Returning to the Scene of the Crime (Sei Michaela Gakuen Hyouryuuki II)

A decade ago, Orphan subbed a borderline hentai show called Sei Michaela Gakuen Hyouryuuki (St. Michael School Drifting Story), a convoluted time-travel OVA with multiple time travelers, alternate histories, nefarious plots, and too many twists and turns to be understandable. After two tries, I sort of threw up my hands about all the dangling plot threads and wrote, "These questions are answered in the sequel, Sins of the Sisters... maybe. Or maybe not." Well, as part of the ProxyMan project, Orphan has now subbed the 1994-1995 sequel OVA, Sei Michaela Gakuen Hyouryuuki II (titled Sins of the Sisters for its R1 release). And the answer is... not. If anything, the sequel is more confusing than the original.

Let me try to summarize the events of the original OVA. The roots of the plot start during World War II, with a romance between a Japanese office, Karino Daisuke, and a well-born woman and mother named Yuki, who is mostly notable for having a star under her left breast. Yuki's daughter Yumiko falls in love with Daisuke. When she discovers that he is her mother's lover, she is heartbroken and becomes a nun.

Fast forward to the 1980s. Yumiko yearns to be seventeen again and in the arms of Daisuke. Somehow this summons him through time. He seduces her, and together they set in motion the "Michaela project." This involves setting up a strict Catholic school for girls that teaches singing, dancing, and martial arts to create a "Girls' Crusade." The girls think they are training to become members of the Takarazuka Review. In fact, Daisuke intends to take them back in time to become "comfort women" for the Japanese Army in the Second World War. This will somehow inspire the soldiers to greater heights of valor and turn the tide of battle.

Daisuke's and Yumiko's nefarious plot in turn summons the attention of fallen angel (and intersexual) Hans Heilner, leader of the failed 13th century Children's Crusade. Hans travels through time and enrolls at the school disguised as a girl, Mimura Aiko. 

Hans wants to take the Girls' Crusade back in time to defeat both the Church and God. It also attracts the attention of ninjas from the 17th century Shimabara Rebellion. They want to take the Girls' Crusade back in time to fight the Tokugawa Shogunate. So there are three sets of time travelers -  Karino Daisuke, Hans Heilner, and the Shimabara ninjas - all of whom want to use the Girls' Crusade for their particular cause. After some confusing action in the past, a new timeline emerges, in which the world is peaceful, free of both religion and nationalism - thanks to the unspecified actions of Hans/Aiko and the Girls Crusade. Cue the sequel.

St. Michaela Gakuen II purports to show how the new timeline came about. In some ways, it is simpler - the ninja time travelers who summoned the Girls' Crusade to Shimabara are nowhere to be seen. But in others, it's even more absurd. Yuki, who is now married to Gonza, her servant in the "dark history", dreams that the timeline is wrong and must be fixed so that she can be with Daisuke. 

She is opposed by the "Old Sage," who seems more like a Dr. Who Time Lord than a Japanese mystic. 

Yuki acquires near-divine powers and animates the corpse of Ikeda Rika, who was killed in the first series, and transforms herself into Aaron, another intersexual. Yuki/Aaron goes back in time to make sure that the Children's Crusade actually succeeds (and that Mimura Aiko never comes into existence). Aaron corrupts the Pope

and parts the Red Sea, thereby allowing the Children's Crusade to reach the Holy Land. But the children discover a Papal contract selling them all into slavery and turn back to attack Rome.

Aaron, now desperate, kills all of the Girls' Crusaders that she can.

Eventually, she kills both Hans/Aiko and the Pope, thereby somehow accomplishing what Yuki wanted to prevent. But the Old Sage adjusts the timeline a bit to bring back all the Girls' Crusaders that Aaron killed, as well as Hans/Aiko. The vanished ghost of Daisuke tells Yuki that the "dark history" which included the two of them cannot be restored. 

Aaron vanishes, Rika dies (again) in Hans/Aiko's arms, and the utopian world timeline is saved. 

But frankly, I'm even less sure about this sequel than the first OVAs. And the idea that defeating the Shogunate and the Papacy would eliminate history and nationalism is preposterous. The thirteenth century included many other massive power structures, including the Mongol Empire, the Khmer Empire, China, the Incas, and other regional empires. What were they: chopped liver?

I never thought of Sei Michaela Gakuen Hyouryuuki as anything other than erotic trash. To my astonishment, it's actually a media mini-franchise. It started as a play in 1982; the play has been revived multiple times. It has also released as light novels, manga, and even a live-action movie. I found an online version of the play's script, but none of the others are available in digital form. As a "serious work," it deserves a few notes:

• The Children's Crusade was not an authorized crusade and may be an apocryphal conflation of historical and mythical events.
• In the R1 subs, the slave traders tell the children they'll be sold as slaves on the "Ivory Coast." This is an anachronism. In 1212, the slave trade was centered in North Africa's Barbary Coast. European traders had not reached the Bight of Benin. 
• The Pope at the time of the Children's Crusade was Innocent III. He was a powerful politician and Church reformer known for calling the Fourth Lateran Council, and not the secret libertine shown in the anime.
• The Pope says that Jerusalem had been recaptured by the Seljuk Turks. In fact, it had been recaptured by Saladin, a Kurd serving the Egyptian caliphate. 
• Amakusa Shirou was a Japanese Christian who led the Shimibara rebellion against the newly established Tokugawa Shogunate.
• Indra's net is a Buddhist metaphor for, among other things, the idea of Perfect Interpenetration in the universe.

One translation note. The R1 script uses "androgyne" for Hans and Aaron, but the first OVA series used "hermaphrodite."  The latter has been retained for consistency.

The voice cast includes:

• Matsui Naoko (Mimura Aiko, Hans Heilner) played Umemura Sayaka in Magma Taishi, Caterina in Tottoi, Efera in Gude Crest, Wato-san in Mitsume ga Tooru and Tezuka Osamu ga Kieta?!, and Lady Dola in Ai to Ken no Camelot, and she appeared in Hi-Speed Jecy and Every Day Is Sunday, all Orphan releases. She played the title role in Compiler, Uru Chie in High School! Kimengumi, Katsumi Liqueur in Silent Mobius, Run Run in Mahoujin Guru Guru, Roux Louka in Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ, Suzuki Sonoko in the Detective Conan franchise, Juushimatsu in Osomatsu-kun (1988), Wendy in Peter Pan no Bouken, Marian in Robin Hood no Daibouken, and Matsu in Nobunaga no Shinobi.
• Watanabe Kumiko (Takemiya Kozue) played Shippou in the Inuyasha franchise, the title role in the St. Frog franchise, Kyouko in the Working! franchise, and Rouge in Megami Paradise, an Orphan release. 
• Onodera Mariko Onodera (Aoike Kumi) played Nana in Metal Fire Miku.
• Mizutani Yuuko (Ikeda Rika) played Pinoko in all the Black Jack properties, as well as Sumiko in Aoi Kioku, Misako in Houkago no Tinker Bell, Hiromi in Milky Passion: Dougenzaka - Ai no Shiro, Rika in Sei Michaela Gakuen Hyouryuuki, Lila in Eien no Filena, Anna in Inochi no Chikyuu: Dioxin no Natsu, Shoko in Gakkou no Yuurei, volume 1, and Dr. Uematsu Kikue in Yume Kakeru Kougen, all Orphan projects.
• Sasaki Yuuko (Hiraiwa Yuki aka Aaron) played the title role in Desert Rose and Gilbert in Kaze to Ki no Uta SANCTUS. She played Sayoko in Aoki Honoo, Akiko/Keiko in Wolf Guy, Yuki in Sei Michaela Gakuen Hyouryuuki, and Exper Jiff in Exper Zenon, and she appeared in OL Kaizo Kouza, Amaama to Inazuma, Dokushin Apartment Dokudami-sou, and Yousei-ou, all Orphan releases.
• Hikita Yumi (Yamato Watoko) played Imae Yuki in Magma Taishi, Mirei in Condition Green, Android 1026 in Oz, and appeared in Zetsuai: 1989, all Orphan releases.
• Yajima Akiko (Ooshima Mayumi) played the title role in Idol Densetu Eriko, Lemon in VS Knight Ramune & 40 Fresh, Takami in Geobreeders, Dorothy in The Big O, Pino in Ergo Proxy, Kogitsune in Natsume Yuujinchou, Mipple in the Futari wa Precure franchise, and the title roles in Shin-men and of course Crayon Shin-chan. She played Lesser Panda (Red Panda) in Shirokuma Cafe, Mary Bailey in Heavy, Maijima Karen in Sotsugyousei, and Hikari in Kakyuusei (1995), and Unico in Tezuka Osamu Works: Kyoto Animation Theater, and she appeared in Gakkou no Yuurei, volume 2, all Orphan releases.
• Konishi Hiroko (Iwadate) - see Chameleon 6
• Naka Hiroshi(Old Sage) played Daisuke in The Ghost in the Shell SAC 2045 series, Monkey D. Garp in One Piece, and Doc in Hellsing: Ultimate. and had featured roles in numerous shows, including After War Gundax X, Altair: A Record of Battles, BNA: Brand New Animal, Coppelion, Delicious in Dungeon, Zetsuai 1989, and Heavy. The last two are Orphan releases.
• Mizusawa Jun (Eiko, ep 2) payed Miyuki in Doukyuusei 2: Sostugyousei and Amy in Nessa no Wakusei, both Orphan releases.
• Sugawara Junichi (Gonza, Pope) appeared in numerous shows, including Cowboy Bebop, Dragon Knight, Ninja Cadets, Ninjo Scroll, Yawara!, Oshare Kozou wa Hanamaru, Magma Taishi, Plastic Little, and Okane na gai! The last four are Orphan releases.
• Kosugi Juurouta (slave trader, ep1, Karino Daisuke, ep2) played Murakami Atsushi in Magma Taishi, Mochizuki Rokurou in the Sanada 10 special, Utsubushi in Amatsuki, Aizman in Bavi Stock, Takanesawa in Hiatari Ryouko, Daisuke in Sei Michaela Gakuen Hyouryuuki, Gisuke in Shadow, Dr. Bayfam in Joker, the yakuza leader in Ashita Genki ni Naare!, and a bit part in Hi-Speed Jecy, all Orphan releases, as well as Krest in Ariel, Fernand in Gankuutsou, Hertz in Marie and Gali, and Touji in Ninku.
• Nishihara Kumiko (Hagio Misayo) played Iris in the Sakura Wars franchise and Renko in Kujibiki Unbalance, both OVAs and TV series. She played Fhalei Rue in Ryokunohara Labyrinth and appeared in Kakyuusei (1995), Kosuke-sama Rikimaru-sama: Konpeitou no Ryuu, Zetsuai 1989, Dragon Fist, Gakuu no Yuurei, Tenkousei, and Blazing Transfer Student, all Orphan releases.
• Kanai Mika (Johann) played the title role in the Licca-chan franchise, Normad in the Galaxy Angel franchise, Histoire in the Hyperdimension Neptunia franchise, Melonpanda in the Soreike! Anpanman franchise, Misato in Nana, Lotte in Starship Girl Yamamoto Yohko, Kanna in Gakkou no Yuurei volume 1, Noriaki, first son in Chocchan Monogatari, Tanaka Kumi in Tanjou: Debut, and Hime in Bakuen Campus Guardress. The last four are Orphan releases.
• Koorogi Satomi (Yayoi) played Chi in all versions of Chii's Sweet Home, Himawari (the baby sister) in Crayon Shin-chan, Menchi (the food pooch) in Excel Saga, and Kuki-sama in the Limeiro properties. She also played Yahoi in Sei Michaela Gakuen Hyouryuuki, Keiko in Sensou Douwa: Tako ni Natta Okaasan, and Tanaka Misa in Doukyuusei: Climax v2, all Orphan releases.
• Takano Urara (Sister Yumiko) played Marler in the Aa! Megami-sama franchise, Maria in the Sakura Wars franchise, Cocktail in Knights of Ramume, and Gloria in PriPara. She played Sushi Neko in Let's Nupu Nupu and Ken in Next Senki Ehrgeiz and appeared in Gakkou no Yuurei volume 6, all Orphan releases.
• Matsumoto Yasunori (Amakusa Shirou Tokisada, ep 1) starred as Guy in Heavy, Ichitaro in Ushiro no Hyakutaro, Akira in Mellow, Johnny in Starship Troopers, Kaname in Singles, and Tooru in Every Day Is Sunday, all Orphan releases. He was in numerous OVAs in the 1990s, including Houkago no Tinker Bell, Ziggy Sore Yuke! R&R Band, Seikimatsu: Humane Society, Fukuyama Gekijou: Natsu no Himitsu, and Al Caral no Isan, also Orphan releases. Among his other notable roles were Wataru Akiyama in Initial D, Jean Havoc in Fullmetal Alchemist, Gourry Gabriev in Slayers, Ryou in Sonic Soldier Borgman, and a personal favorite, Dick Saucer in Dragon Half.
• Amano Yuri (Miuchi Youko) (layed the title role in The Legend of Snow White, Julia in Daddy Long Legs, Kiyone in the Tenchi Muyo franchise, and Moemi in Video Girl Ai. She appeared as Lady Freeze in Bakuen Campus Guardress, Catherine in Okama Hakusho, Kuzunoha in Akuemon, Angie in Condition Green, Elthena in Eien no Filena, Kitagawa in Nozomi Witches, Noriko in Singles, the teacher in Tanjou: Debut, Tonto in the Blue Knight segment of Tezuka Osamu: Kyoto Animation Works, the Chinese whore in Shibuya Honky Tonk, Kate in Nessa no Wakusei, and Yuko in St. Michaela Gakuen Hyouryuuki, as well as multiple roles in Fukuyama Gekijou and Gakkou no Yuurei, volume 1, all Orphan releases.

The director, Yamaguchi Yorifusa, specialized in gag anime, so this show is way outside his wheelhouse.

The original translation was done by Central Park Media. Perevodildo translation checked and timed, but he didn't change much. I edited and typeset. Paul Geromini and new (to Orphan) staffer imatu QCed. The raw is from ProxyMan and is encoded from a Japanese laserdisc. This show is the last Orphan/Okizari contribution to the ProxyMan project, for now.

Sei Michaela Gakuen Hyouryuuki II didn't really need a new release, but in for a penny with the first OVAs, then in for a pound. I still don't know what's really going on, and the sex and nudity are not sufficient compensation for sitting through this. Still, it looks better than the R1 DVD, so if you'd like to admire the video, this is the version for you. Although it's an Orphan release like the first OVA, because it requires no censorship, it's still quite NSFW. Accordingly it's been torrented on the X-rated side of the usual site.