areaseven Posted November 2, 2003 Posted November 2, 2003 (edited) Hanaukyo Maid-tai ( 花右京メイド隊 ) m.o.e./WOWOW/Pony Canyon, 2001 U.S. Distributor Pending (Wow...ADV hasn't picked this one up yet?). Directed by Yasuki Ide. Not Rated (Suggested 17+). Contains gratuitous T&A, HLA and suggestive sex with a minor. Based on the manga by Morishige (published in the U.S. by I.C. Entertainment). After losing his mother, 12-year-old Taro Hanaukyo journeys to Tokyo to live with his grandfather. But he gets the biggest surprise when he discovers that his grandfather's home is a huge mansion with hundreds of beautiful maids ready to serve him. Making matters worse (at least for Taro, but not for our viewing) is that not only does he inherit the Hanaukyo mansion, he gets the services of all of the maids 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Lucky kid. Story: B- I've seen a lot of anime titles filled with fan service, but Hanaukyo Maids takes the cake. Not as many panty shots as Agent Aika or Najica Blitz Tactics, but Hanaukyo Maids is borderline hentai with all the T&A shots left and right, gratuitous groping, etc. As for the story itself, it's very different from the manga. For instance, in the manga, Taro is 15 years old (as opposed to the anime's 12-year-old). Unlike in the anime, Taro isn't allergic to girls. There are also no triplets in the manga; majority of the maids look the same. Despite not being faithful to the original story, Hanaukyo Maids is still worth checking out. Animation: A- Regardless of all the content stated above, m.o.e. (Steel Angel Kurumi 2/Zero, Rizelmine) did a good job animating this series. Characters are very well-drawn and the 3D effects blend well with the 2D. Soundtrack: B+ The background music is very pleasant and the cabaret-style opening theme is downright hilarious. Cast Hanaukyo Maids features Yuki Kaida (Kurapica in Hunter X Hunter, Shusuke in The Prince of Tennis) as Taro, Rie Tanaka (Chii in Chobits, Saki in Steel Angel Kurumi) as Marielle, Tomoko Kaneda (Chiyo in Azumanga Daioh, Marie in Please! Teacher) as Cynthia/Grace, Moyu Arishima (Misty in Vandread) as Ikuyo, Akiko Hiramatsu (Yukari-sensei in Azumanga Daioh, Miyuki in You're Under Arrest) as Konoe, Hazuki Kagawa as Ichigo, Ema Kogure (Saori in Fushigi Yuugi Eikoden) as Ringo, Yuki Watanabe (Yasuko in Boogiepop Phantom) as Sango, Natsumi Yanase as Nurse Yuki, and Rieko Takahashi (Diana in Turn-A Gundam) as Ryuka. The Bottom Line With all the non-stop T&A and groping in the series, Hanaukyo Maids is an ecchi fan's dream come true. Links Hanaukyo.com (Japanese) m.o.e.'s Official Hanaukyo Maids Homepage (Japanese) Reference Anime News Network Edited July 28, 2004 by areaseven Quote
treatment Posted November 2, 2003 Posted November 2, 2003 Unlike in the anime, Taro isn't allergic to girls. I think that's a typo. I have the anime and Taro ain't allergic to girls. I don't read manga, however. Quote
areaseven Posted November 2, 2003 Author Posted November 2, 2003 I think that's a typo. I have the anime and Taro ain't allergic to girls. I don't read manga, however. Why does he turn purple if a girl other than Mariel touches him? Quote
treatment Posted November 2, 2003 Posted November 2, 2003 (edited) I think that's a typo. I have the anime and Taro ain't allergic to girls. I don't read manga, however. Why does he turn purple if a girl other than Mariel touches him? Afaict, it's just regular boy-reaction, i.e. shyness, adolescence, innocence, etc. Iirc, in one or more scenes, he just couldn't pee coz of the triplet's presence and looking on. Just one of the hilarious stuff in the series. I like the way they portray it as part of his growing-up period. He's got more confidence with Mariel since Mariel's not as sexually aggressive as the triplets. fwiw, I couldn't believe Tanaka Rie (Chii of Chobits, for those that don't know, yet) sounded alot like Ikkoku Inoue (beldandy, etc) in the Mariel character. Edited November 2, 2003 by treatment Quote
MrDisco Posted November 3, 2003 Posted November 3, 2003 (edited) do you like: ecchi fanservice? maids? harems? little shy boys who run away from hot naked chicks who want to give him a bath? if so then this series can't be missed bonus - live action cosplay at the end Edited November 3, 2003 by MrDisco Quote
DestroidsRage Posted November 3, 2003 Posted November 3, 2003 This show terrifies me. LOL. Because all the sexual stuff is hidden!! You have to figure it out on your own! And I suck at that! Like when the triplets are under his blanket as he's asleep, doing /something/, and the he wakes up screaming with a goofy expression on his face, and two of the triplets start yelling at the third who now has a shy "oopsies" expression on her face, and Im left thinking "wow, she gave him a bj." but did she??? It tears my mind apart when I watch that show because I just cant figure it out! LOL! But yes. This show is pretty good, especially if your a little pervert. -BEN-MAN- Quote
Nightbat Posted November 3, 2003 Posted November 3, 2003 umm, what is T&A? You're kidding, right??? T stands for Boobies A is for Bottom You figure out the rest Quote
Lightning Posted November 3, 2003 Posted November 3, 2003 thanks, i'm a noob when it comes to acronyms and such. Quote
Mislovrit Posted November 3, 2003 Posted November 3, 2003 (edited) bonus - live action cosplay at the end Ugly ladies in cosplay outfits isn't exactly a bonus. <_< If the ladies were better looking... Edited November 3, 2003 by Mislovrit Quote
MrDisco Posted November 3, 2003 Posted November 3, 2003 bonus - live action cosplay at the end Ugly ladies in cosplay outfits isn't exactly a bonus. If the ladies were better looking... haha...and have you seen Sailormoon Live? Quote
Anubis Posted November 3, 2003 Posted November 3, 2003 (edited) haha...and have you seen Sailormoon Live? Many live versions don't quite...live up. The maids show sounds interesting though. Edited November 3, 2003 by Anubis Quote
zeta Posted November 3, 2003 Posted November 3, 2003 Like when the triplets are under his blanket as he's asleep, doing /something/, and the he wakes up screaming with a goofy expression on his face, and two of the triplets start yelling at the third who now has a shy "oopsies" expression on her face, and Im left thinking "wow, she gave him a bj." but did she??? It tears my mind apart when I watch that show because I just cant figure it out! LOL! O.o Quote
MrDisco Posted November 3, 2003 Posted November 3, 2003 haha that scene made me laugh. in some ways this reminds me of saber marionette Quote
areaseven Posted November 17, 2003 Author Posted November 17, 2003 (edited) Good news: The second season of Hanaukyo Maids will premier this April. EDIT: It's not a new season, but a completely new series. http://www.hanaukyo.com/ Edited May 19, 2004 by areaseven Quote
Yohsho Posted November 17, 2003 Posted November 17, 2003 Good, they left it in a very embarassing situation with Taro in a maid outfit. Quote
Godzilla Posted November 17, 2003 Posted November 17, 2003 I couldnt find the DVD on buy.com but I am assuming it is on TV? Quote
MrDisco Posted November 17, 2003 Posted November 17, 2003 Season 1 is available on fansub, hasnt been picked up for R1 yet. i imagine s2 will also be fansubbed Quote
renegadeleader1 Posted November 17, 2003 Posted November 17, 2003 I like Agent Aika I like Najica blitz tactics I like Megami Paradise BUT This sounds too smutty for my taste kinda like Playboy's teases(najica aika) to Hustler's raunch(this) Quote
areaseven Posted April 9, 2004 Author Posted April 9, 2004 (edited) Hanaukyo Maid-tai La Verite ( 花右京メイド隊 La Verite ) Kitty Film/Geneon Entertainment, 2004 Geneon Entertainment, 2005 Directed by Takuya Nonaka (Dokkoida!?) Not Rated (Suggested 16-Up). Contains gratuitous T&A, HLA, S&M and suggestive sex with a minor. Remake of the 2001 Hanaukyo Maid-tai series. After his mother passes away, Taro Hanaukyo is invited to his grandfather's home. There, he meets a beautiful maid named Mariel and finds out that his grandfather has given him ownership of his estate. Taro also discovers that not only is the estate a colossal mansion, it has hundreds of gorgeous maids ready to serve him 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Story: B+ Unlike the first TV series, Hanaukyo Maid-tai La Verite has considerably less T&A (but still a lot, though) and much more character emphasis. Instead of the squinty-eyed 12-year-old who turns purple when he touches a girl, Taro is a normal 15-year-old boy, which is much closer to the manga character. Sanae Yashima, a character originally from the manga, is added to the series. Ichigo, Ringo and Sango are replaced by a new set of triplets: Lemon, Maron and Melon. And it looks like we'll see more of Taro's rival Ryuka than in the first series. Animation: B Perhaps the only disadvantage over the first series is the animation quality. There's less CG effects and the animation is not as clean, but the artwork appears to be more faithful to the manga. No live-action cosplay on the ending credits, though... Soundtrack: A- Michiru Oshima (Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Fancy Lala) supplies an excellent score that's down-to-earth and much better than that of the first series. All that and a great opening theme - "Voice of Heart" by Rie Tanaka. Cast Reprising their roles are Yuki Kaida (Kurapika in Hunter X Hunter, Suu in Twin Spica) as Taro, Rie Tanaka (Lacus in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, Yomi in Azumanga Daioh) as Mariel, Tomoko Kaneda (Bonta-kun in Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu, Renge in Air Master) as Cynthia/Grace, Moyu Arishima (Misty in Vandread) as Ikuyo, Akiko Hiramatsu (Nene in Bubblegum Crisis, Ibuki in Dai-Guard) as Konoe, and Rieko Takahashi (Dianna in Turn-A Gundam) as Ryuka. Joining the cast are Akeno Watanabe (Witch Hunter Robin, Angela in Someday's Dreamers) as Sanae, Kozue Yoshizumi (Naomi in Magic User's Club, Koro-chan in Photon) as Lemon, Mai Kadowaki (Mare in Popotan) as Maron, and Yuya Yoshikawa (Misora in Mao-chan) as Melon. The Bottom Line The Hanaukyo franchise finally goes on the right direction with this new series. Look for Hanaukyo Maid-tai La Verite to be released domestically by Geneon Entertainment in the near future. Links Official Hanaukyo Maid-tai Homepage (Japanese) Reference Anime News Network Edited July 28, 2004 by areaseven Quote
treatment Posted April 9, 2004 Posted April 9, 2004 Speculation is rampant right now that La Verite may get an R1-release since Geneon is listed. No official confirmations, yet, tho. Quote
areaseven Posted April 9, 2004 Author Posted April 9, 2004 Speculation is rampant right now that La Verite may get an R1-release since Geneon is listed. No official confirmations, yet, tho. Well, Geneon USA did co-produce it, so it's not a question on whether or not it will be released. It's a question on when it will be released. Quote
treatment Posted April 9, 2004 Posted April 9, 2004 Just hoping it's soon. oh, yeah. for the triplets-fanboys, here: Quote
areaseven Posted May 17, 2004 Author Posted May 17, 2004 SPOILER ALERT!!! Click at your own risk unless you've seen episode 5. Taro and the maids accompany Ikuyo to a manga convention, where she hopes to sell her home-brewed manga. As part of her sales pitch, Ikuyo has everyone cosplaying... Mariel Lemon Melon Maron Grace Taro ("Ecchi na doujinshi wa ikenai to omoi masu!") Trivia: What do the costumes and Hanaukyo Maid-tai La Verite have in common? Quote
Nightbat Posted May 17, 2004 Posted May 17, 2004 Taro ("Ecchi na doujinshi wa ikenai to omoi masu!") that's a good one But am I reading you correctly here A7? this simply is a "" remake"? Quote
Mislovrit Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 This sounds too smutty for my taste kinda like Playboy's teases(najica aika) to Hustler's raunch(this) Other than the first two or three epsiodes, it is pretty tame next to Aika and Najica, and far less violent. If it wasn't for the nudity (almost every ep.) and some of the adult situations, it could almost be an older kid show. Quote
Stampeed Valkyrie Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 A7 as an answer to your trivia question I am gonna take a stab and say they are all characters in titles released by pioneer/geneon. Rob Quote
areaseven Posted May 19, 2004 Author Posted May 19, 2004 A7 as an answer to your trivia question I am gonna take a stab and say they are all characters in titles released by pioneer/geneon. Rob Next question: Name all of the characters that were being cosplayed by Taro and the maids. Quote
Yohsho Posted May 19, 2004 Posted May 19, 2004 damn can only get 4/6 maybe 5 out of 6 if I was more awake. Quote
areaseven Posted May 19, 2004 Author Posted May 19, 2004 Might as well give out the answers: Mariel as Chii (Chobits) - Coincidentally, Rie Tanaka is the voice behind both characters. Lemon as Nurse Witch Komugi-chan (The Soultaker, Nurse Witch Komugi-chan) Melon as Alucard (Hellsing) Maron as Nonomi Higashihara (Gunparade March) Grace as Sugar (A Little Snow Fairy Sugar) And the easiest one next to Melon... Taro as Mahoro (Mahoromatic) Quote
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