You are currently browsing the monthly archive for January 2008.
Think about an all-boys high school that students are chosen not by grades but their appearances. And what happens if a girl who disguised herself as a boy enrolls in this very high school? “Hanazakari no Kimitachi e” will show you what happens.
“Hanazakari no Kimitachi e” [English title: For You in Full Blossom] is a Japanese drama which I didn’t intend to watch at first because it is classified as ‘high school romance comedy’. I never get on well with romance genre, I find most of them booooring. But this one is worth watching. It achieves what it intends to achieve; to entertain.
Let’s look at the plot: Ashiya Mizuki, disguises herself as a boy and enrolls in an all-boys high school as a transfer student from U.S. She has only one goal in doing so; to make Sano Izumi jump again. Sano is a high jump athlete ho saved Mizuki from a gang when he was on his way back from his camp in U.S. and gang members injured his leg as a punishment. After the incident Sano quits high jump and Mizuki holds herself responsible for it and she decides to get transferred his school. She will try hard to make Sano jump and smile again like it used to be, while protecting her secret being a girl in an all-boys school.
I think, I wouldn’t enjoy watching this drama, if there wasn’t Nakatsu in the story or if Toma Ikuta didn’t play Nakatsu soo well. He plays pretty well the transitions between various mood swings of Nakatsu; such an energetic character. Here’s Nakatsu:
On the other hand, Sano makes nothing but acting cool and sulking most of the episodes 
. I really can’t imagine this man smiling . Whenever Sano smiles (though pretty rarely) it looks somewhat weird. Maybe it’s because of the character, since Sano is pretty gloomy and depressingly cool and lonely guy, I think it cannot be helped.
Ashiya Mizuki is another character full of energy and very well played, too. Listening her talking like a boy is really fun.
Other character I find it fun to watch is Umeda, he is frightening in the first three episodes. But whenever ex-girlfriend pops up, his all frightening aura vanishes 
And the aura boy, he is another story. Room-mate of Nakatsu, he can see and speak to ghosts, can read aura of a person.
Without realizing it, I end up loving this drama I guess. It is rare for me to watch twice any movies or series. HanaKimi is one of them.
I always love vampire stories. That’s how I’ve found Vampire Knight manga. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much from the story but it had a surprise twist in chapter 35, drawing more attention to the series.
Vampire Knight is a manga by Matsuri Hino. In Japan, Vampire Knight entered serialization in January 2005 in LaLa magazine and now announced adapted into an anime series in 2008 (yaay!).
Story begins in Cross Academy, a private school which is divided as Day Class and Night Class. Day Class is made up of normal students, whereas Night Class consists of elite students (and they are completely gorgeous). Both classes use school facilities in rotation. When the classes change in the evening, Day Class crowd around to see those elite beauties of the Night Class. Yuki Cross, adopted daughter of the of the headmaster of Cross Academy, and Zero Kiryuu, who lost his parents to vampires at an early age, are the Guardians of school protecting the secret of the Night Class that they are actually vampires. Cross Academy’s real mission is to maintain a peaceful coexistence of the humans and vampires.
Here are the main characters:
Yuki Cross: As said above, adopted daughter of the of the headmaster of Cross Academy. She had been saved by Kaname Kuran from another vampire’s attack ten years ago and was brought to the Headmaster Academy. Headmaster Cross took her in as his own daughter. Yuki is a cheerful and carefree girl (and too childish and reckless >_< , I don’t like her). She is the Guardian and on the disciplinary committee. She has a crash on Kaname, obviously. On the other hand, her friendship with Zero turns into something intricate and deep on an vague layer, yet apparently going on a romantic setting undeniably, after she discover Zero’s secret.
Kaname Kuran: A pure-blood vampire. He saved Yuki from an attack by another vampire when she was 5 years old. Kaname is the class president of the Night Class, much feared and respected by the other Night Class students. He loves Yuki (damn! 
) , always protect her and passionately hates Zero who drank Yuki’s blood (Yuki herself offered to do so later on, which is all the more reason for Kaname to hate Zero ) His only reason not to kill Zero is his death would sadden Yuki.
Zero Kiryuu: Son of a vampire hunter family. His family was killed by a vampire who bites him and takes his twin brother as her servant. Yuki’s childhood friend. Zero is also a Cross Academy Guardian and likewise on the disciplinary committee. Yuki has cared about him as a close friend, since he was brought into their home (the Headmaster’s). He hates vampires deeply, but he is a vampire himself because of the past incident. He doesn’t like Kaname, their feeling of hate is mutual. (In fact, he is a nice guy, but he is so worked up about his tragedy in the past and actually being a vampire. He is so depressing , always sank in misery and hatred. Can’t win against Kaname XD )
Fans divided in two on this love triangle debate; supporters of Yuki x Zero (as a couple ) and supporters of Yuki x Kaname. I’m one of Yuki x Zero supporters, just because I don’t like Yuki (i don’t like Zero either, perfect couple ; both pathetic or Kaname is too cool for this story , don’t know.). I believe Kaname deserves someone better than Yuki (hear me out Matsuri Hino sensei! ). Maybe I just don’t like Shôjo that much, at least the ones with a weak heroine and that feeds my Yuki dislike. Since chapter 35 has a intriguing twist of events, I’m hoping to see a stronger Yuki soon, it may turn out to be a coming-of-age plot. Just maybe then, I’ll say “OK”to Yuki x Kaname 
.
Though I’m not so fond of plot and weakling heroine (forgive me Yuki fans), I really like the artwork and character designs. I’m so looking forward to see the anime. (Well, after all, vampires are my little obsession. Unless story is awfully lame, I always love to watch/read them.)
….Human world welcomes the beginning of another year.It is also a beginning in Misty Forest, for the gates of the Forest is opened once again by the Mistress, and this time for good. Misty Forest presents a warm welcome and all kind of forest berries generously to its visitors, with the accompany of cheerfully singing birds on the branches.
OK, I should admit that “cheerfully singing birds” was too much, since we’re in the middle of the winter, even it is a re-opening ceremony. In brief, welcome the the MF once more.
Yet another theme. New beginnings deserves new themes. Actually for me, finding a theme I like is enough reason to renew it, since I’m quite picky about it. I still regret that I cannot use another theme I like very much because of its black background makes the reading difficult.
