Since I stated this site in May of 2006 under the name “Sam’s Anime Study”, it has undergone many changes – such as the jump from not only focusing on anime but having a greater focus on gaming as well, alongside the fairly obvious name change to encompass everything that this site stands for. During the Sam’s Anime Study days I wouldn’t say I was the best at episodic reviewing and often chose series that others generally didn’t touch such as Kodomo no Jikan, Moetan and for a while it felt… Shugo Chara to name a few. However, some of those that I did review at one point, either fully or a single episode have made it on to full English dubbed or subtitles releases and I recently purchased three of them – Asatte no Houkou, Koharu Biyori and Negima!?. Personally I am disappointed that no company has picked up Manabi Straight which I think was a rather interesting school-life title, but these three will be added to the review shelf for eventual re-reviewing. Many years on will I find a greater appreciation for them as full series or will my tastes have changed for the worst? Only time will tell…
Living For The Day After Tomorrow
Asatte no Houkou
There are far worse things than having to deal with your ex-boyfriend’s little sister or your older brother’s ex-girlfriend. But that’s something Karada Iokawa and Shoko Nogami have to learn the hard way when a magic wishing stone inexplicably grants Karada’s wish to be older – and does it by stealing the years from Shoko! Now Shoko, who’s already graduated and studied overseas, is Karada’s age, just about to enter junior high school. Meanwhile Karada must suddenly face the real facts about what being grown up entails. And just to make a bizarre situation even more awkward, there’s the issue of how to handle their existing romantic interests!
This was the second or third title I ever picked up for Sam’s Anime Study and is without a doubt the most serious. I have no idea why I initially dropped it after the first episode, it did sound like a promising storyline. This release was published by Sentai Filmworks and is Japanese Dubbed/English Subtitled.
Indian Summer
Koharu Biyori
“She’s the perfect girl, and you can do ANYTHING you want with her!” That’s what the company Maid Works promises, and boy, do they deliver! Unfortunately for android maid Yui, her new owner isn’t exactly normal; he’s one of those anime fans who’s slipped way past the boundaries of normal fandom and into the realm of fanatic.
That means that instead of cooking, cleaning, and other “ahem” household duties, Yui is instead forced to parade about in an ever-changing variety of anime and maid costumes while Takaya indulges in his deranged fantasies! Since Yui’s one of those rare androids with self-awareness, this is more than just embrassing, it’s downright humiliating! And things get even weirder as other Maid Works models arrive, each designed to cater to another facet of otaku-dom!
Fanservice Ahoy! Honestly, I have no idea why I picked up this title now or even why I picked up the first episode back in the day. But who knows…. is there the slightest chance it might be okay? This release was published by Sentai Filmworks and is Japanese Dubbed/English Subtitled.
Negima!?
Wizard Negi Springfield may be a boy, but he has a man-sized job to do! Fresh from the Academy of Magic, Negi continues his training as an instructor at Mahora Academy in Japan. But before he can get his Master’s in magic, the 31 schoolgirls of Class 3-A are gonna keep him up all night cramming for a final exam in will power.
Temptation aside, Negi has more on his syllabus than flirting and spells. Darkness is closing in, and Negi is gonna need help from his student bodies to drive the ghouls from their school. These girls want to prove that they’re best in class, and extra credit is available to the cuties who aren’t afraid of after-hours phantom fighting – especially if it means more time with their favorite professor.
This was the first series I picked up for Sam’s Anime Study and also the first one that I completed all the way through. I had a very high reception for the series back in the day but was it a “I want my first full series to be a good one” attitude I had or was it actually that good? You shall find out when I release my review soon! This release was published in Australia by Madman Entertainment and is English & Japanese dubbed / English Subtitled.
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