Tag Archives: Drama

Kimi no Iru Machi: A Town Where You Live

Kimi no Iru Machi: A Town Where You Live

Kimi no Iru Machi is a shonen slice of life manga wrote by Seo Kouji. To be honest, I thought it was a shojo from the way it read. The series follows Haruto Kirishima, Yuzuki Eba, Akari Kaga, and other friends as they grow up.

The story centers around Haruto and Yuzuki’s turbulent romance. Yuzuki ends up staying with Haruto during their high school years upon request by her family. Yuzuki and Haruto’s parents were friends. Haruto doesn’t really care for Yuzuki at first; he only has eyes for Nanami Kanazaki. The story focuses on Haruto’s changing love interests as he grows older and how it creates an on-off relationship with Yuzuki. Thankfully, Yuzuki isn’t another tsundere character.

Being shonen, it is no surprise the manga has plenty of eye candy and hot spring scenes. As the character age, more nudity and related scenes creep into the story. Their concerns also change. ...

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Antique Bakery

Antique Bakery

I started to watch this drama because I was on a bakery kick, and I liked the title… “Antique Bakery”. My overall impression was that not a lot happens in this drama. Regardless this drama is heartwarming, and I couldn’t help but cheer the characters on. I have to admit, the real reason I like this show is…. the cake! Every episode they display the most delicious treats with fresh berries, fluffy mouses and glistening sugary sauces. It makes me wish to bake something like that, which is odd for me because I passionately hate cooking… but I think if I could make something look as delicious as it tastes I would be happy to do it. This is a very lighthearted drama that leaves me with happy thoughts.

This drama has an interesting method of narrating, by typing words across the screen. It is silly, but it grew on me. ...

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Spice and Wolf 2

Spice and Wolf 2

Spice and Wolf has quickly become one of my favorite anime series. It is just so refreshingly different. There aren’t any villains. There are just people with faults: mostly greed.

Like the first season, Spice and Wolf II is a “talky.” There is less suspense than in the first season and more focus on Holo and Lawrence’s relationship. Most of the action is done through back and forth banter and mercantile maneuvers.  That said, the dub has to be well done. Luckily it is.

The series delves deeper into Holo’s feelings and thoughts than the first season. She isn’t as mysterious…although she is still her usual wise-wolf self. Lawrence slowly admits to himself where exactly his feelings and priorities lie.Holo is more vulnerable in this season too. For some viewers, she may seem to act out of character ( there is a different studio producing this season); however, the first season alludes ...

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Coffee Prince

Coffee Prince

Coffee Prince or Coffee Princess? Its a gender bending drama from Korea. I know its not a Japanese Drama… but there is a Japanese actor in it.

This romantic comedy is about a tomboy, Eun-Chan who struggles to support her Mother and younger sister. Mistaken for a boy she gets offered a temporary job by the heir, Han-Gyul, to the Donjin Food Corporation. The job? Pose as Han-Gyul’s boyfriend to fend off would be wives that his grandmother has set him up with. Grandma changes tactics and forces him into the family business as a small coffee shop manager. The only work experience Han-Gyul had was playing with legos…. every 13 year-old’s dream job. Eun-chan’s hard luck catches up with her and she loses her job. She asks Han-Gyul for a job at his coffee shop, Coffee Prince. And so begins a delightful tale of gender deception.

The Korean actors have a ...

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School Days

School Days

I’ll admit that I like to watch an occassional romance. When I saw School Days, I thought I’d give it a watch since it’s been awhile since I saw a romance. The anime starts up like one…

Makoto Ito begins as an innocent and naive guy who many girls crush on. He has a crush on Kotonoha Katsura, a reserved shy girl who rides the same train to high school.  Sekai Saionji sits beside Makoto and decides to help him out with meeting Kotonoha.

All pretty standard romance. As one would expect, things get complicated. Sekai starts to fall for Makoto but doesn’t wish to break up the new couple. She continues to help the clueless Makoto with what girls want from  a guy…

It’s hard to review a romance without giving too much away. Only School Days isn’t entirely a romance. As the anime continues, things shift from relationship hijinks and teenage ...

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Howl’s Moving Castle

Howl's Moving Castle

Sophie, a quiet girl working in a hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl. The vain and vengeful Witch of the Waste, jealous of their friendship, puts a spell on Sophie. In a life-changing adventure, Sophie climbs aboard Howl’s magnificent flying castle and enters a magical world on a quest to break the spell.

Studio Ghibli’s quality of animation is top notch in this film. Throughout, Sophie gradually morphs between her true self and a bent grandmother. The story is enjoyable and full of rich details. The characters are likable, strong willed (in the case of Sophie) and multi-dimensional. Even the villain has a soft side and isn’t totally evil. Ghibli makes films for both adults and children to enjoy. Howl’s Moving Castle ...

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