Belldandy's Looks
(From the Belldandy ML)

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> Notice the difference between the manga Belldandy and the OAV Belldandy.
> Which version makes her more beautiful?

Basically,there has been a reciprocal style contamination between
Matsubara-san (author of the OAVs arts) and Fujishima-sama. At the very
beginning of the OAV, Belldandy's face contours are more rounded (like in
volume 5 of the manga, IMHO the best one so far) and her expression is so
sweet and peaceful that it really seems divine,it makes you feel good. Much
like in the intro, which was obviously made at the same time of OAV 1. IMO
in episode 1 and 2 Belldandy looks absolutely radiant and uncomparably the
most gorgeous and kawaii creature ever seen. I simply got crazy for her
immediately,in that first scene of the mirror. 

In episode 4 and 5 Matsubara-san tries to develope a personal
representation of each goddess. They are still very close to their manga
counterparts but nevertheless a change is in their features is clearly
visible. Belldandy is more mature,maybe even more delicate and graceful,but
now she looks more like a woman than a girl. Even Urd looks more adult now.
The only one that remains the same,more or less,is Skuld-chan,because she
entered the story when the change was already taking place. Later in the
manga, the OAV begins to affect Fujishima's work. Not only the norn trio
begins to resemble its counterpart in "For the love of the Goddess" but
Belldandy's personality starts a mutation as well. She loses all of her
subtle aggressive features and turns into a so-called (in Japan) "Yamato
Nadeshico",the role-model of the perfect woman. Also,like a manichean
divinity,she alternates between a state of complete peace and sudden bursts
of anger (especially when Urd really meddles up in her love affairs). 

A curio about Inoue Kikko-san : do you know that she was chosen by
Fujishima in person? Fujishima used to listen to her in the role of Tendou
Kasumi when she was still working on the Ranma TV series,and when he was
informed that an AMG OAV was possibly going to be produced he said : "I
don't know how the OAV is going to look like,but if it must be done, I want
Belldandy speaks by the voice of Inoue Kikuko,she's the Belldandy I have
always figured."

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