Yuri News this Week – November 8, 2008

November 8th, 2008

Yuri Anime

Forgot to mention this previously, but the Lyrical Nahoha A’s season boxset pre-order is available for an early 2009 release.

A new ero-fan book has been annouced for the series Ikkitousen. LFs of both genders can marvel at the fact that the female characters of Ikkitousen have genitalia and secondary sexual characteristics, creatively (not realistically) rendered by people who have never actually seen a woman naked. Go fans.

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Live Action

Osama Tezuka’s MW is being made into a live-action movie. It’s clear from the trailer that the creepy remains intact, but whether the relationship between the two male leads will be kept is yet to be revealed (based on the movie description, they’ve taken out the fact that the priest and the kid are lovers.) The chances of getting even a cameo for the one stable, normal, and completely emotionally healthy character in the book – the lesbian newspaper editor – is unlikely, but we can hope. Because her insertion in the story as everything is going to hell was not at all capricious, and sends a powerful message.

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Snatches of Yuri

In the interest of mentioning novels none of us will ever read, Kanjou Kyouiku seems to be more of the same high school love stuff, taking place in a slightly fantasy school setting. In fact, the synopsis made it sound just like the movie Teresa and Isabel (which, if you have not watched, you should. It’s quite nice.) The love is real, but not “real,” I’m betting.

And speaking of fantasy schools, Youkai Gakuenki is about – you guessed it. Girls at a fantasy school. Looks way too moe for me, but the Yuri blog boys in Japan give it top ratings for Yuri. So…expect service. Looks like you’ll like it if you like the whole animal-eared girl thing.

Sugar ha Otoshigoro – instead of moe animal ears, you’re back in the huge breast fetish world. Although I’m prepared to bet that it’s all still schoolgirls. Oh look at that, it is.

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Okay, that’s enough today. I’m schoolgirled out. When I get home tonight, I’ll have the newest issue of Gunjou so I can stop thinking about “pure” and “innocent” (blecch) love during school years and think about horribly broken, violent adults instead. Phew.

Posted in Nanoha, Yuri Network News | 3 Comments »


Yuri Manga: Maka-Maka, Volume 1 (English)

November 6th, 2008

I’ve said it before and I’m saying it more these days – “Yuri” stories can be defined as having lesbian content without lesbian identity. Maka-Maka, Volume 1 is pretty much a perfect example of this. There is undoubtedly lesbian content, but it is also made very *very* clear that these two women are not lesbian in any way. Nor are they bi. They are two straight women who happen to enjoy sex with one another. That’s it. Just, “friends with benefits.”

I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed the first volume of this, since it’s been four years since I first reviewed it in Japanese. Each chapter is a simple “Plot, what plot?” type fanfic. “Nene and Jun get naked,” “Nene and Jun feel each other up in the CD store,” “Nene and Jun have sex for some other reason that really doesn’t matter much.” There’s a little character development, and it becomes increasingly clear that the two actually, honestly do care for one another, as the book goes on. But…no, they aren’t a couple. In fact, they are both seeing guys who, we are told repeatedly, pretty much suck as lovers. (I will refrain from making a snarky remark here. Insert one that satisfies your own levels of paranoia about your abilities as a lover.)

The reproduction is stellar. Kitty Media, the adult imprint of Media Blasters, did a fantastic job of bringing this book over here. There’s honestly nothing to complain about. The dual cover, the fold out two-sided poster, the undercover gags, all remain intact. The translation feels right. Nene and June aren’t made to sound “Omg! Rad!” as some feared. They sound like women in college, who have different personalities and issues.

While I’m praising Kitty – and in the interest of disclaimers that might point to bias and or open corruption ^_^ – let me once again thank Frank, who not only shepherded this book so beautifully into English, he gave me the first copies of both volumes off the press. They really do look lovely. Nice job, everyone.

Ratings:
Art – 8
Characters – 9
Story – 9
Yuri – 9
Service – 9

Overall – 9

As a tale of two adult women who find comfort in each other’s company, and pleasure in sex with each other, Maka-Maka is a realistic, entertaining “adult” manga.

This would make a great gift for someone looking for something with adult content that isn’t squicky, loli or fetishy.

Posted in English Manga, Maka-Maka | 13 Comments »


Aria Anime, Volume 1 (English)

November 4th, 2008

Welcome to the world of Aqua. As the Earth (now know as Manhome) becomes overrun with technology, and barran of life, humankind has spread out onto a terraformed Mars, transforming it into a preserve of culture and life from Earth’s past.

Venice is no longer, but Neo-Venezia stands ready, with beautiful girls taking the place of burly male gondoliers. For one journeyman gondoliera, life is a slow, gentle passage through days of wonder, beauty and friends.

This is the plot, such as it is, of Aria.

Nothing happens, as every reviewer ever has noticed, but it doesn’t happen so lightly, so gently and with such lovely scenery that it’s not like we feel the need to rush. A cup of coffee, maybe an almond pastry and a volume of Aria will do for the afternoon.

In Volume 1, we meet our protagonist Akari of Aria Company and watch as she befriends (in a totally non-Nanoha way) her peer and rival, Himeya’s heir Aika, their mentors, two of the most famed undine of Neo-Venezia, Alicia and Akira, and a young, genius apprentice, Alice. Along with this crowd we meet some of the other people in Akari’s neighborhood, the people she meets each day. And while I am being slightly silly likening this cast to the puppets of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood the feeling of gentle fantasy isn’t all that ridiculously different.

As with all their work, this English subtitled edition from Right Stuf is top notch. The video extra follows the crew around Venice as they tour the world they are recreating. I have never been to Venice, so it was nice to see that some of the more whimsical locations are, in fact, completely real. But this volume does not stay still in one place. We follow Akari as she learns about some of the history of the Aqua planet, and we see that although Venice maybe recreated here, it is not without its own stories of love and loss apart from those of the city that we’re familiar with.

Yuri in Volume 1 is largely in the form of Aika’s crush on Alicia, and my own completely-made-up-with-the-help-of-Yuri-goggles relationship between Akira and Alicia. Yes, I know it’s not real. I don’t care. lol I said it before and I’ll say it again, definitely worth watching. No mecha, no rape, no “Story A,” just nice.

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 8
Characters – 7
Yuri – 3
Service – 1

Overall – 8

My deep, abiding thanks today goes out to Dan P. (We’ll call him “Super Dan” from now on) for sponsoring today’s and so many other day’s reviews. For your support, your kindness, your generosity and your emails that make me laugh, thank you Dan for being an Okazu superhero! To become an Okazu superhero just visit my Yuri Wishlist and purchase anything on it. You’ll gain instant recognition as a hero and the eternal appreciation of the Okazu audience.

Posted in Aria, English Anime | 6 Comments »


Vote.

November 4th, 2008

This is a message to my US readers. I won’t be the only blogger asking you to go out today and vote.

For years I have been saying that Yuri doesn’t really equal G/L/B/T/I, and many fans of Yuri and Yaoi are not actually supporters of gay rights. But many of you are, and if *you* don’t get out there and make your voice heard, then we are in for another 4 years of repression, fear and crushing economic and social policies.

Please, get out today and vote.

Posted in Miscellaneous | 9 Comments »


Nemurubaka Manga (ネムルバカ ), Volume 1

November 3rd, 2008

Kujirai Ruka, the lead singer for the band Peat Moth, is living at college with her kouhai Irisu Yumi. They are the typical Odd Couple-style pair, the stars of Nemurubaka. Ruka is vulgar, sloppy, yet obviously talented. Yumi is neat, organized and takes care of Ruka.

Peat Moth is on the rise with their newest tune, “Nemurubaka.” The tune is catchy and the lyrics are strange, but kind of charming. Yumi likes to see Ruka perform at live houses.

And Yumi is very surprised and disconcerted to find that the source of the catchy tune and strange lyrics of “Nemurubaka” is herself. Apparently, she sings in her sleep. Thus, the song’s name, “sleeping idiot.”

The first half of this volume covers a few “day in the life” chapters of Yumi and Ruka’s life and their symbiotic, and affectionate, relationship.

But. (Of course there is a “but.” Without “but” there would be no plot.)

A music producer approaches Ruka and says that he’s interested in her – but only her. She’d have to leave her band behind if she wants the contract.

Surprisingly, Ruka takes the contract. She packs up her stuff and leaves both Yumi and Peat Moth behind. She’s repurposed as “Girl A” and her tagline becomes “Who is Girl A?”

Yumi can’t help but see the advertising barrage and she also wonders who “Girl A” is, since she’s clearly no longer the Ruka she cared about. When a ticket to Ruka’s concert arrives in the mail, she decides to go and see what has become of her sempai. As the concert progresses, Yumi thinks that she liked the old live house shows better. She begins to scream “Sempai” to get Ruka’s attention, but can’t be heard over the crowd noise. But Ruka sees her. She finishes her set and gets ready to do an encore. Leaving band and back up singers behind, Ruka announces that her name is Kujirai Ruka and the writer of the song is Peat Moth and Irisu Yumi, then breaks into a solo version of “Nemurubaka.”

Finally, Yumi’s voice reaches Ruka and they lock eyes. Ruka finishes the song and runs off the stage and out of the theater into the night.

Back in the dorm, Yumi is now a sempai to a new kouhai, who finds the Peat Moth CD in the room. The kouhai asks if she can play it, but Yumi says no.

There is no Yuri in this story, as you can see. But for a deep friendship – the kind that surpasses words – and genuine affection between two women, I haven’t read too much better than this recently.

Ratings:

Art – 6
Characters – 8
Story – 8
Yuri – 1 Shinyuu – 9
Service – 1 (Ruka gets a solid ass grab on Yumi at some point)

Overall – 8

Aria may be nice, but I guess I’m hankering for a bit of realism in my slice-of-life these days. First Octave and now this. Stories of grownup idols…hmm…sounds vaguely familiar. ;-)

Posted in Miscellaneous | 2 Comments »