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Ah! My Goddess: Difference between revisions
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So she does.
Keiichi and Belldandy enter into a very sweet, very low-key romance but then Belldandy's sultry elder sister Urd (the Norn of the Past) shows up, irritated because they haven't moved faster and into more advanced levels of intimacy. Then their kid sister Skuld (the Norn of the Future) appears, convinced that Keiichi is no good for her big sister and seeking to sabotage the relationship. Matters are further complicated by Keiichi's sister Megumi (who in the grand tradition of ''[[
''Ah! My Goddess'' combines the finest elements of America's 1960's [[Fantastic Comedy|"supernatural sitcoms"]] with a tender and sweet love story and no small amount of both lighthearted slapstick comedy and intense drama. True to its roots, the series has a noticeably subdued use of [[Fan Service]] compared to more recent [[Bishoujo Series]]. The innocent nature of the series make it receivable to a much wider audience (particularly a younger audience) than regular Seinen. It was also the first exposure many anime fans in the West had to the [[Yamato Nadeshiko]] archetype.
It has spawned numerous adaptations, including a five-episode [[OVA]] series in the early 1990s (which this entry was originally written for), a motion picture, and a [[Gag Series|sequel series]] called ''[[Adventures of Mini
Not to be confused with ''[[Ah My Buddha|Ah! My Buddha.]]''
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* [[Adaptation Expansion]]: Episode One of the TV series sets up Keiichi's situation as the [[Nice Guy]] who is always taken advantage of but always does the right thing. The episode ends with the [[Meet Cute|first scene]] of the manga.
* [[Adaptation-Induced Plothole]]: ''Flights of Fancy'' has more than a few of these (See "[[Pragmatic Adaptation]]" below).
* [[A Day in
* [[Affably Evil]]: Urd's mother Hild is queen of demons, a caring parent, and a big flirt. She can still be evil, once stealing Keiichi from Belldandy just to get a reaction (in ''Flights of Fancy'').
* [[The Alcoholic]]: Urd, partially because drinking booze restores expended energy for her.
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* [[Big Fancy House]]: While the Tariki Hongan Temple where the main characters live is pretty average sized (for a temple), the grounds are positively huge, with a small forest in the back. Also, Sayoko's parent's house before Urd and Skuld trashed it.
** Satoko's house is also considered to be big compared to the average Japanese family home.
* [[Bishoujo Genre]]: With some of the bishiest bishoujo ever put on paper too. Of course that's [[Justified Trope|justified]] because they are divine beings. (Or sometimes [[Hot
* [[Biker Babe]]: Chihiro and Megumi.
** Belldandy also has the riding skills to count, although she doesn't ride as much as the other two.
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* [[Blondes Are Evil]]: Mara and Hagall.
** Averted with Belldandy, though — under normal circumstances, her hair ranges from dark blonde to sand-blonde in the OVA, TV series, and as early as Chapter 50 of the manga (though she began the manga with silvery hair).
* [[Blue
* [[Body Snatcher]]: Poor Keiichi suffers this twice. It happens to him in the movie but more prominently during the Lord of Terror arc in which Urd is also a victim. See the next Trope.
** The movie is basically a [[Broad Strokes]] adaptation of the Lord of Terror arc anyway.
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** Actually, it may be the other way around. Keiichi has been shown in the manga as waiting on a go signal from Belldandy (during the early part of the ''Miss Keiichi'' arc, and when they were outside the love motel during Urd's exam arc), but Belldandy seems to be completely content with their relationship as it is. Belldandy is more open with her feelings than Keiichi, an issue that was somewhat addressed when Peorth trained him to be able to say "I Love You" to Belldandy (see below).
** Note that fairly early in the manga (chapter 50), Keiichi ''did'' explicitly say "I love you" while on a romantic moonlight stroll along the seashore with Bell. Unfortunately, Skuld had stepped between them at just that moment, and it was treated for some reason as if she'd ''intercepted'' the words intended for Belldandy.
** Also, [[Love Goddess]] and [[Shipper
*** Episode 18 of the TV series has virtually the same plot as manga chapter 50, but with one '''Earth-shattering''' difference: There's an epilogue scene where Belldandy is back home, folding laundry (presumably the day after the vacation), and quietly says to herself, [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming|"He actually told me that he loved me..."]]
* [[Can Not Tell a Lie]]: Belldandy, and, well, all goddesses in theory - her sisters would have more ranking if they were able to follow this stricture.
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* [[Cerebus Syndrome]]: The movie, which was rather dark with next to no humor, certainly a surprise given how lighthearted the manga and other adaptions are.
* [[Characterization Marches On]]: Keiichi, from someone who would gladly kiss Belldandy given the chance early in the manga ("Mustn't... give up attempt... to score....") to someone who practically has a phobia of physical intimacy (especially in the TV series).
** When Urd first appears in the manga she tries to rape Keiichi ([[Double Standard Rape (Female
* [[Chastity Couple]]: Keiichi and Belldandy-- despite the implications that neither one really wants it that way...
* {{spoiler|[[Childhood Marriage Promise]]}}: The final episode of the OVA revealed there was one between Keiichi and Belldandy.
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* [[Comic Book Time]]: Partly explains the ironic freeze in a relationship already bordering on marriage.
* [[Comic Role Play]]: When Peorth has Keiichi pretend she's Belldandy so he can practice saying "I love you".
* [[Commuting
** Sayoko's back in Vol. 38 of the Manga, Sora and Aoshima show up in 39.
* [[Compelling Voice]]: Belldandy does it to Aoshima in the first season, and uses what was apparently the stun setting to stop Urd and Skuld from harassing Keiichi in the first ''Flights of Fancy'' episode.
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* [[Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass]]: Mara spends most of the later chapters being ineffective and acting as comic relief whenever she tries anything against the goddesses. However, this seems to be due to her being a [[Punch Clock Villain|old friend]], when she and Hild were threatened by {{spoiler|a monster from hell sent by Hagal}}, she was demonstrated that she was a force to be reckoned with and was able to defeat her attackers easily (the only reason she got hurt was due to the sheer power of her own spell).
* [[Cross-Popping Veins]]: Several characters show these from time to time.
* [[Cursed
* [[Cute Mute]]: The angels never speak. But they sure are cute. [[Kawaiiko|Especially Noble Scarlet]]
* [[Cuteness Proximity]]: Chihiro is a sucker for anything cute. ([[Berserk Button|Don't call her out on it, though.]])
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* [[Demoted to Extra]]: Most of the human characters in the second season. While most of them are still seen around, and even some get an episode or two that focuses on them, for the most part most of the arcs are centered around the goddesses and Keiichi.
* [[Deus Sex Machina]]: Urd tries to invoke this trope in her introductory chapter, telling Keiichi that he has to have sex with her in order to repair/recharge the system force, and that if he doesn't have sex with her, Belldandy will have to return to heaven. He almost goes through with it until Belldandy comes in and reveals it was a trick.
* [[Did We Just Have Tea
** In one ''Flights of Fancy'' appearance, she sleeps with Keiichi. However, it's obvious it's an attempt to [[Mind Screw]] with Belldandy.
* [[Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?]]: Just about all the demons are rendered powerless by a certain form of music. For example, if Mara hears heavy metal (polka in the original English manga), she can't keep herself from dancing.
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* [[Dojikko]]: Chrono. Very much. {{spoiler|Peorth actually relied on her clumsyness to get her job done: Breaking the rythm orb.}}
** Lind [[Lady of War|of all people]] is hilariously clumsy when it comes to {{spoiler|getting restoration magic right.}}
* [[Double Standard Rape (Female
* [[Drunk
* [[Dull Eyes of Unhappiness]]: Belldandy's eyes get this way a few times in the TV series, such as the episode where Hild uses time travel to steal Keiichi or the time Belldandy walks in on Keiichi [[Comic Role Play|practicing]] saying "I love you" with Peorth.
* [[Dynamic Entry]]: Hild is on the receiving end of one of these a couple of times. Usually done by a goddess, from orbit and with the speed of light. [[Badass|She always parries them with ease tough.]]
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** However some trippy imagery that is shown {{spoiler|during the long-overdue kiss}} suggests that while Belldandy definitely isn't human, she isn't scary either. {{spoiler|More like a being of overwhelming affection.}}
* [[Elegant Gothic Lolita]]: Hagall dresses in this style.
* [[Elemental Powers]]: Belldandy: [[Blow You Away|Wind]], Skuld: [[Making a Splash|Water]], Urd: [[Playing
** On the demon side: Hild: Lighting/Wind, Mara: Fire/Wind, and the manga features a demon who has [[Casting a Shadow|darkness]]-based powers.
* [[Enemy Mine]]: {{spoiler|In the current (maybe final?) arc, Hild and Mara are forced to team up with the goddesses to restore the balance disrupted by Hagall.}}
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* [[Heroic Sacrifice]]: Belldandy and Keiichi attempt one for each other during the Lord of Terror Arc.
* [[Hilarity Ensues]]: Peorth appears, and Keiichi has a hilarious reaction, as he knows he has enough trouble with Urd and Skuld.
* [[Hoist
* [[Hooker
* [[Hot-Blooded]]: Otaki and Tamiya would like to think that they're this.
** In the OVA, the name of the Nekomi Motor Club motorcycle drag racing team is "Team Burning Gutsy."
* [[Hot
* [[Hot Shounen Mom]]: Hild again. Also Takano, Keiichi and Megumi's mother.
* [[How Do I Shot Web?]]: Skuld trying to use magic and summon her angel.
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* [[Informed Flaw]]: Keiichi's [[Unlucky Everydude]] status as a 'loser' seems greatly exaggerated by modern standards, aside from bad luck with women and oftentimes being a doormat.
** It should be noted that he's shown courage and fortitude on several occasions, such as when Belldandy was kidnapped in the Dream Castle arc, or when he faced down Hild in the Lind arc. And yet he can't say a simple "I Love You" to Belldandy (not without [[Stop Helping Me!|too much help]] from third parties, that is...)
* [[Innocent Cohabitation]] (Although most fans {{[[[Shipper
* [[Instant Illness]]: In the OVA, when Keiichi brings Belldandy to the abandoned temple, he gets a fever and faints immediately.
* [[Instant Runes]]: Particularly obvious, in [[The Movie]].
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* [[Long Runner]]: As of November 2011, it's been twenty-three years. The American version produced by Dark Horse Comics, which debuted in 1995, is their second-longest-running comic ([[Usagi Yojimbo (Comic Book)|Usagi Yojimbo]] is the longest), and America's longest-running manga, '''period'''. However, this accolade seems a little less deserved when you consider that ''Oh My Goddess!'' is a monthly series, and not a weekly one like the previous US manga record-holder, [[Ranma One Half]].
* [[Love Epiphany]]: Two examples. Skuld begins to develop feelings for Keiichi in the last episode of Season 1. Sayoko also begins to realize her feelings for him as well in episode 2 of Season 2.
* [[Love Hotel]]: In a go-all-out attempt to finally get Belldandy and Keiichi in the same bed, Urd forces the couple to hide in one of these with the help of a rainstorm. {{spoiler|of course, Belldandy STILL doesn't get it and Keiichi just buys an umbrella instead.}} [[Shipper
* [[Love-Obstructing Parents]]: Urd and Skuld, probably manga's [[Ur Example|Ur Examples]] of the "overly enthusiastic" and "utterly opposed" versions, respectively. In the TV series, Urd is actually fairly low-key, only rarely trying to push Keiichi and Belldandy together, while Skuld is much more active about running interference.
* [[Love Potion]]: In an early chapter Urd brews one with the intent of tricking Keiichi into taking it to speed along his relationship. She ends up accidentally swallowing it. (The whole chapter brings some [[Fridge Horror]] since the love potion was essentially a date-rape drug that might have made Keiichi try to force himself on Belldandy...)
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* [[Mind Control Eyes]]: Belldandy, in the movie. Keiichi, in all the series, whenever he gets put under divine or demonic influence -- Urd's potions, the influence of the Demon-God of Poverty, etc.
* [[Moment Killer]]: ''Just'' when you think Keiichi has the nerve to admit his deep love for Belldandy (or vice-versa)...
* [[Motorcycle
* [[Mundane Wish]]: When Tamiya unintentionally summons the demon Mara, who offers him a wish, he thinks she's an ordinary human who sneaked in and tells her to "get the heck out". She tells him that's an uninspired choice for a wish and then vanishes.
* [[Nice Guy]]: If you read the synopsis above, then you'd know that if Keiichi ''wasn't'' one of these, there'd be no story in the first place. And many girls ''adore'' this genuinely [[Nice Guy]], too.
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** Tamiya and Otaki's behavior is heavily implied to be a result of how they were treated by ''their'' sempai in the Motor Club, who eventually returns.
* [[Sexy Santa Dress]]: Urd wears one in an episode of ''Flights of Fancy''.
* [[Shipper
* [[Ship Tease]]: Since Keiichi functions well as a part of a [[Moe Couplet]], the manga has a few chapters that explore potential relationships with the other goddesses, with one also being a case of [[She Is All Grown Up]] / [[Overnight Age-Up]] for Skuld (which shows up in the final episode of the TV series' first season).
* [[Shout-Out]]: One plot arc involved Keiichi bonding with an [[Space Whale|extradimensional whale]] by singing Matthew Sweet songs. He's [[Big in Japan]], you know.
** English version only, in the original, K1 listens to The Carpenters (''Sing'' and ''Top of the World'' are the songs). Changed due to the impossibility of getting the rights to publish the original lyrics. Luckily it all worked out since Sweet's "Missing Time" happens to fit the plot perfectly.
** Curiously, the series references ''[[
** There's an explicit Shout Out to the ''[[Thunderbirds]]'' in a manga issue when a species of sentient machines has a problem resembling the premier episode "Trapped in the Sky." Keiichi actually tells Belldandy that he asked himself "What would the Thunderbirds do?" and his (successful) solution imitates theirs as best he can improvise.
** There's also a Shout Out to ''[[Maison Ikkoku]]'' when Keiichi's mother visits for the first time. One of her guesses as to why Keiichi is living with a lot of women:
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'''Keiichi:''' What kind of story is that? }}
** Urd was recently shown changing the TV's channel -- to ''[[Keroro Gunsou]]''.
** Skuld is a ''[[Star Trek:
** A shout out to ''[[
** At least one of Tariki Hongan's residents is an [[Ultraman]] fan, as we also see the TV tuned to an episode in another installment of the manga.
** When Troubadour (voiced by [[Dan Green]]) shows up, he gets jealous of Keiichi and [[Yu-Gi-Oh!|challenges him to a duel]].
** The first episode has one spouted by Tamiya when he repairs a random bystander's bike.
{{quote| '''Tamiya''': [[Pimp My Ride|Your ride has now officially been pimped!]]}}
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* [[Slapstick Knows No Gender]]: Mara and Sayoko are never safe from having a can of whoop-ass opened on them when the former's [[Zany Scheme|Zany Schemes]] are exposed and fail; or when the latter goes too far in her bitchery. Usually a good [[Shock and Awe|electrocution]] at the hands of Urd.
* [[Soundtrack Dissonance]]: When Hild first shows up, some sort of creepy music plays, and most of the characters being frightened of her...in contrast to Hild acting excited like an overbearing mother-in-law to meet the main characters.
* [[Spell My Name
** A few others did this, of course: Urd vs. Uld (correct name: Urð, or possibly Urdr), Skuld vs. Skurd (Correct name: Skuld), Lind vs Rind, etc. Most of these are obvious if you actually check the Norse myths they're based on: The Japanese names are the nearest equivalents to the Norse ones possible given Japanese lacks some of the sounds.
** The effect may be restricted to English audiences, but "Belldandy", taken as a compound word, is evocative of both bells-- generally "happy" instruments, rung in times of celebration and such, and "dandy", an old-fashioned, light-hearted adjective meaning "high-quality", which goes '''much''' farther in describing the character than "Verthandi".
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** {{spoiler|When Urd wonders if Hild had trained Hagall and her posse specifically to overthrow her to create a loophole into demon law that would allow her to reset her term as queen of hell (and prevent her own death wile at it), Hild doesn't really admit it but is very proud of her minion's work anyway.}}
* [[Yamato Nadeshiko]]: Despite being a [[But Not Too Foreign|''Norse'' Goddess]], Belldandy embodies this trope to the fullest.
* "[[Years Too Early]]": Urd says Skuld is a hundred years too early to call an angel (and, by implication, defeat her), and in a later episode, Mara says that the demons guarding the [[Sealed Evil in
* [[You Cannot Grasp the True Form]] - The form of the goddesses and demons on Earth are not their real forms, and they can take on any form they want according to the demon in chapter 267. When she tries to reveal her true form to Keiichi, it shows up as an [[Eldritch Abomination]] type of being and he almost loses his mind.
{{quote| '''Mokkurkalfi''': You don't perceive our true appearance. Your existence and ours are different. My form, and what you think you are seeing, are not necessarily the same.}}
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