I have implemented my special Rumbling Hearts layout for the blog in anticipation of the release of volume 1 of the anime on Dec. 19. How long I’ll have this up, I’m not sure (whether it will be the entire month of December or only until when it is released, I haven’t decided yet).
I hope you like it!
Name: Chobits
Genre:: Comedy, Romance, Science Fiction
Tankoubon: 8
Serialized In: Young Magazine
Released: 2001 - 2002
Story & Art: CLAMP
Published By (Japan): Kodansha
Published By (US): TokyoPop
Story: 9/10 (x 3 = 27 pts)
Art: 10/10 (x 3 = 30 pts)
Gut Score: 10/10 (x 4 = 40 pts)
Total: 97/100 (97%)
Chobits was one of the first manga series that I completed, and I have to say that even to this day it is the best one I have completed. As with most of the manga series I have read, I watched the anime version first and loved it. However, however much I loved the anime, I like the manga even better.
Hideki Motosuwa is a student in a cram school who is living in an apartment in Tokyo after his parents booted him out of his house upon graduating high school. Hideki is trying to get into a college in Tokyo, but was rejected in his first attempt. He amazes over the human-looking computers called Persocoms, but is too poor to buy one himself. However, one day he stumbles over a female one left in the trash and takes it home and names her Chi.
This begins the laughs, drama…and mystery. What is Chi? Who made her? What is her purpose?
It also poses several philosophical questions such as what does it mean to be “alive”? What does it mean to feel emotions? Can a very complex computer program such as those that Chi runs really give her emotions?
The manga doesn’t necessarily tackle these questions head on or in depth, so its not really heavy philosophical reading, but the questions are posed in one way or another.
The manga has complete and satisfying story lines, tying up all it’s lose ends. The art is impressive, even for a CLAMP work, and the story is very thoughtful and thought-provoking. Unlike most other CLAMP works I have read or are reading, this one is geared more for teen or adult males instead of teen or pre-teen females, though Chobits could easily be enjoyed by females as well I think as the social commentary applies to both sexes, even if the protagonist in Chobits is male.
There is some mild female persocom nudity, but nothing that I’d describe as gratuitous, and some harsh language, including the two big words, but again, I wouldn’t describe it as gratuitous. TokyoPop rates Chobits OT (Older Teen Age 18+).
First Read: February - May 2006
Do I Own: Yes
Do I Recommend: Hell Yes
Articles about both the Rumbling Hearts anime and Kashimashi Manga Volume 1 appear in the December issue of NewTypeUSA (for those of you who haven’t gotten it yet, or don’t get it).
There is a short article describing Rumbling Hearts. The first episode is also featured on the DVD that comes with the magazine. If you want to see more clips, the first episode is available for streaming at the Rumbling Hearts web page (with episode 2 upcoming). Also, short clips of the first 5 episodes can be streamed under the episodes section there.
Meanwhile, NewTypeUSA featured the Kashimashi manga Volume 1 as it’s manga of the month.
Both got good reviews.
Oh yeah, and tomorrow I’ll be unveiling a new design just for the month of December in honor of the release of Rumbling Hearts (can you tell I like it)?
If you’re one that likes buying anime box sets, you’ll wet yourself this week (especially if you like thinpaks) as no fewer than four big series are releasing boxsets. Girls Bravo is coming out in a boxset while Elfen Lied, Planetes, and Please Twins! all come out in thinpak collections.
November 28, 2006
Case Closed - Volume 2.1
Elfen Lied - Collection
Girls Bravo - Box Set
Kyo Kara Maoh! - Volume 2.1
Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny - Volume 5
MoonPhase - Volume 2
Negima! - Volume 4
Ninja Nonsense - Volume 4
Planetes - Complete Collection
Please Twins! - Complete Collection
Speed Grapher - Volume 4
November 29, 2006
Bleach - Volume 1
Hikaru no Go - Volume 5
Naruto - Volume 6
November 28, 2006
Suzuka - Volume 2
XXXHolic - Volume 8
November 29, 2006
Berserk - Volume 14
November 30, 2006
Negima! Magister Negi Magi - Volume 12
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days - Volume 3
Name: Ai Yori Aoshi (Season 1), Ai Yori Aoshi ~Enishi~ (Season 2)
Genre:: Romance, Comedy, Harem
Episodes: 36 (24 in Season 1, 12 in Season 2)
Released: April 10, 2002 - September, 2002 (Season 1),
October 12, 2003 - December 28, 2003 (Season 2)
Based On: Ai Yori Aoshi manga by Kou Fumizuki
Director: Masami Shimoda
Produced By: J.C. Staff, Rondo Robe
US Distribution By: Pioneer/Geneon
Kaoru Hanabishi: Souichiro Hoshi
Aoi Sakuraba: Ayako Kawasumi
Miyabi Kagurazaki: Akiko Hiramatsu
Tina Foster: Satsuki Yukino
Taeko Minazuki: Kaori Mizuhashi
Mayu Miyuki: Sayaka Narita
Chika Minazuki: Halko Momoi
Takashi: Kazutoshi Hatano
Satou: Makoto Higo
Kaoru Hanabishi: Dave Lelyveld
Aoi Sakuraba: Michelle Ruff
Miyabi Kagurazaki: Lia Sargent
Tina Foster: Wendee Lee
Taeko Minazuki: Sue Beth Arden
Mayu Miyuki: Kirsty Pape
Chika Minazuki: Kari Wahlgren
Takashi: Lex Lang
Satou: Ron Allen
Animation: 8/10 (x 4 = 32 pts)
Story: 8/10 (x 4 = 32 pts)
Music: 9/10 (x 4 = 36 pts)
Coherency/Story Arc: 8/10 (x 2 = 16 pts)
English Dubs: 3/10 (x 1 = 3 pts)
Gut Score: 9/10 (x 5 = 45 pts)
Total: 164/200 (82%)
Ai Yori Aoshi is about Aoi Sakuraba, the daughter of the head of a rich conglomerate, and her secret fiance-to-be Karou Hanabishi. When the two were little, their marriage had been arranged given Aoi’s stature and the fact that Karou was himself the heir to another major conglomerate. However, Karou was only adopted, and after witnessing the treatment of his mother, especially after she died, Karou ran away from the Hanabishi clan to live on his own. This, in turn, nullified the arranged marriage, but Aoi was still determined to marry Karou. As a result, Aoi’s caretaker, Miyabi, arranges so that they can live together - sort of - but mandating that their relationship be kept secret.
Now, how the story sounds up until now, it sounds like it’s going to be a pretty serious and romance-heavy story. However, the story takes a turn when Karou runs into an old friend from America, Tina, at college and she starts staying at Aoi’s place due to having no other place to stay. Another friend, Taeko, soon joins them for much the same reason, and Ai Yori Aoshi starts moving into the harem genre. This series does have an air of romance and seriousness that hangs over the series, with several episodes dedicated to the serious romance aspects of the story more than the harem parts - something which have been largely absent from most other series classified as harem - but it is still mostly a comedy.
Of course, the set-up leads into quite a bit of the comedy, with other female characters frequently hitting on or otherwise trying to lure Karou into their clutches with Karou unable to tell them that he is simply unavailable. Of course, each of the characters having their own quirks that add to the craziness helps as always.
Other than having the more serious romance aspects maintained throughout the series, this series is better than most harem series in another way: while there is fan service, I’d consider it to be more tastefully done. Also, despite being a harem series, it is hardly mindless. The relationship of all the characters evolve over time, with each of the characters learning from all the other characters on how to make themselves better, at least in their eyes due to each of the characters primary strength, whether that’s honesty, being headstrong, determination, or skill and knowledge.
Such a series could easily fall into a mess of goop, but Ai Yori Aoshi is able to keep itself going strong despite being a rather complex story. Add good animation and pretty good music to the mix and you have a pretty good series. The only technical part of the series that I’d have to say I was greatly disappointed with were the English dubs. I’m pretty tolerant of English dubs and probably 85 to 90% of most shows I hear dubs I find the dubs to be pretty much acceptable. Ai Yori Aoshi, however, falls into the other 10 or 15%. Despite having experienced voice actors in virtually all the major rolls, nearly every single one of them flops. Perhaps its not surprising that the ADR Director for this series only has one other ADR Directing credit.
Overall, I think this is a series that most people will like. If you like harem, this still holds to that genre without going overboard, but there is material in this series to help feed those who like more romantic comedies as well.
First Watched: October - December 2005
Do I Own: Yes
Do I Recommend: Yes
Not exactly an active week this week…
November 21, 2006
Ergo Proxy - Volume 1
Inu Yasha - Volume 48
Pokemon - Season 1 Box Set
Rurouni Kenshin - Complete Collection
November 21, 2006
Case Closed - Volume 14
D.Gray-man - Volume 3
Fullmetal Alchemist - Volume 10
MÄR - Volume 10
Name: Cardcaptor Sakura - The Movie 2: The Sealed Card
Genre:: Fantasy, Adventure
Episodes: N/A
Released: July 15, 2000
Based On: Cardcaptor Sakura anime and manga series by CLAMP
Director: Morio Asaka
Produced By: Madhouse, Bandai Visual, Kodansha, Shochiku
US Distribution By: Pioneer/Geneon
Sakura Kinomoto: Sakura Tange
Shaoran Li: Motoko Kumai
Kero (little): Aya Hisakawa
Kerberos: Masaya Onosaka
Tomoyo Daidouji: Junko Iwao
Yukito Tsukishiro/Yue: Megumi Ogata
Toya Kinomoto: Tomokazu Seki
Meilin Li: Yukana Nogami
Nothing Card: Maaya Sakamoto
Naoko Yanagizawa: Emi Motoi
Takashi Yamazaki: Issei Miyazaki
Chiharu Mihara: Miwa Matsumoto
Rika Sasaki: Tomoko Kawakami
Fujitaka Kinomoto: Hideyuki Tanaka
Sonomi Daidouji: Miki Itou
Eriol Hiiragizawa: Nozomu Sasaki
Kaho Mizuki: Emi Shinohara
Sakura Kinomoto: Kari Wahlgren
Shaoran Li: Mona Marshall
Kero (little): Wendee Lee
Kerberos: David Lelyveld
Tomoyo Daidouji: Michelle Ruff
Yukito Tsukishiro/Yue: Steve Cannon
Toya Kinomoto: Robert Lloyd
Meilin Li: Julie Maddalena
Nothing Card: Lia Sargent
Naoko Yanagizawa: Roberta Kim
Takashi Yamazaki: Joshua Seth
Chiharu Mihara: Dorothy Elias-Fahn
Rika Sasaki: Stevie Bloch
Fujitaka Kinomoto: Michael McConnohie
Sonomi Daidouji: Wendee Lee
Eriol Hiiragizawa: Johnny Yong Bosch
Kaho Mizuki: Sue Beth Arden
Animation: 9/10 (x 4 = 36 pts)
Story: 9/10 (x 4 = 36 pts)
Music: 9/10 (x 4 = 36 pts)
Coherence/Story Arc: N/A
English Dubs: 7/10 (x 1 = 7 pts)
Gut Score: 9/10 (x 5 = 45 pts)
Total: 160/180 (88.9%)
Cardcaptor Sakura: The Sealed Card finally wraps up all the lose ends from the end of the TV series as we (sort of) find out the purpose of the final card that Sakura creates at the end and Sakura’s and Shaoran’s relationship finally comes to fruition. Shaoran and Meilin have come to Tomoeda to visit Sakura and to hang out during the town’s festival that is going on during the upcoming weekend. However, weird things start happening, such as Sakura losing some of her Sakura cards, and things disappearing. Soon Eriol calls Sakura up and tells her that she must defeat a new and more powerful menace than she’s ever faced before - a secret clow card which has broken through it’s seal now that all the other cards have been converted to Sakura Cards, and which contains negative energy equivalent to the power of all 52 clow cards and has the power to turn anything into “nothing.”
The existence of this card was held so secret that not even Keroberos or Yue know of it’s existence, and Eriol only becomes aware of it once it has broken it’s seal. The only way to seal it is to turn it into a Sakura Card as well - an action that will cost Sakura her most cherished feeling.
The Sealed Card definitely feels more like the series than the first movie, and it’s better for it. This movie is set in Tomoeda and Sakura actually uses her clow cards rather extensively this time around. I think it also balances the romance aspect between Sakura and Shaoran and the action in the movie rather well. There is quite a bit of comedy has Sakura tries to confess her feelings to Shaoran as well as the normal bad relation between Shaoran and Sakura’s brother Toya. There are some action sequences as well, especially at the end when the action gets rather intense.
The story blends all of these aspects together very well, making a coherent story which has enough comedy, romance, and action to please, but doesn’t overdo any of them. The only issue may be that prior knowledge of the franchise is recommended before watching this movie, or else you may be lost at first.
As is usual of Cardcaptor Sakura, the movie is highlighed by excellent animation and, as can be expected of a movie, is even richer than the TV series. The music, while mostly original, is still in the Cardcaptor Sakura style. This movie also comes with a different English dub from the Cardcaptors Nelvana adaptation and the first movie. This time around the dubs are much better, though not perfect, but the voice actresses voices do at least fit their characters this time.
In the end, The Sealed Card is a fitting send off for a series that was 3 years, 70 episodes, and 2 movies in the making. If you’re a fan of the Cardcaptor Sakura Series, you’ll definitely like this movie.
First Watched: September 2006
Do I Own: Yes
Do I Recommend: Yes
Name: Koi Kaze
Genre:: Drama, Romance
Episodes: 13
Released: April 1, 2004 - June 17, 2004
Based On: Koikaze manga by Motoi Yoshida
Director: Takahiro Omori
Produced By: Rondo Robe, TV Asahi
US Distribution By: Geneon
Koushirou Saeki: Kenta Miyake
Nanoka Kohinata: Yuuki Nakamura
Zensou Saeki: Ryouichi Tanaka
Kaname Chidori: Akemi Okamura
Kei Odagiri: Kousuke Okano
Ouko Tamaki: Risa Shimizu
Futaba Anzai: Satomi Akesaka
Koushirou Saeki: Patrick Seitz
Nanoka Kohinata: Stephanie Sheh (as Tiffany Hsieh)
Zensou Saeki: Doug Stone
Kaname Chidori: Michelle Ruff
Kei Odagiri: Liam O’Brien
Ouko Tamaki: Heather Klinke
Futaba Anzai: Tara Hudson
Animation: 8/10 (x 4 = 32 pts)
Story: 9/10 (x 4 = 36 pts)
Music: 10/10 (x 4 = 40 pts)
Coherency/Story Arc: 10/10 (x 2 = 20 pts)
English Dubs: 8/10 (x 1 = 8 pts)
Gut Score: 9/10 (x 5 = 45 pts)
Total: 181/200 (90.5%)
Koushirou seems to have hit the bottom in life. He still lives with his father at the age of 26, he was just dumped by his girlfriend who wonders ifKoushirou has ever “truly loved someone,” and he hates his job as a marriage counselor. Then one day, on his way to work Koushirou notices that a high school girl on the train he’s riding drops her train pass as she’s getting off the train, Koushirou runs after the girl to give her back her train pass. The next day, Koushirou runs into the girl again outside of a client’s office and gives the girl two tickets to a nearby amusement park that the client gave him. The girl wants Koushirou to go with her as thanks for helping her the morning before.
While riding the ferris wheel, the girls says that she’s been down after being turned down after asking a boy out, and even though the boy gave her a button off his school uniform at their middle school graduation, she wants to throw it out of the Ferris Wheel window if she could. This prompts Koushirou to ask how her love is so pure, and gets him to confess that he had just been dumped too, but that he wasn’t even sure he loved his girlfriend at all, so the girl should keep the button so she can remember her pure feelings. This exchange seems to seal Koushirou’s and the girl’s feelings for each other.
When leaving the amusement park, the two are about to go separate ways when Koushirou’s father runs up, and both Koushirou and the girl have the same response: “hello father.” Koushirou realizes that the girl is actually his younger sister, Nanoka, who is coming to live with he and their father so that she can be closer to her high school. The rest of the series is spent, mostly from Koushirou’s point of view, but also quite a bit from Nanoka’s point of view, as they both struggle with their feelings for each other even though they’re siblings.
This is one of the few anime series that is largely geared for an older audience. While there are a few comical moments, the series is a drama and has a serious atmosphere. The series tries to tackle the question of whether there is any type of love which is wrong. The series allows the viewer to make up their own decision, spending it’s time showing Koushirou and Nanoka’s relationship dispassionately without passing judgement on it.
The animation is mixed, with fantastic character designs but with background art that goes for a more washed out than detailed look, though I think it does fit the overall atmosphere of the show. The music, while rather subdued, is fantastic, and the music is also used very well - both when it is played and when it isn’t played. The dub is also pretty good.
Obviously the subject matter that is being dealt with may drive away some viewers, if one can get past that or don’t mind it, then I think this is a series that can stick to you.
First Watched: September 2005
Do I Own: Yes
Do I Recommend: Yes
