Changes made to Review for Midori Days: Volume 3 - Handle With Care

Revision 1

Created on Monday, 14th April 2014, 13:40
Change Submitted by Jitendar Canth

List of Changes:

• Change #1 - <newline>Review[heading]Introduction[/heading] <newline>Just another weird romantic comedy anime series... Maybe that’s a sign that you have been watching too much of this stuff, when a show about a guy who has a girl where his right hand used to be elicits a ‘seen it all before’ response from the viewer. It isn’t the peculiarity of the situation in this particular comedy; it’s the way that the writers handle it, by resorting to the familiar sort of writing and clichés that have informed romantic comedy anime since time immemorial. Midori Days has a comfortable familiarity about it, has followed a well-trodden path as it has unfolded. The first volume went about setting things up, the second volume milked the situation for as many laughs as were forthcoming, and this final volume is where all the heavy, relationship stuff will be played out and resolved. How Midori Days accomplishes this will decide whether it joins the massive ranks of the fun but forgettable, or if it reaches the lofty elite of the unique and memorable. <newline> <newline>Almost every teenage boy goes through that rather messy phase where his most meaningful sexual relationship is with his right (or left) hand. There may come a point for some boys that the fear grows, that this relationship will be the only such relationship they ever have. Seiji Sawamura has such a relationship. In fact his right hand gets so much of a work out that its toughness has become legendary. Seiji is a delinquent, which makes his iron fist useful as he’s always on the receiving end of challenges from rival schools. Except being a delinquent he has no luck at all in finding a girlfriend. Then one night he goes to sleep, lamenting his single status, only to wake up the next morning with a miniature girl where his right hand used to be. Midori Kasugano has secretly nursed a crush on Seiji for the last 3 years, but now being his right hand girl may be a little closer than either of them expected. <newline> <newline>Media Blasters concludes Midori Days with four episodes on this disc. <newline> <newline>10. Hearts’ Distance <newline>Midori’s childhood friend and high school classmate Kouta continues to worry about her, as her body lies in a coma at home. For some reason he keeps flashing back to when they were children, and the fairy tale Snow White. He decides to seek Seiji out. Seiji’s living the high life, going to karaoke... with girls. In fact there’s one girl who’s just his type, although for the life of him, he can’t see through her simple disguise, but he may just be about to make the connection he’s been waiting all his life for. <newline> <newline>11. Fated Reunion <newline>It seems simple enough. Seiji can’t get his head around calculus. Midori goes to an elite school, so she should know all this stuff. It’s just a matter of persuading her to take the test for him. All that she asks is that Seiji says three simple words to her. Given that he’s spent his entire life saying those words to girls only to be rejected; it’s strange how he’s getting tongue-tied around Midori, even if he tries saying them as a lie. Meanwhile, Kouta tries again to persuade Seiji to go to Midori’s home, as her family are getting more desperate to find a cure. But this time, Kouta runs into a bunch of delinquents from a rival school that are happy to use him to get to Seiji. <newline> <newline>12. Sudden Separation <newline>Coming face to face with Kouta also forces Midori to confront her situation. She begins to realise that her being with Seiji in such a bizarre way may have seemed to have resolved her terminal shyness, but in reality, Seiji can only see her as his right hand, and they’re both just living out a fantasy. The next morning, Seiji wakes up with his right hand restored. Free of Midori, he can go back to being the delinquent he was, back to picking fights, buying porn, and skiving off school. Meanwhile, at home Midori wakes up with no memory of the past few months. <newline> <newline>13. Two People’s Days <newline>Will true love triumph or will Seiji and Midori go back to their lonely existences? They may need a little outside help, a gentle and friendly nudge for Midori, and a beat-down from his sister for Seiji! <newline> <newline>[heading]Picture[/heading] <newline>Midori Days gets a 4:3 regular transfer, which on this US disc quite naturally is in NTSC format. It’s really quite a pleasant experience, clean, sharp and free of compression artefacts. Colours are well defined, and the animation is smooth and reproduced well on this disc. Midori Days is an older show, and that does come across in the simplicity of the character designs, and in the world design. However the animation is energetic and fluid, the characters stay on model, and the backgrounds have an atmospheric feel to the lighting, shade and warmth that really makes this show appealing to watch. <newline> <newline>[heading]Sound[/heading] <newline>You have the choice of Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo in English and Japanese, with optional translated subtitles and a signs only track. There are no problems with the sound, the dialogue is clear and the music and action sequences come across without distortion or dropout. The credit sequences get appropriate songs, and as always my preference was for the original language track, which I found most satisfying. The English dub on the other hand is not quite as appealing, it’s one of those comedy tracks that emphasises loudness as a source of humour, so characters will be screaming at several points during the show. Teen girl voices in English dubs for anime usually are high pitched and annoying to begin with; with Midori miniaturised, that irritation goes off the scale for me. <newline> <newline>[heading]Extras[/heading] <newline>The disc is presented in an Amaray case, with a pleasing if simple cover. Inside you may find a catalogue for other Media Blasters titles. The disc itself gets static menus. <newline> <newline>You’ll find Media Blasters trailers for Grenadier, Genshiken, Otogi Zoshi, Master of Mosquiton, and Ah! My Goddess on the disc. <newline> <newline>There were no outtakes with volume 2, but those are here, as well as the outtakes for volume 3 in a 3-minute collection of goofs and goofing around. <newline> <newline>The only other extra is the Original Audio Drama Day 3, which offers 7 minutes of character interaction, played out against static scenery taken from the show. This is in Japanese audio with English subtitles. <newline> <newline>There’s an Easter Egg to be discovered which plays the original language credits for the final episode. <newline> <newline>[heading]Conclusion[/heading] <newline>It was just as I suspected. This final volume is where all the emotional issues are resolved, the reality of their situation forces Midori and Seiji to face facts, and we get to see if there is a happily ever after for the pair. This being a romantic comedy, and not a romantic tragedy, the latter is pretty much guaranteed, it’s how Midori Days gets to that point that is important. Thankfully, it pulls back enough from the comedy to tell a story that we can relate to, and tests the bonds between its protagonists so that we can empathise and root for them. It’s enough to make the show worth watching, and worth buying. It isn’t quite enough to make it stand out, or be particularly memorable among its peers. That’s no bad thing, as not every show can be special. <newline> <newline>It’s the appearance of Kouta, Midori’s childhood friend that signifies the change in tone, although initially with his Snow White theory of waking her up, it doesn’t seem to be a particularly serious change. There is the thought that revisiting Midori’s house will result in the same sort of fiasco as the last time Seiji went there, but before that can happen, Kouta runs into a bunch of rival delinquents, requiring Seiji to rescue him. But his appearance reminds Midori that her relationship with Seiji is far from conventional, while those loved ones that she has left behind have been grieving her loss, desperately searching for a cure for her comatose body. It’s something that she doesn’t want to confront, but is forced to when Kouta discovers the truth behind their situation. <newline> <newline>There’s no kiss from a prince, but Midori realises that her life with Seiji is really a false happiness, and the time has come for her to return to reality. It also signals a return to reality for Seiji, who initially panics at Midori’s loss, before convincing himself that life has finally returned to normal. At first that means that he can return to his delinquent ways, with Midori’s absence naturally making him depressed and cranky, eager for a fight. It’s while he’s trying to pick up where he left off, that he realises that he has changed because of the past few months with Midori, and that her absence has left a hole in his life. <newline> <newline>The first impediment in their getting back together is that when Midori wakes up, she has no memory of her life with Seiji, just the feelings left behind by it. The second impediment is that Seiji knows that they are from two different worlds, and that perhaps Midori would be better off without a delinquent in her life. It seems that they are destined to be apart, but their friends and family serve as the key to reuniting them. Kouta can see that Midori is still pining away for her Prince Charming, while Ayase finally getting up the courage to confess her feelings toward Seiji makes him examine his own. And for the first time in three volumes, I’m not peeved at seeing Seiji’s sister again, as knocking sense into someone as thick skulled as Seiji needs more than a little muscle behind it. <newline> <newline>So it’s not exactly the unconventional ending to an anime rom-com. It does still engender the empathic feelings and vicarious pleasure that is required of it and a viewer will have no complaints with how the story concludes. Midori Days’ premise is an absurd and imaginative one, but its execution is anything but. It follows a very familiar path for shows in its genre, which would be a little disappointing, were it not for the energy and freshness it has in telling its story. It’s a clichéd and common show, but a very enjoyable one at that.<newline><newline> Review<newline> [heading]Introduction[/heading]<newline>Just another weird romantic comedy anime series... Maybe that's a sign that you have been watching too much of this stuff, when a show about a guy who has a girl where his right hand used to be elicits a 'seen it all before' response from the viewer. It isn't the peculiarity of the situation in this particular comedy; it's the way that the writers handle it, by resorting to the familiar sort of writing and clichés that have informed romantic comedy anime since time immemorial. Midori Days has a comfortable familiarity about it, has followed a well-trodden path as it has unfolded. The first volume went about setting things up, the second volume milked the situation for as many laughs as were forthcoming, and this final volume is where all the heavy, relationship stuff will be played out and resolved. How Midori Days accomplishes this will decide whether it joins the massive ranks of the fun but forgettable, or if it reaches the lofty elite of the unique and memorable.<newline><newline>[url="http://www.myreviewer.com/default.asp?a=162532"][imgmc=0000248911.jpg][/url]<newline>Almost every teenage boy goes through that rather messy phase where his most meaningful sexual relationship is with his right (or left) hand. There may come a point for some boys that the fear grows, that this relationship will be the only such relationship they ever have. Seiji Sawamura has such a relationship. In fact his right hand gets so much of a work out that its toughness has become legendary. Seiji is a delinquent, which makes his iron fist useful as he's always on the receiving end of challenges from rival schools. Except being a delinquent he has no luck at all in finding a girlfriend. Then one night he goes to sleep, lamenting his single status, only to wake up the next morning with a miniature girl where his right hand used to be. Midori Kasugano has secretly nursed a crush on Seiji for the last 3 years, but now being his right hand girl may be a little closer than either of them expected.<newline><newline>[url="http://www.myreviewer.com/default.asp?a=162534"][imgmc=0000248913.jpg][/url]<newline>Media Blasters concludes Midori Days with four episodes on this disc.<newline><newline>10. Hearts' Distance<newline>Midori's childhood friend and high school classmate Kouta continues to worry about her, as her body lies in a coma at home. For some reason he keeps flashing back to when they were children, and the fairy tale Snow White. He decides to seek Seiji out. Seiji's living the high life, going to karaoke... with girls. In fact there's one girl who's just his type, although for the life of him, he can't see through her simple disguise, but he may just be about to make the connection he's been waiting all his life for.<newline><newline>[url="http://www.myreviewer.com/default.asp?a=162536"][imgmc=0000248915.jpg][/url]<newline>11. Fated Reunion<newline>It seems simple enough. Seiji can't get his head around calculus. Midori goes to an elite school, so she should know all this stuff. It's just a matter of persuading her to take the test for him. All that she asks is that Seiji says three simple words to her. Given that he's spent his entire life saying those words to girls only to be rejected; it's strange how he's getting tongue-tied around Midori, even if he tries saying them as a lie. Meanwhile, Kouta tries again to persuade Seiji to go to Midori's home, as her family are getting more desperate to find a cure. But this time, Kouta runs into a bunch of delinquents from a rival school that are happy to use him to get to Seiji.<newline><newline>[url="http://www.myreviewer.com/default.asp?a=162538"][imgmc=0000248917.jpg][/url]<newline>12. Sudden Separation<newline>Coming face to face with Kouta also forces Midori to confront her situation. She begins to realise that her being with Seiji in such a bizarre way may have seemed to have resolved her terminal shyness, but in reality, Seiji can only see her as his right hand, and they're both just living out a fantasy. The next morning, Seiji wakes up with his right hand restored. Free of Midori, he can go back to being the delinquent he was, back to picking fights, buying porn, and skiving off school. Meanwhile, at home Midori wakes up with no memory of the past few months.<newline><newline>[url="http://www.myreviewer.com/default.asp?a=162540"][imgmc=0000248919.jpg][/url]<newline>13. Two People's Days<newline>Will true love triumph or will Seiji and Midori go back to their lonely existences? They may need a little outside help, a gentle and friendly nudge for Midori, and a beat-down from his sister for Seiji!<newline><newline>[url="http://www.myreviewer.com/default.asp?a=162541"][imgmc=0000248920.jpg][/url]<newline>[heading]Picture[/heading]<newline>Midori Days gets a 4:3 regular transfer, which on this US disc quite naturally is in NTSC format. It's really quite a pleasant experience, clean, sharp and free of compression artefacts. Colours are well defined, and the animation is smooth and reproduced well on this disc. Midori Days is an older show, and that does come across in the simplicity of the character designs, and in the world design. However the animation is energetic and fluid, the characters stay on model, and the backgrounds have an atmospheric feel to the lighting, shade and warmth that really makes this show appealing to watch.<newline><newline>[url="http://www.myreviewer.com/default.asp?a=162543"][imgmc=0000248922.jpg][/url]<newline>[heading]Sound[/heading]<newline>You have the choice of Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo in English and Japanese, with optional translated subtitles and a signs only track. There are no problems with the sound, the dialogue is clear and the music and action sequences come across without distortion or dropout. The credit sequences get appropriate songs, and as always my preference was for the original language track, which I found most satisfying. The English dub on the other hand is not quite as appealing, it's one of those comedy tracks that emphasises loudness as a source of humour, so characters will be screaming at several points during the show. Teen girl voices in English dubs for anime usually are high pitched and annoying to begin with; with Midori miniaturised, that irritation goes off the scale for me.<newline><newline>[url="http://www.myreviewer.com/default.asp?a=162544"][imgmc=0000248923.jpg][/url]<newline>[heading]Extras[/heading]<newline>The disc is presented in an Amaray case, with a pleasing if simple cover. Inside you may find a catalogue for other Media Blasters titles. The disc itself gets static menus.<newline><newline>You'll find Media Blasters trailers for Grenadier, Genshiken, Otogi Zoshi, Master of Mosquiton, and Ah! My Goddess on the disc.<newline><newline>There were no outtakes with volume 2, but those are here, as well as the outtakes for volume 3 in a 3-minute collection of goofs and goofing around.<newline><newline>The only other extra is the Original Audio Drama Day 3, which offers 7 minutes of character interaction, played out against static scenery taken from the show. This is in Japanese audio with English subtitles.<newline><newline>There's an Easter Egg to be discovered which plays the original language credits for the final episode.<newline><newline>[url="http://www.myreviewer.com/default.asp?a=162546"][imgmc=0000248925.jpg][/url]<newline>[heading]Conclusion[/heading]<newline>It was just as I suspected. This final volume is where all the emotional issues are resolved, the reality of their situation forces Midori and Seiji to face facts, and we get to see if there is a happily ever after for the pair. This being a romantic comedy, and not a romantic tragedy, the latter is pretty much guaranteed, it's how Midori Days gets to that point that is important. Thankfully, it pulls back enough from the comedy to tell a story that we can relate to, and tests the bonds between its protagonists so that we can empathise and root for them. It's enough to make the show worth watching, and worth buying. It isn't quite enough to make it stand out, or be particularly memorable among its peers. That's no bad thing, as not every show can be special.<newline><newline>[url="http://www.myreviewer.com/default.asp?a=162548"][imgmc=0000248927.jpg][/url]<newline>It's the appearance of Kouta, Midori's childhood friend that signifies the change in tone, although initially with his Snow White theory of waking her up, it doesn't seem to be a particularly serious change. There is the thought that revisiting Midori's house will result in the same sort of fiasco as the last time Seiji went there, but before that can happen, Kouta runs into a bunch of rival delinquents, requiring Seiji to rescue him. But his appearance reminds Midori that her relationship with Seiji is far from conventional, while those loved ones that she has left behind have been grieving her loss, desperately searching for a cure for her comatose body. It's something that she doesn't want to confront, but is forced to when Kouta discovers the truth behind their situation.<newline><newline>[url="http://www.myreviewer.com/default.asp?a=162551"][imgmc=0000248930.jpg][/url]<newline>There's no kiss from a prince, but Midori realises that her life with Seiji is really a false happiness, and the time has come for her to return to reality. It also signals a return to reality for Seiji, who initially panics at Midori's loss, before convincing himself that life has finally returned to normal. At first that means that he can return to his delinquent ways, with Midori's absence naturally making him depressed and cranky, eager for a fight. It's while he's trying to pick up where he left off, that he realises that he has changed because of the past few months with Midori, and that her absence has left a hole in his life.<newline><newline>[url="http://www.myreviewer.com/default.asp?a=162556"][imgmc=0000248935.jpg][/url]<newline>The first impediment in their getting back together is that when Midori wakes up, she has no memory of her life with Seiji, just the feelings left behind by it. The second impediment is that Seiji knows that they are from two different worlds, and that perhaps Midori would be better off without a delinquent in her life. It seems that they are destined to be apart, but their friends and family serve as the key to reuniting them. Kouta can see that Midori is still pining away for her Prince Charming, while Ayase finally getting up the courage to confess her feelings toward Seiji makes him examine his own. And for the first time in three volumes, I'm not peeved at seeing Seiji's sister again, as knocking sense into someone as thick skulled as Seiji needs more than a little muscle behind it.<newline><newline>[url="http://www.myreviewer.com/default.asp?a=162559"][imgmc=0000248938.jpg][/url]<newline>So it's not exactly the unconventional ending to an anime rom-com. It does still engender the empathic feelings and vicarious pleasure that is required of it and a viewer will have no complaints with how the story concludes. Midori Days' premise is an absurd and imaginative one, but its execution is anything but. It follows a very familiar path for shows in its genre, which would be a little disappointing, were it not for the energy and freshness it has in telling its story. It's a clichéd and common show, but a very enjoyable one at that.<newline><newline>

Initial Version

Created on Monday, 30th January 2012, 17:44
First Submitted by Jitendar Canth