Synopsis
When do children stop believing in Santa Claus? When they’re four? Five? Kids begin to take a closer look at reality during elementary school. But for one individual his version of reality was different. He has never celebrated Christmas with anyone. Presents were always mailed to him. In his loneliness, the boy decided that there was no Santa and that he didn’t need him.
But this Christmas, perhaps his streak of unhappiness might end. A girl appears out from nowhere and asks him, ‘Would you like to spend the night with me?’
Review
Itsudatte My Santa is a 2 episode OVA holiday series released last year on December 12th by none other than Ken Akamatsu whose most famous works include Love Hina and Maho Sensei Negima/Magister Negi Magi. Modern day Christmas shopping where department stores hold sales date back to the 1930s coinciding with the end of the year bonuses. Christmas Day is not a national holiday although it is common for people to exchange gifts, have parties, and eat cake on Christmas Eve.
The official Japanese website for Itsudatte My Santa can be found at http://www.threefatsamurai.com/mysanta/. On the right hand side in pink are four options: story, characters, DVDs and CDs, and special trading cards.
Likes: Maimai’s appetite
Dislikes: In less than a few frames of animation in episode 2, time skips from winter, to summer, to fall, and back to winter again.
The Breakdown
Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!
» The Pros
Buried within the many layers of humor is the heartwarming drama. Mai's catch phrase is 'I'm Santa who fulfills dreams and gives hope to children all over the world...' She helps to open up Santa's eyes. There are small lights everywhere with people thinking of you. Those lights will shine brighter if you believe. But if you don't look at them, the lights will fade away. If you don't believe in them, then they will be always lost.
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» The Cons
Typical of Ken Akamatsu's works are the loads of fanservice. There is a shower scene with Mai and a nude transformation sequence extending from Mai's nipples down to her ass crack. (Mahoro: Ecchi is bad for you!) Aside from that, there is a striking resemblance between the storyline of Itsudatte My Santa and Oh My Goddess. Both follow the basic formula: beautiful girl hooking up with lonesome guy, girl spending time with him caring for his every need, and ending in a heartbreaking separation. Cue giant pillar of light for exit. Even the characters, Mai is analogous to Belldandy who is a Santa Claus in training. Instead of being an angel sent from heaven Mai comes from the North Pole. The equivalent of Belldandy's younger sister Skuld is Mai's little sister Maimai. Urd corresponds to Shirley, Mai's rival but best friend. Noel-sensei, Mai's instructor, is comparable to Peorth who is a representative on behalf of the council. Everything seems to have been done in anime now and days, and it's difficult to be original.
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» Animation
8.0 |
I deducted points from the total score due to the lack of an opening/ending animated sequence. The ending is just a credit scroll with character stills. Even the Oh My Goddess OVA series, Puni Puni Poemi OVA, and Golden Boy had one. Mai has antennae hairs like Naru from Love Hina. Instead of Tama-chan (the hot springs turtle from Love Hina) Mai carries around Pedro, her stuffed reindeer. |
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» Sound
9.0 |
Mai is voiced by Aya Hirano (Lumiere from Kiddy Grade and Mamori from Eyeshield 21). Santa sounds similar to Keiichi from Oh My Goddess but they are actually not the same voice actor. Jun Kamei, Santa, does a terrific job without any previous anime experience. The person with the most voice acting knowledge under her belt is Maimai, Yukari Tamura (Midori from Mai-HiME, Shiori from Midori's Days, Sakura from Da Capo, Mai from Kanon, and Ichigo from Onegai Sensei/Please Teacher to name a few). There's a Yugioh reference when Mai battles Shirley ('My turn!'). |
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» Story
9.0 |
There is consistency between the two episodes. Both Mai and Shirley laugh at Santa when they first meet. Also, the gangsters get pissed when their perishable drops to the floor. Police try to take Mai away for assault with a large fan. The next episode preview for a supposed episode 3 is a fake teaser (Maimai's Enormous, Transforming Sled-Reindeer Fusion Mecha?!?!). The same trick was done in the short anime Elf Princess Rane. |
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» Recommend
9.0 |
Retail price is 9800 ? ($86) for the limited edition box set. As far as I know, the Mai doll does not possess any of her special powers except for her adult-like body and smile. |
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» Other Information
Language: Japanese (Dolby Digital Stereo)
Extras: Includes director's cut versions of both episodes and a Mai figurine transformed in her Santa Clause costume, 14 cm tall.
Package: Centerfold Mai before and after. Bottom left Maimai, bottom right upside-down Santa, top left Noel-sensei, and top right Shirley. |
Friday, May 1, 2026
