Archive for the 'Hataraki Man' Category

Mid to late season review: Part 2

Published by
kimagure
at December 16, 2006 in Otome wa Boku ni Koi Shiteru and Hataraki Man. Closed

Continuing with the reviews:

Otome wa Boku ni Koi Shiteru

chibi mizuho

Hello chibi Mizuho-chan. How are you today? I hope you’re well, and that school is going well for you.

School couldn’t be going better for our little trap. She/he is the elder of the school, everyone looks up to him/her, a hyper little ghost is following him/her around. And with his/her sweltering good looks, and excellent sense of femininity, she/he’s managed to even melt the school ice queen’s armor.

Mizuho’s settled into her role at school so well that may bloggers have forgotten she’s a guy. Secrets be damned, this is flat out denial. I can’t watch this show and forget that. It’s too easy to animate a guy acting like a girl, if this were live action, it’d be a tougher sell, but who am I kidding. A live OtoBoku? Too much Asahi tonight. I wish there were more awkward moments of Mizuho doing guy things that a proper young lady wouldn’t be doing. I think that would bring up the entertainment a bit, but from what I’ve read about upcoming shows, they replace awkwardness with admissions and truths that will likely force Mizuho to re-evaluate her position. Awkward always brings the comedy, but the drama would not be missed either.

This show is not my favorite this fall, but it still does a good job of entertaining, so I’m not complaining.

Hataraki Man

Pissed, in the British sense of the word

Just when Megadere was rescued from fansub neglect, Hataraki Man has taken its place. I’m saddened to say that I really want to see more of this show, but cannot. From the three episodes I’ve seen, I appreciate Hiro’s troubles in balancing her work and social life, because I’ve been there before. But alas that is all I can say at this time.

I still like the art style, I still enjoy the music, and the stories are engaging. Even if they did spend an episode talking mostly about ramen.

Others I’ve shown this to have commented on the “chauvinistic” nature of the show. How in order to be productive, she has to turn on the “man” switch. Personally, nothing really offends me, but I can see how this could offend the modern feminist movement. I think it’s rather equal, as Mayu says she gains all of the habits of men, which include things like becoming unkempt. So taking on these negative traits may not be a good thing after all, and what does that say about men. I think it’s a jab that could fly both ways.

Whatever, I’m not sure I like this whole political correctness thing anyway.

Oh and, I’m practically obligated to say this now…needs more subs.

Five more to round out the season

Published by
kimagure
at November 2, 2006 in Jigoku Shoujo, Yoake Mae Yori Ruri Iro Na, Hataraki Man, Tenpou Ibun Ayakashi Ayashi and Death Note. 3 Comments

While I haven’t said much in the last few days, I have been watching a lot of anime. Here’s some shorty reviews of five more series, to add to the six other new shows that I’m watching this fall.

Tenpou Ibun Ayakashi Ayashi

Homer?

Period piece with intrigue, politics, monsters, and more cross gender hi-jinks. From the young girl who dresses like a boy, to the cross dressing young man, and it’s trap city. I don’t know if I really like this show yet. Not much has happened in the first two episodes I’ve seen, but I do like period pieces so this will get a few more viewings.

Death Note

Smile!

If you need to know what this is about, you’ve been living under a rock. Let’s not be lazy…Yagami Light happens upon a notebook that allows him to write people’s names in it and they die. Hilarity Death ensues, along with some mighty fine detective work. It’s good, really don’t have much to complain about though. This is one that I’m reading the manga at the same time. The anime is following the manga like a script, which is good if you’re a fan of the manga. It’s intriguing, I’ll keep watching.

Hataraki Man

Lips!

Look, characters that are over 18 years old. Look, they have real jobs. Look, they portray Japanese business as high stress. I like this show. I’ve seen one episode, and I’m hooked at this point. The character designs are interesting, and shoot for some kind of realism. Well…at least there’s lips on the women characters. The main character goes into “manly” mode when she needs to work hard, but the more interesting part is that she’s undersexed, and can’t get time with her boyfriend. And this gets extra point for having the ending theme from Densha Otoko (”Sekai wa sore o ai to yobundaze” by Sambomaster) playing in the background of one of the scenes.

Yoake Mae Yori Ruri Iro Na - Crescent Love

Not a trap!

I can’t even count how many H game adaptations are out this fall, but here’s another one. This one, so far, seems to be devoid of traps, and just looks like all around harem goodness. Add to that some meido powaa, and we’re all set. Hot part time job action, along with a little parody of the Iron Chef, makes this enjoyable fluff. Caution, it’s very fluffy.

Jigoku Shoujo - Futakomori

Ai's eyes

Jigoku Shoujo is back, with a vengeance new kimono. This is really more of the same here. If you watched last season, this is familiar territory. I really like this kind of thing so it stays on the watch list. To be honest watching something episodic like this is nice every once in a while. You can put it down whenever and pick it right back up whenever you need to feel like taking revenge on someone. Ai gets a new kimono, and the pretty lady in her entourage gets time as the doll with the red string to be pulled. For more on the first season see namakemono’s post.