Title: まほらば ドラマCD: まほらば 旅だ、事件だ、まほらばだ！！ (Mahoraba Drama CD: Vacation, Trouble, Mahoraba!!)
Original Creator: 小島あきら （Akira Kojima)
Release Date: 7/26/2003
Catalog No.: ENCA-1606
Rating: 4/4
To Purchase

I love drama CDs, especially if it's the first one (hopefully) in anticipation for an anime series. I have the same expectations for Negima Drama CDs as well as the Ichigo 100% coming out soon. Love Hina Image Album still remains my favorite though, but I digress.

The cast to Mahoroba has some familiar names, including 川澄綾子 (Ayako Kawasumi), and 清水愛 (Ai Shimizu), 豊口めぐみ (Megumi Toyoguchi, voice of Paine in FFX-2 among others), and overall, I thought their performances were very accurate given the personalities of the different and very eccentric characters of Mahoraba. Megumi and Tamami's voices were a perfect match. The background music is still stuck in my head too. If they ever make an anime of this, it'll be on my pre-order list immediately.

Update 2/25/04: Anime has been announced!

First pressing of the CD includes a Megumi card. I was fortunate (or unfortunate since they were closing up shop) enough to buy it at Asahiya LA for 50% off.

1. すべてのプロローグ (Prologue to All): Ryuushi explains how he ended up at Narutaki apartments. Basically a rehash of the first few chapters of Mahoraba.

2. 梢とその他１名についての２，３の事柄: (2,3 Matters Concerning Kozue and Another): Just as Ryuushi is about to introduce the CD, Megumi and Tamami interrupt and do their "Synopsis Heaven," the same whimsical intro that was drawn in manga vol. 3. They explain how Kozue really is with her multiple personalities. Afterwards, Ryuushi tries to give more information about himself, but apparently his life is so boring that he has nothing to say.

3. すき焼きパーティーは踊る (Sukiyaki Party Dance): Ryuushi and Kozue win vacation tickets to Hong Kong. They go home and tell everyone and at the news, they celebrate. Unfortunately, there are 7 of them and only 4 tickets. So after much deliberation, Tamami, Megumi, Kozue, and Ryuushi go, with the three others stay home.

4. 香港パラダイス (Hong Kong Paradise): The gang of 4 arrive at Hong Kong and they enjoy the sights, sounds, and food of China (Megumi and Tamami perform some stereotypical Chinese Kung Fu yells). In the hotel, Ryuushi has some nervous moments when Kozue wants to come in and check out his pad. She comments on his bed and his bathroom and his mind starts to go in that direction.

5. 大誘拐 (Great Kidnapping): Kozue gets kidnapped and is going to be sold off to the highest bidder. Ryuushi tries to attack her abductors, but loses (the CD changes into a videogame mode, so it sounds like the fight in a video game). After being abducted,

6. 男たちの挽歌 (The Guy's Funeral Song): Kozue changes into Nanako, the toddler personality and charms her abductor. As the hideout is being attacked, the abductor vows to protect her. But then, Kozue changes in Sakaki, the violent woman and she kicks some Mafia ass.

7. 一幕のエピローグ (Epilogue to an Act): They come back after vacation and pass out gifts. Ryuushi tells Kozue the story about a weak prince saving a princess and returning back to their castle. Then the credit call from each of the seiyuu.

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