Hanaukyou Maid-tai: La Verite

I'll try to keep this short and to the point!

La Verite is apparently a remake of the original, i skipped the first one and went straight for this remake. One guy, surrounded by hundreds of maids. How can you go wrong?

I liked this anime for many reasons, its a "feel-good" anime that doesn't force you to think constantly. I love these animes when they do it right, i feel La Verite did it great!

It has enough of a story and character development to make it interesting throughout the whole show. Probably Verite's strongest point is its characters, i found it interesting learning all the maids (that are closest to Taro) backrounds and quirks. My favorite maid is probably Yashima. (Shes just really funny day-dreaming about Konae, reminds me vaguely of Hosaka from Minami-ke)

They don't get deep into the story until the last 3-4 episodes, but they do hint at it throughout the series. Didn't find myself bored on a single episode, which is quite rare for me.

This is my first review, your criticism (in the form of helpful/not helpful is appreciated, Thanks!)

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~Review~

Anime Information
Anime Production : m.o.e
Director: Takuya Nonaka
Episodes: 12 episodes
Genres: Action, Comedy, Drama, Ecchi, Harem, Maids, Romance, Slice of Life
Duration: 23 min. per episode
Original Run: 4 April 2004 – 20 June 2004

Synopsis
After losing his mother, 12-year-old Taro journeys to Tokyo to live with his grandfather. But he gets the biggest surprise when he discovers that his grandfather’s home is a huge mansion with hundreds of beautiful maids ready to serve him. Making matters worse (at least for Taro, but not for our viewing) is that not only does he inherit the Hanaukyo mansion, he gets the services of all of the maids 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A sudden change in his life, can he manage it?

Storyline: [8/10]
Well, first of all we need to know is this is an anime was a remake of the anime ‘Hanaukyo Maid-tai’ that release in 2001. With 4 years gap, this anime have many significant improvement in many aspects. This anime storyline is still the same as original, that’s for sure, but of course with some change and improvement. Frankly to say, from storyline perspective, this anime greatly exceeds from the original ones.
I can tell this anime undergo such a heavy improvement. What lack from the original ones, this anime completes it. This anime storyline is not flat course and also not a slow pace nime anymore. There is a ‘real’ conflict now in this anime. You can now feel the tension and the conflict built up from first episode through the end. Some of the episode from original anime appears again with a few adjustment. In terms of drama, this anime now have a deep drama story and also wrap in much more attractive way.
All aspect from action, comedy, drama, ecchi, harem, maids, romance, slice of life now balance in this anime. Life lesson storyline still there. Although, for me, there is some ‘twist event’ part from the storyline who become a bit of a question and strange to connect but I have to say, WTH! Just go fo it!

Art: [8/10]
This anime is also undergo so much improvemant in terms of art. The whole character now seems has a unique attribute beside their hair, their clothes and the color of their clothes. Mariel in the original have a purple hair, now she have a blue one and somehow remind me of KOS-MOS from Xenosaga series. Somehow the whole character have all this mature face but of course, they still not lose their cute and funny facial expressions.

Back in the original anime, the art was so-so for me but in this remake, the art was great. Many detail in this anime greatly focus and what more great is that some specific art that come from original anime is carried on in this anime without any change. For me, that’s what make this remake special.

Mariel still have that soothing eyes. Konoe still have that serious eyes. Ikuyo with her big round glasses and Chynthia still have that innocent look back in the original anime. It’s a great thing to see.

Sound: [7/10]
I like the OP very much. It have the same feeling from original OP so it is a very nostalgic, for me. The ED is so-so for me. Back in original ED and now, they still using the 'three stooges' maids as a concept for ED.

Character: [7/10]
There is no big change in character from main character to supporting character, which is good for me and also because this a remake so they shouldn’t mess up too much in this part. The great thing is now Tarou doesn’t have a woman-touch allergy back in the original anime. Mariel became much more mature with more showing his motherly nature sense and much more appealing in term of the ‘perfect’ maid now rather then back in original anime. It is a bit shock for me that she is actually 16 years old.
Konoe who in original anime only show that she is strict person with little sense of womanhood, in this remake, Konoe show that she actually have a feminine side and a soft spot for dogs but rarely show to the other.
Ikuyo still have her smiley invention thing with now more and more witty and prankish than Ikuyo from her original anime was. There is no big change in Chynthia and Grace personality. Back in original anime their name was Ichigo, Ringo and Sango aka Strawberry, Apple and Maple but now their name is Lemon, Marron and Melon with no big change either, at least they still lust for Tarou as ever.
And there are also Yashima Sanae, a new character who make her first appearance in this anime with her jump-on-to-conclusion type. She highly adore (close to love, I think!) Konoe and sometimes this often lead her to daydreaming up various lesbian fantasies with Konoe. This is a good thing for me because back in the original anime, they already have this ‘unique’ and in this remake, they strongly make this ‘unique’ more appealing. Which is wonderful!

Enjoyment: [8/10]
It is really fun to see this anime and much more exciting if you watch from the original anime. There still life lesson in there, some words of wisdom and wise remarks also. I personally rather difficult to choose which word should I quote because in this anime, there are lots of it.

This anime is really giving a new different aura from the original. You can still see that this is all still about the journey of Tarou Hanaukyo life. Back in my earlier post about the original anime review, I said there are this question who become a base of this anime such as how does a boy become a man? How can a boy who for all his life just became the master for himself, must now become the head of the huge, wealthy and respectful family? What kind of leader he become? And what kind of master he become for all his maids? Back in the original one, this question seemed to be unnotice to regular eyes but in this remake, this question is actually ask to be notice by us and somehow that gives me much more pleasure and enjoyment to watch this anime.

Overall: [8/10]
Fan service is better than before. All aspect of this anime and genres is in the right portions. This anime tempo is steady not slow like the original and although each episode still have a different set of story but now this anime have a purpose, have a conflict that which makes this anime interesting. Although only in small portion but the action itself is great and fun to watch.
Interesting point is beside from all this change and improvement, this anime doesn’t lose touch of the original anime. The struggle, the sacrifice, the joy and the happiness of the journey of Tarou Hanaukyo life seem more appealing than before. We can see much better change from a boy of Tarou Hanaukyo into a man of Tarao Hanaukyo, a family head of his family. For a remake, it's a success for them because they have managed to remake this anime so well.

Personal message and opinion:
This anime basically excel from his predecessor. Although you can see this anime without seeing the original first but there is much satisfaction, pleasure and enjoyment watch from the original. We can see the history of it, the different of it, the same of it, the unique of it and many more. It is really so much enjoyment for me.
Back in my earlier post about the original anime review, I said there is something is missing? Now I know what missing. Although the original anime have those kind of feelings but something seems empty, hollow. It turns out though the original anime has feelings but those feeling is empty, it lost his heart. In this anime, they seems to correct that in a great way.

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Amazing anime highly recomended great story and great art style but there was supposed to be a sequel cause if u listen and watch closly it says let them have their happiness for now and thats not all the relationship between Touru and Mariel didnt get to really progress which kinda made me mad but i'll i can hope for is that they make a second season but even then the company shut down in 2005.

Hanaukyo Maid-tai: La Verite: Overall Rating 6/10

I personally thought the beginning of this anime was very boring, but I had to give it a shot. After watching the whole anime I can say it was alright for an anime. I was going to give it a 5, but it was alright for an anime so I changed my mind and gave it a 6.

This anime is whacky in way, it starts off with a young boy named Taro Hanaukyo a 14 year old who is going to be staying with his grandfather because his mother has passed away. All of that change's though when his grandfarther leaves the mansion, for some unknown reason. He is now the new master of his grandfathers mansion, and inheritance of the Hanaukyo family. The maid that tells him this is Mariel, a beautiful young woman that is kind and is completely dedicated to pleaseing her master at any cost, remember this it's important.

Taro Hanaukyo is then greeted by all the maids at his grandfathers mansion as soon as he gets there. Every single maid greets the young Taro. At first he seems to be having a bit of trouble living like this, but eventually he gets the hang of it. There is a love interest for the young Taro. Taro has a special relationship with one of his maids although she doesn't seem to notice it, some of the other maids already knew.

Story wise the anime focuses on Taro Hanaukyo and his maid's. Some of the maids think he's some bratty child and they assume he can't live up to his grandfathers name. Until they get to know Taro personally, one by one they slowly but surely accept him not as there master but as a person and a friend. Most of them find out that he's actually really mature when he need's to be. The beginning of the series is really random and happens for no reason most of the time. Until it get's half way through, then you'll start to care and it begins to get serious.

There are a few heart warming moments in this anime but they don't last very long. The character development is really slow paced. They could of done better job of introducing them. So this anime was alright, but you probably won't really fall head over heels for it.

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