Yamato Nadeshiko Shichihenge

Drama Review Here

ヤマトナデシコ七変化
Wallflower/Perfect Girl Evolution

Mangaka: Hayakawa Tomoko

Genre: Comedy, Horror, Semi-Romance, Anime, Manga

Episodes: 25 (Anime)
Serialization: Ongoing (Manga)

Summary: Four (VERY pretty) high school boys accept the task of turning their landlady's niece into a proper 'Lady' for the sake of free rent. They figure it can't be that hard, until they meet the niece in question.

Nakahara Sunako, is a deliciously creepy heroine, who has well and truly gone over to the dark side. Apparently she was normal enough, until she confessed to her crush in middle school, only to be rejected with the words 'I don't like ugly girls'. As a consequence, she has thrown away the need to be a woman, and instead, spends time with her beloved anatomical models and skeletons and horror movies.

The boys in charge of turning her into a lady are Takano Kyouhei [Kyouhei; a hot headed gorgeous gorgeous Creature of the Light], Mori Ranmaru [Ranmaru; a self-declared lady killer], Oda Takenaga [Takenaga; a smart, silent traditional-type prince] and  Yukinojoh Tohyama [Yuki; adorable enough to be mistaken for a girl countless times]. Incredibly popular even on their own, together, they are able to draw incredible crowds of girls and attract various other circumstances (which gradually become even more outrageous and amusing as Sunako contributes to it).

However, can even they, the dazzling creatures, turn Sunako into a lady? Or will they end up having to pay double the rent as per agreement?

Review: For those of you out there looking for an unconventional shojo anime (or manga), you've hit the jackpot. (Ahahaha. That reminds me of the manager dude in You're Beautiful! *ahem*) Granted, it's shojo, but it's fun shojo, without all the unnecessary drama and possible angst. At the same time, it's not (entirely) shallow either, and it's just (more than) a little bit shameless. Which in my book is a huge plus. XD

There are cracks made at various things, battles of epic proportions over the simplest of matters, and the most unusual heroine ever. She remains chibi for the most part of the anime, and is blood thirsty and utterly in love with horror movies and gory things, and spends a great amount of time plotting ways to kill the Dazzling Creature Kyohei, because he is too bright and causes her spurts of nose-bleeding if she looks at him (or any other shinnies, but he is the worst) too much. She can also hold her own in fights, is an awesome cook, and loves house-wife-ey tasks, and her best friend is an anatomical model who doesn't have his innards.

All the characters are awesome and adorable, and fun. All four boys, in addition to being awesome eye-candy (the anime understands the concept of fan-servicing very well) are genuinely well developed characters, with their own interesting personalities. They are in no way, 'perfect' no matter how dazzling they are, and are endearing (and ridiculously hilarious) most of the time.

Another noticeable fact about this, is that this is in no-way the reverse harem situation that a lot of mangakas seem to favor. All the guys do NOT fall in love with Sunako eventually. Both Takenaga and Ranmaru have their own love interests. I applaud this a whole lot. Takenaga's girlfriend Noi-chan is another dazzling creature, but she is adorkable and adores Sunako to bits, even if Sunako finds her too dazzling at times. Which helps in letting Sunako care for people other than her anatomical models and skeletons and grow as a character too. Ranmaru's Ojou-sama is also much win, and becomes Sunako's second female friend. Ojou-sama's butler is made of awesome too. XD

Basically, this anime is sparkly and shinny and made of awesome, consists of shameless fan servicing, cross dressing and implications to all sorts of things which makes my not so inner delusional lunatic go *fhu fhu fhuuuu~*. Watch it. ^___^

Music:
slow by Kiyoharu [Opening theme]
Carnation by Kiyoharu [First ending theme]
∞Changing∞ by BON-BON BLANCO [Second ending theme]

Rating: 10/10

Quotes:

If you don't look into mirrors you cant see your face.

If you don't see your face you wont need to compare it with others.

It is a happy life indeed~

~Nakahara Sunako

 ***

~ More Quotes? ~

***

Note: I adored the manga to bits when I read it, quite a while ago, and I've been planning on watching this for quite a while. However, being the procrastinator I am, I didn't actually get around to it until it was announced they were making a live action of this, and Kame, Tego and Uchi were going to be in it. Naturally that served as incentive for me to download it and watch it as soon as possible. Now I regret all the time I spent not watching it, coz this, is made of awesome. Can't wait for the live action~ ^____^

W-Juliet

Mangaka: Emura

Genre: Gender-bender, Comedy, Romance, Manga

Serialization: 14 Volumes

Summary: Miura Ito is the president of the drama club, adored by all the girls, tough, strong, and a girl. Always dressing up in boys clothes much to the dismay of her school teachers, she indulges in a boyish nature and claims that being a girl doesn't suit her much anyway.

Amano Makoto, the new transfer student to join the drama club, is delicate, beautiful, and the complete opposite of Miura. Despite the amazing contrast, from personalities to appearance, they become fast friends, and Miura thinks that it's possible that she might finally be able to have a close female friend.

Until she discovers that Amano Makoto is actually a boy.

Amano Makoto, actually Narita Makoto, wants to be an actor. However, being the only son of a traditional kendo family, his father does not approve of it. The only way, his father had stated, would be if he had acted out his high school life as a role of a girl, and managed to graduate without being discovered. Rising up to the challenge, Makoto had accepted for the sake of his dream, and Ito, recognizing his strong conviction, decides to help him.

Review: So, its a gender bender. Nothing new since its a shojo manga. What I liked however, is that its not the typical girl-in-a-boys-high-school-for-whatever-reason drama/manga, but it works BOTH WAYS. Although yeah, everyone knows Ito IS a girl, while no one knows Makoto is a boy. But still both ways! And I have a weakness for bishies in these things *_*.

So since it is a typical shojo manga, it's not really the plot we are going for, right? ^_~
What is it for then? The ~FUWA FUWA~ ofcourse. And this has fuwa fuwa aplenty. There are cheesy lines (which are actually kinda sweet if you kick half of your brain out) and adorable adorable poses, and other random cutenesses! This also has a coupla supernatural-y chapters involving ghosts and mermaid legends and time traveling into the past.

One of the reasons I loved this manga so much was the supporting character stories. They are all awesomely well developed and fully formed. Basically I adore both Mako's and Ito's families to pieces. Ito has a family of three brothers, and they are super protective of her, and all ridiculously strong (their family also has a martial arts doujo) and continue to threaten "Ito's boyfriend" right in front of poor Makoto whom they still think is a girl. [And her elder twin brothers are awesome eye-candy *__*] Mako's has three elder sisters, and they are all awesome and amusing too. My favourite side story was how Mako's sister Akane and Ito's brother Yuuto meet and its all so adorable and-*gushes and turns into melted puddle on the floor* The side story between Ryuuya and Chris was awesome too. XD The Tou-sans from both the families, while being all strict and stuff at times, were kinda awesome too. Specially Ito's. XD

The main relationship in the story, between Mako and Ito, is just MADE of win, btw. Sure, its impossibly cheesy, but the two have a good dynamic, while on stage/with people/while they are alone, and the cheesiness doesn't get entirely out of hand, its cute, and doesn't have Annoyingly Ridiculous Self-Sacrificing, or Incredible Stupidity, found commonly in Shojo manga, which was refreshing.

Also, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the contrast between Mako's girly facade and his true self which is all hot and kachoii like WHOA. *____*

I liked how the story turned out towards the end, there was pretty good development throughout and the artwork while not being utterly distinctive (at least not to me), is still really pretty, and worth checking out.

Rating: 7/10

Quotes: Hah. Manga needs artwork and paneling and character positioning and poses for quotes to be effective. Even I am not stupid enough to quote manga! [I lie. I am.] Um, at least, not this time? ^^' excusesismymiddlename

Note: Who wants to see a drama adaptation of this? XD And whom do you want to play Makoto? I'm thinking Junno now. He would fit the descriptions pretty well. Gorgeously pretty face (he looks girlier than UEDA, facewise!), looks good blond, tall, ability to deliver utterly cheesy lines with a straight face, good at acting all dramatic and flair-y (Bidou~), normally all sweet and adorable but has a good convincing B-gata-side which could be his manly Mako. What do you think? ^_~