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This is such a difficult series to review because there are so many things that make it unappealing, and yet I still like it. On the one hand, I know its trashy reading, and on the other, it's just too damn fun to completely ignore the value of sheer enjoyment. I like to think it's a parody or something. But this is the author of Gantz we're talking about. It's not especially deep.


STORY:

I have read up to the beginnings of volume five, and damn does this story just take it's sweet time getting anywhere. Though the whole point of the story is the Big Gay ... Love between two girls, as is made pretty obvious by the cover/synopsis, the main girl spends the first 150 pages of the 221 page first volume TOTALLY MACKING ON LIKE 4 DIFFERENT DUDES. For real. She finally meets the girl she likes, and then, as a method to stay close to her, continues boning one of the aforementioned dudes. This is seriously the least gay gay story I have ever read. There is actually lesbian shenanigans later on, but they are few and far between, not to mention incredibly shallow.

This is so obviously the "Idiot Male" perspective on girls liking other girls, and if you have a sense of humor somewhat like mine, that can be funny, but otherwise... yeah. It's pretty bad.

ART:

Hideous. Atrocious. They have skinny pipe legs and the main girl has boobs that hurt to look at, exploding in aggrandized waterballonish granduer off of her 3 inch wide torso. Their mouths resemble belly buttons at times. It's like if Barbie's had the ugliest faces possible. It's consistent, I'll give it that, but it's... Well. to be the nicest I can be -- it takes some getting used to.

CHARACTER:

The main girl is the most bizarre in my eyes -- she's so unrealistic that she realistic. Or rather, the way she reacts unrealistically is believable because she's such an unrealistic character to start with. Sort of like how after a while you just start accepting the (lack of) physics in a mecha show, you accept the fact that Chizuru has simply not felt emotion before, and thus her ridiculously exaggerated reaction to a normal crush somehow makes sense. Other characters, however, are much more logical and realistic. The male characters are the most believable, and Azumi at least manages to be slightly more than the typical fantasy of the innocent girl (though I should emphasize "slightly").

ENJOYMENT:

I personally find myself enjoying this a lot. It unfolds like a sort of slice of life story about the ridiculousness of Chizuru making everyone around her confused/turned on/scared/all three. If nothing else it's interesting just to see the stereotypes on gay women that are exposed, as well as the obvious interference of a gay female being written by a dude -- in fact, sexual/gender stereotypes are prevalent here. If it's read as parodying those, it's frickin awesome. Bu if you read it unironically, than it's even more amazing when moments of truth break out of a deluge of misinformation and cliches.

OVERALL:

In good conscience, I cannot by any means call this "good". I gave it a 7 only because I somehow manage to enjoy it, despite it's obvious faults. If you don't mind reading something mindless but fun in a trashy sort of way, I'd say give HEN a try. Just don't expect too much from it.

Considering that this series obviously had a rather crap budget, I'd say it was done rather well. Not that it doesn't have it's problems, but it's story still manages to be enjoyable, if you can get past it's faults.


STORY:

A sort-of non-traditional take on vampires. Kazuna and Chizuna are vampires, but vampirism is more of an illness and a hindrance than it is anything else. It's quite a sad story, following how the illness ultimately destroys their lives. The anime's ending differs from the manga, however, as well as leaving out a couple side characters entirely, but as the story (in the anime) is focused ... mainly on Kazuna and Chizuna's interaction, it's not a major issue.

VISUALS:

PROS:
- The backgrounds/settings are rather gorgeous. The muted palette overall reflects the melancholy tone of the show, and the style the characters are drawn in make them all the more striking, in my opinion. The eyes, especially, were haunting, and I particularly liked the dark outline for the noses (rather a change from the disappearing noses that are standard anime fare).

CONS:
- Doing more than an OVA with such a character driven story would have been a mistake, but it wouldn't have hurt to give it a bit more cash for the four episodes. Man did I get sick of Kazuna's "attacks" (they looked like someone splatted some blood patterned brushes on a multiply layer in Photoshop), the wind chime, the moon, and (omg) the RED moon, not to mention the picture of Chizuna as a little girl, and a bunch of other reused shots/frames/misc. The obvious lack of budget inspired a drinking game in which the viewer would pass out from alcohol poisoning within the first episode if they were to actually put it to practice.

I give it a 7 for animation because, despite all the reused visuals, the visuals that were presented were rather pretty. Woulda been nice if things you know... moved more, though.

SOUND:

PROS:
- The ED is really hauntingly beautiful, and sad. It's actually one of my most played on iTunes. I'm a sucker for sad songs, what can I say? ^.^;;

CONS:
- Woulda been nice if they had coughed up the cash for an OP, or even just better background music. The only real saving grace is the ED, music wise.

7, if only because I fricking love the ED so much.

CHARACTER:

Like I said, what this series is entirely about. Very well done, I thought. Chizuna was probably my favorite, but all the characters resonated emotionally, I think.

10.

STORY:

This series isn't so much about a "story" or "plot-line" as it is about Chizuna and Kazuna, specifically. More of a slice out of their lives, than anything else.

7. It's all coherent, and there are a few decent "twists".

ENJOYMENT:

Well, if you can't get over the lack of budget, not much. But if you like a good story, with good characters, and some... a lot... a whole bunch... of angst, then this show is totally for you. If those things aren't your piece of cake well... *shrug* For me, an 8, leaning towards a 9. 10 if I count how fun it is to rewatch and make fun of for it's lack of budget. Or how Kazuna totally wants to do Chizuna.

The thing about Sumomo mo Momo mo is that for the first few episodes you're convinced that it's all just loli fan service and hilarious chibi jokes. In fact, even up to episode 14, that's still fairly accurate. But saying just that doesn't really cover everything that the series is.

STORY: 8 out of 10

The plot is basically that Inuzuka Koushi and Kuzuryuu Momoko, the respective heirs to their martial arts family bloodlines, are arranged to be married in order to maintain peace among the Zodiac families. Momoko, heir to the Dragon line and an awesome martial artist, is seriously excited about marrying Koushi, ... but Koushi, heir to the Dog line and a terrible fighter who just wants to be a lawyer, isn't exactly thrilled. Assassin's that oppose the marriage try to kill Koushi, noting that he's the weak link of the two. Simple, silly plot line. However, the story develops in such a way that we learn more about each of the characters involved without really losing relevance to the overall story that often. Filler episodes aren't common (though they do exist), but when they crop up, they are at least funny.


ANIMATION: 7 out of 10

This series isn't the prettiest to look at, both in matters of animation and style (that's without mentioning the fantastically ridiculous cg). However, the character designs are cute, and the animation is at least utilized in an effective manner. One thing in particular I like is that they didn't cut animation costs by making the characters talk out of the sides of their mouths when they're in profile --- their mouths and jaw's actually open! Kudos for that, at least.


SOUND: 8 out of 10

The first OP and ED are both catchy as hell once you get used to how cracked out they are, and the background music serves it's purpose in mood setting. I have yet to decide whether I like the new OP and ED, though, because I was so attached to the first ones.


CHARACTER: 10 out of 10

Yes, I know the series has tons of fan service. But underneath that, you see that the characters are more than just fan service/comedy machines. Despite thier ridiculousness, their storylines manage to make you care deeply for thier troubles, and wish the best for them. For example: Though Hanzo has every chance to take advantage of Iroha (who he is obviously attracted to), he doesn't. He's older, larger, and lives alone with her, and yet he respects, fears, and adores her for who she is. Even though you need to peel back the layer of anime humor to see this, it's still there.


ENJOYMENT: 10 out of 10

Definitely one of the most fun series I'm currently watching. Not only is it hilarious, it can also be surprisingly touching. A good, lighthearted series. In my book, a show needs only to achieve it's goals to be successful, and in that, Sumomo definitely passes.

OVERALL: 9 out of 10

Definitely recommended for anyone who can get past the fan service long enough to see this series worth.

Though the animation occasionally veers into Bad Drawing Land, and all the sitting around (close up, pan, rinse, repeat) and yadda yaddaing can get very old on the eyes, the mental aspect of the anime is certainly up to par. If you can get over the anime and sound aspects, and don't crave explosions every other episode, this series could very well be a good choice. I certainly recommend it to anyone who enjoys following a good mind game or two.

Character-wise, it's pretty neat knowing that each character is supposed to have a specific mental disorder. Light and L have Sociopathy and Asperger's, respectively. Wikipedia ... them if you find that kind of thing interesting, like I do.