Notebook display still fubar but rewatching the MariMite OVA has lifted my grumpiness enough to post on it. Firstly, Erica Friedman’s notes on the novel really helped me to understand the raw and to enjoy the story so much more. Okazu is THE ultimate yuri anime/manga blog.
There are probably going to quite a few Hannibal Lecter jokes about the title of this OVA but the lambs come off pretty well. I’ve often wondered at how I’ve been able to enjoy the first and second seasons even though I disliked Sachiko (though I could understand why Yumi adored her). I was really a little worried about how I would have approached this Sei Satou-less anime but Sachiko has grown as a character.
It also helped that she looks a lot less evil (compared to her fugly eyes in season one). I was pretty shocked to discover that her seiyuu was none other than Miki Itou who voices Asa Shigure in SHUFFLE! I only realized this when listening to MariMite soundstage clips and scratched my head at how Sachiko sounded weirdly Asa-like. Apparently, Itou’s Asa voice is much closer to her natural voice. As a result, even more kudoes to her for voicing Sachiko so effectively - just listening her speak makes me mindful of my posture.
Really nice to see Yumi x Sachiko move beyond Yumi angst and Sachiko insensitivity. There’s still bits of it, like how Yumi’s fleeting dismay and puzzlement by Sachiko’s question of whether she wants any one to join them at the summer house - ‘I’m not good enough, on my own, for my Oneesama?’ vs ‘Sooo jealous of Sei’s rapport with my imouto’ respectively. Excellent teamwork during their showdown at Great Grandma’s birthday party and then Sachiko teasing Yumi about her loach scooping performance at the conclusion. Youthful innocence and great-grandmotherly curmundgeon triumph over spoilt rich biatches. Huzzah.
I was a tad disappointed that the bits in the novel that didn’t make it into the OVA. E.g., Mrs Fukuzawa’s ‘marrying off’ Yumi to Sachiko which I found hysterically funny. Looks like some things in Lilian don’t change across generations. Oh, I did think it was a pity that Sachiko didn’t shag Yumi senseless now that they’ve finally established a sort of steady state and plenty of privacy but not at all surprising. And for that kind of thing we do have StoPani. LOL
Thanks for the plug for Okazu.
Of course I’ll review the OAV there, but not just yet, as I’m in “no schoolgirls” week. :-)
I was also sad that the entire Koshihikari joke was sort of lost in the time crunch, but overall felt that the adaptation was very good, very solid.
Best thing they left in was that Great Grandmother wasn’t sick, she was just pissed. That never fails to crack me up. LOL
Cheers,
Erica
I think the OVA was very empty. For yuri reason, I’d prefer Stopani better than this. There no action from the 2 main character at all. I really felt they are teasing me too much
Zyl,
Thanks for letting us know the Marimite raw was out! Having watched the first two TV series of Marimite, have been looking forward to this one for awhile. I had a few laughs when seeing Miki Itou and Yumi’s seiyuu, Kana Ueda, working together on Fate/Stay Night as Taiga Fujimura and Rin Toshaka, respectively. I just couldn’t see Rin calling Taiga “Oneesama” though - the thought was worth a laugh or three.
We need one of the characters going all Lecter-like for LOL reasons.
Incidentally, Thomas Harris’ newest novel, Hannibal Rising, is out in stores :V
“There no action from the 2 main character at all. I really felt they are teasing me too much”
You might enjoy it more if you accept that the yuri will never leave the realm of subtext.
While it would be nice if it all ends with Sachiko and Yumi declaring their romantic love for each other it doesn’t bother me that that’s not going to happen. WE know how they really feel even if they don’t. ;)
Erica’s review is here.
Johan, I’m closer to Anaglyph than you on this one. While I do like my yuri physical fanservice, I enjoy subtext and relationship development a lot more.
Dan, thanks for pointing out FS/N. Kana Ueda did a wonderful tsundere job with Rin Tohsaka but that character, like most of the rest of the Heaven’s Feel material was woefully under-developed.
DrmChsr0, Maria-sama is Eating Liver with Fava Beans and a Nice Chianti? LOL
well, not sure if u need this…..still
My own summary of episode 1…So if you need it, go ahead ^_^;;;
I checked out okazu and found it to be totally wonderful. I wonder how i could miss such a site >_<