G2G > Articles
     
 
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
The AMG OAV: Manga Correlation
  Episode 1
  Episode 2
  Episode 3
  Episode 4
  Episode 5
 
     
 
The AMG OAV: Synopses
  Episode 1
  Episode 2
  Episode 3
  Episode 4
  Episode 5
 
     
 
Articles
 
 
Ah! My Goddess OAV
 
 
Manga Correlation
Burning Hearts on the Road
: OAV Episode 3
 
 
 

The episode opens with a view of Yggdrasil, the master computer system of Heaven. Sparks jump among its machinery and a weird creature resembline a cross between a rabbit and spider materializes. A young girl with a hammer goes chasing after the jumping creature. She finally hits it with the hammer and it vanishes. The girl congratulates herself for being a genius, but no sooner had she said this when the place is filled with many of the bunny spiders.

 
 

Yggdrasil was first shown in Chapter 14, the machinery shown there fairly resembles that in the anime. Bugs were first introduced in Chapter 32 along with Skuld's first real appearance. As in the OAV Skuld's primary job in the manga is to debug Yggdrasil. The appearance and method of removing bugs in the manga and anime are the same.

 

Back at the temple, Keiichi is looking at the blueprint of a motorbike and surrounded by bike parts. A flashback is shown of him drawing a red-marked straw, which meant being the racer for the intercollegiate drag-race competition. Although Otaki promised a beauty for him, his racing club buddies only dump the parts at the temple for him to assemble. Meanwhile, Belldandy is at the kitchen making a cake. Urd looks bored to tears and seeing Belldandy having fun cooking offers to help. However Urd quickly gets bored stirring a bowl of eggs and decides to use her powers. Urd only succeeds in getting covered with egg mixture so she goes off to help Keiichi instead. He refuses Urd's help but she goes ahead and casts a spell to assemble the bike. As with the eggs the results are dismal and the resulting explosion destroys Keiichi's engine. Megumi bringing a mesh hose for the bike spots the two charred figures in the courtyard. Covered with soot Keiichi decides to take a bath. Curiously some bubbles begin to form at the foot of the bath and suddenly a gate opens. A girl leaps out and finding a stranger in the bath screams and whacks Keiichi's head squarely with the hammer. Urd and Belldandy see what the commotion is. The girl flies into the arms of her big sister and points to the strange man over the bath. All the while Keiichi has been sinking into the bath with his head in the water.

 

Aside from Skuld's first appearance all these are original OAV material. Skuld appears in chapter 32 in the same manner as in the anime, however Urd was the one in the bath (and subsequently doesn't get whacked by her hammer). The idea of Urd screwing up her spells is derived from the manga where various instances occur.

 
 

Later at the Tea Room, the girl earlier named as Skuld apologizes but Keiichi reassures her that he's not angry. Keiichi introduces himself and Megumi, who wonders how how Skuld got there. The Goddess replies that she came through the bathroom. Keiichi tries to explain but is saved as Belldandy brings some cake and tea. Over the course of the meal the couple, acting all sweet and cozy, causes Skuld to  blow  up  in  anger  and  cry. The young Goddess runs off toward the kitchen and when Belldandy follows Skuld asks her to come home with her. Belldandy explains that he has a contract with Keiichi but Skuld thinks that for a contract like that to be accepted was weird in the first place. Urd steps in and chides Skuld for feeling lonely and coming to Earth but Skuld answers back that Urd couldn't even go back if she wanted to. The two square off to fight but Belldandy stops them and explains that she was not there simply because of the contract. She must uphold the promise she made and as long as Keiichi wanted her she would stay by his side.

 
 

In the manga Skuld also came to Earth to convince Belldandy to go back to Heaven. However she was never shown as angry towards Keiichi for keeping Bell earthbound. She usually only shows anger towards Keiichi when he makes any romantic moves toward her older sister. Skuld's closeness with Belldandy and the friction between her and Urd are constant themes in the manga.

 

Outside, Ootaki and Tamiya (two of Keiichi's buddies at the NITMCC) approach the Moristo siblings working on the bike. They bring him a present that would allegedly double the engine power like magic. Looking not the least bit pleased, Keiichi asks if it's a twin-engine. Tamiya confirms this but Keiichi complains that the bike is already half-built and it makes the bike heavier and the handling worse. Aoshima, who founded the  Racing Club at Nekomi Tech, comes in during the middle of the argument and insults the Auto Club's efforts. Aoshima says that came to greet the lady that was going to be his, and reminds Tamiya of the deal they made. Belldandy and Urd come to see the visitors. Aoshima gives profuse praises for Belldandy's beauty and gives her a bouquet of roses. He leaves but not before telling Keiichi he should figure out how to lose in style for  the race tommorow. As his club  buddies leave, Keiichi asks about the deal but Tamiya can't give a straight answer. Megumi then reminds her brother that they need to do strength calculations fast if they were to use the twin engine. However while the others were away, Skuld looked over the blueprints and was dismayed over the wrong calculations. With a speed only a Goddess and mechanical genius  could  have  she corrected  all the errors. Keiichi thanks her for saving them time but Skuld says that she hates him and runs off. They start assembly of the bike immediately with everybody helping, aside from Skuld who looks from the sidelines. Later in the evening Skuld comes over and asks Keiichi what he really felt for her sister and the reason why he chose that wish. Keiichi explains that he first thought it was a joke. However ever since Belldandy was around every day was filled with happiness and she even made him feel that they'd known each other since childhood.

 

In Chapter 24 of the manga Aoshima founded the NIT Four Wheels Club as a rival to the NIT Motor Club. As in the anime, Aoshima has always been romantically interested in Belldandy from the very start. He actually joined the NITMC in Chapter 20 to get closer to Bell. Skuld's amazing mechanical prowess shown here is one of her most prominent features in the manga.

 
 

It's morning and the day of the race. Keiichi's sempai test the bike and are pleased with the results. Aoshima comes over and inspects it. He arrogantly says that this overnight job could not beat his club and they he'll be waiting for Belldandy when the race is over. Seeing the surprise on Keiichi's face, Aoshima figures out that they didn't know about the bet. He explains that if the Auto Club lost to the Racing Club, Belldandy would  become a member of the latter. Keiichi correctly argues that without consent of the person involved the deal is invalid. However Belldandy agrees to the deal saying that they must uphold promises no matter what happens. With the deal sealed, Aoshima leaves. Outside Skuld is listening and imagines what would happen if Keiichi lost. In her mind's eye, she sees Keiichi breaking the contract in shame of his loss and Belldandy finally being able to return with her to the heavens. With a glint in her eye, Skuld devises a plan.

The Fourth Intercollegiate Golden Hammer race starts. As the first race proceeds Skuld sneaks into the Racing Club's place and tampers with the bike. The Auto Club goes against Ushikubo university, soundly beating them. In the background the announcer notes that Nekomi Tech is fielding two clubs and they were rumored to be rivals. The Racing club scores a very fast record time and the Auto Club is visibly  worried while Skuld silently cheers. Aoshima finds it unusual that they went much faster today than in their previous trials. As the day goes on, the Auto Club and Racing Club leave the other competitors in the dust and are left to contend for the first prize. Aoshima comes over and says that the Auto Club should just give up and hand over Belldandy now. Belldandy vehemently says "never!" and explains that the goddess of victory would never smile upon the likes of him who think only of winning but instead on those with burning hearts. Keiichi worries about losing but Belldandy comforts him; in the background Skuld seems to be having second doubts about her plan.

Finally it's time for the final race between the Racing Club's "Aoshima Formula Team" and the Motor Club's "Burning Gutsy Guys." On the track Belldandy plants a long kiss on Keiichi's helmet to the cheers of the whole crowd. The bikes go off with a roar but despite Keiichi's best efforts he's falling behind. All hope seems lost when the device Skuld planted on the Racing club's bike explodes and the Motor Club cruises to victory.

 
   
 

The race in Episode 2 is based on chapter 12 and 22 of the manga. In chapter 12 Tamiya gets into an argument with Etsushi Ohtaki, head of the Ushikubo University Motorcycle Club. They ends up betting in race wherein Belldandy would become the team girl of Ushikubo if NITMC lost. In the anime Ushikubo just becomes the first club NITMC races against and beats by a large margin. The Golden Hammer race exists in the manga but is a different race altogether. It was called the First Coed Golden Hammer Rally and consisted of multiple races wherein Aoshima's club was NITMC's main rival. Skuld does not come into the picture in any of these races as she appears much later in chapter 32. As a side note, at the end of NITMC's first race against Ushikubo in the anime, you can see Megumi towing the racer with her KSR motorbike. This KSR is also Megumi's bike in the manga and it appears many times throughout the series.

As final note, most scenes in Episode 2 are original material. The actual race is obviously based on Chapters 12 and 22 but little of the intervening material can be correlated with the manga on a direct basis. Thus scenes such as Belldandy's cooking, Skuld's tantrum, and building the racer do not exist in the manga.

 
 

The Goddesses and Keiichi are on the way home when Belldandy spots some rings. She finds them beautiful and Keiichi offers to buy her one. Unfortunately he left his money in his jacket pockets. Urd comments on what a loser Keiichi is for not being able to give a girl a present. Reminding Keiichi again that he hated him, Skuld makes a face and sticks out her tongue just like a kid

 
 
     
  < Previous Episode > < Next Episode >
Gateway to the Goddesses v2.0 © 2004