Akane Maniax

Title:Akane Maniax
Kimi ga Nozomu Eien Gaiden
アカネマニアックス
Overall:Watch
Keywords: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Notables: Animation - Media Factory
KURATA Masayo
KURIBAYASHI Minami
MIZUHASHI Kaori
SEKI Tomokazu
Akane is the sister of the famous Haruka of Kimi ga Nozomu Eien. She is still depressed over the breakup of her sister and Takayuki. Currently she is going through life on automatic not really caring about what's going around her (Sorta like Mitsuki in KGNE). Into her life comes transfer student Gouda, who proposes marriage to her 30 seconds after meeting.

Looks like life is going to get a bit interesting.

New three episode OVA series, first episode aired in Japan on Nov 25, 2004. Based on Age Soft`s bishoujo game of the same name.
[OVA, 2005, 3 episodes, 28 mins; episode 1 and 2 by Media Factory, episode 3 by Bandai; Bandai owns the rights to Muv-Luv, MF owns the rights to KGNE]
1:33min Series Opening - YouTube Video
[edit] The ↗KGNE franchise:
OverallArtAnimationCharacter Design MusicSeries StoryEpisode StoryReviewer
Watch Xenoknight [series:904#2967]
review coming after I rewatch the anime...

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Last updated Friday, December 05 2008. Created Friday, December 05 2008.
Watch 7 9 6 8 5 4 Devil Doll [series:904#752]
[Score: 64% = Watch]
My problem with this OVA was to find the right attitude to it. Everything depends on what you expect it to be - if a sequel for Kimi ga Nozomu Eien is what you want then you might well be horribly disappointed, as it's more like a parody of the original drama while still containing the answer for one important question being left open there. With KGNE being one of my favourite series I loved to see Akane again, and she's true to the original story (unlike the other characters from there). Then again KGNE was 95+% drama, even tragedy, with only the two waitresses providing comic relief. Akane Maniax, on the other hand, is as if these waitresses suddenly became the leads of the show. And that's not easy to get used to.

The protagonists:
  • Gouda Jouji is pure embarrassment walking on two legs. He's so stupid that it hurts, and he's a bigmouth unlike anyone I've seen before. Take Urashima Keitarou from Love Hina episode 1 and multiply with 1000, that how this guy is. Unbelievable. Then again, he's hysterically funny, with his loud soliquies, having no clue of anything and running off at the mouth nonetheless.
  • Suzumiya Akane is his opposite. Still under the impression of the tragedy that struck her sister during the KGNE events she's very serious and hides her depression behind her many responsibilities at school.
  • Sakaki Chizuru, her best friend at school, can sense Akane's true state of mind and tries to be helpful by encouraging her to open up a little, using Gouda as catalyst.
  • Kouzuki Yuuko, the female teacher of Akane's class, the pervert. She seems to consider Gouda's campain funny and encourages him.
  • Jinguuji Marimo, the female teacher of Chizuru's class, the whimp. Both teachers are always competing.
The immense contrast between the two lead characters is what the story is built upon: Can that idiot save the star of the school from her depression?

The Art contains standard anime faces with neon colored hair, the Animation is strong (there's a lot of movement to be handled, and a lot of SD faces expressing the character's mood). Both songs are cheerful and match the story nicely, and the Music supports the comedy scenario well. The seiyuu of Gouda-kun is doing an excellent job, giving a weird character a weird voice and a weird intonation. The story presentation is a collection of silliness, filled with a number of parodies - Shin Seiki Evangelion-style mecha, Saishu Heiki Kanojo-style anti-war, Video Girl Ai-style drama, Love Hina-style hopeless romance... you name it. The opening scene of episode 1 is a lot more funny when you just watched Tenjou Tenge prior to this one.

So perhaps the best method to watch this might actually be to ignore the KGNE background and take this as a hilarious comedy (which takes a lot of effort for very little story). This way it can actually work. Then again, not knowing KGNE would prevent you from understanding all the references to this series, such as the King Iresoryuta character (who's obviously a Narumi Takayuki parody), plus the background of Akane's situation (which is explained in episode 3 though).

All in all this OVA is a failure for me. It neither delivered in the comedy department (too silly & exaggerated, repeating the same patterns over and over) nor as a drama (characters too weak and too much effort for so little story).

Last updated Saturday, June 14 2008. Created Wednesday, April 20 2005.
Rent Forbin [series:904#1573]
Drama : Med
Comedy : High
Action : Med
SciFi : Med
Ecchi : Med

What a change from KGNE. This is NOT KGNE. It's a completely different setting (Though the same school) and the rumor is the DVD sales are supposed to provide financial backing for the port between KGNE and Muv-Luv (If it does good they will make Muv-Luv..it not..owells..BTW Muv Luv happens 2 years after KGNE. One of the main girls looks just like Mitsuki!)
Gouda looks like that guy from G-Gundam..he even wears a head band that flows to the floor. I was watching it for Akane, Takayuki, and Haruka.
More in 6 months when 2nd episode comes out.
And I bet you are wondering why I put Mecha on the keywords. Well you just have to see the show to find out :p

Edit 6/2/2005 : Ok I have seen the 2nd episode. OMG Now I now know why Gouda is such an IDIOT! I was laughing all the way through. Actually he grows and you realize that he is EXACTLY what Akane needs. Keep an eye out for the quick Haruka scene (30 seconds) and the Takayuki, Haruka, Mitsuki parody during the mecha scene. And stay till the end, there is a surprise waiting there. The animation is so top notch compared to Negima or Ichigo that I was floored for a second and then I remember that this is on par with last years Animations.

Talk to you later during Xmas when the 3rd and final episode comes out.

Edit 12/06:3rd episode has finally been subbed. And I can see why it took so long, it's full of your non standard stuff. In fact this episode is a mix between comedy and seriousness. As I suspected, this is true to the game as this anime leads to the Muv-Luv Anime. (Meiya is at the end). But it also reveals a few things about Akane that are in the original KGNE game. I will take off Sidestory as this is a true sequel to the KGNE anime. The 3rd episode reveals all.

Btw Gouda is still a Baka.

Last updated Tuesday, December 06 2005. Created Friday, December 03 2004.

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Series Web Site http://www.akamani.com/

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