Archive for the Maria-sama ga Miteru Category


Yuri Anime: Maria Watches Over Us ~ Printemps, Volumes 3 & 4

March 8th, 2009

The entire season of Maria Watches Over Us ~ Printemps is, at its core, about endings and beginnings. The end of each school year comes, respected and beloved elders move on to start a new phase of their lives, presumably to not look back upon their high school days except as fond memories. New students arrive who become equally beloved underclassmen and little sisters, and the whole cycle begins again.

In Volume 3, we spend some serious time investigating the somewhat bewildering relationship between Sei and Shimako, and follow Shimako through loss and gain until she completes the cycle, this time taking her position as older sister to Noriko. This volume was simply amazing as I rewatched it, knowing what I know now about Shimako, about her family and her issues. But the hero of the volume is, and forever will be Noriko, with her grounded outsider mentality and her ability to not be weighed down by the tradition of the rosary.

The final volume of the season plows through Yoshino and Rei’s relationship problems. Yoshino finds herself relying on old patterns of behavior, but Rei is not playing along. Again, in retrospect, the fact that Rei could and would fight this battle at all speaks volumes about how much improved she considers Yoshino’s health. Rei is often perceived to be the weak member of this couple, but it is she who forces the new phase for their relationship – and it is Rei who turns out to be the one who can face the truth of their dynamic head-on.

And finally in Volume 4, we reach the arc in which we watch Yumi as every happiness she thought she had is stripped from her. But, knowing that it is all crucial to her development – and her relationship with Sachiko – allows us to watch it with a measure of complacency.

In many ways, these two volumes are more about love and about the way love is both a burden and blessing, than any other episodes of the series. And they are about the fact that, as perfect and inviolable as we want our love to remain, if we are talking about being in love with other humans, things will inevitably change. Changing the way we love a person is not an admission of weakness – it’s an acknowledgement of strength and of the reality of the other person. (This is a theme that pops up over and over in the 3rd and 4th seasons, as well – and is the source of much confusion to fans world over, because fans, unlike the characters themselves, just *hate* to see things change. “What the hell happened to Sachiko?” was the single most common question I received when the third season came out. “She was a total bitch and now she’s so nice to Yumi.” Fans get confused easily by the growth and maturation of the characters. Now I see more “What the hell happened to Yoshino?” or “What the hell is up with Yumi and Touko?” because, of course early identification of a character as “a bitch” means that the fan has to jump through increasingly complex hoops to keep their worldview intact as the character and circumstances of their relationships change. When everyone in the series cares about Touko, its harder for you to hate her, so you hate her harder to compensate. ^_^;)

In short – what you think you saw in “Rainy Blue,” in “Yellow Rose Weather Advisory” and in “Tears of the Rosary” is not actually what you saw. Like Yumi, if you are looking too fixedly at the series and cannot see it for itself, you’re destined to be confused by it all. Whether you want it to or not, the series is about to radically alter. As it moves into the summer, then autumn, the characters will have changed. A lot.

It’s up to you whether your love for the characters can change along with them. Otherwise, you might as well pack it in. The series as you knew it, has ended. ^_^ If you’re willing to move on, join me next time for new beginnings, with the third season OVAs!

Ratings:

Art – 7
Story – 9
Characters – 9
Yuri – 4
Service – 1

Marimite Fan – 100

Overall – 9

The more I watch this series, the more I’m amazed at how *much* they managed to squeeze into the anime, and less annoyed at what they had to cut out. Although, I still hope we get an OVA for Shouko and Tsutako’s story.





Maria-sama ga Miteru Light Novel: Hello Goodbye (マリア様がみてる―ハローグッバイ)

March 3rd, 2009

Well.

So here we are. Referring to the series that has supplied (indeed, is still suppyling) many hours of entertainment, in the past tense.

Like all good fans, I bought Maria-sama ga Miteru: Hello Goodbye as soon as it came out. But unlike most Fans (those of us with personal engagement in the series) I did not stay up all night reading it. For one thing, I have been synopsizing the novels as I read them, so it takes me longer to “read” the novels than just reading them for myself. And, I openly admit to a bit of hesitation at facing the end of the series.

Bu, like all good things, Maria-sama too, must end. End it has, with the lovliest, most appropriate ending possible. It ended not with tears, but with smiles.

I will share with you these few things: The graduation ceremony was not without excitement; that a bumblebee gets a feature part in this book; that Yoshino, Yumi and Shimako are going to be a brilliant Yamayurikai and; that the next Yamayurikai after them might well be three of the sharpest-witted girls to ever attend Lillian.

I’m sad it’s over, I’m thrilled it exisited at all. Because it’s a series of novels, I can visit the lovely ladies of Lillian over and over.

Konno Oyuki-sensei – thank you. It was great.

Ratings:

Overall – 10





Maria-sama ga Miteru DJCD Winter Special 2008

February 27th, 2009

Please allow me a moment of self-indulgent Fangirlyness.

zOMG, this was the most awesome MarimiteDJCD evar!!!!11111

Thank you.

In truth, the Maria-sama ga Miteru Winter Special DJCD was, in fact, the best of the bunch I’ve listened to so far. For any number of reasons. Here are some of them:

Ueda Kana, the voice of Fukuzawa Yumi, and the host of the radio specials that are collected and turned into these DJCDs has, over her years of doing this become much more comfortable in the role. Where the pauses were long and slightly awkward in the early days, Ueda and the other seiyuu are now quite comfortable with each other and the conversation is more and more like a conversation between old friends.

Ueda Kana has also read all the Marimite books and is a total fangirl for them. ^_^

In discussing the role of Shouko with Inoue Marina, Ueda confidently and excitedly talked about the “Chocolate Portrait” Radio Drama, but concluded with – “Oh, wait until the amusement park scenes…” (from Kira Kira Mawaru) which she goes on to discuss in some detail, mentioning that it’s the 30th book in the series. Inoue admits to only having read up to the 20th novel. Ueda’s practically jumping up and down in fangirlish delight as she speaks of the wonderfulness that is Shouko and Tsutako in that novel. For good reason.

When Nabatome Hitomi arrives for a chat, Ueda says, with obvious delight, “Nana’s here!” Not – Eriko-sama….Nana. ^_^ There’s a moment when they are talking about the “sendai Rosas” (the previous generation of Rosas i.e., Youko, Sei and Eriko’s oneesama. They mention the VAs for Rosa Gigantea, Takayama-san, and for Rosa Chinensis, Katsuki-san, then there’s a pause…. Ueda, Nabatome and I all say in hushed tones of reverence, “to…Mitsuishi-san…”. :-D

The first and fourth guest talks are with the voice actresses for Kanako and Noriko, and all I can say is that they are equally as wonderful.

This is followed by a radio drama which had me in stitches. Mami wants a big scoop for the Lillian Kawaraban, but the Yamayurikai isn’t cooperating by doing anything interesting. Tsutako suggests that she write a fiction – much like her oneesama did. Mami writes a parody of one of my favorite old-school J-dramas ever: Zenigata Heiji.

The constable role is played by Yoshino, who is joined by Yumi as the plucky, goofy and somewhat limited sidekick. Rei plays Yoshino’s wife Orei. (Edo period female names all begin with “O” as an honorific.)

They go up against the evil gang boss Satou Sei and her partner in crime, the madam of the local brothel, Torii Eriko, as they try to ruin the Toudou family’s senbei business so they have to sell their precious daughter to pay off the debt. The whole thing was absolutely hysterical – made even more enjoyable because I just loved Zenigata Heiji, so I knew what was coming in any given scene. (Yoshino had been likened to Zenigata Heiji in the seventh novel, btw. That’s why she got the role.) At the end of the story, as Oshimako arrives to thank Yoshino (and as Orei bickers about something good-naturedly,) Yumi comes running up with some stupidity. Orei says something like, “Oh well, it can’t be helped” and there’s a pause…after which Shimako, Yoshino, Rei, Yumi and I all laugh utterly fakely, because that *exactly* how every episode of ZH ended. ^_^

The story ends with Sachiko and Rei having hissy fits over the story, but eventually being placated.

The final track is a New Year’s meeting between Ueda and the three voice actresses for the first-years, Noriko, Touko and Kanako. It was interesting to hear how the three actresses for the first-year students treat Ueda with the same respect that their characters treat Yumi. Most of the track is listening to them eat sweets and giggling. ^_^

In all seriousness, I had more fun listening to this one DJCD than all of the others so far – and all of the others were pretty terrific. This one is just the best one *evar.*

Ratings:

Overall – 9





This Week in Yuri – February 14, 2008

February 14th, 2009

Happy Valentine’s Day! It’s been a decent week for Yuri, we have lots of stuff to be all love-love about, so away we go!

Yuri Manga

Erin is pleased to tell you all that Aoi Hana (Sweet Blue Flowers) Volume 4 will be out in April! (I know you are all loving the scanlations, but allow me to remind you that scans don’t pay bills, so if you *can* please buy the actual manga, so the artist that draws it and the company that publishes it make actual money on it.)

And for your shopping convenience, the Yuricon Shop now has entries for the upcoming Volume 2 of Octave, Yuri Hime Wildrose Volume 3 and Manga no Tskurikata (a story about girl who wants to become a manga artist and, since yuri is so popular now decides to draw that.)

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Yuri Anime

The big news for the week was that Right Stuf has announced the license for Maria Watches Over Us Season 4. I wonder what gewgaw we’ll get with the 4th season? :-) And by the way – Yay! The trailer for the fourth season can be seen here. Not so crucial to them as are actually watching the season, but fun, nonetheless.

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Other Yuri News

y_y-san reports by Twitter that the Girls Love Festival doujinshi event this month was a success and that there are plans for a second GLF event to be held in Japan in September. That makes three such Yuri-specific events that have been held in Japan more than once. Hopefully one day I will be able to actually make one.

Grisznak just wants everyone to enjoy this Yuri-themed AMV that melds the timeless, classic sound of Elvis and the timeless, classic romance of Yumi and Sachiko. :-)

And Sylwia wants all Polish Yuri fans to know that the Comix Grrrlz website is relaunching with a shiny new look, and they plan on adding more Yuri info and materials, and more articles about lesbians in comics. Very cool, I think. I’m always impressed by the Polish Yuri fandom. :-)

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Other News

Follow this blog on your Kindle! If you want to get your Yuri news and reviews hot off the press on your shiny new Kindle Reader, take a look at Kindlefeeder, a nifty way to get your favorite RSS feeds delivered directly to your Kindle.

The Media Blasters store in Secaucus, NJ is officially open! Serge and I stopped by on a lark today and found the store fully functional, full of friends and we weren’t the first customers! Drop by – here’s the map of the location – they are listed as #5 “Rareflix.” And here are directions to the Harmon Cove Outlets. (We talked again about a Yuri Monogatari 6 launch party in April – looks like we’ll be doing that, so keep an eye out for details!)

Also for our NY/NJ/CT area folks, a friend of Rica Takashima’s, Yasushi Tamaki, is offering Japanese language classes in New York City this spring using one of the hottest, most brilliant Japanese manga around. If you’re in the area, give it a try! Here’s the info:

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NEW YORK JAPANESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL
www.ny-japanese.com | info@ny-japanese.sakura.ne.jp

Learn Japanese with MANGA!

The New York Japanese language school is offering a SPECIAL CLASS! Learn Japanese and Japanese culture with the newest manga, “Saint Young Men.”

Beginners are welcome!
Please apply by email at info@ny-japanese.sakura.ne.jp

Date:Special Course1 (Wednesdays):February 18th, 25th, March 4th &11th
7-8pm (total 4hours)

Special Course2 (Saturdays)February 21st, 1-3pm &February 28th
2-4pm(total 4hours)

Location:CAP2118 W.18th St, 6f l. NYC 10011

Free trial Lesson!

Text Book:Saint Young Men (聖★おにいさん)In this popular comic Christ and Buddha enjoy a comical holiday in Tokyo in the 21st century. This is a hugely comic in Japan which feature the funny adventure of these two friends as they experience Japanese culture on their zany vacation.

Tuition:One Lesson $20/a hour (Including material)

Other Services:The Survival Japanese Class for Beginners
New class starts in March!

Private Lesson in Manhattan

Learn Japanese one-on-one at a coffee shop in Manhattan!

Any questions? Send us email!
NEW YORK JAPANESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL at CAP21(18 W.18th St, 6fl. NYC 10011)
info@ny-japanese.sakura.ne.jp





Maria-sama ga Miteru New Year’s Eve Event Report

February 1st, 2009

Today’s post is a report from Bruce Pregger, a long-time Yuricon staffer, one of my best lackeys and a very good friend. We’ve been in the habit of visiting Japan at New Year’s with him, for Comiket and shrine visits. This year he had to go by himself – which makes this a very good time to thank him from the bottom of my heart for all the crap he picked up and lugged home for me. I love every single thing. Bruce – you’ll find yourself (somewhat belatedly) on the Okazu Superhero roll.

On New Year’s Eve this past year, there was a Maria-sama ga Miteru event held at movie theaters country-wide. Happily for all of us, Bruce was able to go. Here is his report:

As I was about to leave on a holiday trip to Tokyo, Erica informed me about a Maria-sama ga Miteru New Year’s Eve Special Event, taking place in connection with the start of the fourth season. The event was going to be held at all Warner-Mycal Cinemas throughout Japan. It was something I knew I had to try to see. As luck would have it one of these cinemas was in the suburban town of Tobu-Nerima, a relatively easy train ride from my Ikebukuro hotel. So on New Year’s Eve I headed out through the blue holiday lights to see how Yumi and Sachiko would fare in a Warner Brothers setting. The cinema was on the top floor of a department store, along with five or six restaurants, just one floor up from the smiling tofu furniture. The event ticket was 1300 yen, a little over $14. Next to the theater there was a concession area selling mostly Warner Brothers character goods, but in the center was a kiosk stocked with all kinds of Marimite items. It was a breathtaking sight. Up until then I had found dreadfully few Marimite goods anywhere in Tokyo. So I happily piled armfuls of the stuff onto the counter. To her credit the woman behind the register reacted calmly, as though hyperventilating American Marimite fans show up in Tobu-Nerima all the time.

After cheerfully taking all my money she inquired whether I had gotten my cup. Cup? She led me around to the the drink counter, where my ticket entitled me to a limited edition Marimite New Year’s Eve Special Event lidded drink cup. The lids came in yellow and red. I don’t know what happened to the white ones. On entering the theater I was handed a pair of 3-D glasses. The special event was getting more special by the minute.

The theater was about half full, maybe 150 people, approximately 80% male, every one clutching a pink cup. The theater manager came out and welcomed us to the event. The first part of the show was the premier of the new season’s first episode. It was great seeing it on the big screen, though the opening was startling – the song bright and snappy, Yumi and friends hopping in and out of magic portals, white sailor collars fluttering wildly…. But the episode itself was back down to earth. And the ending credits were exceptionally charming. Next came a video greeting from Kana Ueda and Miki Ito, the voice actresses for Yumi and Sachiko, who asked us to put on our glasses as they mugged in 3-D for the camera. Then came the final presentation. This was a long music video made from clips of the first two seasons that had been fully three-dimensionalized. It followed the three rose families in turn, with music from the series. It was wild. The audience was simultaneously brushing away a tear and ducking out-thrust rosaries. And I have to state that Sei is every bit as fun in three dimensions as in two. It was wonderful, and at the end I thought some applause would be appropriate, but the audience enjoyed it all in silence. When the lights came on the manager reappeared, thanking us for attending, and urging us to purchase even more items at the concession stand. It was all a tremendous amount of fun, and a great way to end the year.

Erica again: Bruce, no doubt the waves of jealousy and envy will batter you appropriately. But thank you so very, very much for my teen-weeny little mascot figurines and the towels and the report! Next year in Tokyo.

Before I forget, today was the Girls Love doujinshi event in Japan. I’ll see if I can’t find a report on it to share. ^_^