Past Anime/Manga Review: Skip Beat!

Posted by IAmBored
April 25, 2012

Hi everybody! I'm going to do an old anime/manga for today... Since there are no new animes released that I like, yet.

So now I have about 6 animes that are ongoing and that is seriously my record. So there is a high chance that I may not watch new ones for a while. (unless the plot and art is like superb, then that anime may be included in my ongoing list) I am totally dreading when my animes end, especially if they end all around the same time. (Imagine how many final impressions I have to do!)

Now this anime is an extremely lighthearted anime and is quite funny! :D
I know I promised this a long time ago. So yup, let's go!!!

Skip Beat!

What kyouko looked like before transforming

So the main female protagonist is a sixteen year old girl named Kyoko Mogami. She followed her childhood friend, Shotaro Fuwa, to Tokyo because she thought he wanted her to. She is totally in love with him and even juggled with multiple jobs because of Shotaro's expenditures and lavish lifestyle. She is so supportive to the extent that she does everything for him, and does nothing for herself. She had left her hometown and stopped her education just to go to Tokyo with him. Upon arriving in Tokyo, Shotaro, or Sho (as his fans call him), worked hard and was ranked number 7 for the top 20 most popular male celebrities in Japan. He is also described as an extremely talented musician . However, he only treats Kyoko as a maid and never as a lover or childhood friend.

The first encounter after kyouko
swore revenge

Kyoko overheard him saying this one day,when she went to visit him, and heard him describe her as a boring and plain girl. Sho then proceeds to flirt with his manager and Kyoko saw the entire thing. She then realizes how much time and effort she has 'wasted' on Sho. She saw the difference in attitude when Sho interacts with his manager as compared to with her. She also learns that the reason Sho wanted her to be in Tokyo with him is to do his house-keeping, and he said that he ever forced her to go to Tokyo with him.

Ren (left), Koko and Sho

Kyoko didn't shed any tears at her discovery, instead, she vowed revenge. She wants to be a bigger and more popular star than Sho. With this determination, she changes her appearance and enters into showbiz.

Ren's Manager

At first, she was unable to get into LME (the company which is in competition with Sho's company) but she 'forced' the head of LME's talent section, Takenori Sawara into letting her audition. She had failed the audition initially, but with the LME president, Lory Takarada's help, she joined a department called 'Love Me'. This department was founded by Lory for those people who he deemed as having potential, but they are lacking a key component/emotion: Love. Although she joined LME successfully, she had to collect points as she helped other people, at the same time, also getting random jobs.

The story then continues with Kyoko's journey in the showbiz world. Despite facing many challenges and troublemakers, she ended up overcoming the obstacles and became friends with the people she met.

EVIL Spirits

Another main male protagonist is Ren Tsuruga, No. 1 male celebrity. He is hated by Sho as he is more popular. In the beginning of the anime, they hate each other, but after joining LME, Kyoko hates him even more because of his attitude against her. Ren does not like Kyoko's motive of joining the showbiz world, and he thinks that all actors and actresses should be focused in their jobs, not having revenge as their top priority. So he purposely pisses her off.

Of course lots of things happened along the way and resulted in both Sho and Ren falling in love with Kyoko. (though both males denies it.) And this results in an over used plot-line of a triangle love.

Impressions:

Obsessed with being a princess

Yeah, so this anime is really good. I really like how the characters can act so well. It's really amazing to see them in action. The suspense of the anime is well handled and the story is closely following the manga. The randomness of some things in the anime is really quite humorous.

I wouldn't say that the art is the best, but it is definitely watch-able. And the guys are freaking tall... What I really like about the manga/anime is that Kyoko is actually not very pretty. I mean, out in the anime/manga world, there are tons of beautiful or well-endowed females. I like how Kyoko is portrayed as an average looking girl that has an impressive ability, and I think that's really important. What you have on the inside rather than on the outside. It shows that any normal person with courage and ability can achieve near-impossible goals. :D

I totally love this anime. It is about the only anime that I know that has its story-line revolving about showbiz world. The characters are easy to fall in love and empathize with, with the exception of Sho (in my opinion).

Genre: Romance, Comedy

This anime premired on Oct 5 2008 and ended on March 29 2009. It has a total of 25 episodes.
There is a Taiwanese drama based on this anime that ended recently. A total of 15 episodes. The name of the drama is Extravagant Challenge.

There is no news about a 2nd season of anime for skip beat. Although there are rumors, but no official news has been released. The anime never resolved the love triangle between the main protagonists. So there might be another season in the future, but it would not be anytime soon, since the manga hasn't touched on resolving the romance too.

Yeah, so this is an enjoyable anime! Just chillax!!!
♪(>w<)♪
IAmBored
Edited by FayeA

Manga Review: GE - Good Ending

April 3, 2012

Posted by DarrenW

Dear Readers,

For anime lovers, I apologize once again! But don't worry, we have a TON of anime reviews coming up, on behalf of all the authors.

However, before that, I have yet ANOTHER manga to introduce to you guys, yes, one of the more well known, "GE - Good Ending!!"

There is always, or ought to be, a good ending at the end of every story being told, which the same applies to romance, and that is where our title is derived, from the good endings we often see in visual novels.

Mangaka: Sasuga Kei

Omg, where do I begin... the romance, the atmospheres, the scenes, the plot. There is just an infinite amount of storyline and themes going on, which makes this manga exciting for a romance genre.

But first, I will of course, introduce the basic storyline and characters!

It all begins with the one guy in the manga, Utsumi Seiji, the protagonist. A loser, kind and gentle person, Seiji is your usual high-school single, dreaming of having a girlfriend in the near future.

The story sparks off when Kurokawa Yuki, a member of the tennis team, discovers that Seiji has a crush on the team's captain, Shou Iketani, whom is also Seiji's senpai (senior). Desperate beyond his wits to have a relationship with her, he constantly consults Yuki for advice to become a better man and win her over, and slowly but surely, he becomes good friends with her, but are they really just friends?

Friends give good consultive advice, support and heal injuries, but in the end, though love and good intentions may lead Seiji in the right direction, he has to make that final decision. Who will he choose?

And that's where our 2 heroines come in. Let me introduce them!

Kurokawa Yuki

The supposed main heroine dominating the first half of the manga, this feisty but friendly girl, gets to know Seiji during an "accidental" encounter. They become rough friends, and soon, a wide array of friends converge together.

Seiji, who's constant kindess and gifts of affection gets the better of him when Yuki somehow falls in love with him (FORGOT LOL). They get the support of their friends. However, something isn't right. Yuki has a dark secret, but what is it? And what will happen??


Shou Iketani

The cute and innocent senpai, Shou is the captain of the tennis team, who is often clumsy and careless. Receiving emotional help from Seiji when her ex-boyfriend dumped her in the first part of the manga, she only just realizes that Seiji has lingering feelings for her, and they manage become an item!

I just gave you guys a huge spoiler.





"GE - Good Ending" has your usual high-school romance feel to it, which is quite obvious from the setting and atmospheres. The plot development is well-done and deserves praise. The writer managed to keep things at a regular level (Very similar to Amagami). However, the plot progresses very sloooooowly. Which is a good thing.





And of course, the annoying muddled & coincidental misunderstandings of a romance manga are all present. Annoying things...

The theme of romance is very well described here, because you have a guy, who has no experience with it whatsoever, and someone with experience is giving him the knowledge he needs. Of course, besides those, the manga also portrays love, hatred, regret, friendship and sadness all to an amazing extent. Really nice job done there.

As for art, it deserves a decent score. It isn't bad, but isn't perfect either. Still it isn't as bad as Kimi No Iru Machi which shows nudity. So I'm not gonna leave too much spoilers.

Aha! Enjoy your Romance-filled manga!
Hint: ★


DarrenW
Edited by Tr3xus

Manga Review: Yankee-Kun To Megane-Chan

March 25, 2012
Posted by DarrenW

Dear Otakus,

Zzzz... It's nearing the end of march and my package hasn't arrived yet!!! XD So I guess I'll postpone the post I intended to make and do the review. I also apologize to you readers! This is the first actual week I had a decent break.

And YES, today I'll be reviewing a classic school-based / juvenile / romance / comedy manga, "Yankee-Kun To Megane-Chan"!!!

Mangaka: Miki Yoshikawa

Ever wondered what a life of a juvenile delinquent is? Well look no further! This manga will explain it all!  If we head down to the boy's toilet at Mon Shiro High School, and peering over the cubicle door, we will find Shinagawa Daichi, Year 2  High School student. Juvenile. Dangerous. Using the cubicle as his hangout, this guy hardly even comes to class.

WAIT. HUH? WHO'S PEERING INTO THE CUBICLE?

Shinagawa Daichi

Yes! It's the geeky (and retarded) Adachi Hana, who is Shinagawa's class rep! (And a girl btw). With locked hair, spectacles and an appearance that shouts out (Class-rep), she's actually not very smart, and lacks common sense (Which explains the toilet peeping). She's concerned about Shinagawa's behaviour, and as the class rep, decides that she must do something about it!

So begins the adventure of two very unlikely students, though the two of them are actually very similar.

Adachi Hana

Further down the road, more companions join the two, as Shinagawa and Adachi get into the student council. (That was a shock) They are, Seiya Chiba, Rinka Himeji and Gaku Izumi, of which all of them have their own problems coping with life. With Adachi and Shingawa, they work together to solve each others' issues, and unknowingly their own secrets become revealed. (Not gonna give spoilers.)

Adachi Hana XD

I'm not going to give you guys spoilers because I honestly think that this manga is damn awesome and I don't want to spoil your fun.

For plot, there are general plots as well as volume plots, which all goes to say that its quite well developed and structured. The plot is also easy to understand if you are/were a student in school, and the plot lines are also well varied and the scope is wide.

Main Characters

Izumi with Seaweed

No deviation of theme whatsoever. Delinquent life is very well portrayed in this episode, with gang scenes, gang life, fights and stuff. (Don't get the wrong idea, there's no blood/gore). There is also friendship, romance, growing up, and school-life.

Hand Signals

The art has also been kept consistent, though I'm not really a fan of the style, but an exceptional job especially because it has over 170 chapters.

Some points to note. Yankee-Kun to Megane-Chan is actually a good manga to read mainly because of its humour. The slapstick / retarded scenes make it exceptionally funny and amusing, especially when the chapter becomes too serious sometimes.


Overall impression was quite good. I was very impressed at the development of the manga over the many volumes it has published. You really get the sense of maturity in the characters as the years go by (In the manga that is).

Yankee-Kun to Megane-Chan has 166 chapters (23 volumes), which started serialization in 2006, and is scanlated by Mahou-X Scans, available on MangaFox. It also has a drama with 10 episodes. (Didn't know until I did the review) and the english name "Flunk Punk Rumble" (WTH WHO IN THE WORLD THOUGHT OF THIS NAME).

And it still hasn't ended yet!

Hint: If I don't get my package I'll put another manga review. GE??
DarrenW
Edited by FayeA

Manga Review: Onidere!

March 14, 2012
Posted by DarrenW

Good evening readers!

Yes, finally, in a long time, I've decided to do Manga reviews to help out DaBrenz!

Yes, today I've decided to write a review about a manga that I've been following over more than 2 years which just ended! "Onidere!"

Mangaka: Crystal na Yosuke

Dafuq is Onidere?
Well, the title is derived from the combination of "Oni" (Demon) and "dere" (Lovestruck).

At one glance, people will think that this is your ordinary school-type manga. Well, it isn't. Our story begins with our protagonist, Tadashi Inamoto, a super normal (can't get more normal than this) but super kind geek in an ordinary junior high school.

However, with an extraordinary girlfriend, Saya Angelica Ikushima! The head of the all-girl gang "Onigashirashu" in Tadashi's high school, she is the most feared 'delinquent' in all of Japan. Possesing superhuman strength with the ability to destroy anything she wishes to, you would be puzzled or confused as to why she is Tadashi's girlfriend.

Well, under that tough brutal exterior, lies a soft hearted Saya-san, who is actually tsundere towards Tadashi. For some reason, she always over-imagines Tadashi as her knight in shining armour, and faints on sight of being alone with him.

Unfortunately for Saya, she has to hide her feelings as it would mean disaster for her reputation as a feared delinquent. So they hide their feelings for one another and slowly, but surely, become closer together as individuals!

Well, thats the basic storyline. There are a ton of characters associated in this manga, all of whom are not really important, but I'll mention one or two.

Saki Nijinose: The treasurer of the student council, she takes pride in her job, but is the complete opposite of Saya-san, of whom she is fragile and delicate. Often needing Tadashi's help, his kindess rubs off on her and she also falls for him. But of course, our main character is too dense to notice that.

President Tomeo Kinoshita: Probably the WEIRDEST character in the entire manga series, the white-haired President Tomeo's main objective is to rid the school of delinquents and serving up "justice", through a hell lot of methods under the influence of the "god of justice", as he puts it. You will see him mostly hated by most of the characters, though his intentions are good but wacky and irritating.

Firstly, you can take the word plot and throw it out the window. This is your average humour manga, and any details on the plot is minimal. However, with each manga chapter you do get some-sort of segmented plot, but near the end you kind of lose it.

For theme, if they were aiming for highschool romance of a tsundere and geek, I would say they did quite well, doesn't stray off that far.

Some points to note: Humour is quite well shown in this manga. Firstly, its due to the manga's uncanny ability to poke funny ridiculous scenes and jokes at each other. Other than that, its mainly because of the random humour, and if you're Japanese, you're able to associate with it even more, because most of them are local jokes.




It's a good job to the mangaka who made this, for it really made me laugh and have a good mood for the rest of the day. So if you're feeling down or tired, read this and become more relaxed!!

However, near the end of the series, you will eventually get quite lost as to WHAT DIRECTION the manga is turning to be. Main plot WAS rushed near the end.

Futthermore, the art was quite messy at times. I'm not sure whether it was the translator's fault or whether it was intended by the mangaka.

Onidere begun release in 2008, and recently ended with 138 chapters, all of which is available on MangaFox & MangaReader.

That's all for now! Over and out!
Hint: MVCD
DarrenW
Edited by FayeA

Anime & Manga Review: Slam Dunk

February 22, 2012
Posted by DaBrenz

Hey everyone! It’s DaBrenz back here with a review! Sorry I’ve been MIA the past few weeks. Life’s been a real rush and I really appreciate having a chance to start anew! ;) Haven’t you ever felt like you needed to start afresh, to be a whole new you, a better you?? Well, that’s what happens to Hanamichi Sakuragi when basketball is introduced into his life!

That’s right! Introducing, "Slam Dunk!!"

Author: Inoue Takehiko
Artist: Inoue Takehiko

Intimidatingly tall, good-for-nothing delinquent Sakuragi is introduced to basketball in Shohoku High School after having getting rejected for the 50th time. Undecided about what he should do at first, he finally decides to excel in basketball so as to catch the attention of the apple of his eye, Haruko Akagi, as she is a great fan of basketball.


However, he finds himself overshadowed by star player and small forward Kaede Rukawa (who is, ironically, the person of Haruko’s affections)!! Suave, tall, cool Rukawa seems to be better at everything (girls, skills, talent) which drives Sakuragi crazy!!

Aided by the team’s captain and center, (and also Haruka’s older brother) Takenori Akagi, Sakuragi can finally unleash the true potential pertaining to basketball lying within him.

Now, as a basketballer myself, let me introduce to you the five basic positions in basketball:

Point Guard: Basically the “controller” of the game, usually the shortest person or the person who can handle and pass the ball best.

Shooting Guard: He/She is the one who will try to crank up the team’s score by shooting, usually one of the faster players.


Small Forward: This role is usually for the most versatile of players, able to play part of all the other roles. This person is the “Wild Card” in Uno, he or she fills in and makes up for the others when needed.

Power Forward: This role is rather similar to that of a Center’s.

Center: This role is usually reserved for the tallest and strongest of players, who have to score and defend the area nearest to the basket.

As other characters with equally interesting backstories are introduced one by one, life at Shohoku High School’s basketball team gets interesting, the chance for a ranking in the nationals increase with the team hyped up!

Each character in the story plays a pivotal role in the game that is Basketball, and Inoue Takehiko has especially included the rules of the game as the series progresses, making Slam Dunk understandable to everyone of all ages, regardless of experience and exposure to basketball!

Slam Dunk received special commendations from the Japan Basketball Association for helping to make basketball in Japan much more popular than it was then, in 1990.



With 278 chapters, Slam Dunk is complete and can be found on many manga platforms like MangaFox and MangaReader. Slam Dunk also has an anime (though I have yet to watch it)!!! The art may not be as fantastic as compared to the art you see in manga nowadays. However, considering the fact that it was published over a decade ago, (and it still remains well known today!) it rather proves to be quality in terms of content!

Slam Dunk is a story about friendship, passion, sportsmanship and love in multiple forms. It is about trust, building new beginnings, learning, sharing and the joys of basketball.

Give Slam Dunk a try today, who knows, maybe you’ll find yourself chatting up with that cute basketball hunk you’ve always wanted to talk to, or, maybe you yourself will be the one on court shooting hoops. 

Knock yourselves out!
DaBrenz ☺
Edited by FayeA
Next review: Ningen? Youkai? Hanyou????

Anime & Manga Review: Lovely Complex!

January 27th, 2012
Posted by DaBrenz

Hey guys!! Missed me? DaBrenz here and I’m back with another review of my absolute favourite and current obsession for BOTH manga and anime because it is one of THE MOST UNCONVENTIONAL MANGA/ANIME I have ever read/watched!

Well, who’s ever read this quote? “ Tall girl + Short guy = Awkward :|
                                                        Tall girl + Tall guy = Cuteee :D
                                                        Short girl +Tall guy = Adorable ♥
                                                        Short girl + Short guy = Awwhh :) ”

I confess, I used to think along these lines, until I came across today’s highlight: "Lovely Complex!"

I hereby proclaim this to be the most unconventional manga/anime, because it actually features what is supposedly the most “Awkward” relationship of them all. Even though I was a little out of my comfort zone, I LOVED IT. (Still love it.) I definitely think differently of tall girl/short guy couples now!!!



Author: Nakahara Aya
Artist: Nakahara Aya

Introducing Koizumi Risa, our headstrong protagonist, standing tall at 170cm. Her hilarious ways and antics have gotten her into loads of trouble: which has earned her a rightful place as half of the comedy duo “All Hanshin-Kyojin.” The other half of “All Hanshin-Kyojin” is quirky basketballer Otani Atsushi standing at 156cm. (Not to mention that their height difference is similar to that of the actual All Hanshin-Kyojin.)

Their heights bring about some rivalry between the two, but the unfolding of many events brings about common ties like Umibouzou, showing many quirks and characteristics that both Koizumi and Otani share. This changes Koizumi’s perceptions of things: what is the ideal relationship / what is an ideal boyfriend for someone of her stature. This allows Koizumi to see past their surface relationship and consider her true feelings for Otani. While Koizumi has made her feelings clear as day, she finds her efforts fruitless, because the dense Otani just doesn’t get it!!


Koizumi is greatly supported by their close group of friends, consisting of Nobuko Ishihara, Heikichi Nakao, Ryoji Suzuki and Chiharu Tanaka (whereby Nobu and Nakao, Suzuki and Chiharu are couples). With help from friends and love rivals alike, (gradually introduced into the story), watch the crazy chase that is her love story, as Koizumi falls in love, undergoes numerous trials and tribulations, all while never giving up, finally attaining a love relationship with Otani.

This manga and anime isn’t just about two people overcoming their shyness for one another. It's about one party severely disliking the other, only to have a miracle occur which allows them to fall in love. 

Lovely Complex is a story about the stereotypes and conventions of society, of accepting and being accepted. It is about gradually realising the feeling of love blossoming between two best friends: about stepping out of the Friendzone and becoming lovers. It is about differentiating and discovering the difference of the meaning of “like” and about growing up. It encompasses many aspects of being in a relationship, holding many surprises and twists.

With 61 chapters, Lovely Complex is complete!! Scanlated by a few parties, the complete series of Lovely Complex can be found on MangaEden! Take note of Lovely Complex Plus, which also contains a few short stories about Koizumi and Otani. Lovely Complex also has an ANIME!!! Released in 2007 with 24 episodes, it is complete!! One interesting aspect of the anime is that the characters all speak in Kansai-Ben, which is uncommon for anime! There is also a Lovely Complex game and a Lovely Complex live-action film (whichever floats your boat).

So let us put our perceptions aside and allow love in its truest form to carry us away~ I hope you enjoy this series as much as I did!



DaBrenz, signing off! ☺

P.s- If you’re a sensitive soul (like me hehe), prepare a box of tissues! You might need em when the time comes!!

P.p.s- Do check out the polls by the side of the web page, and do give us your opinions in the comments section or in the chatbox! Cheers!

Next review: Boys, you’ll enjoy this one greatly!! Girls who wish to have a conversation with that hunky basketball boy, you’ll find this useful too!!

Edited by FayeA