Archive for the Series Category


Yuri Manga: Kashimashi ~Girl Meets Girl, Volume 2 (English)

May 18th, 2007

I would like to start this review with a sad face in the direction of Seven Seas, since they told me that I’d be receiving review copies of their Yuri, but have so far not. Boo on you, S7.

Kashimashi ~ Girl Meets Girl, Volume 2, is, as was the first volume, an excellent adaptation into English. It is *such* a relief to be able to just have the honorifics as is, instead of watching the contortions of language necessary to make translations work, or to have to ignore the implied relationships because they have been removed. I’m not sure if it’s more like having an itch scratched or the absence of a pain one was barely aware of. In any case, It’s nice. :-)

Volume 2 focuses mostly on the creation and solidification of the three-way romance between Hazumu, childhood friend Tomari and first love Yasuna. We also learn that Hazumu not only lacks critical decision-making skills, but is tortured with the inability to make even the simplest choices. And, in between, we watch Hazumu’s best friend, Asuta, nosebleed over any number of situations with his formerly male, now a cute female, best friend. There’s also an odd chapter that explains Ayuki’s apparent passivity in human relationships, something that will come back later as the story develops.

I just went back and re-read my review of the Japanese edition of Kashimashi Volume 2 and I had to laugh at my last line, “I’ll tag along until it gets unbearable or Hazumu turns back into a guy, whichever comes first.” (But I can’t tell you why, just yet. The series has ended in Japan, although the final volume is not yet out. I’ll review the end when that becomes available.)

There are a few things I do want to comment on. One, the translation and adaptation remain excellent. I know how HARD it is to make translated manga make sense sometimes, and depending on the publisher, the title, the team, sometimes the translation is sensible…and sometimes not. This story actually makes sense in English – not something that is easy to do. Tomari’s tsundere (for non-otaku-speak people, call it “passive aggressive”) personality is especially handled well. It’s not just her being tsundere for the sake thereof…her reasons for her behavior are presented and explained in a way that actually makes sense.

Secondly, as a “transgender” story it’s probably not too bad. As Hazumu says, it’s not like she’s not confused or concerned from time to time, but everyone is treating her the same as always. Maybe that’s idealistic, but – isn’t that the ideal? We’re told, repeatedly, that Hazumu was very girly, he was like a girl, and in this volume, that he wanted to be a bride when he was a child. It’s not a huge leap to say that he was a girl in a boy’s body – again, dredging up Serge’s line at the ACen Yuri Panel, that the aliens fixed what nature had broken. So, in a sense, it is a representation of the ideal situation. That the person gains their true gender and everyone still loves them (in this case, more people love her now.)

As a story of lesbian love, it’s also idealistic. Neither Tomari nor Yasuna are concerned at *all* that they have feelings for another girl. The issue is not “I’m in love with a girl” but “I’m in love with Hazumu” which as it should be in a perfect non-assholish world. And really, the issue is “I won’t lose to her” more than anything else.

Lastly, I really enjoyed Ayuki imploring Hazumu, in her heart at least, to slow down and take her time and just enjoy the three-way dynamic. When, in the end chapter, god appears to concur, it somehow made me happy. I still think that the three of them make the least implausible threesome I’ve ever seen (something that the next volume will explore to a small degree.)

While we the audience might perceive this story to be about gender, by the end of Volume 2, it is no longer. Hazumu’s gender is female. Period. But we still talk about it, don’t we?

So, here’s today’s question for comment: If Hazumu turns back into a boy, would it affect your enjoyment of the series? Do you perceive this series as a Yuri series, a Transgender series or none of the above? Inquiring minds want to know!

Ratings:

Art – 8
Character – 8
Story – 7
Yuri – 8
Service – 5

Overall – 8

The more time I spend with these characters, the less I find anything to dislike.





Yuri Manga: Ichigo Mashimaro, Volume 5 (Japanese)

May 15th, 2007

If ever there was a manga that could be called a “clip episode” volume, Ichigo Mashimaro, Volume 5, is that manga.

Since the last volume was released in 2005, there have been only a very few new pages of Ichigo Mashimaro that have run in Dengeki Daioh magazine. So few that there really could not have been anything like a full volume from them. So interspersed with the 4-6 page shorts that have been running in the magazine are some “classic” chapters from past volumes.

The one new chapter really worth mentioning was fairly recent. Miu, as usual, begins it all by asking what the difference between “tomodachi” (friend) and “shinyuu” (close friend) is. Miu inquires of all of them how they feel about her, asking Chika if they are shinyuu. She asks everyone how they define the words, and pins Matsuri and Ana down with an investigation when they say that they are shinyuu. She takes a look at Matsuri’s phone and sees a conversation with Ana that reads something on the order of “I’m a little worried about tomorrow’s quiz.” “Don’t be, you study hard.” “Good night.” “Sleep well.”

Miu them shows her last conversations with Chika by phone which were totally Miu. They are quite indescribable – I mean that literally. She sends random abstract ASCII art and incoherent messages to which Chika replies something on the order of “Shut up.” Miu sends Chika the same message Matsuri sent Ana and Chika’s reply is “That’s creepy.” ^_^ Miu then ends the chapter by asking Chika if they are lesbians, which freaks poor Chika out. The chapter ends, as so many do, with the five sitting around and Miu face down on the floor, apart from the rest.

It’s a very funny chapter – especially Miu’s messages to Chika. It says just about everything one needs to know about Miu’s level of functionality.

Ratings:

Art – 7
Story – 7
Characters – 8
Yuri – 2
Service – 5

Overall – 7

If you are a card-carrying member of the Order of Miu, you must get this volume since it’s a “Miu’s classic episodes” volume. Otherwise…





Yuri Manga: Read or Dream, Volume 4 (English)

May 15th, 2007

Once again, I have the pleasure of thanking Ted for his sponsorship of today’s review! Yay Ted!

What is there to say about Read or Dream, Volume 4 that hasn’t been said already? I mean that literally, since I reviewed the story in some detail two years ago. ^_^

Here are links to the first and second parts of the Japanese edition review. (There are many spoilers, since I was reviewing the Japanese-language edition for people who I expected did not know the language.)

As with all the other English-language volumes of Read or Dream, Volume 4 is translated well enough that you get the humor, the irony, the adventure and the latent sexual tension. There’s nothing to complain about (except the lack of honorifics.) If anything, this volume reads the most smoothly of all of them. It’s reproduced exactly the same as the others, with no color pages, and the story that originally ran on the cover under the dust jacket translated in pages at the end of the book.

So, really, there’s nothing to be said about Volume 4 that hasn’t already been said…except this. When mail comes and Anita receives a copy of Hisami’s book, Maggie also receives a letter…from overseas. And blushes mightily, when Michelle assumes it’s a love letter. Since it is clearly from Faye, from way back in Volume 1, we can smile and think, why yes, yes it is.

Ratings:

Art – 7
Story – 8
Character – 8
Yuri – 7

Overall – 8

The big downside is *still* no Nenene. I want a new series with grumpy, grown-up Nenene and her biggest fan, Yomiko, traveling post ROD The TV. Waaah. (OK, OK, I admit it…I wrote it already in a fanfic.





Yuri Manga: Aria, Volume 10

May 9th, 2007

The days pass pleasantly in Neo-Venezia. There’s always a lot to learn for Akari and the other gondoliers-in-training. In Aria, Volume 10, we get a little taste of past and present with, perhaps, a glimpse into the future; the whole volume feels as if we’re being led by the hand around the city along with Akari, Alice and Aika.

Alice gets a lot of screen time this volume. It allows us to see the more vulnerable, childish side of her – the chapter where Athena makes her Epiphany wish come true was very lovely. We learn a little more about Alicia, when Alice asks her why she never scolds or punishes Akari. And we get to see Akari develop her skills by working as a ferry gondolier, which makes me think that this series is moving a little further towards Akari’s eventual graduation to Prima status.

But as nice as all those chapters are, the one that wins is the first chapter of the volume, in which Athena and Akira stop by Aria Company to give Alicia a birthday present. Alicia, who was expected back shortly, calls to say that the is unavoidably delayed by an important job. Athena says she must return to her company, but Akira, who was really looking forward to the three of them getting together, stays. She tells Akari about the days when they three of them spent all their time together as trainees. Now that they are the “three fairies” they have so little free time and she had really hoped to get together today. Akari, in a characteristic move, asks Akira to accompany her for some practice – and they can, you know, look for Alicia as they tool around.

The day is ending and they decide to return to Aria Company, when they run into Athena. As she greets them, Akari cries out and points – there, miraculously, is Alicia looking very much like something out of a fairytale. And the next panels make the whole volume worth reading. No one, no one, no one, can tell me that the look on Akira’s face doesn’t say it all. She has that “stricken by a sudden vision of the person I love” look. Ah-HAH! we all cry happily. Knew it all along, we chortle. Three friends, sure, but Akira’s feelings for Alicia are more than friendship.

The next panel, drawn from below the water line, would make a brilliant poster. Akira wings the present across the rio and into Alicia’s surprised hands. And, so, all three friends are together for the present giving, after all. Metadashi, metadashi. Great chapter.

The only downside? The already repulsive Aria-shachou has now begun wearing “cute” hats with other animals on them. If you think this kind of thing is cute, you absolutely NEED to visit this site. Me, I side with the cats there, who are looking hate at their owners and plotting to suffocate them in their sleep. Poor little bastards.

Aside from this volume’s subtle fragrance of lilies, it’s mostly more of the same pleasant time spent with pleasant people pleasantly. It’d kill me in real life, but for the time it takes to read a volume of manga, it’s perfect. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 9 (I seriously think it’s getting more and more lovely)
Story – 7
Characters – 8
Yuri – 4
Service – 1

Overall – 8

Now I know that the author sees the same thing between Akira and Alicia I do – and it makes me happy. ^_^





Yuri Anime: Simoun

May 8th, 2007

Only about 6 months after the anime actually ended, I am *finally* getting around to doing an end-of-season review for the series that won my “Best Yuri of 2006” award, Simoun. Don’t want to rush these things, y’know.

I liked nearly everything about Simoun: the characters, the plot, the art, the music (oh god, so good…,) the ending, the epilogue. There was in fact, only one thing I did not like. The character designs…in particular, Neviriru’s design. It really distressed me. Other than that, there was just about nothing I did not like.

In particular I thought episodes 23-end were breathtaking, stunning, and wow. Yun’s choice was really powerful, and the way the story is tied up – loose ends and all – was to me completely satisfactory. In fact, IMHO, the loose ends are what made the anime work.

Let’s talk Yuri for a moment. There *is* a legitimate case for saying that there is no Yuri, as the Sibylla are meant to be understood to *not* be women, but to be maidens, as a kind of pre-pubescent state, despite their age and figure. Nonetheless, for the two girl x girl couples at the end (or three depending on how you see the one pair) I’m calling it Yuri. Because the choices were not made regardless of gender. These choices were made to some degree because of their gender. Being Sibylla made their love possible. And damn, it’s hard to explain what I mean unless you’ve seen the series. lol And I really don’t want to spoil too much. ^_^ Here’s just a small spoiler – Three Yuri, one Yaoi and one Straight couple at final count. lol (And almost everyone likes the boys best.) I liked them all.

But I wonder if it’s not just a series about love in general. Prayer in this series is inextricably linked to love, and love to the intent behind all their actions. In the end, that’s what I think Parietta’s final message is about.

“We were here – and we loved one another…and you.”

Ratings:

Art – other than the chara designs – 9
Story – 9
Characters – 8
Yuri – 7
Service – 6

Overall – 9

I know that I cannot be the only one to have noticed that Neviruru and Aeru did not work as a pair until they switched seme/uke roles, can I? ^_^