User:Quasirandom/sandbox

for quick ref: Shogakukan Award cite • Kodansha Award cite 1977–2005 2002–on • Seiun Award cite

Reviewer refs for Aria (manga)
New for reception; see also Talk:Aria (manga):


 * - "Her open, deep eyes express her curiosity and acceptance of the wonders that surround her. It’s comforting to read about such a happy character, enjoying her life and work." "The art, lovely to look at in its detail, reinforces the slower-paced appreciation of life and work. To get the most out of reading it, take your time and enjoy the scenery. The book is a pleasant, relaxing read, with deep meaning subtly presented. Traveling with Akari is a marvelous ride."


 * - "I appreciate her wide-eyed innocence. It’s a great reminder to slow down and consider the turning of the seasons and the appealing factors of each. Some will complain that nothing happens in this series, but I really enjoy seeing Akari’s approach to the world, where everything is new and wonderful. Customs and rituals like those she learns about are important markers of time passing. They should be appreciated and welcomed." "The art is perfectly suited to this kind of meditative storytelling. Lovely images of what Akari sees in her world encourage the reader to ponder both her surroundings and by extension their own." "That’s only half the book, and already, it’s well worth the read."


 * Comics Worth Reading: Best Manga 2008 - one of the best continuing manga of the year. "It’s simply lovely to look at."


 * (used once) - "Yes, it’s a bathing suit chapter, but the clothes are reasonable, and instead of body parts, the emphasis is on the fun and relaxation of the beach. The younger girls have never swum in an ocean before, and their feelings of joy and discovery are apparent in the art." "The key message of the series is spelled out here, too. Akari enjoys life so much because she chooses to be happy. It’s that simple … and a wonderful reminder to the reader of how to stop and relax." "Amano plays with mirage and illusion as Akari encounters a hidden cool place populated by cats, in a mystical story that reminds me of some of the early tales in the series." "This entry in the series has it all: the quiet wonder that’s the bedrock appeal of the books; exploration of the world’s mythology; fantasy, action, humor, astounding art. The only thing I’m left wondering is why every character’s name begins with an A."


 * - "The art is fantastic. Amano presents Neo-Venezia with wonderful architecture, lots of open water, floating islands with gondolas and airships. Mars never looked better." "The layout is simple but with nice art inside all those panels, I really did not think about it too much. This is done purposely to keep the focus on the detailed background art." "Character designs are very nice. Whether it is the women or the cool mars cats they are all done with a lot of style. A good mix of thick and thin lines gives off a slightly flat feel" "ARIA continues to be a wonderful escape ... ARIA is a does little to make its readers think; instead it makes its readers feel. It focuses its attention to the senses, by creating scenes that force readers to appreciate the subtleties of life’s journeys." "There was a time when I felt Amano was taking readers to on a trip where the senses were overwhelmed by beauty and tranquility. Now, I feel as if Amano is trying to get readers to appreciate what they already have around them." "ARIA is perfect if you are looking for something relaxing in a manga. It does not stimulate with writing or fan service, but what it does do is refresh the mental and spiritual palette and gives me a sense of longing for what I might be missing."


 * - "Aria will not make you laugh out loud or cause your heart to hammer in excitement. Its charm is Akari's youthful energy and innocence. When she makes a discovery about Neo-Venezia, her delight livens up the otherwise mediocre story. If not for Akari, there'd be no real reason to care about Neo-Venezia" "Aqua is not exciting." "Despite my crotchety attitude, Aria still has a few moments that are fun in their simplicity." "Aria is gentle, quiet and even relaxing if you're in the right mood. If you pick it up with these expectations, the manga will work for you. If you're expecting action, intrigue and great big fires, definitely look elsewhere."


 * - "With a horizontal cover design rather than the usual vertical one and bright, saturated art, this book practically jumps off the shelf." "Kozue Amano's strength is cute girls, and she definitely knows how to play to his (sic) strengths. Aria's art is adorable, even when the girls have funny expressions. She has a strong grasp of anatomy and is definitely fond of showing off her characters in unusual poses. There's a lot of detail packed into each panel, but never enough that the pages seem busy or cluttered, and her backgrounds are simply gorgeous." "From beginning to end this book is utterly charming." "Akari's attitude is refreshing - she just sits back and enjoys life for what it is, rather than wanting something more than she already has." "While nothing really happens in the way of major events, the simple slice-of-life stories have an appeal that's sure to grab both casual manga readers along with more serious collectors. There's a lot to love here, and I can't wait for the next volume. Recommended."


 * - "Kozue Amano's artwork is strikingly beautiful on all fronts." "Even more impressive is the background art, which gives a real sense of place to the story. Every piece of architecture is different from the next, and each is given some sense of detail, whether it be brickwork revealed from crumbling sheetrock, peeling paint, or side-by-side arched windows with lattices. The more natural surroundings also get their due; skies, in particular, seem to stretch on forever." "As the volume has almost no action to speak of, it instead keeps the reader interested in the art through the use of various angles and page layouts." "the layout is never confusing or difficult to follow." "Aqua is also not a prequel to Aria; Aria is instead the continuation of Aqua, given a different name when its serialization switched to a second magazine." "Akari's sentimental musings do manage to sound appropriately "sappy," as Aika would put it, without being turned into a cloying mess." "Fans of the original printing by ADV Manga may be a little disappointed though, as Aika's catchphrase has become "no sappy remarks allowed!"" "Considered to be the ultimate slice-of-life manga by many of its fans, Aqua gets off to a solid start within the first volume." "There is little to hook the average reader with that kind of summary, which is one of the problems with the Aqua series. Things do happen, but they happen so slowly that many readers may just be bored." "Again, although events do progress in a slow, relaxing manner, four of the five chapters seem to accomplish something in terms of creating a larger storyline. Yet it is the third chapter, in which little of consequence happens, which is the most charming one. Akari's wonder at her new surroundings is in full force in this chapter, as she expresses her amazement at the flooded streets of the city and the beauty of Neo-Venezia. Having already read the three volumes of Aria put out years ago by ADV, I can safely say that things like this are the heart of the series. The lead character's appreciation of the beauty around her, which others seem to appreciate less as they have grown up on Aqua and seen them all before, is infectious." "However, it is Akari's ability to find joy in the smallest of things that makes Aqua such a delightful read for those who enjoy their manga calm and relaxing."


 * - "The heroines of Aria are all female gondoliers, and when they're not working, they're out and about the city, having incredibly uplifting adventures." "Co-starring with them is their porky animal friend President Aria, a dog-looking cat-type creature whose anthropomorphic behavior is one of the highlights of this delicate and wonderful show." "Over the years, Right Stuf has released a couple of these lackadaisical slice-of-life shows (like the underrated Piano), and they're absolutely splendid. If you've been hankering for a show that's as laid back as they come, Aria is really the way to do it. It's cheerful and optimistic, and floats through each episode like a big ray of sunshine dipped in candy." "Aria is not for people whose cynicism has taken over their lives. The girls probably wouldn't know that it was possible to be cynical. They're so innocent and plucky that I'm sure nothing could possibly cloud their days." "Of course, it's not for impatient viewers, either. Aria is an experience that needs to be soaked up over the span of each episode. There are no jokes, there is no drama—things just unfold at a slow, but organic pace, and by the end of everything, you're just supposed to have a big ol' smile on your face."


 * - "You could grow old and grey waiting for Aria to go somewhere. Waiting for something, anything to happen. Akari, Alice and Aika, as loveable as they are, don't evolve much, the stories are more poetry than narrative, and the height of drama is watching a luminous wind-chime slowly die out." "But to describe it in terms of narrative propulsion is to do the series a gross injustice. Aria isn't a journey, it's a place." "And all of it refracted through Akari's childlike lens, where every experience, be it part-timing for long-term citizens or simply going shopping, is a magical adventure of enchanting beauty." "Yes it's corny as hell, and sweet enough to rot teeth at a hundred yards, but Kozue Amano's original manga isn't called a “futuristic healing comic” for nothing. The world she and director Junichi Sato weave is ridiculously uplifting, an animated dose of Prozac for even the darkest of days. Warmly humorous, unflaggingly optimistic and determined to find magic in everyday life, Aria is the closest you can get to hug therapy with something as cold and inanimate as a television screen." "As much as Aika, Alice or even Akari, Neo-Venezia is the star Aria. Sato lends the city a very real sense of place, breathing life into it with lovely backgrounds and layered sound. Beautifully lit and carefully illustrated, the city comes alive as it weathers winter, shimmers through summer and idles through spring. With as little action as the series has, Sato is allowed to focus on telling details—the movement of trees, the rippling, crystal clarity of ocean water, the wind ruffling the hair of Amano's lovely characters." "Thoughtful sound design gives the city's lazy rhythms a concrete feel, weaving the sounds of water, wind, birds and the city itself into the visuals. The score complements rather than competes with the sound design, contributing homey instrumentals and the late Eri Kawai's incomparable vocals to a tapestry of sound every bit as gorgeous as the city it occupies." "When asked why he named this season “The Natural,” Sato claimed that it was because he wanted it to flow naturally. He succeeds brilliantly." "The Natural is less a sequel than a direct continuation of its predecessor."


 * About.com: Aqua v1 | Aqua v2


 * Anime Boredom (now Homemademech): Aria v1 Aria v3


 * Comics Village: Aqua 1


 * Erica Friedman: Aqua 1-2 | Aria 4-5-6 | Aria 7 | Aria 10 | Aria 9 | Aqua 1 Tokyopop | Aria 11


 * IGN UK: Aria v1


 * Manga Life: Aria v2


 * - "this enjoyable series" "Apparently, Mars circa 2301 is considered backwards compared to Earth, but interestingly, that only means it’s slightly more advanced than the Earth we all know." "“Hi-jinks” might have been the wrong word, since the action is as sedate as a voyage on calm waters" "The only tonal shift might be in “Sun Shower,” a chapter in which she visits a traditional-style Japanese shrine. Here, the canals of Neo-Venezia are traded in for lush forestry and textured stone, but there’s also a procession of masked figures and an atmosphere of quiet mystery." "If there is an underlying message throughout this first volume of Aria, it’s that life is full of magical moments and people should enjoy them." "Akari seems to teach that to somebody in almost every chapter. She also embodies that sentiment; whether lost on vacation, performing manual labor, or being stood up by a friend, she’s one of those relentlessly-upbeat life forms spotting the silver lining in every dark cloud."


 * - "I'm only giving Aria an "A-" instead of an "A" because it's a slice-of-life story, and I can't really recommend it to just anyone safely. The lackadaisical storytelling might be too slow for some, and indeed, normally, I don't go for this sort of thing." "Akari wants to be a great Undine someday, but this isn't a sports manga. She doesn't meet her rival, she doesn't have a hidden talent that will make her the greatest Undine ever someday." "Each chapter is a different little story about the life of Akari." "There's not much conflict in Aria. No one is saving the world, no one is the chosen one, no one is a horrible dark enemy who deserves to die. Normally, I wouldn't like a story like this at all." "The art in Aria takes the cake. Every page is ridiculously beautiful. And it's not just stand-alone exposition-shot-style panels that are well drawn. There's a cumulative effect to the art that really draws you in and makes you feel like you're in Neo-Venezia." "Of course it turns out alright, but the point of the story isn't the conflict. In Aria, the point of the story is the setting. It is place as character." "The fox story was so beautiful it blew me away. Even though there's very little dialog in that chapter, it brings new life to the words "sequential art." The whole book is so beautiful that I finished the first volume feeling relaxed." "However, I can't really recommend Aria without hesitation. There's no conflict, the characterizations aren't terribly deep, there's no romance, no fighting, and almost no action at all."

for these, see User:KrebMarkt/Translation:


 * Bd Gest (French): Aqua v1 Aria v1


 * Manga sanctuary (French): Aqua 1-2 | Aria 2-3-4-5


 * Manga news (French): Aria V1 | Aria V2 | Aria V3 | Aria V4 | Aria V5 | Aria V6


 * Planetebd (French): Aria V1 | Aria V2 | Aria V6


 * DVD Talk (30 September 2008): http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/35777/aria-the-animation-season-1/
 * Active Anime (27 November 2008) : http://www.activeanime.com/html/content/view/4232/57/
 * Otaku Review (7 November 2008) : http://www.otakureview.net/article.asp?id=1495

See also Talk:Aria (manga)

Already used:


 * - "An emigrant from Manhome, Akari is utterly enchanted by her new and exotic surroundings, and especially her adopted hometown of Neo-Venezia, an evocative recreation of Venice, Italy."






 * - "The narrative circulates around these three girls - and this is what makes Aqua different from other high-school girl series - these three girls alone. The supporting cast includes cats, passing undines, and an omnipresent mailman. There are no boys, no panty-shots, no cleavage or girl-on-girl action. Aqua is focused very much on the peaceful dynamic of the three and the small adventures that they go on. Their characters develop not in opposition to a male figure, but in relation to each other." "it's a series that has been described as "slice-of-life." But more accurately, Aqua is a slowly unraveling adventure on a submerged planet and life on top of it." "Whimsical, smooth, the measured pace of the chapters follows a "slice-of-life" rhythm, but in a magical, imaginative frontier."








 * ANN S1 - - "cradling it all is Neo-Venezia, alive with wind and water, its lived-in architecture and golden, benevolent mysteries creating a world of such gentle beauty that neither the impossibly nice cast, nor their embarrassingly uplifting adventures, feels the least bit out of place." "It's a fantasy of course—no where in the real world does as idyllic a city as Neo-Venezia or as indefatigably positive a person as Akari exist—but it's a gorgeous, seductive fantasy. In Sato's world of clean natural beauty and lazy Mediterranean living, even Akari's “sappy lines” (as Aika calls them) fall from her lips like wholly appropriate poetry (helped, of course, by a sweetly convincing performance from Erino Hazuki)."


 * Mania.com S1 - - "People who live here from birth are obviously quite adjusted to it, with its lack of roads and mainland transportation, and find moving about its small streets and using gondolas as something that is extremely nature. For those who come from Manhome, an interesting naming convention for Earth apparently, it’s often quite jarring for them and it turns into a love it or hate it kind of relationship depending on the person." "Alice brings some gentleness to the cast that Akari doesn’t quite bring and the growth of friendship between the trio is enhanced by her presence."






 * IGN S1 - - "What Aria's really about is how Akari floats through life in a constant blissed-out haze, marveling at how lovely the world around her is and how nice everyone is and how beautiful life can be."


 * THEM S1 - - "And Aria IS a bit of a hard sell. Girls rowing gondolas in what appears to be a replica of Venice, right down to the name?" "The show itself is mainly character driven, as we're taken through various days in the lives of Akari and her friends and mentors. As such, the show tends to be rather episodic, the passing of time only shown through the changing of seasons." " ... she finally comes to love the town and its inconvenient, old-fashioned ways." "Aside from the optimistic-to-a-fault Akari and the slightly cynical Aika, who tends to make a habit of telling Akari that "tacky/embarrassing lines are prohibited", we also have another quiet and, at the beginning, out of touch with herself girl in Alice"


 * THEM S2 - - "Granted, all the episodes features Akari doing a little monologue, mostly reading out loud from her correspondance with Ai, the little girl she met in the very first episode of the very first season."


 * THEM S3 - - "That's fifty-three episodes of quiet, reflective gentleness, of friendship, discovery and introspection and most of all, a joyful love of a simple life and its mixture of modernism and nostalgia." "It's a character portrait, a city portrait and a mirror to the real-life Venice whom this futuristic-yet-not image has been based upon."

Reviewer refs for Walkin' Butterfly
new:


 * PopCultureShock v2-3: http://www.popcultureshock.com/manga/index.php/reviews/manga-reviews/walkin-butterfly-vols-2-3/

to be used for characters/plot:


 * ANN v1 - - "She adores motorcycles and mechanics and hates girly fashion. She loses her temper easily. She even soliloquizes with over the top, classic shounen declarations along the arduous path to victory: “Now I'm one step closer to that guy!! I'm closing the distance between us!!”"


 * About.com v1 - - "A likeably imperfect heroine who's strong without being stereotypical" "After years of rejection, this 19-year old high school dropout has built up a hard shell around her heart that hides the pain and lack of self-confidence that makes her feel like a failure in life and in love."


 * Mania v1 - - "Despite the fact that this is a manga about a girl's foray into modeling, don't expect pretty, refined pictures here, and Michiko is certainly not a "cute" character." "Michiko is a very angry, very emotional character, and every few pages, her face is distorted to an almost demonic quality as she expresses rage, surprise, and anguish." "Michiko has always stood out -- literally. As the tallest girl in her class, she's always been teased by people and rejected by the boys. As a result, she's developed a huge complex about her height. Now at 19, she's a former delinquent and high school dropout without a steady job who is too insecure to confess to the man she is in love with. She's dying to change, but she feels trapped within her own body."


 * PopCultureShock v1 - - "When we first meet Michiko, she’s a foul-mouthed, foul-tempered nineteen-year-old with no career prospects, no friends, no money and, thanks to her reckless driving, no ride."


 * Comics Worth Reading v1 - - "Michiko is very tall, and as a result, she’s always stood out. She hates her body and the way it’s shaped her life." "She doesn’t realize that she must take responsibility for the life she’s living. Sure, she’s gawky, but she had friends, until she drove them away with her unpleasantness and stupid choices. She feels unlovable because she was rejected during a schoolgirl crush, due to her height, but she too easily seizes on the evidence that reinforces her poor self-image, ignoring that which offers a different view." "But she needs some direction, some goal, and it’s the only one she’s got for now."


 * Comics Worth Reading v2 - - "Her first task is to learn how to walk in high heels. She gives up quickly, embarrassed to be so tall, but more because she has no work ethic, no understanding of the time and effort needed to achieve meaningful goals, without quick gratification." "Her lack of patience makes her too eager to rush ahead into things she’s not ready for (but she’s unaware). She doesn’t realize the gifts she’s been given, like her teacher’s attention. She has no trust and no knowledge; about all she does have is stupid determination. And a bipolar personality that swings abruptly from baseless confidence to abject apathy."


 * Comics Worth Reading v3 - - "Seeing someone else quit gives Michiko new determination to pursue her dream, although she’s equally driven by escaping a nightmare, by getting a chance to redo a scene from her past in a better way." "Plus, for a book about fashion, there aren’t nearly enough drawings that show off impressive clothes."

Reviewer refs for Fruits Basket
for use in character articles -- starred have been already used somewhere:


 * GN19: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/fruits-basket/gn-19 - "Tohru is in an agony of doubt, denial and self-recrimination after realizing she may care more about Kyo than her deceased mother, throwing the carefully maintained order of her emotional world into chaos." "Tohru's attempts to reconcile her current feelings and goals with the trauma that forged her personality" MORE


 * GN2: http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/manga/manga.php?manga_view=56 - "***She [Tohru] is the glue that helps keep everyone together and the reason why Kyo and Yuki do things they consider out of character.*** The volume really brings up more questions than it answers, but ***every time I see Tohru, I can't help not smiling. Her spirit is really infectious and she's cheerful in a way that's not grating on your nerves.***"


 * GN3: http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/manga/manga.php?manga_view=118 - "Shigure appreciates Tohru for what she has done for his family. He considers her as a "tranquilizer" for Yuki and Kyo's outbreaks. In many ways, she is their buffer and tends to keep them in check. ... ***This works well for Shigure. He likes to see his plan is working and even if it does not appear to be done with malice, he feels that he is taking advantage of Tohru.***" "I really wonder how Tohru can take all of this. One can see that she is not all together at times. ***There are times where she sacrifices herself too much to make others happy, eventually causing her stress and more work."***


 * GN4: http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/manga/manga.php?manga_view=961 - "Akito formally meets Tohru and puts the pressure on Yuki to return to the Sohma compound - giving some insight into the abuse that Yuki suffered." "That guy [Akito] is just plain creepy."


 * GN5: http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/manga/manga.php?manga_view=1059 - "At first, it seems like Shigure's just using the trip to cause trouble for his relatives and his editor, but then we learn that he actually has a more selfless motive--Hatori's former fiancé is getting married and taking Hatori away for the week is his way of trying to support his cousin."


 * GN6: http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/manga/manga.php?manga_view=1060 - "Kazuma’s character and his motivation especially are more clearly presented than in the anime version, which felt rushed."


 * GN7: http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/manga/manga.php?manga_view=1061 - "Tohru, however, encourages Hiro in Tohru-fashion, and in the end, Hiro winds up accepting Tohru (but in his own smart-alecky way)." "At first, Arisa's disgusted, but through certain circumstances, Arisa ends up being influenced by Kyoko and Tohru for the better."


 * GN11: http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/manga/manga.php?manga_view=1155 - "As her desire to free the Juunishi intensifies so does Kyo and Yuki's desire to protect her."


 * GN12: http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/manga/manga.php?manga_view=1156 - "Her grandfather throws out his back, and when she goes to visit him, he brings up memories that Tohru has been trying to shut away." ***"Takaya is really showing Tohru's baggage and weaknesses now. That, I think, makes Tohru more appealing and easier to relate to than if she really were as completely carefree and optimistic as she initially appears."***


 * GN13: http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/manga/manga.php?manga_view=1248 - "Yuki's been dreading his parent-teacher conference and with good reason. This meeting means having to confront his controlling mother -- and possibly losing all of the self-confidence he has gained since leaving the family compound." "However, their [Yuki and Kakeru's] interactions push Yuki towards change -- change that Yuki eventually decides isn't so bad after all."


 * GN16: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/fruits-basket/gn-16 - "Meanwhile Kyo tortures himself over his feelings for Tohru, "While Yuki is on the path to self-healing, Kyo suffers from a poignant mix of impossible desire and potent self-hatred."


 * GN17: http://manga.about.com/od/reviews/gr/FruitsBasket17.htm - "However, the main focus is on the twisted love triangle between Akito, Kureno and Shigure" "Surprising revelations about sadistic Akito, loyal Kureno and even easy-going Shigure come fast and furiously. You'll find yourself reading several passages twice just trying to keep a scorecard of the Sohma's dysfunctional family circus." "Her [Tohru's] relationship with Kyo is another source of tension (although not necessarily in a bad way), as both teens find themselves wrestling with their growing romantic attraction to each other."


 * GN19: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/fruits-basket/gn-19 - "Yuki in the meantime gently, tentatively courts emotionally scarred fellow student council member Machi." "Looking at the series now it's sometimes a bit difficult to imagine that it was once a light—if melancholy—comedy. The sadness that once lay just beneath the surface has now risen to the top and is boiling furiously there." Kyo's conflicting despair and affection, and Tohru's desperate grappling with the depth and true darkness of the Sohma curse twist together to form a formidable web of dripping angst." "Takaya hasn't forgotten how to break the tension with silly humor, and enough goofy Kakeru and Ayame moments are scattered about to keep the dark internal monologues from growing overbearing."


 * DVD1: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/fruits-basket/dvd-1 - "It falls to Tohru's upbeat spirit to show the members of the Sohma family what it means to have a normal life."


 * DVD3: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/fruits-basket/dvd-3 - "Through Tohru's endearing stream-of-consciousness prattle and willingness to help each Sohma's personal problems, the inner secrets and depth of personality of each character is developed and strengthened in a time frame as quick as one episode." When she does break down and cry, viewers are pulled into the same puddle of sorrow, caught with the thought that “Tohru's crying? She never cries; why is she crying? This must be really ridiculously sad.”"


 * DVD1-4: http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=search&sval=Fruits+Basket&article_no=1900 (review by Fred Patten) - "As a result, the hot-tempered Kyo is in constant rivalry with Yuki, who accuses Kyo of using an ancient legend to excuse himself of responsibility for his own failings." "Tohru gradually realizes that Kyo’s explosive temper and Yuki’s sometimes-haughty manners both hide the insecurity of teens attempting to live like normal people while hiding their embarrassingly freakish abnormalities."


 * DVD1-4: http://dvd.ign.com/articles/841/841020p1.html - ***"Shigure is the older, female-crazed writer who is always joking or saying inappropriate comments. He is a ball of laughs and adds greatly to the overall feel of the series. I can honestly say that without the addition of Shigure's character Fruits Basket would not be as strong."*** "Fruits Basket deals with some adult issues of abuse and neglect as we dive deeper into the Sohma back-story."


 * DVD1-4: http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/disc_reviews/6834.php - "Kyo has a very brash and harsh attitude that he uses to cover his feelings of inferiority and loneliness." "Further into the show we are given some hints that there is the possibility of someone breaking the Sohma curse. It’s clear that Shigure and some of the other Sohmas think that Tohru might be able to do so."


 * DVD1-4: http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=275 - "Much of the focus of the story is how she slowly changes the lives of those around her, especially the Souma family." "Shigure is like a fun-loving kid stuck in a compliant adult body." "Tooru's two best friends, while rather strange, are examples of what friendship really should be like. They always look out for her, especially since they knew her mother, and are her support when she needs them."


 * DVD1-4: http://www.uk-anime.net/article.asp?IntID=14&strPageNo=1 - Fruits Basket one of the 10 best animes. "For possibly the first time in this country, we had a shoujo anime that appealed to both genders, managed to enrapture through sheer force of storytelling and gave us 3 dimensional characters with enough depth and emotional pull to ensure its success as a sleeper hit." "When Funimation re-dubbed the anime into English, they provided one of the finest Western vocal tracks I’ve heard in years. This was one of the fist anime I’d ever watched where I preferred the Western dub to the native Japanese, and that’s one hell of an achievement." "Kyo is a key character, as his counterpart is not one of the Chinese zodiac. Legend tells us the cat was tricked by the Rat into missing the feast held by God, and therefore losing his place with the other animals. ***This animosity is aimed directly at Yuki, who may look like delicate girl, but is more than capable of defeating Kyo without so much as trying.*** *****This dynamic, of the two quarrelling teenagers increasingly calmed by the gentle female presence, is a wonderful creation – Kyo provides us with action, Yuki carries dignity, and ***Tohru is gentle without being wishy-washy, providing the show’s heart. Sure, she’s a push over at times, but she finds courage when she needs it, and has help from others when things become too much.*** The balance is nigh on perfect.*****" "Most feared of them all is the mysterious Akito Sohma, whose life is pivotal to the survival of the other family members, despite his lack of a Zodiac persona."

Reviewer refs for High School Debut
To be digested:


 * ANN: v8 review


 * CWR: v8 review

For character references (also check for reuses in the article):


 * Mania.com: - "And the heroine’s simplicity is nothing short of delightful when she and Makoto describe what it is they like about Yoh, still not aware of the fact that they are talking about the same person. Makoto’s long, complicated answer involves hesitation and qualifications, whereas Haruna’s is nothing if not straightforward and simple." "Her main appeal has always been that she is too sweet and simple to make any attempts at being conniving, but delivering love letters to your boyfriend from his ex seems a bit extreme. It’s a mix of weakness and kindness, something only Haruna would do, and shouldn’t negatively impact anyone who’s been enjoying the series so far too much." "Haruna's worrisome nature is always entertaining to watch." "A bland ex can't ruin a volume that is, in the end, focused on the development of the charming main couple."


 * - "Kawahara also sneaks in a few laugh-out-loud moments that make fun of every half-baked dating or fashion tip you've ever read in teen magazines. Add in her likeable artwork and well-paced story, and you have a shojo romantic comedy that's already on the short list of my favorite new manga for 2008." "Strong male and female main characters share a real friendship, not just a flirtation" "Female lead Haruna is strong, sincere, sweet, funny and flawed – A heroine worth cheering for"


 * - "Great character development; new facets of the supporting characters are revealed" "Fabulously funny facial expressions and spot-on comic dialog make this a fun read" "Sweetly romantic and genuinely touching without being saccharine" "Compared to the light-hearted fun of High School Debut Volume 1, Kawahara dials down the comedy a notch. But with this slightly more serious storyline, new, intriguing dimensions to her characters are revealed. Some developments are unexpected and some are subtle, but they feel "right" for each character. The plot twists never feel contrived and the story flows smoothly from beginning to end." "All in all, an excellent second installment that's as consistently good as the first. I wish all shojo manga was this well-crafted and lovable."


 * - "Haruna Nagashima, the heroine of High School Debut, might best be described as a recovering jock." "In his inimical, blunt fashion, Yoh dispenses the kind of advice that I’d give my teenage daughter (if I had one, that is): he tells Haruna that she needs figure out what kind of person she’d like to date and, more importantly, what kind of person she is, before she’s ready for a boyfriend." "Each of the characters has a distinctive look that suits his or her personality, from Yoh's squinty-eyed sullenness to Haruna's wide-eyed radiance." "Excellent visual storytelling skills helps Kawahara avoid a trap that's ensnared many a shojo manga-ka: telling us how her characters feel instead of showing it. There's a particularly effective sequence near end of volume that's completely wordless, revealing Haruna's thought process through a series of simple, evocative images that allow the reader to actually see things through Haruna's eyes."


 * - "It’s one of the strengths of this series that Yoh’s perspective is not neglected. Getting to see his reaction to being contacted by his ex-girlfriend elevates this from a mere “romantic rival” plot to something a lot more meaningful, more melancholy than melodrama." "It’s Haruna who eventually convinces him to see Makoto and he comes away from the experience at peace with his past." "Haruna, who has been prone to spazzery up until this point, is pretty awesome in this volume, too."


 * - "This is a pretty episodic volume, but still manages to move things forward for the characters." ""


 * - "Although her manga seems like a one note concept, manga-ka Kazune Kawahara weaves the supporting characters of her small ensemble in out of the narrative while Haruna and Yoh shine."


 * - "A typical shojo plot — young woman desperate to get a boyfriend as she starts high school — is made highly entertaining through dynamic characters and art." "She doesn’t understand what works specifically for her body type and personality, though, so she’s been a failure so far… and an amusingly scary one." "Haruna doesn’t regret the hard work she put into her athletics; she’s just ready for a different challenge now. Her discipline and determination are positive qualities, enhanced through her earlier sports practice." "She and her coach each have things to teach each other." "There are a lot of good things to learn about male/female relationships here, but they’re subtly presented, which makes them all the more enjoyable."


 * - "And that scene is the kind of comedy that makes this series so enjoyable. It’s so real. I could feel her shyness, and I’d been in similar situations myself. It’s funny, but it’s not mean. There’s almost a Cyrano de Bergerac-style situation on Haruna’s first date, with Yoh texting her advice (that mainly boils down to “calm down” and “act normal” — good reminders for someone overly nervous)." "[Asami]’s magnanimous when she’s the queen bee; but her help stops once someone else seems a real threat. That kind of twist provides unexpected depth to the characters, especially once we see inside her motivations."


 * - "I like that the twists move quickly, but not too much so. Concepts are explored thoroughly, but nothing is left to run so long it gets stale, and changes make sense based on what the cast is learning about themselves and each other. As a result, each book feels new and fresh while bringing back characters I’m growing to care about." "Yoh knows enough to know something’s going on, though. And he’s frustrated that she’s hiding something from her coach. The way she does it is hilariously drawn, over-reacting in shock, staring glassy-eyed, and running away from him. Watching the two misunderstand each other is addictive, and the way they so much want to say what they’re scared to admit is realistic and charming." "when she and Yoh chart their own path as individuals, reacting based on what they think and feel instead of what they’re supposed to be, they’re so cute together!"


 * - "Yoh and Haruna are finally dating, but neither one of them is very good at it, having had little practice. Haruna’s competitive nature makes this very funny, since once she gets an idea in her head, she’s determined to do it to the best of her ability." "Even when there’s a typical shojo misunderstanding to keep the two apart for a while, the reason behind it is different, in keeping with these two unusual personalities."


 * - "Transfer student Leona is both beautiful and good at sports." "Although drawn to be lovely, Leona’s expressions are frequently harsh, with almost-dead eyes, which makes her rivalry with Haruna even more creepy and menacing." "And it’s darn funny how, after Haruna notices Leona’s venom, everyone points out that they knew about it already." "Leona superficially resembles Haruna: they’re both good at sports, especially softball, but they’re both now paying more attention to their looks and dating. When it comes to attitude, though, they’re only alike in their determination." "The reason I enjoy this series so much is that, even in its most dramatic relationship moments, there’s a good amount of comedy." "Although the story was so gripping that it had me flipping pages as fast as I could to find out what happened next, and I wasn’t happy to see Haruna and Yoh at risk — as they say, no good deed goes unpunished — it was significant to learn more about Yoh, especially the flaws that make him less than perfect."


 * - "Kazune Kawahara, keeps the teen relationship realistic while plugging in lots of funny stuff and keeping the events moving." "Haruna has to learn to accept that someone can and will love her. She doesn’t yet know how to trust in her relationship, so uncertainty or rivals or even just misunderstanding Yoh’s reactions will call that into question for her." "Of course the reader sees Haruna’s strengths and how much she contributes and how much help and support she is for Yoh, but Haruna herself, in the middle of the emotions, doesn’t have that perspective. That’s what makes the series so gripping for me, watching her learn to trust both herself and Yoh as they gain more knowledge of each other and their reactions and needs." "Yoh, especially, is a tough challenge. In lesser hands, he’d seem like a stick or a brick, someone with no feelings — here, though, he seems reserved, as he should, someone with hidden emotion that he chooses not to share." "They really are changing each other for the better."


 * - "First, there’s the way Haruna takes everything incredibly seriously." "anyone who knows her knows that she’s as likely to harm as heal in her enthusiasm." "Kawahara manages to change the mood naturally to one of tender revelation, which provides depth and meaning to the lighter moments." "At first glance, she’s the typical popular flirt, but her compulsion to have anyone, even Haruna, fall under her seductive spell hints at a deeper-seated need to fill some kind of emotional lack. She’s a thrill-seeker, even when she knows it’s stupid and destructive. She’d rather be treated badly than feel bored." "Asami’s behavior hints that she’s looking for someone who care enough about her to tell her “no”. She’s also young and immature enough that she thinks quantity matters more than quality." "There was one point in the story where I thought to myself, ah, writer sledgehammer to get the plot moving ... However, she’s such a clueless goof sometimes that it’s barely plausible."



Reviewer refs for Nodame Cantabile
to be cannibalized:


 * paper -

already used:


 * TCJ v6 - "While a more traditional soap opera might throw a variety of obstacles in their paths and make the pair fall in love as they overcome them, Nodame Cantabile takes a slightly different tack: Its two ostensible romantic leads are so wrapped up in their own little worlds that they themselves become the obstacles." "The resulting scenes are a masterstroke of presentation: Ninomiya effectively conveys Chiaki's feelings without making them obvious to any of the cast of characters, and a final confrontation between Chiaki and Noda feels earthshattering not because the scene in question is overplayed for operatic drama, but rather because a variety of storytelling points have suddenly converged, contrasted against one another in artfully arranged counterpoint and then retreated to the background, leaving the reader to ponder the significance of the sequence while simpler harmonies carry the story toward the next movement. It's a superb performance."


 * ANN v5-6 - "simple and clean artwork" "drawing musical performances to be dramatic scenes ... to great effect" "Character development is also subtle" "Ninomiya neatly balances the story between the music and the daily lives of the characters." "interesting characters and a complex, realistic story"


 * ANN v10 - "prelude" chapter: "it's a messy affair that dredges up all the old characters from earlier in the series; the scenes jump around awkwardly as everyone tries to say farewell and tie up loose ends." "Maybe it's getting a bit tiring to see yet another music competition as a plot device, but the actual act of playing music—as drawn in this series—will never grow stale. The passion, the joy, and the drama of artistic expression are as alive in Nodame Cantabile as they've ever been."


 * ANN v11 - "the series glorifies music as a means of emotional expression." "it still has plenty of enjoyable moments where the characters explore their personalities and their relationships through the world of music." "there are the usual performance scenes that show the joy of music and its expressive power"


 * ANN v14 - "Whether you're into it for the unique characters, the expressive music performances, or both, this volume has it covered."


 * ANN v15


 * Mania.com v1 - "Ninomiya's art is perfect for this series." "The character personalities are almost perfect." "Nodame has an amazing ear for music. She can hear music a couple times and then improvise it on her piano. Nodame can feel the emotions and she can feel the motivations. She does this for fun and she can care less about almost everything else (except food or love)." "It's a romance comedy that stimulates me and inspires me. Ninomiya uses sitcom techniques to make the boring simple life of aspiring musicians and has created a product that finds humor in the little things." "deserving of all the accolades it gets."


 * Mania.com v2 - Eduardo M. Chavez - "By adding a pair of new characters Ninomiya has completely changed the dynamic of what was originally a casual sitcom and turned it into a quirky romance comedy." "There is some purpose to all of Nodame’s madness – its love" [of playing music as well as Chikai] "There is a lot of love here"


 * Mania.com v3 - Eduardo M. Chavez - "I honestly do not know what it is about Nodame Cantabile. This is a very simple concept - college kids going through the everyday grind. With a dysfunctional cast, Ninomiya has been able to make typically mundane moments like exams, practices and school performances into laugh riots where the ordinary is extraordinary (ie ROCK ORCHESTRA!!!). This title is filled with characters like Noda Megumi are very much like people you know that despite their tremendous talent just cannot get their lives together. Yet, despite their quirks and their problem, together these characters bring life to a generally slow-paced title." "On the surface, Nodame just reads like a silly romance-comedy, but upon peeling the layers Ninomiya has penned a masterpiece herself."


 * Mania.com v5 - Eduardo M. Chavez - "Chiaki's star is rising fast and those who were with him when he was down might be left behind. Megumi will not lose him, though. When she last saw him play, she got a fire inside her lit. She had to play as he did." "Ninomiya never forgets the strong points of this title - her brand of random humor, her talent for matching the music she spotlights with the mood of each arc and a quirky sense of romance that does not overwhelm the humor." "Fame and recognition is about to rip them apart." "Each chapter is a different act of comedy or tragedy with its own music. Consequently through that music (quite often the music characters are playing), [Ninomiya] is able to dictate mood and pacing. This manga is subtle on so many levels."


 * Mania.com v6 - Eduardo M. Chavez - "For the first four volumes or so of this series, Nodame was a wonderful comedy utiliizing excellent musical elements to make this a title that is not only unique and very fresh. The level of creativity was always high, as Ninimiya's humor is over the top. And at the same time, the slice of life drama was very easy to associate with. Well, this volume changed all of that. This is a pure josei romance drama."


 * Mania.com v7 - Eduardo M. Chavez - "Inside that good looking shell is a young man with deep rooted fears that are much more serious than the fear of flying. Chiaki has a fear of failure. Since returning to Japan from the grand music halls of Europe, he has feared that he could never go back." "this time round, I found keeping Nodame to a minimum actually helped out more than usual. Typically Nodame is used for two reasons - inspiration and comedy." "Nodame continues to be one of the more inspired stories in manga right now and even slow somber moments as in this latest volume entertain on many levels."


 * Mania.com v8 - "Throughout the first seven volumes, Ninomiya was always able to meld musical themes with romance comedy in her quirky josei college drama. With this latest volume, Ninomiya drops most of the comedy and shifts the focus on the music of Nodame Cantabile." "Music from these great composers set a tempo for this series; providing drama and expression at times when Nimomiya has her characters preoccupied with their blossoming futures. So each song is expressing the tone and pace and the cast follows that lead." "Music is expressive in so many ways. And whether it is with a music video or with a manga it has a beat and emotion that can be felt in so many ways. Nodame Cantabile, the manga, reads to a different beat — up-tempo with some quirky accents and always very playful."


 * Mania.com v9 - Eduardo M. Chavez - "With volume nine of Nodame places itself among the upper echelons of translated girl's manga." "What sets Nodame apart is how versatile this manga can be. At any given moment this series could be a musical, a sitcom or a high drama romance." "Piano contests on one side and concerts on the other, every note and every sonata expresses the emotions and state of mind these characters are in better than any dialogue can." "Ultimately though, it is the music that sets the tempo and really makes this volume shine. I was able to really see Ninomiya had fun rendering the music in her art."


 * Mania.com v10 - "Noda dropped out college due to poor attendance" "Nodame's charm was its ability to juggle a huge cast to make them come together for comedic and romantic purposes. Without the Miike's and such, this title loses a lot of its edge."


 * Mania.com v11 - Danielle Van Gorder - "There's not as much of the humor here as there was in earlier volumes, although it does show up. But the character drama really comes to the forefront here, making it clear why this series is so well-loved." "The contrast between Chiaki's budding career and Nodame's faltering attempts as a student are stark, and it becomes pretty clear in this volume that for all of her peculiarities, Nodame is very much aware of the gap between them." "Stresemann himself, who's just as much of an eccentric pervert as ever."


 * Mania.com v12 - "This volume seems to focus on transitions - transitions in Chiaki's conducting style, transitions in Nodame's understanding of the world...and the transitions in their relationship that seem to be building up to something big, for better or for worse." "Nodame Cantibile is like nothing else out there - not just for the subject matter, but for the way the characters interact and develop as the story progresses."


 * Mania.com v13 - Danielle Van Gorder -


 * Mania.com v14 - "But, as her exam shows, she's still the same bizzaro Nodame underneath, living at least half the time in her own wierd world." "This volume has what is quite possibly the greatest line in the series to date: "The only thing I chose was the weirdo." It was a beautiful admission on Chiaki's part that this untraditional relationship he has with Nodame is more than just him going along with the flow." "There are several points in this volume where we get to see that there really is a give and take in their relationship."


 * Anime Planet anime S1 - "Nodame Cantabile strikes a wonderful balance, creating a capriciously charming tale with its full share of priceless moments." "What really sets Nodame Cantabile apart from its peers, though, is the absolute undeniable genius of the animators in finding a way to visually convey the beauty and emotion of a piece of classical music." "My one gripe about the visual aspect of the anime was that certain secondary characters were drawn too similar to Chiaki." "I am not one to use superlatives lightly, but I have a hard time imagining how this anime could be the same without the prodigious performances of all the seiyuu." "I attempted to watch the live-action version of Nodame Cantabile, but could not continue past the first episode. The live-action felt totally lifeless without the dynamism and energy of Kawasumi Ayako in the role of Nodame, the frustrated retentiveness of Seki Tomokazu as Chiaki and the perverted insanity of Ogawa Shinji as Maestro Stresemann." "Rather, the vast majority of music played throughout the series are brilliantly performed pieces or excerpts from various classical composers ... every piece was re-recorded to fit the context of the anime. This is particularly evident when characters are learning a new piece of music – the improvement and accuracy of a performance from day to day is quite observable." "Each is their own unique person, with quirky but believable defining characteristics. ... I thus consider myself fortunate when I come across a cast of rich and complex characters such as the one in Nodame Cantabile." "Nodame is without question one of the richest and most colourful female lead characters in any anime I have seen." "Far from a picture of perfection, she is a piano genius placed in the body of a sloppy, dirty, possessive, selfish and childish girl." "At one point the anime notes that "the mind can be freed by new encounters", and nowhere is this more acutely observed than through the changes we see in the main characters as they grow and learn from each other."


 * Nihon Review anime S1 - "Characters make or break an anime like Nodame Cantabile, and it has some of the most likable and well-developed characters in this genre." "This is one of those premises that demands character development ... at the end of the day, there’s no point in understating just how incredible the character development and chemistry is in this series" "An anime about a music school must have good music, and Nodame Cantabile certainly doesn’t fall short here." "No doubt, Nodame Cantabile’s highlight reel prominently features its on-stage orchestral and piano performances, which not only feature some outstanding music, but manage to show just how the music impacts the characters and relationships in the series." "The characters grow through music and through each other, but they do so because they enjoy it and have fun with it, meaning that a “fun”, playful tone is very much appropriate here" "the voice acting in Nodame Cantabile is exquisite." "When I hear performances like this from Kawasumi, it compels me to say that she is easily the most underrated seiyuu in the business at the moment… and arguably the best." "Despite these minor flaws, Nodame Cantabile is an excellent anime, and one of the recent pinnacles of the josei genre." "among the best anime of 2007."


 * Nihon Review live-action S1 - "Better characterized than even their already-excellent anime counterparts." "although the anime version should already be considered a gem, this live-action was even better in so many ways." "Where the storyline is concerned, the live-action drama is mostly similar to that of the anime; of course, there are several changes made to fit the 11 1-hour episodes format, but they do not take away very much from the original story at all. In fact, these changes tighten up the story efficiently, and make the comedy or drama (whichever applies) even more effective as a result."


 * References