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For ease I will divide the review into the given sub-sections.

Story:
In a nutshell, the plot of Love Hina revolves around Keitaro Urashima and a set of teenage girls. Each episode focuses on their antics whilst, simultaneously depicting Keitaro's failings as he attempts to get into the acclaimed Tokyo University. The overall plot itself is basic, and the pace slow. Sadly this makes it uninspiring, and laborious to watch.

The attempt to drag out the romance for the sake of humour just did not work. The initial focus - to get into Tokyo University - is eventually lost within a collage of recycled, over-used "jokes", these involving ... a combination of whacky robotic monsters, misunderstandings, and the age-old sequence of "boy walks into awkward situation, gets called a pervert, then gets hit hard, and speeds through the air until he is lost on the horizon". This gets old well before the count reaches 50.

To summarise: the "story" is really a set of short adventures and revelations, none of them that interesting. (And I really wanted to like it.)


Art:
The art is, for me, Love Hina's strongest point. It's not breath-taking, it's not original, but it is well executed, and character design is good. I could liken it to animes such as Ah My Goddess. It's better than the now dated Fushigi Yugi, and the colour pallete is brighter than that used in Fullmetal Alchemist. The animation and character design is less realistic than Ghost in the Shell, but the backgrounds are enchanting than Clannad or Ouran.

Sound:
The opening to Love Hina is a disaster, but apart from this, the music is suited to each scene and fades nicely into the background. But because of this, it fails to serve any significant purpose (although I would notice an absense of it.) It's not as emotive as that in Clannad, and doesn't create any feeling of suspense.

The English dub is not as grating as some reviews would have you believe, but it's not perfect either, so there were times when I was tempted to switch to Japanese to see how it compared. However, this was not ideal. I prefer being able to concentrate on the action; reading subtitles distracts from this.

Character:
As I'm sure you're aware, Love Hina presents its audience with a series of archetypes. This in itself is not always a bad thing, but very little effort was made to mould these archetypes into a set of individual characters. This sadly meant that there was no reason to feel attached. I could neither love nor hate Naru or Su, nor wish for any pairings to follow supposed romantic sub-plots (Longing for romantic deveopment came in the form of "get on with the story, and stop wasting my time with fillers!") The lack of imagination given means I can not describe the characters as anything more than mediocre.

Enjoyment:
I wanted to enjoy this anime, and have pushed through the entire series, but sadly Love Hina was a foregetful experience and, though I hate to say it, a waste of time.

I'd like to begin this by saying sorry to those who loved it, as I can see there are a lot who do. It's just that I look for something more in anime. I'd heard this anime lacked plot, focussed more the slice of life qualities, and had little point to it. I was ready for that. But I didn't expect the truth in these points to be as extreme as it was.

(I would also like to let readers know that I've seen half of this anime. I may not have watched it all, but I did give it a chance.)

Plot:
Even those who loved it ... will agree that there's no plot. I can extend that and tell you that, if you're looking for something with depth, don't look here. I didn't find any; and I looked pretty hard. The focus is instead on repeated jokes and silly/dumb/immature characters (Osaka anyone?) getting into "amusing" situations; none of which I found that amusing...

Characters:
I found all of the characters a bit grating, aside from the taller girls (who didn't really talk). Their childish demeanours made it feel like I was watching something aimed at young children. Despite there being a couple of underlying truths about (some) people in the ways the characters acted, I can't say I identified with any of them.

Humour:
Comedy is what this is praised highly for, right? Well, I couldn't understand why... Not only did it not work on multiple levels; the repeated jokes (e.g. one character getting bitten by a cat; flapping pigtails making the girls fly) just felt unwitty and chidlish. In short, they did nothing for me. At the end of each episode I couldn't help but feel it had all been a waste of time and money.

So what're its redeeming qualities? Uhm. Well, the animation itself is pretty nice. Each character has been designed well physically to match the personality of their character. The quality of the DVDs is good... There's a choice of dubs and subs, although whether that's a good thing depends on who you are. Apart from that... I can't really pinpoint any.

When I first heard of this movie, I didn't expect to like it a lot, but it looked good enough to watch so I decided to get it out of curiosity more than anything, and I am very glad I did.

Story:
I felt that the plot - which has already been handled in game and anime series form - was dealt with very well in this movie. It didn't drag on, and there were moments that placed me on the verge of tears. I obviously can't compare it to the game or anime but in a nutshell it's: simple but thought-provoking; heart-warming and heart-wrenching; perfectly ... paced and effective.
If you want to find out what it was about, turn to Wiki! =P

Art/animation:
The art is, to tell the truth, hard to rate. The majority of the time, I thought it beautiful; some of it breath-taking. Some interesting techniques were used to great effect; a good example would be when the screen was divided in the middle, allowing two clips to play simultaneously, as this helped show the two perspectives as they happened synchronously. But I cannot ignore some of the slightly irritating flaws.
Firstly, I didn't like it when short parts of the animation were repeated; one of the techniques used - on several occasions - for emphasis (at least, that's what it felt like it was used for). Not only did this appear lazy, it made the animation static. (I even thought the video was acting up until I realised it was actually MEANT to happen!)
Secondly, while many of them were beautifully drawn, there were a few too many stills. This wouldn't have been too bad had they not tried to make the stills a little more... "exciting" by adding effects - such as blurs and overlays - and over-dramatic shadows! This is forgivable though, as it wasn't done all the time.

Sound:
I have little to say about the voice acting, to be honest. It was in Japanese, so I can't really comment on whether the tone was suitable, but I felt it was, and the voices suited their characters well (which is more than I can say for other animes such as Fushigi Yugi!).
The soundtrack was very good, each track perfectly suited to its corresponding scene. The song "Dango" was, at first, a little embarrassing to listen to (it was so childish >_<), but it soon grew on me and I found it perfectly suited to the story and Nagisa's character. It could be said - although I didn't personally find this - that it was overplayed, as they managed to include several instrumental versions, but this helped to sustain Nagisa's presence, and actually made it all the more heart-wrenching and bittersweet.
One thing was laughable though: Nagisa's giggle! It made me laugh AT her, which is never good.

Character:
I haven't seen the anime - yet - and so can't really compare (a few people have complained about the omission of their favourite character). But perhaps that is a good thing as I can treat this movie as an independent piece of work, and can approach this section without any bias.
I thought that the characters were very good; the main two developed steadily. In fact, I felt there was little to critique.

Nagisa: Surprisingly, I truly loved her character; her sweet, upbeat and warm personality left little to be disliked. And the more the plot revealed, the more I came to appreciate her. Despite the fact she's friendless, due to taking a year out of school (reasons for this are explained), she's hopeful; her ambition, determination and assurance in the face of adversity is something I ended up aspiring to. I didn't even mind her slightly childish side. In fact, I found it endearing - it wasn't a BAD childish side. It added to her character, helping to make this movie the masterpiece it is. Had her character been less innocent and bright (cheerful!), its end would not have been so tragic. Her character is central!

Tomoya: While I didn't like Tomoya as much as Nagisa, I can't flaw his character. I don't agree with what synopsises generally say about him - that he's a delinquent - but he does have a cold side to him, appearing to despise his father, and only relying on his violent - but very comical! - friend for company. However, after he meets Nagisa, this changes; his character - almost - totally changes until the fateful incident (which I shall not mention) that results in him becoming even more introverted in the future, as we are shown. But now I fear ruining the plot...so I'll leave it at that!

The minor characters all had their perks, each endearing in their own way but none of them really appeared enough for me to give them each an individual section.

In conclusion:
Despite my doubts, this is quite possibly my favourite anime movie! There is little left to say that I haven't already but if you're looking for something that's both fun and moving - or just a film that's easy to watch while still remaining meaningful - I'd recommend this! Oh, and it might just soften your heart! =P Anime movies have pulled at my heart strings before, but I don't think any has touched me in the same way this did.

Well, I'm not a fan of Naruto. I didn't watch the series before the movie. I bought the movie to see if it would help me get into the series, and I can't say it did.

First off, I found the story to be slow, although this could be because of my mindframe at the time. By no means should you base choices on my review; I'm not a huge fan of this kind of anime. The quality of the story was somewhat like that of the InuYasha movies, only even slower imo.

The art was as good as any other basic anime really. I won't mark ... it down simply 'cause I disliked Naruto's character design. All else was good, and there were some decent flashback shots.

Sound worked well, but Naruto's voice sucked more than I thought it would; he sounded like a girl! Other than that, the voices were well cast and the music all worked quite well. Okay, it's not my kinda music, but considering what it is, it was good. Perfect for the genre.

The characters were fairly decent; what I saw of them. I might have liked them more had I watched the series, but the only one I disliked at all was Naruto because he was a total stalker! All the other characters were nice enough, but I wouldn't recommend anyone else watch this movie without watching some of the series first. I lacked a lot of background knowledge and so, evidently, felt nothing for anyone.

Enjoyment...well, take it for what it is. Since it's not my kind of anime, I found it slow, dull, monotonous and simply did not like it. But for those who enjoy this kind of anime, with lots of action and not a huge, complex plot: go for it.

Despite what people say, this film was not awful. Okay, it didn't quite match up to the magical, epical, astounding, spellbinding, memorable, groundbreaking quality of the game series, but think of it as a normal SciFi movie and you'll be fine. That's right, SciFi. It's not really what I would classify as fantasy.

The story was quite simple, but decent enough. It had some good qualities, but nothing new. There were a couple of unexpected moments, some romance, action, and some interesting ideas. However, it wasn't nearly as good as what people hoped it to be. I preferred it to Advent Children since it was a ... story in its own right, but it doesn't compare to the game series.

The animation was astounding; the characters looked almost as real as they possibly could have done. For its time, it's groundbreaking. Better than the animation in FFVIII, which was being made at the same time.

The character voices were well cast and the music was serene. It added to the atmosphere, and all those sound effects we take for granted well sleak and done to perfection.

Characters were nice, and better than the plot. Each was unique and, while I didn't learn a lot about them during the film, I felt they were created well.

Considering its length, the time, and the fact it's a part of a series which is loved by millions, I would certainly say this movie is under-rated. It's not got much of a re-watch value, but I'd certainly say go and watch it once. Watch it with an open mind, and forget it's called "Final Fantasy". Think of it as nothing more than "The Spirits Within", and enjoy it for what it is, not what many people hoped it would be.

After reading Fushigi Yugi by Watase, I have been captivated by her work. Not only is the art good, not only is the story good, and not only are the characters believable, but the very ideas she shares through her work are thought-provoking and inspirational. Imadoki is no exception to this.

The story might not be epical, might not work on as many levels as Watase's Fushigi Yugi, but it's just as charming and meaningful. It manages to remind us that we all have different ways of "blooming", of showing who we are, and different reasons to smile. It's not a long manga, so there are ... no fillers at all. The story is simple, works at a steady pace which keeps you wanting to read on. This is one to remember, despite not being totally unique.

The characters are all wonderful; Tanpopo is particularly individual within the story, and a typical Watase woman - very much like the main female in Absolute Boyfriend. She's hated, yet keeps on smiling, and you later find out why. Despite her hardships, she keeps on shining and blooming like the flowers she loves (I'm writing in a cheesy style like the one in the book, so you better not hate it. ;))

The art is possibly Watase at her best. All her characters are so different; to one another and to Watase's previous characters. There are some times where she even draws with a realistic quality.

I enjoyed every moment while reading this manga. I'd say more, but my vocabulary is currenly limited; don't ask me why. I'd recommend it to any Watase fan, and anyone who loves a deep, romantic plot with a charming moral and sweet main character.

I cannot believe that no one has yet submitted a review on this multi level, multi themed, multi quality manga. Because I feel it to be necessary, I am going to separate this review into two halves; two reviews. One for what was meant to be the series (1-13) and one for what became of the series (14-18)

My ratings are actually based on this first review; the main series itself.

First off, the story is astounding; my favourite to date. It was original and intriguing, emotional and inspirational, gripping and not predictable. It worked on several levels, allowing it to appeal to a wider audience than ... possibly intended. It had an epic quality, but at the same time was very romantic and touching. There were moments where I felt water come to my eyes; pathetic? Every moment- every side plot, every back story - added to the overall plot and made it all the more complex and intriguing.

The characters were all unique and fabulous. Their back stories were very good and each one had a radiating personality; whether it was good or evil. They were all believable and individual; no character was similar to another. They also worked excellently together to make the story all that more enjoyable. Their personalities were so strong that it felt as though Watase hadn't planned the story at all; it felt as though the characters were so alive that they ruled and made the outcome of the entire plot.

The art, while not Watase's best, was very good indeed. I loved the character designs and the overall feel of the manga; many have actually asked her to go back to that original style. She's certainly talented.

Overall, I enjoyed it a lot. It was one of those well planned, well paced stories of a perfect length (until Watase added the later chapters). Everything, I felt, was perfect. Worth the read!


As for the second half, those regretfully poor books (14-18).

Story: 3
This was just a saddening, fan-requested addition which dragged on and really added nothing to the story. Think Final Fantasy X, and then X-2. Wonderful story ruined by an unecessary sequal. The only difference is, FY's ending didn't really change at all.

Art: 9
As good as the main - true - part of the series. Same character designs; same style; same quality.

Character: 7
The characters were almost as good as they were in the first 13 books. The only problem is, they no longer developed. Those beloved characters were there to just add a few pointers, and so they truly didn't make spellbinding or inspiring appearances.

Enjoyment: 3
Slow, repetative, pointless, long-winded, samey... Yeah... You get the picture.

Overall: 4
Need I say more? Only read it if you REALLY want to see the slight difference in the end.

When I picked this up off the shelf an odd year ago or so, I wasn't sure what to think. So, here's some help to those of you who aren't sure; what I DID think.

The story itself was, overall, very good, but there were times where a chapter simply added nothing to the overall plot. They felt like filler chapters, but luckily the short length meant there were very few of these. Even so, the story (and side stories) were charming and often fun to read. There were innuendos everywhere; Saati (the main female) didn't understand them and made good humour while Toeni (a second ... female) was much more knowledgeable and had often pointed out the irony. Which brings me smoothly onto characters.

Hitoshi, the main male, is one of those not so good looking but fairly funny, charming and embarrassed main male leads found in many of such mangas (such as Chobits and Love Hina). You couldn't hate him, but at the same time it was possible (from a girl's perspective) to see why no girl loved him. He made some comical moments, seemed to care, yet was as dense as the sweet Saati, who was another typical vulnerable, naive yet inspiring female. The extras and additional characters were also good, and all added that little bit - especially Puppy!

The art itself was nice and detailed; I liked the style of drawing a lot. The characters were all nicely designed and unique, with the exception of the main male who was somewhat typical in appearance too.

Overall, it's a good manga and one certainly worth reading. It's witty, sweet and a good break from what can otherwise be an arduous day.

You should certainly like this if you enjoyed:
-Love Hina
-Chobits
-Ah! My Goddess.

Hope that helps. :)

Recently, I have been looking at various series films, without actually watching the anime beforehand. This was one of the films I picked on amazon, and it was the one and only anime that has ever made me cry. The film, while a little OTT in places, was so deep and heart wrenching that I couldn't help but shed a few tears for the characters.

The story, while fairly simple, was charming and romantic. There were a few unexpected twists, some comical moments, and a couple of brief-ish fight scenes, but the main basis and theme here was romance.

The animation, while not fab, was decent ... and I found it to be quite watchable. Sure, it wasn't as artistic or as sophisticated as animes such as The Place Promised in Our Early Days, but it was decent and held all the charms of anime. I don't think I can knock it for that, so full marks.

The sound was nice, and the music was beautiful; I downloaded the soundtrack after. Each song fitted nicely with the scene, helped to bring out the mood and made each moment feel complete. The dubs weren't too bad at all; Belldandy's voice fitted her nicely, wasn't whiny, but sounded perhaps a little bit vulnerable.

The characters were nice. Belldandy was a rather hopeless female but the strength of the other female characters just about made up for that. I found that, after reading only book 1 of the manga, I understood the links well enough to enjoy each moment in the story and the relationships betweene each of the characters. It is necessary to know a little bit about how it all began, so I recommend reading the first manga or watching the first 2 episodes.

Overall, it was very enjoyable and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the following:
-The actual series
- Love Hina
- A.I. Love You
- Chobits
- Any other anime/manga with a strong love plot.

The story of Immortal Rain is one which captured me from the first page. The serene yet tense atmosphere in the first few pages drew me in instantly. From then on it's full of action, suspense, humour, beauty, romance, symbolism, joy and dispair, regret and hope... All sorts.

The characters are simply superb.The first book allows the reader to get to grips with the personalities of the main two and as the story progresses through the first 4 books, we learn more about Machika and Rain; their backgrounds, their painful memories and hopeful spirits. It makes the two truly enchanting,

The art is, for the ... most part, simply beautiful, and the text makes it memorable. While art is, in truth, highly scarce online, even in black and white it's easy to appreciate the beauty of each message portrated by the work. But let me take the word "art" and apply it to more than just the drawings. The whole feel of the first 4 books is artistic, symbolic and thought provoking.

So why did the story and enjoyment scores suffer? Well, after volume 4, the pace of the plot slows down a little bit. It feels more forced, flows less and has less tension. The relationship between the main characters - Miaka and Rain - appears to have reached its limit, and the two no longer develop as much as they did before. The focus seems to be more on the minor characters, those who I didn't care for as much. While some old characters, those whom I was fond of, were brought back, their presence became almost tedious. Because of this, the plot dragged on a little.

Still, overall, it's a wonderful story. Well worth a read!