sama!) featuring Keiichi, Belldandy, and the other major characters from the manga was produced in 1991 by AIC and was distributed in the US by AnimEigo [2]. The OAV is based on several early plots from the manga, but with many events and characterizations removed. The other Goddesses, Urd and Skuld, are introduced comparatively early (in the second and third episodes, respectively), and in the final episode, The Almighty begins working to separate the two, forcing Belldandy to return to Heaven and her duties.
AnimEigo has also talked about a late spring/early summer release for their re-release of the Oh! My Goddess OVA series as well in recent emails to fans. [3]
Adventures of Mini-Goddess
A 48 episode TV series Adventures of Mini-Goddess (ああっ女神さまっ 小っちゃいって事は便利だねっ, Aa! Megami-sama! Chicchaitte Koto wa Benri da ne ) series featuring shrunken versions of Urd, Belldandy, and Skuld in a comedic super deformed style was produced in 1998. It was a part of the omnibus show Anime Complex on WOWOW and was distributed in the US by Geneon Entertainment [4]. This series departs the most from the basic manga storyline, and indeed, shares next to no continuity with the previous series.
Ah! My Goddess The Movie
In 2000, the Ah! My Goddess: The Movie (劇場版ああっ女神さまっ, Gekijouban Aa! Megami-sama) was produced by AIC, seeing the return of the main cast, along with several popular characters from the manga who had not appeared in any of the previous anime. It was distributed in the US by Geneon Entertainment in 2001 [5]. The plot does not seem to follow any of the existing canon, but uses plot devices from several different story arcs from the manga.
Ah! My Goddess (TV)
In 2005, a new anime TV series of Ah! My Goddess! (ああっ女神さまっ, Aa! Megami-sama!) began airing in Japan, again produced by AIC and distributed in the US by Media Blasters [6]. In this version, they have returned to the manga roots of the series, retelling events much closer to their original form. Though there are minor differences, typically based on what is considered unacceptable for television, this version follows the canon of the manga quite closely. Although only 25 episodes were aired, the japanese DVD releases will have 3 bonus episodes. A second season has been officially announced (translation) to air Spring 2006.
Naming
The original Japanese title is "Aa! Megami-sama!". The question of how best to translate this phrase has led to a great deal of debate and flamewars amongst English-speaking anime fans during the early 1990s. The US-anime import company AnimEigo obtained the OVA rights and entitled them: "Oh! My Goddess". Many felt the title should be "Ah! My Goddess".
Several references to "Oh my god" and "Oh my goddess" in a number of songs (such as Hottokenai No Sa, Megami-sama tto Oyoubi) only fueled the debate further.
Ultimately Fujishima himself was consulted. His initial reaction was to agree with the "Ah" camp, but once the English phrase "Oh my God" was explained to him, he decided the "Oh" would be closer to what he was trying to convey.
Oh My Goddess! is the official English title for the manga, which is published by Dark Horse Comics; AnimeEigo later also used Oh My Goddess!. The bilingual release, which was released by Kodansha, uses Ah! My Goddess. Pioneer chose to use Ah! My Goddess in their North American release of the movie; this was possibly due not to any aesthetic considerations, rather because AnimEigo uses the title Oh My Goddess!.
The 2005 TV serries and DVD releases carry the title "Ah! My Goddess".
Cast
Names are given in Western order with the given name preceding the surname.
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Staff
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