The anime adaptations have been released in North America by Nozomi Entertainment under the title Maria Watches Over Us.

[1] Critics have praised the series for its strong characterization, even among peripheral characters, and for its emphasis on romance and emotion over sexuality.

Among the facilities of Lillian, aside from the classrooms, there is a church, a greenhouse, a kendo dojo, an auditorium, a park, and the Rose Mansion, where the Yamayuri Council meet.

[3] There is an implicit code of behavior between sœurs, especially in the Yamayuri Council—the student council of the school: quietness, measure and respect towards each other; values deeply attached to traditional Japanese education.

By custom, this greeting is used often in the Lillian School; this has been one of the distinguishable and popular phrases of the series, and it is used to begin or to finish each volume.

[9] Maria-sama ga Miteru's story revolves around the students of the Lillian Girls' Academy and is character-driven, focusing on interactions between the characters rather than any sort of ongoing plot or goal to attain.

This seemingly simple act of kindness stays with Yumi the rest of the day, and she speaks of her meeting with Sachiko to her friends during class and lunch.

This officially inducts Yumi into the Yamayuri Council where she assists them in school matters alongside Yoshino Shimazu and Shimako Tōdō—the petite sœurs of Rei Hasekura and Sei Satō, respectively.

Still, after graduating, the grandes sœurs of the Yamayuri Council may continue with a fair participation in the events concerning their families, as shown in the novels.

Although the Rosa positions of the Yamayuri Council are traditionally passed to the en bouton on the graduation of the current holder, they are nonetheless elected offices that anyone may run for.

After writing her debut novel series Yume no Miya (夢の宮, Palace of Dreams) for three years starting in March 1994,[14] Oyuki Konno published a short story called "Maria-sama ga Miteru" in the February 1997 issue of the shōjo magazine Cobalt with illustrations by Yuma Aoi.

[20] In terms of the storyline, this first novel marks the beginning of the series; the original 1997 short story was reworked and republished in the ninth volume Cherry Blossom in 2001.

[29] Konno also wrote a spin-off series of light novels titled Oshaka-sama mo Miteru (お釈迦様もみてる, Buddha Watches Too), also illustrated by Hibiki.

[44] Six brief manga one-shots, illustrated by Reine Hibiki and based on some scenes from the novels, were published by Shueisha in Cobalt between February 2003 and December 2004.

[45][46] They are: "Yumi's Valentine Eve" (祐巳のヴァレンタイン・イブ, Yumi no Varentain Ibu, February 2003),[45] "Before the Festival" (祭りの前, Matsuri no Mae, October 2003),[47] "Christmas Present" (クリスマス・プレゼント, Kurisumasu Purezento, December 2003),[48] "By Graduation..." (卒業までに…, Sotsugyō Made ni..., February 2004),[49] "All Alone on Sunday" (ひとりの日曜日, Hitori no Nichiyōbi, April 2004),[50] and "The Beginning of the Year" (年の始めの, Toshi no Hajime no, December 2004).

[52] A one-shot of Oshaka-sama mo Miteru, illustrated by Sakura Kenjō, was published in Shueisha's Comic Cobalt magazine in August 2010.

[53] A 13-episode anime television series adaptation of Maria-sama ga Miteru aired in Japan between January 7 and March 31, 2004 on TV Tokyo.

[66][67][68][69] The third season, a five-episode OVA series titled Maria-sama ga Miteru, was released on DVD from November 29, 2006 to July 25, 2007; each episode is approximately 50 minutes long.

[80] The episodes consist of short segments of fake outtakes and parody skits drawn in a super deformed style and starring the cast of the anime.

The fifth and tenth drama CDs by Shueisha were released in limited edition versions each with a slipcase and a pair of character mini-figures.

[103][104] An Internet radio show to promote Maria-sama ga Miteru called Web Radio Maria-sama ga Miteru (Webラジオ マリア様がみてる) was hosted by Kana Ueda, the voice of Yumi Fukuzawa, and featured other voice actors from the anime series as guests.

[105] The show features conversations and publicity, often commenting with news of the anime series and other funny situations from the plot of the novels.

[113] Combined, the two radio show seasons were later released on 13 CD compilation volumes by Frontier Works between August 4, 2006 and February 24, 2010.

[117] To tie in with the film, a new edition of the first light novel was published in June 2010 with a cover featuring stars Honoka Miki and Haru.

"[4] Newer anime titles that Maria-sama ga Miteru is compared to include Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru,[122] Strawberry Panic!,[123] Best Student Council,[6] and Aria.

[124] Carlos Ross, writing about the first novel in the series, felt the story was a "classic rags-to-riches tale," but that it was "also sweet, touching and witty when it needs to be."

[127] On the other hand, Ross compared the "atmosphere" presented by the series' artwork with those from other anime titles of similar setting, including the bright and vivid Revolutionary Girl Utena.

[130] Holly Ellingwood of Active Anime appreciated the focus on characters other than Yumi and Sachiko for the second season, regarding Shimako's loss of Sei and befriending Noriko as being "one of the more moving" arcs of Printemps.

[8] Japanese reviewers for their part regard the story as a revival of the Class S genre, and specifically a modern-day equivalent of Nobuko Yoshiya's Hana Monogatari.

[1] Hairston notes that Maria-sama ga Miteru emphasizes romance and emotion over sexuality, and it has a respectful treatment of its homoerotic themes.