Love Hina News

Super Duper Mini Review

Nagasarete Airantou (Cast Away... Airan Island when translated) is an anime adaption of the on-going manga, which was created by Takeshi Fujishiro.  The anime was produced by Feel and Starchild and directed by Hideki Okamoto.  There are 26 episodes.
 

Show Info

Genres: comedy, romance
Themes: harem
 
Plot Summary via Wikipedia:
 

Nagasarete Airantou revolves around Ikuto Tōhōin, the main protagonist, who ran away from home because of a fight with his father. Due to a life-long dream of wanting to board a ship, Ikuto decides to take a vacation on a cruise ship; the ship is suddenly hit by a huge storm, throwing Ikuto overboard. He wakes up the next day to discover he is on an uncharted island populated by girls. Ikuto finds himself to be extremely popular on the island, due to the fact that no other men currently live there. As a result, nearly the entire island starts pressuring Ikuto to become their husband — all except a young girl named Suzu and her extremely old grandmother. Suzu's grandmother decides that Ikuto will live with Suzu for the time being, but Ikuto initially finds it difficult to adjust, especially with the entire island population after him night and day. Meanwhile, Suzu does her best to protect Ikuto from the masses. However, Ikuto still does not want to stay on the island, and soon after arriving, he attempts to leave by boat, but discovers the island is completely surrounded by whirlpools and tornadoes, eliminating escape by sea or air, thus impossible to leave. With no other choice, Ikuto starts to settle into life on the island.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• A wacky cast of entertaining characters.
• The goofy/wacky sense of humor was fun.
• Enjoyed the not-so serious tone of the show.

 
Cons:

• No real plot development.
  

 

Final Thoughts

It was a fun, lighthearted, goofy, and entertaining harem show.  It may not had any plot development, but that didn't ruin it for me.  I don't mind episodic shows.  All in all, it was a fun watch.
 

Who is this for?

If you are a fan of the harem genre, I say give it a shot and see what you think.  Just don't take it too seriously.

Sources *CONTAINS SPOILERS*

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagasarete_airantou  
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=7303 
 


 

THE END

Don't forget to check out my ongoing blog for my Super Duper Mini Reviews and my written reviews.            :) 
 

Q: What's a Super Duper Mini Review?
A: Well, since I'm done with long, written reviews for now, I decided to put a short list of what I liked and didn't like about the shows I watch.  For some info about the show like genre, plot summary, etc., I borrow (mainly copy and paste  :P) some info from Anime News Network, Wikipedia or the Anime Vice wiki.  So people wont think I'm plagiarizing, I do post sources.
 
Q:  Why are these blogs so short and half assed?
A:  Well, I want to put in as little effort as possible.  Why?  Cause I'm lazy.
 
Q:  Do you care if people don't read these?
A:  Kinda.  One of the main things that keeps me making these things is so I can spread the word of shows/mangas that people aren't aware of.
 
Q: Sometimes there a few or no cons, does that mean the show is perfect?
A: No.  Usually when I make these, I like to highlight the things I liked more then the negatives.  I'm one of those people who enjoys just about anything as long as it's entertaining.  I can easily look past a show's faults if I find enjoyment from it.  Remember, nothing is perfect.

Super Duper Mini Review

  Mahoraba ~Heartful days~ is an anime adaptaion of the manga, which was created by Akira Kojima.  The show was produced by J. C. Staff and directed by Shinichiro Kimura.  The show consists of 26 episodes.
 

Genres:

comedy, romance, slice of life
 

Plot Summary from Wikipedia

Shiratori Ryushi wants to become a children picture book writer, and he moves to an apartment, Narutaki-Sou (Narutaki Villa), in order to go to an art school in Tokyo. Narutaki-Sou is an old Japanese style one-story house which doesn't fit in urban scenery. The complex is owned by his mother's cousin and the manager of the apartment is his second cousin, Aoba Kozue. They met each other when they were children, although Shiratori doesn't remember much of it. Kozue is in the second grade of a high school attached to Aoba Junior College.

There are seven residents of Narutaki-Sou. The first, Chanohata Tamami, lives in room #1 and she is Kozue's childhood friend and best friend. Shiratori Ryushi, the main character of the series, resides in room #2. In room #3 resides Momono Megumi, a person who goes her own way in life. Kurosaki Sayoko and her daughter Asami, who is in the first grade of middle school, live in room #5. Finally, in room #6, Haibara Yukio lives with his puppet Johnny.

Narutaki-Sou is filled with characteristic and eccentric people. However, the most eccentric person is Kozue herself. She has a secret of which even she does not know; when she is shocked at something, her personality changes. Not knowing this, Ryushi moves to Narutaki-Sou to realize his dream.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• A wide variety of enjoyable characters.  From kind girls with multiple personalities, ocult lovers, drunks, womanizers, really lazy, to ventriloquists, they are all entertaining.
• A very cute, colorful, and charming art style.
• Loved the crayon story scenes shown through out the show.
• Enjoyed the zany humor.
  
• Loved the 4-panel comics in each episode.  They totally don't need to be there, but they are and they are enjoyable.
  

Cons:

•  The animation quality can be bad at times.

 

Who is this for?

If you are a fan of lighthearted romantic comedies with a splash of slice of life like Love Hina or Hayate the Combat Butler, definitely check this one out.
 

Sources *SPOILERS*

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahoraba
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=4631

 
 
 
 

MANGA REVIEW *Added on October 26, 2010*

Just finished reading the manga of Mahoraba.  Without making this lengthy, I will keep it short.
 
The manga was a great read and totally worth it.  The manga was funny, heartwarming, sad, entertaining, and just plain fun.  Most of the anime episodes were taken from the manga.  Not 100% accurate, but they got the picture just right.  The manga is funnier more serious, and more entertaing then the anime.  I guess it's kinda hard to make a shonen romcom be serious at times since most of the time the humor is just crazy and over the top, but who cares, that's what makes shonen romcoms great.
 
It's a real shame that this and the anime adaptation hasn't been licensed by anyone outside of Japan.  Many fans of the genre are going to miss out on this great series because of that.
 
If you are a fan of the romcom genre, this is definitely worth reading.  If you have watched the anime and you liked it, you have to read this.
 
If you enjoyed shows like Love Hina, Hayate the Combat Butler, or similar shows, then this is worth checking out.

 
 

 
 

Don't forget to check out my ongoing blog for my Super Duper Mini Reviews and my written reviews.            :) 

What's a Super Duper Mini Review? Well, since I'm taking a break from written reviews, I decided to put a short list of what I liked and didn't like about the shows I watch.  For some info about the show like genre, plot summary, etc., I borrow (mainly copy and paste  :P) some info from Anime News Network, Wikipedia or the Anime Vice wiki.

These past few weeks have been weird. If there is one good thing about having all this free time is that, I’ve started to slow down in my thinking, meaning I can stop and mentally review the entertainment I consume be that Games, Anime, Film or Music. I hope that means I will be able to write more reviews in general because I find it to be a fun but sadly time-consuming process. But enough with this boring self-reflection, It is time to use this blog for it's intended purpose. Gratuitous self-promotion! 

Reviews

 So far, I have written two Anime reviews in two weeks hopefully I will be able to keep this one-a-week schedule going. The first review was for Gunslinger Girl episode 1: Fratello. I really liked the Art in the show, people have this realistic nature that you just don’t get in Anime that much. What I really like about the show however is how little everyone speaks when compared to most Anime. It gives a sense that everyone is in deep thought and what people do say has been painstakingly thought out beforehand.   

The second review I wrote was for Kanokon episode 1. This is one of the most out of there shows I have ever seen, this blows Space Trains the anime out of the water in it’s craziness. The one thing I find really weird about the show, well other than;

• Fox-girl.
• Hole in roof no one acknowledges.
• How Kouta can look and be the size of a 7-year-old.

Is how the show feels like it starts halfway through another series. There is no mention so far of how Kouta met Fox-girl, no mention to why he is living there. It is like the show decided to throw you in the deep end.
I really hope that I can stay focused enougth for me to review each episode of both Gunslinger Girl and Kanokon, hey it might end up being fun.
On a non-review note I'm still on my quest tofind a second Manga series to start reading, I've been thinking maybe Yotsuba&! or I could go a safe route and start with Love Hina a series that I love in Anime form. I'm also still watching Heroman on crunchyroll and finding it surprisingly good, I just hope that the show doesn't become a one threat series.

T'other Stuff

 The Bioshock Infinite gameplay trailer/demo came out and as a person who believes this was the highlight of the whole first Bioshock, I can say I'm already optimistic about Infinite. In fact the Infinite demo/trailer made me realise what I like from my drawn ladies. You see Elizabeth’s eyes while also being very large are also very long with thick border-like eyelashes, I compared this to the work of my favourite Comic Artist Josh Howard. He uses the effect of large Irises and Pupils in these wide eyes that aren’t overly large. This combined with a thick outline to the eyes that act as eyelashes causes my sight to be drawn to them.

Plot Summary: Keitaro Urashima is determined to be accepted into Tokyo University, the hardest Japanese University of all to get into, because of a promise he made to a girl when he was young... a girl whose name he can't even remember. After failing to get into Tokyo U twice, he is kicked out by his parents and goes to live with his Grandmother at her hotel, but it seems it has been turned into an all girls boarding house. What's more, much to his surprise and to the tenants disgust, Keitaro is made manager of the boarding house.       (From ANN)
 
EDITED ON OCTOBER 28, 2009.  Added manga review at the bottom.
 
Love Hina is the kind of show that I needed to watch.  While it's a harem show, it's very goofy and entertaining all at the same time.  During the course of the show, Keitaro is trying to get into Tokyo U, the hardest college to get into to.  While trying to get in, he becomes the manager of a girls dormitory.  While there, he finds out that Naru Narusegawa (a girl at the dorm) is also trying to get in to Tokyo U as well.  While Keitaro is trying to get in to keep his promise to the girl he met 15 years ago, he starts falling in love with Naru and wants to go to Tokyo U with here.  While that happens, you meet the cast of the show.  Mitsune Konno, a free lance writer and a close friend to Naru.  Kaolla Su, a foriegn exchange student who is really energetic and makes lots of crazy inventions.  Motoko Aoyama, a swordsman who doesn't like men what so ever (at first).  And not to forget Shinobu Maehara, a very shy girl who has a crush on Keitaro.
 
Overall, the show was very entertaining.  It has many goofy moments like when Naru punches Keitaro 1,000 feet away (reminds me of Team Rocket blasting off).  The story isn't to hard to follow either, which is a good thing but, it does have some plot holes.  I didn't know that Mitsune was a freelance writer until I like up her page here on Anime Vice.  It would probably help if I read the manga to get to know the characters a bit more.
 
The star of the show for me was Keitaro easily.  While he isn't the brightest guy in the world, he sure is one goofy dude.  He is always making goofy faces, being clumsy, walking into the girls bath and getting punched by Naru.  Plus, he is the manager of a girls dorm.  What a lucky bastard.  :P  If it wasn't for him, I don't think I would have gotten into this show at all.
 
Love Hina was a very funny and goofy harem show.  While the goofiness might be a bit much for some, I really like the show.  All the characters were enjoyable, the story was easy to understand, and it had just the right amount of the episodes to the series.  It had 24 episodes. 1 DVD extra episode, 2 TV specials, and 3 OVAs.  If you are into harem shows (like I am), this is a must see.
 
My Score - 4/5       (I always give out 4s.  :P  )
 

EDITED ON OCTOBER 28, 2009

Love Hina Manga Review:
 
After I finished up watching the anime of Love Hina, I decided to read the manga for it since I wanted more and, I'm glad that I did.  I was really surprised how much the anime actually covered about the manga.  A lot of the key points were in the anime but, a lot of missed as well.  Anyways, the manga was a lot better then I thought it was going to be.  I haven't read that much manga in my life: Ai Yori Aoshi, School Days, Naruto (just Part 2 aka Shippuden), and this, that's it.  Mainly the goofy stuff you seen in the anime is in the manga as well.  Keitaro always get punched 50 feet away, goofy dialog, some battles (Keitaro actually beats Motoko once), and other goofy stuff as well.  I also like that the manga had closure.  Keitaro and Naru end up getting married in the final chapter of the manga.
 
Now for some complaints.  While Keitaro getting punched 50 feet in the air is funny, it happens a bunch.  When Keitaro does something perverted and/or wrong, he gets attacked and you kinda predict it.  Same goes the last chapter.  Keitaro and Naru are going to go on their honey moon and while they are going to Keitaro's van, he steps on Naru's wedding dress and guess wait, he gets punched, well it doesn't show him getting punched but you see it coming.  Another complaint is that it seems like a lot of the time Keitaro (and Naru as well) runs away because something bad happened and everyone ends up trying to look for him.  I believe it happened about 4 to 6 times I think (or maybe less).  But, at least some good stuff happens during those moments.
 
All I can say is, if you loved the anime (like I did), you have to check out the manga.  I recommend this manga to anyone who is looking for a fun, goofy harem story.
 
My Score for the Manga - 4.5/5

With the news Gia reported that Naruto Shippuuden is getting on the air finally (and not on that big network we all thought it would be) on a Disney channel no less. Disney XD is targeted towards the younger male crowd and this will really hit that demographic. During my days of slaving away for Gamestop I got quite a few inquiries for the Naruto games, and they were (9 times out of 10) from boys (under 16 usually). While it has been a while since those kids have been able to get their Naruto fix since it stopped airing on Cartoon Network (and the closing of the Toonami brand) they will finally get their fix again.

I know what the hardcore otaku is thinking, that this is REALLY BAD. I can hear you screaming on forums and on Twitter, but this is a good thing, I promise you. Being a little bit older now, I can look back on how I got into anime and see this as possibly ushering in the next generation of anime fans. More anime fans (hopefully) means more money for the production companies which means for anime for everyone right? That's what my hope is here from this. When I was in middle school I can remember coming home and rushing over to a friends house to make sure to catch the Cell Saga in Dragon Ball Z on Cartoon Network. I think a lot of the otaku of my generation got their start with Toonami/Cartoon Network and around the same time I did. Granted that didn't spring me immediately into hardcore otaku-dom but it set that seed that led me to check out Love Hina with a friend and then that lead to attending Anime-Expo and becoming engrossed in the culture.

Of course there will be quality concerns, Viz is doing the dubbing which has been tolerable so far (personally Naruto's English voice is just grinding) and there will be cuts for violence, blood and boobs; but this is all par for the course for anime on U.S. television. Yes, it's a bad thing for the hardcore otaku who wants the purest experience possible, but we're at a place now where there are options. The DVDs are already rolling out from Viz and uncut, along with free streaming on sites like Hulu and Crunchyroll with English subtitles.

No matter your take on Naruto, try to take a positive outlook on this turn of events (where we've had quite a bit of negativity in the industry the past year). Think back to when you got into anime and didn't know any better that you were not getting the naughty words in Dragonball, but were enjoying it none-the-less. You could see that little kid a few years at a convention, and who knows you could recommend your favorite anime to them and (god forbid) make a new friend! The anime fandom really is about sharing this passion with other people and this is a great start to see this come back.

Hello all once again, school is bogging me down so I haven't been able to blog as much as I would have liked, but here we are.

I am Jimmy 'DJTyrant' Blocksom. The name 'DJTyrant' came from starting out as Tyrant (the name of a Star Destroyer in the Star Wars Universe) and DJ as in Disc jockey, influenced by my interest in the music video game beatmania IIDX.

I got into anime around 2002/2003 when a friend got Love Hina and we watched it together. We really enjoyed the series and got into other anime (Golden Boy, Cowboy Bebop) and manga also and eventually ended up at Anime-Expo 2003. My interest in anime was pretty casual at the time and was for a number of years until a friend of mine lent me some Naruto DVDs (bootlegs) and I got sucked into that series. I watched anime kind of off and on from that point, getting Bleach somewhat along the way. Fast forward to Anime-Expo 2007 when I saw the AMV Knights of Fate. After seeing that AMV I absolutely had to own that series, even though I really had no idea what exactly it was based on, or what it was about. So I tracked down Vol. 1 on the convention floor and this really sprung my anime fandom for the next year or so as I made a lot of purchases (mostly DVDs).

Primarally I watch anime any number of ways (that most of you probably watch too).

• Fansubs: for anime not released in America, or licenceed yet (you should know what site I go to for this ^_^)
• Crunchyroll/Hulu: for series I am not interested in owning outright, or am curious to see what it's about; or (as in the case with Naruto Shippuuden) watch series that I have been watching via fansubs
• DVD: a big portion of my anime watching as I have a PS3 and a nice LCD HDTV to watch it on
• TV: I got cable about a year ago and have been watching SciFi and Adult Swim regularly when they show anime.
  

There are quite a few series in my watching queue as I am busy with school and work, but I usually find time on the weekends to relax and watch some great anime. Currently I am finishing up Fullmetal Alchemist and will start up Welcome to the NHK after that. Weekly I have been watching Code Geass and Bleach on Adult Swim and Naruto Shippuuden online.

What are you watching currently? What is your favorite way to watch anime? Any series you recommend?

Also feel free to follow me on Twitter! http://www.twitter.com/djtyrant