Archive for the Series Category


Yuri Drama CD: Ryoukakuiin to Kase-san (η·‘εŒ–ε§”ε“‘γ¨εŠ η€¬γ•γ‚“γ€‚)

August 2nd, 2018

Included with the deluxe volume of Sakura to Kase-san (γ•γγ‚‰γ¨εŠ η€¬γ•γ‚“γ€‚), the 4th volume of the Kase-san manga series (which will be released in English by Seven Seas as Kase-san and Cherry Blossoms in late 2018) is an original drama CD, Ryoukakuiin to Kase-san (η·‘εŒ–ε§”ε“‘γ¨εŠ η€¬γ•γ‚“γ€‚) This CD contains two tracks, both from Apron to Kase-san (released in English by Seven Seas in early 2018 as Kase-san and an Apron). 

The first track begins with Kase-san telling Yamada (and therefore us) about how she came to know who Yamada was…and how Kase-san became inspired by her, just as her own motivation for running was flagging. Yamada’s drive to enjoy being the sole member of the greenery committee gave Kase-san the desire to run again for fun. 

The second track is a short in which Kase-san is desperate to find something to get Yamada for her birthday, so she enlists the questionable help of Miwacchi. 

The cast remains the same as the previous Drama CDs and the OVA animation, so we’re starting to get a body of voice acting for Yamada and Kase-san and can now settle in, knowing who and what they will sound like.

This deluxe edition also includeds a mini-clearfile, with imagines of the Kase-san series LINE stamps that were released last spring…and which, I inexplicably have. When I got to Japan for the Yuriten, coins magically manifested on my LINE account and I was able to pick those stamps up. I have absolutely no idea how, as I do nothing on LINE to generate coins. I think it was just the Yuri gods smiling favorably upon me. ^_^ Anyway…the clearfile is cute. 

Ratings: 

Art – 7 Adorable SD characters adorn the disk 
Voice Acting – 10 They sound perfect, I couldn’t ask for better.
Story – 7 
Character – 8
Yuri – 4 Implicit since we know that they are a couple now, but not overt
Service – 1

Overall – 7

I haven’t yet read all the chapters in Book 4 and I am looking forward to it! Chek back in a few days for the revew.





Shoujo Kakumei Utena After The Revolution Manga (ε°‘ε₯³ι©ε‘½γ‚¦γƒ†γƒŠ After The Revolution)

July 25th, 2018

When Tenjou Utena disappeared from Ohtori Academy, life for the students moved on.

Or, did it?

In Shoujo Kakumei Utena After The Revolution  (ε°‘ε₯³ι©ε‘½γ‚¦γƒ†γƒŠ After The Revolution) twenty years have passed. Touga and Saionji have become competitive art dealers. But a simple card telling them that “those who seek the power to revolutionalize the world, should return to Ohtori” inspires them to come back and discover that what they had forgotten on the dueling ground.

Juri has spent 20 years as a competitive fencer so she will be a worthy prince to the princess she’s chosen to protect, her Shiori. A competition is crashed by Ruka, who promptly attempts to steal Shiori from her. He must be defeated on the dueling ground in order for Juri to find herself.

Miki has become a concert pianist, but he is facing a crushing artistic block since Kozue fell into a coma, after her husband beat her. Miki and Kozue find themselves on the dueling ground facing each other and attempt to rebuild their relationship from scratch.

In each case Utena appears as both a child harbinger of crisis and as Dios falling from the castle, signalling resolution. But it’s not until Kozue and Miki create a staircase of music, that Utena can ascend to find Anthy – still crucified – and free her at last so they can be together.

The end of the manga sees them all freed, (again,) but in doing so, it gave each of them a completely new history, a backstory that differed from either of the previous manga versions or the two animated versions. To make this manga make sense, we have to ignore the title – this is not really “after the revolution at all.” Sure, they’ve aged, but they haven’t grown. It takes one last duel to push them forward.

Ratings: 

Art – 9 I *have* mentioned that Saitou-sensei’s art is amazing.
Story – 8 One point off for not giving Utena and Anthy the time and page count lavished on the student council
Characters – 8
Yuri – 5 
Service – 3 Naked Anthy still a thing.

Overall – 9

These are not the choices I would have made for a 20th anniversary story, but I respect that these were the choices made by the original team. I just wish we had been able to see both Utena and Anthy 20 years later, as well.





Yuri Anime: Asagao to Kase-san OVA (γ‚γ•γŒγŠγ¨εŠ η€¬γ•γ‚“)

July 15th, 2018

Deep breath……. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!

Many thanks to YNN Senior Kase-san Correspondent Verso S for help in obtaining a copy of the Blu-ray, which is still being sold only at theaters in Japan where the OVA is showing. Once again, the Yuri Network is pure awesome. ^_^

Despite being titled Asagao to Kase-san (γ‚γ•γŒγŠγ¨εŠ η€¬γ•γ‚“), the story begins after the events of the first manga volume. The story begins with Obentou to Kase-san, as Yamada and Kase-san have been dating since spring…

…my eyes widened as I realized that the entire OVA takes place after “There is a girl, she likes another girl, they like each other, the end.” I cannot impress upon you all enough what a meaningful statement that is for a Yuri Anime. This is not the same girl-meets-girl story we have seen and read over and over. It’s true that this OVA follows a well-worn path, but this time, the path has been set with beautifully animated paving stones and lined with all the flowers we’ve come to love – hydrangeas, and pansies and, of course, morning glories. And lilies. ^_^

Yamada and Kase-san have been dating for a while, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t things that need to be dealt with. Jealousy and self-esteem, sexual attraction, and possessiveness all get a moment or two in the spotlight, but in 58 minutes, the one thing that really was sidelined was fanservice. Service that existed in the manga was stripped out for this anime, which suited me just fine. It was such a pleasure and a visceral relief that we could enjoy a Yuri romance with the all the truly sexy and appealing things about love and attraction, without any of the tiresome visual cues that sad people replace for love and attraction. There were kisses, and when Kase-san kisses Yamada’s wrist, I was like, now this was written by someone who has actually had a relationship. 

Again, I ask you to consider the choices made here – this was a Yuri romance anime not made for the lowest common denominator. Not one scene, not one decision was a shrugging consideration that we have to rely on the creepy, the sexually immature, the dysfunctional or unimaginative viewer for success. While the Kase-san series is itself a nice, sweet and realistic young love story, this OVA is a masterwork of polite middle fingers to people who can’t watch Yuri without needing sloppy kisses, and unhappy faces.

Voice acting was, as it has been, top-notch. Takahashi Minami as Yamada and Sakura Ayane as Kase-san were excellent and their version of the ED was adorable.

It feels redundant, but let me also note that the animation was delightful and gorgeous and amusing in turn. This series has no grand sweeping epic moments, but every scene was lovingly handled by people who cared, and it shows.

The Kase-san series has done some amazing things – it didn’t die after the magazine it ran in folded, it got a theatrical release for the OVA, (making it a OTA, I guess,) it found a new magazine home, it’s *still* in some theaters in Japan and it has a JP Blu-Ray with English subtitles. The story has been cute since the first chapter, but the business acumen and hard work behind it on the part of Takashima Hiromi-sensei, the folks at Shinsokan Pubishing and Pony Canyon leave me breathless. This is case study quality. This is an outstanding work on every level, including all the ones we never see, like directing and editing.

When the DVD becomes available from Japan through regular sales routes, I will provide a link, I promise. And if you were one of the fortunate to see this at AnimeExpo last week, let us know what you think in the comments. In the meantime, 2018 has 5 months left in which to beat this for the number 1 slot on the top 10 list. I await the competition with baited breath.

Ratings:

Art – 10
Story – 10
Character – 10
Service – 1 on principal only (Although I could make a case for that wrist kiss being service for a different group)
Yuri – 10

Overall – 10

It was…perfect.  Just perfect. Thank you to everyone who worked on it.

I’m told that the premier at AnimeExpo included a video of staff talking about their efforts in getting this OVA made. And I’ve seen all the videos of the voice cast talking about the series. And I really appreciate the efforts of Pony Canyon staff and the support and belief in this series showed by Shinsokan Publishing. But when I think of Kase-san, I think of Takshima-sensei and her assistants grinding away in her room, never giving up on this series and keeping it going no matter what. She deserves every success she receives.





Yuri Manga: MURCIΓ‰LAGO, Volume 11 (ムルシエラゴ)

July 13th, 2018

In Volume 10, we took a frenetic tour of an aquarium, watched Hinako eat metric tons of seafood, watched a shark die and met Suiren, a young woman whose father disappeared under mysterious circumstances. In Volume 11 of MURCIΓ‰LAGO (ムルシエラゴ), all of this comes to a completely batty ending in the crypts below this quiet seaside town, where we learn the eventual fate of all of the kidnapping (and murder, of course) victims.  From giant sharks to brains in jars, that’s what I like about this series.  It’s all class, all the time.

The climax of the arc also gives us a surprising bit of insght into Tsuru’s life-long quest to discover the story behind his wife’s death. He can now close that case.

We spend a bit of time with the murderer, and then turn our eyes to a new arc, full of murderers. Like I said, all class. This particular arc brings back some old friends, again, and a whole new crowd of creepy dudes who Kuroko will be better at everything than, despite their lifetime of pursuit martial arts. Woops.

Much more importantly, Kuroko and Chiyo get to have ugly lesbian sex! Like I said, all class, all the time. 

Ratings:

Art – Look, this is Volume 11. You’ve got to know what you’re getting into by now
Story – 8
Characters – 8
Service – 9
Yuri – 9 Ugly lesbian sex for the win

Overall – 8

I am kind of looking forward to a new yakuza-focused arc. They always have the most satisfying fights. Needs more sniper Reiko.





Yuri Manga: Sweet Blue Flowers, Volume 4 (English)

July 9th, 2018

Of Volume 3, I wrote “This volume is, in my opinion the strongest of what Viz will release as four volumes. We can see the progress the young women make as people, before the story turns back into itself to fulfill the requirements of a romance series.” 

Volume 4 of Takako Shimura’s Sweet Blue Flowers, begins with a  problem. Akira is dating Fumi. They have a physical relationship and she’s not unhappy with it, but…she’s not happy, either. Fumi’s interest is sincere and intense, but Akira is going along with it to make Fumi happy, not for herself. This is not a problem that will go away with time.  

The ladies of Fujigaya and Matsuoka schools are all heading into their third year. Once again, the focus is on the school festival, the play and, this time, the class trips. Fumi and Akira’s friends all scramble to find themselves as high schoolers, before they are asked to become adults. Lives and loves are in turmoil as they decide at 18, what will affect them for years to come. 

Akira goes to London, where she seeks out Sugimoto, who seems to have found herself at last. Sugimoto gets Akira to admit that there is a problem with her relationship, but it remains unaddressed – and Sugimoto walks any criticism back.  Which, as an adult reader, made me want to storm into the room and sit them both down. 

The problem builds quietly until, just as quietly, Fumi and Akira break up. Once again, as a reader, I was relieved. And I was thrilled to see, through Akira’s eyes, Fumi with someone else. If the book had ended there, I would have been satisfied. But it didn’t. Was Shimura-sensei pressured by her editor or the fans? Did she have no particular conviction? Or was this the plan all along? I don’t know. 

As I said in 2013 when I reviewed the end in Japanese, “Without spoilers, I will assure you that you the ending does not bring closure. It has the one thing I had hoped for – ambiguity.”

Other relationships, however, get my blessing. Ko and Kyouko, having gone through so much, maybe have a chance, but the one wedding that I wish we had spent more time on was Yamashina-sensei and Ono’s big sister, who come out to family as a couple, even if their families aren’t ready to accept them.

Ratings: 

Art – 9
Story – 9
Characters –  9
Service – 3
LGBTQ – 10

Overall – 9

Here’s the the thing that’s amazing about Sweet Blue Flowers – it started serialization in 2005. It’s 13 years old. More than a decade ago it was a beacon of Yuri. In 2018, it’s an important stepping stone to where we are now, and now that we have a definitive edition for this in English, it’s time to move forward into a genre that has matured.