English Dub Review: I’m Standing on a Million Lives: “Majiha Forever”

Overview:

Yusuke (Zeno Robinson), Iu (Jeannie Tirado), Yuka (Tara Sands) and Kusue (Valeria Rodriguez) struggle on their journey to traverse the map in the hopes they can beat the clock and survive. Yuka receives help from her biggest idol and the truth of the strange fantasy world the group is trapped in is revealed at long last. 

Our Take:

Even though I knew I clicked on I’m Standing on a Million Lives on VRV, I somehow ended up watching the beginning of a Pretty Cure episode instead. At least that’s what it felt like. Had someone told me that I was watching the magical girl series, I totally would’ve believed them because man does “Majiha Forever” truly goes the extra mile and I am all here for it. When Majiha Pink and Majiha Purple united their pure hearted souls attaining the unfathomable power that is love and hope, my feelings became difficult to quantify. But I believe it can be adequately summed up in the one question that was running through my mind: “What the f**k am I watching?!” This enchanting bewilderment only persisted as an actual freaking opening for We Are the Majiha Knights, chock full of the pretty sparkly colors and upbeat electronic pop you’d hope for, played in the place of Kanako Takatsuki’s absolute banger, “Anti World.” But make no mistake here folks. I loved every single second of it. Besides the Majiha firing their way into my heart and being funny beyond belief, it was also more than that. The fact that the staff went above and beyond by animating an original opening and had, what I assume to be an original song recorded for it, shows just how much dedication they had to the idea and was the gold leaf encrusted cherry on top. But of course one soon comes to realize that it is just the anime series that Yuka gushed about as a kid (as I am as an adult).

The series has put a spotlight on the various relatable issues that teens and young adults deal with on a daily basis and Yuka is no different. Her affinity towards the Majiha sisters stems from her misgivings of being alienated. The need to blend in, going along with what stronger individuals do and how others do the exact same to one another showcases just one of the difficult social aspects of high school life. The anime icon in Majiha is the personification of not only people’s general heroes in their lives but anime and manga fans especially as they are the characters they admire so much and an inspiration through even the darkest of times. 

Lastly, the true nature of the world is finally revealed, sort of. With the glaringly obvious hints up until this point, the fact that it’s real comes as little shock. What did, however, surprise was the concept of alternate earths. That sets up infinite possibilities for more worlds later in the series. But at the moment, this also does something more important. It completely shifts the gears for Yusuke moving forward. With the confirmation that Yusuke has indeed killed a very real human being, ramifications of that decision have begun to set in and are making waves within the character. How he deals with it in the final episode will play a deciding factor in the culmination of his character arc thus far and the overall execution of the next and final chapter of this season.

Oh and don’t forget: Majiha forever!