"Well... 'love is that which balks not at laying down its life,' shall we say?" --William, Romeo X Juliet

Apr 26, 2007

Dakedo Happy Paradise by Takarada Iyo

Japanese: だけど ハッピーパラダイス
Genres: Shoujo, Slice of Life

Plot Summary: Ruu Machida is in serious trouble. Having just been abandoned by her extremely debt-ridden father, Ruu realises she has to fend for herself. Luckily for her, she lands a job as a maid, in a wealthy household with three very bishie brothers. Ruu already knows one of the brothers, and with time, all four bond to become friends. However, life is not always sunshine and roses as Ruu finally starts feeling the pressure of her fathers debts, and the unexpected developements in her relationship with the three brothers. --VK Scans

Impressions: The story's pretty decent, but very generic shoujo/reverse harem. It's a lot like Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge, but the bishounen are definitely much hotter. It definitely has all of the YNSH guys in there except Kyouhei is fused with Yukinojou in Yuzuki.

I would probably rank it along the lines of Marmalade Boy and Random Walk. The story isn't that great and there isn't really much character develop going on (yet.. since I only got to volume 2 and I guess there are only 2 volumes). Nothing especially great about the heroine other than the usual. She's kinda really emo sometimes, which bugs.

Hopefully it doesn't end at 2 volumes. I want to see which guy she ends up with. Yuzuki is too adorable with his tsundere attitude! ^^

Rating: 3 out of 5

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Apr 24, 2007

Romeo × Juliet (TV)

Japanese: ロミオ × ジュリエット
Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Romance

Plot Summary: This is a story of a young and tragic love, set in the aerial city of Neo Verona. Tyranny rules this island in the sky after the Montague family took control 14 years prior. The disparity among the wealthy and poor is apparent in the present state, the earth dries and water stagnates. The sky itself is wrapped in a deep dense fog. Both Romeo and Juliet's lineages are of present and past ruling families of Neo Verona. Romeo is the son of the current Montague dictator, Juliet (a beautiful woman) masquerades as a man (Odin), she's the last descendent of Capulet the previous rulers who were killed by an assasin's dagger 14 years ago. Her true background is not to be revealed to her until her 16th birthday while being raised by her sister. The cruel hands of fate introduces 2 people who will become "Star Crossed Lovers". --AnimeNewsNetwork.com

OP: "Inori ~You Raise Me Up~" by Lena Park (watch it!)
ED: "Cyclone" by 12012 (watch it!)

Rating: 5 out of 5!!!

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Apr 22, 2007

Kamichama Karin (TV)

Japanese: かみちゃまかりん
Genres: Magical Girl, Romance, Shoujo

Plot Summary: Karin Hanazono is an orphan, living with her relatives. Her life has never been easy, her studies are not well, she is not the best in sports and technically she is miserable. Left with only a ring as a memento from her departed mother, she suddenly finds her life changed, as she was mourning her pet cat, Shii-chan. On that night she met a strange boy, Kazune Kujyou. After that event, she experiences several mysterious incidences that soon led her to find out that she is a little goddess. Finding others like her she soon sets out to understand herself better as her mysterious powers grow and she becomes beset by opponents. --AnimeNewsNetwork.com

OP: "Ankoku Tengoku" by Ali Project (watch it!)
ED: "Anemone" by Nakahara Mai (watch it!)

Impressions: Compared to the manga, the anime is a step above it. The art's much better and the voice acting is amazing (Nakahara Mai!!)! I loved how they opened up the series with a future event and flashed back to the beginning of Karin's adventure. The character design is really cute and I really love the tsundere relationship between Karin and Kazune. At this rate, I don't think I'll be reading the manga anymore cuz the Anime does a really good job at sticking with the story.

It's fansubbed up to episode 3 and it's not getting any less cuter. ^^

Rating: 4 out of 5

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Apr 22, 2007

I got bored this weekend and decided to read some manga. ^^;

Vampire Knight by Hino Matsuri

Japanese: ヴァンパイア騎士
Genres: Shoujo, Supernatural

Plot Summary: Yuki's earliest memory is of a stormy night in winter, wherein she was attacked by a vampire... And then rescued by another. Now 10 years later, Yuki Cross, the adapted daughter of the headmaster of Cross Academy, has grown up and become a guardian of the vampire race, protecting her savior, Kaname, from discovery as he leads a group of vampires at the elite boarding school. But also at her side is Zero Kiryu, a childhood friend who’s hatred for the creatures that destroyed everything he held dear, is now determined never to trust them. This coexisting arrangement seems all well and good, but have the vampires truly renounced their murderous ways, or is there a darker truth behind their actions. Is Kaname's infatuation with Yuki the beginning of a forbidden romance, or is it something in her forgotten past that draws him to her. Because in this world of secrets, nothing is as it seems. And the price of misplaced trust may even be worse than death. --AnimeNewsNetwork.com

Impressions: I didn't pick this up until I found this. It reminded me of my good friend Maya's post. She'll do a better job than me at explaining it, but overall, I'm glad I picked this title up. It has all the bishies!! The love story!! Everything a girl could want in a shoujo title. It's dripping with taboo, smut, and a very addicting, risque, and sinful plot. A good change from the usual bubbly shoujos.

Rating: 5 out of 5!!!!


MeruPuri by Hino Matsuri

Japanese: めるぷり メルヘン☆プリンス
Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, Shoujo

Plot Summary: Airi Hoshina, a regular highschool girl who wants nothing but the perfect future husband, family and life, has some pretty high ideals. But, those ideals flipped upside down as she comes across a young boy named Aram, who returns her small mirror, that has been passed on through Airi's family through generations. Airi soon finds that Aram is a prince that came through that very mirror from his world to seek refuge from his half-brother, Jeile, who has cast a horrible spell on him. Airi soon takes in Aram, and finds the next morning that Aram has turned from a child into a young man. Aram's servant, Lei, explains that the spell Jeile cast was supposed to turn Aram into an old man when he entered darkness (night, a dark closet, etc.) and deny him use of his magic. But the spell only half worked. Now, Airi must help Aram get back to his normal self, and try to keep up with finding that perfect man at the same time. But perhaps Airi is closer to that man than she thinks. --AnimeNewsNetwork.com

Impressions: Yes, I got addicted to Vampire Knight, so I started looking for more of her works and asking around in VK's IRC channel. Someone recommended MeruPuri, so I read away! It's good and I really loved Aram's character. *sigh* It really makes me feel like a kid, hoping for the "fated one" or my "prince charming" again.

Rating: 4 out of 5
(Some parts seemed rushed and confusing, probably because of the scanlation.)

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