Love Hina, Vol. 2: Go West! (2000)
Review by Dindrane
Film:
DVD:

Written by Ken Akamatsu
Directed by Yoshiaki Iwasaki
Character Design by Makoto Uno

Features:

• character galleries
  
• trailers
  
• English and Japanese dub
  
• English subtitles
  

Dindrane's Anime Warnings:

• more slapping, punching, and general abuse of a man
• travel-challenged characters
• scary old Greek chorus-like Buddhist monks

Rating: 13+

Anamorphic: N/A; presented in original TV aspect

My Advice: Rent it.

Even after having Naru tutor him, Keitaro has once again failed the entrance exam for Tokyo University, once again delaying the fulfillment of his promise to his barely remembered childhood friend. More surprisingly, Naru has also failed, so they both decide, independently, to go on vacation to Kyoto. There, they lose their glasses and become attracted to each other without recognizing one another. Then they get their glasses back.... Another episode on this disk has Motoko, the talented kendo girl, dreaming herself into a fantasy video game spoofing various Anime series. Even the folktale of the dream, Urashima Taro, is a play on Keitaro's last name.

Sophisticated viewers might be put off by the simplistic device of the glasses--in an age when no one can understand why Lois doesn't recognize Clark Kent as Superman, viewers might wonder why Keitaro and Naru don't know each other's voices at least. However, Love Hina is so sweet and good-natured that it's hard to find too much fault with it. Yes, it's a bit predictable and even goofy at times. But it's also good fun, amusing, and lovely to look at.

As with the first disk, at first glance, Love Hina seems painfully derivative; as the series develops, however, it is much odder than you might have expected, and the characters succeed in worming their respective ways into your heart. It is simply well-done and funny, as well as willing to parody itself and not take itself too seriously--rather refreshing in today's angsty, maudlin Anime market.

The animation is top-notch, and the voice talent successfully conveys appropriate emotion while rarely becoming irritating or screeching, as is so common in shows like Tenchi Muyo. While the plots become stranger and more convoluted, the production values remain the same--beautifully and artistically done, on par with the Blue Seed series, for example.

The extras are nice. As with the first disk, the character gallery (this time, only one), is a solid view of the character in question, Motoko. It would have been nice to have seen a comparison between the original manga and the subsequent Anime, however, or perhaps some storyboard examples. An interview with a creator would also have been appreciated; Japanese comic artists are seen overseas too rarely.

Fans of romantic comedy tales like Urusei Yatsura or even parts of Fushigi Yugi will adore this series, as will anyone who likes a dash of sword-play with their slapstick. Ok, maybe it won't make you think, but Love Hina is a great way to spend an evening--laughing, enjoying the animation, and generally trying to figure out where the characters will go from here. Yes, ok, it's silly. Even goofy in places. But you won't mind. It's funny, charming, and lovely--a solid rental for a night of harmless fun when the world is too much with us.