Yuri Anime: Kaleido Star, Volume 3 (English)

July 7th, 2008

Yuri fans hit paydirt with Volume 3 of Kaleido Star, in which Layla suddenly comes to the conclusion that Sora is her important partner. (Finally!) And we get to spend moments here and there noticing that Anna is acutally quite hunky and cool and that Mia is besotted, although more of that will come later. lol

We start the volume with a little time wallowing in Anna’s backstory, then we spend not nearly enough time as Layla and Sora bond over their “Amazingly Hot New Production” (the amusing title of the episode) – in which they star as pirates fighting in a storm, while the ship/swing bursts into flame below them. Seriously, if you do not want to see *that* you are clearly beyond help.

To cap off the volume, we get a painful episode where we learn that Carlos is in love with Sara, even though he treats her like crap (ah, beautiful Japanese-style heterosexual love.)

Nothing against the straights, but, I’m sticking with Sora and Layla fighting with swords on a swinging, burning pirate ship. Are you with me? Yar!

Rating:

Art – 8
Story – 8
Characters – 8
Yuri – 2
Service (oh yes, less Fool for a change, too) – 3

Overall – 8

This volume is one of those moments where you remember why you’re watching this stuff in the first place. ^_^ And it’s all due to the kindness and generosity of Ted the Awesome that I was once again able to wallow in the Yuri goodness that is Layla and Sora. Ted, you are indeed Awesome. ^_^

4 Responses

  1. Erica: Ted, you are indeed Awesome. :-)

    Yar! Now that be a pirate’s sign o’respect!

  2. ana says:

    “Amazingly Hot New Production”

    That just sounds so WRONG. lol

  3. vee says:

    I avoided watching this series for ages, just ’cause the whole, “earnest, bright young girl blows competition away with never before seen talent” shtick actually kind of annoys me. Then, I was bored, couldn’t think of anything else to do, and on the basis of your reviews I thought I’d give it a go.

    I absolutely adored the first season. I could have ditched most of the second season, but it had its moments, most notably when Layla finally started taking a more active role :). I can’t even say how many times I’ve watched the closing credits for “Legend of the Phoenix” :D.

    I’m so there with the Layla/Sora vibe. How can this not be canon? My TV is practically spitting sparks having to show Layla and Sora on screen together! My TV bemoans that I know how to rewind, since it’s had to show pirates, masked stars, impossible feats and phoenixes over and over again, many many times over :).

    So anyway, before I forget, thank you for your reviews :). I doubt I would have ever given this series a chance if I hadn’t read your comments on it, which would have been a great loss since it’s undoubtedly provided many hours of entertainment and fan-girlish heart palpitations over Layla ;).

    I just have to kind of convince myself that “Wings of the Future” doesn’t exist :(. Gaah! How could they do it?! :(

  4. Anonymous says:

    Is there really n e love factor between sora and layla..or is it just them being on stage together..

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