Archive for the Series Category


Yuri Drama CD: Jitensha to Kase-san (自転車と加瀬さん)

June 20th, 2018

The Asagao to Kase-san movie is still in theaters (and has added some new theaters this week, which will be getting it in July). It’s really all kinds of wonderful. Typically anime OVA/theatrical releases hit theaters for a week, then go straight to DVD. This Blu-Ray is available at theaters with proof of a ticket. In fact, they’ve had to restock theaters. So, wow! 

Earlier in the year when the tickets first hit the stores, our YNN Kase-san Correspondent Verso S kindly offered to buy one on my behalf so I could have the Drama CD which was one of the very first rewards for ticketholders. ^_^ Never beyond abusing a friendship in order to get a Drama CD, I jumped on that. (The ticket itself went to the lovely Uchida-san from the Yuriten to thank her for her help.)

Jitensha to Kase-san (自転車と加瀬さん) is a 20-minute long voice drama version of the first two chapters of Asagao to Kase-san, (published in English by Seven Seas as Kase-san and Morning Glories). Yamada is voiced by Takahashi Minami and Kase-sen by Sakura Ayane.

The story is told from the point of view of Yamada as she notices and begins to have feelings for Kase-san, the school’s track star. It’s pretty much told word for word, so if you’re familiar with the source material, it’s a simple and entertaining listen. 

Ratings:

Art – 7 Adorable SD characters adorn the disk in a clear jewel case
Voice Acting – 10 They sound perfect, I couldn’t ask for better.
Story – 7 
Character – 8
Yuri – 6 First love is sweet, but I’ll never quite *like* it. I always feel a bit squicky when I’m in a high schooler’s head as she notices another girl romantically or sexually for the first time. ^_^;
Service – 2 

Overall – 8

As an appetizer to the movie it’s perfect. The voices fit the characters well and all I want to do now is get my hands on that Blu-Ray! Right now it’s only available through 3rd party sellers for usurious rates and against the whole point of it being available to ticket holders. As soon as it gets a general release, I’ll get you a link.





MURCIÉLAGO Manga, Volume 10 (ムルシエラゴ)

June 19th, 2018

Giant shark. Murder. Kidnapping. Creepy priest/nun combo. Lovecraftian chapter title. Excessive seafood consumption. Did I mention a Giant SHARK? MURCIÉLAGO , Volume 10 (ムルシエラゴ) has it all…depending on your definition of “all,” obviously. ^_^

After a little soujourn in school designed only to contain a peeing one’s self scene, news of a 7-meter shark has Hinako bouncing out of her skin to see the wonder. So the gang packs up and visits the aquarium. Hinako consumes a great deal of seafood in the cafe, while Chiyo and Kuroko have a surprisingly romantic moment together. Then the giant shark coughs up a hand and dies, so that’s the end of that. 

The dead shark leads the (what’s a good nickname for a Scooby Gang, only full of murderers, yakuza and the criminally insane?) gang on a mission to a fish market, to track down the ship that caught the shark where we meet Suiren, an attractive young female fisher on the lookout for her missing father.  And, the uber-creepy priest/nun son/mother combo at the local church who are clearly part of the kidnapping of random people in the local area. 

Kuroko’s vaguely interested in the murder of the left-hand’s owner, but she’s very interested in Suiren, so away we go! We get some quality time with police pathologist Yuria, and the whole package is tied up with the Lovecraftian title “The Deep Ones” for a satisfying whole…depending on your definition of “whole,” obviously. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – Well, it’s not getting worse
Story – 8
Characters – 8, although Hinako has been given an extra helping of weird along with her maguro
Service – 4 Shockingly low for this series
Yuri – 7 Chiyo and Kuroko’s moment was so sweet…until the shark yacked up the hand and died.

Overall – 8

Not *quite* as awesome as Giant Snakes, but Giant Sharks are cool too. ^_^ 





Yuri Manga: Kiss and White Lily for My Dearest Girl, Volume 5 (English)

June 14th, 2018

Volume 5 of Kiss and White Lily For My Dearest Girl, is predicted upon the idea that a promise made at 5 years old is still valid a decade later. Let me assure you that they are not. ^_^

Nishikawa Itsuki keep glaring at Itou Sawa and Sawa doesn’t know why. When Itsuki turns out to be  long-lost childhood friend, the penny still doesn’t drop. Of course, eventually they manage to  figure out how they can face the future together. Phew.

We spend some time with Shirahime and Kurosawa, and finally get insight on what actually drives Ayaka to be so competitive. It’s an emotional and frustrating moment for her and us, but for Kurosawa, it’s a moment of of clarity and she steps up and is just the pillar of strength that Ayaka needs.

I will never be the audience for the lost-childhood dream, but for Ayaka’s arc is very poignant. It also provides the the missing piece to her personality and for that, it’s an important volume.  And if you like poignant, emotional stories, Kiss and White Lily For My Dearest Girl is a series that’s worth reading. 

Art – 8
Story – 6
Characters – 7
Yuri – 8
Service – 1 on principle

Overall – 7

No, seriously. Any promises made in in kindergarten are no longer valid. ^_^





Sailor Moon Musical ~Le Mouvement Final at AnimeNEXT 2018

June 7th, 2018

AnimeNEXT badge holders! Join me tonight at 8PM at the Showboat Casino Bourbon Room, for a screening of the Live Action Sailor Moon Musical Le Mouvement Finale.

I’ll be presenting a very short intro and settling in for another watch of what has been my favorite musical to date.





Yuri Manga: MURCIÉLAGO, Volume 6 (English)

June 1st, 2018

Volume 6 of MURCIÉLAGO, by Yoshimurakana, is a particularly nasty volume. Oddly, I found it easier to take in English than in Japanese. I do not know whether that is a function of the translation or simply because I read through the nastiest bits more quickly in my native tongue. 

A bomber is threatening a school and Kuroko and the team have been called in to investigate. What she finds is that a ring of kids have been bullying a girl practically to the point of a psychotic break. The keyword is “practically”. Although Minako is sure that her lover is responsible for her abuse, she’s not all that angry because she’s a “get even” kind of gal. By the end of the series, Kuroko has left Minako with a penchant for domination, a slave and a desire to commit controlled violence. 

The bomber, it turns out, is also looking for revenge for a one-sided same-sex crush gone toxic. All in all, a school full of terrible people. 

Kuroko gets to kill a few inconsequential children, Hinako gets her kunoichi on, and everyone lives happily ever after, except for the people dead, beaten, abused, raped, and otherwise emotionally and physically traumatized. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 6 
Story – 5 I still prefer adults beating the crap out of one another
Characters – 8 Violently insane, so thumbs up from me
Service – 10 
Yuri – 8  Extra Psycho Lesbians for your money! ^_^

Overall – 8

My review yesterday of Cutie Honey Universe seems to have surprised some new readers. Let me assure you that while I find tiresome service tiresome, I am wholly fine with horrific violence and psychotic lesbians. ^_^