Full Moon wo Sagashite

Full Moon wo Sagashite:

    Twelve-year-old Kouyama Mitsuki was devastated when she was diagnosed with a malignant tumor of the throat. She had made a promise to the boy she loves that she would one day become a singer, but her illness made singing impossible. To make matters even worse, two angels of death, Takuto and Meroko, appeared to Mitsuki and informed her that she only had one year left to live. This news provides an even greater motivation for Mitsuki to fulfill her dreams, and with a little bit of divine intervention, she begins her quest to become a professional singer so she can be reunited with Eichi before time runs out.

General Info:

Episodes; 52.

Language; Japanese with English subs.

Review:

    I watch Full Moon wo Sagashite quite a while ago, but I remember crying and loving it a lot. It's a very sweet story about a girl trying to make her dream come true. She's aiming to find the one she loves and develops such sweet relationships along the way. I cried so much in the last couple episodes, and at some before then as well, it really is such a sad story at some points.

   I feel so incredibly bad for Mitsuki because she wants desperately to be a singer, but she has throat cancer. Can you imagine if this were real? Being told that you were to die in a year, and you pull a brave face and try to achieve your dream? I really do admire her.

   Of course I love Takuto, I have a picture of him in cat form in my binder - I know, I'm a loser, but since when did I care? - and I like the role he plays. These two are obviously my favourite, but I don't feel they were the most unique characters. I think Mereko and Eichi (like eh-chi, not E-chi) were the most creative. Mereko because she was an ally and an antagonist at the same time, and Eichi because he plays such a big part even without making his appearance - influencing Mereko, Takuto,  and Mitsuki. It's rare that you find a characters with such a powerful influence even though most of the characters have not even met him.

   Mereko did annoy me a little at times, but she completely redeems herself in my heart at the end. Not in any part of this anime was I overly annoyed or bored, but rather I would get mad at the characters, or feel bad for them. When they were happy, I was, when they were upset, I was too. When Mitsuki was hollow-like, I felt so sad and broken myself - just imagining.

   Not often can I find animes that make me feel this, so I really loved this one. So much, it was wonderful. I could easily watch this three times over, I almost did actually. Brilliant, my compliments to the writer of the manga, I adore your creativity and understanding of emotions.

Must Watch Episodes:

    As I said before I watched this anime a long time ago, so of course I wasn't recording my favourite episodes. I would definitely say that the last episode is a must watch. I would warn you not to look up any of the music from this, though, most of the tracks are accompanied by scenes of the last episode, and it really ruins it for you (almost did for me, but I clicked away quickly).

Rating:

    I would utterly and completely give Full Moon wo Sagashite 5 out of 5 stars. * * * * *

Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi

Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi:
***WARNING: This is what is considered yaoi or shounen ai; in other words, man on man love.***

    Even though Ritsu Onodera hates to rely on family connections, he winds up taking a job as an editor at his parents' company, Marukawa Books. To his chagrin, he's assigned to the shoujo manga department in spite of having no interest or experience in it. And on top of that, he has an awful first impression of his high-handed editor in chief, Masamune Takano. What comes after is a story of first love full of tears and laughter.

General Info:

Episodes; 12.

Language; Japanese with English subs.

Review:

    Yes, another yaoi - I know, bad me, but they are just so cute! Whether it's man on man or man on woman (this sounds more dirty to me for some reason) I don't really care, as long as the plot line is sweet. I wouldn't watch woman on woman, though, not my style. 

    Now that that's out of the way, I shall start my opinion-ing. I actually found this one really cute and I enjoyed every episode! In this one there wasn't as much sex, or if there was it sort of just faded out before it got to explicit. I personally appreciated this mainly because I don't really watch them for the sex scenes.

    Also, I just have to wonder about the logic in this - they are working as editors for a shojo manga - okay, I understand. But really, all of them are gay? Plus people from other departments?? This is what I'm looking to get into (literature), should I expect to be surrounded by homosexual co-workers?? Or perhaps the majority of Japan is gay...? I know I'm being picky, but I can't help it, I have issues with a reality-ish thing being completely unlike reality.  Sorry, but it had to be said.

    Now characters development. Of course, seeing as this one was created by the same people as Junjou Romantica, you have three couples you center around. In fact they give you a touch of relation from Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi to Junjou Romantica, which I sort of giggled and smiled at. If there wasn't a second season for this series I think I would be pretty pissed. Yes, the last episode had some major development and kawaii-ness, but it felt very inconclusive, but this is in a sense hinting at the second season.

     The side couples develop very fast because they only get a couple episodes each, but I like how it's about the other editors. It sort of made them more relate-able when you from Onodera's view point. I especially liked Hatori, Chiaki , and Yuu's relationship because I really liked the Chiaki's personality.

      One thing that annoys me about the animation style is that I could not tell the difference between most of the characters. I knew Onodera because of the green eyes, but I kept getting Ciaki and Kisa confused, and = Hatori, Yokozawa, Takano, and Isaka confused! So a lot of the time I was wondering from whose perspective I was viewing it from, and especially with Onodera whether he was talking to Yokozawa or Isaka...

Must Watch Episodes:

    Agian, I forgot the write down episodes (shame shame), but I remember liked episode 5.

Rating:

    I would give Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi 4.5 stars out of 5. * * * * ½ *

Other:

    At this time the second season is only at episode 5, and assuming it will go to 12, I will wait for it to be completed before I review it. If you want to watch the second season, though, click here.

     

Edit:

    I had totally mixed up the name in this, so I fixed them up. Those who were confused shouldn't be confused anymore - gomen gomen!

Junjou Romantica (2)

Junjou Romantica (2): (The two meaning the second as well)
***WARNING: This is what is called yaoi or shounen ai - in other words, man on man love.***

Junjou Romantica

Junjou Romantica 2

    Misaki is suddenly having some unexpected and odd problems. What started as a need for some college entrance exam tutoring has somehow led him to being romanced by a suave older man who also happens to be his big brother’s best friend. Confused by all of his brand new emotions, Misaki struggles to deal with his suddenly very odd life. And if that wasn't enough, his suitor, Usami, has plenty of issues of his own. A man-child who decorates his room in giant teddy bears and toys, Usami is a famous novelist who also writes steamy boys’ love novels on the side. When Misaki cracks open one of these books and reads sentences like "Misaki licks every inch of Usami's hot body" ...well, let’s just say that all hell breaks loose.

General Info:
Episodes;
First Season - 12.
Second Season - 12.
Language; Japanese with English subs. (Both)

Review:
    Yes! I know! I reviewed two separate seasons together, shame shame. I apologize, but I completely forgot about this (bad) and ended up finished both of them before I realized I was supposed to review them... So of course now I don't know what happened in the first season compared to the second, just one jumbled lovely mess.
    As for the anime, well, well indeed. I am not some pervert or anything, yaoi is good for a girl every once in a while. There are definitely sex scenes - every episode basically, but they aren't very long and they don't just show you them having sex for the sake of showing you them having sex, they only show you bits while they are talking and that actually contributes to the story - but they are only for a couple minutes or so, and opposed to them being there for 'ooo! sex!' they actually do develop the story.
    As for the actual story, I actually quite liked it. Because they were only 12 episodes per season and THREE couples, it doesn't take long until the couples are in a relationship - I mean they have to move it along, right? Even so, all the couples have their problems, but it focuses mainly on Usagi (Usami) and Misaki and their relationship. And of course being the stereotypical person I favoured them over the others.
     I suppose the other two couples were for fillers, but I found it slightly annoying at times, because I didn't really care about Hiro and Nowaki, I cared about Misaki and Usagi!! I did like how they were all connected slightly, but not in a major way. Hiro used to be in love with Usagi, and Hiro works with Miyagi who's with Shinobou, so the college is sort of their connection.
     Either way, I enjoyed this series a lot, and thought it was quite cute and funny!

Must Watch Episodes:
    Again, gomen, I completely forgot about having to review this, so I actually didn't write down any of my favourite episodes, but I would say any that centered on Misaki and Usagi (which was most of them save a few).

Rating:
    I would give both Junjou Romantica and Junjou Romantica 2 (space, no connecting the two and four) 4.5 stars out of 5. * * * * ½ *