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- JoinedJan 17, 2008
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Jan 1, 2009
Many people have overlooked or dismissed this anime. At first glance it seems rather bland. It's pleasant and cute. It has no sex to speak of. There's nothing most people would find offensive about it, even for their children to watch. In fact, what it is, is the perfect anime for young girls before they are ready for young adult material, but after they are children. I'm no expert in defining what age watches or reads what these days, so I am not going to give specific ages. The basis of my opinion is that it has
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two cute girls (not the moe cute type, the real girl cute type); a genial, somewhat nerdy older brother, who is not a great catch in the looks department but is very nice; and a male friend who is cute as someone in the junior high age range is, in the same way that the girls are cute. There are many comedic moments, and the main story is that of discovering that there are other people that will accept the person you are, even if you were rejected in the past. The individual episodes or story arcs are occult or horror mysteries, not terribly gruesome, but just like a ghost story kids will tell at a slumber party or around a campfire to amuse each other. There are even hints of romance among the main characters, without much overt demonstration of it. The general mood is one of light-heartedness, with the reminder that there are serious issues to be confronted in growing up.
The opening and closing animations are very attractive to young girls just discovering hanging out with friends, going shopping, or trying on clothes; the closing sequence is a bit romantic. The musical styles of the opening and closing songs are a bit unusual but have a more modern and original pop style than is usually seen in anime. All in all I recommend it highly for young girls especially, but I think other people can enjoy it too.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jun 10, 2008
I'm only bothering to write this review because I want to save some other unfortunate people from having to read this truly bad yaoi manga. The question is asked at the beginning: will the lost son of the family be drawn into the dark world of the Tsai family? Or will he be able to overcome the handicap of his birth? Well, at the end, the same question is asked, and even the author admits she had no idea what the answer to that (and other) questions are. In other words, the story doesn't go anywhere at all. Actually it
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goes in a circle leading back to where it started. Not to mention, you aren't even really sure which character is the lost son. At first you assume it's the main character, and then it looks like it's someone else.
In addition, several threads are introduced in this story that remain loose at the end (maybe you could say all the threads!). Basically this is a story of only questions with no answers. In some cases, that might actually might make for an interesting philosophical exploration--but these questions aren't that profound.
In fact, that the story has the label Yaoi at all is surely a mistake. It's barely even a slashable story.
Well, the art's not awful. The characters, at least some of them, actually have some personality and motivation and are even likeable. There is actually some plot even if it isn't important to answering the main questions posed by the story. The story just seems to end in the middle.
I wonder if it's possible that this story is not a stand-alone contrary to any information I could find. That would be the only thing that could save this story.
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
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Mar 16, 2008
This story is about what happens when a boy finds out he is really a girl. It seems that this actually occurs in real life more often than you would think. Even the author reveals in a long note that she had received a letter telling the story of someone to whom the succession of events was almost eerily similar.
There is a bit of disjointed-ness due to the fact that the mangaka had originally intended for the story to end with Volume 1. Due to the urging of many letter-writers, and especially that of a fellow mangaka and good
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friend, the second volume was written. I feel the dilemma of choosing a satisfactory love-interest was solved well in Volume 2. When you read it you'll know what I mean, but it would have been especially hard for the mangaka to make a decision here. I think she did a good job in the end. This resulted in connecting The Day of Revolution with Princess Princess, also.
Since this was written before Princess Princess the art is not as refined in The Day of Revolution, but it is still attractive and fairly well-done.
Character development is probably the most important aspect of this story as we see, in a light-hearted way for the most part, what might go through the mind of a person who had to change his sex, and the reaction of those around him/her, and in turn her reaction to those reactions, etc. Although there is some angst, it is not over-emphasized, but there are some serious thoughts portrayed here.
I did enjoy the story, although I would have like a little more development of the main romance and I would have like to have seen the other "suitors'" have a resolution of sorts as well (poor guys!)
I would recommend this story to those who like gender-bender comedies, romance, and anyone who likes Princess Princess. This is basically of the shoujo genre.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Mar 11, 2008
First of all, this is an anthology, which isn't apparent anywhere in the adverizing. No two stories connect. And the blurb in the advertizing is misleading even regarding the story it refers to. However, the back cover blurb is pretty accurate. Not all the stories are yaoi or boys' love, or even really love stories, although love is a theme in all of them. There are definitely some unexpected twists in most of the stories. Some of the stories are of the type where not much happens--a mood is established, a fact is stated, then, like a joke, the
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punchline occurs. It's like a haiku poem.
The other three stories are developed to a degree, like a normal story, but I think the plots rely very much on the twist at the end of the story rather than a real resolution. Two of the stories in the volume I would call science fiction or fantasy. Only one of them could be called a traditional love story (the title story).
The art is well-drawn, although not top-of-the-line.
Character development is not extensive but does occur in a couple of the stories, while not at all in the shorter vignettes I mentioned above. The final story in the volume has the most character growth, and is really the point of that story.
I have mixed feelings about the stories in this volume. I thought there was no point to my having read the shorter stories at all, and they certainly have no reread value. Two of the other stories I probably wouldn't want to read again, and the title story I might come back to if I'm really bored. I suppose that means that the impact of the stories are too dependent on the secret endings, and once you know that, the panel-by-panel course of the stories are just not very interesting or attractive, and the art just isn't enough to make up for that lack.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Mar 9, 2008
This series is basically an exploration of work--how much time should be devoted to it, what kind of priority should be placed on it, what kind of approach should be taken to it, and how this all balances and affects the other aspects of a person's life, especially relationships. The answer to these questions is shown to be different for different people, but it doesn't make any person better or worse than the other. Everyone has to develop their own work philosophy. There's not much of a connected story-line, except how the main characters' divergent work lives
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eventually affect their relationships. Although several characters' viewpoints on this subject are touched upon, that is mainly because they contrast so greatly with that of the main character. In the course of revealing these alternative lifestyles, the main character comes to both question and accept her own behavior in regard to work and relationships, but also to understand that others are different. Ultimately the characters all grow, even if the outcome isn't always happy. I found the reflections in this series to be helpful in refining my own view about my place in the work world.
I thought that the ultimate conclusion was rather inspiring despite some sad events, since the main characters have made some decisions about where they are happiest and therefore aren't constantly in the future going to be devoting so much worry to the question of whether they are doing the right thing or not. In short, they are happier people in the long run, having come to terms with their own personalities.
However, there was just one small frustration about the ending that I won't reveal because it's too much of a spoiler, but I would have liked it if they had developed this aspect just a little bit more.
Note: It must be kept in mind that much of this was inspired by the current situation in the Japanese workplace, and for Japanese women in particular, although many aspects will be familiar to those from any culture and place.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Mar 1, 2008
Stangely enough, this is one of my favorites.
I'm not really sure why that is, except that everything comes together in such a way as to make me want to see the video over and over in its entirety.
The video consists of two separate stories. (That's two of the seven stories of the original manga.) Although not long, each story is set up and the plot is developed enough to establish an interest in something other than the sex--i.e., the characters and their situations.
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Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of sex of the male-male kind. Although explicit, it isn't so explicit that you wonder why you're concentrating on that body part so much, and the emotion of both partners before, after, and during the sex is portrayed in such a way as to be moving. The first story is told from a first person perspective, getting you more deeply into the mind of one character. In the short time allowed for plot and character development that may be beneficial, but you still get to know the other character somewhat as well. Also that means you can directly experience the emotion of that character. The plot is developed adequately, and resolves satisfyingly, but not without some plot conflict, so the path is a bit unpredictable.
The art is attractive and the men are attractive too. One other reviewer did comment that the ukes (especially) look alike, and I agree, but there is significant personality difference (and hair color!) to distinguish them. Everything is given a golden glow which has a romantic effect. The bodies look like men's bodies, even if somewhat young ones. Maybe one other problem (which is relatively minor in this video compared with other similar ones that I've seen) is the use of static images and repetitive sequences, but it's not too annoying here, and the action still moves along well enough.
I rarely find a problem with sound in these videos, maybe my ear isn't subtle enough? But there are no overt annoyances, in any case.
The characters are quite well developed for such a short time, and nobody is underage, which is a nice change of pace. All the characters are likeable as well.
Overall I get a really romantic happy feel from watching this video. It's sweet and sexy at the same time without being sappy. I'd recommend this to all Yaoi fans and anyone else with an open mind.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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