Aya Mikage and her twin brother Aki go to their grandfather's home for their sixteenth birthday unaware that it's actually a test to see if they have enough angel or celestial maiden blood in them. Aya is the reincarnation of a powerful celestial maiden called Ceres. When she transforms into Ceres, Aya obtains supernatural powers and abilities such as flight, teleportation, telepathy, incredibly strong and powerful telekinesis, premonition, projecting highly strong, powerful and destructive deep pink glowing energy blasts from her hands, creating incredibly strong and powerful impenetrable shields and barriers of pure deep pink glowing energy, and superhuman speed. According to the legend, Ceres will kill the Mikage family for revenge upon stealing her celestial robe, thus preventing her returning home to Heaven, so Aya's family attempts to kill her. However, she is saved by Suzumi Aogiri, another angel descendant with supernatural powers, (since not all Mikages have angel blood) and Suzumi's brother-in-law, Yūhi. Aya tries to control Ceres's power over her and Aki is taken over by the vengeful hateful spirit and soul of "Mikagi", the ancestor of the Mikage family who first stole Ceres' celestial robe, forcing her to stay on Earth. Aya also wrestles with her growing love for Toya, a servant of the Mikage who are trying to kill her, but lost his memory of his past. He also starts to love Aya in return. Aya promises Ceres to help her find her celestial robe in exchange for not killing her family (especially Aki) who hunts her down, since Aya still loves them. Toya tries to regain his memory. He learns that he was the organism that Ceres's celestial robe (otherwise known as "the mana") created to help it reunite with Ceres.

This is taking it a couple notches away from Petite Cossette. This one also makes my top ten list of anime/manga. Believe it or not, Ayashi no Ceres was one of the first graphic novels/manga I ever picked up and since then I have in love with all of Yuu Watase’s works.

This is soap opera anime. It’s got all its twists and turns with rivals for Aya’s love (much like Twilight’s counterparts, Jacob and Edward). Yuhi and Toya are the ones fighting for Aya’s love and affection (with Aki’s alternate personality trying to get at the goddess, Ceres). I didn’t like Aya’s character as much as I should have; I was too caught up in Ceres’ story to be caught up with Aya’s melo-dramatic life.

Ceres had fallen in love with a human, who had become completely intoxicated by her love that he was willingly to sacrifice their children to be with her. He hid her robes from her so that she was unable to return to heaven (and without returning to heaven she would eventually die a human death). She cursed that man and vowed to find her robes and curse his family for centuries to come. Hell hath no fury like a woman’s scorn. In the end, Ceres’ came to realize that the man was just extremely in love with her and didn’t want to lose her. She eventually forgave him and they returned to heaven together, finally bringing peace to the Mikage family and normality back in to Aya’s life.

Well, somewhat normal, Aya is knocked up with Toya’s child and Toya isn’t sure how much longer he will live because he no longer possesses the “Celestial Robe”. Aya’s mom is in a mental health institute for the rest of her life. Yuuhi goes on being Yuuhi (never liked his character anyways). A lot of the other good characters were killed off so, this is the end to this soap opera.

Very good watch, the animation is a bit botched since it was made in the early ‘90s. But you are just watching it for the story, right?

Enjoy!

Alien women.....Boobs......Panty Shots......Nosebleed and blushing moments.....uncomfortable antisocial hero.....and we can't forget the MELON BREAD!  I give to you....dearS.

dearS is the story of Takeya Ikuhara, a 17 year old student who works at a video store and lives alone. He has a bit of an immature antisocial outlook on life, and is the unlikely hero of this story. He comes across a a naked Homeless alien (Ren) in the bushes on the way home from school one day. Ren turns out to be a dearS, a type of alien that Takeya finds repulsive, but he takes her in anyways. He becomes the object of her affection much to his dismay, but finds himself attached to her. She begins school with him, proudly proclaiming him as her master, while he's embarrassed by the situation. However, Ren begins to get him  out of his shell making him a better person.  Eventually the head of dearS learn of Ren, and begin to bring her back in as they see her as Defective. Takeya finds himself falling for Ren and protecting her as he believes everyone has a right to live as they choose.


This series is only 13 episodes and is available anywhere you buy or rent anime. You can also catch any of the 8 volumes of Manga at your local Bookstore. 

I have to say, this one is great to watch on a cold day when you have nothing better to do. I wouldn't go out and buy the box set or the manga, but if you can find it streaming or know anyone who bought it, I say grab it.

Its cute and Zany and has a lot of funny moments. It has alot of CHIBI moments, awkward pauses, and characters that just make you SMILE when you think about them. not to mention Takeya has a female teacher who brings a whole new meaning to the word pervert.   The love isn't too melodramatic or OUT there.  It's very much a guy who doesn't wanna be a master to the slave but ends up doing it and falling in love anyways.

so if you got time to kill, like to laugh and smile, check out dearS.


**to our readers, my appologies for the length of this post. I am horribly sick at the moment. I also am not a HUGE love anime fan. so bear with me.  this is more Bhan's area of expertise.**

(How many second chances do you get in life?)

After being best man at his best friend's (Saitou Toshihisa) wedding, Nagai Atsushi realizes that he might never be with the man he loves, Saitou. Nagai, drowning in his sorrows and hatred for the new bride then meets Honda Kenzou, another guest at the wedding, a friend of the bride's. Honda took care of Nagai when he was dead drunk and now Nagai thinks he may have feelings for both men. Things start to get complicated when Saitou's bride runs off with another man and Saitou starts hitting on Nagai.

This isn’t a widely know or popular series. It was something I happen to fall upon a few years back. It’s really a dramatic love story, in a sort of American soap opera style. Seriously, this must have been on National Japan Television or something because it’s so similar to our soap operas here in the states. This isn’t entirely a bad thing because it does have it’s sincere moments.

This is actually an incredible romance. The characters are mature and level-headed as they embark on their lives. I have to agree that not all marriages are happy ones, which is one of the key points in the story or rather the main event that happens in the story. It’s all about second chances and doing what makes you happy. This is truly inspiring to most of us modern-hopeless romantics.

It originally started out as a manga but, later turned into an anime. Beware however, they animation isn’t up to date and some dialogue is outdated as well. If you can see past all that, I think you will like it too.

(I realize that this is the beginning of the month but, I really wanted to get this in before Yaoi month was over. My work computer had crashed, taking all of my reviews with it and I simply ran out of time before January ended. Regardless, hope you enjoy my last review for Yaoi Month.)

 

LOVELESS is the story of  12 year old amnesiac Ritsuka Aoyagi. The story begins with his first day at a new school after he is thrown out of his former school.  Two years before Ritsuka suddenly loses his memory and has an abrupt change in personality. He sees a therapist while he deals with his loss of memory and an abusive Bi-polar mother. His brother Semei is murdered leaving him to fend for himself.

After his first day of school he meets an "Adult" (people without their ears and tails) named Soubi outside of his school. He tells Ritsuka that he waited for him to come find him after Semei died and when he didn't he came to him. He claims that Semei gave him to Ritsuka.  Of course Ritsuka doesn't know what he's talking about, but asks Soubi to make memories (take pictures) with him anyway.

Ritsuka discovers that his brother and Soubi were a legendary fighting pair at a special school for kids with their abilities. When Semei (the sacrifice) died he left Soubi (his fighter) to his little brother. Ritsuka becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to his brother after learning all this believing that is why his brother died. He begs Soubi to tell him about what happened to his brother, but discovers that his brother ordered Soubi not to tell him. This becomes an obsticle in their relationship, along with other things Soubi is hiding.

Through the progression of this story they fight other pairs from the school, everyone referring to Ristuka as Loveless. They all seem disgusted that Soubi is now claiming to be Ritsuka's fighter, because they don't share the same name. This all leads up to a wide open ending, where Ritsuka asks Soubi if he would kill him if ordered by Semei, to which Soubi says he would die with Ritsuka if that ever happened.

The manga version of this story is 8 volumes and can be picked up at pretty much any local bookstore. It was done by the wonderful Yun Kouga. It was originally printed in Monthly Comic Zero Sum by Ichijinsha. The Anime version was done by  J.C.Staff and appear on Japanese television in 2002. Fun fact about this story is they author doesn't really intend for it to be Yaoi or Shouen-Ai. Its just meant to be a beautiful story.

I LOVE THIS ANIME AND MANGA. let me say it again I LOVE IT.  From the artwork to the music to the story.  Did I mention the CAT EARS?!?!?! *girly squeal*  Its definitely in my Top 10. You can just feel the sexual tension and emotion OOzing out of this manga and anime. It has a little bit of humor thrown in so you don't feel like killing yourself from being so sad. 

So if you dig Cat Ears, Sexual Tension and a good fantasy plot line go check out Loveless.

Sukisho/Sukisyo

High-school student Sora Hashiba has been hospitalized after falling from the fourth floor of the school building. On his first night back in the dormitory, he wakes to find a strange boy addressing him by the name "Yoru". The stranger identifies himself as "Ran" and says he's Sora's new roommate. The next day, Sora's childhood friend and dorm manager, Matsuri Honjou, informs Sora that the other boy, whom Matsuri identifies as Sunao Fujimori or "Nao-kun," is actually another childhood friend of Sora. Sora doesn't remember meeting Sunao before. In fact, Sora can't remember much of anything regarding his past, and the series follows his quest to regain his memory.

Sora soon learns why Sunao identified himself as "Ran" that first night: he and Sora have alternate personalities. Sora's is Yoru, a powerful protector and the lover of the more dependent, feminized Ran. The existence of these alternate personalities, and the relationship between them, has some mysterious connection with Sora's fall from the window and his forgotten past. The alternate personalities' passionate relationship is a far cry from the hostility and distrust between Sora and Sunao. Because Yoru and Ran possess them arbitrarily, Sora and Sunao frequently find themselves in embarrassing situations when they regain control of their minds.

Other comical situations arise from Matsuri's efforts to draw Sora and Sunao into his moneymaking schemes, known as the group "The Jack of All Trades" and from such minor characters as a bishōnen ghost and three younger boys who resemble the trio. No parents are ever mentioned, and the only authority figures are school nurse Kai Nanami and math teacher Shinichirou Minato, but it is known that Sora and Sunao are both orphans. Both have some connection with Sora and Sunao's dark past, which also involves one of the older students at the school, Kai Nagase, and a mysterious doctor named Aizawa.

This would’ve been great if Sora and Sunao would’ve just remained as their alternate personalities. The story was much more interesting with them around. Everything else was just crap! I really can’t say many good things about this one; it was just a really big dissappointment. The steamy scenes were quite nice to watch as well. Seme and uke galore!

Overall, I wouldn’t waste money on this piece of bologna. If you happen to see it online, go ahead, knock yourself out.

(PG-Rated Yaoi...IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?)

The story surrounds an aspiring singer, Shuichi Shindou, and his band, Bad Luck (formed with his best friend Hiroshi Nakano, who is on guitar). Shuichi wants to become Japan's next big star, and follow in the footsteps of the famous idol Ryuichi Sakuma, lead singer of the now-disbanded legendary group Nittle Grasper. One evening, Shuichi is looking over lyrics for a song he was writing when his paper is blown away by the wind and picked up by a tall, blond stranger. The man dismisses Shuichi's hard work as garbage, which hurts Shuichi deeply. Despite his anger, he is intrigued by the stranger. This will be their first encounter as Shuichi becomes fascinated by the stranger, who soon turns out to be the famous romance novelist, Eiri Yuki (real name: Uesugi). Both the manga and the anime follow this plot.

The manga is a quirky blend of over-the-top humor (Reiji's giant panda robot destroying parts of New York, Shuichi's explosive nosebleeds and ridiculous declarations of love, K's machine gun wake-up calls, Tohma's half-teasing come-ons, etc.) and gay love. The storyline is just serious enough to be compelling, but also contains elements of parody. The characters are often thrown into insane situations and in some scenes the art style is dramatically overdone for comedic effect, one of many of Murakami's well known traits and characteristics in her manga styles.
I’d have to say that I’m not into yaoi as much as I was back in the day. I’ve gone over to the dark side of shoujo/magical girl themes. However, I will review Gravitation because I liked it during this particular fangirl stage.

I never liked Shuichi’s character, he was always too whiney (reminds of most girls I know). Through the progression of the story, he grew on me because he matured. I love the way he was passionate about his music career.

Eiri Yuki, my god this man was funny! I love j0000. He was such an asshole yet, he was so cute with Shuichi. His personality was strikingly more impressive than most of the other characters on the show.

Another character similar to Shuichi would be the infamous, Ryuichi Sakuma! I highly recommend not putting these two in a room together. However, one of his interesting habits is talking to a pink stuffed rabbit named, Kumagoro. This pink animal has gained hearts of fangirls all over the world! I cannot go to a con without seeing 10s of dozens of girls carrying Kuma. Ryuichi can be classified as having dual personalities.

Claude “K” Winchester, the gun wielding manager of Bad Luck. Apparently, the Japanese thought that Americans carried machine guns around all day so, that’s how they based “K”’s character. Don’t get me wrong, he is a funny character, promoting the bad with his machine gun. I just wish the Japanese didn’t see as gun-wielding barbarians.

This series is a bit over the top in some episodes but, well worth the belly laughing. The romance is a bit cute and at times…kinky? Very fun loving, PG rated yaoi. I would recommend this to virgin, yaoi fangirls.

Do you love the whole rich spoiled seme and his oblivious clusmy uke boy love stories? with great connected side stories to help break the monotony of just one story line?  well if so then Junjo Romantica is most definitely for you!

Junjo Romantica is the story of a student named Misaki Takahashi. Misaki needs a tutor for his college entrance exams, so enter boy love novelist and best friend of his older brother, Akihiko Usami. Akihiko was secretly in love with Misaki's older brother and makes it rather obvious, due to one of the main characters in his popular boy novels being named after him. Akihiko isn't really impressed with Misaki until he realizes that he is going to college to honor his older brother sacrificing his own education to raise him after their parents died.

The two grow closer as Akihiko tutors Misaki. Misaki is totally in denile of his homosexuality and Akhiko takes great pleasure in teasing him. Their relationship evolves when Misaki's brother announces his engagement to a woman. Misaki cries over Akihiko unrequited love, while Akihiko confesses to Misaki that its him he loves not his older brother.

This series is the story of these two lovers and the people around them. It's a typical Seme and Uke relationship of the main characters with two side stories with the same themes but just enough difference to change it up. It also helps its cute, funny and full of YUMMY food.

The manga series was orginally an ongoing story written by Shungiku Nakamura  published in Asuka Ciel in 2002. The story was adapted into a manga series by the artist Kadokawa Shoten starting in 2003 and currently has 13 published volumes. The anime series was produced by Studio Deen, who is also involed in the production of Vampire Knight, Fruits Basket, Gravitation, and several other popular series. It premiered on japanese television in 2008 for two seasons and was liscenced in 2010 for North American distribution by Kadokawa Pictures USA. 

I love this series. Its got a great story line and doesn't leave you falling asleep or wanting to strangle the production team for screwing up your favorite boy love manga. The soundtrack isn't AMAZING, but at least its not HORRIBLE like some boy love series *COUGH* gravitation *COUGH* but hey you can't have everything.

It makes my inner fan girl squeal. It makes me laugh, cry, and wanna go jump someone all at the same time.  definitely a must read and a must watch.