Back to GChan's Profile GChan's Profile

Never heard of this manga but after reading the concept for the movie? I had to watch.

Jesus and Buddha decide to take a vacation together and pick Japan. They wind up sharing a place together in an apartment building run by a senior citizen that's so scary that both quiver in her presence. There's also a trio of bratty kids who want to poke Buddha's third eye and think he's an alien.

There's no plot really in the movie; it's just sketches of everything from a dead-on parody of Disneyland to Buddha trying to teach Jesus to swim(and discovering that Jesus is quite a fraidy ... cat of water) to being in a festival and Buddha trying to pick up a cake for Jesus on Christmas without letting on a clueless Jesus that it's his birthday.

I love the bromance too. Jesus is the more energetic one who's fine living in the current world, while Buddha, to his nature, always looks for the cheapest way to buy something like a grandma, whether it's tissues or daikon radish. The only complaint that I have, is that I felt that there's probably more to this that's in the manga and unless you've read the manga, you'd probably would get the joke.

Otherwise? This needs a series for real. Too bad that no one in the US/West will probably license this for fear that the religious nuts will cry for their heads. However, it's a nice portrayal of both Buddha and Jesus; for the religious, there's absolutely NOTHING offensive.

Let me begin by saying this:

I had dismissed this show for being total fujioshi fluff but watched the first episode one night out of boredom. Much to my surprise, I enjoyed it and watched it all.

If you're looking for something hardcore, thought-provoking and a interesting twist on the music business---nah who are we kidding? UtaPri proudly wears its hat as this: A cute girl comes to music academy and studies music and befriends/falls/works with six hot guys.

Story: 8

As I said, want something thought-provoking on music? Go read Rolling Stone. This is just based from an otome(gal)game and it shows. Mainly the first eight ... episodes introduce our cast and the last few are how the song at the ED comes together. Oh, you will never ever EVER get rid of that song in your head, despite it's horrible Engrish. Along the way we get a trap teacher, a beach episode(yes at least one Fish has fanservice) a former action star as a teacher and the principal is a former pop idol himself who frequently pops in with words of advice.....or WTFness.

The only thing that comes close to a story is that one of the Fish wants to escape his past as an idol(whom Haruka loved and inspired her to go into music) and debut as his own person. Does Haruka wind up with him in the end? Stay tuned for season two...

Art: 10

There's some seriously pretty animation and character design here. Everything is so candy colored and girly girl. Though....seriously UtaPri, what's the deal on Haruka's eyes? Her eyes are piss yellow!

Sound 10

The music, much to my surprise, is actually a delight, despite the ED song. The OP is actually performed by Mamoru Miyano, who plays the former idol looking to start over and......it's actually quite good!

Personally I rather have the Fish perform solo individual songs, as they are mostly LESS cloying then the Fish's songs.

Too bad we didn't hear from the trap teacher though. We even hear from a character that only makes an cameo in the beach episode. And I would've loved to have heard from Wakamoto.

Character: 7

LOL. All of the tropes are there, but let's start with Haruka

Pro: Has a dream to make a song for her idol....which she kind of does anyway in a roundabout way. She's sincere and sweet, but not in a cloying way. It's easy to see why the male cast is enamored of her...music.

Con: She trips(take a drink everytime she does), cries and has beautiful eyes.....the color of pee. Glow in the dark pee. She does all of what airheads do.


Ichinose: tsundere/Emo Justin Timberlake

Pro: He's a great singer and is played by Mamoru Miyano. Hard to believe that the same person who plays Tamaki, Light and muthafuckin' Okiabe is in this.

Con: He's also kind of a dick to Haruka.

----
Shou: ShotaBait

Pro: One of the few characters I personally liked. And unlike the other boys, his reason for wanting Haruka is to protect her from herself and because he's found someone who knows what fanboying after a person is like *see anime.

Con: He can't sing. He's a cutie....but he can't sing. He's not bad, but he's scores behind the more smoother voices of the other Fish....except Ittoki

----
Ittoki: boy next door

Pro: Out of the cast(and this is my theory), he seems to really love Haruka and wants more with her. I wonder if the anime plans to hook him and her up, but I have a feeling that he'll be friendzoned in favor of Ichi.

Con: He can't sing either, at least not as well as the other fish. Though I've heard that his VA is much better.

----
Ren: Lady Killer with Swag

Pro: Yeah, he's hot. Also has a rather sad backstory. He, along with Ittoki and Masato, are probaly my favorites to wind up with Haruka. He seems to be rather enchanted with the Piss Yellow Songtress himself, as he tells Ichinose 'She changed me.'

Bonus points, because he's voiced by Junichi Suwabe.

Con: I hope he gets a new schtick in season two other than all the ladies want Ren while Ren only has his eyes for the 'Little Lamb'. Also, I've heard bardrunks give better pickup lines.

======
Masato: tsundere/Japanese Housewife

Pro: He's the other guy that I believe truly loves Haruka. All because of how he meets her. Also has a nice ass.

Con: Suzumara needs some better songs to show off his voice.

----------
Natsuki: Cloudcuckoolander

Pro: Natsuki is my favorite hands down. He's a goofball who plays violin like Itzak Pearlman but yet wants to become an idol. Why? Dunno. Also, out of all of the cast, he's the best singer in the group. Sorry Miyano fans...

And watch out when Natsuki goes into alterego mode........

Con: Nothing really. XD

=======

I also liked Tomo, who's Haruka's roomie, that's aspiring to become an idol herself. Too bad this is aimed at women because I would've liked to see her and Haruka work together on a song. And lastly, my second favorite is Cecil whose idenitiy I'll keep secret for now.

Enjoyment: 7

As I've said, anyone looking for a deeper show......go somewhere else. UtaPri is as deep as that DOKI DOKI song that's at the end of each episode. If the second season's a hit, then perhaps they'll make a third season where the Fish and Haruka are celebrities. Ichinose can give them tips since he was down that road himself.

Is it the best series out there? Hell no. But it is enjoyable, fun and I TRIPLE dare ANYONE who doesn't have a smile on their face throughout the whole season. :)

Warning: unless you're a fan of the series K, you're probaly wondering what the hubbub is all about. Otherwise, enjoyable short volume that deals with the backstory of Kuroh Yatogami aka Black Dog and how he found Shiro in episode one. Along the way, we discover how he obtained his sword, some brief flashbacks of his life with his master before his master passed away and more importantly, how exactly he came about on how he met Shiro.

Spoiler Alert: There's some cameos from other characters as well: Big Guy that hung with Yata appears in chapter 3 and Totsuka appears in 4.

Overall, I liked this ... volume. The art was true to the story and boy oh boy is Kuroh pretty. My only complaint is that I wish there was more volumes that answered questions, mainly on Ichigen Miwa and what exactly is Kuroh's relationship to him. So despite the blurb, if you're looking for a wandering samurai story...well, you're not going to get too much other than the five chapters here. But for K fans and for fans of the Black Dog himself, you're in for a treat.