Ken Akamatsu is a legend when it comes to the world of anime. He may not have had his hands on a lot of projects but the fact that he created Love Hina speaks volumes in the minds of otaku; or should anyway. When I heard about Negima I knew that I had to check it out despite the fact that the concept felt a little stale.

This 26 episode series that spawned from Akamatsu's original manga tells a tale of magic and love with a wealth of fan service and humor. The show focuses on an eclectic cast of characters though the center of attention is arguably Negi Springfield. At just under ten years old Negi is a smarter version of Doogie Howser. Naturally this makes for awkward moments especially since he's a teacher at Mahora Girls' Jr. High School. His brilliance and young age aren't the only peculiar things about Negi; he's also a mage. Despite his best efforts over the course of the show students have found out about his magical secret and it has worked well into the plot.

When Negi was first introduced to the series it didn't sit well with Asuna Kagurazaka who downright loathed the little guy. As the show's plot progressed it became apparent that she was warming up to him, even to the point of being a friend. For my money though it's the personalities of the other students that make the show worth watching. What else can you say about a series that features an android, a time traveler, vampire, and ninja all in the same class?

Up to this point the series has bounced back and forth with its tone. Some episodes are there for the sake of having fun while others tell a serious story and develop particular characters. In this final volume Negima once again strays from the fun and frivolous path and heads down into darker territory.

In the first episode Asuna has a nightmare about a burning village, a demon, and something about an event that will occur in ten years. Well, guess what? It's been ten years apparently! Asuna wakes up early and checks the 22nd off on her calendar. When Negi confronts her she leaves the room in tears with a pile of questions lying in her wake. The episode then goes on to follow Asuna as she wanders town reflecting on her life and seeking "help" to defend herself against something (the demon perhaps?). At the end of the episode it's time for her birthday extravaganza but before we see if anything happens, the episode ends.

With three episodes left in the series the show fine tunes its plot into an adventure that spans time and magic. I don't want to spoil anything for those of you who have been watching the show so I will refrain from details. Let's just say that there is a lot of crying going on and Negi finds himself in a few interesting situations. Granted the final moments of the series are kind of fluffy but the events leading right up to the end are full of emotion and truly make an impression.

Over the course of 26 episodes Negima has juggled the quality ball a little bit. Some episodes were merely filler and many were a real treat. I'm pleased to say that the show ends appropriately and despite the fact that the final episode is a tad on the soft side, this is another strong volume. Fans of Akamatsu's work have something to be pleased about while newcomers may be drawn to some of his older series. Negima is a recommended show for anyone looking for a fun and oft irreverent anime.

Negima is a solid looking show. The recent production date allows for a fine looking digital transfer with only a few very minor flaws to gripe about. The colors are vibrant throughout and the contrast is handled in a way that makes the characters in the show absolutely pop. This volume did present a fair amount of grain in most scenes with some compression trickling in occasionally. I did not notice any aliasing during any of these four episodes though and the image remained strong for the most part.

While most recent shows offer a 5.1 Dolby Digital track, Negima only presents viewers with stereo options. Both the English and Japanese dubs are of good quality though I personally give the nod to the Japanese track thanks to some weaker voice work on the English side of things. Technically speaking both tracks offer little immersion and do not really impress with their presence. It's on par with what you'd expect from a stereo presentation though. English subtitles are included.

The final installment of Negima offers a decent amount of bonus content. On the lighter side of things there are some Character Profiles, Textless Songs, an explanation of the "Tree of the World" ideal, and trailers for other FUNimation products. If you're looking for a laugh an English Blooper Reel is included with some amusing cuts. A Schoolgirl Commentary is included for Episode 25. The track includes a selection of the schoolgirl voice actors and presents their thoughts about the series and working on the project. Some discussion about what's going on in the episode while their watching it provides for some levity but for the most part this was a light commentary track. Decent but light.

Negima has proven itself to be a fun series and this final volume is no exception. The four episodes that are featured here bring the show's arc to a close in respectable fashion. Fans will be pleased with the way things wind up and the quality is proof enough that this is a show worth getting into if you're on the fence. I enjoyed just about every minute of Negima; fluff episodes and all. Recommended

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