SLEEP x2 II

 Sleep x2 II

Company: Cineria
Based on: Original
Released: 2012.06.29
Official Site: http://www.ike-men.net/ci_sleep2.html



Sleep x2 (pronounced "sleep sleep") is a CD that is designed to really make you fall asleep. It's sole purpose is making you fall asleep. This second vol. is voiced by Miki Shinichirou.

The CD itself is very short, only 15min. It is designed however, to loop the third track for as long as you want (or need). It is also exactly the same as the first CD. Miki-san sounds a bit more gentle when explaining things but the script is exactly the same.

So just like before the first track is a short and simple explanation how the CD works, the second track is an introduction and breathing exercises, and the third track is the main track which is basically the sound of waves and Miki-san sleeping next to you.

Even the final wake up track is exactly the same. Of course the intonations are a bit different  because they each have their own interpretation, but the script is the same. Unfortunately I think Fukuyama Jun his voice was more suited for the type of character that the wake up track shows us. Miki-san should have had a more mature character...



Conclusion:
This time I knew what to expect, so the sound of someone sleeping next to me didn't keep me awake. But I'll be honest and say that I was disappointed that the script was exactly the same. They should have at least changed the final wake up track to suit Mikishin his voice better.

Shoukoujo Sarah Monogatari

 

小公女物語

Company: Momo&Grapes
Based on: A Little Princess
Released: 2012.01.26


Shokoujo Sarah Monogatari is based on the novel "a Little Princess" by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It is a fairly well known story, and I think most of us will have heard of it in one way or another, whether someone told it or through the anime or one of it's film adaptions. This is part of Momo&Grapes their Men's Only series, meaning that all character are voiced by male seiyuu.

Sarah Crewe (CV: Okamoto Nobohiko) has crown up in India as the daughter of a wealthy English soldier stationed there. Wishing to give her a proper education, her father (CV: Yamauchi Kenji) sends her to a school in England. To make sure that she will be short of nothing he gives her lots of new clothes and things, and she gets one of the largest bedrooms in the entire school (at the time schools were often boarding schools at the time).

Sarah is well mannered and thanks to her kind attitude and wits quickly makes friends within the school, among them a classmate named Ermengarde (CV: Suganuma Hisayoshi) and the servant girl Becky (CV: Takeuchi Ken). On the other hand, the previous star of the school, Lavenia (CV: Kishio Daisuke) grow jealous of her, and the school principal Miss Minchin (CV: Miki Shinichirou) dislikes her from the start.

But Sarah her fun school days soon end: on her 16th birthday Miss Minchin informs her that her father has died from illness, and because he invested his entire fortune in a mine without profit Sarah is now penniless. Miss Minchin keeps her as a servant, and Sarah is moved from her luxurious room to a small and dark room in the attic.

Lavenia immediately grabs her chance to bully Sarah, but Sarah tries to remains positive. Seeing Sarah try so much Lavenia decides to frame her: she hides a broach she owns in Sarah her room and claims she stole it. Everyone in the school thinks Sarah really did steal it and starts to avoid her.

It is around this time that Sarah meets Ramdas (CV: Yoshino Hiroyuki) a servant from the house next to the school. He owns a little monkey that escaped and found it's way into Sarah her room, and climbs after it to catch it, and the two become friends.

However the school board decides that Sarah must leave the school, and she is thrown out on the street. With no money, and no one to help her find a job Sarah has a hard time. When she finally obtains some money to buy herself some bread, she sees another hungry girl and gives her most of her bread. By coincidence Lamdas sees this and decides to help her....

As always MomoGre their adaption is very faithful to the original. The amount of male seiyuu acting out believable girls in CD is also amazing. Maybe it is partly because they also got to do some really girly talk, but it took me almost no time at all to get used to. Okamoto is usually cute, so the jump to a believable girl isn't too hard. Takeuchi Ken his Becky is so girly it is almost scary though.

Kishio Daisuke his Lavenia also makes my skin crawl. It makes you wonder where he learned to act like an evil bitch like that. Lavenia her tsundere moment in the ending is priceless though. Yoshino Hiroyuki surprised me in an entirely different way. I'm used to his type voice ranging from flirty to gyaruo to host, but not as a 100% perfect butler. I wish he did this more often.

The cast talk isn't too special. It is interesting to hear all those seiyuu that were convincing girls just a few seconds ago talk normally again though. Okamoto saying that it was hard to do the "kyaa!" because it is just to girly was cute though.

Conclusion:
Sarah her life takes a 180% turn in this as she falls from school princess to servant, but luckily she remains positive or this might have become really annoying. Luckily they avoid all of that and it is a cute and (voice technically) amazing story to listing to. Momogre their works are usually good, and this is no exception.

Blood Alone 3

Blood Alone 3

Company: Marine Entertainment
Based on: Manga
Released: 2008.06.25



Blood Alone is based on the manga series of the same name. It is about the vampire girl Minato Misaki and the novelist/detective Kurose Kuroe who takes care of her. Each of the three drama CD's has three stories. Most of the time these stories are not directly connected but more like episodes from their life.

As always, this has three stories. The first one is about Kuroe and his sister. After solving a case involving two siblings, Kuroe is reminded of his sister. Misaki asks Sainome to tell her a little about Kuroe when he was younger.

The second story seems connected to both Kuroe and Misaki their past. Kuroe receives a request to guard a former assassin. He reclines at first, but after hearing that a certain party is involved he accepts. The man Kuroe needs to protect has become the target of an organisation called "Einseingrad Sparda" is imediately attacked by a girl named Maria (CV: Sawashiro Miyuki). Kuroe manages to deflect attack, but the girl escapes with heavy injuries.

As coincidence will have it, she is found by Misaki. Recognising the girl as a renfield (the servant of a vampire, red) she takes her home so she can recover. However the vampire that sired her soon arrives and kidnaps Misaki. He suspects that she is something special.

While handcuffing Misaki, the two of them make another attempt on the man his life. Misaki however manages to break free, and holds down Maria so that Kuroe can go after the vampire. We get a glimpse of the vampire hunter Kuroe here, it is clear that his fame as a vampire hunter was earned.

The final story revolves all around Misaki her fear of thunder. Kuroe is just about to go out for work, but on his way out remembers Misaki is afraid of lightning, and returns to stay at her side.

At first I though the first and second story were connected, but they are not. Well in a sense they are, Eisengrad Sparda is responsible for some events in Kuroe his past, but they are not directly connected. Both of them were very interesting though.

Both Kuroe and Higure (CV: Kobayashi Sanae) have taken several lessons in awesome for this CD. Higure only appears for a few moments, but proves himself as an ancient vampire. Kuroe shows us some of his vampire hunter skills, and as kind as he is to Misaki, he is cold to his enemies.


Conclusion:
Personally this might be my favourite Blood Alone CD. Sadly it is also the last one that was released, while there are still some unresolved plot points. The manga however continues those. While keeping the atmosphere of the previous CDs, this one also delivers the most action packed story.

Blood Alone 2

Blood Alone 2

Company: Marine Entertainment
Based on: Manga
Released: 2007.08.24



Blood Alone is based on the manga series of the same name. It is about the vampire girl Minato Misaki and the novelist/detective Kurose Kuroe who takes care of her. Each of the three drama CD's has three stories. Most of the time these stories are not directly connected but more like episodes from their life.

This time the CD starts with a cute valentine story. Misaki (CV: Nakahara Mai) has made Kuroe (CV: Morikawa Toshiyuki) chocolate for valentine. When she hands him his chocolate he already has a whole bag full of chocolates however (apparently he is popular with the ladies?). Continuing with his work, Kuroe notices her chocolate is missing after a while so he tries to find it, and even tracks back to every place he has been that day. When he returns home however, it turns out Misaki took the chocolate home with he so she could re-wrap it: another one of the chocolates in the bag had the same ribbon.

The second story is what you could call the main story of this CD. It starts with a serial killer on his death row and his lawyer talking just before his execution. Not too long afterwards however, the lawyer his assistant -and lover- Maki (CV: Kobayashi Sanae) is killed in the style of that serial killer.

Sainome (CV: Tanaka Rie) and Kuroe investigate this case together. Sainome discovered that similar killings have been occurring over a period far more than one lifespan, and suspects something supernatural is involved, which is why she asks Kuroe for his help. We also discover that Sainome has the ability to 'see' the memories of a dead person. This is also the first time we get to hear Misaki her vampire personality. Every vampire has a sort of 'vampire personality' or instinct, and it slowly replaces the human one. Misaki her personality is... chilling.

The last story is a more humorous one. Misaki has a nightmare about Kuroe and Sainome marrying (TV show style). When she wakes up Kuroe is gone, so goes to find him. First she kalls Higure (CV: Kobayashi Sanae), who seems to be in the middle of something. Then she goes to see Sly (CV: Miki Shinichirou) who mainly just teases her. The cat from the first episode of vol.1 also makes an appearance. Eventually, it just turns out Kuroe was working.

The first and third story are more humorous, the second one however is serious. And very good. You realize what is going on slightly before the characters do, creating just a little more tension. The atmosphere is still the same calm atmosphere from the first CD. Somehow they manage to both keep this, and create tensions as well.

The cast talk has some fun moments. Morikawa-san liked the third story (where he had several possible bride candidates) and Kobayashi-san (who voiced both Maki and Higure) laughs at both her scenes being bed scenes.


Concusion:
This vol heads more towards the direction of a supernatural mystery in the main story. It feels like there are still things being introduced for use in a later story, but this is a great CD on it's own. I'd recommend listening to all the stories separately though, or at least the second one separately, because they are so different.

Tiny×Machinegun FILE:1 THE KNOCKDOWN

Tiny×Machinegun FILE:1 THE KNOCKDOWN

Company: Rejet x IM Bullet
Based on: Original
Released: 2012.02.29
Official site: http://rejetweb.jp/txm/


The city of New York is being protected by it's police force "Captain VANEAST". Tiny McDaniel is a new police officer in the force, full of energy she wants to dive into the work, but at the moment the only mission she gets is helping kids cross the road safely...

The CD starts as a TV show. The Seventh TV has gotten wind of the News that Tiny (CV: Tamura Yukari) is joining the police force and is holding a special on it. McDaniel is a famous name in the police force thanks to Tiny her grandfather being a famous 'hero' in the force, and Tiny her brother Reigand (CV: Sakurai Takahiro) is treated like a hero by the half the city.

Reigand and Wolf (CV: Toriumi Kousuke) are trying to capture two criminals; Tom and Jerry (CV: Morikubo Shoutarou and Yonaga Tsubasa). The two of them aren't really dangerous, more a bunch of idiots, until Jerry flips. Tiny is close by and saves the day, all on live television.

Unhappy with the uninteresting small jobs she gets, and wanting to help her brother more than anything (Tiny seems to have a bit of a brother complex. Luckily Reigand spoils her as well) she sneaks out to catch herself some criminals. She finds a promising looking wanted note for Midou Zen (CV: Fujiwara Keiji) who is wanted for attempted murder. Of course this isn't as easy as it seems, especially because Midou turns out to be an ex cop, and her brothers mentor.

Meanwhile the rest of the force is deployed to watch over the presentation of one of Lian Jenkings (CV: Miki Shinichirou) his new inventions. After an incident involving Midou, Lian was gravely injured and is now in a wheel chair, and has devoted his life do developing machines that help people who cannot walk freely. Unfortunately many of them seem to be abused by criminals, creating a bit of a tension between him and Reigand.

His newest invention is a gigantic machine that will help clean the city. Unfortunately, someone has tampered with it, and in the middle of the presentation the thing runs wild. Wolf and Reigand try to stop the thing, Tom and Jerry get involved to create even more chaos, and in the end the day is saved by Midou, who has by now kidnapped Tiny...

TxM starts with a light hearted and funny scene, but quickly shows glimpses of a much more serious story underneath. If you know some of IM label there other works this should sound familiar, as this is how Ninomiya Ai writes her stories. Although this story has neither the amount of crack of for example Are you Alice, nor the really dark edge of any her other stories (as of yet at least).

Tiny is really cute, how she wants to try her best and help her brother the city and personality wise the complete opposite of the rather silent Reigand (which is a shame, I would have loved to hear him talk more *is shot*). The end of the story leaves Tiny in the hands of Midou, and her character description says she turned a lot of people against her after she started to work with him, so that makes me curious how this continues.

Tom and Jerry were credited as quest characters, which is a shame because I would love to see more of them. They are complete failures as criminals, but way too funny to listen too, so I secretly hope that they will have some sort of cameo later in the series. The reporter from Seventh TV, Patricia (CV: Shouji Umeka) is another hilarious character, only out for her scoop and always hanging around Tiny to report on how cute she is.


Conclusion:
While being a good stand alone story, this CD really feels like it was just the introduction to the world of TxM, introducing us to all the characters and surroundings, opening a path to kick off the real story. Luckily there are at least two more CD's (and a game) in the works.

Blood Alone

 Blood Alone

Company: Marine Entertainment
Based on: Manga
Released: 2006.07.21


Blood Alone is based on the manga series of the same name. It is about the vampire girl Minato Misaki and the novelist/detective Kurose Kuroe who takes care of her. Each of the three drama CD's has three stories. Most of the time these stories are not directly connected but more like episodes from their life.

The CD starts with Misaki (CV: Nakahara Mai) waking up and describing what her usual day (night?) looks like. Kuroe (CV: Morikawa Toshiyuki)is working on a novel that needs to be finished the next day, so in order to help him she goes to search for a lost cat; a request Kuroe got for his detective job. Misaki isn't very succesful in finding the cat though. On the way we also meet the informant Sly (CV: Miki Shinichirou), and his cat side kick Larry.

The second story is a short story that starts with Misaki and Higure (CV: Kobayashi Sanae), who is a very old and influential vampire (but looks like a young boy) , talking about different vampire abilities. Higure teaches Misaki how to use Farumek (a form of hypnosis that can be used to control humans), and we learn what Renfields are (Humans that have drank the blood of a vampire, and therefore become devoted to their blood parent). When Misaki comes home later that night she tries to use farumek on Kuroe to see whether she can really use it.

The third story introduces Sainome Sayaka (CV: Tanaka Rie), a childhood friend of Kuroe. She works as the head of the police forencics department. Kuroe worries about Misaki going out at night often lately, and Sainome seems to know something about it but doesn't want to say. Meanwhile Higure visits Kuroe while Misaki is out to tell him that someone has been hunting (=killing) in his territory, and that he suspects Misaki. Kuroe decides to stalk tail Misaki when she goes out the next night. He loses sight of her, but finds the actual culprit. Through his conversation with Higure afterwards we learn that Kuroe was involved with vampires in his past... Misaki on the other hand, was just visiting Sainome to learn how to knit a muffler.

This series has a very calm, easygoing atmosphere. Some of the stories are more serious, others less serious. Misaki being a young girl and often acting like one also helps to keep the atmosphere light. This atmosphere might be this series greatest charm.

It is obvious that Misaki likes Kuroe, but his feelings are less transparent. He obviously cares for her, but what is exact feelings are is a bit vague. This creates an interesting relation between them. Higure and Sainome also seem interested in Kuroe, although their motives probably differ. Higure his love for male renfields is also... interesting.

The cast talk is fairly simple and cute. The change in Kobayashi-san her voice is quite amazing to hear..


Conclusion:
I love the atmosphere in this work. At least for this vol there doesn't seem to be much vampire stuff going on, it is more about how Misaki and Kuroe are living their life, and their relationship.

Pokemon - Shiroi Ashita da! Rocket-dan!

Surprised? I never knew that there were Pokemon drama CD's, so when I discovered that there are two of them I just had to find them. This is by far the oldest drama CD  that I have reviewed so far (1998!!) so please forgive the blurry cover image ;)

I use the English names, because that is what I grew up with.

サウンドピクチャーボックス 白い明日だ!ロケット団

Company: Nintendo / Shogakukan Production

Based on: anime

Released: 1998.11.11

Every one knows Pokemon, so I don't need to explain what it is :p But I'm part of the Pokemon Generation, I grew up with it. I played the games (still do!) watched the anime, like everyone did. So when I discovered that there are two drama CD's my nostalgia overtook me~

白い明日だ!ロケット団 (shiroi ashita da! roketto dan, A White Tomorrow! Team Rocket!) is a story about team rocket. It was originally broadcasted as a radio drama, and later released on CD. The CD has 7tracks in total, of which 3 are the drama and the other 4 are songs.

The story of the drama takes place somewhere at the beginning of the series. Team Rocket has once again been blasted away after a failed attempt to catch Pikachu. While Jesse (CV: Hashibara Megumi) and Meowth (CV: Inuyama Inuko) are arguing about Meowth his uselessness, James (CV: Miki Shinichirou) complains that he is hungry and calls for food.

Which is brought to them by a "Rocket Gang Special Delivery Member Trainee"named Mondo. After a quick friendly match between Jessie her Arbok and Mondo his Ditto(CV: Kawata Taeko), Jessie and James offer to 'train ditto for a while' and trade him for Meowth (who doesn't agree with this at all). Their actual plan is to have Ditto transform into Pikachu so that they can swap it with the real one, but Ditto keeps transforming into the wrong pokemon and only causes trouble.

The story quite entertaining. The interactions between the Rocket trio are always entertaining, and Mondo is such a lovably naive character as well. Apparently he regularly delivers food and equipment for Team Rocket to use. This is also the only time he ever appears in the series, he is never seen or mentioned in the anime.

This sounds and feels like the actual anime in every way. From the narration to the background music, everything is exactly the same. From the way Team Rocket blasts off, to their hilarious conversations, it all has so much nostalgia it just makes me happy.

This drama CD held one great surprise for me: Mondo. Or rather, his seiyuu. I've checked and double checked and checked again, but it turns out Mondo his voiced by none other than... Koyasu Takehito. No matter how much I listen, I can't hear it. Except for the cast call. The one seiyuu I was certain I could recognize everywhere and I couldn't hear it even though I knew. I am sorry Koyasu-sama, I have failed you  T-T

One thing that I did discover is that it is not an easy drama  to listen to. Jessie and James tend to speak very fast and with their mouth full or other things that make them hard to understand. Meowth his way of speaking is not easy to listen to if you're not used to it to begin with.

Track 1 and 5 are songs also found on an earlier single with Team Rocket songs, but track 6 and 7 are pretty interesting. Both are lyrical versions from songs from the game boy games. (the opening theme and the surf theme respectively). Especially the surfing song is really cute.

Conclusion:

There is so much nostalgia here, but somehow it is still fresh. Don't expect any character development whatsoever, but it is fun to hear a Team Rocket story that I didn't know. This is a fun, lighthearted drama (just like the anime) but I'm looking forward to the other drama CD, which tells the story of how Mewtwo was born.

ps: I loved how everyone got to say their name in the cast call, even Misty who said only one sentence, and the seiyuu who did the pokemon. Brock his Onix is the only one not announced (apparently though, Onix is voiced by Ishizuka Unshou as well).

Fushigi Koubou Shoukougun vol.6

ふしぎ工房症候群 EPISODE 6 「クリスマスの出来事」

Company: Cosmic Ray
Based on: Original
Released: 2005.11.18
Official Site: http://www.cosmicray.co.jp/fks/


ふしぎ工房症候群 (fushigi koubou shoukougun) translates into something like 'mysterious workshop syndrome'. The mysterious workshop in the title is what binds all of the stories in this series together. The shop can only be found by someone who is lost and really needs it, and is run by an old man, who sells 'happiness'

Each story is told by a (high profile) voice actor who both tells the story and acts out certain characters. The story is told from the perspective of the main character, and mostly centers on that person his thoughts. In each story the main character is going through a troubled period or trauma, and the mysterious workshop becomes a turning point in their lives.

The sixth story is story is told by Miki Shinichirou, and is about someone who feel slightly lonely despite always beeing around friends or co-workers. He is always the one they come to for advise, whether work or private. And he loves giving advise, listening to people and helping them, but at some point this caused that he is no longer able to ask someone else for help. By building an image of someone who always helps, he feels he can't be the one to ask for help.

Just before Christmas he spends a day alone for a change, due to the fact that he is always around people the cold streets full of couples make him slightly lonely. Wandering aimlessly through the streets, he finds the fushigi koubou and orders what he wants most at that point: a girlfriend.

After he exits the workshop he witnesses a traffic accident where a woman is ran over. He immediately calls an ambulance for her and accompanies her to the hospital. Once there it turns out that she only sustained light injuries, but that she lost her memory due to the shock. Feeling sorry for her (and because she is very pretty) he decides to visit her as often as possible, and the two become close...

This is such a sweet story. I like how Miki portraits the feeling of 'there is nothing wrong in my life, in fact it is beautiful but there is something missing' (did that sentence even make sense?). The ending also took me by surprise. But it was a good twist. As always the voice acting and the music are fantastic, and it felt like the music was used slightly different here. Miki did a wonderful job on the voice acting, in track 8 and 9 he actually made me cry.

(Funny side note: I think I could hear his breathing a few times, while this is usually unhearable. Although that is probably more of an editing miss than anything else)


Conclusion:
This is such a sweet romance story, but don't let that scare you away if you don't like things that are labeled 'romance'. It is a really good story. It would be a shame to wait until Christmas to listen to it, but it might just give a little extra touch of Christmas feeling to it

Fushigi Koubou Shoukougun Premium 1 is actually a continuation, although I don't have listened to it yet so I couldn't say exactly how it is connected. But I know that I'm looking forward to hearing another story with Miki his voice.

官能昔話6 ~戦国恋絵巻~

Kannou Mukashi returns! And how! The moment I saw this I wanted to listen to it, but seeing how I was supposed to go to work that wasn't the best moment. I did have something to look forward to the entire day though. The review is once again a bit long because I'm reviewing all the tracks separately (^-^;)

Kannou Mukashi Banashi ~Sengoku Koi Emaki~

Recap: Kannou Mukashi Banashi is a series that tells well know tales in a... slightly different way. Each volume contains several stories, all done by a different seiyuu. The series uses a special recording method called 3D dummy microphone, a microphone shaped like a face. using this technology you can hear the voice of the seiyuu as if they're talking right into your ear (when using headphones or earphones.

This volumes centers on stories from warlords in the sengoku era. This means that all characters that are mentioned are actually historical people. The stories though... that is probably a whole different story *smirk*

The prologue and epilogue, are once again done by Inoue Kazuhiko. The prologue is always something to look forward too. This one made me even happier than normal because he thanks everyone for listening and mentions that 'this will not be the last time we meet'. Other than that the prologue is as wonderfully suggestive as always.

The first story is that of Oda Nobunaga and is told by Suzumura Kenichi. The story centers on his arranged marriage with the daughter of another warlord. In the beginning he treats her almost like an enemy, but rapidly becomes attracted to her. Especially his attitude in the beginning is sexy~

The second story is that of Date Masamune and is told by Miki Shinichirou. Masamune is injured when he is small and loses his right eye, after which his mother scorns for his ugly looks. The story is about Masamune and his fiance, at first he assumes that she thinks of him as ugly just like every one else does. However she truly loves him. Miki Shinichirou his voice is already sexy when he is only talking, just imagine it getting close to your ear.

The third story is that of Hosokawa Tadaoki and is told by Hirakawa Daisuke. Again an arranged marriage is the center of this story (can't be helped, most marriages were arranged at that time). Tadaoki only sees his marriage as a purely political matter, but becomes very protective of his wife. What can I say? It is Hirakawa Daisuke, whispering in my ear, and he goes slightly yandere over protective. WHAT MORE CAN I ASK FOR? I thought that I fell asleep during his story, twice, but I probably literally fainted while listening to his voice xD

The last story centers on young Yoroku and Kiheiji. The two of them end up going on a fetch quest to get something for Uesugi Kenshin. After the more serious first three stories this one is much lighter to the point of comical.

The previous volumes of Kannou Mukashi Banashi used to tell the stories in such a way that everything got a double meaning. The later volumes were a bit more direct, but in this one there is no doubt about what is going on. At all. The epilogue was pure overkill. Wait for Inoue Kazuhiko's "I'll be back", it is guaranteed to send you into a final fit of giggling and squeeling <3

名作文学(笑) VSシリーズ 北風VS太陽

Meisaku Bungaku (warai) VS Series - Kitakaze VS Taiyou

This is originally a well known literary work in which the North Wind  challenges the Sun to see who will first succeed to make a lone traveler take  off his coat. In this CD this tale is being told in various setting: Host club,  Original, Sangoku battle, Police story, and Door-to-door selling.

The first track turns the both of them into hosts. The one challenges the other to see can make the next customer order a bottle of champagne first. However   the  next customer is a man who came to retrieve his daughter... Hearing both   of them trying to convince the man to order all kind of things while trying to   'help' him was rather amusing.

The second track tells the (almost) original version of the story. While the   previous track was amusing to listen to this one first made me laugh out loud   (well, allmost. I couldn't really laugh in the train...xD). The music used when  the sun uses his SUNSHINE ATTACK was to brilliant.

In the third track both of them are now strategists in the Sangoku era. An  entirely new Sangoku era in which Mobile phones already existed. The first one  to defeat the opposing army is the winner. Once again the sun makes use of his  SUNSHINE ATTACK while the North Wind uses the online weather forecast to make  use of a sudden wind blowing from the north.

The forth time they are both police officers trying to get a suspect to admit   his crime. More speciffically, the man from the second track who was arrested   for taking all his clothes off in public. And a good cop - bad cop act begins~!  xD

The last story is a door-to-door selling contest. The sun is trying to sell   make-up while the North Wind is trying to sell forgot-whatever-he-was-trying-to-sell. The effect of the make-up is just too brilliant.

Conclusion:
Even though the result of the match is the same every time (it follows the  original setting after all) it is interesting to hear how they managed to turn  it into a different settings. Another interesting thing is that they keep the  same (or almost the same) personality every time. In the beginning I had some  problems keeping the voices apart, especially when the discussion got more  heated. BUT it was a brilliant CD that I recommend to everyone.

Captain HOOK love's lock.

An older series again. It took me a while to track this one down, but I finally found it. Written by Ninomiya Ai (IM Label) this is once again a very twisted story. However except for the title and a few names it has little to do with the story of peter pan.


The series has two entries: Get off track and Genetic Aberration, as well as a third image song album called Stay a Fake. It tells the story of several characters that reside inside the city "GIALOCK". Mostly the story tells about Shibako and Ichi, who are both searching for a girl called Wendy.

Captain HOOK love's lock is by no means an easy story. To begin with it is advised to read the story introduction to get an idea of the setting on the official website, otherwise chances are you'll be majorly confused throughout the story. But rest assured, even with said knowledge you're guaranteed to get confused.

The story takes place inside GIALOCK, which is basically a prison for a certain kind of prisoners that have been sentenced to death. The concept is that they can live freely, but execute each other. At some point though, someone discovered that a person can be (re)born from the strong memories and will of another...

Get of track begins with a recording of an interview with Wendy, who has just killed her parents. Or her younger brothers (she changes what she says every few sentences). She says that she did it to protect her younger brothers from the abuse of her parents, or that said abuse was the only gesture of love that they had. At the end of the fragment however, it turns out that while Wendy constantly talks about her 'brothers' she only had one younger brother.

As is often the case with Ninomiya Ai her works the story is told fragmented, in this case through recordings of interviews with the prisoners on the one hand and the current actions of Shibako and Ichi on the other hand. In between there is a story about Ichi raising a dog with puppies which is partly metaphorical for the rest of the story. Because not everything is told you have to put together the various fragments to understand what is going on, which is puzzling at best.
  
Genetic Aberration continues in the same fragmented style. And in my opinion adds more questions that that it solves. While it does explain Ichi his backstory, it also adds more questions on other points, especially on whether Wendy is still alive or not. On the whole I liked the story, even though it is very vague and left me with a whole bunch of questions. I suppose it was simply the atmosphere that was so great.


The voice acting was good, although Wendy (CV: Mitsuishi Kotono) her performance in particular got stuck in my head. Wendy sounds incredibly innocent, and either doesn't feel that she did something wrong, or is so insane by now that she no longer understands the implications of killing someone. Either way, how she talks about things is chilling.

The only real flaw for me is that the story is so fragmented that it is really hard to understand. What is going on in specific scenes isn't to hard to understand, but how everything is connected or the bigger picture is bloody different to figure out. This is definitely a story that you might want to listen and re-listen, just in order to make a little more sense out of it.