Title: 魔法先生ネギま！　１０月：科学と肉まん (Magic Teacher Negima! October: Science and Meat Dumplings)
Original Creator: 赤松健 (Ken Akamatsu)
Vocals: 門脇舞 (Mai Kadowaki), 大沢千秋 (Chiaki Ozawa), 井ノ上なおみ (Naomi Inoue)
Release Date: 7/22/04
Catalog No.: KICM-3055
Rating: 1/4

This CD is pretty weak. It features student 24, 葉加瀬さとみ (Satomi Hakase) the child scientist (her last name is the same pronunciation as the word "doctor"), student 19, 超鈴音 (Rinshien Chao), and the chubby student 30, 四葉五月 (Satsuki Yotsuba). How they got these three together is beyond me, but they're pretty minor characters that haven't really been used in the manga much as of yet.

The lyrics are written to their personalities of the characters like all the previous CDs, but it's kinda hard to make something coherent when it deals with science and dumplings. When the lyrics are sub-par, the music can usually save it. But the music that accompanies the words aren't that much better. It has a slight futurist sound, I probably can explain it best as a cross between early RPG video game and synthesizer music. No feel whatsoever (unlike the pervious cd where it sounded like a "athletic" song). The remix just has the tempo turned up a notch. The singing is very flat and uninteresting.

With a weak song, the drama track could possibly save it too. But the drama track in this volume is uneventful. It has Satomi trying to fix a android that Kufei gave her, but no matter what she does, it won't start. She and Rishien talk it over while Satsuki starts chowing down on some dumplings. The robot starts reacting to food with a couple of beeps. That's it.

The cast talk has the three seiyuu, all of whom I think are in their debut role (well, I know for sure that it's Mai's first time), talk about their cooking.

First edition comes with a Satomi tarot card.

Title: 魔法騎士レイアース (Magic Knight Rayearth) Vol. 1
Artist/Author: CLAMP
Book Size/Pages: B-6, 202pp., w/furigana
Volume: 1/3
Original Serialization: Nakayoshi 11/93-3/94
First Printing: 12/17/02
Rating: 4/4

Rayearth has been on my "to read" list for a long time. I bought the first volume a long time ago but never read it. Then they had these re-release versions so I decided that if I were to read one, it would be the new versions which I got only a few months ago.

I've already seen the anime a long time ago, so the story in itself isn't a surprise to me anymore. What I'm most surprised at was that this is only three volumes. I believe the anime was much much longer at 20 episodes. Reading though this gives me a strong sense of nostalgia though back to the days when anime was the only direct form of Japanese entertainment for me.

The re-released version doesn't have as much bonuses as the original. I like the smaller size, but the only bonus is an afterward by a peer, 梶研吾 (Kengo Kaji) who writes about CLAMP in general.

Umi, Fuu, and Hikari are three students from different schools who have just met each other atop Tokyo Tower. As they are they, the three of them hear a voice from Princess Emerald that summons them to the planet Cephiro. After they are transported there, they meet Clef, a master magician who tells them about their job as Magic Knights to save the princess. The princess is the anchor for the world and without her, the world will fall into chaos. Currently, she's being held captive by Zagato and their job is to free her. He equips them with some armor that will grow over time and send them to Presea's place to pick up some armor. There, they meet her and Mokona. Presea tells them that they need to find some Escudo to make complete their weapons so they take Mokona and search for some Escudo. After an enemy or two, they meet a strange guy.

Title: 彼氏彼女の事情 (His and Her Circumstances) Vol. 11
Artist/Author: 津田雅美 (Masami Tsuda)
Book Size/Pages: Small B-6, 207pp., w/furigana
Original Serialization: Monthly LALA 11/00-4/01
First Printing: 7/10/01
Rating: 3/4

This whole volume is dedicated to the step-siblings, Kazuma and Tsubasa. At first, the book was going pretty slow but then it became more and more apparent that there's something romance between Kazuma and Tsubasa. While I've had my fair share of brother-sisterly love, it's still interesting.

Bonuses are more Tsuda diaries and results from the magazine poll.

48. ACT48 BEAUTIFUL DAYS: It's been over a year since Kazuma became Tsubasa's step brother. They're relationship is getting along well. His band is become very popular among the indie bands and his student life is passable, even if he's not the brightest student at school. However, every once in a while, he gets a feeling like something isn't right.

49. ACT49 RAIN: It's been raining heavily, but despite that, Tsubasa asks Kazuma to go with her to the amusement park the next day (Sunday). Next day comes and it's still raining, so the trip is canceled. However, his fellow band mates drag them out to go to the mountains camping, but that's a failure as they can't even enjoy a nice meal in the downpour. On their way back, they tell the story about how they got Kazuma as the lead vocal of the band. After Kazuma and Tsubasa get home, Kazuma apologizes to her for having her hand out with his strange bandmates. She says she doesn't mind as long as she was with him.

50. ACT50 SING A SONG: With the band always on his mind, Kazuma has been slacking off at school. He finally comes to the point where he's feels like school is preventing him from being able to fully participate in his bad and he tells his bandmates that he wants to quit school. While getting a little resistance, they have him think it over and take him out partying where he gets drunk.

51. ACT51 LIVE: The band is to have a live concert with all his friends from high school coming. As he's performing, he attains euphoria knowing that this is his life. Tsubasa also realizes this and is bothered by it. The next day, Kazuma overhears Tsubaki, Rika, and Aya talking about Tsubasa and how happy she's become after having to go through her father being remarried, and Arima going out with Yukino. She finally has a guy to herself.

52. SLEEPING BEAUTY: Kazuma begins to realize why Tsubasa acts that way around him as he's the only guy that she has now. However, he has always chosen music over her. He realizes that his life as a carefree youth is now over. One day as he is arriving home, he sees Tsubasa sleeping and almost gives her a kiss.

53. LOVE: He's starting to notice everything Tsubasa does, almost as if he had his first crush. The bandmates come to realize that there's something with him and his sister and he admits that he finally understands a bit of what Arima had gone through. However, he still feels there's something wrong about it and pushes Tsubasa when he felt she got too close to him.

Title: 鋼鉄天使くるみ (Steel Angel Kurumi) Vol. 5
Artist/Author: 介錯 (Kaishaku)
Book Size/Pages: B-6, 172pp., w/o furigana
Volume: 5/11
Original Serialization: Monthly Shonen Ace Next 4/00-8/00
First Printing: 9/30/00
Rating: 4/4

I really liked the first chapter. Reminds of the the episode in Eva where Shinji dreams about having a normal life. The other chapters, while more serious, finally tell who the Steel Angels are and why they're here. Good plot material.

Bonus material includes fan art and a mini-comic on the authors's trying to get a Kurumi figurine. First four pages are color and includes an incomplete character summary. Inside of the dust jacket has a "Sky Kurumi" hand-drawn cutout doll.

23. 鋼鉄学園くるみ！？　(Steel Campus Kurumi!?): Kurumi has a dream where she's a high school student and all the people she's in contact are there in one way or another. Nakahito is the new transfer student who is quick to make pals with Mihail and Shinobu. He then gets captured by the Waltzski who demands more budget allocation for his department (all the adult figures are the teachers). Kurumi saves the day.

24. 決勝前夜 (Decisive Previous Night): Dr. Amagi is hesitant on giving the three Steel Angels the last few flags they need to meet the minimum requirement for participating in the battle at Ragnarok, but she does so. Aoi and Shinobu are already at the site where they're supposed to meet. At first there's nothing, but then a large floating city appears.

25. 世界鋼鉄天使大集合 (Big Gathering of Steel Angels from Around the World): While battle has already begun on Ragnarok, Kurumi and gang are still lost and wandering the woods around the floating city. Apparently, it's magically protected and Eiki asks if Nakahito can sense it as she senses her brother's magic there. They eventually take a hot air balloon up to the city.

26. 発動！！　全鋼鉄天使停止命令 (Executed!! The Order to Stop All the Steel Angels): The Steel Angels who didn't make it to Ragnarok have come together and have started attacking the floating city from outside. Meanwhile, Kurumi and gang have crash landed and due to an accident, have been split up with Kurumi, Karinka, and Nakahito (with Eiki) as one party. With the onslaught, the leader of the Academy orders his assistant, Diana, to stop all the Angel Hearts.

27. 魔人転生 (The Devil Reincarnated): All the Steel Angels outside stop dead in their tracks. Kurumi and Karinka however are fine as their Angel Hearts didn't come from the Academy. They discover that the person in charge is Dr. Ananokoji, the person they've come to save. However, Diana tells them that he has 7 personalities, and the one they know isn't the current person. He explains that the Academy is from the future and has come back to save humanity from their eventual destruction. Suddenly, a demon appears having used the Chaos Mind (opposite of an Angel Heart) and wants to destroy the world in this era. Kaga and others battle this new enemy.

28. 堕天使・加賀 (Chaos Angel, Kaga): At first, the Devil is a bit surprised that Kaga is a match for her. Kaga explains that she has the same powers. Kurumi gets reunited with Saki during the battle and it seems like the good guys are take the upper hand.