Archive for the Series Category


Yuri Anime: Kashimashi Girl Meets Girl, Volume 2 (English)

September 24th, 2007

The subtitle of Kashimashi Girl Meets Girl, Volume 2 is “Triangles Hurt” but what it really ought to be is “Tomari lies to herself, then stops.”

Because that’s what this volume is about, mostly. Tomari, having seen Hazumu and Yasuna kissing, jumps to the obvious conclusion that that kiss was sealing a deal between them. Hazumu liked Yasuna and now, for whatever reason, Yasuna returns the emotion. Except….

Tomari berates herself for dragging up old memories of lil’ Hazumu and she talking about getting married, and berates herself more for being jealous of Yasuna. She pretends to be happy for Hazumu, but is obviously being eaten up inside.

After a day at the beach, in which Yasuna does everything she can to include Tomari as a friend, Tomari has to finally be honest. As much for herself, she tells Yasuna that she likes Hazumu, too. And in a moment of gracious acceptance, Yasuna acknowledges her as a rival. I liked that quite a bit – so different from the usual snarky girl “you’re not worth me being worried” kind of thing. Also, completely unrealistic, but hey – aliens, spaceship in humanoid form, duh. If we’re going to look for realism in our Yuri, *this* is not the place to start. ^_^

Having admitted her feelings to herself, it’s a short step across a wide chasm for Tomari to admit her feelings to Hazumu. Surprisingly, it’s Hazumu herself who creates the opening, by bringing up the same memory that Tomari had been mulling over in the beginning.

We step aside from the main story a little to learn that Ayuki has no intention of ever telling the person she likes about how she feels. This will be the third time I have watched this episode and I’ve read it twice (once in each language) and I still think it looks like she likes Hazumu. I wonder if the mangaka started off with the harem idea, then changed courses for some reason.

This digression leads into our final episode of the volume in which we learn that Hazumu has a terminal case of the SPCD decideritis. She can not and has never been able to make up her mind. And there is still some small part of my soul that thinks that the fact that this is a plot complication is sad. (Aliens, Erica. Spaceship. Right, right….)

So at the end of the volume we’ve all moved forward into square one. Or should that be “triangle” one? Now, at least, all are clear on the landscape – Yasuna and Tomari both like Hazumu and Hazumu likes both of them and cannot decide between them. An admittedly difficult choice. Almost epic – the musician versus the athlete, the arts versus sport. Culture vs Activity. The result of this decision could change the world!

Or not.

The point is, the stage is set.

Technically this DVD was a mixed bag. It starts off really strong, with everyone referring to Hazumu as “she” then suddenly, for no reason, they all revert back to “he”. I watched the bits a few times when it first happened, because when they are referring back to Hazumu the child, it seems natural to use “he” but everyone somehow forgets to switch back when speaking of the current Hazumu. I wasn’t sure if that was an editing oversight, a translation decision, or no one noticed. But I did.

Aside from that the translation was pretty smooth, with the exception of the usual honorific thing that makes me unhappy. And the DVD comes with nifty interviews with the Japanese voice actors, which I always enjoy. They have nothing to say, but that’s okay – I like hearing them say it. ^_^

Ratings:
Art – 7
Story – 7
Music – 6
Characters – 8
Yuri – 8
Service – 6

Overall – 8

Thanks once again to the generosity and kindness of Media Blasters for giving me this DVD to review – and for allowing us to show Kashimashi and Strawberry Panic!, and most of all to premiere Simoun at Yuricon’s Yurisai event!





Burst Angel Anime, Volume 3 (English)

September 20th, 2007

Many, many thanks to Daniel P., who is one of my favorite “people who I have never met.” Once again, it is through his kindness and generosity that I am able to bring you a review of something shiny. In this case, the shinyness comes in the form of Burst Angel, Volume 3.

There’s some good in Volume 3, some bad and a lot of “now, where are we going with this?” and finally, towards the end, it appears as if the story might *actually* go somewhere. Where it goes is reasonably bizarre, but at least it’s off and running. :-)

If you recall, last volume, we had a story in which Kyouhei (which the American VA for the part pronounces “Kee-yo-hey” which obviously drives the *other* VAs a little crazy, because they keep saying “Kyou-hei” very pointedly at him) and Jo bash around the city, ostensibly to something something, but really so they can bond a bit.

This volume starts off with another “get to know” episode. In this case, we’re treated to a visual feast that is meant to introduce us to the complicated life of Sei-who-is-not-named-Beth. The obligations of her family/organization ties, and the trials of being a leader (and, in fact, what it means to be a leader.)

Sei-who-is-not-named-Beth is a good leader. The other guy, the bad guy for the episode, is not. It’s a simple moral – real leaders feel the weight of their followers’ trust as a responsibility, not as an invitation to do whatever they want. Duh.

So, because Sei-who-is-not-named-Beth is a good leader, Meg and Jo are inspired to help her escape an untenable situation. Meg is given some help through manipulation of qi, how convenient, and becomes, for a short time, a gungfu master. But it’s Jo who saves the day with lots of bullets.

The next episode is just wrong. This time it’s Amy and Kyouhei who bond in a very Alice in Wonderland type episode. Hacker Amy is dragged into a digital reality where a bunch of creepy FanBoys “invite” her to stay with them. The best part of this episode was Kyouhei’s low-res face in a box and the fact that the otaku created artificial bodies for themselves that are just as unappealing as their meat bodies probably were, with extra dorkiness for having monitors for faces. Because, obviously, all of us geeks want to be dorkish robot bodies w/freak faces. Obviously.
(Hello, writers? That’s your audience you’re dissin’ there….)

Finally, finally, finally, the plot gets revving in the last two episodes. It doesn’t make more sense, mind you, but at least there’s an inkling of a plot. We move to Osaka, where their professional wrestling industry is being threatened by real monster. Jo saves the day, but is arrested by the sincere and zealous Osaka Police which is made up of a series of familiar stereotypes. The fact that one of these is Takane, the sword-wielding, ex-motorcycle gang member has absolutely *nothing* to do with the fact that I like this bit a lot. (Don’t believe me? Me neither. ^_^)

So, slowly, some of the random bits from previous episodes are gathered together (several by flashback, in case we forogt them,) and a even sillier than usual evil shadow organization begins to appear in the background mist. Or something. In any case, Jo shoots things alot.

In terms of Yuri, it’s way minimal. On Sei-who-is-not-named-Beth’s grandfather’s ship, Meg fantasizes about having cool martial arts skills and how she would save Jo and Jo would be all over her. That was basically all that we got. But it was kind of cute and harkened back to Meg’s similar, if slightly more explicit, fantasies in the manga.

The extras continue to be rewarding. Three radio dramas where Watanabe Akeno (Jo) and Toyoguchi Megumi (Meg) have tongue-twister showdowns, act out fan-created dramas and generally babble alot, and two extras where they talk in incredibly high-pitched voices about *nothing*. English cast commentary on the Amy in Wonderland adventure, where they saw the mildly suggestive scenes as being way filthier than I saw them as. And the usual color pamphlet with Japanese cast and crew commentary and purty pictures of things.

Ratings:

Art – 6
Characters – 5
Story – 5
Yuri – 1
Service – 6 (Breasts simply don’t do that. They just *don’t*)

Overall – 5

I’m surprised at how much of Bakuretsu Tenshi I remember since I watched all those many long years ago. I would have sworn that I had forgotten most of it, but nope.





"Simoun" Anime US Premiere at Yuricon’s 2007 "Yurisai" Event

September 18th, 2007

Newark, NJ – Yuricon, a celebration of yuri in anime and manga, is pleased to announce the US Premiere of the Simoun anime at their 2007 “Yurisai” event!

Simoun, licensed by Media Blasters, media publisher of products targeted to fan-oriented specialty markets, tells the story of a world torn by war, and the trials of a squadron of warrior-priestesses, the Sibylla of Chor Tempest. “Simoun” was voted “Best Yuri Series” of 2006 by Okazu.

Yuricon’s 2007 “Yurisai” event, will be held Sept. 29th at the Newark, NJ Gateway Hilton! Join Yuricon and Media Blasters for the only 100% Yuri day of the year!

For more information on Yuricon, please visit our website.

For more information on Media Blasters please visit their website.

Yuricon – “For real women who like their women…animated.”
http://www.yuricon.org





Yuri Anime: Nanoha StrikerS – End of Season Report

September 17th, 2007

Yahoo! Whoo-ee! Yeeha!

Those are bascially my reactions to the Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS anime, as the season draws to a close.

I’m so happy to have a totally formulaic, predictable magical/fighting/fantasy/scifi series with every single freakin’ cliche’ possible, that doesn’t suck.

With the understanding that I am usually in the minority about Nanoha, since the things I like are not the things everyone else likes, I’m going to say that this anime was pure win, from beginning to end.

I love that Nanoha, Fate and Hayate are now grownups (well, almost, from my perspective,) that they all have totally alternative families that are, nonetheless, very loving and caring, and that they all kick royal ass in every direction. Let’s take a moment to point out that, for all the cliches, Fate, Nanoha, Hayate, Subaru, Teana, or any of the leads are definitely not the typical idiot savant hero/ine that I have come to loathe in anime. All of them are competent because – as we see – they practice until they collapse. Every day. This is refreshing, no matter how many times it’s used.

I appreciate that the gloating freak Scaglietti was doing his duty as the “gloating crazy bad guy” and I even approved of the giant red herring in uniform, General Regius. But I wanted there to be more stabbings and a few kickings of the corpses…oh well. I like my revenge hot, what can I say?

The Numbers were good “bad guy’s forces” and Zest was an excellent tragic noble knight (and allowed Signum to dramatically let her hair down.) Quattro was absolutely teeth-grindingly annoying and her long-anticipated “befriending” was worth the long anticipation.

Nanoha and Fate are a couple. There is nothing that will convince me that they are not, despite the utter caginess of the writers. Because ambiguity sells, I know. But my gaydar is exceptional and I trust it. And I have the advantage of actually living with another woman for almost a quarter of a century and you know – it looks a lot like that. Without the magical kid or the uniforms.

Giant doomsday weapon? Check? Massive “zOMG!” powerups? Check. Final confrontations with loved ones? Check. Tears and sacrifice and epic music? Check.

This has all the bells and whistles and the *only* thing that could possibly make it better – and no, I don’t expect, or even hope we’d ever get it – would be a kissful reunion between Fate and Nanoha at the end. Because that would make it perfect – and you just know how the anime industry hates the thought of that.

There was one negative thing and it did make me a bit stabby. When Quattro revealed the reason the Numbers were all female, yes, it pissed me off. Because you know women are really only good for service and babies. Obviously.

Here’s my response:

Dear Men of Japan,

Every year for like 30 years you have been voted the worst lovers in the world. Have you ever wondered why?

No one else has.

Sincerely,

***

I’m just saying…

Anyway, other than that one thing, StrikerS for the win.

Oh, and Tea should get some serious promotion for taking on 4 Numbers at once and prevailing.

In fact, the writers did do a good job of giving everyone screen time. Even Erio and let’s face it, how many of the pervs fans of this series are shota fans? Like 2? But there was something for everyone, really. Varying degrees of moe from the young to the old (19…old…cough).

This is me sobbing from relief. Adult females, in uniform. Who are competent and kick ass. It’s heaven, I tell you. One episode from the end of the season and I wish StrikerS never ends. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – sometimes better than others, but overall – 7
Story – nary a cliche missed – 8
Characters – there were a LOT of them, surely there was *something* you liked – 9
Yuri – 5
Service – 8 in the earlier episodes, settling to 5 in the later

Overall – 9

MVP for the series has to be Eisen, Vita’s device. He’s like “Yay! Let’s go smash and kill things!” He’s a German warhammer, what else would you expect?





Maria-sama ga Miteru DJCD 3

September 11th, 2007

As I mentioned in my review of the first two Marimite DJCDs, these CDs are compilations of the web radio shows from the Animate TV site. DJCD Volume 3 is, like the previous two volumes, general chitchat between the seiyuu, question and answer sessions relating to the characters, and incredibly silly radio dramas that are done with tongue firmly in cheeks.

Of the various questions asked of the various voice actresses, two seemed notable to me – who would you live with, and who would you borrow money from. The live with question elicited some interesting answers. Noto Mamiko, thinking as Shimako, said she’ want to live with Noriko, since they were so close – or failing that, Yumi, so they could do silly girly things together. Ikezawa Haruna, speaking for Yoshino said Rei, with no hesitation. The “borrow money question” elicited a “anyone other than Sei” from me, so I thought it funny when Noto Mamiko said she’d borrow money from Sei-sama. Ikezawa Haruna said that Yoshino would make a cute face and Rei would give her anything she wanted. ^_^

The dramas were pretty long this time. One of them dealt with Sachiko’s introduction to that promotional thing where you crank the ball roller and get a prize based on the color of the ball. Sachiko keeps getting tissues as a prize and gets a little obsessed with winning a real prize.

The last drama wasn’t very exciting, but for Sachiko x Yumi fans, there’s a sweet ending where Yumi thinks to herself that she really, really loves Onee-sama.

The DJCD has a slightly strange piece of art for the cover, not as cute as I’d hoped, but the inserts are two fantastic cards – one, a “game” card for “Magical Girl Shimako” and the other a character card for Yumi as Lilian Sentai Ranger “Chinensis Red” – both gags from the earlier two DJCDs.

These DJCDs were great filler between seasons, goofy fun, a nice mix between talking with the seiyuu and talking with the characters. Since we’re getting a fourth season of the anime, we probably won’t be getting more of these anytime soon but, as with all the drama CDs I listen to, they are a very satisfying way to kill time in a car and practice one’s listening skills.

Ratings:

Art – 6
Characters – 8
Yuri – 4
Service – 1

Overall – 8