The GHZ Forum

I've recently finished reading up the manga, and I want to know if the anime is worth watching. Or should I just forget that and buy the Maison Ikkoku manga, which, along with Kimagure Orange Road, are considered to be the best romantic comedy manga of the 1980s? I don't want to commit to something that costs $25 a DVD..

I'd go with Ikkoku before GG! bans you for even asking that question.

My impression on Kimagure is that the people who liked it back in the day still like it a lot. If you're reading some really fresh impressions then that might be worth something, I'd be a little skeptical otherwise. I have seen a little bit of the TV series and I thought it was ok, but I didn't go out of my way to see more, it was pretty forgettable. It's got a pleasant atmosphere about it but that's not really anything distinctive to that show in particular. I've also seen the "movie," which I believe is an OVA conclusion to the TV series. It's very good even if you don't have any familiarity with the characters, and it took the material a lot more seriously than the TV series did, or at least there seemed to be more romance-comedy and less goofy magic stuff.

I've actually never read Orange Road, but I've been really curious about it. How is the manga?

You should definitely get the Ikkoku manga first, though. And tissue because your brain will come.

OK then. I got the first volume of Ikkoku already actually (and enjoyed it), and since the Kimagure Orange Road manga will probably never be licensed, I'll go with that instead. Thanks.

Green Gibbon! wrote:I've actually never read Orange Road, but I've been really curious about it. How is the manga?

It's a little on the repetitive side (18 volumes versus Maison Ikkoku's 14), and the art is even more dated than Maison Ikkoku's, but like Maison Ikkoku, it has that 80s happy feel to it. The characters are actually pretty cool, though, and more than make up for the visual shortcomings.

I've seen the Orange Road TV series in its entirety, and I can say it's pretty dull overall. There's all the usual awkward romantic baggage, but unlike Ikkoku, there's no real sense of progress throughout the story, and when it's all over, well, there's really nothing to show for it.

The only thing that could possibly make me say it's worthwhile would be the inherent appeal of the show's 80s atmosphere, which is thick enough to cut with a knife. Whether it's the music, the hair, the clothes, or the Terminator references, nothing will let you forget what decade comprised Kyosuke Kasuga's <i>seishun</i>. There's one memorable episode where the Cute Girl (as opposed to the Beautiful Girl) tries to take on a more alluring, mature image by dressing up in the latest threads, and given the context, this means legwarmers, headbands, long dangly earrings, tops hanging off one shoulder, etc. All the guys in the show respond with dumbstruck lust, but to anyone watching today it just looks goofy, which makes the reception she gets nothing short of hilarious.

Another point in the show's favor is Jingoro, the protagonist's housecat. But you've read the manga, and I assume he's in there, so I shouldn't have to tell you about how he's pretty much the only worthwhile animal mascot anime/manga has ever produced.

Orange Road also happens to be one of those shows with a "let's throw the cast into an unfamiliar context" New Year's special stand-alone episode. And Orange Road's is the best one I've ever seen. Dig it: it's a parody of (among other things) Top Gun.

Therein lies the charm, really, but also the extent of it. If there are no cheesy 80s songs playing or no wacky 80s hijinks occurring, the show reverts to dullsville. When all's said and done, it's best to stick with Ikkoku.

Kishi wrote: Another point in the show's favor is Jingoro, the protagonist's housecat. But you've read the manga, and I assume he's in there, so I shouldn't have to tell you about how he's pretty much the only worthwhile animal mascot anime/manga has ever produced.

No, he's only in the anime. He's pretty cool from what I've seen, though.