Oh my. Definitely the greatest Anime episode of Negima! to be created so far, the first episode of the new OVA created by SHAFT (Zetsubou Sensei, Bakemonogatari) covers the Journy to the Magical World arc of the manga, continuing from the previous OVA series: Ala Alba.
The reason I liked this episode so much was mainly because of the gorgeous and fluid animation and a whole lot of ACTION. We have some great fight scenes that involve most of the cast and the use of their Artifacts. The Pactio cards also come into play and I loved their inclusion in the opening. The only thing that I would have liked to have seen is the reuse of the song ‘Happy Material;, but oh well.
Following this is a number of screencaps from the episode itself, detailing the events that occur, and do avoid if you don’t want to be spoiled. (^.^)
Here we go!
This OVA, as stated above, starts right where the previous one left off. We see the gang arrive in England, London.
A short train ride later, Negi and friends arrive at Wales, Negi’s hometown. He is then reunited with his big sister Nekane.
~OPENING CREDITS~
Starting with a brief fan service scene of Asuna bathing, we get a quick preview of things to come. What things? ACTION!!! If the opening is any indication, we Negima! fans are in for a treat! (^o^) Love the fact that the characters are seen utilizing their Pactio Cards in the scenes. Other than in the Negima!? series, we never did get to see the characters use their Artifacts/Pactio Cards a lot.
We then meet the Headmaster of the Magic School and find out more about the disaster that befell Negi’s village a number of years back. Except for a few who escaped, everyone else was turned into stone.
Negi, along with his partners and a few more of his students that possess special abilities set off on their journey to the Magic World. Makie’s group, who doesn’t know about magic, decide to break their promise to remain behind and tag along.
Arriving at the Gate to the Magic World, they are then transported to the Gateport (think Airport) in the Magic World.
Ah, stowaways.
Sensing a foreign presence, Negi quickly mobilizes his team, but not before being fatally wounded.
NEGI!!! NO~
O.O
While Konoka’s Artifact can heal Negi, despite him sustaining a fatal wound, all their weapons/items were sealed in a box with an ‘Unbreakable’ Seal until they leave the Gateport. (Think Airport security.) This is a problem as Konoka’s Artifact can only heal wounds that are maximum three minutes old.
The enemies reveal themselves and it’s none other than Fate Averruncus and his group.
EPIC FIGHT SEQUENCE!!! Do note that the above screencaps are only snippets from the fights. Really awesome scene that can’t be represented by a few pictures, let alone described. Anyways, the Ala Alba don’t do so well until…
Asuna manages to smash open the sealed box and releases their weapons and magic items!
HENSHIN!!! Oh, wait… ADEAT!!!
The counterattack begins. Setsuna = Gorgeous, Fluid, Epic Win.
Racing against time, Konoka tries to get to Negi to heal his wound and Asuna defends her from their onslaught.
@.@
Admitting that Negi’s group is more than ‘trash’, Fate Averruncus and his group destroy the keystone of the Gate, causing the transportation magic to go beserk. This splits the group up and teleports them to different parts of the magic world.
~END CREDITS~
So, if you are wondering about all the Negima Anime series, here’s a quick rundown:
Negima! : Canon up till episode 22. The school festival arc is not shown.
Negima!? : Alternate storyline and not canon.
Negima! Ala Alba OVA: Canon after the events of the school festival.
Negima! Another World OVA: Canon, continues from previous OVA. Covers chapters 186 +
All we need now is the school festival arc to be animated.
Overall, great start to an arc with simply gorgeous animation, kick-ass action and a great set up. If you are a Negima! fan, you need to watch this NOW.
Now, all we have to do is to wait for the next episode that will be released in two months. (Episode 3 will be released May next year. (T.T))
Actar's Otaku Life 
If I didn’t like Negima!, the full anime, am I able to watch it?
Only need the OVA?
@ Guy: Well, the OVAs. Negima!? and later arcs of the manga are very different from the earlier arcs of the manga and the first Anime series, Negima!.
They are more action based, less romance and the humor is much less corny. So yeah, I think you’d like it.
Do check out the second season, Negima!?, also by SHAFT. It has nothing to do with the first season as it is an alternate retelling that’s once again more action based with pretty good comedy.
AHHH! I love Negima! I agree The animation is really good! I’m probably ordering the actual OAD and Pre-ordering the next one.
I didn’t like the second season’s art, at all.
Do the OVAs require Negima!? or not?
@ Guy: No. The second season was not canon to the manga.
hmmmm dont think ive seen this 1,got a link ,want to see b4 i read .
I prefer the original series not the retelling,how bout u?
Definitely the greatest of all negima ever!
absolute legend of an episode
i have a brand new anime or manga set in the year 4099 after humanity made contact with extraterrestrial life we meet a normal 17 year old boy named Adam Lee he lives next door to a former alien princess named Evangelina Sigma Adam lives on earth in Tokyo Japan aliens now live together with humans all over the world and brought with them many advances in science and would bring new alien cultural knowledge to earth. Evangelina’s parents were the king and queen of a planet called Elysium her parents were king Thomas and queen Lola her parents were killed in a rebellion led by a treasonous general named Alexander who deceived gullible inhabitants of Elysium to assist him conquer Elysium he also got some members of the armed forces of Elysium to join him as well this occurred on Evangelina’s fourth birthday she was captured by one of Alex’s henchmen and became a slave until she escaped at age nine when she met a elderly male alien named Jacob he taught her combat skills and how to survive alone in the wilderness of Elysium she has a collar on her neck along with piercings on her ears, nose, lips, eyebrows, tongue, navel, nipples, her clitoris and her anus Evangelina is quite statuesque and athletic she has super large breasts and a big ass at age 16 she has short bobbed light blue hair white skin and violet eyes she is emotionless stoic deadpan snarky has a creepy monotone voice and no social skills she has superhuman strength, speed, senses, reflexes, and toughness.
we also see that Evangelina has her cheeks pierced her bridge pierced her labia pierced her hips pierced her necked pierced and both of her wrists pierced she had these piercings put on her when she became a slave until she ran away. she at the age of 16 left Jacob her master in combat and she took a abandoned spaceship belonging to one of general Alex’s henchmen. she cannot remove her collar or her piercings or they would shock her to death unless she finds someone virtuous enough and with the correct bio metrics to unlock her collar and take off the piercings. she luckily finds this pure soul is Adam Lee he unlocks the collar and remove her piercings off her they fall in love and become boyfriend and girlfriend then using the kiss of true love Evangelina unlocks her genius level of superhuman intelligence and her photographic memories telling all her secrets to Adam but he must promise not to tell anyone else.