Title: 夏色の砂時計 (Hourglass of Summer Colors) Vol. 1 LE
Volume: 1/2
Catalog No.: KSXA-24803
Release Date: 4/23/04
Rating: 3/4

This is the OVA anime based on the game. I thought Kiminozo was fast, but this being only a two series OVA, it goes even faster. In the game, Kotaro only jumps when he sleeps, but in the anime, he jumps whenever, even if it only means spending a few minutes here and there before leaping. I don't think anyone who hasn't played the game would understand what the heck's going on. But since I have background knowledge, it's pretty nice to see the characters actually moving.

I'm a little disappointed in the video quality. Having been spoiled by the clean digital transfers of recent series, the quality on this DVD looks like something produced 2-3 years ago. For an $80, 30 minute OVA, it really should have been better.

Limited edition comes with a box, a trading card, and a drama CD. The drama CD is relatively short, at 25 minutes. It follows Regen as she tries to prevent Kaho's death, but rather than showing up on 9/1/2002, she ends up on 9/1/1864, during the Edo period. And it just happens that the princess Kaho has just been in a fatal accident and the samurai Kotaro has come too late. So Regen helps Kotaro of that time save Kaho. The first step is to help Maana, the water beast. The second part of the drama is in the next limited edition DVD.

1. 砂に埋れた真実 (The Reality Buried In the Sand): Kotaru wakes up 9/1, the end of summer, to find out that his crush, Kaho, has been killed in a car accident. With the help of Regen, a Time Patroller, he jumps around time to find out how to prevent her death. He manages to prevent one of the causes, the freshman Mana from getting injured which would lead to Kaho missing the train, and then taking the bus which leads to the accident.

Title: 君さえも愛の鎖 (Even You, The Chains of Love) Vol. 1
Artist/Author: 新條まゆ (Mayu Shinjo)
Book Size/Pages: Small B-6, 185pp., w/o furigana
Original Serialization: Shojo Comics Extra 2/14/03, 4/15/03, 6/15/03
First Printing: 10/20/03
Rating: 3/4

This was a random pick for me as I was browsing the bookstore. I was more attracted to the cover of the second volume, but the little plot summary in the back sounded interesting. I think I'm up for some dark shojo. The author of this series seems to be quite a prolific author, probably a big name among girl's comics (not that I would know).

The story's pretty interesting so far, but it just feels a little different. Supernatural and occult themes are appealing to me and this series looks like it's replete with it. Maybe it's shojo or whatnot, but it just isn't enough to get me really excited and to twist my mind. I guess it's personal perference.

This volume has no chapter listings and reads like one big chapter. There's a few pages of character intro and illustrations

蓮岡美桜乃 (Miono Hasuoka) and 小石川祥太 (Shota Koshigawa) are next-door childhood friends now attending middle school. There's some hint of romance as Syota feels a little jealous of Miono's close relationship with her chemistry teacher, 薫丸 (Kaorumaru). He even refuses to accept a recuitment offer to play soccer at a private high school because he wants to be with her. After he catches the chemistry teacher getting a little too close (as he's performing some fortune telling, as he's a descendant of an occult family), he runs off. Miono and Shota make up, but as they do, Shota sees a demon, 銀夜叉 (Ginyasha) who posses his body. The demon uses his body to make advances at Miono.

He doesn't remember what happens when he's under control, but he goes and asks the professor for some help. He gives Shota some pills that should repress the demon. Meanwhile, he understands that he's now a danger to the person he loves, so he reneges and accepts the invitation to go to the faraway high school. Later, the Ginyasha appears and the reason he's after Miono is revealed. She too has another personality, 光夜叉 (Koyasha), and she used to be Ginyasha's lover in the past.

Title: 花右京メイド隊 (Hanaukyo Maid Tai) Vol. 7 LE
Artist/Author: もりしげ (Morishige)
Book Size/Pages: Small B-6, 200pp., w/furigana
First Printing: 7/5/03
Rating: 3/4

The first few chapters deal with something a little more profound that the fan-service filled chapters that fill most of the pages. It didn't take me much by surprise though as Ryoshi seemed like a sketchy guy to begin with. The remaining chapters resume their normal light-heartedness and wackiness.

This volume, specially chapter 45, has Angel Maid Konoe which was featured in previous volumes as bonus chapters. I don't know why the author put it in here, but it's a nice distraction with everything that goes on in chapter 44.

First edition comes with a special cover (pictured) and a bonus booklet featuring color artwork.

42. 最後の遠足 (The Last Excursion): Ryoshi, the visiting tutor, is starting to get on everyone nerves and Taro can sense it. He improves his grades so that Ryoshi can be allowed to go home. Before he departs, he asks to take a little trip with Taro to the beach. Taro says he wants to be just like him as he's such a nice guy.

43. 夢見る頃を過ぎても (Even Beyond When I Was Dreaming): Using MEMOL, Grace has found out a lot of disturbing things about Ryoshi. Meanwhile, Shizuka takes Taro out to the woods and tries to take him out so that her sister can go home. Taro breaks her determination by saying they're friends. Later, Shizuka saves Taro from Ryoshi when its revealed that he's actually a bad guy coming to rid Taro. Ryoshi then sets off the bombs in the house and it catches on fire.

44. 冬が来る前に (Before Winter Comes): Konoe locks Taro in the underground mansion to keep him safe. There, he finally sees the portrait of black haired Mariel. Outside, Shizuka tries to defeat Ryoshi, but gets wounded. Konoe is about to engage when Taro stops her and pleads with Ryoshi. Ryoshi explains that the Hanaukyo's killed his family, so he's coming to get revenge. Konoe's sister appears to keep Ryoshi occupied and so Konoe is able to take Taro to safety.

45. メイド天使コノヱリーナ (Angel Maid Konoe Rina): Konoe Rina is a little magic user with a magical stick she uses to cast magic. The trio, Ryuka, Mariel, and Ikuyo come and steal the want which causes little Konoe to become full-sized Konoe. They go try and find her magical wand again and find it, at which point she returns to her normal size. At the end of the journal, she uses her magic to erase Taro's memories of her.

46. お手伝いさせてください！！ (Let Me Help!!): Mariel wants to help out in rebuilding the burnt mansion but she isn't cut out for construction labor and just causes problems whenever she tries to assist. She does cook some soup for every, but still has self-doubts about her ability to support Taro.

47. 大切なのはだれ！？ (Who's Most Important!?): Konoe is a little distracted by Taro, as Yashima can detect. He goes to Taro and asks him who's more important, Mariel or Konoe. Taro replies that he cherishes everyone.