Anime April Mayhem! Day 10, Anime/Manga I Need to Re-visit

These are manga or anime I haven’t read or watched in about ten years. I still have at least a basic idea what they are about. Some of them didn’t make it on my favorite anime or manga list because I didn’t think I remembered them well enough to know for sure.

Therefore, here is a list of one’s I’ll re-visit and review in the upcoming months.

Dengeki Daisy (2007-2013), Manga by Motomi, Kyousuke 

Teru Kurebayashi is left all alone in the world after the death of her brother, Souichirou. Well, all alone except for “Daisy,” someone that she can always talk to and who never hesitates to cheer her up. However, Teru has never met Daisy, she has no idea what he looks like, and her only means of contacting him is through a cell phone that her brother left for her.

In stark contrast to the kind words and encouragement Teru receives from Daisy, she gets nothing but grief from the rude school janitor, Tasuku Kurosaki, who forced Teru to work for him after she accidentally broke a window. But while Kurosaki seems like a lazy good-for-nothing who only enjoys making her miserable, is there more to him than meets the eye?

Myanimelist Overview

Once upon a time, I was obsessed with this story. I even had all the manga volumes. However, one day about five years ago I sold all of them because I had re-read the first few volumes and didn’t like them. Weird. . . I do think it’s about time to re-read it and write a full on review.

Kimi ni Todoke (2005-2017), Manga by Shiina, Karuho 

Kuronuma Sawako is completely misunderstood by her classmates. Her timid and sweet demeanor is often mistaken for malicious behavior. This is due to her resemblance to the ghost girl from “The Ring,” which has led her peers to give her the nickname Sadako. Longing to make friends and live a normal life, she is naturally drawn to Kazehaya Shouta, the most popular guy in class, whose “100% refreshing” personality earns him great admiration from Sawako. So when Kazehaya starts talking to her, maybe there is hope for the friendships Sawako has always longed for. Maybe…there is even a little hope for some romance in her future.

Myanimelist Overview

I still really like this manga! But, I haven’t read it all the way through in a long time. I’ve also never watched the anime all the way. Since I prefer more warm-hearted romances like this, I want to revisit it and see if I want my future daughters to have access to it. (I like collecting romances that teach wholesome lessons about marriage and relationships for that reason.)

Karneval (2007-?), Manga by Mikanagi, Touya 

Nai searches for someone important to him, with only an abandoned bracelet as a clue. Gareki steals and pick-pockets to get by from day to day. The two meet in a strange mansion where they are set-up, and soon become wanted criminals by military security operatives. When Nai and Gareki find themselves desperate in a hopeless predicament, they encounter none other than the country’s most powerful defense organization—”Circus”!!

Myanimelist Overview

Of all the entries on this list, I remember the least about this one. I have a vague memory of the two main characters but nothing else. I want to read it again because of the beautiful manga covers I came a cross a few weeks ago for my Beautiful Manga Covers entry.

Kobato. (2009-2010), Anime by Madhouse

Sweet and naïve Hanato Kobato came to Earth on a mission to collect and fill a bottle with “konpeito,” which appear after healing a person’s heart that is suffering. Kobato collects these because it is her wish to go to a certain place. Despite her strangeness, Kobato turns out to be well-suited for this mission as her heartfelt sincerity in helping others earns her the love and admiration of everyone she meets. However, she is not allowed to fall in love with anyone whose heart she heals.

Myanimelist Overview

I love this story! Re-reading the manga about two months ago I remembered I used to like the anime a lot because it fleshed out the short series. Therefore, I’m going to look into it again to see if I truly like it as much now.

La Cordo D’Oro (2004-2011), Manga by Kure, Yuki 

Every few years, the prestigious Seiso Academy holds a prominent musical competition, and only the very best students at the Academy are allowed to participate. Though all are eligible to apply, only students from the music department actually make it to the competition…until now.

Myanimelist Overview

Music and its a reverse harem. That’s what I vaguely remember. When I read it at eighteen, I was a music major in college and loved how it emphasized the spirit of music, and its healing effect on people. Now, I want to look over it again for nostalgic reasons. Maybe I’ll like it, maybe I won’t.

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1982-1994), Manga by Hayao Miyazaki

Humanity, once a technologically advanced and thriving civilization, has been pushed to the brink of extinction following a cataclysmic war known as the “Seven Days of Fire.” The remnants of the human race now live in scattered kingdoms to avoid the unrelenting spread of the “Sea of Corruption,” a colossal forest infested with dangerous mutant insects and fungi that produce poisonous spores.

Nausicaä, sole heir to the throne of the agricultural kingdom Valley of the Wind, is thrust into a war after an ally kingdom, the imperialist Torumekia, invades the Dorok Empire. Forced to fight alongside the Torumekian military and their cunning princess Kushana, Nausicaä witnesses firsthand the horrors of war and its effect on both humanity and the environment. With her uncanny charisma and gentle nature, Nausicaä may be the only for hope for humanity as the ongoing war and the Sea of Corruption hasten the extinction of mankind.

Set against the backdrop of a devastated world, Kaze no Tani no Nausicaä depicts the aftermath of human folly and the immortal power of nature.

Myanimelist Overview

Nausicaä is still one of my favorites, unfortunately its been a LOOOONG time since I’ve read it. It’s also on the ever going “Need To Buy” list. I think its a good thing I haven’t read it in so long. It means I can re-experience its magic all over again.

Ouran high School Host Club (Anime 2006, Manga 2002-2010), By Hatori, Bisco

At Ouran High School, an academy where only the children of the rich and powerful attend, there exists a club consisting of the most elite of the student body: the legendary Host Club. Within the club’s room, six beautiful, bored boys spend their time entertaining equally beautiful and bored girls.

Haruhi Fujioka, a poor scholarship student, has no interest in the Host Club—until she breaks a valuable vase in their clubroom. After being mistaken for a boy, Haruhi is forced by Kyouya Ootori to work for the Host Club to repay her debt. Tamaki Suou, the princely leader of the club, eagerly takes her under his wing to teach her the ways of the host.

Things, however, are never quite so simple with the Host Club around. Even the most mundane events can turn into huge spectacles with the likes of prankster twins Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin, stoic Takashi Morinozuka, and sweet Mitsukuni “Hunny” Haninozuka. The crazy adventures of the Host Club are just beginning, and Haruhi must learn how to survive in the glitzy world of the hosts.

Myanimelist Overview

I would never show the show or manga for Ouran High School Host Club to young children because they wouldn’t understand its a satire. (Like Voltaire’s Candide) I have no bad memories of this story; just a big gap between when I last experienced it. The manga and anime are both good. I remember that much.

Soul Eater (2008-2009), Anime by Bones

Death City is home to the famous Death Weapon Meister Academy, a technical academy headed by the Shinigami—Lord Death himself. Its mission: to raise “Death Scythes” for the Shinigami to wield against the many evils of their fantastical world. These Death Scythes, however, are not made from physical weapons; rather, they are born from human hybrids who have the ability to transform their bodies into Demon Weapons, and only after they have consumed the souls of 99 evil beings and one witch’s soul.

Soul Eater Evans, a Demon Scythe who only seems to care about what’s cool, aims to become a Death Scythe with the help of his straight-laced wielder, or meister, Maka Albarn. The contrasting duo work and study alongside the hot headed Black☆Star and his caring weapon Tsubaki, as well as the Shinigami’s own son, Death the Kid, an obsessive-compulsive dual wielder of twin pistols Patty and Liz.

Soul Eater follows these students of Shibusen as they take on missions to collect souls and protect the city from the world’s threats while working together under the snickering sun to become sounder in mind, body, and soul.

Myanimelist Overview

Ecchi material. . . how I hate you. Soul Eater‘s anime has way less ecchi than the manga but its still there. I am a huge fan of Halloweeny type stories, and loved this show when it first came out. Also, the animation is great! I like looking at AMVs for it.

Trigun (1998), Anime by Madhouse

Vash the Stampede is the man with a $$60,000,000,000 bounty on his head. The reason: he’s a merciless villain who lays waste to all those that oppose him and flattens entire cities for fun, garnering him the title “The Humanoid Typhoon.” He leaves a trail of death and destruction wherever he goes, and anyone can count themselves dead if they so much as make eye contact—or so the rumors say. In actuality, Vash is a huge softie who claims to have never taken a life and avoids violence at all costs.

With his crazy doughnut obsession and buffoonish attitude in tow, Vash traverses the wasteland of the planet Gunsmoke, all the while followed by two insurance agents, Meryl Stryfe and Milly Thompson, who attempt to minimize his impact on the public. But soon, their misadventures evolve into life-or-death situations as a group of legendary assassins are summoned to bring about suffering to the trio. Vash’s agonizing past will be unraveled and his morality and principles pushed to the breaking point.

Myanimelist Overview

I remember liking Vash as a character and wondering if he and Meryl actually get married. . . but beyond that I haven’t thought about it in a while. The time has come to re-visit this comedic, philosophical drama played like a Western.

Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE (2003-2009), Manga by CLAMP

Warmhearted Syaoran has always been friends with Sakura—the princess of the Clow Kingdom who holds an extraordinary power capable of changing the world. When a mysterious man attempts to monopolize Sakura’s ability, her memories scatter throughout different worlds in the form of feathers. To save Sakura, Syaoran seeks help from the Dimensional Witch and meets two other travelers—Kurogane and Fai D. Flourite.

Kurogane, a capable fighter and ninja, has been banished from his homeworld and wishes to return. In contrast, Fai, a magician from Celes, wants to traverse different worlds to avoid his home and past. As the price to cross dimensions, each of the three must sacrifice their most valued possession. For Sakura’s sake, Syaoran agrees to give away their relationship as payment to the Dimensional Witch. And with firm determination, Syaoran, Kurogane, and Fai begin journeying through numerous worlds to fight against their ill-fated destinies.

Myanimelist Overview

I KNOW I love this series. I just haven’t read it in a long time. I’m never in the mood. However, this is the year I will sit down and make my way through it!

Thanks for reading! See you tomorrow!

Anime April Mayhem! Day 9, My Top Ten Favorite Anime

Anime April Mayhem! Day 11, My Most Disappointing Experiences.

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Anime April Mayhem! Day 4, I’m surprised it’s not an anime…

Screenshot of Volume 1 of Takane and Hana

In the small random plane-ride-induced moments of my life, I stop and wonder, “Why hasn’t this manga been made into an anime yet?” Perhaps other adamant readers feel the same way. Sometimes this goes for manga I like or just popular titles I am genuinely shocked haven’t been animated yet. (OVAs and Live Action Dramas don’t count.)

May this post help these titles find prestige on the big screen outside our hearts! (If I was popular enough to make it happen that would be interesting.)

Daytime Shooting Star, (Hirunaka no Ryuusei) by Yamamori, Mika

Suzume Yosano has spent the entire 15 years of her life in the countryside, so when her parents decide to move overseas for work and leave her with her uncle in Tokyo, she finds herself in a whole new environment. On the way to her uncle’s house, however, she gets lost and faints.

Waking up safely at her uncle’s house, she learns that a strange man had carried her there and that he happens to be an acquaintance of her uncle. Moreover, when Suzume goes to her new school for the first time, she discovers that the weird man in question, named Satsuki Shishio, is actually her homeroom teacher! Now, Suzume must adapt to her new school and make friends, since her blossoming high school life in the city has just begun!

Myanimelist Synopsis

Daytime Shooting Star has such good artwork and characters along with a mature outlook on romance and relationships. Though it has since been made into a drama, it is puzzlingly to me why no anime studio has picked this story up. (The same goes for her other big work Tsubaki-chou Lonely Planet.)

Dengeki Daisy, 2007-2013 by Motomi, Kyousuke 

Teru Kurebayashi is left all alone in the world after the death of her brother, Souichirou. Well, all alone except for “Daisy,” someone that she can always talk to and who never hesitates to cheer her up. However, Teru has never met Daisy, she has no idea what he looks like, and her only means of contacting him is through a cell phone that her brother left for her.

In stark contrast to the kind words and encouragement Teru receives from Daisy, she gets nothing but grief from the rude school janitor, Tasuku Kurosaki, who forced Teru to work for him after she accidentally broke a window. But while Kurosaki seems like a lazy good-for-nothing who only enjoys making her miserable, is there more to him than meets the eye?

Myanimelist Synopsis

I feel like this series has such a huge following and yet there hasn’t even been a whisper about an upcoming anime adaptation. I liked it when I was in my early twenties and thought it would have an anime really soon after it finished. No such luck it seems for the avid fans.

Hiyokoi, 2009-2014 by Yukimaru, Moe 

Little 15-year-old Hiyori Nishiyama gets into an accident the day before her high school entrance ceremony, leaving her hospitalized with severe bone fractures that prevent her bones from growing. Due to her timid nature, even after recovering, she hesitates to attend class.

But when Hiyori finally decides to go to school for the first time in a year, things take an unexpected turn. As she introduces herself, she is abruptly interrupted by Yuushin Hirose, a tall and outgoing boy. Hiyori not only loses her chance to make a good impression on her classmates, but Yuushin ridicules her by comparing her to a baby bird. However, due to Yuushin’s sociable nature, she slowly feels more at ease around her classmates. With Yuushin at her side, Hiyori hopes to accomplish her goal of making friends.

Myanimelist Synopsis

This addition may surprise people but it has a reason to be on this list. Twice, in 2010 and 2012 anime studios made an introductory ova to promote this story. Yet, there is still no anime. It’s a cute story and I’m sure there would be a good following.

Love So Life, 2008-2015 (Rabu Sō Raifu) by Kouchi, Kaede 

Shiharu Nakamura is a high school girl who loves children, lives in an orphanage, and aspires to run a daycare. She works part-time at a nursery school where the cute two-year-old twins Akane and Aoi Matsunaga attend. One day, a handsome young man named Seiji Matsunaga comes rushing to pick up the twins, but they refuse to go home with him, clinging onto Shiharu instead. Shocked by the children’s strong attachment to Shiharu, Seiji urgently requests for her to babysit them, offering to pay twice the amount she currently earns at the daycare. Shiharu realizes the cash will cover her living and schooling expenses while also providing the experience she needs to fulfill her dream.

Love So Life follows the happy days of Shiharu as she finds herself falling in love with her makeshift family, and the twins as they live out their early childhood playing, learning, and growing.

Myanimelist Synopsis

Here is yet another well-liked manga, with a huge following, that has never become an anime for. . . reasons. With all the less than compelling shoujo anime that have come out throughout these last five years alone, strangely, no studio thought to adapt this manga. Perhaps, because Shiharu is a little bit like Tohru Honda from Fruits Basket, it will catch someone’s eye. 

Madame Petit, 2012-2017 by Takao, Shigeru

It’s the 1920s and Mariko, age 16, is married to a man 30 years her senior. She is honestly happy to be his wife and really excited to board the Orient express in Turkey on their honeymoon trip. But her life takes a rapid turn when her husband is discovered dead after the first night on board… And that’s only the start of Mariko’s great adventure.

Myanimelist Synopsis

My feelings personally about this story are mixed. However, I wonder why it hasn’t caught the eye of lovers of historical drama anime. It has great art, a compelling romance, and interactive mystery. For those interested in early 19th Century, this would be a breath of fresh air.

Psyren, 2011-2014 (PSYЯEN) by Iwashiro, Toshiaki 

Ageha Yoshina is a self-confident high school student who helps others for a fee. On his way back from a job, he finds a strange calling card with the word “Psyren” imprinted left behind in a phone booth and decides to keep it, unaware of its purpose. The very next day, Ageha discovers that his classmate Sakurako Amamiya has the exact same calling card in her possession. When he questions her, Sakurako asks him to save her, signaling the day his troubles begin.

Confused by the circumstances of this encounter, Ageha realizes something is wrong when Sakurako goes missing. In an attempt to figure out what is happening, he decides to call the number provided on the calling card and is asked a series of questions by a mysterious voice, ending with a final, cryptic question: “Would you like to go to Psyren?” Thus begins two teenagers’ participation in a game of life or death within a strange world inhabited by monsters called “Taboo.” Granted the ability to use psychic powers known as “PSI,” the duo fight to return to the place they call home.

Myanimelist Synopsis

I know there is a huge following for Psyren. More than any other series, I see readers question why no one has animated it. It has great pacing, compelling futuristic artwork, and a cool “power system”. Personally, I don’t mind it staying just a manga, but I understand how other fans must feel frustrated.

Takane and Hana, 2014-? (Takane no Hana) by Shiwasu, Yuki 

Sixteen-year-old Hana Nonomura is forced to be the substitute for her older sister Yukari at a miai: a meeting between two people considering an arranged marriage. Hana’s prospective suitor turns out to be the handsome heir of the wealthy Takaba company, Takane Saibara, who is 10 years her senior. He promptly shows disdain toward Hana and, in response, she tells him that she is equally unimpressed by his status and personality.

Hana believes that her actions at the meeting should have put an end to the discussions about marriage with Takane. To her surprise, not only does the man want to proceed with negotiations but he also starts to show interest in her! This is just the beginning of a special relationship between two polar opposites!

Myanimelist Synopsis

Takane and Hana is one of the best Shoujo romances I’ve ever read. It’s hilarious and treats the romance between Hana and Takane realistically. Plus, the art is consistently high quality. It has the makings of a great anime, untapped except for a random drama. So sad.

The Girl From the Other Side, 2015-2021 (Totsukami no Shoujo) by Nagabe 

Long ago, there was a god of light and a god of darkness. While those devoted to the god of light experienced happiness and good fortune, the god of darkness would play tricks on the people and steal their joy. And so, as the legend goes, the god of light decided to punish him by turning him into a monster. Enraged by this, the god of darkness wielded his punishment as a curse in order to inflict suffering upon others. Because of his actions, he was banished to the Outside, where he and his monstrous children are to remain for eternity, while those from the Inside must never come in contact with someone from the Outside, lest they be cursed with a hideous form.

A little girl named Shiva, an Insider, is found by an Outsider she comes to know as Sensei. Though they cannot touch, Sensei cares for Shiva as best he can, and together they live a moderately happy life. But soon, Shiva not only finds herself in danger from the Outside, but from her own kind as well.

Myanimelist Synopsis

With all the followers of shows like The Promised Neverland and Tokyo Ghoul, I expected Totsukami no Shoujo to make its way into the anime world seamlessly. No such luck so far. I just think its a bit odd considering how unique the artwork and story are.

Yotsuba&!, 2003-? (Yotsuba to!) by Azuma, Kiyohiko 

Yotsuba’s daily life is full of adventure. She is energetic, curious, and a bit odd—odd enough to be called strange by her father as well as ignorant of many things that even a five-year-old should know. Because of this, the most ordinary experience can become an adventure for her. As the days progress, she makes new friends and shows those around her that every day can be enjoyable.

Myanimelist Synopsis

Azumanga Daioh has an anime and it has barely any volumes. Yet, Yotsuba&!, with exemplary reviews both by critics and fans, has nothing whatsoever. It is a little boggling to me. Perhaps no one thinks they can adequately transfer the series’ great humor into animation. We may never know. . .

Thanks for reading!

Anime April Mayhem! Day 3, “What Bugs You?” Anime Tag

Anime April Mayhem! Day 5, Anime/Manga I’ll never do

See you tomorrow!