Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight!

[Radiosity]

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

When she speaks, it rivets my attention. I think of it as art. But of course, I've become biased. I've got another piece about her (and Sugita Tomokazu) on my blog today.

That's pretty much how I feel when Yui speaks, in any series she's in. Definitely my favourite seiyuu, closely followed with Saito Chiwa and Hirano Aya. Manabi Straight is such a pleasure to listen to

[aorta]

It's true

This would be fun to wear to a convention.

[Kaioshin Sama]

Originally Posted by Radiosity

I find her to be the nicest myself. She's not a typical angry tsundere character despite the cool and straight-faced exterior, and has a lot of cute points going for her already, even though I'm only two episodes in. I'm loving what Hirano Aya is doing with her voice too, I think I'd be a bit turned off if she was just another loud mouth Haruhi clone.

Overall, I'm quite happy with her and am looking forward to seeing more (along with Momo )

*Points to av*

My allegiance should be clear already

For me Aya Hirano is at her best when doing loud and hyper characters. Her Mei's pretty weak and inconsequential from the 2 episodes of seen to the point where if she weren't in the show I don't think it would change a thing. I still don't think she can pull off the quite character anymore because it flip flops between cold reads and slight breakthrough's or her regular hyper voice.

My favourite is whoever the girl is that smacked the crap out of Mei on her back while hooting and hollering, without realizing how overkill she was going. That was one of the funniest things I've ever seen in a high school comedy.

Though if I do have to listen to one more song put in the show to sell a single I will drop this show on the spot.

[Onizuka-GTO]

Just noticed that....
they blush alot, don't they?

[Radiosity]

Well, I'm happy either way. I like what Hirano Aya is doing with Mei's voice, and I don't think she needs to always play an OTT hyper character just to prove that she's the best at playing an OTT hyper character. It may be what she's best at, fair enough, but I like to see seiyuu going for something different and trying to improve their own range of talents

Incidentally, after watching the first four PV's, I have to admit I'm leaning towards Skane on his view that this show isn't going to be cutesy and moe all the way through. I'm interested in how they're going to do it, and how many tears we're likely to see before the end. I'll probably be happy either way:

Way 1: Happy and moe throughout, and the sad and depressing moments from the PV's turn out to be not serious at all. This would work for me just as well.

Way 2: Happy and moe to start, dropping to sad and painful scenes as the series progresses. Possibly slightly less preferred, but I'd still be happy to see a more serious side to this series, as long as it's done right.

Looking forward to it

[Nemo_N]

Found it:

(I reduced the size to something more "viewable")



If you want the bigger version, visit Wakaranai.

[Vexx]

I need to go do some art credit research... these character designs are soooo petopetosan-ish. Thumbs up for the cute of it

[Deathkillz]

oh yes mei chan for the win! but it seems that the writers want to push her forward as one of the fav girls anyway :3 well i guess ive fallen for their trap

[Daniel E.]

Finally got around to watch eps. 2

Didn't like those dolls in the first eps. ending (claymation?), So I though it was nice to see a few more scenes during the ending credits this time around.

Then again, they'll likely return to the dolls ending for the rest of the episodes. >_<!!

Originally Posted by Pellissier

Thank you, you don't know how much I'm happy everytime I hear this words

And if you read the last pharagraph of this post, you'll understand why

It's official then, your idea does indeed work!.

[hi no ken Jebus]

Spoiler for ep 5:

Another good one. This time the focus is on Mikan trying to make friends and get along with Mei while Manabi is out sick. A lot of cute and funny moments with Mikan, Momo in the bio suit, along with Mikan and Mei trying to take a page out of Manabi's book to get ideas for the school culture festival. Mei's english wasn't all that bad either.

[Kaoru Chujo]

Yes, episode 5 was another winner, even without much Manabi at all. Nonaka Ai (Mikan) and Hirano Aya (Mei) were wonderful together. Their merest grunts were works of art. To think Ai was Iriya in Iriya no Sora, and now gives us this outstanding comic expression. And Aaya produced more variations on Mei's voice, still conveying that secret melancholy she does so well. The episode was funny and touching, as usual, with some marvellous humor in the animation.

Spoiler for ep5:

Manabi gets mumps (even fatter cheeks) and has to stay in the hospital, so Mei and Mikan are left to brainstorm the school festival on their own. Mikan can't figure out how to talk to the taciturn Mei. Eventually the written word becomes their medium of communication. The first half was sort of serious, the second half really funny. A scene in the hospital when Momoha came to interview Manabi was a laugh-out-loud moment. And so was Mikan's series of ineffectual blows to the the back of the teacher's head, culminating in her falling over. Mei and Mikan growing closer brought more tears-to-the-eyes moments.

Contrary to hi no ken Jebus, however, I thought Aaya's English pronunciation was almost incomprehensible, lol. Despite having lived in the US for a couple of years -- when she was less than three.

[Radiosity]

Sigh. Already we're into spoilered raw discussions. Guess it's time to leave this thread and enjoy the series by myself as usual.

[Anacone]

Spoiler for ep5:

Momohas Darth Vader breathing was brilliant . "Where did you bought those suits?" "From Internet."
Shimojima-sensei feels quite cool guy, at moment I thought he goes to ask some food from girls . I guess it was so late...
It was also nice to see that their families was shown although just a bit but it was nice touch. Waiting to see Meis family .
I'm bit biased and repeating what has been said but very enjoyable show indeed.

This anime continues to show that there's no need for long deep discussions between characters to make them heartwarming and believable characters.

Spoiler for about first volume of manga:

After skimming through first raw volume. I'm not worried that we have seen all about first volume in first two eps of anime.

Some small changes were made but nothing serious.

(First meeting) (What happened in end of ep 2)

[Vexx]

I'll lob a request that people completely tag comments on raw episodes in single thread discussions like this. Even just saying what a nice humorous episode is a kind of spoiler. I watch a few series raw but only because the subs aren't available so I wander a bit in both territories.

[Kaoru Chujo]

Originally Posted by Vexx

I'll lob a request that people completely tag comments on raw episodes in single thread discussions like this. Even just saying what a nice humorous episode is a kind of spoiler. I watch a few series raw but only because the subs aren't available so I wander a bit in both territories.

Sorry if I've spoiled anything for anyone. I'd be glad to just put everything from raw eps in spoilers if that's what people want. My principle so far has been to imitate what appears to be one common practice and not spoiler what you'd see in a normal preview or a two-sentence movie review. I personally don't mind that much detail in shows where I don't watch the raws.

EDIT: And Radiosity, would that be enough for you, or do you just not like to see raws being discussed at all, even in spoilers?

[Vexx]

It isn't a clear line... for example I don't mind links to Random Curiosity for screen caps... or if the fansubs start lagging hugely behind the raws some slack is necessary.
But it does tend to kill the discussion potential for fans who need those subs to participate fully. As long as raw watchers are mindful (or until someone decides that the Unaired section can include episode discussions not yet subbed), its only occasionally a problem.

[NeoSam]

From AnimeNation:

Manabi Straight PS2 Game Trailer Online
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Animate.tv now hosts a trailer for the upcoming Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight: Kira Kira Happy Festa! game for the Playstation 2. The trailer is available in narrowband and broadband resolutions. The game is scheduled for Japanese release on March 29th.

Source: Moon Phase

Its a moe~ moe~ dating simulation :P

[Daniel E.]

Same character designs from the anime then, that's already a plus in my book.

When I read PS2 game, I though there were gonna pull a Mai-Hime and change the looks of all the characters.

[Pellissier]

Since I share worries about raw discussions as well: I'm on the same line of thinking of Vexx: keep *everything* coming from raws in spoiler tags.

I'll be more precise: if you'll precisely follow hi no ken Jebus' structure of posting, as perfectly depicted in post #231, I (and others I think) will be fine with it.

If what you wrote was particularly deep and meaningful and you think it's a pity to keep it spoiler-hidden, you can always copy and paste it later, when the episodes are actually fansubbed. I'll be the first to gladly read, enjoy and comment it.
But until the episodes are not subbed, I'm for a no-no for every kind of anticipations (even "it was a nice episode" is a spoiler, to me), so please let them all out of sight for our humble fansub watchers' eyes.

[Radiosity]

Well, I'll keep checking this thread for now (since I'm loving this series a lot already) and see how things go. I'll go with Vexx and Pelli for now: As long as it's completely spoilered it's fine.

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

EDIT: And Radiosity, would that be enough for you, or do you just not like to see raws being discussed at all, even in spoilers?

Thanks fior your consideration, it's appreciated As for my personal opinion... it's mostly that I don't feel like I can contribute so much because anything I say has already been discussed previously in spoilers and is likely going to be 'old news'. I'll live with it though, as long as people remember to spoiler correctly