They made the title even longer. If this was a “First Impressions” post there wouldn’t have even been enough room.

But anyway! Haruka is back! And I’m glad to have her and the rest of the gang back. Making their return with all of the familiar faces and jokes (and ohmygod otaku romance) along with one new face and one familiar character just getting an expanded role. Also new fanservice in the fact that this episode has enough to make up for everything the last series may have lacked. You just don’t see any of it.

That said (about the fanservice) I was almost on the verge of saying that the series really had fallen back on old standard harem BS in its second season. And in a lot of ways it has (stfu Shina, you’re still boring =_=). But it still put a smile on my face.

Really, the whole thing is rather obviously formulaic (like I said same jokes and stuff), but I don’t know. It works. Either you’re going to love the girls or you’re going to love the Haruka x Yuto romance or you’re going to be like me and love both. Either way, what worked last season works this season.

Same fun, same things that irked me last season, the fun still completely eclipses what irks me. I love this series.

-

Opening: Chouhatsu Cherry Heart (Miran Himemiya and Chocolate Rockers)

This one has the same basic theme going on as the first season. It even started in photoshop on a magazine cover. It’s just…even crazier than before. Made me wonder right away if Studio Barcelona…er I mean Diomedea (why change?) put more money and effort into this season since they now know it’s a pretty decent hit. Or maybe since they were pretty unknown before, they just have more money and staff to put on this series? After all, this series is about the only one they have.

Anyway, I like the animation for this one better, but I liked Tomadoi Bitter Tune better (furueru furueru~). Still this one is decent. Still seems to be the same singer too (if my memory serves from the last season, the pink-haired girl don’t recognize singing is the anime’s depiction of the singer, she was on an advertisement for her own single in an episode last season I think).

It also featured nice amounts of Haruka x Yuto stuff (duh, whole plot of the series), but no censored kissing like last time (just as well since maybe they won’t censor an in-show kiss this time too -_-). But it also featured other shots I liked. “I won’t let you call me ojou-sama!” was a favorite so I used it for the top image.

Ending: Himitsu Suishou! Uruto LOVE (Like…the entire female cast now called N’s)

Instead of everyone dancing as maids we have everyone dancing as chibi’s! Though there is noticeably less dancing and more just singing as the characters. Though a lot of the time because the seiyuu are singing they don’t really sound like the characters to me. It wasn’t like that last time, so maybe it’s more the nature of the song this time?

I actually like this song better because the last one wore itself out on me after a while. But I would say I liked the other animation better (dancing maids ftw) because they replaced them with chibi that don’t move as much. But…I like this ending better e chibi romance is effing d’aww adorable.

Seriously d’aww you guys~

Though all the chibi-ness in general is cute. Some really great chibi-ness here. The only downside is that the credits themselves would so often cover the cute dancing chibi. So…clean opening nao please.

-

Summary

Haruka, Yuto, Shiina, and the other 7 recognizable faces from their class (two girls three guys) go to a hot spring. But Haruka’s and Yuto’s little taglong parties…well…tagalong. Haruka’s sister Mika plus her two…er make that three maid bodyguards (one-word speaking loli maid voiced by Rie Kugimiya to make otaku die of moe overdose). Plus Yuto’s sister and whore teacher who remain the only characters in this show that annoy me. -_-

Various stuff at the hot springs happen. Not really noteworthy, except that the pro-HarukaxYuto faction messes up as usual by accidentally cockblocking during their efforts to get them together. Until Yuto accidentally ends up in the hot springs. Shiina finally has a serious discussion with Yuto that makes me want to throw something at her. However Shiina’s friend (who has been upgraded in charascter status because they used her for the classic female sexual harassment at the bath/hot springs) asks Haruka what’s up with her and Yuto so Shiina gets overshadowed and Yuto gets mopey wondering what their relationship is (because he didn’t hear her response because no one but Shiina knew he was there and he had to run away when he got a distraction).

Then Yuto finally gets the chance to run off with Haruka and he takes her to an anime event for her latest anime obsession (Nocturne Girl’s School Lacrosse Club) where the voice of Haruna-sama, an unnamed Mamiko Noto (:lol: lol obviousness) appears. And uh…my mind kind of went blank because whatever happened next was really cute. Meanwhile Shiina’s decided that if they aren’t official it’s okay for her not to give up on Yuto. Prompting -_- and more stuff throwing from me since Shiina was so decent (but boring) last season.

Oh yeah, there’s also a blindingly bright censorship fog, so tough luck fanboys. But I’m sure you’ll get it in the DVDs.

-

Thoughts/Comments

Woo~ Nostalgia! Been a while since I was able to overdo it. I guess because Nogizaka Haruka was one of the first anime I blogged. Number three in fact!

I see some familiar faces.

Yup. Very familiar.

So this season we seem to have a new series for Haruka to obsess over besides Dojikko Aki-chan, which is good because in the first series she came across as more of a Dojikko Aki-chan otaku than an overall anime otaku. Plus this new one comes complete with obvious character comparisons and seiyuu jokes! Mamiko Noto, while not said by name, voices Haruna (lol, srsly).

Also, if my memory serves me right, the last series opened with the Dojikko Aki-chan opening so this one does the same. Specifically with Yuto watching it  (same here).

And even fading to Haruka watching it herself. Though now she doesn’t have to watch it in the dark because her otaku-status is no longer a secret from her parents.

Yuto is still hated by everyone for being so close to the amazing~ Haruka. Even by the old guy who says, “if I was 50 years younger…” Heck, even the cat. Nice touch by the way to make an old (sucky) joke fun. I literally laughed out loud…when the cat started up. XD

I guess it works because they’re making fun of the cliche a bit…with that cat.

Ehe~ I get the feeling that the only reason Haruka still wants to keep the secret is because it’s part of what makes her relationship with Yuto so special. (Sure she has her Jr. High trauma or whatever, but I think most people forget about that because it wasn’t really mentioned that often past the first few episodes or something…and then this episode)

Right now they have that whole insecure thing going with their relationship since it’s not clearly defined (so common in anime that I recognized it within my first few series) so I kind of think that if the secret was going to come out, she might be scared it would mean Yuto wouldn’t be around her anymore. Because as part of this cliche, it means that each party will sometimes think illogically. Like Yuto did at the end of the last series (knowing Haruka, he should have known an Aki-chan figure would be like her favoritest present ever because he’s the only one who gives her that stuff anyway).

Also kind of makes me think that’s how this whole series is going to end. People finding out, Haruka being afraid of Yuto leaving her, but then ending with an epic confession scene and stuff. And then they can live happily ever after as out otaku romance couple forever and ever. Happily dating into the epilogue credits and beyond.

…Or something like that~ (Oh yeah kissing somewhere in there too)

Yeah. Because we didn’t have time for one last season, we’re getting it right in there at the beginning this time around. I’m sure it was hard. Juggling classic romantic comedy standard episodes with anime featuring otaku standard episodes (just as well because comiket episode > this one).

Characters move around so much more this season (seriously, they got a budget upgrade, right?). So like…Haruka became that much more moe which is…like impossible considering how moe she was before. All of the girls got an upgrade because of it actually. Diomedea was pissed at their results in SaiMoe (not as pissed as I was though~ ).

*sigh* I was starting to like Shiina more with this because losers in love are more interesting and I have a special fondness for those who give up on romance for the sake of the couple that ends up together. But noooo. Can’t do that here. She probably can’t even be a bitch. Instead she’s just boring on the side Shiina like always. -_-

More on this later when she actually pisses me off.

All right Haruka!!!

Nuuu. y u do dis Hazuki?

Even though they’re supposed to be on Haruka’s side, they sure do end up messing up stuff for her and Yuto a lot. Damn cockblocking maids. At least they try to make up for it.

Whoa. Mika has met her match. The manipulative loli is brought down pretty easily by a simple glomp. Normally this classic femalexfemale fondling glompage present in these sorts of anime is tiring, but because it’s Mika (the manipulative loli!) I’ll make an exception.

This series is still good at taking cliches and making them fun.

Meet the loli maid voiced by Rie Kugimiya. She’s not tsundere at all, so she’s exempt from Kugimiya-haet from me. I like Kugimiya quite a bit when she voices anyone but a tsundere.

Not that Kugimiya has to do much voicing. Alice is the cute, but silent type. I believe because she’s not really supposed to speak Japanese.

Of course, thanks to Honoka from Sora wo Kakeru Shoujo this type of girl has totally become my type of girl so Alice becomes a bundle of adorableness. (Even if I like Kugimiya though, she doesn’t do it like Yucchi~).

But of course being a Nogizaka maid Alice is actually like this. Complete with glowing red eyes. And is even more over the top with fighting than Hazuki and Nanami.

Also complete with a weapon like the other maids. Hers even has spikes!

Of course another common anime cliche is, “Fear the cute ones for they are the most dangerous” but I totally love it so who gives a shit?

Gee. This steam sure looks a lot like…nothing at all resembling steam. Is it supposed to be light?

Either way at one point (with Haruka) it actually moved and it’s actually in a straight line so either thing just defies the laws of…everything. The world just exploded.

Now I’m clearly not one for fanservice (aside from the hilarious kind ), but…come on. This was actually more annoying than the alternative. It was so bright that I felt like I was going to go blind. They should have at least…tried a little harder. I guess they just want to make it obvious that you’ll get to see stuff in the DVDs?

Then again I’m not sure if this is in the broadcast or if it’s a crunchyroll special…but either way this is all horrible.

As far as horribleness goes, this one’s my favorite:

CLEAR BLUE WATER “ISN’T” SEE THROUGH BUT STEAM CREATES A SOLID WHITE BARRIER. Oh! Oh! Also THE ACTUAL WATER HAS NO STEAM AROUND IT! XDDDD

I mean come on! You can even see everything in the water (minus the details). XD

lol random Haruka moon.

You know, this is almost as annoying as if Shiina was a tsundere and ended up beating on or yelling at Yuto during all of their fanservice moments. She seems to interpret it as destiny or something.

Here that guys!? Destiny is a pervert! Get married to the first person who gropes you or vice-versa. Oh but it has to be an accident, ‘kay~?

Of course, aside from the accidents that happen Yuto barely even registers Shiina’s existence so…destiny theory = fail.

Why do they almost always discuss who likes who in scenes like this? I guess because it’s the only time girls are ever alone in anime (or at least think they are). At least anime aimed at guys, because girls in pajamas just aren’t as fun to look at as girls naked.

Anyway…yeeeaaah~ (Too bad you know there won’t be an answer)

Oh and btw, even Shiina’s friend is in the pro-Haruka faction. I’m sure she doesn’t know about Shiina’s crush, but still. Not a single person in the series sees any chemistry with anyone but Haruka and Yuto. So uh…yeah. *swish* (Been a while since I got to do that…it’s a basketball thing by the way. I don’t think most people know that. )

Usual late episode monologues and problem solving (I can’t remember for sure, but I think they may have even included the usual music in the end). I wonder if it’s like this because the light novels are episodic too or something?

But still, things haven’t changed a bit~ Even this formulaic structure for every episode should be a drawback, I love it. it’s because its the best way to utilize the fluffiness and stuff I think~

See~ This is cute, right? Included is Haruka saying something cute like, “I want to make good memories with you” and it’s all just way too cute and…yeah it’s cute. …So cute!

And YEAH! Hand-holding!!!!11

And running~ (while hand-holding~!)

And…Oh shit. Someone shut up the boring girl.

… I freakin’ love maids. Especially erupting-geyser-making maids.

*dead*

Oh god doesn’t it help that she’s so fucking adorable too? This “V” was the cutestst I’ve ever heard and since it’s almost always cute that’s really saying something so uh…someone put in on a ten minute loop or something.

Nyaha~ Too bad, so sad. Sucks to be you. No room for a third wheel. Etc. *vindictive*

Yay! Still hand-holding! *easily pleased*

Haruka really would be an annoyingly perfect girlfriend to me if I didn’t find her so adorable. It’s an event she want to go to anyway but she goes, “I want to go with Yuto.” My god she’s perfect. I think she may even like anime more now because it’s something she can share with Yuto.

*sigh* Having a boyfriend or girlfriend who shares your hobby must be nice though. This series really monopolizes on that. Especially by making it anime since everyone who watches obvious likes anime. Since…you know…it’s an anime.

Ah leave it to Nobunaga the lovable otaku to take care of everything. I believe I said this last season, but if only real otaku were like this instead of so often at least bordering on “ew. creepy.”

What? Yuto still hasn’t figured out that Nobunaga knows? In fact why bother keeping it a secret from him? Since he certainly won’t hold it against Haruka. I guess the same secret motivation Haruka has, right~? Yeah…this way it’s the best of both worlds. They have their little secret and Nobunaga can still help them. NICE!

Oh well if they aren’t official then it’s totally okay to keep trying to shove your way into a relationship. Even though it’s pretty obvious to everyone around that the both of them like each other. They’re just shy about it.

Hey, maybe to figure out how Yuto feels instead of taking advantage of this vague situation would be to ask how he feels about Haruka. You know, instead of making yourself better by thinking you have a chance.

This has always annoyed me. Having an extra girl even involved where the official couple of the series is obvious (ie Shakugan no Shana had a laughable “love triangle” because it was obvious from the beginning). Normally they’d at least serve to make the characters realize their true feelings, but Haruka and Yuto both already know how they feel so…like…what’s even her purpose?

Yeah, Shiina is as pointless as ever. But now she’s annoying too because she’s one of those girls that is going to get involved, but uses the reasoning, “It’s okay if they aren’t official.” Even though she’s probably going to continue along being as vague as possible too. Just freakin’ confess, get rejected, and move on. Or if she can’t handle rejection, she should at least do what I said above and ask Yuto how she feels.

I have no patience for this stuff, so it better stay a subplot where it belongs. Otherwise I think we should hand Shiina over to the ass-kicking loli maid.

Let’s hide her face so people will know it’s supposed to be Mamiko Noto (the actual logic behind this scene…and it works!). Though also the idea that a rip in the time space continuum could develop if Mamiko Noto and Haruka were in the same place is possible as well.

lol. Just a little bit. As always, the fans love seiyuu jokes. It makes us feel special because it’s an inside joke only between the creators and…most of the other people watching when it’s a series like this. XD

Now let’s just go right ahead with what this series about:

Yeah~ Hand-holding!

Along with all this other good fluffy stuff~ (Oh gawd those lines~!)

More hand-holding and all that good cute (fluffy~) stuff to finish off the first episode. I’m so glad to have this series back.

-

Well I already said it before, but I’m so glad to have this series back. It just totally overloads you with so much ADORABLE FUCKING FLUFF that you don’t really care about the other stuff. All the cliches, the stupid unrealistic situations, the fact that Haruka is PERFECT. Doesn’t matter. It’s cute.

And there’s something wrong with you if you don’t think so!!!11 You’re banned from anime FOREVER!

Crazy fangirl detour aside, the only problem I see surfacing is people eventually tiring of this season. Because aside from the BLINDING LIGHTS OF CENSORSHIP it’s pretty much the same as last season. Everyone who loved Haruka will love this episode because they missed the series. Yes…but will they get tired of it?

…I won’t. I’m just asking if you guys aren’t tough enough to handle the fluff. Well…are you?

(Also this post isn’t finished. Some stuff needs to be added/replaced when I get my hands on a raw video. I hate crunchyroll watermarks. -_-)

Tags: aww, chibi, cute~!, fangirling, moe

This entry was posted on Monday, October 5th, 2009 at 8:04 pm and is filed under Episodic, Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.