|
Title: ラブひな (Love Hina) Endless DVD Box
Original Creator: 赤松健 (Ken Akamatsu)
Catalog No.: KIBA-91221~7
Release Date: 7/6/05
Rating: BEST!
More than 5 years after the broadcast and DVD release, they finally finish up the entire story with a reunion performance by the original cast on a drama CD. Love Hina is still by far my favorite series of any and everything. It may not be a superlative in anything, but overall, it's a show that has changed me in so many ways. I could go on explaining why it's so profound in my personal history, but I would be revealing too much.
So the box contains all the shows, the 25 episodes, 2 specials, and 3 ovas. I already have all those DVDs, so buying this box wasn't for the video. I haven't seen it, but it's probably the same quality as the original release. Those are all packed on 7 dual-layered DVDs, stuffed in 4 thin-cases, and then put in a plastic box. I wish they had used original artwork though, rather than use the identical covers as the original release.
The reason I bought this box is for the exclusive drama CD where the original cast voice-act out the last few chapters in the manga. The story is slightly different from the manga, and in my opinion, for the better. The original comic was a little wild and off-the-wall with Ema coming to Hinata. The drama, however, makes slightly more believable and puts more emphasis on how the characters have changed in the 5 years since we left them.
Everyone sounds the same, especially my fav, Ho-chan. The only exception is Yuu Asakawa, the voice of Motoko. It seems like her voice is slightly lower now and has less power than when she first performed as Motoko. I doubt she can do those oh-so-famous Motoko screams.
I think this wraps up the series. To me, it's a little sad because of the sentimental value that this series brings. However, I understand that all good things must come to an end.
I don't need to remind you of the episode titles. Here's the drama CD tracks.
1. そこへと続く道は遠く[ひなた温泉前駅] (The Road There is Far [At the Stop in Front of the Hot Springs]): A young 15-year-old girl, Ema Maeda, with ambitions to attend Tokyo University gets off at Hinata train station. She's heard about a famous girl's dorm where the residents all end up attending Todai. She looks in her bag for a printout map of the city and finds that all she has is a blank piece of paper. She decides to ask around and fortunately for a her, a young woman (with a big bust) walks by her softly singing "Liddo-kun's Big Adventure" walks by (it's Mutsumi, but listeners only know because of her voice). When asked, she starts reminiscing about the place... passing the exams to Tokyo U., being dumped by Keitaro and that he's going to get married. Ema reminds her about the dorms. Fortunately, Mutsumi has a map and hands it to Ema. Before she leaves though, Mutsumi tells Ema that Hinata-sou is near, but also far.
2. オープニング (Opening): SAKURA SAKU! (TV Sized)
3. 本当のはじまりはこれから[ひなた温泉前駅] (The Real Beginning Starts Here [At the Stop in Front of the Hot Springs]): Despite having the map and walking around some, she ends up back at the train station. Another woman comes and notices Ema (it's Naru, but again, listeners only know because it's Ho-chan's beautiful voice). She tells Ema that she reminds him of someone she knows. Ema explains that she's looking for a girl's dorm and the woman knows she's talking about Hinata-sou. She then gives her verbal instructions. The train arrives and the woman boards. Ema thinks this woman is really pretty.
4. どんな未来が待っている?[ひなた荘へと続く道] (What Kind of Future Awaits? [The Path to Hinata-sou]): As she's walking to the dorm, a mecha comes and stops in front of Ema, scaring her. Motoko then comes telling Suu not to scare this girl. Motoko helps Ema up. Ema asks about the dorms again and Motoko tells her it's just up the stairway. Motoko then notices that Ema's skirt is a bit dirty and uses her swordsmanship to whip up a storm and clean up her. However, Ema faints soon after. Suu tells Motoko to leave the scene of the crime.
5. 翔けていこう![ひなた荘へと続く階段] (Let's Soar! [The Stairway to Hinata-sou]): As Ema ascends the stairs, she meets Kitsune. Kitsune introduces herself as the manager of the tea shop and tells her to go up the stairway. When she reaches the top, another woman greets her (Shinomu) and apparently knows her name.
6. CM: ラブひなDVD-BOX エンドレス♥ (Commercial: Love Hina DVD Box Endless): A brief commercial to sell the DVD box.
7. ようこそ! ひなた荘へ[ひなた荘ロビー] (Welcome to Hinata-sou! [Hinata-sou Lobby]): Shinomu introduces herself, saying that she's a sophomore at Tokyo U. She tells Ema that Kitsune told her about the new girl coming to Hinata. She continues introducing Motoko, a 3rd year law student at Tokyo U. as well as Suu, a junior at the same university. After the introduction, she says there's a wedding later today with Naru and Keitaro and explains that the two met at this dorm, so their wedding is here too. Kitsune then comes and describes Keitaro in her own way and the more she explains, the more Ema realizes how similar she is to this Keitaro. The other Hinata girls come.
8. 翻弄されて本望です?[ひなた荘玄関前] (Wish to Be Teased? [In Front of Hinata-sou]): Kitsune formally introduces Ema to Suu and Motoko (there's a discontinuity here with the voice acting). They're now practicing for the play they're going to do at the wedding re-enacting a scene where the girls chase after Keitaro. The script is written by the prolific romance fiction writer, Motoko. The part they're rehearsing is when the girls were chasing Keitaro out of the building after being caught in the hot springs. Because Mutsumi isn't here, Ema takes on the role of Keitaro and suffers Suu and Motoko's abuse. In the background, a car horn sounds and a man comes rescuing Ema. It's Keitaro. It's now time for the wedding.
9. 次はなにが起こるやら[ひなた荘大庭園] (I Wonder What Will Happen Next? [Hinata-sou Garden]): Sara, Seta, and Haruka (whom Sara calls mama) arrive. Sara, who is the same age as Ema, tells Ema that she'll be fine if she lives at Hinata-sou. When in doubt, blame Keitaro. Haruka interjects saying that Shinomu shouldn't turn out to be like Motoko, living at Hinata-sou as a content single woman. Shinomu reminds Haruka that she was the same.
10. 人生は時に厳しく[ひなた荘大庭園] (Life Is Sometimes Cruel [Hinata-sou Garden]): The wedding bells ring announcing that the bride is ready. Ema looks at the bride and recognizes the big bust size. She tells the other girls that she's met her before and shows them the map. The map is written in Turtle-ese and they realize that it's Mutsumi dressed up in the wedding dress. Mutsumi apologizes for the joke. The real bride then shows up and is quite angry at Keitaro for almost marrying someone else. She gives him a Naru-Punch which also carries Ema to the sky too.
11. それにも増してすばらしい[ひなた荘大庭園] (But Even With That It's Wonderful [Hinata-sou Garden]): The ceremony starts and Naru tells Seta, who's marrying the two, to hurry it up because Keitaro might end up somebody else's husband. Keitaro tries to rebut, but gets another few punches. They exchange vows. As they're about to kiss, the other girls, especially Shinomu, get fidgity. And just as their lips are about to lock, the girls all scream out. "Wait!" This causes Naru and Keitaro to topple over and fall down.
12. エンディング(祝福) (Ending): Shukufuku! (TV Sized). As the music is playing, Seta says that everyone's the same. Haruka adds that the reason no one changes is because Hinata-sou is a magical, endless place.
 Endless Indeed! (Click to Zoom)
Comments
(Comments are Closed)
|