freddy12354 wrote:so i can watch Ah! My Goddess and still get it all, i don't have to see Oh! My Goddess?.
Is that correct
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
...
Yep, except Oh My Goddess! is pretty good on it's own (aside from the straying from the manga, which for a 5 episode series is almost inevitable). Most anime based upon a manga series, especially one that is still ongoing will stray from the original story line(s) to better fit the medium or to fit the number of episodes projected for it (a 26 episode series has to somehow finish the storyline at the end of the season). Of course, most series leave the ending at least a little open-ended for the possibility of another season, OAV DVD episodes, or a theatrical movie. But I digress...
Here is the breakdown:
- Manga: Aa Megami-sama [ああっ女神さまっ] (English title: Oh My Goddess!) (1989) licensed by Dark Horse Comics
- OAV: Aa Megami-sama [ああっ女神さまっ] (English title: Oh My Goddess!) (1993) adaptation of the manga, licensed by AnimEigo
- TV Series: Aa Megami-sama: Chicchai tte Koto wa Benri da ne [ああっ女神さまっ 小っちゃいって事は便利だねっ] (English title: The Adventures of Mini-Goddess) (1998) spinoff to the OAV series, licensed by Pioneer/Geneon
- Movie: Gekijouban Aa Megami-sama [劇場版「ああっ女神さまっ」] (English title: Ah! My Goddess The Movie) (2000) sequel to the OAV series, licensed by Pioneer/Geneon
- TV Series: Aa Megami-sama [ああっ女神さまっ] (English title: Ah! My Goddess) (2005) new adaptation of the manga, licensed by Media Blasters
- TV Series: Aa Megami-sama: Sorezore no Tsubasa [ああっ女神さまっ それぞれの翼] ((tentative) English title: Ah! My Goddess: Everyone Has Wings) (2006) sequel to Ah! My Goddess (TV), licensed by ADV
As Kalium mentioned, the OAV, while it starts out similar to the manga, at the end becomes entirely it's own story with no relation to the original. It's still a good anime, but not necessary watching to understand the (new) TV series.
The latest TV series is the most faithful to the original manga, which is both good and bad. Considering the age of the source material, I was somewhat pleasantly surprised the producers stayed so close in story and pacing. Unfortunately, the marketplace has changed and this type of romantic comedy which would have fit perfectly to the tastes of the late 80's/early 90's, seems slow-paced with not much going on most of the time by today's standards.
Oh, and the first TV series? It's a bunch of 1/2 episode-length (7 minutes) stories that are parodies or jokes with the goddesses (and their rat friend) in chibi-mode. It's cute and amusing, especially if you get the joke or recognize the parody. As such, it is also not necessary viewing to understand the 2005 series.
The movie also has a stand-alone storyline, although knowledge of the characters and the situation they are in is needed for full enjoyment. It's probably best viewed after the OAV series or after the few first episodes of the latest TV adaptation.