The first Mai-Otome opening, 「Dream☆Wing」 by Kuribayashi Minami, is nice and quite lighthearted, as it primarily about main heroine’s (Arika) dream which suddenly come true. It’s a great exposition and entry point into the whole new world of the new installment of Mai-HiME series! However, I want to show you, @apc@starside.social , the second Mai-Otome opening: Crystal Energy (also by Kuribayashi Minami), as it ultimately became the iconic one for the whole series. Or at least it feels like that for me…
It’s more on the dark side as it shows how plot thickens in the second part of the anime. I’d say it’s about feeling of doubt and uncertainty that the main heroines are engulfed by, and how it eventually turns into determination. And it’s also depicts the tragic past and tragic present of the planet Earl, (part of) the legacy that Arika holds, the iconic Otome authorization process, rivalry between Arika and Nina and its unforeseen consequences, Asward and Five Colums at their full glory, and, of course, astonishing power of Otome. Power of Otome is a power of a pair, you know!
There is also an unofficial extended version of it, which combines scenes from both openings and the anime itself. And I think that author nailed it perfectly! Lyrics and scenes in this version (at least parts that I can understand) just harmonize naturally. Be careful, though, as it contains heavy spoilers!
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