The fourth Maria-sama ga Miteru Drama CD set, Ibara no Mori! Whee!

This two-CD set covers the third novel of the series, Ibara no Mori/Shiroki Hanabira, which correspond to Episodes 10 and 11 of the first season of the anime – in other words, Sei’s lesbian angst arc.

I now have a complete Yamayurikai set of dolls on my desk at work. I feel better about that. ^_^ (Youko has a really strange look on her face, like she’s about to say something…Sei just looks smug, like she’s gotten away with something and you’ll find out later – to your chagrin.)

The first CD in the set is Ibara no Mori, aka Forest of Thorns. There’s a fair bit of conversation that was left out of the anime and Yoshino is WAY over the top a few times, but the manga is closer to the drama CD than the anime was. There’s STILL stuff missing from the manga, but nothing important. Nonetheless, the Drama CD makes a nice addition to the level of detail, as always. The voice performances are, as expected, very good, but…

The second CD is Shiroki Hanabira, which means White Petals. This is almost exclusively voiced by Toyoguchi Megumi, as Sei narrates the story of how she fell in love with, and lost, Shiori. To say that she does a superlative job is a wild understatement. I was simply breathless during some of the scenes. In fact, I think I can say that this Drama CD may well be the best voice acting I have ever heard *ever* in any medium.

Shinohara Emi was simply amazing as Youko – much better than she was in the anime, and the Former Rosa Gigantea was voiced by one of the most skilled seiyuu in the business, Takayama Minami. She was superb. Nakagawa Akiko was much better in this CD as Shiori than she was in the anime – I expect it’s because she has a bigger part, and we get to know her better. My jaw was hanging open all through the second CD of this set. It was simply brilliant. This was 10’s all the way around.

The *only* complaint I can even find to have on this set was the Foley. The sound engineering was simply awful, especially in the second CD. I don’t know if they were so enamored of the voice acting that they forgot to do it until the last second or what, but I have honestly never heard such bad Foley outside an incredibly low budget kung-fu flick.

Ratings:

Character – 10
Story – 10 (to be fair, teen angst doesn’t *usually* appeal to me, but done this well…)
Voice Acting – 10
Yuri – 10
Overall – 10

If you can understand even a little Japanese, you should get this CD set. This is *the* must-have Marimite item so far.

Finally! I have a chance to review this really spectacular example of what the combination of a decent budget, talent, popularity and some marketing savvy can do.

When I placed the order for this Drama CD, I noticed that the price was higher than the two previous Marimite Drama CDs. I wasn’t thrilled about that, but I wanted the thing, so I ordered it. Well, am I glad I did!

The first two Maria-sama ga Miteru Drama CDs came in DVD-style packaging, with inserts and a pair of stand-up plastic dolls (Yumi and Sachiko in Vol. 1 and Yoshino and Shimako in Vol. 2). Volume 3 includes all of the above – and *2* CDs – the entire Kibara Kakumei/Yellow Rose Revolution storyline. Hence the slightly higher price tag. But the price was only about $8 more, and it was a complete arc, so, along with the dolls (Rei and Eriko this time) and the inserts, I was pretty pleased all the way around. Even the packaging is an improvement – the plastic case is translucent, and the back/inside of the cover is a very cute picture of Yumi, Yoshino and Shimako, with, of course, the Kibara Kakumei novel cover on the front. (In fact, looking at the packaging from the first two volumes, I notice that while Vol. 1 has the first novel cover, Vol. 2 has a new piece of art by Hibiki Reine, the artist for the serialization of the story in Cobalt Shueisha.)

So, right off the top – kudos for good value and improved packaging!

All the way around, a vast improvement over pretty much any CD or DVD I’ve ever bought, ever. I hope that they continue this trend for all the Drama CD arcs. I’d be ever so happy if I didn’t have to buy every CD separately. And speaking of future CDs, this includes, not one, but *two* advertisements for the next arc, available in October. (And we all know what *that* will be, right? If you answered Ibara no Mori/Forest of Thorns and/or “Sei’s lesbian angst arc” you are right! Not just one, but *two* increasingly strident ads – “It’s coming in October, okay? Please stop writing us and asking! AAAAGGGGHH!!!!” With pre-order and everything. I bet it blows records for Drama CD sales through the roof. :-) You can be sure that I’ll be waiting for my copy with bated breath. And we’ll get Sei and Youko toys, which will only make it all even cooler and completing our Yamayurikai set.)

Now – onto the story.

Kibara Kakumei, aka Yellow Rose Revolution, is the story of Rei (Rosa Foetida en bouton) and her petite souer, Yoshino. (I’m going to recap quickly for those who may be less familiar with the series…):

While the head of the Yellow Rose hierarchy, Rosa Foetida, Eriko, is apparently AWOL, Yoshino sets the whole school in an uproar by returning Rei’s rosary and nullifying their souer relationship. This all after she and Rei have just been voted as “Best Souer Couple” by the students. Yoshino’s actions cause a backlash of annulled souer relationships.

Yumi is taken into Yoshino’s confidence and learns the reasons *why* Yoshino gave Rei her rosary back. Yumi is also there as Rei’s confidence crumbles and she wanders around half out of her mind with grief. Ultimately, Yoshino opts to have heart surgery on the same day that Rei has an important kendo match, forcing Rei to become more self-reliant. Of course, everything ends well.

The anime for this arc was a fast two episodes, and several conversations, explanations and occurences were cut out, or moved to a different episode. The drama CD restores them to their rightful place and gives us insight to all of the characters that was missing from the anime and even the manga.

Sei teasing Yumi (and through her, Sachiko) is funnier with the original conversations restored, especially Sachiko’s warning to Yumi, “Don’t do anything to make Rosa Gigantea happy.”

We also get to see much more of Rei and her inner thoughts, including a really touching scene when she breaks down in a teacher’s arms at the thought of losing Yoshino forever.

In the end, everyone lives happily ever after, Rosa Foetida returns and, interestly, pumps Yumi for information on her “cute little sisters.” (Why doesn’t she just ask Youko and Sei? Probably because Yumi is easier to get information from.)

For Yoshino x Rei fans, we get the satisfaction of actually *hearing* both of them tell each other that they love each other more than anyone one else in the world. ^_^

The Drama CD ends with a really strange bonus track of all the seiyuu speaking as their characters – starting with wishing us a good morning, they tell us a few lines about their day and end with wishing us a good night. It’s not as cool as the free talk from the seiyuu of Koi Shimai, but considering that the entire set is excellent, I’ll be generous about this one slack off from perfect. ^_^

Ratings: 9 across the board for character, story, Yuri, design etc.

This is a Drama CD that is *totally* worth having, whether you’re a Marimite fan, or just a fan of damn good drama. ^_^

Well, we’re still a few weeks away from the premiere of the second season of Maria-sama ga Miteru, but since I’m totally addicted to the continuing non-adventures of these girls, I keep feeding my habit with non-anime outlets.

This month, along with my regular dose of Margaret, for the chapter du mon, I splurged and purchased the second Drama CD for the series. This second CD completes the first arc of the anime, ending with Yumi becoming Sachiko’s petite soeur.

To be honest, nothing in this CD stands out as distinct from either the anime or the manga. On the whole, I liked the manga version of the end of this arc best, but the Drama CD was pretty much exactly like the anime – nothing taken away or added. If you’re audially fixated like I am, and want to be able to hear the voices anywhere you go, then definitely buy the CDs. If you’re happy with the anime, then the CDs will add nothing to your pleasure.

The manga still differs a little, and I think it’s a little closer to the novels in the fact that the characters more openly express their feelings, at least to themselves. You’ll never hear Rei say that she loves Yoshino in the anime, but you can read it in the manga or novel. I’m interested to get the Yellow Rose Revolution arc CDs and see if she says it there.

As for extras, there’s still no bonus track with the seiyuu, which disappointed me – I would have liked something similar to the Koi Shimai CD bonus tracks, but instead one gets fun stand-up plastic dolls of, this time, Yoshino and Shimako. I can only assume that if I purchase all of the upcoming CDs, then I’ll have the whole cast. (I suppose I can then make my own little scenarios…but I was never any good at playing with dolls that weren’t carrying guns. lol)

So, the ratings for the second CD are the same as the first, no change. Because I cannot bring my computer everywhere I go, it’s nice to have the option of hearing Yumi, Sachiko, Sei and the rest, whenever I want them. Like, now, at work. ^_^

In the meantime, I will wait with baited breath for the “Forest of Thorns” arc in the manga and Drama CD, so we can once again wallow in a young Sei’s lesbian angst. ^_^

It is no secret that I am into voices. All my favorite actors and actresses are distinguishable as much by their voices as anything else. The same is true for anime – it is the fact that I can hear my favorite characters come to life, as opposed to seeing them do so, that appeals to me.

As a result, I absolutely love drama CDs. Not only can you hear your favorite voices, there are – as I wrote a few entries ago – many drama CDs of series that will never be made into an anime – or with other, sometimes better, actors and actresses in the roles.

So, while I was picking up the Koi Shimai CD, I also got myself a copy of the first Maria-sama ga Miteru drama CD.

All the characters are played by the same actresses that portray them in the anime – so Toyoguchi Megumi’s unusual voice is still Sei’s voice, Shinohara Emi’s sweet voice is stil Youko’s and Itou Miki’s polished Sachiko is the same. In a way, it’s already getting to be like listening to old friends.

The story follows the anime closely – so closely, in fact, that I wondered if they actually had to do any extra voice sessions for the CD at all. Yumi’s introduction of herself and the school – and its early twentieth century sensibility – are exact replicas of the anime opening.

One of the challenges of this particular drama CD is the language that the girls use while at school. Yumi is not, naturally, a formal speaker – her thoughts are couched in reasonably casual language. But if I wasn’t already familiar with the scenario, Sachiko’s sentences would be nigh on impenetrable, they are so formal. ^_^

This CD, which is the first of the series covers the first novel, wherein Sachiko and Yumi meet, Sachiko claims Yumi as her petite sour and Yumi refuses. The CD ends with the end of the second episode of the anime (or chapter of the manga) where Yumi breaks down in tears as she’s questioned by well-meaning friends about her refusal to take Sachiko’s rosary.

The scenes follow the anime progression not the manga, which is moderately closer to the original novel. I think that that is a shame, since the manga is a little gentler to Yumi in this arc. In the manga, when Yumi shows up for dance practice Youko takes her in hand and asks for a volunteer, rather than Sei stepping up, then abandoning her. On the other hand, since the scene is mostly for us to get to know all the Rosas, I guess it hardly matters….

In both the manga and the anime, the second chunk of the arc ends with Yumi crying from stress brought about by her feelings of inadequacy, the pressure she’s feeling from everyone at the school and the pressure of having to be in the presence of not only the Yamayurikai in general, but especially her idol Sachiko-sama. Although she tries to be cool like Sachiko, she can’t maintain the emotional distance and breaks down in front of her friends (who have the decency to feel awful about it.) Yumi thinks that the real problem is that she has real feelings for Sachiko and, so, it was alot easier to adore her from afar, where her feelings could be safe. Now, close to Sachiko as she is, she’s become vulnerable. In the anime and manga, Yumi leaves it at this, but the Drama CD takes it one step further.

Yumi admits to herself that she likes (suki) Sachiko, and that it was easier to admire her from afar. Because Yumi likes her, it’s too painful to be this close. At which point Yumi stops and admits that she *really* (daisuki) likes Sachiko. The CD ends with Yumi repeating, “Daisuki, Sachiko-sama, daisuki” over and over.

IMHO, that puts their relationship one clear step further away from akogare and closer to love. Since we know from the manga, if not the anime, that Sachiko no longer has any feelings for her cousin (who, along with her father’s and grandfather’s callous disregard for the feelings of the women in their lives, has soured her on men in general), I think we have confirmation that Yumi and Sachiko are as a classic “S” couple, in a platonic, but romantic, relationship.

The CD itself is very slickly produced, with background music reminiscent of the anime – without the Utenesque eyecatch theme. The sound quality is good and in general was totally worth the price. It even comes with little plastic Yumi and Sachiko stand-up dolls. (I love the fact that Japanese goods almost always come with an omake. It makes it ever so exciting to open a DVD or CD up to see what else you get!) The CD comes oddly packaged in a DVD-type case, not a jewel case, and the credits look like a personal journal in which Yumi has written – or more correctly, has her thoughts printed in it. There’s also a nice sketch of the Yamayurikai and Yumi in the middle, with the seiyuu and characters names listed by each character. All in all, a very nice addition to a growing CD drama collection.

Ratings:
Story – 8
Yuri – 10
Characters – 8
Voice Acting – 9
Music – 8

Overall – 8