Maison Ikkoku Box Set, Vol. 2 (1986)
Review by Dindrane
Film:
DVD:

Based upon the manga by Rumiko Takahashi
Directed by Kazuo Yamazaki
English Adaptation by Trish Ledoux

Features:

• 2 Q&A video features
  

Dindrane's Anime Warnings:

• Excessively annoying characters
• Alcohol use
• Smoking
• Some nipplage

Released by: Viz
Region: 1
Rating: 13+
Anamorphic: N/A; appears in its original 1.33:1 format

My Advice: Rent it.

With this second Maison Ikkoku box set, we're back in the world of Godai the ronin, his wacky and irritating neighbors, and the lovely Kyoko. Coach Mitaka continues to be a stumbling block for Godai's love, and yet Kyoko seems more than a little jealous about all the girls calling Godai lately. Plus, it's the Christmas/New Year's holiday, so what will these romantic opportunities bring for Godai and Kyoko? More trouble? And in the final of the three discs of the set, we get to meet Kyoko's parents, as well as the parents of her dead husband; why do they want her to quit her job at Maison Ikkoku, and what might Kozue have to say about Godai's love for Kyoko?

Godai's roommates are still as negative as ever, but they've toned down their antagonism a bit. Kyoko still serves to protect him when they seem about to get out of hand. We get to learn more about each of the characters in this set, but especially Kyoko, as her interaction with her family shows her in a whole new, adult light, rather different than the screw-up Godai who loves her.

The video quality, highlighted by Takahashi's beloved and wonderful art, is solid. The colors are bright and clear, not simplistically cartoon-y, but emotionally effective and attractive. The audio quality is also good, and as the characters have mellowed a bit and we're delving more into Kyoko's world, the sound of screaming is not quite so abrasive as in the first box set.

The extras on this set are different than on the first set. This time, we get a pair of rather odd Question and Answer features done a bit like trailers with scenes from the show. A question will flash on the screen, like "what is the day he'll never forget?" and then scenes from the show will "answer" it. Both features are like this, each answering a different set of questions. This is certainly unusual as an anime feature, but it doesn't add much to the fan's appreciation of the show and seems more like an ad for the box set...which we've already purchased if we're watching this.

If you like romantic comedies or are a fan of Rumiko Takahashi, then get this. If neither of those is true for you, then you should still give this one a rent, if only to see a show that influenced years of anime and get a feel for one of the most popular franchises (and writers) in anime.