News Post -Part 4-

Now that all of the Rejet news is out of the way (release dates for Kekkonroku and More,Blood have been added in the previous post btw) it is time to tackle the rest. I'm afraid it is going to become a bit random from here.

Like before, I have a lot to catch up on, so if I miss some details feel free to put them in a comment and I'll add them!



Meisaku Bungaku (warai)
After a long period of silence two new CDs have been announced for this lovable literature parody series.

The first one is おくのほそ道　～そうだ、伊勢に行こう～ (oku no hosomichi ~sou da, ise ni ikou~, The Narrow Road to the Interior ~Yes, Let's go to Ise~) which will be based on Oku no Hosomichi, a famous work by Basho. The release date for this one is 2013.04.24.

The second CD is ドン・キホーテ　～中二病でも旅がしたい！～ (don quixote ~chiinibyou demo tabi ga shitai~, Don Quixote ~I want to travel even if I do have chuunibyou~) which will obviously be based on the story of Don Quixote. "chuunibyou" is a phrase that denotes something like puberty. It literally means "middle school grade 2 illness" so picture the kind of silly things teenagers say and do, as well as their complexes when they are about 14 and you are on the right track. I am guessing that the title is also a shout out to the anime "chuunibyou demo koi ga shitai". This CD is planned for a 2013.06.26 release.

The cast for both CDs is yet to be announced



Sasayaki Micchaku
This series is trying its best to please me or something, first Hosoya, and now vol.6 will be voiced by Sakurai Takahiro!

The title for the 6th CD is 名探偵・蜜之城月彦の密室ミステリー (meitantei mitsunojou tsukihiko no misshitsu mistery, "the locked room mystery of the great detective Mitsunojou Tsukihiko") and like I mentioned above Tsukihiko will be voiced by Sakurai Takahiro.

Tsukihiko is a writer as well as detective. He occasionally comes across a case while he stays at his hotel for long periods (IE. practically lives there). This time you are a witness in a case, so he starts to interrogate you....♥

As always, part of the CD will be recorded with the dummy head mic. The CD is planned for a 2013.04.24 release.

Yandere Heaven Vol.6 ~Karei naru Tokudaiji-ke Hen~

ヤンデレ天国(ヘブン) ～華麗なる徳大寺家編～

Company: Hobirecords
Based on: Original
Released: 2012.08.29
Official site: http://www.hobirecords.com/yandere6/


Yandere Heaven is a series in which you (the listener) become the object of affection of two rather dangerous characters. In the beginning things seem ok, but then their love becomes obsessive.This time you are loved by your step brother Tokudaiji Katsumi (CV: Majima Junji) and your younger brother Ayumu (CV: Abe Atsushi). As always there are two possible endings; one for Kasumi and one for Ayumu.

-obligatory warning that yandere might not be for everyone-

When you were young your parents died in an accident, and you were left alone with Ayumu. Your uncle eventually takes you in, and so you start living in their house and gain Katsumi as your step brother. Ten years later things seem to be fine, until your uncle tells you that he prepared an omiai (arranged marriage) for you. Of course Katsumi and Ayumu both object to this, but you seem to feel obliged to accept it. Funny little detail is that the omiai is so that you can marry either one of the Saionji brothers.

To get your mind of things Katsumi takes you on a drive, which is when Ayumu is over attachment to you really starts to show. He texts you and when you don't answer in 5min starts to call and says that he will come to you (he is tracking your cellphone). Eventually Katsumi takes the phone and turns it off. When you return later that night Ayumu is angry with you because you let your guard down around Katsumi, and eventually drags you with him out of the house.

He takes you to your old house, apparently he somehow convinced his classmate Yamashina Makoto to buy it for him. Katsumi just sends a servant to keep an eye on you, although he also seems to have bugged you as he is somehow listening in on your conversation with Ayumu. The next day it is obvious that Ayumu just plans on living here together and not letting you out of the house, but Katsumi crashes the party by telling you that your uncle is continuing with the omiai and that you need to get out of here. He even offers to take both you and Ayumu with him so that you can at least escape for now. This is where you will have to choose one of them.

In the review for vol.5 I was saying that the yandere level was much more subdued than before. This time it is almost absent if you compare it with the other CDs. Ayumu has more of an incredible siscon than that he is yandere, although he is still the most yandere of the two. Katsumi obviously has the mindset, but he never goes completely yandere on you. He is always calm and kind, the only time his yandere personality shows through his mask it is only for one or two sentences.

The endings this time just didn't work for me. Fine Katsumi has you locked up and gives you a drug that you can use either to kill yourself or him (or do nothing with it), but he is still calm and intends to slowly tell you about all the feelings he has for you. If you wouldn't have been locked up in a room without windows it would have almost been sane.

Ayumu his ending bothered me to no end though. For some reason Katsumi has just disappeared into nowhere. Makoto of all people knew where you were, even kindly handed Ayumu the key to the room where you were locked up. While Ayumu is sufficiently yandere in the sense that he want to commit a double suicide so that you can be together forever, the rest of it makes no sense at all.

The animate tokuten CD probably enraged me even more. There is no trace of yandere to be found anywhere. You could have just as well have been happily living together judging from that scenario. Katsumi and Ayumu seem to have lost all animosity against each other (although Katsumi never seemed to really dislike Ayumu). The tokuten for the previous CD were a little extreme, but this was just too much fluff and no yandere.

I did think that Katsumi was a very interesting character though. In fact, he seems to be incredibly charming. His attitude also shows that he doesn't see Ayumu as a threat. He lets Ayumu take you away, knowing that he'll be able to find you again anyway. He even offers to take Ayumu with you while running away, so he must have thought that it would be no problem to get rid of him later on or that taking him along doesn't pose a threat to his plans. The way he seems the handle all of this with ease and a certain grace was interesting. I just would have loved to see him go insane when pushed to the limit.



Conclusion:
This is very hard to say about a series that I love, but I didn't like this CD. While the basics are there it just doesn't reach the levels of the previous entries to the series. I suppose I just prefer my yanderes more insane. On the other hand, if you were curious about this series I would start with this CD.

News Post (Part 3)

I'm almost done with all of the news! I was all set on finally posting this on time, and then my parents internet died on meヽ(ﾟ∀ﾟ；). There is still some semi-old news mixed in here, but we're almost up-to-date again.



Therapia

The character designs and seiyuu for the third Therapia CD have been announced at the official site. To the right we have the smartphone therapia, who will be voiced by Hirakawa Daisuke. He is described as a very serious character. The other therapia for this CD is the mascara therapia, voiced by Toriumi Kousuke. He is described as being a bit of a narcist.


Ojisama Senka
The details for the 6th CD are out. This time a luxurious cruise ship strands in the middle of nowhere, and you get stuck in the engine room together with three charming older men. The self-confident director Goda Noriyuki (CV: Touchi Hiroki), the seemingly aloof but actually rather cynical travel essayist Amari Kyousuke (CV: Ebara Masashi), and the always calm and collected chairman Muranishi Kenichi (CV: Ishizuka Unshou). Will you manage to escape, and what will happen to the feelings that started to form under such extreme circumstances. We'll find out on 2012.09.26.

Weekly News Post

Hello there! Today’s news post comes with a few side notes. Next week there won’t be a news post because I am on a short vacation to Italy. I will do my best to make a news post in the weekend of 21-22 July but I can’t promise anything...

Because I’ll be busy with preparations for my second vacation: 4 weeks of Japan!! Which means that there won’t be any news posts from July 28 till August 18-ish, nor will I be able to reply to any comments or post anything on tumblr because I will be busy traveling around Japan trying to meet friends and bankrupting myself by buying lots of games and CD’s. (Which I won't be able to play or listen to until I get back, haha)

Because I already had an involuntary hiatus 2 months ago, I’m trying to keep the blog active during that time. But that means all posts will be queued so that they will post automatically. I will have to apologise for any spelling or grammar mistakes during that time. I’m currently working fulltime to be able to afford all of this, and I simply don’t have the time (or energy) to check them as thoroughly as I usually do.

And now, on to the actual news!!


Oujisama (warai)

I already interpreted the zadankai in the last CD as a confirmation that there would be more releases, and while they might be a little bit different from what I expected my wish has been fulfilled!!

Starting October 2012 three new CDs titled “Oujisama (warai) Date CD” will be released. There are now nine princes, so I’m guessing there will be three princes for each CD. Of course, as this is Oujisama (warai) that we are dealing with I doubt the CDs will be very serious, but just imagine dating some of them. This is going to be hilarious. More info will be released soon on the official site.

Also: the cover for the first Radio CD is on the right.

Weekly News Post

Soine Hitsuji CD
a voice sample for Yasuomi is now up on the official site. The voice sample begins like a normal Shuukan Soine CD, but from what he says I'm assuming that he was already counting sheep for you. The way he takes of his glasses, saying that they are "in the way" is really cute too. Go listen to it!!


Fujoshi no Escort
After Fujoshi no Totsugikata and Fujoshi no Mikata we now  get Fujoshi no Escort In these CD's two of the butlers will escort you. Exactly what that means is still a bit unclear to me though. Except, of course, more hilarious references and so called 'solutions' to all your fujoshi problems. Three CD's are planned, the first one wil feature Midoriyama and Kurosaki and will be released on 2012.07.25, the second one will feature Goshirokawa and Kikawa and will be released on 2012.08.22, and the third one will feature Akagi and Aoi and will be released in September 2012 (no exact date yet). Buy all three CD's, and you can apply for the bonus CD: a fujoshi dictionary CD by all six butlers.

Hiatus is over!

I stay away for a month and blogger changes it's interface... It is now all stylish and very confusing xD

Prepare for one LONG news post. It is not going to be everything that I missed in this month, only the most important bits, but even that is going to be one loooooong list. So one mixed plate of old and new News, coming right up!!



Shuukan Soine:

a special volume, but essentially vol.13 of the Shuukan Soine series will be released on 2012.05.25 and will be voiced by Morikawa Toshiyuki. His character is described as someone "embracing you with a lot of love and a big heart". More then anything though, the character design is gorgeous.


Toriai Kyoudai
the series is continuing, but under the name 'zoku toriai kyoudai' (zoku essentially means 'continued'). There isn't much info on the characters yet, but this time Tachibana Shinnosuke and Terashima Takuma will be fighting over our love. Apparently the atmosphere will be slightly different from the previous two CD's, but in what way is unknown.

Yandere Heaven Black: Seishin Gakuen Boys Dormitory

While we are already in Yandere-mode, why not do another yandere CD? And a BLCD as well, a rare find on this blog (^▽^;)

ヤンデレ天国BL～真誠学園男子寮編～

Company: Hobirecords
Based on: Original
Released: 2012.02.14
Official Site: http://www.hobirecords.com/yanderebl/


In the original Yandere Heaven series the listener became the object of affection of two rather dangerous characters. In this BL spin-off, all of the characters are voiced. And unlike the original series, things already start off pretty high on the yandere scale.

Himeno Yumeyoshi (CV: Akabane Kenji) was childhood friends with Hozumi Kei (CV: Majima Junji). Himeno noticed pretty fast that the one year younger Kei grew far to attached to him, so he enrolled in Seishin Gakuen, which has a dormitory. Himeno just wanted to help Kei to get more independent this way.

Kei however, simply followed Hime-kun (I like his nickname, I'll call him that from now on) to Seishin Gakuen, and as coincidence has it, becomes his room mate. Probably no coincidence there whatsoever, but that is never mentioned. From that moment on Kei once again sticks to Hime-kun all the time, demanding that Hime-kun always tells him where he goes.

Meanwhile, Hime-kun befriends the caretaker of the dorm, Nabari Masato (CV: Hirakawa Daisuke). Much to Kei his annoyance of course. And so the days where Kei becomes more and more aggressive in his advances and Nabari is simply being kind continue, until valentine arrives.

Nabari is waiting for Hime-kun after class, and takes him on a sort of date to give him chocolate. This causes Hime-kun to forget that he promised to go home with Kei, who is of course incredibly pissed. He retaliates by force feeding Hime-kun the chocolate mouth to mouth. And at that time Nabari enters the room, revealing that the chocolate was drugged. Fade out, and that is where the different endings start.

-note: this is also where the smut starts. But I'm not a BL expert so I won't be reviewing that-

There are 3 endings: one for Kei, one for Nabari, and a 3P. All of them are incredibly high on the yandere scale. Kei and Nabari their conviction that Hime-kun is trying to seduce them in some way, or at least wants to be violated by them is... highly disturbing at best.

What I noticed with this CD is that there is far more squick than in the original series. Which makes sense, considering that the the listener is the protagonist in the original series, so you can't make things to extreme. This time however, all of the stuff happens to someone else, and everything is definitely more explicit. (Although Yandere Heaven 5 did hint at some fairly disturbing things in the tokuten).

Kei his ending includes him making a deal with Nabari so that he can do to Hime-kun whatever he wants, in return Nabari is allowed to record everything with his hidden camera's. Nabari his ending has him treating Hime-kun in a very humiliating way, and in the 3P Hime-kun finally goes insane due to all of the twisted affection. Not to mention that it is a full out threesome.

I... I really don't know how to review BL. I'm sorry o(；△；)o
It was just... I wanted to listen to this because it has Hirarin being yandere. And he didn't disappoint. You have my word for that.

Conclusion:
Err, if you like BL and Yandere this is probably a must listen. If you like only the one or the other you might want to reconsider. Or not. One thing is certain though, don't expect any hint romance in this CD, only very twisted affection. Listening is at the risk of your own sanity~ It took me a pretty long time to calm down from this. Both because of the Karami, and the fact that the Yandere is rather intense.

Weekly News Post

You might have noticed that there are some reviews missing in the last few days, that is because someone stole my earphones while I was at the gym, so I can't listen to stuff on the go until I've found a new pair of acceptable earphones. Sorry.


Mousou Este
Two more cast member have been announced: Itou Kentarou and Suzuku Tatsuhisa. The official staff blog also has a small line saying that this time it will be the estheticians from the beauty salon Babylon (rival salon to Entreinte, the salon from the previous entries to the series) that will do the treatments.


Amemakura
The seiyuu for Amemakura vol.5 and 6 will be Sugiyama Noriaki and Suzuki Tatsuhisa. Unfortunately there is no other info on the characters yet...

Yandere Heaven ~karei naru Saionji-ke Hen~ Tokuten

ヤンデレ天国（ヘブン）～華麗なる西園寺家編～ アニメイト特典　　
ヤンデレ天国（ヘブン）～華麗なる西園寺家編～　ステラワース特典

Company: Holic Works
Based on: Original
Released: 2011.12.29
Official site: http://www.hobirecords.com/yandere5/


Yandere Heaven is a series in which you (the listener) become the object of affection of two rather dangerous characters. In the beginning things seem ok, but then their love becomes obsessive. This time you are loved by the twins Saionji Ran (CV: Sakurai Takahiro) and Wakasa (CV: Hatano Wataru)

If you ordered the CD at either Animate or Stellworth, you would get a special CD that tell the story of what would have happened if you choose neither, and the three of you continued to live together. Order at Animate and you would get the Ran version, order at Stellaworth and you would get the Wakasa version.

Instead of choosing one of the two brothers in the main drama, you continue to live together with the three of you. Ran and Wakasa have made 3 rules: 1. they can spend a day with you alone, this rotates on a daily basis (one day with Ran, one day with Wakasa, and so on). 2. No days are skipped. 3. You spend the night with the three of you. If they break any of these rules they will have to leave the mansion.


Ran version:
Ran wakes up first, and sees both you and Wakasa still sleeping beside him. Wakasa seems to be having some sort of dream where he is fighting someone RPG style. It is Ran his turn to spend the day with you, so he wants Wakasa out of the room. Wakasa still wants to sleep however, so Ran threatens him with a paper knife to get him out. You're still sleepy though, and Ran says you must still be tired because 'Wakasa wanted to try out a lot of things last night', so he lets you sleep a little bit more while he contemplates on the current situation.

Wakasa version:
Wakasa wakes up to find you still sleeping, but Ran already awake. Ran mentions that he didn't sleep much because of all the things Wakasa did last night, and asks him whether he noticed that you actually passed out in the middle of it. Wakasa seems to be sorry for not noticing that (wut?!?) but replies that Ran seemed to be enjoying watching it, and that he still has 'a lot of things that he wants to try out with the three of you together'. After that he throws Ran out so that he can spend the rest of the day with you. While you are cooking something, Wakasa contemplates on the current situation.

Both brothers lament about the fact that in the end they couldn't betray each other, and that even though they are not fully content with the current situation, this seems to be the only option. I'll have to admit that it is a highly... unusual situation. Except for Ran threatening Wakasa with a paper knife, there is not much yandere going on here. But it does make you realize that the situation that you are currently in is... tiring? dangerous? insane? I don't know what to say really.


Conclusion:
I was mainly rather surprised at what Wakasa is implied to be doing. I don't really like these much as an addition to the main drama. Nothing much happens, but the implications of what is going on... this is one situation you definitely don't want to be in. 

Yandere Heaven ~karei naru Saionji-ke Hen~

ヤンデレ天国（ヘブン）～華麗なる西園寺家編～

Company: Holic Works
Based on: Original
Released: 2011.12.29
Official site: http://www.hobirecords.com/yandere5/


Yandere Heaven is a series in which you (the listener) become the object of affection of two rather dangerous characters. In the beginning things seem ok, but then their love becomes obsessive. This time you are loved by the twins Saionji Ran (CV: Sakurai Takahiro) and Wakasa (CV: Hatano Wataru)

The twins live alone in a mansion, and have completely opposite personalities. Wakasa is very social, but doesn't have a job and instead spends a lot of time photographing things as a hobby. Ran on the other hand hates interacting with people, but will inherit his fathers company and is apparently very good in doing business (without ever leaving the house, I might add). You come to work at the mansion as a live in maid, an arrangement made by their grandmother.

The first time you see them, both Ran and Wakasa are speechless for a moment, but quickly turn back to their normal manners. Ran (much later) tells you that you look very similar to their dead little sister. Ran can keep you and the memories of his sister apart, but he is afraid Wakasa can't.

It is not much later that Ran discovers that Wakasa his entire room is full of pictures of you, and when he confronts him about that Wakasa in return says he know of the app Ran installed on your phone (it tracks where you are and records whatever is said). They both start to argue about how they envy the other, and that they will never hand over you to the other. The result, is that you have to choose which one you will stay with.

This CD was much more subdued that the previous ones. Even the scene where Ran and Wakasa are yelling at each other never gets as insane as Yandere Heaven 3 or 4. Although it was pretty intense. The fact that Ran already sounds scary from the beginning, and that there is little difference between his normal and 'yandere voice' is probably part of that. He does say some very obsessive things though (he is willing to do anything you want, including committing suicide, all you need to do is ask). Wakasa has a more traditional 'I want you all to myself' stance but the difference between his normal social attitude and this strong desire to monopolize things is somewhat amazing. He does however allow you outside to take walks, considerate isn't he?

Overall, I think there was more tension throughout the entire CD, but it sort of lacked a real climax. Or maybe I am just a prisoner to Sakurai his voice, and would follow it to the end of the earth of my free will. Who knows. I absolutely loved the music themes for both brothers though, especially Ran his (yandere) theme.

The cast talk was a lot of fun. Sakurai and Hatano do their cast comment together, talking about the two characters and yandere as a whole. Sakurai says types like Wakasa are bothersome, while Hatano says that he sort of understands the feelings of both characters. Their cast talk is very cheerful, and they obviously had a lot of fun during the recording, in short, the complete opposite of the drama CD itself.

I am kind of curious about the tokuten CDs. There are two of them (one for Animate, and one for Stellaworth) which depict a situation in which you didn't choose either of the brothers and continue to live with the three of you. Hopefully they will show up online sometime soon so I can review those as well.


Conclusion:
What can I say? This CD feels a bit more subdued. So for those of you who don't like your yanderes batshit insane, or who have never tried it before, it is probably very good. In fact, if you want to start on this series this might be the best one to begin with. Now that vol.6 is out you should start with that, it is even more subdued.

Weekly News Post

Well, after some startup problems we should be back on a regular schedule now. Also, if it might seem like there are two posters now: it is still only me. I used to have sepparate accounts for my mail and my blog, but I was getting tired of loggin in and out everytime I wanted to switch, so now I can use bot to post.


Barico
Looks like the series Barico is coming to an end. The official site has not been updated yet, but Frilla Records lists サヨナラ四重奏－Good bye Quartet― for a 2012.02.24 release. The product page says "the deelply moving finale" so there is no doubt that this will be the last CD for now. In the main series that is, because at the same time "Coffee and Love for all Seasons" has been announced: a compilation of all the short comics and a special drama CD.


Koi Koi
A new series by Marine Entertainment. Koi Koi is based on Hanafuda, the characters are based on each the month. 4 CDs will be released, each featuring 3 characters. Official Site is here.

Storywise, it is said that the 12 Hanafuda (here, Koifuda) govern the seasons. All twelve of them have been sealed together, to make sure that the seasons change smoothly as they should. However due to some sort of accident the cards have been released and have flown off in every direction, making the seasons run wild. And it is now your task to find the twelve of them again.


Kindan Kyuuketsuki
Dummy head mic, vampires out for your blood, sounds familiar? I'm not talking about Diabolik Lovers though. No there is another drama CD out for your blood: Kindan Kyuuketsuki ~Kurenai Bara no Ou~. Like it says on the site, this time your vampire is a lot more traditional.

Set in a (suspiciously German sounding) mediaeval era, you are invited into the house of a count (CV: Morikubo Shoutarou) who lives somewhere deep in a quiet forest, and end up getting your blood sucked.

I will refrain from commenting on the words "vampire stimme" and "vampire breathr" that are used on the site, but more vampires using the dummy head mic means you have me interested. The release is planned for 2012.03.14



IM Label
The official site has a limited edition picture up for new year, it will be their until the 10th and according to their twitter account the site will come back on the 11th "with a lot of info on releases and new works". New works... hmmm, I wonder if they are talking about Zyklus Code or something else entirely...?


Yandere Heaven Black
This blog doesn't feature any BL, but this is something that I had to post anyway. Yandere Heaven is getting a spinoff -Yandere Heaven Black- which is BL. Which means that this time both of the suitors and the main character are voiced.

A teaser site is online now, which reveals some info.  ヤンデレ天国BL(ブラック)～真誠学園男子寮 編～ (yandere heaven black ~shinsei gakuen danshi ryo hen~, Yandere Heaven Black ~Shinsei High Boys Dormitory Episode~) takes place -as you can guess- at the boys dormitory. The main character (CV: Akabane Kenji) is the victim of the affections of his roommate (CV: Majima Junji) and the dormitory's caretaker (CV: Hirakawa Daisuke).

Weekly News Post

Little Princess Sara
The cast for Momo&Grapes their next Men's Only drama has been announced: Serah (Okamoto Nobuhiko), Ermengard (Suganuma Hisayoshi), Becky (Takeuchi Ken), Ravinia(?)(Kishio Daisuke), Miss Minchin (Miki Shinichirou), Ram Dass (Yoshino Hiroyuki)


Damekare
The first rough sketches for Nanao Kippei (CV: Kaji Yuuki) have been released, finally giving us an idea on how he looks. Personality wise Kippei is a popular model who is always up to date with the latest fashion and everything trendy - except that his just his image and behind the facade he is actually an old-fashioned person who loves old movies and tv drama's.


Yandere Heaven 5
And the official site is up!! No new info yet (animate and stellaworth leaked all of it xD) but some nice visuals. And now the waiting for the voice samples starts :3 Samples are up (thanks Tensionrush for the tip!)

The site also confirms that there are indeed two tokuten drama CD's: buy Yandere Heaven 5 at animate and you will get 'the three of us after that ~Ran side~ and buy it at Stellaworth to get 'the three of us after that ~Wakasa side~. Both CD's tell what happens when you choose neither of them in the main scenario and continue to live together from the viewpoint from one of the two brothers.

Weekly News Post

Diabolik Lovers
A new drama CD series has arrived. Diabolik Lovers Kyuuketsuki Do-S CD is a series all about sadistic vampires who are out for your blood (and probably also fall in love with you). This also more of a multimedia project, as the CDs will be accompanied by a NicoNico Live broadcast show and a game by otomate.

Because your father has to go out of the country for his work for a while you somehow end up living in with 6 brothers that visit the same high school as you do. The 6 of them are so pretty the entire town talks about them, but they also have incredibly bad personalities and to top it all they turn out to be vampires!

From left too right we have the oldest son Shuu (CV: Toriumi Kousuke), who is described as "a apathetic music loving aristocrat". The second son Reiji (CV: Konishi Katsuyuki), who talks polite but insulting. The triplets Ayato (CV: Midorikawa Hikaru), Kanato (CV: Kaji Yuuki) and Raito (CV: Hirakawa Daisuke). And the rather violent Subaru (CV: Kondo Takeshi). Click here to see a larger version.

The release order is a bit of a mystery to me, but the first CD to be released is the one for Ayato, on 2011.12.21, and next up are Subaru (2012.01.25), Kanato (2012.02.22), Raito (2012.03.21), Reiji (2012.04.25) and finally Shuu (2012.05.23). A tokuten for those who buy all 6 CD's will also be published, but they have yet to announce what it will be.


Tap Trap Love
This was announced at 5pb their live event last week. Not much info about it yet, except that the series has 'Tap Dancing' as it's theme and that is uses the dummy head mic, and a list of seiyuu: Maeno Tomoaki, Kamiya Hiroshi, Nakai Kazuya, Itou Kentarou, Fujiwara Yuuki, Shimazaki Nobunaga, and Ishida Akira,

I'm curious about this, I don't know how one combines dancing and a drama CD but I've seen stranger things, and the dummy head mic is always love. Moreover, I'm kind of happy to see two unfamiliar names. Fujiwara Yuuki and Shimazaki Nobunaga are two names I'm unfamiliar with, and I'm curious about them. The series is planned for February 2012.

Weekly News Post

To start with some non drama CD news: I officially have a tumblr now. It's over here. Of course drama CD's are heavily featured, but there is also other stuff that interests me. Just keep in mind that, while this blog and the tumblr are somewhat related, this blog is for proper reviews while the tumblr is for random remarks and incoherent posts.


Oujisma (warai) series
Both Oujisama (warai) Variety drama 2 and Oujisama (warai) IF ~Oujisama Gakuen~ will go on sale on 2012.01.25, but both will be available beforehand at the winter Comiket.

For those who have bought both the first vacation CD and the second vacation CD (the variety drama's, they shouldn't change the titles, it is confusing): a special CD called 'Hadaka no Oujisama' will be gisfted as a bonus if you send the special coupons found on both CD to frontier works. (I have no idea whether this will also work for those living outside of Japan). Thanks to Annadiel for pointing this out!!


Kannou Mukashi Banashi
The staff just posted a picture of the Kannou CD box on their blog. It looks like besides the first 6CD's (the box is for the first season, meaning the first 6CD's) a seventh CD which includes a story for Puss in Boots. Which is kind of strange considering that the cover of the box is from Bluebeard. Let's just hope the box holds more surprises.

Another blog post mentions a limited edition drama CD that will be sold at 5pb's "Otome Carnival": a dramatized version of how Kannou Mukashi banashi came to be (if I'm understanding this right, the announcement has me majorly confused). A version of 'the ugly duckling', done by 10(!) seiyuu will also be read live.


La Storia della Arcana Famiglia
The release list on frontier works their homepage lists a drama CD for Arcana Famiglia titled  アルカナ・ファミリア」capitolo 1　～アーレ！ ノヴィーツィア！ 頑張れ新米幹部～ (Arcana Famiglia capitulo 1 ~Ale! Novicia! Ganbare shinmai kanbu!~) to be released on 2012.01.25

Yandere Heaven ~karei naru Sanjou-kei hen~

 ヤンデレ天国~華麗なる三条家編~

Company: Hobirecords
Based on: Original
Released: 2011.08.12
Official Site: http://www.hobirecords.com/yandere4/

Yesss, Yandere Heaven 4!! I was waiting for this!　The series returns with two new characters; this time you are loved to bits by your childhood friend and fiance Yamashina Makoto (CV: Kakihara Tetsuya), and your butler Minase Yasunori (CV: Morikawa Toshiyuki).

-obligatory warning that yandere might not be for everyone-

The story starts on a birthday party, just after your engagement to your childhood friend is announced. Unfortunately neither you nor your butler Minase knew anything about it, although everyone else in the household seems to know.

To prepare for the wedding Yamashina starts living with you, starting a few days in which Minase tries to keep him away from you. Eventually though, Yamashina manages to get the wedding preparations done. On the night before your wedding both Yamashina and Minase come to your room, the one to convince you that you can't escape, the other to convince you to run away with him, and you'll have to choose...

Like in previous entries to the series, there are two sepparate endings, one for each character. The endings are somewhat milder that in the last CD, although that might also be due to neither character being bloodrelated this time (thankfully!)

There is a lot more humor in this CD than in any of the others. The interactions between Yamashina and Minase can actually be called comical at times. Of course when both of them go yandere there is nothing left of that light atmosphere, but it was interesting to see that you can mix the two to some extent.

The cast talk was pretty fun. Kakihara seems to be talking more to himself that to the listeners xD And Morikawa-san suddenly goes high tension. Other than that it wasn't very special though.


Conclusion
This will remain my guilty pleasure for ever I think. It was a little more subdued that the previous entries, but the fact that we have a yandere butler here makes up for a lot of that. I hope that they'll continue the series, in the meanwhile I'll just re-listen all the existing ones~

Weekly News Post

A little late, but here is the news!



Yandere Heaven
The official site has been updated with voice clips for both characters and a short preview! It might just be my love of butlers, but Minase is... ♥. The preview is surprisingly fun, until things go yandere of course. After that is is just love~ 


Momogre
Versailles no Bara, one of momogre their men's only stories, will get a side story. Not much is know yet except the title and a (very) short plot description: ベルサイユのばら外伝～黒衣の伯爵夫人～ (versailles no bara ~kurogo no hakushakufujin~, the Rose of Versailles ~the countess in black~). The original cast will meet a mysterious countess at Oscar his sister her mansion... and that is all that is known for now, other than that the release date will be 2011.10.27

Weekly News Post

Mousou Este
Ever wondered what Noel was doing at a beauty clinic? Well, it turns out that he is an esthetician too! Or at least, in his dreams. The special CD ノエルの白昼夢 (noel no hakuchuumu, Noel his daydream) will be released during Comiket 80. If anyone is there and planning to get it, keep in mind that it will only be on sale during the second and third day!

                                             Yandere Heaven 4

Appearently they made a whole new site for yandere 4, no wonder they didn't add anything to the existing one *grumbles*. Ah well, at least that means there is an offical site. No preview or cast interview yet, but lots of other yandere goodness to look at.

Weekly News Post

I'm sorry about the slacking in reviews, but I promise to pick up the pace again! Now, for the news:


Tales of Graces Anthology Drama CD
I'm not entirely sure what I'm supposed to picture when something is called an anthology drama CD (I only know comic anthologies), But frontierworks is releasing a Tales of Graces Anthology Drama CD. It looks like this drama CD will center on gag stories.

Speaking of Tales, there are two drama/DJ CD's only on sale at Comiket 80. One for Tales of Symphonia, and one for Tales of Vesperia. From the description it looks like they will be part radio/DJ and part drama.



Warumono (warai) series
Last week I reported a possible new warai series, and now that I've finally found the official warai homepage again I have some more info on it.

Warumono (warai) series tells a few stories from the viewpoint of the villain. There are two CDs planned, 'Oni' (demon) and Ookami (wolf). The Oni one has stories like Momotarou and Issun Boushi from the viewpoint of the demon. The Ookami one answers the question 'what if the wolf from Red Ridinghood, the Seven Little Goats, and the Three little Piggies would be the same wolf?'.

Allow me to go kyaaaaaaa~! a new warai series!!!!.  Thank you, I won't do it again. I promise.

ヤンデレ天国(ヘブン) ~真誠学園 御家庭編~

Yandere Heaven ~Makoto Gakuen go Katei Hen~

Company: Holic Works
Based On: Original
Release Date: 2010.12.29
Official Site: www.hobirecords.com/yandere/index.html


Yandere Heaven is back, and better. This time the main character is loved a bit too much by her foster father (CV: Yusa Kouji) and her twin brother (CV: Matsubara Daisuke).

< insert obligatory warning about Yandere only being for those who know what they are dealing with here >

This volume was heavy. Like in the previous installments 'you' (the listener) become the object of affection of two rather dangerous characters. However, this time both characters are your family which made the setting somewhat hard to accept for me (Kakeru from the first volume was only adopted, somehow softening the setting). While technically nothing that can be labeled as incest happens, it is still your family that loves you to bits.

This probably made for a far stronger emotional impact, and you should have seen me listening to this. It probably looked very comical, but I was actually cowering at some points. Especially the scene where you have locked yourself in your room and both Naohiro and Hajime are yelling at you made me flinch. In the second volume I was too busy fangirling over Hirakawa-san his voice, but this volume really made me feel uncomfortable at times.

Luckily, the cast talk does away with all that, with Yusa and Matsubara Daisuke happily chatting about the recording, that it was impossible to identify with the characters, that Yusa has no 'dere', and puns. So as chilling as the drama can be, you'll end with a smile on your face.

A small detail I liked was that the characters from previous volumes are mentioned again. (Naohiro mentions Kakeru and Atsushi-senpai, Hajime somehow obtained stuff from Sakae, and even though Takaaki is not mentioned by name (I think) you just KNOW that the doctor they are talking about is him).

Conclusion:
The fact that this volume actually scared me at some points must mean that it was emotionally very affective. Maybe even more than before I should warn that you should only listen to this if you can stomach it. Or when you don't get as emotionally involved as myself (I was talking back to the CD, especially to Naohiro). Oh, and in case this review made you wonder whether I liked it or not: YES I LIKED IT. Me and my twisted mind

Yandere Heaven ~Makoto Gakuen Affiliated Hostpital Chapter~

I already did a review of the first CD here, this is the second CD and in my opinion it is even better than the first. The sheer fact that Hirakawa Daisuke is one of the voice actors made this an absolut must for me, and he didn't let me down! Again, if you don't know what yandere is you might want to stay away from it, especially because this one is even extremer than the first.

This times round you are a nurse that has just started working in Makoto Hospital. The CD once again has two characters: Takaaiki, the  doctor who is in charge of training you, and Sakae, a patient (who isn't really sick but just there for some reason btw). Takaaki tries to keep you away from Sakae from the start, and that is where the trouble starts.

Like I said, this CD is even extremer than the first. For one because being in a hospital gives some interesting options, but also because of Hirakawa Daisuke's voice acting. Oh my, his voice acting (>w<) but more on that later.
The one thing that annoyed me a little with this CD was the main character's (ie: your own) actions. Even after she's been warned numerous times not to go to Sakae and he has revealed his intentions she happily goes to visit him, even lets him drive her home. In the first CD the main chara was just trying to live her life (go to school and her part time job) but this time round you make some rather illogical decisions...

All is forgiven with Hiraka Daisuke's voice acting though. I've always thought that yandere or characters with a hidden (dark) side suit him best and oh man, was I right. His normal voice is very sweet an lovable, but when he goes yandere I get chills down my spine. But then when I thought that he was already in compleet yandere mode he takes it even further. I thought I'd die from fangirling xD

The cast talk was pretty interesting too, especially because Hirakawa-san goes yandere again in the end~



So yes, if you liked the first one, or if you like yandere in general: get out there and buy this CD. NOW xD