Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun Anime Review

Title: Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun (Toilet bound Hanako-kun)
Genre: Fantasy, Shoujo
Written by: Iro Aida
Studio: Lerche
Synopsis: The famous "Seven Wonders" that every school seems to have are a staple of Japanese urban legends. One of the most well-known of these tales is that of Hanako-san: the ghost of a young girl who haunts the school's bathrooms. Kamome Academy has its own version of Hanako-san's legend. Rumors claim that if one successfully manages to summon Hanako-san, she will grant her summoner any wish. Lured by the gossip, many people have tried to call upon her, yet every attempt has failed. However, when Nene Yashiro, a girl hoping for romantic fortune, dares to summon Hanako-san, she discovers that the rumored "girl" is actually a boy! After a series of unfortunate events involving Nene's romantic desires, she is unwillingly entangled in the world of the supernatural, becoming Hanako-kun's assistant. Soon, she finds out about Hanako-kun's lesser-known duty: maintaining the fragile balance between mortals and apparitions. (https://myanimelist.net/anime/39534/Jibaku_Shounen_Hanako-kun)

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Fruits Basket 2019 Anime Review

Title: Fruits Basket
Genre: Reverse Harem, Romantic Comedy, Supernatural, Shoujo
Written By: Natsuki Takaya
Studio: TMS/8PAN 
Synopsis:
When high school student Tohru Honda's mother dies in a car crash, Tohru decides to live with her grandfather. Renovations on the house and unsupportive and unkind family members cause her to move out of her grandfather's house temporarily and, since she has nowhere else to go, Tohru begins living in a tent and supporting herself. That is, until she finds a home in the least likely of places, inhabited by her popular classmate Yuki Sohma and his cousin Shigure. The first day Tohru moves into the Sohma house, an orange haired teenager crashes through the roof of her new bedroom and starts attacking Yuki. This newcomer is Kyo, Yuki and Shigure's aggressively angry cousin. Tohru tries to stop the fight by holding him, causing him to transform into an orange cat in front of her. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruits_Basket)

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Kimi ni Todoke Seasons 1 and 2 Anime Review

Title: Kimi ni Todoke (From me to you)
Genre:Shoujo, Romance, Comedy, Slice of Life
Written By: Kanae Shimokawa
Synopsis: "Sadako", that is the nickname given by the students where Sawako is studying. She looks so dark and creepy but she was just shy and doesn't know how to socialize. In fact she wanted to know how it feels like to have friends so she was doing her best to talk to other people but it turns out that these people were creep out of her. Until a guy named Kazehaya greeted her without casually  and later they became good friends along with other students who knew who really Sawako is. However, when Sawako realized that she fell for Kazehaya, she needs to learn how to deal with her feelings once again.

(Sawako first met Kazehaya and also the first time someone smiled on her)

Thoughts: I have been watching shounen animes lately so I planned to watch a shoujo before starting some shounen anime once again. Kimi ni Todoke is one of the popular shoujo anime ever since I was in high school but I am so ashamed of myself that is is only recently when I watched this anime.

(Sawako was forced to play as the white lady in a test of courage game)

Sawako is one of the purest character in shoujo world. She is with Suzume of the manga "Hirunaka no Ryusei of Mika Yamamori-sensei. By the way, I upload a video of my 6 completed recommended shoujo mangas for starters in my facebook page. Here is the link.
Going back, Sawako is so cute and adorable and no wonder the students are drawing near her. Meanwhile Kazehaya is not your typical leading man in the story. I love how normal he was. Unlike in other stories, he more like your normal friend in high school. Greedy, short tempered and he's a possessive guy. I love how Sawako had her character development along the series. You will see her progress in being a sociable girl. She mentioned in the story that she wanted to be like Kazehaya who can talk to anyone, regardless if that person is a loner or not. There is also character development on the part of Sawako's friends, good thing they wrote a separate story about her friends specially with Chizuru and Ryu (oh love these two~)

(A sweet smile of Kazehaya towards Sawako)

The only thing that I find annoying on this anime is that these protagonists are sooooooooooooo DENSE. Their feelings are obviously mutual but none of these two wanted to approach nearer to level up their relationship. I love how their friends dealt with them, they didn't poke their nose on their business cause if they need to know each other's feeling, much better if they are the one to figure it out.

(Kazehaya knew that it was Sawako who played as the ghost, he sat with her cause e thinks she might be scared being alone)

Animation/Art Style: 9/10
All hail Production I.G! The art style is somewhat old but remember I just recently watched this. My bad. Some drawings were not that polished but well yeah, it's okay. Chibi Sawako is the cutest!! and the whole art is so shoujo like. Wew LOVE IT.

Soundtrack: 10/10
Since it is a shoujo anime, I knew it! The OST have it's sweet melody. It's so relaxing to listen into it. More, it's really good along with the scenes of the anime.

(Kazehaya giving a gift from the class to Sawako)

Overall: 10/10
Though I was king of annoyed of the two, it is worth the wait! Now I understood why they love this anime. This is very recommended.

Hotarubi no Mori e Movie Review

Title: Hotarubi no Mori e (Into the Forest of Fireflies' Light)
Genre: Romance, Shoujo, Supernatural
Written By: Yuki Midorikawa
Synopsis: Hotaru, a young girl who was lost in a forest in one summer day met a young man named Gin who happened to see her crying. She suddenly run towards him but the latter dodged her. He said that if a human touches him, he'll be gone. Years past. Hotaru and Gin always spent their summer days in the forest playing and talking with each other. Soon, they already developed feeling for each other. Hotaru is finally a high school teenager when Gin invite her for a date in a Summer Festival held by the spirits. Accidentally, Gin held a human kid and vanished in front of Hotaru. 

(Gin casually told Hotaru that it is really a date.)

Thoughts:
What it would be? I am broken-hearted. This is actually a nice story that has a painful end. Their love for each other are so pure that they don't want to touch each other for the sake of the existence of Gin. This movie made me sad for two freaking days! I just can't accept that Gin was gone (;-;) If I will be Hotaru, I'll cry out so loud in the forest that night. 

(Gin vanishing in front of Hotaru when he accidentally held a human kid)

But then  just realized, maybe it's a good ending as well? Cause what kind of ending would you want for these two since Gin is not aging unlike Hotaru? Hotaru will probably be married and these two will be friends until Hotaru dies. In which the ship will fail! But still Gin vanished that soon and it's so painful in the heart. 

Animation/Art Style: 10/10
I saw in my Facebook account that the forest was based in a real forest in Japan (well probably all animes are like that. They have a particular subject in the settings of their stories) and seeing those photos from that forest, the setting of this anime is perfectly the same in the real place. If I will go to Japan (HOPEFULLY), I would like to go to that place as well. 

(The first time Hotaru and Gin met)

(Moment when Hotaru and Gin meet every summer)

Soundtrack: 10/10 
The OST is relaxing. Even though that scene is so painful, the music made it more calm as if it is representing Hotaru's feelings in that scene. She was lonely but calm. 

(Gin kissing Hotaru after they went to the Summer Festival)

Overall: 10/10
A recommended film. It only runs for 45 minutes short film.

Wotaku no Koi wa Muzukashii Review

Title: Wotaku no Koi wa Muzukashii (Love is Hard for an Otaku)
Genre: Shoujo, Romance, Comedy
Written By: Fujita
Synopsis: Narumi, trying to escape from her previous company because of her secret being an otaku (a big fan of a certain genre) was known by his ex boyfriend entered a new company. She thought that no one knew about her until she met her childhood friend Hirotaka who is a game otaku. Before her first day in her new company ends, she tried to talk to Hirotaka to keep her secret. At the end of the day, Hirotaka confessed and they started dating. Her co-workers Koyanagi and Kabakura are dating and also an otakus. Narumi dated a lot of guys but it is her first time to date another otaku like him. How will Narumi and Hirotaka manage their relationship?

(Hirotaka asking Narumi to be his girlfriend. Look at his romantic otaku lines.)

Thoughts: 
The moment I saw this anime on my Facebook news feed, I became very excited to watch the whole season. Otaku anime for otakus. It's actually a unique love story. While watching the anime, everything that the characters do, react and say are related to my otaku life so it's fun to watch this. Also some romantic scenes are so different from the typical romance anime you've watched. You will likely be related to the characters' problems as well as an otaku. And one of the good points of this series, the main characters are not students but office workers. Maybe the producer or the writer of this story knows that the otaku generation is at their early 20s now (like me. huhu) since today's kids are into new games and consoles. Most likely the target audience are adults. 

(Koyanagi, Kabakura and Narumi playing RPG in episode 07)

Each episode has different scenes but it tells how Narumi and Hirotaka's relationship is growing. I love the episode too where they played an RPG (Role Playing Game). I am into RPG when I watched this anime so I was really hyped that time and can relate to everything that the character explains in the episode. Also, Narumi is a Fujoshi (Female Yaoi fan) so I can see myself to her. She's actually the best representation of every Fujoshi in this anime fandom.

(Kabedon scene of the girls' boyfriends in episode 06)

Animation: 10/10 
Of course! 

Soundtrack: 10/10
The anime's opening song "Fiction" by sumika is a cute song and so much related to the story. The opening animation is so cute as well. This song was recently became famous and considered one of the best new anime openings. The ending song "Kimi no tonari" by halca is also a cute and romantic song. 

Overall: 11/10
Really, a recommended anime for everyone. My friends watched this together and the boys were feeling giddy. It was very unusual to see boys like that. And overall this anime is just so cute you can't miss from watching it.

Parfait Tic! Manga Review

Good thing I am in the mood to create another blog after creating color coded lyrics for the previous post. This is my first manga review. Douzo ~

Title: Parfait Tic!
Written by: Nagamu Nanaji
Genre: Shoujo, Romantic Comedy
Active years: 2000 - 2007

Synopsis: Fuuko is a normal girl who is living in an apartment then one day two handsome guys Ichi and Daiya came to live in the same building. Fuuko will be their best friend and then love story will begin.

Thoughts: This manga is your typical manga that you read. If you always read shoujo types of manga, this is not different from the others. The girl protagonist Fuuko, is an energetic girl and often called "unique" by the guys in the story. And there will be two guys fighting over her. TWO HANDSOME GUYS. Your typical Shoujo manga. (nod nod). Even the set up of the story or the origin of the story is always been used in every romantic manga.

The thing about this manga, I really got frustrated with the flow of the story. It was given that she needs to choose only one from the two boys fighting over her, but in this manga it looks like the girl is going to a guy who likes her and then if there will be a problem, she will quit loving that guy and transfer her feelings to the other available guy. In my point of view, that is actually okay but it happened for about four times? or three? It's like the protagonist don't really know who does she love.

I am a fan of the second guy in a shoujo manga. Second guy for me is the character that the girl doesn't love. More like the second guy has the unrequited love. I got really frustrated because I don't even know who should I cheer on. LOL (I am sure you don't understand what I meant there but that is the real reason why I got frustrated) While I was reading this manga, I will randomly shout "GIRL JUST CHOOSE! ICHI OR DAIYA". But that's a good thing, I was indulged in the story which is one of the good points of a story.

Art: 10/10

This is 00's manga so this kind of art is the thing before. It was clean and the scenes are easy to understand. Ichi looks like someone from "Hana yori Dango" or "Hana Kimi". Fuuko looks like from "Lovely Complex".

Overall: 8/10

It's a good read for shoujo manga fans. Definitely. One thing, just one thing that I got disappointed, and I think this is an important point in a manga. The ending. In every romantic manga, it's always in the story who should be the "winner" in the battle of love. But in this story, I spent two sleepless nights to know what would be the ending like or who won the fight. But no one won in the end. NO ONE!! I wasted those hours reading this manga for that. Yes, friendship is a good thing, but BUUUUT after all the efforts of the two guys, after all the problems, there should be one who got the love of Fuuko. That is why I got disappoint in this manga.

Ouran High School Host Club Review

Title: Ouran Koukou Host Club / Ouran High School Host Club

Genre: Shoujo, Romance, Comedy, School Life

Written By: Hatori Bisco

Release Date: Manga (September 2002 - November 2010); Anime Series (April 4 2006 - September 26 2006)

Synopsis: Fujioka Haruhi is an honor student that was admitted in a prestigious school Ouran where rich students are studying. While she is looking for a place to study, she found a music room. She never thought that she will meet the group of handsome boys who are the members of the school's host club. Accidentally, she broke a vase that is worth 8 Million Yen. Since she is not rich (in the series she was called as "commoner") she was forced to work in the host club as it's dog.The members of the club have no idea that, that guy is a woman.

(The vase worth 8 million Yen that Haruhi broke)

 Thoughts: This anime was introduced to me when I was in second year high school (I think) by a local anime magazine "Otakuzine" and it was around 2009. Ever since, this anime is one of my favorites. To be honest, I just watched it again yesterday, and it was one fell swoop. I think the thing that makes this anime so popular is Haruhi can express herself towards rich people in which most of us cannot do and I think that is also a charming point to the character. Plus it added the comedy part whenever she dis her rich friends.

The good thing about this anime is where homos, gays or bisexuals were not discriminated. When I watched this anime, topics about people being bisexual are sensitive. I appreciate this anime that they don't criticize sexuality of a person. Plus, this anime knows how to protect girls. Yes, we can see some anime guys protecting woman in an enemy etc. but with this anime, just a simple hug or touch you will feel secured and I think that's cute. 

(Hikaru found Haruhi under the table frightened)

 Animation: 10/10
As I mentioned, I've been an anime fan for a decade and this is the most unique animation I ever watched (up until now I believe this is the most unique!). This anime is old but look how impressive the animation is, it looks like it's a new anime that was just released last week. Every character's move was detailed that you can explain the personality of each character and that makes me want to watch all over again.

Soundtrack: 10/10
The OST of the anime is so good that it lightens the mood and you will really feel that you are part of these rich people. This anime's soundtrack is full of orchestra music which is my personal favorite. Plus! Sakura Kiss in piano version is also here!

(The Host Club members assumed that Haruhi is gat and went there to have some "service")

Overall: 10/10
If you are into cute romance comedy anime series, this is definitely recommended for you. It will fit your needs. Also if you are fujoshi (fan of yaoi or bromance), hell this anime is really for you.So grab your popcorn and wave your uchiwa of your favorite character. Anyway, this anime doesn't have season 2 but if you need to know the REAL ending of this series, try reading the manga, the ending won't disappoint you.