Twin Cake (2012 – 2013)

Written and Drawn by Aoi Hana

Link

Yes, I know I’ve been doing A LOT of manga reviews lately

 

Twin cake is about a girl named Kaede (shorter haired one) who idolizes a famous model, Susuran so much that she decided to pursue modelling herself. She even joins Susuran’s modelling agency in order to get closer to her, but has never actually met Susuran despite this. However, she has failed to become popular and instead works much more like an assistant and secretary for her agency. After Susuran fires ANOTHER one of her managers, the agency is in a desperate need to replace them in order to look more legit. As a last minute desperation, she decides to hire Kaede as Susuran’s new manager.

Kaede is first very excited to become Susuran’s new manager. However her image of Susuran is immediate shattered upon walking in on Susuran having sex with another female model. (No spoiler, second chapter lol). Kaede, embarrassed begins to see Susuran in a different light and falls even deeper in love. Susuran however, is still in love with someone else.

This was a pretty good manga, although short (7 chapters). It IS pretty angsty (prepare yourself) but still enjoyable.

THERE IS NUDITY. It’s not a main element (so it’s not hentai) but it does exist, as well as sex.

Art: 6.5/10

Yuri Rating: 10/10

Overall Rating: 8/10

EXPLANATION WITH SPOILERS BELOWWWWWW

Octave (2008 – 2011)

Written and Drawn by Akiyama Haru

Link

This is actually one of my favorite manga’s.

The story revolves around a former idol of a not-so-popular group when she was a teenager, Miyashita Yukino. Not willing to endure the bullying of high school after her failure, she decided to work in the industry as an assistant manager. Through her struggles, she meets a fairly successful song writer, Iwai Setsuko.  Seduced by Iwai’s beauty, she explores her sexuality and eventually falls in love. However she struggles with her relationship as she is not only confused by her sexuality, but has taken on the toll of being a manager and coming to terms with her past.

I really enjoyed this manga. You go through Yukino as she has to come to terms with many things in her life, with love being one of them. It’s a great coming of age story I think and perfect for our generation. The story is very deep though and very….angsty to say the least. Not VERY angsty where you want to cry, but the kind of angst where you’re kind of irritated.

I enjoyed the artwork. It’s simple yet detailed enough. I do encourage anyone to give it a shot!

Art: 6/10

Yuri Rating: 8/10

Overall: 7/10

WARNING THERE ARE SPOILERS PAST THIS POINT. YOU’VE BEEN WARNED

Renai Idenshi XX (2009 – 2013)

AKA Love DNA XX, or Love Gene XX. Written by Eiki Eiki, and drawn by Zaou Taishi

Recently completed and done fan translated, it can be found here.

The story revolves around a world where men no longer exist. They have become extinct, and now only females survive. However, the government has decided to implement an “Eden” project, where half the population is split into ADAMS (predominantly the “males” in this society) and the EVES, the females. ADAMS are supposed to take on the role that men used to, such as working and the EVES take the female role, taking care of children and such.

ADAMS are even forced to bind their chest in order to look more male. It is forbidden for EVES to be together, as is the same as ADAMS (almost similar to homosexuality).

As for the amount of lesbian content, well, the whole freakin world is female 🙂 That makes me happy. However,  despite all this, I do forget occasionally that the ADAMS are in fact female. I often get lost, due to the art style, and read it in a male voice in my head. It mind tripped me a bit the first couple of times. It was difficult to get used to. Especially since the translators decided to refer to the ADAMS as males at a certain point because the original Japanese story used the Japanese pronoun of “he”, and so they used that.

The story is incredibly straight forward. This story is more focused on the realization of a very obvious love rather than the struggles it is to be together. I’d have to say there is no actual strong plot, or some strong resistance towards them other than society. The story had so much potential, and even then….

Annnyways, I’ll save that for the spoilers section.

As for art, I thought it was quite good and pretty, even if it was this weird mesh of male-female traits and characteristics, I still thought it was quite beautiful.

Art: 8/10

Yuri Rating: 9/10

Overall Rating: 6/10

MAJOR SPOILERS PAST THIS POINT! DON’T BLAME ME IF YOU CLICKED PAST THIS POINT

NEWS: Adding Movies & TV to the blog!

Hey all,

Not sure if anyone’s there or cares,  but you may have noticed a new category and list called “TV and Movies” and wanted to inform everyone on what’s to come!

Is this related? I don’t know. I don’t care.

After speaking with a friend about lesbian movies and TV dramas, we liked them the way we like our Shoujo-ai, not porn. We then realized how hard it is to even FIND said Movies and TV Dramas, and how few there are. Sometimes we’d have no choice but to watch whatever was there.

There’s also the matter of how I would rate the movies. Because they’re so rare, sometimes I take what I can get and although they may not be entirely good.

So, in order to help out the community, I decided to add this addition to the blog. Some are rare gems, some are not so rare. Some are good and some are bad. I will be separating them for you, warning you, and hopefully not wasting your time.

In addition, there are actually very few Japanese lesbian movies (in my books, few) so I will be expanding it to simply “asian”. This will include Chinese, Korean, tagalog or singaporean films as well (if they exist). I will only be doing this for the Movie and TV section, NOT for anime and Manga.

I will only be reviewing and linking those that are English subbed. If it’s not subbed in English,  I will not review it or link it.

At the same time, links to these movies are rare. So I’m trying to get a hold of the download/digital versions of these movies and will either provide a download link, or provide a streaming link for you to watch. As long as I am active on this blog, I will be fixing those links as well. WITH english subs. Please bare with some reviews, they may not have links or downloads simply because they are too hard to find, but don’t you worry I will be working on it and trying to track them down.

If you have any movies pertaining to these (NOT PORN PLZ. But R-rated material I’m cool with), I am more than happy to download and review it for you, and providing a reliable link to the public.

You can contact me here at: yukarichan.blog@gmail.com

As for rating system, some will be standard such as Yuri rating (blanket term I use for amount of lesbian content) and Overall rating, however because it is film, I am currently thinking about adding another rating system to it.  I will update this post on the new rating system once I have it ironed out.

I hope you enjoy what I have coming! I know I will!

— Yukari-Chan

UPDATE: I have decided not to add any other scales to my reviews. If I decide to change this (probably unlikely) then I will change it, but until then I’m going to leave it as Yuri + Overall.

Shattered Angels (2007)

Also known as “Kyōshirō to Towa no Sora” or “Kyoshiro and the Eternal Sky”

From the makers of….you guessed it! Kannazuki no miko! Comes: Shattered Angels.

Kannazuki No Miko watchers can easily recognizes Chikane, or in this world, “Kaon”

And yes! Himeko is involved as well, or in this world, Himeko! However, this is under a different life. And they are not yet together.

It revolves around these fighters, called “Absolute Angels” who can summon mechas (usually things that look more like gundams) and can fight each other. Uniting all the angels together can create the ULTIMATE GUNDAM— I mean Angel.

Shiratori Kuu

Shiratori Kuu, the main girl in this series, has NO IDEA that she is in fact an absolute angel, until one day her prince, Kyoshiro Ayanokoji, that she’s always dreamed of coming to save her, does so when in fact he just wants to collect these angels too.

Fight breaks out between Kyoshiro and his other siblings that also own Angels, and blah blah blah blah blah straight plot.

The real reason you’re watching this series

Onto Himeko and Kaon. So, Kaon is actually owned and controlled by a woman named Mika, who is the ruler of a Witch Academy (more like priestesses) and has many slaves and servants. All female. She is also sister to Kyoshiro.

Mika, is actually in love with Kaon, but Kaon has no feelings for her. Whenever Kaon does something wrong, she will punish Kaon. Mika is a certified lesbian. She makes love to her various servants. (I wish I had this life) She is a cruel ruler. However Kaon, for mysterious reasons, is in love with a servant named Himeko. This makes Mika jealous, and Mika tries to punish both kaon and Himeko.

Overall, plot is not terrible but there are many plot holes and questionable actions. It’s also kind of boring….

There isn’t that much yuri, but it’s there. Unfortunately, Kaon and Himeko are not the main couple in this story =/ I do have to dock points since it’s not exactly pure shoujo-ai/yuri

Yuri rating: 6/10

Overall rating: 4/10

WARNING. WARNING WARNING. WARNING. SPOILERS PAST THIS POINT

Ga-Rei Zero (2008)

I was recommended this anime by a friend. Who had tricked me into thinking this was Yuri.

I want this more to be of a “warning” post rather than a “review” post (although I guess I can do that too.)

This was recommended to me by a FRIEND who SAID IT WAS YURI. AND TRICKED ME INTO IT. COMPLETELY. 100%.

The story revolves around Kagura and Yomi. Two girls who aren’t biological sisters, but are as close as one. Both work for a supernatural hunting agency. Yomi trained Kagura when she was just a recruit. However, tragedy strikes when Yomi suddenly goes missing. At the exact same time, the Agency is struggling to battle a new, powerful supernatural entity that can summon other supernaturals, as well as a hidden power that greatly affects Yomi.

THIS IS NOT A YURI ANIME. DO NOT WATCH. DO. NOT. WATCH.

So if your “friend” ever recommends this anime to you, YOU PUNCH EM IN THE FACE AND TELL THEM TA GO TA HELL.

However because there is that super sleazy peppero/pocky kiss, I gave it 1 point. (infamous scene below =/)

The rest of this review will mostly contain raging at the non-yuri content as well as perhaps the overall plot.

But I digress, if you can get past the fact that it’s actually NOT YURI. The story isn’t half bad.

Yuri rating: 1/10

Overall rating: 4/10

WARNING. THERE ARE VERY IN DEPTH SPOILERS PAST THIS POINT AS WELL AS CAPS LOCK SCREEMING.

Shin Sekai Yori (2012-2013)

Also known as “From the New World”

Originally a novel, it has been adapted into an Anime AND manga. However, this review will be based on the anime.

The story revolves around 5 friends, 3 boys and two girls which takes place 1000 years from now, where humans now have the capability to possess psychic (more like telekinetic)  powers, after war broke out and humanity was close to being destroyed by PK users (telekinetic people). The story mainly revolves around Saki.

We start out with Saki being in the middle of what looks like an earthquake. It turns out though, it’s just the effects of her Psychic powers coming in! Her parents then burst in, proud and relieved that she can now graduate elementary school.

“What do you mean coming in? and what?…elementary school? How old is this girl?” Although humans are technically born with psychic powers, they don’t actually work until at a certain age. One is not allowed to graduate from elementary school until their powers come in.

We then go through these 5 childhood friends adventures, trials, life, (more like Saki’s life) and figuring out the mystery of what this “new world” is.

From left to right: Shun, Satoru, Saki, Mamoru, Maria

To be quite honest, this was one of the best anime’s I have ever seen. Ever.

Although slightly lacking in Yuri content (which is also not permanent =/), this was a really good Anime. I highly recommend it to EVERYONE. Not just shoujo-ai/yuri readers.

The story line is dark, dramatic, mysterious, but compelling. It takes you into another society, yet the Anime itself is somehow a metaphor for our own society (or so I am told). This isn’t really one of those stories with gaping plot holes, or with an overly metaphoric and symbolic anime where the “deep” message goes over your head (unlike -cough SIMOUN cough-). It actually makes sense.

They don’t spell out everything for you, but the subtle hints and subtle things characters do or say, hints to an answer you feared they were hinting to. If you pay attention to everything (or even watch it over again) you can actually put the pieces together yourself, with out having the anime try and spell everything out for you.

But for those that couldn’t or were confused at some point, just like i did with Simoun, I do a bit of an analysis below.

It is compelling, dark, tragic, mysterious, yet incredible.

As for Yuri content, although it’s not actually a main element (nor is it a consistent one), the yaoi/yuri couples is more saying something about this new worlds’ society, rather than as a main romantic element.

So, despite the amazing story, this is a blog focused on shoujo/ai yuri.

The amount of Yuri/Yaoi is great, but unfortunately it doesn’t really last long. In general, relationships don’t really appear often (although hints of love is,) I do have to dock points for that.

Yuri Rating: 6/10

Overall Rating: 10/10

But, this is an anime I HIGHLY recommend, not just for yuri watchers, but for EVERYONE. It’s just THAT good.

MASSIVE MASSIVE SPOILERS PAST THIS POINT

Simoun (2006)

One of the more “well known” Yuri anime’s.

The story takes place in another universe where a war is ongoing. The countries are fighting for the right to control these special type of machines, called “Simoun”. Simoun are considered to be sacred artifacts from the past, and is the country only source to “fly”. Nobody really knows how they work.

Since Simoun are considered to be sacred, they are called the “Chariots of God” and the people flying these, who must fly in pairs, are called “Sibyllae”, or the “priestess” of these chariots. Simoun, religiously, are used to offer prayers to the Tempus Spatium their god, but since it is the countries only way to fly, they are also used to be war machines. Their “prayers to the sky” called “Ri Maajon” are used for combat.

In this world, everyone is born a woman (HOORAH. That sounds like MY kind of world!) But because the world needs to reproduce, at the age of 17 these “girls” must go to a special, religious spring and choose to be either a male or female, permanently. If you do not know, the Tempus Spatium will choose for you. The only exception to this rule are the Sibyllae. In order to fly the Simoun, they must not have gone to the spring. So, in times of war, the Sibyllae are given permission to remain as they are.

In terms of Yuri content, I’d give it a “meh”. I’m not particularly fond of the main pair, simply because it doesn’t seem like they’re “in love” at all. And honestly, I’m not sure if I really should consider this a Yuri anime since most of the pairings, either one or both usually wish to become a male (or have already changed to be male, but you don’t see it.)

The story on the other hand, is one I find quite interesting and complex. I don’t think 26 episodes give it enough justice.

Although this blog is technically a review blog, here is where I’ll try to make sense of all the symbolism, and whatever the heck everything meant.

For the Yuri rating, I’m quite conflicted as to what I SHOULD rate it because of the whole “gender bender” thing. But, since most of the pairings are before they head to the spring, I’ll give it points….but the gender bender shit pisses me off so I docked a couple =3=

For the overall rating, the beginning was honestly tiring, tedious, and boring to watch. It was really very character driven. It all is actually. The story line doesn’t really pick up until around Episode 13, where things become exciting. Soon you become invested in this series, and you CARE about these characters (unlike OTHER character driven animes -cough cough MARIASAMAGAMITERU cough cough-) So for the boring beginning I docked major points.

Yuri rating: 7/10

Overall rating: 7/10

ERRRRMMMMMM SO MANY SPOILERS BELOW. IF YOU FINISHED THE SERIES, READ MOAR

Aoi Hana (2009)

This review will go over the Anime “Aoi Hana” or known in English as “Sweet Blue Flowers.”

This anime is actually available to watch in English sub on Youtube. However this is only for episodes 1 & 2 =(. I’m sure you can find the other episodes floating around the internet.  It’s only 11 episodes anyways xD

It was originally a manga, but was adapted to an anime.

The main characters for this series  are two girls who have both started high school, but at two completely separate schools. (Both schools are all girls schools….HEHEHEHEHEHE). Akira Okudaira and Fumi Manjome (black haired with glasses) who were previously childhood friends, and have no been reunited. Together, we go through their trials and tribulations of an all girls high school.

For those who’ve watched a slew of Anime before, you’ll notice that the girl looks oddly familiar….which you’re right. She looks almost exactly like the girl from Sasemeki Koto.

Left to Right: Akira (Acchan), Kyouko, Sugimoto, and Fumi

Now when you first watch, you’ll probably mistake Fumi, the black-haired soft spoken, tall, girl to have a crush on Chizu as she begs Chizu not to leave. Although it looks reciprocated, Just so  you know, Chizu is Fumi’s Older FIRST cousin…. We also find out in the first episode that Chizu is actually engaged to be married! O= WELP. THERE GOES FUMICHI. Fumi looks just as shocked as we do actually…if you looked shocked…which you probably don’t…. But she end sup getting hit on by a girl named “Sugimoto” who is the most popular girl in school (black haired, manly).

Akira on the other hand seems to be hit on by a smooth, pretty-looking, girl with short blonde hair. I find her relationship with her brother to be quite hilarious as it seems to be love/hate (mostly hate) relationship.

If you’re wondering where the Anime and Manga line up, the Anime is almost identical to the manga. The manga however, has little changes (as well as the Anime), but has more insight into the characters feelings and thoughts. So if you were wondering how Fumi or Akira felt about something, came to a conclusion, or reacted the way they did to something, check out the manga.

Volume 3 Chapter 17 “The Happy Prince Part II” marks the beginning of episode 11. However half of chapter 18 is excluded in the Anime (since it’s reached the end pretty much….) I DO RECOMMEND YOU READ THAT THOUGH. OK I’VE ALREADY SAID TOO MUCH. HERE’S MY RATING.

Overall Rating: 2/10

Yuri Rating: 8/10

I do not recommend watching the anime. Because it’s so close to the manga, go with the manga instead. It is much better, longer, and much more in depth.

Also, for the last Chapter 52, its supposed to be 42 pages. Make sure you find the full length one or it’ll get confusing, fast.

Anyways I have more ranty/spoiler things to say below.

THERE ARE SPOILERS PAST THIS POINT. BLERGH

Maria-Sama Ga Miteru (Season 1)

Also known as “Maria Watches Over Us” review. There are 4 seasons of this, I will only review the first.

First off, I was very much tricked into watching this thinking it would have yuri. I mean, I did end up watching this right after I watched Strawberry Panic, so I guess my expectation of it was similar. However even to this day, I still cannot bring myself to complete this and I’ll tell you why.

It’s centres around a new student, Fukuzawa Yumi, to a catholic all girls school. This school has something called a “soeur system” which is basically older and younger sisters paired up. Cold, collected second year student, Sachiko Ogasawara takes an interest int he clumsy, self concious Fukuzawa Yumi (sound familiar?) and makes her Sachiko’s younger sister.

There are also various side-story’s and side pairings, but I’ll get into that later.

I’m first going to tell you why I don’t consider this to be shoujo-ai/yuri.

This was by far, the most frustrating anime for me to watch. Now I’ve sat through subtext before. I’ve gone through subtext and there were quite a few I enjoyed. This was not subtext, for me, this was just false hope.

Nothing happens. Now at first you think “well maybe after 4 seasons SOMETHING will happen.” Nothing happens.

I urge you to honestly stop while you’re ahead.

Let the rant begin.

Overall Rating: 3/10 (More explanation below, but contains spoilers)

Yuri Rating: 2/10

SPOILERS! SPOILERS! PAST THIS POINT. VERY ANGRY SPOILER RANT ABOUT TO HAPPEN