Archive for the Series Category


Yuri Anime: Strawberry Panic mid-season review

July 5th, 2006

It’s halfway through it’s run and I thought that the Strawberry Panic! anime warranted a second look.

When I was in high school, I took a creative writing class. I have long ago forgotten the teacher’s name, but I have retained two things from that class – the word “transmontaine” and an exercise that we were assigned. Our teacher told us to look through our record collections, take phrases from the songs and construct a poem. I remember this exercise very clearly, because in every case but one it was *instantly* apparent which song the writer had used. They hadn’t taken phrases – they had taken whole lines. The one exception was mine. I was the only one in the class who had understood that one could take a *phrase* someone else had created and make something unique and original from it. This is very possibly the beginning of my “career” as a fanfic writer – but that isn’t why I bring this up.

I bring this up, because in the course of writing my weekly snarky “stolen meme” report on the Yuricon Mailing List, pointing out the exceedingly obvious – and not so obvious – symbols and concepts taken from popular yuri anime and manga series, it dawned on me that Strawberry Panic is exactly the same thing as my now long-lost (and thank heavens for small favors for that!) poem.

Is Strawberry Panic derivative? Yes.

Is it laughable? Absolutely.

Is it pandering? Indubitably.

But is it fun? *Now* I say yes.

At half-way, the characters have taken on decided characteristics of their own, the story pretty much fixed one of my major issues with Kannazuki no Miko and with the exception of the lead, Nagisa, everyone has become sort of human. Sort of. I’m not saying this is high art, but as parody goes I’m beginning to like it.

I started liking this anime for something very stupid and small. When they changed to the summer uniforms, Shizuma took to wearing the single most unattractive cardigan EVER over her uniform (because heaven knows that it’s too chilly inside that old wooden building in the blazing summer heat.) That stupid sweater – so ugly, so old-ladyish, made me really begin to like Shizuma. Think about it – this is the schools’ star among stars. She is the height of cool and style…and here she is schlubbing around in a mucky gray cardigan with a yellow stripe. How…uncool. I love it.

Then, just as if the writers actully understood how to put a story together, they resolved one of the several love polygons in the series, smack dab at mid-way through. Just like you should. They ended it in a really funny and bizarre way, which has changed many geeks’appreciation of ineffective pickup lines forever.

And so, halfway through the season, I find myself in the camp of “It’s utter trash – but it’s *fun* utter trash.” And for the first time in ages, I find myself laughing at a parody. Thank you, writers of Strawberry Panic, thank you makers of ugly sweaters and thank you global warming. You’ve saved this anime for me.

Ratings:

Art – 7
Characters – 7
Story – 7 (the bits they didn’t steal from other series, that is)
Music – 7
Yuri – 9
Service – 6

Overall – 7

Oh, but the new ending sequence! Truly WTF. I thought the first one was bad, but this one is positively nightmarish. Shudder.





Yuri Anime: Madlax, Volume 7

July 3rd, 2006

Because I’m home for the holiday, I thought I’d try something new today – reviewing something as I watch it. So, I am watching Madlax, Volume 7 as I write.

The first thing that struck me was the cover of this DVD. If you haven’t yet gotten the connection between Madlax and Margaret, then you’re clearly running behind. This picture ought to make the point quite clearly.

It’s very hard to talk about this volume without massive spoilers, but I’m going to try to be vague and speculative about some key things. My apologies if I blow anything huge for you.

Right from the opening seconds there’s a great tension in this volume that doesn’t really dissipate until the end, where it’s supposed to. How amazing is that?

Episode 24

In the first episode, we finally see Madlax as she truly is – a phantasm. There’s a brilliant moment when a machine gun is shot at her and we can see the bullets ricochet against the rock behind her. Clearly, the shots passed right through her forehead. But there’s no reaction from her and no sign of the bullets. The shadow Madlax taking all the hits while the absurd dress-wearing Madlax shoots the enemy, was quite brilliant.

Then Rimelda arrives. She’s changed, one can see that immediately. There’s something like acceptance, and a little relief in her expression. She and Madlax have a moment that changes everything between them.

Meanwhile, we get to see just how much Eleanor truly loves Margaret, and what Margaret really is to her.

Episode 24 makes a really good case for there being many different ways that love can manifest. In day-to-day things, (what my wife and I refer to as “playing house”) and in remembering a person after they are gone.

We lose yet another friend and again, it’s a GREAT scene. In a war story, losing someone isn’t bizarre and can be used well. In anime, a main character remaining dead is almost unheard of. It makes the death more meaningful (in the sense of driving the story) when you know that they won’t pop back in a giant reset that renders everything pointless. The losses we suffer here are handled well and are definitely not pointless.

Episode 25

Where Episode 24 is about an apparent reality, 25 is about the magic that has driven the series from the beginning – some of which has only been hinted at. It’s a magic with no roots in our world, so we have to take everything we’re given at face value, which I like quite a bit.

Things we thought were resolved pop back up, still present. People we thought gone come back, but not for the reasons we might think. And Margaret is not saved, as it appeared last episode.

We get to see Friday Monday’s point of view on the events of twelve years ago, which adds the few last pieces to the puzzle – except why Friday Monday is such a crazy nerdbanger. That remains unexplained. Also I question the concept of the “Essence”, since it seems to always make people turn murderously violent against the person they love the most. It seems an obviously flaw to the FM’s insistence that that is the REAL truth, when it’s the same exact reaction in everyone who encounters the words. It’s like saying that datura is *really* an antacid, and the fact that people who take it die is sort of a side effect of the true disease within them. Except, as we see that FM is completely crazy, we can also see how, to him, this obviously evil magic spell is “The Truth (TM)”. Nonetheless, we do see the truth, finally, of what happened to Margaret, and who Madlax is.

When the calvary thunders down the hill – to kick ass music, mind you – it was so wonderful, if just to SHUT Friday Monday UP. Geez, his laugh is enough to make *me* shoot him.

Episode 26 – Final.

What can I really say about this episode that won’t be one great big spoiler? Let’s just say this – the story actually ends. And, to the best of the writers’ abilities, it makes sense. There are still tons of questions, but they are more about the hows than the whys or whats.

Watching Margaret making her decision this time, it all made more sense. Of course, if I tell you why, I’ll ruin the whole thing, so you’ll just have to watch it and get back to me.

And I guess there’s something to the bad guy who doesn’t die, because this way you can just keep killing the freak again and again…

Oh, and how happy was I when Margaret tells Friday Monday exactly what I pointed out in my review of Volume 6 – that there was no need to bring out the violence and hatred in people’s hearts, because we’re quite well aware that it exists, thanks awfully.

I still maintain that Madlax is the best writing that Bee Train has done. It has the mystery of the .hack series, without the endless meaningless chatter that goes nowhere, the Yuri and violence of Noir, the despair and love of Avenger and a story that resolves, unlike all of them. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 8
Character – 9
Music – 8
Yuri – 3
Service – 3 (random breasts, pretty much)

Overall – 8

And what a great epilogue. I love that epilogue. Luv, luv. This series ends with an unexpected bang. Perfect for fanfic. (Which yes, I have written. It’s up on “Worldshaking” Fanfic. Enjoy!)





Yuri Manga: Kashimashi Girl Meets Girl, Volume 3

June 30th, 2006

I’ve been following the manga of Kashimashi Girl Meets Girl with great interest, because the anime ended in a way I had not anticipated. So I am twice as curious now to see where the manga is heading.

In a nutshell, Volume 3 of Kashimashi adds two major plot points. One good, one hopelessly dumb,

The scenes that ended the last volume and begin this one, were where the anime and manga parted ways. In some ways I prefer the anime – in others the manga. Both have distinct strengths and weaknesses.

This volume begins as Tomari and Hazumu head off together on a date, something which causes Yasuna to collapse with anxiety. (I’m only half exaggerating when I say this.) Hazumu rushes off to be at Yasuna’s side, with Tomari in tow. Tomari and Yasuna make the hardest decision of their young lives and manage to make it a real triangle of a relationship. I know I’m not alone in hoping that the three of them just manage to work it out, because the alternative options are bleak for at least one of them and probably two.

That was the good plot complication. The bad one was that Hazumu, having been brought back from the dead to destroy her friends’ lives with uncontrollable desire for her is now burning through her life energy. In a month’s time, she’ll be gone. Dead. For*ever*.

Are we worried? Speaking for myself…no. Not really.

It’s a bit exhausting watching everyone go through all this grief and misery, knowing that it will likely be wasted (coughMaiHimecough) but on the other hand, it might make everyone more willing to take life by the horns and have some massive fun *now*, because there may not be a tomorrow. I say this, knowing full well that many chapters have gone by and nothing has actually happened, but I hold out hope that Yasuna and Tomari realize that if Hazumu is going to die soon then they’d better get her in bed *now.* But, then, I also fantasize that Yasuna and Tomari lose Hazumu and hook up with each other. I doubt my wishes are seriously in consideration over at the plot planning committee meetings.

The one thing I really don’t like about this volume is a chapter with the lonely birthday gambit. You know, suddenly no one will hang out with the main character and she thinks they all hate her. She follows them around as they shop and have fun without her, leaving her miserable. At last she schleps home only to find that Surprise! it’s been a secret party thing and they were shopping for her! Yay. I REALLY dislike that particular plot and it doesn’t get any better the more times I see it.

On the back cover of this volume is an odd picture of Ayuki and Asuta looking awfully cuddly. Odd, because Ayuki appears to be in love with Hazumu through most of the first several volumes, and odder because she’s actually in love with…oh, heh, that’d be spoiling. ^_^ You’ll just have to wait until Volume 4, won’t you?

Ratings:

Art – 8
Characters – 7
Story – 7
Yuri – 9
Service – 3 (So far of the volumes, this has the least service by a fair amount)

Overall – 8

A good read, less nasty service, and the possibiltiy of a not entrely implausible or squicky threesome. Probably some of the strongest chapters so far – and a few of the very very very weakest.





Yuri Anime:My Hime, Volume 1 (English)

June 24th, 2006

Two things I must start with:

One – you are all WRONG. I am watching the first volume right now, even as I type, with two other people and we all agree that the animation for My Hime is teh suck. The first episode, which is always the best in terms of animation, is nasty bad, and it goes downhill massively for the rest of the volume. All your comments to the contrary are wishful thinking and bad 20/20 memory.

Secondly, the subtitles on this volume didn’t work for me, and apparently I’m not alone. I will, when I have time/care to, I’ll run the disk on my computer and see if they work. I am informed (just this minute, by an unconfirmed source) that one needs a new DVD player to get them to work.

In any case, I am reminded of many things while I watch this volume. Fanservice, primarily. And angst. Did I mention service? Oh, and how much I really, really dislike Nagi’s voice. But, on the whole, in the first few eps, Mikoto, Mai and Natsuki all get to be really quite cool for a little. Poor Natsuki – she starts out so cool and just goes down hill from episode 4 on. (As Serge says, she becomes the butt of all their jokes – no pun intended, of course…)

So…we had heard that Shizuru’s American VA was painful, so when she got on screen, we changed audio track and it lasted exactly 4 words. We all screamed and I switched back – fast. ^_^;

Okay, so let’s back up. The story at the moment appears to be about Tokiha Mai, a “typical” large-breasted high school girl with a “typical” terminally ill younger brother who is traveling to a “typical” private academy, where she finds she has “typical” magical fighting skills and a “typical” large dragon-like monster partner.

Of course it’s not that simple – there will be much personal and mythological angst that will explain many things, except of course why no one kills Nagi.

On the yuri side, there was really very little, but with the addition of the DVD extras, they’ve totally changed the yuri dynamic. There’s Shizuru teasing Natsuki, but nothing really significantly Yuri – except in the shared lizard brain of the fandom – until the fourth DVD extra, which ups the Yuri quite a bit. I should also point out that Yuricon Mailing List Ashley was so adamant about the (completely invisible in the original broadcast, but with the highly suggestive DVD extra, their Yuri score changes completely, too) pairing of Aoi and Chie, that the concept spread TO Japan, where it was incorporated into the Mai Otome storyline. That’s got to count for something. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 6 at best, but it really does go down in episode 2 to a 3 or so.
Character – 6
Story – 6
Yuri – 4 but only because of the DVD extras, otherwise it would be a 2
Overall – 9

Overall – 6

My Hime (and don’t think it kills me that they changed the name) is, as Serge originally said, fun trash. IMHO, underneath the plot, it’s really just an ero-game.





Yuri Anime: Kannazuki no Miko, Volume 1

June 13th, 2006

There’s a reason why fairy tales take place in places far, far away and a long, long time ago. It puts them in a space-time that isn’t real. In this not-real space, we can be free to enjoy not-real happenings without having to justify anything.

In a place called “Magic Place”, a beautiful place, with a little bit of everything – sea, mountains, plains, this fairy tale about two girls and their involvement with the gods  over and over, repeated through time – a destiny that can’t be avoided – takes place.

In this particular version of the story, the protagonists are blonde Himeko and the black-haired star of their exclusive school, Chikane. (A pair-type that is quite common in Yuri, as many people have pointed out.)

Chikane is hyper-competent, of course, because she is a brunette. Himeko is sweet and naive and slightly doofus-y, as befits a stereotypical blonde. ^_^

As one expects with a destiny-laden anime tale, the story starts on the day of Himeko’s and Chikane’s shared 16th birthday. The sky is dark, the mountains move, and from out of nowhere, the “Orochi” speaks. Orochi is the Japanese version of the Hydra – an eight-headed serpent. In this case, the heads or, necks (kubi) are represented by eight people with darkness in their hearts. Whether they are also dealing with a destiny, or they have chosen their roles, is never made clear.

One of the Orochi’s kubi is the other star of the school – Oogami Souma – whose name speaks of a huge, horrible destiny. So, we’ll call it destiny, then; nature, not nurture makes one a kubi. Souma, despite his fate to be one of the bad guys, manages to overwrite his programming and when Himeko is threatened by the Orochi, fights to protect her.

Chikane, who clearly has a thing for Himeko, tries to protect her, but pretty much doesn’t have the stuff. Souma does the fighting, while Chikane is busy getting the girl. She starts right in with kisses and a few well-placed gropes.

Chikane and Himeko learn that they share a fate to be the priestesses of Ame-no-Murakumo, a god of swordsman. (Incidentally, and not at all related to anime, Ame no Murakumo was one of the personal deities of the founder of Aikido.) Together they are supposed to re-seal the Orochi in the prison that t/he/y have escaped.

In the first attack, Himeko’s dorm is trashed, so Chikane takes her home to live with her – something that makes Chikane obviously very, very happy. But not the other kids in the school. Which brings me to a question I keep asking as I watch this volume: the two absolute massive, super-popular stars of the school constantly obsess over Himeko, and are there constantly to protect her. So…how is that no one in the entire school other than her ex-roommate has a clue who Himeko is? Okay, forget it. Fairy tale, right.

Himeko is worried that she is a burden and a trouble to Chikane and Souma – which she is, but you can’t fight fate like this, can you? Souma and Chikane both vow to protect her and at least one of them is successful in this. One at a time, the Orochi’s kubi attack and are defeated by Souma in his spiffy new giant mecha. This causes Chikane to desire more power, because she can’t actually protect Himeko as a miko. (Remember this, because it’s one of the things that sets her off on the wrong thinking path.)

The volume ends on a darkish note: Himeko is troubled that her abilities as a miko are falling short of the mark, she isn’t sure of her feelings for either Souma or Chikane and she has some nasty bad memories to work past. Chikane is fighting off serious jealousy of Himeko’s feelings for Souma, and Souma is torn between his desire to protect Himeko and his destiny as an Orochi. It’s a typical love triangle and, despite Chikane having gotten the kisses, at this point in the anime Souma takes the lead, slightly because of Himeko’s persistent blondeness.

In terms of packaging the DVD offers 4 episodes (presumably with three on the following three DVDs); a coupon for $3 off Volume 2 or 3, a mini-poster of art by the manga artist, Kaishaku, and a double sided mini-pencil board. So it’s pretty fair value for the money. No extras to speak of, just the usual clean opening/ending and Geneon credits.

One last thing – lots o’ fanservice. I’d forgotten how much. It really makes the Strawberry Panic anime seem very staid in comparison.

Ratings:

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

Overall – 7

It’s a fairy tale with a *lot* of fanservice, giant robots and a dark undertow. I do wish we’d get to know anything about the kubi – who they are, why they are kubi, etc. It’s a big hand-wave to just accept a little girl who dresses like a nurse and carries a giant hypodermic having enough evil in her to qualify for a god of evil’s hench-neck. ^_^ Or the driven mangaka. The rest of them, I could make up decent enough backstories for. 6-6 But I quite like Miyako, the evil nun. Just because.

I also wish Himeko was less of a non-entity. It would so be like being in love with a person that had had a frontal lobotomy…oh well, not everyone finds intelligence and competence attractive. Obviously, not Souma or Chikane, anyway. ;-)