Animesou.com

Synopsis
Shiratori Ryushi, age 18. Currently, he takes vocational school classes in hopes of becoming a children’s book author and illustrator. However, it’s inconvenient for him to ride the train to Tokyo for three hours back and forth everyday. His mother urged him to move closer to Tokyo. It just so happens that their cousin owns an apartment complex called Narutakisou. Upon arrival, Shiratori is greeted by the beautiful landlady, Kozue-chan. But he has yet to realize that she possesses a mysterious secret…

Review
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) or better known as Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD) in psychology is described as the presence of two or more separate and distinct personalities that exist in the same individual at different times. Kozue-chan would be considered among the rising documented cases of MPD (since 2000, American Psychiatric Association). As seen in the anime, the transition from one personality to another occurs suddenly and is associated with mental stress. The original personality (Kozue) has no knowledge of the alternate personalities, but all of them including Kozue are aware of lost periods of time, dissociative amnesia. As demonstrated in the anime, Saki-chan, Nanako, Chiyuri, and Natsume are incredibly different from Kozue. Studies have shown that the personalities may even be of another sex, race, age, or species such as a dog. The disorder seems to be more prevalent in women than men, and women tend to have more identities averaging 15 or more! (Huffman, Psychology in Action.  ©2004)

The Japanese site can be found at http://www.mahoraba.info/. It has a flash intro page showing all the characters and their corresponding apartment numbers. In the main page you’ll find subsections for characters bios, episode summaries with screencaps, a nice gallery with group images, soundtrack information, an interview with Jony, and a staff and cast list.

The Breakdown
Anime food analogies! Kanon: Taiyaki. Onegai Sensei: Pocky. Da Capo: Bananas. Mahoraba: Umeboshi (pickled plum). Oo, sour!

Synopsis
WARNING!!! THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS REVIEW IS NOT SUITABLE FOR PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF 18. FOR MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY!!!

A half-year has passed, and it has been decided that Kanenone academy will be a co-ed high school next academic year. Winter has ended and spring is on its way. Midori’s energetic presence can still be felt in the hearts of Yuusuke and Futaba-chan…

Review
Green Green Erolution continues where the 12 episode Green Green TV series left off. Futaba is eager to see her boyfriend Yuusuke but neither of them has yet to confess that they love one another. Wakaba and Sanae tag along to reminisce their past experiences with Chigusa-sensei supervising. Unlike the TV series, Erolution or episode 13 is a 30-minute hentai.

The official Japanese site can be found at http://www.starlink.co.jp/grgr13/ where you’ll find a 24 MB trailer, scrollable thumbnails, and the 1MB ending theme song.

The Breakdown
The hilarious conclusion to the Green Green TV series.

Synopsis
The story of Romeo and Juliet is well known, a man and woman who fell in love from a time distant. But in those days their love was forbidden. Fate was against them as both ended their lives in suicide. Yuusuke and Midori, a similar couple, promised that they would be reborn again, reunite with each other, get married, and live happily ever after. Can one’s destiny truly be changed?

Review
Green Green (or Guri Guri for short) is based off of the first out of the total three PC dating simulation H-games developed by Groover and released in October 2001. The high school Kanenone translates to Sound of Bell. Yuusuke is able to date the five girls: Midori, Chigusa-sensei, Futaba, Wakaba, and Sanae. Why did the developers decide to name the game/series Green Green in the first place? The main heroine Midori means green in Japanese and she does have green eyes. The girl’s school uniforms feature a green skirt and tie. The color green is associated with nature, leaves, scenery, and lushness. In english, green also describes youth, immaturity, and inexperience. These themes are apparent as the boys attempt to cast off their bonds and become adults during this monthly encounter with the girls.

The CORRECT Japanese website can be found at http://www.ponycanyon.co.jp/greengreen/ (ANN never got around to updating the page location). There you’ll find episode summaries coupled with screenshots, character profiles, cast list, DVD and CD covers, and other links.

The Breakdown
Just for fun, the real life Kanenone girls!

Synopsis
It has been 10 years since the conclusion of the Egyptian Memory Arc. The threat of Yami Bakura and Dark Master Zork was stopped by the hands of Yugi and his friends. Pharaoh Atemu’s soul has at last been laid to rest. But evil still lurks in the shadows…

Yuki Judai, age fifteen, the one who succeeds the will of Yugi, applies to an elite duel monsters school called Duel Academia, founded by none other than Seto Kaiba. There, new friendships are formed, and new challenges await as he strives to become the number one duelist.

Review
Yugioh GX is the sequel to Yugioh Duel Monsters. Some say that Yugioh GX is the second season to the Duel Monster series even though Duel Monsters can be broken up into its component parts: Duelist Kingdom, Battle City, Noa arc, Doma (American title: Waking the Dragons), KC Grand Prix, and Egyptian Memory arc. It first aired in Japan October 6, 2004 and I have been watching it ever since. The initials GX can stand for Generation-X or Generation Next (*cough* Dragon Ball GT). What distinguishes the GX series from its predecessors is that Yugi is not the protagonist, although he makes a brief cameo in the first episode. Yugi’s trademark is the Black Magician, while Yuki Judai uses an elemental hero deck where nearly all of his monster cards are fusible. He is by no means the invincible King of Duels because he does lose on occasion. However, he does manage to pull off the same miracle wins in similar fashion to Yugi just without the spiky hair.

TV-Toyko’s Japanese website is located at http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/yugioh/. The Official U.S. website is http://www.yugioh.com/gx.php. To my amazement, the producers were careful this time around to be faithful to the Japanese names of the characters (NOT TRUE ANYMORE SEE UPDATE). In the first Duel Monsters series, many of the character names were overhauled. Joey (Captain Planet) Wheeler’s original name was Jounouchi Kazuya. Tea Gardner was Anzu Mazaki. Tristin Taylor was Honda Hiroto. Duke Devlin was changed from Otogi Ryuji. Yami was used instead of Atemu (No, Yami is not the Pharaoh’s real name!! - Battle City dub reference and critical mistake). Rishid was replaced by Odion. Shizuka was transformed into Serenity. Inspector Kaga became Weevil Underwood and Ryusaki Rex Raptor. Finally, Alister as opposed to Amelda (Doma arc). I still doubt they will be addressing the main character as Judai like in the Japanese version. My prediction is that in the American version they will call him Yuki to be synonymous with Yugi, a difference of only one letter. We’ll have to wait and see if Cronos-sensei still has his accent (SeƱor Judai!). They did change the God Card names of the dormitories to the American versions notably Osiris Red to Slifer (the last name of the ever so prideful Roger Slifer, a comic book writer and producer).

**News Update 8/5/05** If you check the American website you’ll see that they changed the names of the entire GX cast. Cronos = Dr. Crowller! In what subject did he earn his Ph.D? Manjoume = Chazz Princeton! WTF??? What about his nickname Manjoume Thunda? Chazz Thunder? Thunder Chazz? As I predicted, they kept Yuki to correspond with Yugi.

The Breakdown
Yugioh GX is for those who haven’t had enough of Yugioh. I leave you boys with this final image of Asuka. Chao!~

Synopsis
Koji Maeda is your typical high school student who is looking for a part time job over the summer. He seems to have found his calling at Pia Carrot. More like he can’t resist all the pretty girls. While contemplating his destiny, out of the blue, a girl dashes across and collides with him. He later finds out that the same violent girl he bumped into earlier will be his coworker from now on. No way can life get any easier for Koji!

Review
The PC game to Pia Carrot 2 was released in Japan in 1997 followed by the SegaSaturn version in 1998 retailing for  ?7200 ($65.16). The anime is the sequel OVA series to Pia Carrot 1 but with a brand new cast (like how Onegai Twins is related to Onegai Sensei). It is a non-hentai version of similar events in the Pia Carrot 2 hentai DVD. Yusuke Kinoshita is the owner of the 2nd Pia Carrot restaurant. He only makes a brief appearance next to Aoi. You discover that he is soon getting married (to Satomi?). Rumi (Yusuke’s sister’s) appears in episode 4, a dyed blond, and works at the resturant to help out with the Autumn Gourmet Fair. Rumi will be turning 16, and has matured from what was seen in the first game. DX contains most of the characters from the video game, minus Sanae, Harue, and Tomomi. The storyline of Pia Carrot 2 follows Hinomori Asuza-san’s ending, the hardest person to win over.

The game site can be found at http://www.interchannel.co.jp/game/pia2/index.html The bottom link takes you to the Pia Carrot 2.5 page with character profiles.

The Breakdown
Short romance anime. You’ll appreciate the minor characters for their funny remarks. Koji might cheer on every girl that works hard but when it comes to Asuza there is no stopping their arguing. They are like two reincarnated warlords.

Synopsis
WARNING!!! THE SUBJECT MATTER…Just Kidding. A resturant by the beach of Misaki. Gorgeous female workers ready to take your order. What could be better! (I guess a hentai but that is not what this is.) The fourth Pia Carrot resturant is about to open its doors. But first it’ll require some extra help from Sayaka and Tomomi, waitresses from the original and second resturant. However, is there another reason why the both of them fled to the new resturant?

Review
Sayaka is a new character in the Dreamcast/Playstation 2 Pia Carrot e Youkoso!! 3 game released in 2003. The PC game came out two years earlier in 2001. Sakuya came from the first resturant probably hired by Yusuke’s father. She was not in the first game/hentai series and must have joined after Yusuke finished working there and went on to become the manager of the second resturant.

Tomomi’s story comes from Pia Carrot 2. She is a junior high school student. Her best friends, Shima Noriko and Kamizuka Yuki, who also appear in the movie, talk about how cool the Pia Carrot uniforms are. Because of her age, Tomomi can’t work at Pia Carrot. As Koji, you are able to date Tomomi. Eventually she does wait tables at the second Pia Carrot resturant. She then moves to the fourth resturant once she found out that Koji already likes Asuza. The three girls are characters in Pia Carrot e Youkoso!! 2 and 2.5 as you can see at the bottom character page of http://www.interchannel.co.jp/game/pia2.5/pro/index.html.

Compare the pictures of Noriko, Yuki, and Tomomi from Pia Carrot 2 to Pia Carrot 3. http://www.interchannel.co.jp/game/pia3/index.html. I’m surprised they don’t have a picture of Miyuki in Pia Carrot 3. Maybe she is a character exclusive to the movie or a minor character in game 3. There is some beautiful artwork for the movie. I’ve included some wallpapers for your delight. If you want more, you can purchase figurines on eBay.

The Breakdown
Not really a dating simulation as the other Pia Carrot series were. Not really a love story either. More like love sickness.

Synopsis
A tale from the day of Valentine…

Every day in the life of Mizuhara Ryo and his younger sister Akane ended normally. They would wake up, go to school together, work tables at the Plavi resturant, come home and eat dinner. That was until one day a complete stranger in a pink jump suit literally crash lands through their glass screen door. Beneath the attire is the dazzling super flower of Japanese womanhood, the warrior of love, Masuda Shizuka! To their surprise, Shizuka announces that she is Ryo’s fiancĆ©e. Let the days of love and trials begin!

Review
Final Approach is the anime adaptation to the Playstation 2 dating simulation game of the same name released recently in Japan on October 7, 2004. This is Princess Soft’s third game turned anime, the first being Natsuiro no Sunadokei. Final Approach was aired concurrently with Princess Soft’s second game anime title W-Wish. The anime spans 13 episodes, and each episode is roughly 12 minutes long.

The official japanese anime website can be found on the left side of http://www.trinet-ent.com/princess_hour/index.html. There you will find character sketches, episode summaries accompanied by screenshots, a staff list, and DVD release dates. The game site is located at http://www.oaks-soft.co.jp/princess-soft/final/index.html. At the bottom of the index page is a mpg file of the opening trailer. The left bar navigates you through story information, individual character profiles, and back to the main Princess Soft website.

The Breakdown
Welcome to Pia Carrot…I mean Plavi!

Synopsis
The flow of time is complicated. Even if you remove one cause, a new cause is born…

Makimura Koutarou is your typical high schooler, an avid member of the boxing club who all of a sudden resolved to confess his love to the school idol Serizawa Kaho. That night by accident, a mysterious person showers Koutarou with tachyon particles. As a result, his body randomly jumps forwards and backwards to different dates within a one-month time span. This phenomenon is what is called a ‘day drop.’ On August 31, the last day of summer vacation, he discovers that Kaho’s life passes away due to a car collision. Does Koutarou stand a chance at changing Kaho’s depressing fate?

Review
Natsuiro no Sunadokei, or Natsuiro Komachi, translates to the Hourglass of Summer Colors. It is based off of the Playstation 2 hentai dating simulation game developed by Princess Soft. Princess Soft is most famous for releasing Kimi ga Nozomu Eien. Other game titles include Suika, Moekan, Cafe Little Wish: Mahou no Recipe, and 21: TwoOne for the Dreamcast, and F: Fanatic, Love Doll: Lovely Idol, Final Approach, and Happy Breeding: Cheerful Party for the PS2.

The official anime site is located at http://www.kss-inc.co.jp/anime/natsuiro/ where you can find episode screen captures, brief character and casting, and DVD information with covers. The video game site is located at http://www.oaks-soft.co.jp/princess-soft/natsuiro/ and features a better character profiles page.

The Breakdown
Natsuiro no Sunadokei is a romantic, short summer anime series. Perfect for going back to school.

Synopsis
All year round the sakura trees mysteriously blossom on the island of Hatsune. A couple converse and run through the pink flowers in the distance. A girl makes a wish from the side of her window. Another year of grade school has begun. A transfer student from America blissfully says hello to a friend she hasn’t seen for years to fulfill a long kept promise…

Review
Da Capo is a 26 episode series produced by studio Circus. Like Kanon and To Heart, it’s another anime based off of a PC hentai dating simulation game and released child friendly for the Playstation 2. Dictionary.com translates Da Capo in this fashion: adv. Music Abbreviation DC. From the beginning. Used as a direction to repeat a passage. In the last episode Junnichi explains: People say that you can’t reset life, like a game. But is that really true? If you stumble you can always start over, like a da capo. That’s what I would like to believe. Because that is not a start from zero.

The Breakdown
Kanon, Taiyaki. Onegai Sensei, the red box of pocky sticks. Da Capo, Miharu’s bananas!!! Or a pot of nabe. ^_^

Synopsis
Long ago, the Egyptian Pharaohs played a game of great and terrible power. This ‘Yami no Game’ (Dark Game) altered the fate of the entire world. That was until a brave pharaoh sealed this evil force away in seven magical items. Now, a young boy solved the millennium puzzle that was once left hidden for thousands of years. This boy, with both light and darkness in his heart, is known as Yugi, the King of Games…

Review
This review is for season 1 of Duel Monsters, Episodes 1-40, Pegasus’s Duelist Kingdom Tournament, and the following episodes 41-49, the duels against Rebecca and Otogi (english name is Duke Devlin). Miho-chan from the original Yugioh series is missing. Everyone knows or at least has heard about Duelist Kingdom just like everyone has a slight idea as to what Pokemon and Dragon Ball Z are. Jounouchi uses the Time Wizard to acquire the Red Eyes, Mokuba duels for the only time, Kaiba summons his Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon, and Pegasus possesses the dreaded Toon World card.

The Breakdown
Come on, it’s Yugioh for crying out loud! This is what started it all, in America at least.