Okay, so partially as research and partially because I'll really enjoy it, I decided to reread Negima from the beginning with the English Volumes I've just finished collecting.
This is meant to be my impressions, notes on intresting facts, things only obvious on the second read through, those kinds of things.
Also, I'm coming from the offical english translations, which at least in the early days were a bit... strange, so some things might be caused by the dodgy translation.
First thing of note after Negi's introduction is the train ride... where the group of girls is blantantly flirting with him.
Like, serious innuendo here. Negi hasn't even arrived at the school yet and he already needs an adult.
The next thing of note after Asuna and Konoka's introduction is the cause of a common misunderstanding
Basically, the two girls tell Negi that this is an all-girls area and the elementary schools are one stop back.
But you can see guys in the background and one of the previous pages had dozens of boys and girls rushing around after getting off the train.
On a side note, first indication that this place is frigging nuts.
So yeah, we're told its a girls only school, which Mahora middle school is. But more people than you think seem to have missed the obvious male population running around.
We have our first indiction of when in the year this is: Negi is on a temp contract until March, so unless there was a Christmas I missed we are somewhere in January or Febuary. If I get something more concreate I'll let you know, though for now I'm guessing late Jan.
Skip forward to the intro to the class and nothing out of the ordi- wait, is that Misora helping the Narutaki twins set up their prank? And why is she the only one without any additional info in the class roster?
Skipping forward and we have something that catches my interest.
When Negi stars talking about becoming a Magister Magi, there appears a picture of a woman. I'm wondering who she is if she's anyone at all, and if that's Magia Erebea she's weilding?
"Our Magic is not omnipotent. A little bit of courage is the real magic"
These would make great arc words. Let's see how often they get referenced between now and the end.
Not much of note in the second chapter apart from more Nodoka focus.
Asuna's birthday is April 21 while Konoka's is March 18, making them one of the oldest and youngest in the class respectively.
And Konoka loves the supernatural, which is especally ironic really.
Asuna explains the Dorms. Which begs the question. Where do the 3rd years live? Only the 1st and 2nd are here.
Apart from that and the intro of more girls naked, not much is noteworthy in chapter 3.
Yue's bday is Nov 16, Haruna's is Aug 18 and Nodokas is May 10. Only other interesting info is that Haruna likes "Lots of trouble" and dislikes reptiles.
Introduction of the Baka Rangers, who are important for the next arc or two but are then subsumed as a group. Everyone of them remains relevent. Somewhat. But not as a group.
Hindsight tells me everyone has an excuse/reason but Makie.
And we get our first reference to Nagi and that tragic night as Negi explains part of his inpiration to Asuna. No mention of names, relations or attacks is made, only that someone is watching over Negi.
Yuna's bday is Jun 1 and is already outed as a loving her dad a bit too much. She's also a bit of a neat freak, which I didn't realize but makes sense. Ako's bday is Nov 21 and Makie's is Mar 7. Her likes already list Negi, most liely because of her love of cute things.
There's not much to the dodgeball fight except that 2-A are a bunch of cheaters.
The only other thing of note is who is in the game and who is abstaining.
The 3 Cheerleaders decide to cheer rather than play. But literally everyone else who doesn't is supernatural in some way.
In fact, Misora, Negi and Chao are the only supernatural ones who decide to play. But Chao can't use magic and Misora is hiding it, IIRC. Or wait, is Misora a Mage. I know she gets an artifact, but I don't remember if she herself is a Mage or not.
Oh, and Kuu Fei is still at this point considered a normal, so she plays.
Eva, Chachamaru, Mana, Keade, Zazie and Sertsuna abstain. A subtle clue that separates them from the rest of the class.
On going list of subtle or not Asuna hints:
Noticed Negi stop the board eraser in mid air.
Memory erasion didn't work.
Looks like Negi's cousin.
Unaffected by the love potion.
An orphan who the Dean is watching over.
"Too heavy" to fly with.
Stupid beyond belief.
Super strong for no known reason.
And that's Volume 1.
I think the only thing I failed to mention is Negi is very very obviously a Wind Mage.
Oldest
Asuna - April 21 (coughBullshitcough)
Nodoka - May 10
Yuna - June 1
Haruna - Aug 18
Yue - Nov 16
Ako - Nov 21
Makie - March 7
Konoka - March 18
Youngest
Courage = Magic count: 2
This is meant to be my impressions, notes on intresting facts, things only obvious on the second read through, those kinds of things.
Also, I'm coming from the offical english translations, which at least in the early days were a bit... strange, so some things might be caused by the dodgy translation.
First thing of note after Negi's introduction is the train ride... where the group of girls is blantantly flirting with him.
Like, serious innuendo here. Negi hasn't even arrived at the school yet and he already needs an adult.
The next thing of note after Asuna and Konoka's introduction is the cause of a common misunderstanding
Basically, the two girls tell Negi that this is an all-girls area and the elementary schools are one stop back.
But you can see guys in the background and one of the previous pages had dozens of boys and girls rushing around after getting off the train.
On a side note, first indication that this place is frigging nuts.
So yeah, we're told its a girls only school, which Mahora middle school is. But more people than you think seem to have missed the obvious male population running around.
We have our first indiction of when in the year this is: Negi is on a temp contract until March, so unless there was a Christmas I missed we are somewhere in January or Febuary. If I get something more concreate I'll let you know, though for now I'm guessing late Jan.
Skip forward to the intro to the class and nothing out of the ordi- wait, is that Misora helping the Narutaki twins set up their prank? And why is she the only one without any additional info in the class roster?
Skipping forward and we have something that catches my interest.
When Negi stars talking about becoming a Magister Magi, there appears a picture of a woman. I'm wondering who she is if she's anyone at all, and if that's Magia Erebea she's weilding?
"Our Magic is not omnipotent. A little bit of courage is the real magic"
These would make great arc words. Let's see how often they get referenced between now and the end.
Not much of note in the second chapter apart from more Nodoka focus.
Asuna's birthday is April 21 while Konoka's is March 18, making them one of the oldest and youngest in the class respectively.
And Konoka loves the supernatural, which is especally ironic really.
Asuna explains the Dorms. Which begs the question. Where do the 3rd years live? Only the 1st and 2nd are here.
Apart from that and the intro of more girls naked, not much is noteworthy in chapter 3.
Yue's bday is Nov 16, Haruna's is Aug 18 and Nodokas is May 10. Only other interesting info is that Haruna likes "Lots of trouble" and dislikes reptiles.
Introduction of the Baka Rangers, who are important for the next arc or two but are then subsumed as a group. Everyone of them remains relevent. Somewhat. But not as a group.
Hindsight tells me everyone has an excuse/reason but Makie.
And we get our first reference to Nagi and that tragic night as Negi explains part of his inpiration to Asuna. No mention of names, relations or attacks is made, only that someone is watching over Negi.
Yuna's bday is Jun 1 and is already outed as a loving her dad a bit too much. She's also a bit of a neat freak, which I didn't realize but makes sense. Ako's bday is Nov 21 and Makie's is Mar 7. Her likes already list Negi, most liely because of her love of cute things.
There's not much to the dodgeball fight except that 2-A are a bunch of cheaters.
The only other thing of note is who is in the game and who is abstaining.
The 3 Cheerleaders decide to cheer rather than play. But literally everyone else who doesn't is supernatural in some way.
In fact, Misora, Negi and Chao are the only supernatural ones who decide to play. But Chao can't use magic and Misora is hiding it, IIRC. Or wait, is Misora a Mage. I know she gets an artifact, but I don't remember if she herself is a Mage or not.
Oh, and Kuu Fei is still at this point considered a normal, so she plays.
Eva, Chachamaru, Mana, Keade, Zazie and Sertsuna abstain. A subtle clue that separates them from the rest of the class.
On going list of subtle or not Asuna hints:
Noticed Negi stop the board eraser in mid air.
Memory erasion didn't work.
Looks like Negi's cousin.
Unaffected by the love potion.
An orphan who the Dean is watching over.
"Too heavy" to fly with.
Stupid beyond belief.
Super strong for no known reason.
And that's Volume 1.
I think the only thing I failed to mention is Negi is very very obviously a Wind Mage.
Oldest
Asuna - April 21 (coughBullshitcough)
Nodoka - May 10
Yuna - June 1
Haruna - Aug 18
Yue - Nov 16
Ako - Nov 21
Makie - March 7
Konoka - March 18
Youngest
Courage = Magic count: 2
