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References and Similarities:
With nearly 40 volumes under its belt, Negima has had many chances to sneak in references to other manga series, videos games, and other forms of media. Some, you may not notice, while others are pretty obvious. Here, we are listing what we find.
We are still finding new references even today, so if you know of any that are not listed here, please contact us!
We are still finding new references even today, so if you know of any that are not listed here, please contact us!
You're a Wizard, Negi!
Negi himself bears a similar appearance and heritage to the popular character, Harry Potter, fit with the round glasses, both being about 10 at the start of the series, and the English heritage. Negi's concept art looks even more like the popular star, even featuring an unused owl cage.
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Negima: New Horizons
The book Negi has during the title page of the first chapter, Neo Horizon, is a nod to a real English course book in Japan, New Horizon. It was a reoccurring item in the series, such as appearing in Chapter 338.
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Most Expensive Coffee in Town
The reoccurring coffee shop locations, Starbooks, is a spoof of popular coffee-chain, Starbucks. It also makes an appearance in UQ Holder.
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Akamatsu-Verse
Nitta-sensei is the same person as Koube's homeroom teacher in Ken Akamatsu's first work, A.I. Love You. Nitta makes an appearance in Love Hina, too. He’s based off Akamatsu’s high school homeroom teacher. He does not show up in UQ Holder as he is dead.
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A Broom Cannot be that Comfortable
In Chapter 4, Negi offers to take Asuna up on his staff, making a comment about her not making Quidditch jokes. This was not in the original Japanese version, but added in the English release. Quidditch, of course, is a popular sports involving brooms in Harry Potter.
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I Caster Spell on You
In Chapter 23, when preparing to fight Evangeline, Negi is seen with the Caster gun from Outlaw Star. This gun can be seen several times throughout the series.
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Jahnny Ratten
In Chapter 27, Kakizaki's Sax Pascals hat is a nod to the popular group, Sex Pistols, specifically their Anarchy in the U.K. album.
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Kaede's Worst Nightmare
In Cahpter 28, when traveling on the train to Kyoto, Haruna attempts to give Yuna chocolate, but is greeted with a frog instead. This is a nod to Harry Potter, where Harry opens a box of candy on the train to Hogwarts and finds it is an animated chocolate frog.
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Racing Forest
One of the shirts Asuna wears on the Kyoto trip reads "Run Lola Run". This is actually the name of a popular German film.
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Fighting Nostalgia
In Chapter 34, many of the paper golems Tsukoyomi summons are actually references to other popular items and media.
A.) A clear reference to Domo
B.) These bear a striking resemblance to the Soot Sprites, or Susuwatari, that appear in Miyazaki films, like My Neighbor Totoro and Spirted Away
C.) It's a Sega Dreamcast
D.) The golem is the original Sony PlayStation
A.) A clear reference to Domo
B.) These bear a striking resemblance to the Soot Sprites, or Susuwatari, that appear in Miyazaki films, like My Neighbor Totoro and Spirted Away
C.) It's a Sega Dreamcast
D.) The golem is the original Sony PlayStation
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Beefy
In Chapter 54, when interrogating Chao, she and Satomi use an invention dubbed the Nikuman-kun Z. This robot may be a reference to Kinnikuman, a popular manga who's character shares the same name. Both have the the kanji for "meat" upon their foreheads.
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The Rolling Stones
In Chapter 59, when first exploring deep under Library Island, Yue triggers a trap that sends a round boulder chasing after them. This is a nod to the popular scene from Indiana Jones.
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Eva is a Gamer Confirmered
In Chapter 63, a Black Mage doll with the Final Fantasy IX design can be seen in Eva’s cabin.
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I Prefer My Mardock Over-Easy
In Chapter 64, the text on Natsumi's shirt reads "Mardock Scramble", which is actually the name of a manga that first released in 2003.
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Iconic
In Chapter 69, when Negi and Kotarou fight the Slime Sisters, they made note about the girls looking nothing like the slime monsters they know, a reference to the popular Dragon Quest series.
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That's Gonna Hurt
In Chapter 71, Negi uses a move against Hermann called Kakudachochu, a move used by Akira in Virtua Fighter 4
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Use Conditioner for Silky Hair
Ku Fei and Shampoo from Ranma 1/2 share many similarities in character design and personality. Both are Chinese, versed in martial arts, and will only marry men stronger than they are. Ku is even seen wielding Chuí in one chapter, Shampoo's most iconic weapon.
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Pinky Promise
In Chapter 76, Ako is wearing a shirt featuring the name of the 2004 film, "The Place Promised in Our Early Days".
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There's a Human Under That Mask
In Chapter 76, there are a number of masks offered as prizes in a festival game. Two are definite references to the cute mascots Hamtaro and Hello Kitty.
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Misuse of Power
In Chapter 79, Konoemon explains the conditions of the World Tree and mentions that its power cannot be used to summon panties, with a silhouette of Oolong in the background, a nod to DBZ
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Name Three Songs
In Chapter 86, when Chief Serisawa is about to confess to Mana during the school festival, he can be seen wearing shirt with the band name and album from the Japanese band, Moonriders.
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Z Fighters
In Chapter 88, when the Martial Arts Tournament begins, three Dragon Ball Z cosplayers can be seen around one of the stages. They're dressed as Goku, Piccolo, and Buu.
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You Dropped This, King
Kaede's outfit during the Mahora Martial Arts Tournament is the same as King's from King of Fighters. The cover of volume 12 and other sources also reveal the outfit is about the same color as King's.
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Stuck on You
In Chapter 125, during the Ako and “Nagi” date of the festival arc, a Cactuar from the Final Fantasy series can be seen, although it is more gourd-shaped.
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Taking Inspiration
First appearing in Chapter 142, the little girl controlling the illusions of the fake Takahata, cerberus, and hippogriff, is actually in nearly the same attire as a Black Mage from the Final Fantasy series.
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But They're Friend-shaped!
First seen in Chapter 142, there is a cerberus and a hippogriff. While these are relatively commonly known fantasy creatures, given the series inspiration from Harry Potter, it would not be a stretch to say these are possibly inspired by the same creatures to appear in that series, specifically Fluffy and Buckbeak.
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Love a Woman in Uniform:
Nodoka’s treasure hunting outfit is very similar to the White Mage’s outfit from the Final Fantasy series.
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Jack Ain't Lackan
In Chapter 226, Rakan’s sword-surfing technique is identical to Tao Pai Pai’s from Dragon Ball. The panel of these scenes are also very similar.
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Quality Entertainment
In Chapter 229, the logo to Jack Rakan's movies is a nod to the 20th Century Fox logo.
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Is Eishun the Chewbacca of the Group?
In Chapter 233, at the end of the Ala Ruba movie Rakan shows, the end is a nod to the end of Star Wars Episode 4.
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Beep
In Chapter 254, Kurt Gödel's offer to Negi is a nod to that the Dragonlord offers the player in Dragon Quest. Both offer half of the world in exchange for an alliance and Negima completes the reference with written dialogue options and even a beeping sound effect.
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Wake Up
In Chapter 275, when Mana appears in disguise and aims her handgun, the panel is very close in appearance to a famous scene from The Matrix.
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Real Emotion
Yuna shares not only the same name as the main female lead of Final Fantasy X & X-2, but her Pactio Artifact and attire is very similar, especially to Final Fantasy Yuna's X-2 design.
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Boss Rush
In Chapter 322, two of the monsters attacking the students bear a similar appearance to the Final Fantasy XII versions of Cuchulainn and Occuria Model 3.
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Me & Mii
In Chapter 351, the CD Asuna returns to Kakizaki before leaving Mahora is called "You & Yu". This is a real CD by Setsuna's voice actress, Yu Kobayashi.
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I told you I like apple
In Chapter 352, when Asuna looks at Negi's tomb stone, the graves on the back feature name spoofs from famous Western celebrities. Steve Works is Steve Jobs, Amy Whiskeyhouse is Amy Whinehouse, and Michael Jackson Third an obvious nod to pop-legend, Michael Jackson. Steve's engraving is reference to Apple brand, what Jobs is famous for creating and Jackson's tombstone is tribute to his songs. These stones were in English in the Japanese release. All of the celebrities had already passed before the chapter's release.
Steve's grave was actually used twice, in different shots. If you look closely, you can make out the same words, but on a different stone. Given the placement, however, this may have been an error.
Steve's grave was actually used twice, in different shots. If you look closely, you can make out the same words, but on a different stone. Given the placement, however, this may have been an error.
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Fin
The end page of Negima is a reference to the beginning of Final Fantasy X, with the character's weapons placed together.
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