Title: 恋風サウンドトラック (Koi Kaze Soundtrack)
Original Creator: 吉田基己 (Motoi Yoshida)
Release Date: 7/23/04
Catalog No.: GNCA-1013
Rating: 3/4

I wasn't originally planning on getting this CD, rather I had pre-ordered the drama CD that was supposed to be released on the day. Unfortunately, they scrapped the plans for the drama CD, so I ordered this instead.

The first thing that struck me was the packaging. The first edition sleeve is made of very thick textured-paper, even better than those used in Someday's Dreamers packaging. I had a tough time figuring out which picture to scan, the outside sleeve or inside cover. I ended up with the inside cover as it's a bit more colorful. The outside sleeve is better for showing in person.

This series, with it's art style, reminds me a lot of Someday's Dreamers and I had expected the music to be in a similar manner. But it turns out that this soundtrack is a lot more mellow as compared to being "bright." I'm not a big fan of very slow acoustic guitars and this CD is replete with that instrument. Many tracks also feature slow piano too.

In a surprising move, the full-length intro is included on the soundtrack itself rather than a separate single. The ending is only TV-sized, but I like the intro a lot better as it was composed by the late Ritsuko Okazaki, composer of the music to many other series that I love (including, of course, Love Hina).

First edition comes with a very nice textured-paper sleeve, stickers, and photo card of Koshiro (maybe? or is it Nanoka?). These match the bonuses with the first edition of the first DVD.

Title: 恋風 (Koi Kaze) Vol. 1
Original Creator: 吉田基己 (Motoi Yoshida)
Volume: 1/5
Catalog No.: GNBA-1041
Release Date: 7/23/04
Rating: 3/4

I'm really surprised at Nanoka's voice. Being so young, I thought they would have casted someone with a younger (read: higher pitched) voice. However, as I watched the show, it seemed like her voice is appropriate for her character.

In comparison to the manga, the anime really sets the atmosphere to enjoy the show. When I was reading the books, I had a little more energy while reading it. The show, however, really put me in a serious and somber mood. It's not a bad thing, just a little different than I had expected.

The video is anamorphic and looks superb. I'll save the background music discussion for the soundtrack, but I love the intro (being a Ritsuko Okazaki tune, not hard to imagine why).

First pressing comes with a standee with the same image as the DVD cover, a few stickers, and a photo of Nanoka as a toddler. The liner notes have an interview with Yuki Nakamura, the voice actress for Nanoka. DVD bonus is just a commercial.

1. 初花 (First Bloom): 耕四郎 (Koshiro) has just been dumped by his girlfriend. As he's going to work, he notices a young girl. She drops her student ID, so he picks it up and gives it to her. At home, he finds out that his younger sister, 七夏 (Nanoka), is going to move in with her. At work, Koshiro receives some tickets to the amusement park. He meets the young girl again and invites her there. On the ferris wheel, she tells him about the failed love story behind the button she carries around and he breaks down crying about his troubled love life. After they leave, his father shows up surprised that the siblings have already gotten to know each other.

Title: がぁ～でぃあん Hearts (Guardian Hearts) Vol. 6
Artist/Author: 天津冴 (Sae Amatsu)
Book Size/Pages: B-6, 180pp., w/furigana
Original Serialization: Monthly Shonen Ace 12/03-5/04
First Printing: 6/1/03
Rating: 3/4

I didn't realize this volume was already out as I only finished vol. 5 not too long ago. The stories aren't spectacular, but it's easy to follow. They seem to be starting a new story arc (and finishes with a cliffhanger!) in this volume, so it'll be interesting to see what's next. There's supposed to be the second OVA series coming out, but I'm not that interested in this series to watch the anime.

There's a bonus chapter with manga the author did previously as well as the usual letter from the author on the back cover.

38. 忍びの追っ手、紅の綾　参上！ (Shinobi Pursuer, Crimson Aya Visits!): 紅の綾 (Crimson Aya) appears and Kazuya takes her in to his crowded house. She comes from the same village as Maya and used to be her childhood friend. She has the task of finding the other outcast from her villiage, Shizu (former leader of BURN). She hears about Maya having been kissed and seen naked by Kazuya and gives her blessings, despite Maya's and Hina's objection. Soon after, they're terrorized by the nameless pirate, who is after their weapons. Shizu also appears. Aya joins power with Maya and defeat the two enemies.

39. 海賊会議は伊達じゃない (Isn't the Pirate Meeting Showy): A short chapter where the pirate comes up with a name for herself, ラミエル (Ramielle).

40. 同じシマで二つの組織はいらんのや (No Need For Two Factions on the Same Island): Ramielle gets on Kurusu's case about how there can't be two theives running around. Kurusu convinces her that she's no competition and only steals clothing. Ramielle then goes after Princess Satsuki (introduced last volume), but her servant saves the day. After Ramielle is defeated, Hina, as a Guardian Heart, comes around not knowing that there was fighting.

41. 恋に生きて、掟に死ぬの (Live By Love, Die By Law): Another short chapter where Aya tries to clear the path for Maya and Kazuya by getting rid of the other girls in the house. She doesn't get very far in her plans.

42. 抑えきれない気持ちを (Inextinguishable Feelings): It's Hina's birthday and she asks for a date with Kazuya. They enjoy their day, but of course, some other girls are following. Hina tells Kazuya about her mom, and the fact that she never knew her as she went missing in battle shortly after giving birth. That evening, they kiss and Princess Satsuki sees their embrace.

43. ネコは大切に (Take Care of the Cat): Short chapter where Daisy explains why she likes bathing, but can't stand the water (as all cats do).

44. 覚醒、ガッーツの宿敵ソウド現る！ (Awakening, The Old Enemy of Gattsu Appears): The Princess asks why Kazuya likes Hina and leaves dejected. Meanwhile, Ramielle tells Shizu that a powerful leader, even more powerful than the Guardian Hearts, is going to appear. When she confronts Kazuya and gang, Princess transforms into that powerful entity and is now ソウドチェーンド (Chendo Sood (?)).

45. 戦慄、大切な人が最大な敵に (Shudder, The Most Important Person Becomes the Greatest Enemy): Hina remembers back to when Len told her about why the Gattsu are archenemies of the Sood. The Sood are a race that can't reproduce, so they become parasites in some other host and when the time is right, they transform into Sood. Chendo tells Hina that her previous self was always suffering as she couldn't be with Kazuya. Hina transforms into Guardian Hearts, finally revealing the secret to everyone. However, it's too late as Chendo has kissed Kazuya and Kazuya has become a Sood himself. As they're leaving, she says that Maya, Kurusu, Chelsea, and Kotono all have Sood in them. Hina feels left out as she's the only pure-blood. The other girls say that they'll never become Sood, but Maya, who can emphasize with Princess, departs and leaves a note behind saying she's sorry.

Title: 彼氏彼女の事情 (His and Her Circumstances) Vol. 14
Artist/Author: 津田雅美 (Masami Tsuda)
Book Size/Pages: Small B-6, 187pp., w/furigana
Original Serialization: Monthly LALA 3/02-7/02
First Printing: 9/10/02
Rating: 2/4

Arima still has emotional issues, and now has been suckered. And is this story now a flashback? Arima has a scene where he several years older regretting that he had "yes."

Bonus is another Tsuda diary.

64. ACT64 破綻 (Failure): Arima loves Yukino but can't tell her about his true self. He returns home to find a women, Ryoko, who claims to be his true mother. In an instant, he feels like he's on the verge of re-opening his past, but he dismisses her and claims that his adopted parents are his true parents. The next day, Ryoko shows herself at Arima's school.

65. ACT65 序 (Preface): Arima tells his friends, including Yukino to go on ahead while he deals with Ryoko. Despite not wanting to see her, he eventually gets sucked in and accmopanies her. Ryoko tells Arima about his dad's trouble past and shows him a photo of him which reminds him of his evil/other/true self. Conflicted with the fact that he wants to understand his past, he reluctantly agrees to meet her the next day. But he also realizes that Ryoko, being his mother, may also be as deceptive as he is in hiding his true self.

66. ACT66 破 (Tear): Arima spends the night at Asaba's and only arrives home in the morning. At school, Yukino asks him who that woman, Ryoko, was. He responds by saying she's just a relative. Yukino is suspicious of his answer. That night, he meets with Ryoko with the intention of telling her he's not interested anymore, but she hooks him in by telling him to accompany her just tonight, as a parting gesture. He agrees, but there's a flash-forward where he regrets saying those words. Arima and Ryoko have their date and she gets drunk and tells him that she'll come after him, even at school, if he doesn't want to acknowledge her.

67. ACT67 急 (Rush): Arima's mom (adopted) realizes that he's been seeing Ryoko after smelling the perfume on his handkerchief. She calls Ryoko, but Ryoko says it's Arima who's after her. On the street, Arima meets some of Ryoko's fellow employees who tell him not to get close to Ryoko because Ryoko may be motivated by greed as her store is going to close. Yukino consults with Asaba about Arima.

68. パンドラ (Pandora): Yukino is worried and tries to look for Arima at his house, but he's not there. In fact, he's currently at Ryoko's place. He brings up the rumor he's heard and they start a little battle with words where he ends up on the ground being smacked by Ryoko. He is suddenly reminded of his childhood when this used to happen.