Yuri Network News – December 15, 2012

December 15th, 2012

Yuri Anime

YNN Correspondent Katherine H. wants to give us all the heads up on the new anime Psycho-Pass. Her reasons? “The one female Enforcer who works for Akane, Yayoi, seems to have some sort of relationship with the unit’s data analyst (another latent criminal), Shion. (In case you don’t mind being spoiled, here are the moments from episode 2 and episode 6 that got me especially excited) Yayoi’s suit helps. LOL Yayoi hasn’t gotten that much screentime, but what she does have is pretty riveting. Still, I’m champing at the bit to see her more, and see her and Shion’s back stories filled out. (The show has already hinted why Yayoi became an Enforcer.) I’m not tolerating this show just for the Yuri. It’s a genuinely good show – although its first episode is the weakest, and while its early episodes have interesting aspects, it really took off for me from episode 6 on. It’s streaming on Funimation *inhales* That’s it. ^^”

Katherine also points out that the series was created by Urobochi Gen, creator of Madoka and Fate/Zero.

I had seen Psycho-Pass(and Yayoi)all over Japan but the plot seemed kinda meh. With your recommendation, I’ll put it on the “to try” list. ^_^

Fans of anime based on 4-koma manga with very marginal Yuri will be happy to know RightStuf has announced the release of Hyakko in April 2013.

I completely forgot to mention this – The National Tournament Arc for Saki, was greenlit for a TV series. Call me crazy, but this was sort of the point of the series and it frustrated the heck out of me that we weren’t going to see it. So, yay! There’s also going to be a special 13th episode of Saki Achiga-hen, but you know it’s going to be something like a onsen episode or something, sigh. ^_^;

iatheia on the Yuricon Mailing List wants you all to know that the preorder for Rose of Versailles is up on RightStuf in two parts.

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Yuri Manga

Ichigo69 notes that Morinaga Milk’s Kisses, Sighs, and Cherry Blossoms Pink: The Complete Collection is available for pr-order from Seven Seas. It’s slated for a June release, so that’s a pretty long pre-order period.

I appear to have spoken too soon when I congratulated Tsubomi on making 5 years, because with volume 21, Tsubomi is ending its print run. Komatsu-san’s report on Crunchyroll reports that it will continue with it’s free online webcomic, and to print collected volumes of the stories from the magazine. I’m going to say this again, because it bears repeating – publishing in print is becoming prohibitively expensive and the Yuri audience is *just* at the line of ROI. I expect to see more things going digital in 2013. Digital distribution is the future. So, folks who are crying that Yuri is losing a magazine – no, it isn’t. It’s just not being printed on dead trees anymore.

I’ll be reviewing this shortly, but I wanted to mention Asagao to Kase-san, (あさがおと加瀬さん) from Hirari, is available. It’s a very cute little first-love story.

And, although I have never mentioned or reviwed it for my own reasons, Utakoi, (ウタカイ) one of the serialized novels from Comic Yuri Hime, is hitting shelves next month.

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That’s a wrap for this week!

Become a Yuri Network Correspondent by sending me any Yuri-related news you find. Emails go to anilesbocon01 at hotmail dot com. Not to the comments here, please, or they might be forgotten or missed. There’s a reason for this madness. This way I know you are a real human, not Anonymous (which I do not encourage – stand by your words with your name!) and I can send you a YNN correspondent’s badge.

Thanks to all of you – you make this a great Yuri Network!

Posted in Yuri Network News | 6 Comments »


Very Belated 10th anniversary Contest Results

December 14th, 2012

Last August Okazu turned 10. I announced a contest to celebrate. And then life slapped me down with one of those “hand of god” moments and it just (!) occurred to me that I never announced the results of that contest! I sincerely apologize for the delay.

Here are the list of winners for that long ago (probably forgotten) contest. Please contact me at anilesbocon01 at hotmail dot com with the subject “Anniversary Contest” and your mailing address and age (so I can send age appropriate prizes.)
Ashi
LilyEyes 
Atarun
Brian Ruh
Ashrie
Arkadi
Rachel, aka Bunny
Bruce McF
Lynn A
George R
Katherine Hanson
Andreas Larsson
Alice Crook
Mara
Julia
Ana  
Chris d.
Takamina
Lynn A.
Suzuka

Ayana Mudou

Okay, yes – you all win. (If I missed anyone who write in, email me anyway…) I may or may not be able to do any of the things you suggested, but I loved your suggestions! 
Given how long it took me to announce winners, it’s a safe bet I’m gonna take for*ever* to get prizes out, but if you all bear with me…they will get out. ^_^;;
Thank you all again for reading Okazu and congrats!
Posted in Contests | 7 Comments »


Rock it GiRL!! Manga, Volume 1 (ロケットガール)

December 13th, 2012

Suzuhara Kaname is playing guitar in the park, being ignored by passers-by when a cute girl walks up to her and tells her she sucks.

Thus begins Rock it Girl!! (ロケットガール) by Tanaka Minoru.
Kaname, we learn, has a genuine talent for songwriting and playing the guitar, but that talent has not brought her joy. In fact, if anything, it’s been the tool others have used to use her.

When she’s approached by a talent agency, it terrifies her that they want her for these talents. When she’s paired with veteran drummer hippie Hanako and deadpan bassist Katsura, it gives even her less confidence. But when she learns that vocals will be performed by the very same girl who told her she sucked, Seira, it’s understandable that she’s at the end of her rope.

Even more confusing is Seira’s drunken confession that she desperately WANTS to sing one of Kaname’s songs.

It’s all too much, and the pressure of their first gig absolutely breaks Kaname. She runs away and hides in her home, until the rest of the band shows up. Seira breaks the walls figuratively and literally to confront Kaname, who tells her she’s written her a song, ロケットガール. “Rock it, girl”? Seira asks. “Um, no…it’s Rocket Girl,” mumbles Kaname.

Tanaka’s art is drippy and I’ll be honest, I don’t actually like it, but it’s so goofy and silly that it helps temper the serious scenes and keeps from them being too depressing.

Rock, it GiRL is a little about surpassing expectations, it’s a bit about pursuing your dreams, it’s a bit about how cold reality is and it’s a bit of “oddball ensemble gets together and makes it work.”

On the good side, this story is continuing, so maybe we’ll get a chance to see Kaname and Seira’s relationship develop past the tsundere tsukkomi and mopey boke that they currently are.

Ratings:

Art – 5
Story – 6, but rising
Characters – same
Yuri – 2 but there is potential
Service – 0 I cannot even imagine a single way to view this manga salaciously

Overall – 6, but I hope to see that score go up with the next chapters.

Posted in Yuri Manga | 4 Comments »


Yuri Manga: Pure Yuri Anthology Hirari, Vol. 8 (ピュア百合アンソロジー ひらり)

December 11th, 2012

Let’s say I have a bowl of vanilla ice cream (schoolgirl Yuri) and I think vanilla ice cream is okay, but it’s not as exciting as it could be.

When you’re confronted with a bowl of plain ice cream (a flavor you think is okay, but not wow) what do you do to make it tastier? You cover it with sauce and and blend in exciting things like gummy bears and toffee. Pure Yuri Anthology Hirari, Vol. 8 (ピュア百合アンソロジー ひらり) is a bowl of vanilla ice cream.

So here’s the cover story by Hakamada Mera, in which Kikuka and Tsubaki become friends and maybe Tsubaki has a few internal monologue moments where she thinks that Kikuka is “pretty” or “interesting.” Pretty vanilla, right?

So then we add a little soy powder to the top of the vanilla in the continuation of “Kitsune-hime.” It’s an interesting taste, but a little dry.

No, what we want is something crazy – something really extra super yummy. How about caramel sauce, colored sprinkles and a LOT of whipped cream? Well, lucky you, because Morishima Akiko has you covered, in “Seijun Shoujo Paradigm.” Aoi comes to a real rich-girls’ school, all ready to be blown away by the ojou-sama in her class, so she’s a little disappointed when they turn out to be normal, Did I say normal? As they head up to the roof to do an AKB48 dance, you realize that you’ve landed in the sundaest story you’re gonna find in this mostly vanilla collection. ^_^

Sated as you are, you can peruse the rest of the stories and enjoy their different flavors:

Ballet and Yuri tastes like a blend-in of salted peanuts. Teacher/student Yuri tastes like bitter, bitter dark chocolate. Auri Hirao writing a Yuri story with actual Yuri tastes like finding a real vanilla bean in your vanilla ice cream. Grown up Yuri tastes like coffee liqueur over your the top. Each variation brings a different flavor or texture, even though the base is still vanilla. ^_^

Ratings:

Overall – Jim Dandy

Age check – how many of you think “big bowl of vanilla ice cream” and think “Moby Dick” (If you get the reference don’t give it away.)

Posted in Hirari, Yuri Manga | No Comments »


Yuri Manga: Fujiyuu Sekai (不自由セカイ)

December 9th, 2012

No no no no no no no.

That is the bulk of my reaction to Kodama Naoko’s Fujiyuu Sekai (不自由セカイ).

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Reo befriended Meiko back in high school when Meiko was not treated well by her classmates. Popular and attractive, Reo drew Meiko into society. Meiko joined the tennis club in order to be closer to Reo and, as a result, hurt her ankle during practice. One day not long after, Reo offered to walk Meiko home, but she refused because she was getting better. Reo went off and unknown to her, Meiko was attacked and raped.

Now, years later, Meiko is still making Reo pay for it.

Meiko refers to Reo as her slave, emotionally manipulates Reo and forces the other woman to run when she calls, keeping her from completing her coursework or having a life.

Into this tightly wound relationship comes one of Reo’s classmates, Hayase, who Meiko sees as a rival. Reo and Hayase get enough time together for Reo to draw some courage and tell Meiko that she will no longer be at her beck and call. When Reo tries to get in touch with Meiko, she finds that she no longer can.

Up to this point I was okay with the story, then it just went horribly wrong. Instead of Reo moving on, realizing that Hayase was awesome and the two of them getting together, Reo goes running back to Meiko…who tells her she was not answering the phone, because she was trying to be independent. The two of them kiss and live …what? Happily ever after? I doubt it.

Ladies – particularly if you’re younger and have not yet found someone you think might be “the one” – under no circumstances should you follow the lesson of this manga. Do not choose a broken, controlling lover over the empowering one. This is the wrong lesson. You deserve better than that. Don’t be Reo.

Ratings:

Art – 8 (I had high hopes)
Story – Could have been an 8, instead 5
Characters – Hayase – 8, everyone else 5
Yuri – 7
Service – 4

Overall – 5

It really could have been good, but it wasn’t.

Posted in Kodama Naoko, Yuri Manga | 11 Comments »