If one person turns into seven, does it make sense to say that one is the original and the others are copies? I guess it depends on how it happens. In this case, when it happens to Suzuki Nana, at least for the first few minutes they all react identically, but eventually separate personalities emerge.

Each one is associated with a magic, or high tech, or whatever, heart of a different color, what the Japanese think of as the seven colors of the rainbow: purple, blue, dark green, light green, yellow, orange, and red.

In order to keep things straight, eventually they all get different names.

Blue is "Nana", apparently the original, and acknowledged as such by everyone, including the other Nanas. She's also the first one who figures out how to fly, though as soon as the others see her do it they all do, too. (She grabs something they want, and they're chasing her.)

Yellow is "Nanatchi", who is always smiling and cheerful.
Dark Green is "Nanasama", the smart one. (She wears pince nez glasses.)
Light Green is "Nanarin", a crybaby.
Red is "Nanappe", who is a bit devious and malicious. Nana's mean streak.
Purple is "Nanappon", an inspiration girl. (Whatever that means.)
Orange is "Nanakko", who is happy and easy going.

The personalities emerge mostly by contrast. They're much more similar than they are different.

Nana's best friend is Hitomi, who was there when the unfortunate accident happened and knows all about it. Hitomi tossed me for a loop for a moment, because she has the same voice as Kotoko, the loli android from Divergence Eve.

And then there's a guy. In middle school romantic comedies there always has to be a dreamy but somewhat clueless guy that the comic lead is infatuated with, who doesn't know her and doesn't even notice her. In Kamichu his name was Ninomiya Kenji, and he had a hard time remembering Yurie even though she flew up into a tornado to save him in the first episode. You'd think that would make an impression, but it didn't.

In this one his name is Yuichi. Kenji was consumed with calligraphy. Yuichi is a shutterbug, who spends all his free time taking pictures of the scenery, especially classic old buildings, in the town where all this happens.

I suspect Yuichi is also going to be completely blase. Seven exactly identical copies of the same girl, speaking in unison, walk up to him and hand him a box of Valentine chocolates. He doesn't recognize the face(s), but there's a card. Presumably he'll see her again, since they go to the same school. Will he remember that there were seven identical girls? The Magic Seven Ball says "No way!"

I don't get the impression that this is the kind of series which will have any significant amount of fan service, but after one episode I'm enjoying myself. Arguably this series lands squarely in the mahou shoujo genre. Nana, all seven of her, aren't quite up to Yurie's power, but they are super strong and can fly. And the first thing they did, without even consciously trying, was to make spring happen in the town about two months early. Not trivial. I have no doubt other powers will emerge later, and I'm really looking forward to the first appearance of the Nana Rangers.

UPDATE: The credits for the first episode list them as:

Original Nana
Nanappe (Hot-tempered Nana)
Nanacchi (Smiling Nana)
Nanarin (Crybaby Nana)
Nanakko (Easygoing Nana)
Nanasama (Brainy Nana)
Nanapon (Ghostly Nana)

It's anybody's guess what "Ghostly Nana" refers to. Probably that will come out later. I recognize a couple of those suffixes. -rin is a diminuative. (The fairies in Bottle Fairy use it to each other.) -sama is an indication of respect. As to the others, no clue.

By the way, "Hot-tempered Nana" is okorinbou.

UPDATE: Frame grabs below the fold

Grampa's stolen the microwave for one of his dumb experiments.

No! Nana! Don't touch it!

What's happening to me?

7 "Power Prisms"

Who are you all?

Here's our chance to give our chocolate to Yuichi!

Ain't he dreamy?

Will you please accept our chocolate? And whatever happens next is up to you!

Now let's go home!

Posted by: Steven Den Beste in at 03:57 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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