Archive for the English Anime Category


Yuri Anime: Strawberry Panic, Volume 1 (English)

April 4th, 2008

Strawberry Panic is a series with a fairly consistent pedigree. It began as a series of one-shot stories in Dengeki G’s magazine where the short, almost non-existent action in each vignette served to caption a exceedingly moe picture, about girls in “Yuri couplings.” It proceeded from there to be made into an anime, a manga (that also ran in G’s I believe) and a series of light novels, which were probably serialized somewhere that is also a typical fanservicey publication.

It’s nice that lots of girls, as well as guys, love this series, but that doesn’t actually change the fact that it was meant to be pandering, service and, ultimately, parody for a Yuri Fanboy audience. I expect someone will inform me exactly where the LN was serialized in the comments because this series’ fandom seems to need to express “facts” about the series to give it a frisson of legitimacy. Frankly, I don’t see why it can’t just be crap you like. As Bruce Pregger says, “Just because it’s bad, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it.” My corollary to which is, “Just because you enjoy it, doesn’t mean it’s good, either.” ^_^

In any case, in Strawberry Panic, new student Aoi Nagisa arrives at Astrea Hill to attend the notable and superior St. Miator Academy. Immediately, she’s thrown into intrigue when the star of the school, the Etoile, Hanazono Shizuma, takes a fancy to her in front of the entire student body. Nagisa is overwhelmed by Shizuma, and is further thrown into confusion by her roommate Tamao’s behavior, which can only be described as “pervy.” We also meet simple, sweet Hikari who has fallen for the Prince of her school, and is further thrown into confusion by her roommate Yaya’s behavior, which can only be described as “pervy.”

The first volume of the anime, (for which I must thank the gentlemen at Media Blasters) covers the first six episodes of the series, in which Nagisa is confused about everything related to the school from meals, to the Etoile, to her uniform and curfews. Pretty much everything she needs to make a complete and total ass of herself in every possible situation. We are told several times that her transfer was rushed, an “emergency,” but it does beg the question – does no one think to just sit her down with a copy of the school handbook? The conversation the day after we watched this, went something like this:

“Wow, A-ko-san, you’ve really got the hang of the school in such a short time. I’m impressed.”

“Thanks, B-ko-san. I made sure I read the school handbook when I transferred in. It’s so embarrassing to not know the important details.”

Just so.

In any case, I watched the anime with a critical eye for two things – one, if I was totally mistaken originally, and the whole series was an obvious parody which I simply missed while I was busy being pompous, and; two, the translation.

The first is answered easily – no, I was not mistaken, although I was undoubtedly pompous. lol The first quarter of the series is played “straight,” if you will allow the use of that phrase. Other than the obvious rip-offs of Catholic School, Onee-sama-ing, midnight tea parties, and other pretty well-known memes taken from previous Yuri series (most of which would be familiar to Japanese viewers more than western ones,) there is no obvious humor in the series. It’s played for moe cute, precious and pervy….not in that order. I forgot to count the number of *almost* kisses, but there’s at least one in every episode, which made me gnash my teeth originally and wasn’t much less irritating this time around.

Secondly, the translation. Up until right towards the very end, it was very good. Most of the usual honorifics were kept, right until the very end where strangely “-oneesama” was not, so we get that jarring turn of phrase “Big Sister Shizuma.” No one says that in English. Why “-oneesama” wasn’t kept as an honorific befuddles me – especially when I warned them ahead of time that I planned on being picky about that, as a fan and a reviewer. Also towards the end, in perhaps the fifth or six episode, there suddenly was a tendency to translate in that dubtitle way – you know, what they meant, not what they said. It left me with the impression that either they changed translators halfway through or by the last two episodes, the translator was simply getting tired.

And then there’s the QC…or more properly, lack thereof. In the last episode, there’s multiple typos in the subtitles. MB folks, I love you. But you NEED to QC this stuff. You can’t send it out the door looking like this. Seriously. It doesn’t look professional. Seven Seas is doing such exceptional work on the manga and Light Novels. The anime really needs to be able to stand up to the print series.

But don’t let my nitpicking detract from the genuine, laudable efforts by MB to keep the honorifics in place. “Shizuma-sama,” “Tamao-chan” and everyone “-san” is really a lovely change of pace in official releases.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 7
Characters – 7
Yuri – 6
Service – 9

Overall – 7

It’s not fabulous. It’s very good. It’s definitely a good deal for the money. It’s very official – fans of Strawberry Panic *should* buy it and support bringing more Yuri anime over here. But. It could still be better.





Yuri Anime: Battle Athletes Victory, Volume 8

February 21st, 2008

In keeping with my tradition of being out of step with the large majority of Yuri fandom, I would like to take some time today and review the final volume of this mostly-unknown-to- today’s-generation-of-Yuri-fans anime.

Battle Athletes Victory Volume 8 is arguably the worst final volume of an anime I have ever watched. ^_^ It resurrects every irritating characteristic of the earlier volumes, manages to insert some entirely new, even *more* irritating concepts and then play it all for laughs, so if we get irritated, it’s obviously our lack of a sense of humor that’s the problem, not the fact that the story is a truckload of horseshit.

At the end of Volume 7, you may remember, Akari has won the title of Cosmos Beauty AND beaten her mother’s record, as unlikely as that seems. And, you may also remember, that the aliens chose that very moment to attack.

In Volume 8, we learn that the whole Cosmos Beauty thing was a cunning plan by schoolmaster Grant Oldman, in order to train a cadre of unbeatable female athletes to do one thing – take on the aliens! Oh my god, how clever he is! Not to mention nearly immortal, but they sort of gloss over that.

In any case, Kris is recalled (with her cow), Anna shows up to cook for the team, Ichino is added to the roster along with Akari, Jessie, Tanya, Mylandah and Lahrri, and we face off with the aliens, with “Mister Miracle” as our coach.

Of course, the aliens cheat.

And of course, we manage to somehow hang on despite the obvious bias. And, of course, it comes down to the final race, which is, of course, a dash and, of course, we’re relying on Akari and Kris. And, of course, the aliens pull out the ace up their sleeve. Because they are clever too, they have brought Tomoe Midori BACK FROM THE DEAD to race against her only daughter. Even better, they bring her back at the age she won the Cosmos Beauty title, so she’s actually a year younger than Akari. Bet you saw that coming, huh?

Akari has the usual crisis of identity, and Kris gets her to gambare again and in a complete shocker, she saves the Earth and wins.

The story doesn’t end there, however. The epilogue follows mostly everyone as they set out on their post-alien invasion lives. In most cases they stick with athletics, but we’re treated to a funny final scene with bratty Tomoe teasing Akari, and the absolutely shudder-making idea that her parents are together again and now expecting a baby.

And we all live *happily* ever after.

It just occurred to me that you might think, reading this, that I didn’t enjoy this volume. That isn’t true. I did enjoy it. But not for any of the above. ^_^

I spent most of the volume watching the only two reasonably sane characters left, Mylandah and Lahrri. They spend the entire volume in a world of their own. No one is gonna tell me that they aren’t totally together. And they’re damn cute together, too.

For Yuri fans who like their Yuri a little less subtle, Kris immediately pins Ichino to the wall about her total gayness for Akari. Kris insists that Akari is her’s, but Ichino won’t even admit she’s interested, although she’s immediately jealous. So the two of them engage in a bizarro rivalry throughout.

My one real question about this volume is – who named it “Volume 8: The Human Race”? Because I think that person deserves a blow to the head.

Ratings:

Art – 6
Story – seriously, it’s so over the top with dumb, it’s practically genius – 7
Characters – 6
Yuri – 4
Service – 5

Overall – 7

In the end, the end of the anime was nothing as satisfying as the manga, where Kris and Akari kiss in front of the known universe and Mylandah and Lahrri retire to a tropical love nest. But it was what it was. If Kris’ cow and Grant Oldman’s panty fetish made you laugh in the first seven volumes, you’ll probably think volume 8 was just fine. ^_^





Red Garden Anime, Volume 1 (English)

February 19th, 2008

There’s a lot of stuff going on in Red Garden, Volume 1. (Here’s links to my previous reviews of the anime and volume 1 of the manga for compare and contrast.)

The whole thing starts with high-impact action scenes, throwing us right into the middle of the story with no warning. Much like the protagonists, who spend most of the early episodes backtracking to figure out what’s going on.

As I said, there’s a lot going on. ^_^

Among which, everything Kate, Rose, Rachel and Clare thought, assumed or knew was true in their lives…isn’t. Starting off with their lives. Because they aren’t alive any more, they’re dead. And now they have been given borrowed lives in order to fight against men who turn into demonic beasts.

These aren’t strong girls. Kate is smart, kind, a member of “Grace,” the Student Council of the school they attend. Rachel is entitled, hip and superficial. Clare appears to be tough and dirt poor, but she’s not what she seems at all, and Rose, the last of the group is sweet, poor and (understandably) a crybaby. The four have one thing in common – friendship with a girl named Lise, whose body was found in the woods, murdered.

The first volume of Red Garden introduces us the the four girls, to their lives and to their friends. We also meet Herve’, the heir to the family that appears to be “our” enemy, although why, we don’t as yet know. (Yes *we* the audience know. The characters don’t. Not yet.) And we meet Lula and her brother JC, who claim to be the four girls’ teachers, but their teaching goes like this, “Kill this guy or die. Your choice.” Lula’s not much for details.

Volume 1 is very emotional, as the girls deal with Lise’s death – and their own. There are several impromptu musical numbers. These are not sung prettily. In fact, one was so atonal that the wife asked, “What are you watching?!?”  But why should we expect that average, everyday girls have fabulous voices? We shouldn’t – and they don’t. I watched the English dub for the last song, where the English VAs do pretty much the same thing – sing the song in squeaky, not particularly on-key voices.

Volume 1 is also very violent. Lots of shrieking and wailing and screaming. Rachel definitely tastes best, based on results from 3 out of 4 beast men.

Let us not forget the that Volume 1 is also quite gay. I had completely forgotten *how* gay Paula, president of Grace, is for Kate. She doesn’t bother hiding it. And she’s so focused on Kate, that Jessica doesn’t have to bother hiding how jealous it makes her. Paula’s affection is so obvious and unfettered – and not quite odious – that it doesn’t take much to see the Yuri, with or without Yuri goggles. (Paula was one of the best thing about the series, IMHO.)

The translation was very good with one exception. For some reason, every time Grace was mentioned, instead of “Student Council” for Seitokai, it was translated “student group.” I can’t even conjecture as to why. I’m fairly certain that most high schools have a Student Council, even if, like mine, they really didn’t do much.

In terms of extras – there weren’t any. Nada. No interviews, no art, nothing. But the episodes are strange, violent, action-packed and riveting, which mostly makes up for it. ;-)

I’d forgotten a lot of what happens, and missed a lot of the details the first time around. It was a good watch and I look forward to Volume 2. I definitely recommend Red Garden for a strong dose of Yuri with extra creepy flavor.

Ratings:

Art – 7 It takes some getting used to, but it grows on you
Story – 8 Action-filled, but still remains character driven
Characters – 8
Yuri – 4
Series – 3 Other than fans of blood, there really isn’t much, the manga has more Goth-Loli and dress-up.

Overall – 8

I keep meaning to mention this, but it always surprises me how *short* Clare is. She’s so much the tough, butchy chick that when they are all standing and Rachel is a head taller than her it makes me laugh, every time. I wish she had worn the suit from the manga at the funeral, too.

And super thanks to Daniel for sponsoring today’s review!





Kurau Phantom Memory Anime, Volume 2 (English)

February 13th, 2008

Pacing isn’t something I’m likely to notice in a show that I’m watching weekly. There’s a certain amount of repeated footage and dialogue that one expects in anime – as a cost-cutting measure if for no other reason. But in all sincerity, Kurau Phantom Memory, Volume 2, is one of the best-paced volumes of anime that I have ever watched.

Volume 2 starts in an oddly dissonant spot in the narrative. Kurau and Christmas are on the run from the GPO, but we see them sort of settled in again while Kurau fights off the aftereffects of her most recent fight. Despite the brief illusion of comfort, it becomes instantly apparent that their lives cannot and will not ever be quiet and settled again. They are still on the run, whether they – or we – like it or not.

Doug continues to be a Good GuyTM and helps Kurau and Christmas find haven for a short time in an obscure village. Kurau’s father’s former partner’s obsession with capturing Rynasapiens, and the GPO’s desire to suppress Kurau and Christmas almost ends in tragedy, but they manage to flee, just ahead of their pursuers. We learn that Kurau is getting stronger, as her desire to protect Christmas grows.

We see Kurau’s father, a sad old man who has to deny his daughter’s existence, and learn Ayaka’s painful backstory. Christmas’s own Rynasapien powers begin to awaken. And we learn that Kurau’s body appears to be functioning as a gateway for the Rynasapiens to return to their own world.

All of this is told in rapid-fire, incredibly well-paced episodes. With an excellent soundtrack and sticky opening and closing themes.

Extras are a “File Case” full of interesting staff and cast notes (and now I wonder if Vol. 1 should have had one of those, too…. Since this was “File 2”.) I still like the new art for the DVD cover – it lightens up a pretty heavy, dark piece of art.

Kurau and Christmas appear – to me at least – to have settled into a sisterly relationship. For the moment I don’t get any Yuri vibe from them. The cover art is probably the Yuriest thing about this volume, really. But I know some will see it regardless – after all, they do stand next to each other quite a lot. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 8
Characters – 8
Music – 7
Yuri – 1
Service – 1

Overall – 8

I can’t help but be amused at my enjoyment of this anime…I am very cognizant of my previous reaction to the series’ end. I’ve been informed by “Friend of Yuri” and sponsor for today’s review, Ted (and btw, thanks Ted!!) that that he’s reluctant to get me the last volume given the fact that he already knows how much I hated it the first time. I sympathize. I’m reluctant to get it for myself, too.





My Zhime (My Otome) Anime, Volume 3

February 10th, 2008

Sincere thanks to Ted for sponsoring today’s review! Be a hero and sponsor a review of your very own by purchasing something off my Yuri Wishlist. You’ll get my sincere thanks, and the adoration of everyone who reads and enjoys the review. :-)

My Otome, Volume 3 is a total gyroscope of a story. You know how a gyroscope spins so fast that it looks like it isn’t really moving? That’s pretty much the feeling you get watching this volume of My Otome. Nothing is happening, but it’s not happening so fast that there’s an illusion that the story isn’t moving. Only, it is.

The first big exam for Otomes-in-training has arrived, and as is usual, the protagonist has no clue what anyone is talking about. Every else in Garderobe knows that this cross-country trek and cooking competition is a major portion of their grade – how Arika manages to not have heard of it even a little approaches a kind of genius. Sabotage strikes Arika and poor Erstin, and although they both survive, lots of nothing-really-happenings happen as a result. Sergey and Arika have a tense encounter, Nina starts to move her dislike for Arika out of “rival” into “person I most want to see die horribly” and Tomoe turns out to be Evil, and Psychotic. We’ve already seen evidence that she is a Lesbian, so we can add her to the list of EPLs.

The other main “nothing really happens” arc, actually explains a lot to us, the viewers, although just about none of the characters have enough pieces to put anything together. In a thoroughly predictable twist of fate, it turns out that Queen Mashiro, Nina and Arika all share a birthday. Huh, how ’bout that.

Mashiro meets and is befriended by the Prince of Zipang, Takumi, but as both are incognito, they just think that the other is a commoner. Arika (because of course, with all the graceful, accomplished and beautiful Otomes-in-training at Garderobe, the only one who could possibly take Mashiro’s place is the one bumpkin in the place) pretends to be the Queen, while poor Akira, who is already pretending to be a boy, now has to pretend to be the Prince of Zipang as well.

Shizuru proves that her gaydar is good and sees right through Akira’s drag king act. Later, when Akira *has* to use her mouth to give Takumi medicine, Shizuru is completely unflappable as everyone else reacts to what appears to be a m/m kiss by pointing out that that’s another type of love. So the Graceful Amethyst comes through like a seasoned lesbian. Points to her.

Important stuff does really happen in the middle of all this silliness and chaos. Among them, the development of a definite triangle between Nina, Sergey and Arika is probably the most icky-making, but it is pretty significant.

On the good side, we get to see Chie and Akane materialize. ^_^

It’s episodes like this that pissed off a lot of viewers. Where My HiME was, about this point in the story growing very serious, My Otome simply refuses to. I see that as a positive – we’re not being fooled into taking this more seriously than it deserves. But I can see where the humor wears thin, too. I will give it this – until Mashiro used Marie Antionette’s line about “let them eat cake” I’d never really thought about it as an expression, not of disdain, but of complete cluelessness. (I’m not in the habit of thinking about Marie Antionette much, I’ll admit.)

The one extra is bizarro world side story as Shiho “maki-maki”s everyone, causing much of the havoc that fills the exam arc.

Ratings:

Art – 7
Characters – 7
Story – 6
Music – 7 (I like the various materialize themes)
Yuri – 1
Service – 7

Overall – 6

My *only* complaint about the anime remains the same as was the first time. What complete ass makes girls trek cross-country in the woods wearing bloomers and boots? That’s just absurd. I hate the writers for doing that, and every single person who found that cute, sexy or otherwise in any way not completely dumb.

I’d also like to register a complaint with Amazon. PICK A SPELLING, for pity’s sake. My Otome, My Hime-Z, My Zhime. Pick ONE. Stick with it. Thank you. It’s like Ikkitousen all over again.