Majisuka Gakuen. Is the story of a transfer student called Maeda Atsuko. She transferred to an all-girls school called Majisuka Gakuen. This is not your normal school. This school has a long legacy of being a school full of Yankees ( Japanese Gangs). Maeda Also has a secret past. She is a strong fighter which makes her a target for all the Yankees trying to become part of the strongest gang in the school, Rappappa otherwise known as the Art club.
Maeda’s parents were also Yankees when they were young, her mom even attended Majisuka when she was in high school, beat out the current principal of the school in order to marry Maeda’s father.
The school is broken up into several gang all ruled by Rappappa. The President and Vice-president of Rappappa rule over the 4 queens of the school, and each queen runs their own group of gangs. The gangs is where the series really shines. Its almost like watching a live action manga. All the gangs have their own personalities and their own variations of their school outfits. An example of this appeared in the first episode where newly transferred student Onisuka Daruma fights the Golden Eyebrow Society Gang. This gang had bright red high heels, wearing mask and of course had Golden colored eyebrows. Daruma easily defeated the Golden Eyebrow gang but was soon taken out by Team Hormone. Team Hormone doesn’t have a uniform as strange as Golden Eyebrow but they do wear what looks like P.E. Jackets with their gang name on it. Team Hormone are later defeater by Maeda, which triggers Daruma and Team Hormone to become allies to Maeda. Team Hormone helps explain the workings of Majisuka High school.
In the first 5 episode we also encounter the Sanshou Sisters, a trio dressed up as Lolita girls with their slogan “small but spicy”. The Kabuki sisters, a couple of strong girls who’s face is painted in kabuki paint and the older one uses an open palm style of fighting that gave them the name Kabuki. We also encounter a Cross dressing lesbian Gakuran and the Hyakunin Isshua club member Choukoku.
Maeda’s closest thing to a friend in Majisuka High school is Daruma. After getting saved by Maeda, Daruma chases Maeda calling her Atsu-ne and acting like a bodyguard. She is the main source of comedic relief in the series. Often pulling out a chicken wing each time Maeda wins a battle. Daruma usually ends up getting beaten up before Maeda is forced to fight. Maeda hates fight, probably due to her secret past that is slowly revealed in each episode, If they make fun of her or taunt her by saying that she isn’t serious, Maeda will fight. In Gokusen’s Yankumi fashion, Maeda will remove her glasses and begin to kick butt.
Aside from Maeda’s mom and the school Principal, it seems like all the adults in the series are pushovers. The Home room teacher seems to get beat up by the students every episode. The Nurse is a pervert who wants to “heal” the wounds of the students.
This drama stars the group AKB48 an all-girl Theater group/Idol group. The acting can be a bit cheesy at times often parodying all those Yankee dramas we grew to love. When characters explain things such as the one inch punch, other characters response by saying something like “Really?” or “What are you a commentator.” I’m really enjoying the series, I am wishing that the episodes where a bit longer. They are only 30 minutes long which isn’t your standard size for a Japanese Drama. I will continue watching just to try and find out the rest of Maeda’s past as well as how Rappappa will handle the situation.
Bones studios newest anime, This episode was so great that I had to give it its own post in my Anime Summer 2009 round up.
Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 starts out with Abingdon Boys School single, Kimi no Uta. Pictures of famous locations in Tokyo destroyed. We also see our two main characters walking around within the rubble.
Right after the fantastic OP we see a disclaimer. The disclaimer indicates that even thou this is a fictional story, there has been alot of research and simulations done to bring a sense of reality to the story.
The story starts out with our main character Mirai Onosawa standing among the crowd of people after the earthquake. the story then flashback to a couple days before the earthquake. Mirai seems like a very self absorbed girl who really only cares that she does not get to go on a trip this summer. Her parents working hard and she having to take care of her little brother Yuuki. While on an outing to Robot expo in Odaiba the big earthquake occurs. Its going to be great watching the progression of this anime as Mirai and Yuuki make their way home from Odaiba. I will assume that as Mirai continue on her journey she will become less and less spoiled and grows up. One thing that bothered me was how mean she was to poor Yuuki, Yuuki is a good little brother even offering to put his sisters name on his gift to their moms.
The animation is fantastic! details on the background, Mirai’s manga on her bed, the signs on the bus as it drives pass Mirai. everything is extremely detailed. Bones did a fantastic job on this series. I will continue watching this series, its going to be something big.
Another one of those bands that I really enjoy from Japan. First heard them from the Densha Otoko ED. I thought to myself “that is the nerdiest band I have ever seen but they rock”. One thing that I don’t like about this band is that the lead singer tends to scream at the beginning or the end of the songs. One example of this is the song “sekaiha sorewo aito yobunda ze” (the Densha Otoko ED song) at the end he screams love and peace, usually I end up stopping the song when he starts.
Soon after that I recognized the singers voice while watching Naruto. realized that they did the fifth opening for naruto. So why bring up this band now? Well because I have recently enjoyed their newest song “Kimi wo mamotte kimi wo aishite ” the newest ending to the anime Bleach.
I think its time for me to evaluate my favorite Anime Openings.
10. Rurouni Kenshins 2nd OP love the style, it also marks the point were it seems like the whole anime was being drawn a bit better.
9. Mobile Suit Gundam. Come on Koh Ikeda is the coolest!
8. Death Note 2nd Opening
Maximum The Hormone is one of those bands that its just fun. The Opening is intense.
7. Soul Eater 2nd Opening. Everytime I would watch this Opening I got it stuck in my head for at least 2 days.
6. Bleach Opening. When I first saw this Opening I didn’t even know what Bleach was all about. The Opening first part seemed very Shoujo, then they show you a bit of fighting. Asterisk by Orange Range is just an awesome song.
5. K-ON! Opening. Had to include this. its my favorite anime of the season. admit it the music is catchy and fun like the series.
4. Naruto 2nd Opening.
The song is ok but the way they made the Opening with all the teams and having the camera rotate and switch to the next team. the camera angles on the whole thing I love it. probably my favorite storyline in Naruto as well.
3. Soul Eater 1st Opening. This song plus the awesome dancing of shinigami-sama and Medusa. just awesome.
2. Lucky Star Opening. Its… just very cute.
1. Cowboy Bebop Opening.
This song just sets the mood for the whole show. jazzy, hectic and action packed! Still my favorite song and Opening.
This Band first caught my eye way back when they did the opening for Darker than Black. When I first heard them, I thought “Is that TM Revolution? they sound different!” Later finding out that it was Takanori.
Then I found another great song by them. This one is actually the Opening for D.Gray-Man. I have not watched this anime yet, but I hear good things. I would probably just watch it because of this song
And then there was the ED for Soul Eater, possibly my favorite anime ending of this year and last! so much so that I liked it better then the actual PV for Abingdon Boys School. I feel that the song and the images bring out a nice close to the whole series. (mixed feelings that they decided to go with STANCE punks song for episode 51). Below you will find the Ending video for soul eater. I have also included the link to the full PV. And yes I want a mic/flashlight too!
So why did I decided to talk about the Abingdon Boys School now instead of like 6 months ago? Its cause of their new song titled Jap. Its the Opening for the new anime Sengoku BASARA. Yes this anime is based of some video game, but the Opening is fantastic! (Japanese Medieval dudes dancing to modern music!) The anime itself looks interesting especially one of the main characters who rides around on a horse that has motorcycle handles and his gang/army sound like a bunch of Yankees. I will probably be talking about the new anime season a bit later in the week when I catch up on all the new tv series. Here is the OP for Sengoku BASARA.
