And adding to my list for October anime releases, here's another yuri series: Sasameki Koto.
Wikipedia wrote...
Sasameki Koto (ã•ã•ã‚ãã“ã¨?, lit. "whispered word(s)") is a yuri manga series by Takashi Ikeda. It has been serialized in Media Factory's seinen manga magazine Monthly Comic Alive since May 26, 2007, and collected in four bound volumes as of March 2009. The story, mainly set in a co-ed school, revolves around Sumika Murasame, a 15 years old girl who is secretly in love with her female best friend, Ushio Kazama. Ushio likes girls too, but she's only into cute girls, while Sumika is tall, good at sports and she has a cool personality.
I really can't resist yuri ^_^
I actually look forward to the anime version since I'm still following the manga and I absolutely liked it. It's yuri with comedy, something that has been lacking in mainstream anime yuri. The running gag is Sumika trying to get Ushio look at her favorably by trying to be cute to her liking but her stature is her main hindrance ^_^ But there are more gags, notably a crossdressing boy who becomes the crush of a lesbian :)
Otherwise, if you want to read it before October comes up, Dynasty-Scans have scanlated some chapters (theirs is pretty good), it's here, you can read it or download it.
Hope the anime turns out to be good as well, since I'm still watching Aoi Hana right now and so far my yuri appetite is just whetted.
EDIT: I got an OP preview on YouTube... not the video itself anyway but the OP only with some preview pictures done in. Pretty chic.
Alright. Finally saw the first episode and wow...it was fantastic. Way better than I expected it to be.
Spoiler:
First and foremost, the music. It was simply awe-inspiring. I could feel the characters emotions flow throughout the story along side of the music. It was so soothing, yet dramatic when needed. Definitely helped me get more into the story.
As for the plot? I'm digging it a lot. I was glad that Kazama-chan admitted that she was into other girls right from the get-go. It's nice to have a confirmed lesbian every once and awhile. I really felt for her love for her Sempai, though. I've had my fair share of unrequited loves, (both of the same and opposite sex), and I felt just as bad as she did when the realization of never being able to date that other person comes into play. Gosh, the drama was so yummy.
And I'm very curious about Sumika-san. It seems like she likes Kazama-chan, but I wonder why she won't come out? Maybe her parents have a more strict upbringing, or she's afraid of what others might think? I haven't read the manga, so I'm only speculating, of course.
Anywho, I'm definitely going to continue to watch this series.
Pretty nice for the first episode, I guess. I just hope they don't squeeze everything in instantly since I'm also tracking the manga and they're still on playing relationship chess (waiting for one of them to move aka confess).
And yes, TwilightEngel, we'd have a great discussion here. Yuri interspersed with a touch of light comedy. The drama is funny but quite poignant, especially Sumika's melancholy everytime she gets the blows (seeing Kazama chase after cute lolis and saying she's uncute) but cannot bring to hate her best friend.
Wonder why she won't come out? You're right about her family - her family runs a dojo, and she's renowned as "Violent Murasame", imagine why, but the true reason lies in the simplest of trials preluding every relationship.
So far, so good, nice start. I just hope they keep it up.
I've been following the manga, so I think we should expect a second season with a reasonable time-interval in between. The manga ain't finished yet.
What's the better sub? HorribleSubs or FMS-Sunberries?
I just went with Horrible. Not sure about FMS. Has anyone watched their stuff previously, (since they are also subbing Kimi Ni Todoke and I was wondering myself)?
jmason wrote...
Wonder why she won't come out? You're right about her family - her family runs a dojo, and she's renowned as "Violent Murasame", imagine why, but the true reason lies in the simplest of trials preluding every relationship.
Ah, alright. That does clear a few things up for me,
Spoiler:
(especially the scene with her being able to save that student with a simple kick).
I can then understand why she wouldn't want to express any of her emotions verbally. She'd much rather express her feelings through her actions. ^_^
Wonder why she won't come out? You're right about her family - her family runs a dojo, and she's renowned as "Violent Murasame", imagine why, but the true reason lies in the simplest of trials preluding every relationship.
Ah, alright. That does clear a few things up for me,
Spoiler:
(especially the scene with her being able to save that student with a simple kick).
I can then understand why she wouldn't want to express any of her emotions verbally. She'd much rather express her feelings through her actions. ^_^
Yes ^_^ We'll see more of those, actually. In the series Sumika does various covert/discreet things just to attract Ushio's attention to her, but turns out it's obvious to the people around them but Ushio remains either oblivious or misinterpreting the deed. Sumika simply wants to make Ushio look at her to be more than just friends.
I'll be on tethers for the next episodes, can't wait for them. I just love yuri.
I really liked how it was a lot more light-hearted this time around, compared to last week's drama. Sumi-chan was just the cutest thing ever, (even though she totally didn't think she was cute). I loved how Sumi-chan ran to the bookstore to see how she could make herself look cuter for Kazema.
Also the whole thing with Akemiya? Bloody Fantastic! I love traps, and I wasn't expecting him to be one, (even though I knew from the previews that some kind of trap was going to come into play. Now I kind of want him and Sumi-chan to hook up...
Anywho, I still really like this series, and looking forward to next week.
Just watched episode 3... as I anticipated it, it is as it was, but I felt the anime could've pushed it more for that ersatz kiss between Sumika and Ushio, like making the kissing seem more romantic even in the presence of a ridiculous Ultraman mask ^_^
But oh well, speedy yuri kiss-ups ^_^ The earlier the better :)
Ep4 is out... and it was quite hilarious. But it was an important episode, since it dropped hint #1. And *sniggers* Sumika was blackmailed into joining Tomoe's crazy club so easily... they're the first ones to see her one-sided love for Ushio.
Anyway, on a side note, the episodes were spot-on with its manga counterpart - CHAPTER PER CHAPTER. For now. But I like it, since I'm seeing it pretty nicely, and there's not too many yuri anime out there with gags like these in this series.
If it continues on this trend - we'd see more than 24 episodes for this series. Cool.
Just watched episode 3... as I anticipated it, it is as it was, but I felt the anime could've pushed it more for that ersatz kiss between Sumika and Ushio, like making the kissing seem more romantic even in the presence of a ridiculous Ultraman mask ^_^
But oh well, speedy yuri kiss-ups ^_^ The earlier the better :)
Spoiler:
I thought that the scene between Sumi-chan and Ushio was very nice. The whole time that she had the mask on, I kept on desperately waiting for Sumi to get all dominant and rip it right off of Ushio's face, but oh well.
jmason wrote...
Ep4 is out... and it was quite hilarious. But it was an important episode, since it dropped hint #1. And *sniggers* Sumika was blackmailed into joining Tomoe's crazy club so easily... they're the first ones to see her one-sided love for Ushio.
Anyway, on a side note, the episodes were spot-on with its manga counterpart - CHAPTER PER CHAPTER. For now. But I like it, since I'm seeing it pretty nicely, and there's not too many yuri anime out there with gags like these in this series.
If it continues on this trend - we'd see more than 24 episodes for this series. Cool.
Spoiler:
I agree. Episode 4 was very funny. All I have to say about it was poor, poor Akemi, (now Akemiya, lol). I loved how Sumi-chan used him as her tool for surveying the girls that Ushio likes. One of the best things ever.
I'm also liking Tomoe and Miyako a bit, too. They seem like a lot of fun, especially with the all girl's club brewing.
And we can only hope that it will be 24 episodes, but we shall see. I'm definitely glad that I caught myself up this week.
I just got done watching episode 5, and it's definitely my favorite thus far.
Spoiler:
It had fantastic fanservice, (maids and naked aprons, along with yuri...epic win)! I thought it was funny that Sumi-chan and Miyako developed a rivalry, and had a cook off that turned completely disastrous. Luckly Kazama's family laid back.
I also wanted a big hug from Noe-san. That looks so comfy!
And I daww'd at the end with Tomoe saying how good it was to have friends like them. Warmed my heart.
And the next episode is entitled: Couple's night. Sounds sexy. <3
Episode 6 was fun. Well, it's more of the lesbian pair again trying to hook up Sumika with a banana peel.
Spoiler:
- They tried to make Sumika more of a klutz, but she is already a natural klutz - albeit with martial arts expertise.
- This ep is almost exactly the same with chapter 6 of the manga. The rigidity of the referencing and its consistency throughout the series astounds me.
- Kazama is sexy ^_^ Binyuu :)
- Well, it's the third important plot point for me - Ushio says "I love you" for the first time to Sumika... but as a friend. But she still said it. And Kazama ended up not getting enough sleep due to it.
- Masaki Akemiya is reduced to an "occasional gag" character. Well, can't blame the anime - the manga did it to him too ^_^