Negima, Vol. 3: Magic 301 - Practical Application of Magic (Episodes 11-14)
These episodes ofNegima!revolve around the sort of romantic misunderstandings and slapstick confusions that made Ken Akamatsu's earlier comedyLove, Hinaso popular. The ongoing storyline about half-pint wizard-in-training/Mahora Academy homeroom teacher Negi Springfield fighting the vampire Evangeline and her robot servant gets dropped in favor of shorter misadventures. Hasegawa learns she doesn't have pose as an online "Net Idol" to have friends; Negi and Konoka go shopping for a present for Asuna, and the rest of the class assumes they're on a date. The students of class 2-A also study for exams--not because they care about academics, but to ensure that Negi earns a favorable evaluation. These high jinks would play better if Negi were in college or at least as old as his students, rather than a fey 10-year-old. (Rated TV PG, suitable for ages 14 and older: nudity, risqué humor, cartoon violence)--Charles Solomon