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i looked for this in the bookstore the other day but they were out of vol 1-4 stressed

Eh, I still like the manga better, even though the ermine talks more.

I can't wait for the series to come out June.

Just remember, I warned you all.

i watched the dubbed version

they gave Negi such a fun voice!

he's got a british aristocrat thing going...

the anime is ok but they kinda rushed the story in the first season towards the end i thought. i'm glad there is going to be a 2nd season and an ova.

Negi Springfield is a ten year old wizard from Wales who dreams of becoming a Magister Magorum (latin translation: teacher of magic), special wizards who use their powers to help normal people using covers such as working for NGOs. Negi's reason for becoming a Magister is to find his father, Nagi Springfield, the legendary mage also known as the "Thousand Master" who many believe to be dead.

After graduating from the Merdiana Magic Academy in Wales, he is given a duty as a cover in the real world, and training, before he actually becomes a Magister Magorum. That duty is to become an English teacher at Mahora Academy in Japan. The task will not be easy, however, as Negi will become a teacher to a middle school class of 31 older girls, each very special in her own way. The series details his time and adventures in Japan as he gains acceptance and respect from his students, helps them in their problems, and faces magical threats from inside and outside Mahora Academy. His main relationship is with Asuna Kagurazaka, his student and roommate, who dislikes him initially but later accepts him as a friend and becomes his guardian, helping find clues about his father and his life.

During initial press releases, some criticized the premise of the series, noting an extremely large cast for a bishōjo series and fears Negi himself (who appeared to be the standard male lead in a harem comedy) would be a forgettable character [citation needed].

The series, while initially appearing to be another bishōjo work like Love Hina, has progressed into a mix of bishōjo, shōnen action, fantasy, horror, romance and comedy. This coupled with the initial comments of Akamatsu that he specifically wanted to do something "different" than Love Hina has fueled fan speculation. Some feel the current turn in mood for the manga reflects Akamatsu's 'real' vision of the series, and the initial setup was just a ruse to placate the publishers expecting a bishōjo series. Similarly, Love Hina took a turn for the surreal during its later run. Others point to the set up of the series making the classic 'shipping' tendencies within such manga moot. Negi himself is prepubescent, and many of his scenes with Asuna are specific subversions of the 'awkward romantic scene' tendency of bishōjo manga, quickly diffused and only played for laughs. In addition, many of the girls are able to fawn over him in a childish sense without any romantic expectations from the reader.

Ironically, Negi himself is seen as subversion to leads like Love Hina's Keitaro and other bishōjo males. He is hardworking, capable, and treated kindly, but due to his appearance and age (well below most of his students), he feels completely non-threatening and finds it difficult to be taken seriously as a teacher; many of his students treat him as a cute little kid or playmate (If not plaything).

Anime

Introduction OVAs

Before the beginning of the series, three OVAs were produced for the sole purpose of introducing the characters. The first two were released on DVD bundled with two drama CDs, with the third being sold separately. It is unknown if these will ever be released outside of Japan.

First television series

The anime began airing in Japan on January 6, 2005 and ended June 29, 2005. The anime showed certain events of manga volumes 1-6 but mostly in a different manner. The anime also created its own reasons for certain events happening, which differs from the manga. It currently airs as part of the FUNimation programming block on CoLours TV.

Color changes

The conversion from manga to anime has left several characters hair colors changed. The changes are as follows: Chisame's hair color (Bright orange hair in the manga, but has dark green hair in the anime), Misa (light brown hair in the manga, but purple hair in the anime) and Yuna's hair color (black hair in manga, bright brown in the anime), along with the Narutaki twins (orange hair in the manga, pink in the anime-Fumika's hair covers are also yellow instead of white). It is thought by some fans that the color changes may reflect a need of the animators to identify characters. It was officially noted that Misa is meant to have purple hair, as the hair color is carried on to the games and related materials. She is the only character whose hair color change was made permanent.

Storyline changes

In order to bring a true ending to the series, starting approximately halfway through episode XXII and continuing until the end of the series, original work was created for the series. The content is extremely controversial, as it involved "killing off" one of the main characters, in an otherwise light-hearted series.

Anime revisions

Due to protests against the animation in Mahōu Sensei Negima!, the DVD release has been revised from the TV version. Various episodes have redrawn characters, expressions, scenes, and even a few episodes have been redrawn completely. Despite early rumors, there are no dialog or storyline changes. FUNimation used this version for their English release of the series.

Spring and Summer OVAs

Two OVAs directed by Akiyuki Shinbo and produced by Studio Shaft have been announced, a Spring OVA and a Summer OVA. The Spring OVA called Negima Haru! was shown to a private audience in Japan in April 2006 and was released for the public in DVD in October 25 2006. It is based on the trip to the Southern Islands in volume 7 of the manga. The story is about how Negi made up to Asuna after saying to Asuna that she shouldn't mind his business.

The Summer (Natsu) OVA was also be shown to a private audience in September 2006, and the DVD was released in November 22 2006. The beginning is about Nodoka and Yue practicing casting spell. While training, Yue convince Nodoka that they casting a red string of fate spell on Nodoka. A spell which shows them whose their fate is. One end connect to Nodoka and the other end connect to Negi. Unfortunately, this spell isn’t a fate connection, but it just connects two people with a red string. This OVA is about how Nodoka and Negi spend the rest of the day trying to take their bath, while their hands are tie together.

Hair color changes

Just like in the Manga to Anime conversion, the hair color on various girls was changed. They go as follow - Sayo Aisaka - White to an extremely Light Blue; Yuna Akashi - Bright to Sienna Brown; Akira Okochi - Black to Sienna Brown; Kasuga Misora - Red to Grey; Sakurako Shiina - Red to Yellow/Blonde; Chao Lingshen - Black to Blue; Chisame Hasegawa - Green to Brown; Natsumi Murakami - Red to Turquoise; Satsuki Yotsuba - Brown to a Dusty Grey Brown.

Asuna's eyes have changed too. They are both blue, but in the manga her eyes are one blue and one green instead.

Second television series

Main article: Negima!?
A second series was announced on May 9, 2006 to be developed by Shaft, and directed by Akiyuki Shinbo, the director of Pani Poni Dash! and Tsukuyomi - Moon Phase. It started airing in Japan on October 4, 2006, and works more like an alternate retelling of the original story with different character designs and an all new storyline.