"Meine Liebe" is a historical and fantasy genre Japanese anime series. There are two seasons to Meine Liebe with the second season labeled as "Meine Liebe ~Wieder~." Both seasons have thirteen episodes each making a total for twenty-six episodes. Meine Liebe is directed by Koichi Mashimo and produced by "Bee Train." The manga series authored by Kaori Yuki and Rei Izawa was released the same year. There have been a few Meine Liebe dating simulation games by Konami released for the Gameboy Advance and the Playstation 2. Looking at the terminology and design of clothing, it would look as it was inspired by German culture before the twentieth century. However, it doesn’t take place in Germany but a fictitious country off the edge of France called Kuchen. Meine Liebe is defined as "My Love" in German.
This is very reminiscent of Jonathan Swift’s "Gulliver’s Travels" as Lemiel Gulliver had traveled all over the world and ended up in fictitious countries such as Lilliput. However, the time setting is 1935 revolving around a group of students at an elite academy. But, it looks a bit more primitive than the rest of Europe as they still use horse drawn carriages instead of automobiles. But, there was a giant blimp pleasant as it hovered over one mansion. It looks as it Kuchen was set up a policy of isolationism as everything seems to be unaffected by World War I. Everything looks to be fantastical as characters wear clothing that is non-present in the 1930s.
The main character is Orpheus Furst vo Marmelade nahe Gorz who has been plagued by nightmares of his older sister’s death due to a carriage accident. Orpheus is one of those students at the elite academy. He swears to make the country a better place for everybody. The academy looks to be some sort of military academy by the way students dress. It is also looks as if the school teaches students to become future politicians. The story reveals that Orpheus has a "rival" in fellow student Ludwig Herzog von Mohn nahe Liechtenstein as they have differing ideologies on how a new future should be paved. They often get into verbal attacks with each other.
He has a best friend in Eduard Markgraf von Sekt nahe Braunschweig. It looks as if Ed is the more lively and down to earth of all of the characters of Meine Liebe. Ed looks as if he is always there for Orpheus.
Surprisingly enough, there is a Japanese student named Naoji Ishizuki in the school who practices Kendo which is Japanese fencing with the use of a bokken. That is the one thing that seems to be out of the picture as historically the Japanese didn’t have much of a presence in Europe until after World War II. Styles such as Kendo didn’t spread into Europe much until after World War II where instructors traveled around afterwards teaching the style to non-Japanese.
The story revolves around the students whom are candidates for Strahl whom are charged with protecting the kingdom of Kuchen. There is a lot of dirty backstage politics involved with the story as students plot to get Orpheus expelled. One of the methods is spreading rumors that Orpheus is the son of a homeless woman. It gives the student body of the Rosenstolz Academy an "elitist" feel as they look down on the "weak" and the "lower class."
Everything looks to be viewed in an old school way. If you’re going into political science, this may be one anime series you should watch. There is no dubbed version to Meine Liebe yet. So far, no North American anime production company has acquired the license for it. It’s unknown if or when Meine Liebe will be licensed, dubbed to English, and released to North America.
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