Magic Knight Rayearth Anime Second Season, Disks 5 & 6 (English)

April 22nd, 2012

As I suspected, neither of the two plotlines that were the entirety of the end of the Second Season Complete Box Set of Magic Knight Rayearth, were enough to hold my attention.

At least twice, I thought “Surely we must be past Hikaru’s self-confidence issues (i.e., Nova)?” But no, both times we’re dragged back to re-re-re-re-face the darkness in her heart. And the last of the plotlines was resolved in the only way that made any sense, really, from the very beginning.

For the rest, the girls befriend enemies and land, once again, back at Tokyo Tower, probably incapable of ever really returning to a normal life. Sure, “will” can help us overcome difficulties in our world, but they’ve been trained to associate “will” with whipping out a weapon and fighting. That’s going to be awkward next time they get in an argument in school. Just kidding – they’ve all proven repeatedly that they can fight with their brains and hearts, as well. Still…you can’t tell me Umi won’t reget not being able to kick someone’s butt every once in a while. ^_^

I felt generally unsatisfied with the ending. Mostly because it took three disks too long to arrive. Most of the final two disks were fluff, while they put the end of the story off. I was watching only an episode or two at a time, and it just felt too delayed, much like the final episodes of Sailor Moon Stars…we *know* what’s gonna happen and we get that we have to get through certain things, but…3 episodes of recaps on two episodes of action…ugh.

Ratings:

Art – 6
Story – 3
Characters – 6
Yuri – 4
LoserFanBoy – 4

Overall – 5

The second season was just not as satisfying as the first season – too loosely plotted, not enough content for its length. And Nova will forever remain in my mind as a total bore. She also kills the family-friendliness of the series, to no real end. She could have been just as annoying without boob-grabbing. Sigh.

Posted in English Anime | 3 Comments »


Yuri Network News – April 21, 2012

April 21st, 2012

Yuri Manga

 Big news, from Comic High magazine, Morinaga Milk-sensei will be launching a new Yuri manga titled Gakuen Porichi. (学園ポリーチェ) “It’s Yuri, it’s School, it’s Police!” says the short write-up on the Comic High website.

The Mawaru Penguindrum Fabulous Anthology (輪るピングドラム　ファビュラス・アンソロジー) has pages filled with names you’ve come to know and love, like Morishima Akiko, Sakamoto Mano, Hoshino Lily (the very same Hoshino Lily who did the fabulous still art for the series) and others.

ALC Publishing has just wrapped up the the (grueling!) work of translating, adapting and editing Kimi no Tame nara Shineru – and threw in an essay to provide context for those of you not familiar with Heian Japan, for good measure. I’m going to say something about this series I *never* say about a 4-koma…it’s laugh-out-loud funny. Erin did a stellar translation job and even the letterer is throwing himself into this one with vigor! When it’s released on JManga, I hope you’ll purchase it, because this may well be the most amazing translation job *ever*. ^_^

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Yuri Event

Next weekend, April 29, I will be doing the first-ever live online Yuri panel. I’ve done my best to come up with a time that is most accessible globally. Check out the details of the event on Yuricon and send in your questions or come to the event with a question or two. I hope to see you there.

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Yuri Games

Michael H wanted to let you all know that Magical Diary, an indie game from Hanako Games, has some Yuri in it! He says “The female protagonist has a grand total of 5 potential love interests in the game and two of those are female. Therefore I think it would be relevant to Yuri fans.  I found the Virginia romance path in particular to be especially interesting.” He also thinks the writing is quite good, especially for an indie game.

YNN Correspondent Mara has been following the progress of the Yaneura no Yuri Rei game and notes that it now has shipped. (He also points out that two of the artists he follows on Deviantart are working on a Yuri webcomic called Picture This.)

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 Other News

Maria-sama ga Miteru ~ Farewell Bouquet (マリア様がみてる フェアウェル ブーケ) is now up for pre-order, and will be hitting shelves next week.

Either wall space is at a premium or people are far, far more delusional that we previously presumed, because waterproof Yuru Yuri and K-ON! posters are available in Japan, so you can stick them up in your bathroom.

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That wraps it up 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.

 

Posted in K-ON, Yuri Network News | 4 Comments »


Yuri Manga: Pie wo Agemasho, Anata ni Pai wo ne (パイをあげましょ、あなたにぱいをね)

April 20th, 2012

Sakamoto Mano’s collection of stories that ran in Comic Yuri Hime, Pie wo Agemassho, Anata ni Pie wo ne (パイをあげましょ、あなたにパイをね) has no unifying theme besides “Women who love women.” But, there is an essence in several of these stories about perspective; that is, women who have a unique perspective are often lovable, even if they annoy the hell out of you. ^_^

In “My Unique Day”, Sorako falls for the star of her acting troupe and is a little surprised, but not displeased, to find that Miki likes her too. But Miki feels like she’s pushed Sorako too fast and distances herself. Will they patch it up and get together? Of course they will. ^-^

In the title story, Midori thinks there’s no reason at all that one can’t have a millefeuille for a wedding cake, even when her best friend Yuki scoffs, “It’s called a wedding cake, not a wedding pie.” Midori’s wacky take annoys the heck out of Yuki, but there they are, sharing a millefeuille, together.

In “Suwako-san Uchyuu Ryouko” Mikage falls for and has an affair with married woman Suwako-san and would like to take her away on a trip to the stars.

And finally, a lovely little story about two teen idols and what becomes of them years later.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story  – Average 7
Characters – Average 8
Yuri – 10
Service – 1

Overall – 8

A solid Josei collection of Yuri stories about women, rather than school girls. I’d like to make a “pie” joke just about now, but there’s no way it isn’t going to come out filthy, so I’ll pass. ^_^

Posted in Yuri Manga | 3 Comments »


We Don’t Need No Stinking Publishers!

April 17th, 2012

This is a real conversation I had with someone recently:

Them: Why do we need publishers? We can publish without them!

Me: Who will license the book?

Them: Well, of course someone has to do that.

Me: And who will translate it?

Them: We have a translator.

Me: And don’t forget, you need a letterer and editor and layout person.

Them: Right, we can do that, too.

Me: And someone to manage the project so it makes deadlines and has quality control.

Them: Of course!

Me: And don’t forget someone to line up distribution, and you’ll need someone to do marketing.

Them: Right, yes.

Me: And, when you get all that together, you know what they call that?

Them: ….

Me: Congrats on recreating the concept of the publishing company from scratch. ^_^

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To their credit, they got the point and were very gracious about it.

Posted in Now This Is Only My Opinion, Publishing Manga | 3 Comments »


Yuri Manga: Sasamekikoto, (ささめきこと) Volume 9

April 16th, 2012

Just about a year ago, I reviewed Octave, Volume 6. It was the final volume and of it I said, “Octave is the story I have always wanted to read.”

I say this once again, this time about Sasamekikoto, Volume 9 (ささめきこと).

The series began as a comedy, a ramshackle combination of Yuri tropes, all played for laughs and a little bittersweet drama. Slowly, but surely, it became a real story, a story that hits right in the heart of what lesbian Yuri readers want to see. What we want to see is not always about “coming out,” it’s about “becoming whole.”

And here, in the final volume, Sumi and Ushio become whole. It was a remarkable, fantastic, magnificent ending. I did not expect an ending of this caliber – I never even hoped for it. I would have been content with a “happily ever after” where we see Ushio and Sumika walk off, without having yet faced their community, their friends and their family, and we all pretend it will be all right.

I didn’t get that ending at all. Instead, miraculously, I got an ending where Ushio and Sumi face their community, their friends and their family head on and tell them that they are lovers. Good heavens, really? And still – it was funny. It was still a comedy, less bittersweet than we ever could have imagined. This is the decade Yuri has changed, irrevocably. This is the decade where Yuri becomes “any manga, anime (or related media) that shows intense emotional connection, romantic love or physical desire between women.” Just like we wanted.

I am flabbergasted. I rejoice. I celebrate.

Congratulations Sumi and Ushio – we love you.

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

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Ratings:

Art – 9
Story – 10
Characters – 10
Yuri – 10
Service – 1

Overall – 10

I can already see that 2012’s #1 slot for Yuri Manga is going to be a tough race. Awesome. ^_^

What a great ending.

Posted in Ikeda Takashi, Sasamekikoto, Yuri Manga | 11 Comments »