September 2009

I never quite realized how much of a rip-off Mega Man was until I started watching the 2003 remake of Tezuka Osamu's classic manga-turned-anime, Astro Boy. Similarities abound between the two series, including the setting, the characters and the design of the technology, which actually made it easy for me, as a Mega Man fan, to jump in and appreciate the show for what it is: a silly action series about a robotic boy who lives in a wonderful future world.

Samurai Harem: Asu no Yoichi is a shonen action-comedy manga with a heavy dose of romantic undertones about a young perverted samurai, Yoichi Karasuma, who is sent off by his father for outclassing him at such a young age. Yoichi ends up living as a freeloader at the Ikaruga Dojo run by four young sisters: Ibuki, Ayame, Chihaya and Kagome Ikaruga. Being raised as a traditional samurai in the ways of feudal Japan his dress and mannerisms attract a lot of attention and he is at first an unwelcome guest, but eventually is allowed to stay.

Often when reviewing anime and especially manga, the intended audience for the title is clear as day once you start reading, even if you did not know its origin. Sometimes, like School Rumble (a shonen title), that line can be blurred. Kanakuri Odette is one of those exceptions, but on the other end of the spectrum. Kanakuri Odette is a sci-fi shōjo comedy manga about an high-school aged female android, Odette Yoshizawa, who wants to become as close to human as possible. This includes going so far as to limit her functions to that of a typical human.

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