at Fuuka Academy, with the emphasis on the female cast. Although most of them were introduced by the second episode, only a few characters are disclosed as HiMEs; the other characters' abilities and alignments are revealed throughout the rest of the series. The main characters are the hardworking, caring Mai Tokiha, the catlike Mikoto Minagi, and the cold beauty Natsuki Kuga. Other ones are shown with a wide range of personalities and relationships. Obara stated that he "wanted to reverse the roles that men and women usually play," making the actresses take leading roles. Mai is the protagonist of the series. She is portrayed as a self-reliant person, often hesitant to tell others about her problems. She is a first-year high school student, and her roommate is Mikoto Minagi. Her stated hobbies are working part-time jobs and taking care of Takumi. Mikoto is a third-grade middle school student who behaves very much like a cat. She loves to be with Mai, often at her side or clinging to her. She also has a problem with spicy food, and consuming it will often send her into rampages while looking for water. Natsuki is typically portrayed as a serious, rational blue-haired female. Though she does not work with Mikoto neither Mai, the three become friends as the series progresses. Related media A manga series was developed by Sunrise. It was first serialized in Akita Shoten's Shōnen Champion and later published in North America by TOKYOPOP. It follows an alternate storyline at Fuka Academy where Mai, Mikoto and Natsuki become roommates. An anime spin-off, entitled , aired in Japan from October 2005 to March 2006. The series featured some of the same characters from the previous one, but it is set in a far future timeline. A PlayStation 2 video game, was developed by Marvelous Interactive and released in Japan on June 30, 2005. The adventure game follows a storyline different from the anime and manga series. A remake, Mai-Hime - Unmei no Keitouju Shura, was released for the PC. Two PlayStation Portable fighting games, and , both developed by Sunrise Interactive, were also released. A parody trailer for a Mai-Hime movie was included in the first DVD of Mai-Otome, with the title Fuuka Wars or The Great Battle of Fuuka with a release date of 20006[sic]. A second manga series titled was developed by Sunrise. It was first serialized in Dengeki Daioh