Production IG Kimi Ni Todoke Episode 4 Review

Sawako And The Case Of The Nasty Rumors Part 1
So this episode ends with Sawako miserable. Yeah. This is a hard one to stomach. Which is bad because I got bad news on my A1C and are the wrong things and… Eww…

Yes yes. It’s me. Telling me not to eat the wrong things is like telling newest antagonist teacher Mr. Ping not to be a deranged asshole. Also it seems this episode is lining him up to be behind the rumors.

Why? Because the rumors are meant to isolate Sawaka from her new friends, and make her suffer. So why is Ping a suspect? Because he has Sawako on the mind.

For some reason just hating Sawako & Kazehaya in love is not enough for him. While monopolizing Kazehaya’s time as his aide, he admits to Kazehaya that his binge drinking is now tormented by Micronaut sized Japanese men in suits and stuff.

First off of he hates Kazehaya and Sawako so much? Why is he making Kazehaya his confessor? Two? Why is he babbling on about drunken psychotic episodes during work? Seriously I’ve seen Japanese dramas where schools fire teachers for less than this!

And I’m talking NGN slash local independent Hawaiian TV of old series. Aka the Public Television of Japanese programming! How is it this demented psychotic is still a teacher!

Also, before Sawako’s female friends can stop Sawako from saying things she maybe shouldn’t to a certain girl? He stops them and drags them off… Uhh… I DON’T EVEN THINK FICTIONAL JAPANESE SCHOOLS ALLOW THIS KIND OF FEMALE HANDLING!!

Thing is? I think he’s innocent… If the rumors. Yes. He hates Sawako. But I think it’s the blonde girl we saw briefly last episode talking to Kazehaya. The one Sawako met, and was captivated by her beauty. Even though Sawako is beautiful in her own right.

I think by tomorrow and Episode 5 we will see this blonde beauty be outed as the true source behind the nasty rumors. If that’s the case? How Mean Girls of Eclipse.

Anyway this starts off with Sawako being the happiest girl ever, and ends with her being miserable. Why? It’s because she accidentually finds out about the nasty rumors. The episode ends with her driving herself crazy tracking down the source.

Oh. Yeah. Someone also got it into Kazehaya’s mind that Sawako hates him. He at least talks to her about it, and she assures him that she would never hate him… But that moment kinda synched it for me in terms of guilty parties.

Yes. It could be Ping san. But I think he’s supposed to be a long term antagonist. That leaves the mysterious blonde from last episode. The motivation (break Kazehaya & Sawako up) fits the motif behind the rumors. But I guess Episode 5 will solve the mystery.

Nope. I’m pretty sure Conan won’t show up to solve the case, but hopefully that’s all solved so we can go back to happy friendships again. I like happy friendships! Really! Tomorrow.

So… I guess this weekend I’ll look up Netflix’s progress on Season 3. I’ll have an update for you hopefully on Sunday. Anyway see you tomorrow eh.

Yen Press Assorted Entanglements Volume 3 Review Chapter Sixty-Seven (Digital)

You Can Take A Kujou To A Lesbian Bar…
…but you can’t make her date. That’s the takeaway from Yui’s efforts to finally help Kujou get into the lesbian bar next to her job at the Maid Cafe.

Let’s see… We find out Yui is considered a difficult person to date. But she just knows what she wants… I think. Kujou is finally lured into the lesbian bar by Yui. Strange. I’m This world high schoolers can serve alcohol AND take their teachers to lesbian bars.

Regardless it seems that helping Kujou get into the bar is the least of Yui’s problems in aiding Kujou. NOW she has to completely teach Kujou how to date !

Yup. All this desire to have a living girlfriend but none of the skills to land one. Also? Is this title still hunting that Kujou and Yui will hook up or not? I’m curious.

Weekend so let’s find a title to review on weekends. We return to this on Monday. See you tomorrow.

Production IG Kimi Ni Todoke Episode 3 Review

Spiteful Teachers, New Friends And School Rumors. Oh My!
So before we begin U noticed a sign that tells where the Chinese Malaysian Bootleggers got this stuff to sell. In the form of a faint watermark on the upper right corner.

I only noticed it today by chance. I took an image of it, so hopefully one of you can tell me something about this watermark. And if it points at the source where the bootleggers sourced this.

Given that there is a watermark? It must have aired on television in China or Malaysia… Except that doesn’t explain the Chinese and English and Malaysian subs.

Maybe the watermark points to an Asian streaming service? Sigh. The sooner I know what that watermark means the better… I guess. Anyway enough of the mini mystery for today. Let’s review.

We have a brief few minutes introduction of some pesky uppity young teacher nicknamed Mr. Ping. He seems to have an axe to grind with the whole Kazehaya & Sawako in love thing.

Thing is presently as of this episode? He’s about for the first several minutes, publically bitches Kazehaya over the school intercom… Then doesn’t appear again for the rest of the episode. Why? I assume it’s because he’s an ongoing Season 1 threat.

Not for the fact he did a no-no by using the school public address system to bitch out Kazehaya. Something Japanese school officials don’t look too fondly on if what I know is true.

After Kazehaya leaves Sawako to report to this teacher, who he volunteered to help? The school principal should have been the next voice on the speaker system, asking said Ping to get his ass to his/her office before they fire him on the spot.

I know it’s all drama and it’s good drama, but some of this drama feels as if it breaks the hierarchy of school authority… I’m probably over thinking it though.

Let’s see. Sawako notices that girls from all over the school are drawn to Jazehaya. And though he’s polite he only has interests in Sawako. Which leads to a rather interesting moment. While together after school? Kazehaya admits to her that sometimes he is maybe selfish… Keeping her all to himself.

No no. I’m not thinking it’s evil or stalkery. I’m sure it’s this creator’s way of noting his growing love for her… Creator name being… Eclipse? First time BTW I saw an opening title that spells out the creators name. Strange.

What else. Sawako bribes Maru the puppy with a bone to get him or her to like her. Sawako has a chance to finally talk with the girls she s are back in Episode 2, and befriend them.

And while working on two partner problems with Kazehaya, she solves a tough problem which gets the class comp!inventing her. Which is great… As they’re all there to watch her do something they never thought they’d ever see. Sawako smiling a genuine smile.

Apparently, as seen in the episode start, the reason why she kept scaring people? Sawako’s old smile used to make it look like she wanted to eat people’s souls. Her genuine smile? Heartwarming.

But we can’t have all this growth without a new hurdle to complicate Sawako’s life. Her two best friend girls overhear people gossiping about… Them? Upon interrogation the caught girl blames the gossip on… Sadako.

Oh nuts. We need to watch best friends be torn apart by rumors of hateful gossip? That sucks. I’m hoping for a happy ending tomorrow. Yeah. Fingers crossed.

So hey! So far Season 1 is enjoyable. Written well, lovely engaging characters, and great animation. This is a 2-disc 25 episode season. Followed by a half 13 Episode season… Then the 2012 Live Drama Movie.

I don’t know. It implies the series was a nitche series and couldn’t sustain an audience big enough for a Season 3 back in 2010. But after over a decade of random growth, and Netflix need for new subscribers? The series is returning. If anyone has any news on when it’ll arrive? Do post in the comments please.

Anyway Episode 4 is tomorrow. I hope it isn’t too sad an episode. I was just beginning to like these friendships! See you then.

Yen Press Assorted Entanglements Volume 3 Review Chapter Sixty-Six (Digital)

The Different Layers Of Relationships… Are Not As Appealing As The 7-Layer Bean Dip From A Good Deli…
So as of this Chapter I guess we are calling Shiori and Shizuku friends? That seems to be the consensus in this Chapter.

To recap? Iori & Shiori are in a full relationship. Shiori & Shizuku are friends. Heke & Shinohara are co-workers who want to be in a relationship. And Yui & Kujou… They keep meeting at the Maid Cafe where Yui works.

Yeah thats… A thing that this title is doing. It’s not horrible. It’s not great, but it’s not horrible. Anyway Shiori is so surprised that she tamed Shizuku she… Whacks her in the face with her bag. Yup. Thats… Something.

She talks to Minami about the now tame Shizuku, but that doesn’t go well… Are we absolutely sure Iori would have lost in a fight vs Shizuku?!? Iori and Shizuku talk about how Shizuku and Shiori are friends…

Completely forgetting the reveal chapters ago when Iori found out that Shiori and Shizuku are in a relationship of some kind. And Minami knew all about it.

Anyway sure. They’re friends now. Ok. Next time it’s back to the even less than friendship relationship of Yui and Kujou. Because yeah… Sure why not. Sigh. Tomorrow. See you.

Production IG Kimi Ni Todoke Episode 2 Review

That’s No Puppy! That’s A Main Character Relationship Meter! Bad Creator!
No seriously. The only reason this abandoned puppy was abandoned was to place an obvious meter on Kazehaya and Sawako’s relationship.

Huh? You don’t believe me? You will see shortly. Anyway before we begin a scary thought occurred to me… How lazy is this Chinese Malaysian Bootleg?!?

The original release was in 2009-2010, with the Live Drama movie arriving 2012. Now MAYBE this is just a recycle of a past release in Chinese Malaysian bootleg. So-so lazy… OR maybe this is just stolen off of Netflix! Aren’t they showing all this yet?

Speaking of lazy… Is Netflix capable of riding off the coattails of the past 2009-2010 & 2012 subs? Or will they make fresh new subs? Given how lazy they were subbing Komi? I’m genuinely worried.

On the way to school, Sawako finds a magical teleporting puppy. Walking to school he’s in a box, abandoned in the rain, left to be a plot point in this series. If it was otherwise? Then HELL awaits the horrible humans that abandoned him or her!

She leaves her umbrella to protect the puppy, that won’t stop barking at her. Oh. Think this is due to the horrible humans that abandoned him/her? Just you wait…

She arrives in school to hear girls gossiping the same debunked supernatural nonsense about her. Or something.  Well… She is the talk of the school after all. At the end of last episode she confessed her starter feelings for Kazehaya after he defended her.

Though… Yeah. Maybe protecting that rude plot puppy was a bad choice. After all everyone thinks she’s Sadako. A transgender character killed via drowning in a well. It doesn’t bode her well to arrive in school… Looking half drowned.

This episode establishes Sawako’s first friends. The two girls she befriended during the Rest Of Courage story, Kazehaya, and a new boy who is Kazehaya’s friend. This is ultimately revealed during a seat change… Seat change?

For no apparent reason other than to single out Sawako’s true friends, there is a sudden seating swap done via… Random draw of numbers?!? Yeah no. Time to start pressing X to doubt. Hard.

Yeah. This works for the plot. It guarantees that the secondary cast (and Kazehaya) all form up around Sawako as her friends. After all, everyone upon hearing of the switch all prayed to the Tribal Wargod Of Abraham that they don’t sit next to Sawako!

Don’t worry. I’m sure William Lane Craig has a full lecture from the time explaining why God didn’t answer their prayers. Something something apologdtics, something special pleading, achoo.

Doesn’t help Sawako’s case that, in the day of the swap at the start of the Fall Semester, the teacher Sawako helped during the summer fell ill! Everyone of course blamed Sawako. As opposed to the teachers bad life choices, or karma, or Yamai from Class 1-1…

Also? I shouldn’t have to be saying this, but THIS IS JAPAN!! They treat their designated seating charts like sacred bible text is treated by Answers In Genesis! Talk about obvious plot convenience! A chair swap with NO SEATING CHART… Ok ok the whole seating chart thing really isn’t that dogmatically done. But this is new to me.

Oh right. The abandoned plot device in the shape of a puppy? Kazehaya goes with Sawako to see him/her, and retrieve herumbrella. Guess whose tail won’t stop wagging at the sight of Kazehaya… Besides Sawako’s.

Yeah. The puppy is a relationship meter because he/she loves Kazehaya at first sight. He adopts the puppy… So he/she is there always to screen Sawako’s progress in the relationship. Puppy loves Kazehaya. Puppy hates Sawako… Until she is worthy of Kazehaya.

Fine fine. Maybe the puppy’s abandonment story says why puppy only loves Kazehaya. But we will see if the story ever makes that clear past obvious plot device.

Anyway Kazehaya motivates Sawako again to speak up for herself, trying to dissuade people of the notion she’s Sadako… Past pulling down her skirt and showing her lack of Transgender identity. Honestly these kids only remember the parts about Sadako they want to remember! Forgetting the stuff that contradicts them!

Sawako’s true friends stand… Then sit around her at Episode end. And she continues her growth as a character. Also yes. They skipped summer it seems. I’m sure we didn’t miss much. Episode 3 is tomorrow so see you then.

Yen Press Assorted Entanglements Volume 3 Review Chapter Sixty-Five (Digital)

Yet Another Instance Of A Story Dating Itself… Not Like That.
In this instance it’s Panda Land aka Disneyland Tokyo. Mainly that now people can depict Steamboat Willy Gen1 era Mickey Mouse now that he’s Public Domain.

The second being Splash Mountain. As isn’t it presently being dismantled or replaced? Well… They didn’t show Splash Mountain so I guess they can get away with just mentioning it. Though lazy edit calling it Splass Mountsin. Sheesh.

Heke needs to research a dating story taking place in Panda Land aka Disneyland Tokyo. Instead of funding the trip, manga studio staff member… Iori?… Recommends that Heke takes Shinohara on the trip as a date.

I.e. Have Shinohara pay for the date. Which I guess she was fine with… Until she ride the fast rides like Splash Mountain… Which is only half fast. It’s not like they rode Big Thunder Mountain… Right?

Anyway what do we learn? We learn that Heke likes roller coasters, Shinohara likes to watch the abject misery of complete strangers in a theme park. And the creator needs to go to Disneyland Tokyo.

Why else would a random park actress be dressed like she’s from The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter from Universal Studios Osaka? Also it ends ok. Heke gets her research pics.

And Shinohara ruins it all by saying she never wants to go to the Unhappiest Place Ever again. And this predates the ruin visited upon Disney by Cheapack and Iger so… Yeah.

Tomorrow it’s a random story with Shizuku and Shiori at school. It’s ok and all, so that won’t take too long to go through. See you… Oh. Are you here for the Kimi Ni Todoke reviews? It’s a pretty good Anime from 2009-2010 so I hope your enjoying the reviews.

Production IG Kimi Ni Todoke Episode 1 Review

Sawako. Cast In The Name Of Sadako. Ye Not Scary.
As we start 2024 here at Pop Goes The Darke Raven, our first go brings me back to a studio I haven reviewed in years. Production IG. Yes yes technically I reviewed them a while back… Kinda.

Kimi Ni Todoke punches all the buttons for me on an enjoyable to watch series. Sawako & Kazehaya make for a great leading couple, the facial expressions Sawako goes through are priceless (especially for Mental Image Sawako) and the starting friends are nice.

So. The first question I had going in? Do they really reference The Ringu series? And Sadako? Yes. Yes they do. Could it just be the English Sub? No. They actually say the words in the Anime.

So is this sub made by the Chinese Malaysian Bootleggers? Maybe. But mind you from my experience the bootleggers kinda like it if series comes with an easy button. A pre established series that other people paid to subtitle.

I kinda wish they did their own subtitling. They’d released the Right Episode then Cancelled Live Drama Komi Can’t Communicate if they did their own in house subtitling. But they don’t do no.

Given this has Chinese, English and Malaysian subs? It could be argued it’s subbed in house. Or… It’s just a tip off an old officially sold DVD from over a decade ago.

When the bootleggers heard Netflix bought the rights for Season 3? They just had to pull the DVDs from a resale store or off E-Bay in their country and voila. Instant release. Not the hardest job they ever did I suspect.

This is an Anime of misunderstandings, having trouble communicating, and Sawako learning how to speak up for herself and be heard. Seems to me a certain creator of another socially awkward girl was inspired in some part maybe by this before creating Komi Shoko. Maybe.

Sawako is a shy soft spoken lady. Sadly her soft spoken nature, and her inability to avoid dark creepy settings, has landed her the dubious name swap of Sadako. The main killer of The Ringu series.

Yes. Within the first few minutes they talk about the major lore of The Ringu… Which makes actually no sense. So being talked to by Sawako will kill you in seven days? Uh-huh… So how do you avoid it? In the movie you copied a VHS tape…

Yeah let’s NOT fathom the illogic of later reboots where you copied a DVD, then later… How do you save yourself from seeing the video on viral social media? Copy the link?… Generate a QR code for the video? Swallow the blue pill? Summon The Lawnmower Man to fight Sadako?

Also yes. The diss is kinda lazy. They just swap out the W in her actual name to get Sadako. Worse? People are so used to calling her Sadako that, even if they are her friends, they keep calling her Sadako. Because… Dammit.

One day, while going to school, Sawako meets the popular boy Kazehaya briefly. She thinks it’s a fluke… Except he continues to see her. Surprising her by taking the time to learn about her.

So yeah. Given how the first episode ends? I assume this means Kazehaya was in love with her from the very beginning. Sawako? I think she grows into her love, mostly because she can’t imagine herself with the most popular guy in school. Yet.

To me he seems a bit like Tadano to Sawako’s Komi, but if Tadano was the popular guy at school. He doesn’t fall into the superstitious fears like the others, calls her Sawako, and is quite interested in helping her.

He helps her boost her confidence in speaking of for herself, so that she can assert her desire to volunteer for the upcoming school Test Of Courage event… Near summer? Oh wait. They did a test of courage event in summer in Komi Volume 13 so… Yeah.

Also the two girls she talks to about her volunteering? She do moves them with her honesty and good nature they become her friends… Who continually call her Sadako. Eh. One step at a time I guess.

So yeah. For the rest of courage Sawako is the one the pairs wander into in the woods (maybe even the same place seen in Komi Volume 13). Apparently all she has to do is… Be Sadako. Well why not? She’s been typecast as her for so long, might as well own it.

It’s successful by the way. Running into Sadako in the woods terrified everyone… Except Kazehaya. Who has seen Sawako for the beautiful lady she is, and is not scared of her as Sadako.

Hmm… How many times is everyone going to be tricked by her as Sadako in this series? And can they bring up The Ringu in the Netflix version Season 3? Hmm…

After the rest of courage some jerk guys tries to disrespect Sawako by making her “Punishment” for failing the rest of courage. That gets them promptly chewed out by Kazehaya.

Fearing that Kazehaya will lose face in standing up for her, Sawako tries to deflect for him. Shocking everyone with her new found courage to speak up for herself.

Fearing she ruined her friendship with Kazehaya, Sawako walks to school for her first day aiding the teacher during summer break. Depressed that she lost a good thing in her life with Kazehaya.

However we know he’s not giving her up that easily. And he proves it by meeting her, no doubt to aid her during the summer. The episode ends with Kazehaya letting us know that he’s hoping she notices his much he feels for her… Right? I got that one yes?

So that’s Episode 1. A lovely beautiful start to this series. We will review the first seven episodes, jump to finish Birdie Wing Season 1, then finish disc 1 with Episodes 8-13 reviewed. That’s the schedule so… See you tomorrow.

Yen Press Assorted Entanglements Volume 3 Review Chapter Sixty-Four (Digital)

Apparently The Toilet Is The New VIP Seating…
Early morning antics with Iori & Minami. Apparently you know you and your chosen love truly is destined to be… When you both wake up at Dead O’clock In the morning to pee. Eh.

We then flip the script and have Minami care for Iori, down with a Romance Manga… Trope?… Of PMS. Uhh… Is this a long lasting trope, or is it just recently been used in Romance Mangas? Post in the comments if you know.

But hey. Minami blows Iori away with a new revelation about how her love for Iori has grown from the start and Volume 1. So that’s nice eh? Also yes? Gay Romance Manga don’t talk about PMS… I’m pretty sure. Because guys.

Next up its another stand in for Disneyland Tokyo… But hry. As of yesterday manga creators can now add in Mickey Mouse… Form 1 from Steamboat Willy. Wait maybe a few decades and Disney might lose the rights to Mickey Mouse from the 40s.

Oh. Heke is on a research trip to Not Disneyland. She’s taken Shinohara with her… Watch them fumble and humble through a faux date together… Yay? Tomorrow.

Starting Tomorrow Kimi Ni Todoke Season 1 (the Chinese Malaysian Bootleg)

We are just about done with Komi Can’t Communicate Season 2. SPOILERS… The episode hints that the appearance of the striped tan Basic Cat is a representation of Tadano to her dark fur Basic Cat version. Also the episode ends perhaps seconds before the first appearance of Rumiko. Saving her arrival for Season 3.

This marks the first major appearance of Komi’s dad. Because what flashback stories of Komi’s parents were made during Year 1 Season 2 was left on the cutting room floor. I think they’ll do the same for these flashbacks during Season 3.

But let’s look at another series with a Season 3 that Netflix already ordered. Kimi Ni Todoke. What may be the first series that actively references a major Japanese Horror series (Sadako from The Ringu movies).

Apparently the whole gimmick of this series is that there is a girl named Sawako, who looks exactly like Sadako from The Ringu… Except she’s not transgender as supposedly Sadako’s character is.

It’s this persecution from others that sets Sadako up for falling in love with popular boy Kazehaya. So eh… Season 1 has 25 Episodes, Season 2 has 13 Episodes. Then the Lice Action Movie… Uhh… Did they bank on the whole premise by actually casting a past Sadako actress as Sawako? Or, alternatively, was this Sawako actress later cast as Sadako in a future Ringu movie? Also how much of The Ringu series is worked into this series as a fictional series?

Yes yes. I realize the Chinese Malaysian bootleg case might be just stating the obvious that might not be actually in the series. But we will see how it turns out when we start reviewing the first 7 episodes. Then we wrap up Birdie Wing… Which I’m still sure is a US/UK Bootleg. Eh. But hey. When I bought my Kimi Ni Todoke collection bootleg? They gave me a pretty sturdy cheap keychain of a… Vague character I don’t recognize. Still it’s nice.

Anyway with Season 3 Coming Soon on Netflix let’s begin digging into the past series. Coming up.

Square Enix The Maid I Hired Recently Is Mysterious Volume 5 Closer Chapter Forty-Nine (Digital)

Do You Want To Family Plan A Snowclan?
The end of Volume 5. Hmm… Originally when I researched the Wiki for the title, it said there was only four volumes. Then two more popped up.

So, will this be the end with Volume 6? Or will two more volumes pop up? Stay tuned. I’m the meantime this is A short and sweet story.

Lilith finds Guido building miniature snow people of himself and Lilith… Though given the grumpy face in her I thought it was Natsume. That’s so sweet, especially as he expresses his love in snow people art.

He Then makes snow kids… Apparently Rule34 isn’t the only thing thinking about the wonders of Lilith once marriage occurs… Its very marvelous. If course he dreams of stripping off her clothes and… Ahem. Aren’t you going to whack me with your paw?

My discipline issues aside it really gets hot for Lilith when she warms Yuuri’s hands indoors… And he proceeds to press her cold hands to his face and warm them… No. I don’t know why she didn’t wear her gloves outside. Other than lovely cute moment.

So what will happen when we review Volume 6? That’s coming up So Stay tuned. Back to Assorted Entanglements elements next. And the battle for the toilet early in the morning. See you.