Archive for the Yuri Anime Category


Yuri Anime: Aim for the Ace! / Ace wo Nerae!

January 20th, 2004

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

Part 1

This week, I’ll be running over a few Yuri titles which are, as I say above, old, new, borrowed and blue. Call it a “theme week.”

First up, today, something old. And now I’m torn, which of the many, many old series that I’ve grown to love, do I review?

Let’s start with this one:
Ace wo Nerae!, (Aim for the Ace!), from 1973. This is probably one of the oldest truly *shoujo* anime out there.

Ace wo Nerae, adapted from the popular manga of the same name (another Margaret magazine Yuri classic!) is the story of Oka Hiromi, a first year student at Nishi High School. Hiromi, like many other girls in the school, deeply admires Ryuzaki Reika, known as “Ochoufujin,” the shining star of the girl’s tennis team. Ochoufujin, along wth the other upperclassmen, make up an unbeatable women’s tennis team which has attracted over 100 first-year newbies – including Hiromi and her friend Maki. Hiromi is happy as a clam to be near to her idol, Ochoufujin, and even get the occasional kind word from her, but everything changes the day the new coach shows up.

For some reason the new coach sees potential in Hiromi that no one, not even Hiromi herself, can fathom. He singles Hiromi out and begins working her mercilessly, even replacing one of the ace upperclassmen with a terrified and, subsequently, harrassed, Hiromi.

Ace wo Nerae will immediately remind viewers of another Margaret manga classic Oniisama E (Brother, Dear Brother) since the character designs and direction for the anime were done by the same people; and the plot is the usual shoujo fare of the seemingly average girl being catapulted into the rarified world of the great ones in her school. The biggest difference is that in Ace, Hiromi finds herself not only capable of handling the stress, but grows to be a very strong person and a very strong tennis player, as opposed to just growing up a little as a result of her experiences. We actually get to see her game improve over time and, as she matures and becomes the player the coach knew she could be, she steps into a position as one of the team aces.

In terms of Yuri, Ace definitely straddles the line between adoration and romance Because this manga and anime are from 1973, the Yuri is encoded in small, subtle things. You won’t see tearful confessions of love, much less a kiss or anything, but watch Hiromi carefully, as she dresses to bring flowers to Ochoufujin…or if you can find it, there’s a wonderful screencap from the Ace wo Nerae movie, as Hiromi and Ochoufujin head off to America together (a code in itself, really, as America is always seen in lesbian fiction as the place to escape to to be together.) Hiromi is wearing a three-piece white suit and tie, her hair has gone completely masculine. She looks about as butchy as someone could possibly have drawn a girl in the early 70’s.

As a representative of early Yuri, Ace wo Nerae is a spectacular example, but expect a fair dollop of cheesy-ness, as the character designs, music, art, etc are all over 30 years old. The op art graphics and laughable opening theme are delightfully retro now.The most important thing is that the characters are genuinely likeable and their motivations fathomable. I give this one a strong recommendation, if you want to see where many of the conventions of Yuri come from.

Ratings:

Art – tough to call, because it’s so dated. For its time, 7
Story – 9
Characters – 9
Character Design – 8
Music – Makes me giggle every time I hear it, 6
Yuri – 2 Negligible, but not not there.

Overall – 8

As always, for updates on Ace wo Nerae and other classic anime and manga, join us at the Yuricon Mailing List.





Yuri Anime: Things to Watch Out For

January 19th, 2004

From the “Vox Populi” in the second volume of Yuri Shimai, and the Yuri Kokoro blog, a Japanese language blog about yuri anime and manga, here are two new series with “yuri.” How much, I don’t know, but I’ll keep my eyes open for you, promise. :-)

Tokyo Underground Yuri Shimai says that Chelsea Rorec is gay, I can see that she’s at least protective of Ruri-sama. Only time will tell whether this series indeed has yuri.

Mezzo – The OVA for this series, Mezzo Forte was violent and full of fanservice, but still managed to be goofy and a little dumb. Yuri Kokoro tells us that the anime has yuri. It certainly has two girls. We’ll see whether that translates to anything other than akogare and fanservice.

Speaking of time will tell, the second episode of Maria-sama ga Miteru has been released and the verdict is in – the anime is not quite as satisfying to me as the manga (which, in turn, I’ve read on several Japanese sites, isn;t as good as the original novels.) Sachiko seems more self-absorbed and selfish in the anime. Nonetheless, if it travels along similar lines to the manga, it’ll still be good shoujoai. :-)





Yuri Anime? Kaleido Star

January 18th, 2004

Okay, okay, I take it back

I take it all back! Kaleido Star is definitely a yuri anime. Not only are Anna and Mia still sharing a bed (in an apartment that has plenty of room for them to sleep apart if they really wanted) but there’s this *thing* happening between Leila and Sora, which, while it isn’t love or physical attraction, is definitely an intimate connection. Watching them perform together is not all that different from watching a love scene.

The funny thing is, I read a review of Kaleido Star recently on a Japanese website, and was like, “Leila and Sora? Are they nuts?” Yeah, well – I was wrong, they were right. ^_^

Don’t get me wrong – this is still a superficial, silly, fluff-filled anime. There is no big story here…it’s just about people who have a vision and want to make that vision come true. The vision just happened to be about doing acrobatics. The first dozen or so episodes weren’t riveting, but the characters have a more realistic passion now and I actually care whether Sora and Leila develop the Maboroshi Oowaza, the Ultimate Trick. Don’t ask me why…I don’t know. ^_^

I’m upping the Yuri rating on Kaleido Star to about a 7 out of 10.





Various Yuri Anime

January 16th, 2004

Traces of Yuri

Part 2

Kaleido Star:
Another inoffensive (this time, really) anime, it seems to have been co-produced by and licensed by ADV. I can only imagine that they are targeting this towards a TV release, because there is *nothing* in this anime that would offend the mildest of viewers, with perhaps the exception only of the ecchi “Spirit of the Kaleido Stage,” who can’t be seen by anyone else but the lead. Since we (and he) do not actually get to see anything naughty, it would make a pretty good TV choice.

The plot is basically the same as  the old classic shoujo anime Aim for the Ace,Ace wo Nerae , (which I will review next week,) only this time instead of Tennis, the venue is something remotely Cirque de Soleil-ish. The lead, Naegino Sora, is a sweet, enthusiastic and energetic girl, without being too genki, too shy or too aggressive. She’s not afraid to speak her mind, but she’s not rude either – the perfect modern Japanese girl. Sora’s dream is to perform on the “Kaleido Stage” in America as an acrobat/performer. Of course, her dream comes true…with
many challenges that will force her to become a stronger and more mature person, etc., etc.

Is there yuri? There is, but, not much.

Mia & her roommate/partner in crime,
Anna are definitely and obviously a couple. They ping the gaydar from about Episode 3 onwards, and as the story (what little of it there is) develops, they seem more and more obvious. The only thing like confirmation we get is in Episode 19, where we actually see them sharing a bed, facing each other and close enough that they have to be touching. That’s about all. It’s not hot lesbo sex, kids, but would probably slide by a TV censor easily. The series is continuing on Japanese TV, so I’ll keep watching, but I do not expect Mia and Anna’s wedding episode anytime soon. :-)

If *you* know of a series that you think has yuri content, then by
all means, let me know at [email protected]
or join the Yuricon Mailing List and tell us all about it!

*In case you care, my fetishes are, in no particular order: psychotic and/or nasty women; competency, chicks with weapons, uniforms and classic literature or mythology used cleverly.





Various Yuri Anime

January 15th, 2004

Traces of Yuri

Part 1

In reading around the web, I often come across mentions of series in which there is supposed to be yuri of some kind or other, subtextual or not. About half the time I agree. Here’s a quick overview of two such series, one on either side of the fence:


Popotan:
This is a reasonably inoffensive anime adaptation of a hentai game into about three sisters and their maid who take a lot of baths, show their underwear a lot and play dress up. As you can see, I find it simply fascinating. If any of these the above, breasts and/or lolicon are your particular fetish, then its probably a good choice. Since none of them are mine*, and since I saw only a bare trace of yuri (the youngest sister liking “squishy” things, including her older sister’s breasts
does not, IMHO, count as yuri) then I’ll have to call this one a “not really.”

It just dawned on me that I called a breast/loli/bathing/panty-shot filled anime “inoffensive.” How jaded am I? ^_^;

The plot of Popotan is initially silly, but becomes serious – sisters Ai, Mai and Mii, and their maid, Meah, travel from place to place (and ultimately, we learn, through time itself) to look for someone or thing. To find this someone or thing, they talk to the “Popotan,” their cutesy word for dandelions. (The Japanese word for dandelions is tanpopo and “-tan” as an honorific is a silly name ending, with extra cutesiness. Think Amy-wamie, or Billy-willy.)

In the course of their travels, the sisters run into and become close to several people in different places, but leaving those people becomes increasingly difficult and emotionally draining for them. They move through time and learn that their friendships had far-reaching consequences; some positive, but other outcomes are horribly tragic. Eventually, when they meet the person they were lookig for (a kind of princess of the popotan) they are given a choice – do they wish to continue to travel, or split up and stay in one time and place? Both will mean separation from those they love.

I won’t give away the ending, because while this isn’t high art, it’s not the worst thing in the world to watch, either, if a little manipulative. :-)

Is there yuri? Well, if you squint, or ar desperate to find it, then you can easily make Mai’s friendship with Konami into a yuri relationship. It’s portrayed as shinyuu;  – a very close friendship with bonds that last long after the girls part company. Between they way Mai and Konami connect so deeply, and a few moments of touching closeness (and close touching,) if you really wanted, you could see yuri there. I’m sure there’s a load of doujinshi out there somewhere with the two of them. On the whole, I think there are many series with more yuri than this one.

One last note: Beware – the opening music is horribly sticky. Once you get any of it in your head it won’t go away. It’s weeks later and I’m still singing it.

Ratings: Art – 7 out of 10; Character Designs – 8 out of 10, there’s something for everyone here. Story – 5 out of 10. It has moments, but that’s about it. Music – 5 out of 10. Yuri – 3 out of 10. Overall – 5 out of 10. Not bad for a H-game into anime, but not great, either.

As always, visit Yuricon, voted one of the Top 25 Anime-related sites on the web, for more shoujoai and yuri in anime and manga.