Maria Holic - Recommendations

jaysah925 says...

ever since i saw maria holic, i kept thinking that there's something similar about it to szs, not just because of it's humor, but also because of  it's illustrations. in both, you can find the main character constantly having 'accidents' that are pretty much INTENTIONAL. also, both animes have harems, although in maria holic, the protagonist is the one that chases after them, not the other way around.

if you like comedies and is open-minded about certain stuff (szs has a lot of panty-shots, so be warned; and maria holic, a rather pervy girl), there's a pretty good chance you'll like one if you like the other.

tealovertoma says...

Same production company, Shaft, and they have a very distinctive animation style as well as sense of humour - while retaining the charm of the original manga. Many of the voice actresses are the same, there's loads of in-jokes, weird characters are present in both and the storylines are very episodic. While Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei is more of a satire filled with social criticism and black humour, Maria Holic takes a closer look at friendships, psychological manipulation and occasionally touches upon religious themes - sometimes seriously, oftentimes not.

cassiesheepgirl says...

OK, so the plots are centred on very different things, one is about a suicidal and highly negative teacher, the other a lesbian trying to find her fated partner while being tormented by a cross-dressing boy. Being from the same production company they have a similar style of animation ans well as sound design. However both series have a similar random quality to some of the humourous content so if you enjoyed that about one, then try the other.

Szwagier says...

The same type of absurd, cruel at times, humour that either makes you stay away from the show or keeps you laughing on the floor. The animation also follows the same pattern, which is swift changes between normal animation, too realistic animation, manga-like shots and totally absurd animation. The show formula is also the same - small, episodic sometimes even few stories inside one episode.

Cetonis says...

Chalk this up under the "obvious" category. SZS and Maria Holic were made by the same studio, and it shows in just about every conceivable way. If liked the style of one and want some more, then by all means go check out the other.

valondar says...

With opening numbers that are astonishing demented and weirdly eclectic approaches to animating school comedies (dark, Taisho-inspired stylings for SZS, Catholic stained glass windows for Maria Holic) these shows have comedy so sharply similar I cannot but recommend them. Laugh at one, then check out the other.

KittyEmperor says...

So the plots for both series have almost nothing at all incommon with one another besides the fact that they both for the most part center around high school girls and one male.  But where both series do have a lot incommon is with their animation style which is a given since they both came from the same production company, but they also share in a similar way in which they deliver their jokes.  If you liked the style of one of these then you may want to check out the other.

AirCommodore says...

Arakawa and Maria†Holic are gag/comedy series with the same senes of humor. A cast full of quirky characters who repeat similar jokes throughout the show, sadism played for humor, and copious amounts of nose/scar-bleeds. They're both by Shaft/Shinbo, so they have similar art direction as well.

wolfangel87 says...

The whole entire comedic sense of Maria Holic and Arakawa Under the Bridge are the same.  The strange and weird sense of human a viewer has to posses to watch these sadistic, wacky characters is mind boggling.

valondar says...

Rare is it I see an anime opening that is so upbeat and so demented. Well, it would be rare, but Shaft comediess such as these provide it a lot. Our protagonist sets out wih much opiminism into their new world, but soon finds themselves screwed over by the gods of comedy and rammed into ever more peculiar situations with weirder casts. Aside from being comedies, in terms of actual genre Maria Holic and Arakawa have little in common, but as comedies they deliver pretty similar humour.

KittyEmperor says...

Well for starters their both shaft anime so you can expect that same shaft level of comedy and style that you have come to expect from them.  But beyond that both series do share some other incommon with one another.  Both series features a rather interesting cast of characters who are sure to keep the show interesting and entertaining.  As well as an opening and ending that are rather hard to hate.  So if you liked one then you really should consider watching the other.

HasseRovdjur says...

Both shows are comedies full of characters that do their darndest to be quirky. Their styles of comedies are pretty alike: there's a lot of recurring jokes and straight man vs. gag-maker routines. The comedy in MariaHolic might be more cruel, and it takes place in an all-girls' school, but these really are the biggest differences.

Since both shows are Shinbo-directed SHAFT comedies there are also a lot of similarities between the shows' art and directing as well.

akatsukiJuS says...

I like ouran high school host club sooo much more than Maria Holic, Because maria holic is less funny, less roamntic, etc...

But they both have similar story line. In ouran high school host club the girl is confuse with a boy and most keep the secret. In maria holic the boy is confuse with a girl and most keep the secret.

eaper says...

Each of these shows are centered around and hang heavily on cross dressers and manipulation as the stories premise. Beyond that, romance, at least in some way, is a strong factor in each series, along with comedy. Maria+Holic is the more twisted little lesbian sister of Ouran.

Gavia says...

There are quite a few similarities Maria Holic and Ouran High School Host Club. When it comes to setting, the schools that these shows take place in both give off an elusive and exclusive air.

Both have strong casts with some characters who are aware of fanservice and use it to their advantage as well as crossdressers.

The silliness of the plots and characters also seem alike. When it comes to the darker plot points, there is even some overlap; The newcomer attracts the attention of a school idol, is therefore bullied by jealous fans.

Maria Holic seems to be more mean-spirited, though.

DarkEmerl123 says...

Both series involve a crossdresser, and the main character keeping their secret, while the crossdresser watches over the main character to make sure their cover isn't blown.. Both series are also in a school setting.

Lanturn says...

The main characters both in Maria Holic and Mayo Chiki have many similarities. They both feature Crossdressers, and have a reason (Maria has a boy dressed as a girl, and Mayo Chiki has a girl as a boy). The ones that get introduced to them have some symptoms that make either one break out into hives, or have extreme nosebleeds. Both feature a school-based elements, "cruel" sidekicks to the crossdressers, the list goes on. If you loved either or, you'll find the same great humor and craziness, in the other.

greyweather says...

A protagonist who cannot stand the touch of the opposite sex, a manipulative rich person forcing the protagonist to keep a secret, crossdressing, and frequent nosebleeds.  These shows are two peas in a pod.  I'll mention now that I thought Mayo Chiki was the better comedy though.

Nocturnalgloria says...

Princess Princess and Maria Holic follow the exact same premise, having males crossdressing as females in a school setting. The comedy element in both derives almost exclusively from the unlikely situations that arise from having traps as the main characters. Maria Holic is a parody that targets shows like Marimite with gusto while Princess Princess is not as referential and more interested in mocking yaoi conventions. They may be niche titles, to some extent at least, but these titles are very likely to share at least some of their fanbase.

NimirRa says...

Well if you liked the cross dressing pretty boy(s) in one of these shows I think the other might be up your alley. Though the schools depicted in these shows are not similar they both play a major role in the plot and add serious comedic value. What are you waiting for, put on your best goth-lolita outfit- check the other out!

Palaver says...

Though the perspectives are different, but both contain the cross dressing w/yuri theme.  The main characters in each series attend the academy of their parent(s) to either uncover/relive the past or rectify a wrong.  The tone is much more comedic in Maria Holic than Koishiteru--with a harem-like development and love triangles.

cassiesheepgirl says...

Both Maria Holic and Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru have central male characters in high school that disguise themselves as women. Both also have a good amount of comedy in them. If you like the antics portrayed in one of these series then it may be worth checking out the other.

cassiesheepgirl says...

Though the subject matter for these series is very different, both Maria Holic and Natsu no Arashi share a similar style of random comedy. If you liked the comedic style of one then try the other.

wolfangel87 says...

I cannot see the similarity in any other way between Natsu no Arashi! And Maria Holic other than the type of random comedy these two series deliver.  Although that humor plays a big role in each of the series, making them in my mind extremely similar.

sillyniecy says...

If you like something fast and loose, with out much of a cohesive story effort, you might enjoy both of these series. 

I feel that the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya has more effort put into it, and you can watch the episodes chronologically or in airing order, which is interesting and adds a different spin to the whole series. 

Maria Holic was a little too unrestrained and repetitive for me to really enjoy, but I definitely felt a resonance in how I felt when responding to both animes. 

Rfsancho says...

A main leadership-quality protagonist who simply doesn't-give-a-crap and takes control is the blatant similarity between the two. They both have very similar boke/tsukkomi style humor of characters who always have something intelligent or quirky to say. With a pretty episodic yet story driven presentation, they are a great match.

It's kind of a surprise there isn't more recs for these two.

TheMomoUzumaki says...

Well, kuragehime has a boy cross-dressing and so does maria holic.. they are both funny in every episode and i think both endings were not enough they ended to soon D:

Riyo says...

in both anime there is a unallowed boy between a lot of likeable girls. one difference is that in kuragehime the boy isn't liked by everyone, but still, both anime provide a lot of slapstick elements due to the crossdressing. so cute crossdressed boys with a nice taste of fashion are found in both.

ItsumoHitori says...

I felt that Death Note and Maria Holic, though not being similar in plot in the slightest, both established a very distinct aura to the world and setting that they each were placed in, it not being quite similar to that of any other show. If you enjoyed one of these shows, and enjoyed the feel and vibe of the very detailed setting, the other is recommended.

Vinchanzo says...

I don't understand how that actually works (comment above), but quite interesting to mention about the setting, 'vibe' from both anime's.