Save Me! Lollipop
Synopsis
Nina Yamada's greatest dream is to find someone that will protect her in the same way the princesses are in her storybooks. She soon desperately needs that protection: when she swallows a strange pink ball of what she believes to be hard candy, a huge number of people fall from the sky. The ball she swallowed is the Crystal Pearl, a symbolic trinket that magic users from another world fight over. The winner of the Crystal Pearl passes a magic exam that can grant them the prestigious title of professional wizards. Zero and Ichii, two young men taking the exam together, quickly determine that the pearl is inside Nina and promise to protect her until the exam is over. With countless other examinees after the object, their task is daunting—but not as brutal as the embarrassment Nina faces when she arrives at school with two handsome boys at her heels. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
Overall, audience reception to 'Mamotte! Lollipop' is mixed to negative. While some viewers, particularly younger ones or those fond of the shoujo genre, found it entertaining and nostalgic, the majority criticized its unoriginal story, poor animation, and annoying main character. Many felt that the anime adaptation failed to capture the essence of the manga, resulting in a disappointing experience.
Strengths
- Some reviewers enjoyed the art style, comparing it favorably to other shoujo series.
- A few reviewers found the series enjoyable and funny, especially younger viewers.
- The English dub voice acting was praised by some reviewers.
Weaknesses
- Many reviewers criticized the story as being unoriginal, predictable, and full of plot holes.
- Several reviewers found the animation to be poor, with recycled sequences and inconsistent character designs.
- The main character, Nina, was often described as annoying, whiny, and unlikeable.
- The series was criticized for cutting out important plot points and character development from the manga, leading to a rushed and unsatisfying ending.
- Some reviewers found the characters to be clichéd and lacking originality.