Paradise Kiss! What we've been waiting for!

[Tsukushi]

Episode 11 was good, but not as good as episode 10. It felt a little slower, and having the festival right at the beginning did kill the tension. Also, it seemed like every single character had to have their little appearance. Still very enjoyable overall though.I liked the little story about the photo at the end.

Did anyone else think the dress that won was absolutley hideous?? I sure did. I guess they had a competition online for it's design. I had a look at some of the losing entries, and liked them a lot better. Oh well, it's not a big part of the show.


Hehe, yes, the dress was a little strange.... I agree that episode 10 was a little stronger than 11, though of course it was still good. It's going to be interesting to see how the final episode will turn out. I hope it's not going to feel to rushed....

[Ritalin]

I am going insane, where is episode 12? :( Did it air this week?

Why must fansubbers take so long with every single season finale (if it did air)? I don't want the subs to look pretty and have text effects flashing all over the screen I just want the episode with some simple subs! :complain:

[Mana]

I am going insane, where is episode 12? :( Did it air this week?

Why must fansubbers take so long with every single season finale (if it did air)? I don't want the subs to look pretty and have text effects flashing all over the screen I just want the episode with some simple subs! :complain:
According to another forum, the last episode has aired, just as a note. Still waiting for the sub ._.;

[soundchazer]

Episode 12

As expected... too much compression.

Some good lines were taken out, unlike the manga, we don't get to know exactly what happened to Yukari.

Kaori in many ways became an afterthought because of how fast she was introduced and discarded.

Not a bad episode. It explained what it had to explain, but I feel cheated.

[ant]

Putting important information in the ending credits was also bad, the show could have used the 13 episode format, and Ritalin the last show aired 12/29/2005 not that it really matters now.

[Pachinko]

Awww >.<

Over all it was really great.
Upset on how short it all was<3

Now, just waiting for Nana... :3

[fugupinkeye]

Awww >.<

Over all it was really great.
Upset on how short it all was<3

Now, just waiting for Nana... :3

or hope someone subs Gokinjo Monogatari on the strength of Paradis Kiss.

12 did seem rushed and compressed. I feel like things were missing. But this is the first anime I have watched AFTER reading the manga, so my perceptions are kinda suspect.

all in all, a good show, though. Separation anxiety time.

[Rove]

Can you say Fast-Forward?
This series deserved the 13 episode format so bad....Oh well, it could have being worst. For a manga-to-anime translation was amazing, I wasn't expecting such panel-to-cel of plenty of scenes, yet they still delivered. I actually preferred the way they ended the anime by resuming the "10 years later" scene, some things are better left unseen. Loved the way they used the opening and ending songs during the episodes and the black-and-white contrast near the end, though it was fearly obvious for anyone who had read the manga the purpose of this, it really enhanced that moment.

It was a fun ride, and now is me waiting for this anime to get licensed soon to be able to support the creators (which probably they are not in such a need of money) by buying the DVDs...which will hopefully bring interviews with the seiyuus because I would love to see what Miwako's and George's seiyuus look like. Chances are, nothing like their characters.

[soundchazer]

Can you say Fast-Forward?
This series deserved the 13 episode format so bad....Oh well, it could have being worst. For a manga-to-anime translation was amazing, I wasn't expecting such panel-to-cel of plenty of scenes, yet they still delivered. I actually preferred the way they ended the anime by resuming the "10 years later" scene, some things are better left unseen. Loved the way they used the opening and ending songs during the episodes and the black-and-white contrast near the end, though it was fearly obvious for anyone who had read the manga the purpose of this, it really enhanced that moment.

It was a fun ride, and now is me waiting for this anime to get licensed soon to be able to support the creators (which probably they are not in such a need of money) by buying the DVDs...which will hopefully bring interviews with the seiyuus because I would love to see what Miwako's and George's seiyuus look like. Chances are, nothing like their characters.

I disagree... there are two moments that were covered in the manga that could have made this better:

The Kaori/Yukari/George scene is longer and more dramatic in the manga, and there are a couple of lines of Yukari's instrospection omitted after George tells her that he never slept with Kaori, that she was not that kind of girl, which would have made the moment more powerful.

And I quote the manga (Yukari thinking):

"What is that? That pisses me off even more. What do you mean she is not that kind of woman? Then what about my honor? I'm sleeping with you!

What am I to George? I'm not your dress-up doll or your sex toy. No matter what you say about respecting my wishes... In the end George doesn't approve of anything about my character."

That also helps explain why Yukari in the end doesn't follow him to Paris.

And seriously... that 10 years later flashback?

How can you not want people to know she ended up choosing Hiro? Or that by that time, Arashi and Miwako did indeed marry and had a daughter already? I think that actually cheapens Hiro as a character a bit, because you present no resolution for him.

And I still think that Kaori was short-changed. Three very important moments with the character were lost. Damn... I demand they remake this anime and include at least one more episode!

[Rove]

I disagree... there are two moments that were covered in the manga that could have made this better:

The Kaori/Yukari/George scene is longer and more dramatic in the manga, and there are a couple of lines of Yukari's instrospection omitted after George tells her that he never slept with Kaori, that she was not that kind of girl, which would have made the moment more powerful.

And I quote the manga (Yukari thinking):

"What is that? That pisses me off even more. What do you mean she is not that kind of woman? Then what about my honor? I'm sleeping with you!

What am I to George? I'm not your dress-up doll or your sex toy. No matter what you say about respecting my wishes... In the end George doesn't approve of anything about my character."

That also helps explain why Yukari in the end doesn't follow him to Paris.[QUOTE=soundchazer]

I guess I didn't make myself clear the first time, what I did like best over the manga was the shorter "10 year later" flashback (which technically is not a flashback as it happens later, but whatever...). I recognize that the relationship between George and Yukari deserved those lines that you covered in your first spoiler tag, I never thought otherwise.

[QUOTE=soundchazer]And seriously... that 10 years later flashback?

How can you not want people to know she ended up choosing Hiro? Or that by that time, Arashi and Miwako did indeed marry and had a daughter already? I think that actually cheapens Hiro as a character a bit, because you present no resolution for him.

I never liked the "10 years later" stage chapter for two reasons: 1) The manga deals with a Yukari with the sheep mentality who does everything her parents tell her to the Yukari who is capable of making her descisions and can think of her own. She chose not to go with George to follow her life/dreams/aspirations/oportunities, something that George accepted. Then it comes that 10 years have passed, she has done nothing but modeling meaning that once her beauty is gone she has nothing left to do, and BAM! she marries Hiro! So all the "think for yourself, make your own descision, no sheep mentality goes down the toilet...that just pissed me off to no end..
2)This one is more of a logic glitch but anyways, during those 10 years in modeling she never met someone else?, it seems that there were only two men in the entire manga, just George and Hiro; since George is somewhere else, Hiro come forward and take the form of the Groom! I wouldn't have disliked it so much if she had married someone, a complete stranger to us the readers, it would have made much more sense.
And I regret that Miwako's and Arashi's story was never told..

And I still think that Kaori was short-changed. Three very important moments with the character were lost. Damn... I demand they remake this anime and include at least one more episode!

And I couldn't agree more with you on that.

[Ritalin]

Watched this last night, and yeah, it did feel a bit compressed. My predictions were right. However, you always get that feeling when you previously read the manga, so it's a bit unfair to judge so harshly.

If it stuck with the standard 13 episode format, it would have been perfect.

The only parts I thought that could have been better were the Kaori/George/Yukari scenes and the 10 years later clip. The anime gives off the impression that Yukari is angered at George during that whole scene with Kaori, when in fact she is angry at herself because of how she snapped at Kaori.

And poor Hiro, he was just cut off with no ending in the anime. They could have at least mentioned him by name or showed him in that 10 years later scene.

Overall, this was one of the best anime I have seen in a long time in terms of sheer quality, and if it matters, in how well they adapted the manga. Awesome.

[soundchazer]

Rove... you forget one thing:

Hiro was Yukari's first crush, so she already had feelings for the boy, and guess what? Hiro liked her too! (although it was not as apparent in the anime, but it was spelled out in the manga). It is not sheep mentality at all. It is logic overcoming fantasy: you usually marry a person you like and who likes you back, and you usually date people you know. And guess what? Models do get old and settle down after their careers are over. It was stated from the start Yukari was not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed.

It seems to me you are letting your own expectations of the female role overcome the most often than not sober and dull reality of life.

[HidekiMotosuwa]

I loved this anime and will defiently be getting the manga soon. I had a few questions but most of them were answered by SC and everyone except one who does George end up with Kaori/Isabella/or alone cause since I never read the manga I don't know if they touched on it. Otherwise not bad can't wait to see what else comes out :D

[Ritalin]

I loved this anime and will defiently be getting the manga soon. I had a few questions but most of them were answered by SC and everyone except one who does George end up with Kaori/Isabella/or alone cause since I never read the manga I don't know if they touched on it. Otherwise not bad can't wait to see what else comes out :D

The manga nevers says what happens to Georges' love life. All we know is how his designs are used in the Broadway performance that Yukari is seeing on her Honeymoon.

[Minnie]

Even though I've given up on trying to compare it to the manga and decided to see it as just an anime, it really does feel like something in the end was rushed. I would have liked seeing more of the struggles that the Parakiss crew, Yukari (heck, even Hiro) had to go through following the high they experienced from the Yazawa Arts Fashion Show that they've been putting off. Indeed, there were a lot of issues that could have been further touched upon, namely how Yukari and George's relationship dissolved, Miwako's condition, Hiro's involvement and how it relates to how Arashi has been treating her, Isabella's attachment to George, and the tragedy of how George's mother was so dependent on his father, and to George himself. I agree with sc, I really would have liked to see how Kaori convinced George's father about his future, some sort of evidence of her tenacity in that matter. I don't care how short her apearance was, I want a flashback, anything! The really could have removed the George and Yukino dialogue and replaced it with the "bowing" scene. >_> And yes! they should have explained the symbolism of the grey cityscape with a simple line or something... so pooh!

Hur, rant over. Hey, I still think it wasn't that bad. Apart from my little nitpicky scene replacement indicated within the spoiler tags of this post, THAT is how I would have wrapped it all up in 12 episodes. Paradise Kiss still deserves a kudos.

[Senshi]

Watched this last night, and yeah, it did feel a bit compressed. My predictions were right. However, you always get that feeling when you previously read the manga, so it's a bit unfair to judge so harshly.

If it stuck with the standard 13 episode format, it would have been perfect.


yeah I havent read the manga but I agree with you too... it did feel really compressed... I think they could have accomplished alot with just one more episode...

btw what was the reason they only went with 12 episodes? Doesnt really make sense...

[Lurker]

Because episode 10 was filler, otherwise they'd have only had 11 episodes.

Anyway, this show was good but not nearly as good as it should have been. Those of you who got the read the manga seemed to get more out of this then the rest of us did, which was what I was afraid of. If it has to be explained by the manga readers why some of what happened or didn't happen happened (or didn't) then the show failed. While I appreciate that they knew the manga followship was going to watch this, that still shouldn't have left the rest of us out in the dark on some things.

Moreover, there was a lot of story here that didn't get told. It was almost as if Paradise Kiss was about showing us as many characters as possible, how screwed up they are, and then doing nothing about it. Seeing Arashi, Hiro, and Miwako become friends again was all nice and keen, but putting a little more thought into it might have helped.

Those of you complaining about it being rushed, yep it was. Utter disappointment from such a hyped show. It's still a good view, but it's not much more then a solid B+.

[Sorrow-kun]

Fair review, Liegy, but I was so tempted to make a thread in the Library forum so I could debate you on this:As one of the most highly anticipated anime of 2005, Paradise Kiss had some very high expectations to live up to.My first responce was that this was totally not true, but then I realized you were most likely talking about in Japan. Because even now the west is showing the typical reaction to shoujo series and hardly caring. I wouldn't even say it's better than a 50-50 chance of being licensed at the moment.

As far as the grade's concerned, I can't really judge, since I'm only 8 episodes in so far. It seems high, but somehow believable, since the show is constantly getting better and better, particularly in the last 3 eps I've seen. But the first half was far too slow, in my opinion. More needed to happen to the characters, since their personalities aren't interesting enough to be compelling on their own, and their backstories were only given minimal attention. If it ends up working as a decent build up for the events of the last 4 eps, then I'll be willing to forgive it.

I think Lurker's assessment is fair though, fans of the manga seem to have gotten more out of this. I certainly can't say it's been a bad series on what I've seen, but it has its obvious flaws which a lot of the people in this thread seemed to have been way to willing to forgive. I can understand why the anime may have been geared towards fans of the manga, since it was the top selling shoujo manga in Japan at one stage. But I think the rest of us might have missed something.

[soundchazer]

When I do my review... you will see I would not grade it as high. I perfectly understand the gripes of those who have not read the manga.

[ant]

Even with all its faults PK was still one of my favorite series of last year, it was a shame they left out information and rushed the ending hopefully this doesn't go into the 60% range.

ant bribes SC with cc cookies

[soundchazer]

Hey... what do you take me for? For the record, I worship Ai Yazawa. I couldn't do that to one of her creations.

[ant]

I will look forward to it, I always love to see when you balance out some of the grades, bumped up TPPOED :) bumped down FLCL :)

[soundchazer]

Just before people start getting funny ideas, I don't do that on purpose. I just give my honest assestment on the anime, and I think ParaKiss has enough flaws to prevent it from being a 90s anime.

[animerules15421]

I dont consider it to be as flawed as some other anime's i have seen.

[Ritalin]

My first responce was that this was totally not true, but then I realized you were most likely talking about in Japan.

Actually, (I don't know about aussieland though) in the US, or at least in Phoenix, the manga was extremely popular. You would see it everywhere, and not being able to find it would mean you're blind. There were people in various classes at my school when it was in print, who would be reading it and they didn't even watch anime or probably know what manga is.

Great review, Liegy. I think you nailed it. :)

[Mana]

Actually, (I don't know about aussieland though) in the US, or at least in Phoenix, the manga was extremely popular. You would see it everywhere, and not being able to find it would mean you're blind. There were people in various classes at my school when it was in print, who would be reading it and they didn't even watch anime or probably know what manga is.

Great review, Liegy. I think you nailed it. :)
On the contrary it was nigh impossible to find here. I snagged the one and only copy of the first volume at a nearby B&N since I had been waiting for it, and the subsequent volumes (with the exception of 5) were about as rare. Almost no one I knew I read/was reading it either, except for people I gave it to ._.; Kinda funny how that worked out, I guess.

As for last episode talk, yeah, last episode was rushed. It's been talked about enough, methinks. Although, I almost did like them cutting out about Hiro at the end. His later marriage to Yukari seemed, to me anyway, much too storybook to fit in well with a rather realistic drama.

[Sorrow-kun]

Rit: Never mind the manga at the moment, which's popularity is questionable at best. (I've never seen it in stores... but then again, I didn't even realize it was licensed. And given what Mana said, Phoenix may well be an anomoly). But, have a look at some of the stats on the anime.

Torrent site reported that Paradise Kiss's final episode was only downloaded 14825 times. Now compare this with Suzuka's final episode, which was released around the same time, and downloaded 38666 times. Shuffle!'s final episode: 21914. And that had a competing fansubber. And that's without even comparing it to long running shounen action series like Bleach, which gets those sort of statistics on pretty much all its episodes in it's first 24 hours of release. I think it's totally fair to say Paradise Kiss went under the radar outside Japan.

I'll give Liegy the benefit of the doubt on that line I quoted in my last post, and assume she was talking about Japan. Because ParaKiss got a very typical-for-shoujo-series reaction in the west: ie, close to none. And it certainly wasn't among the most highly anticipated series of 2005 in the west.... not the way something like Otome or TSR were anticipated.

[soundchazer]

As for last episode talk, yeah, last episode was rushed. It's been talked about enough, methinks. Although, I almost did like them cutting out about Hiro at the end. His later marriage to Yukari seemed, to me anyway, much too storybook to fit in well with a rather realistic drama.

Real life story: 2 of my sisters married their first love interests AFTER they had dated other people. So REALISTIC drama can have that type of ending. It is NOT fairy tale, and it is not illogical. Sometimes you just marry that person you have known for a long time, and who you know also likes you. I just don't get why people are so fixated these days on trying to have people marry/engage/hit the sack with 10 different people and marry a complete stranger. Must be a Melrose Place thing.

What Ai Yazawa did was what indeed is the more sensible approach. The fairy tale ending would have been Yukari marrying George. Now THAT would be awfully convenient.

[Pachinko]

What Ai Yazawa did was what indeed is the more sensible approach. The fairy tale ending would have been Yukari marrying George. Now THAT would be awfully convenient.

I couldn't agree more. It's not like Yazawa to create something so 2-D... It's far more complex than that. And, even though it caused my gut too wrench, it created a classic story.

And, it'd be just plain boring/anti-climactic of an ending with that sort of relationship. Realism, folks.

[Lurker]

Great review, Liegy. I think you nailed it. :)

If by "nailed it" you mean "nailed a pretty picture over it to cover up a lot of it's flaws" then yes. I'm not picking on Liegy or anything, but a 93% anime this is not. As enjoyable as it was on a superficial level, it just didn't work when you put it all together. By the end, you wonder why some characters (who may or may not have been more important and / or explained better in the manga) appeared in the show at all.

What's most disappointing is that we barely scratched the surface of the characters and their stories in this show. We got to see barely a snippet of Isabell's past. We don't really understand everything about George (and indeed only get more questions asked when Kaori comes around). Arashi, Miwako, and Hiro's little triangle of love and jealousy was more interesting then the rest of the show and even that got glossed over easily enough.

From a storytelling perspective, this show laid a big fat egg. Stylish? Sure. Realistic? Sure. Does that make up for the shortcomings? Hell no.

[Nicotine]

I have to agree that the review grade was to high. The manga may have been an A because it explained everything well, but not the show. Especially the ending. It was so obviously rushed and I think that destroyed the whole thing for me. I haven't read the manga, but you can clearly see they left some important things out.

[Pachinko]

I have to agree that the review grade was to high. The manga may have been an A because it explained everything well, but not the show. Especially the ending. It was so obviously rushed and I think that destroyed the whole thing for me. I haven't read the manga, but you can clearly see they left some important things out.

Well, let's take this from someone who has read the manga:

I think it was an awesome review. The anime may not have been as great (or as paced) as the manga, but compared to other anime, it was high-quality. Some of the changes were actually more comfortable for me, and possibly some others, that it made the anime more 'real' and 'easier-to-watch'. Liegy's review did the show justice, as much as the show does justice to Vivienne Westwood.

[Nicotine]

The art was beautiful, but the story really lacked. Yes, it was realistic that Yukari didn't end up with George, but we don't even know why. Who broke it off? Did George end up with someone else? Who? What exactly was Miwako's "sickness"? Was it actually something serious?

It was okay. All I'm saying is that the grade doesn't match. It's not as good as the other A's in the library. I think the reason why a lot of people like it is because they've read the manga (and I guess it was targeted toward those people). It still had horrible pacing either way. Paradise Kiss seems like a strong B to me. Nothing above 85, that's for sure. Looks at FMA's grades, does it make sence that ParaKiss is around those numbers?

[soundchazer]

The art was beautiful, but the story really lacked. Yes, it was realistic that Yukari didn't end up with George, but we don't even know why. Who broke it off? Did George end up with someone else? Who? What exactly was Miwako's "sickness"? Was it actually something serious?

It was okay. All I'm saying is that the grade doesn't match. It's not as good as the other A's in the library. I think the reason why a lot of people like it is because they've read the manga (and I guess it was targeted toward those people). It still had horrible pacing either way. Paradise Kiss seems like a strong B to me. Nothing above 85, that's for sure. Looks at FMA's grades, does it make sence that ParaKiss is around those numbers?

Actually, if you don't know why Geroge and Yukari broke it off, then you were not watching the anime correctly. That part was resolved and it was painfully obvious why (although the manga makes it even more obvious with some additional information provided).

Regardless... it is still not a 90s show.

[Pachinko]

Regardless... it is still not a 90s show.

Anime Academy is so opinionated... :headbang:
But, if a professor as yourself says something like that, there is some truth to it. Everyone has their one opinions and expectations while watching ParaKiss, and I have to agree with Liegy's review. I saw the exact same things as she.

By the way, I will really be looking forward to your review, soundchazer.

~Pa-chan

[Liegenschonheit]

One thing I dislike about the AA forums is this "my opinion pwns yours" sort of attitude. My review is a review based upon my impression of the anime. From what you can see in this thread, some agree with me, others don't. Thats why there are more than one reviewer here. SC's point of view will sit well with some people, and I'm sure if Eek or Ender were to come along and review it, other people would agree with them.
Personally, I think that there are several highly graded anime in the library that I would grade lower. That doesn't mean I come on the forums and say "sorry SC (or whoever wrote the review), you're wrong. It deserves a lower grade". Opinions are funny that way, there really is no wrong answer as long as you can back it up with your reasons.
Also, to be quite frank, if you think you can write a better or more accurate review, do so. Yes, I am challenging you guys. There is a student review forum, and the best way to refute a professor's review is to write your own.

[ant]

If anything after reading this thread I'm gonna pick up the manga!

[Sorrow-kun]

Liegy: Never mind that for a second. It's your opinion and you're entitled to it. What I want to argue is a fact:As one of the most highly anticipated anime of 2005, Paradise Kiss had some very high expectations to live up to.If what you were implying here is that the ParaKiss anime was ever highly anticipated or popular in the west, you're wrong. Only very few people watched it outside Japan. And I've shown the statistics to back me up on this one.

That was pretty much my only problem with your review. If you thought the flaws in ParaKiss were too insignificant to mention, so be it. Your opinion. Not everyone shares it, 'sall.

[Mana]

Real life story: 2 of my sisters married their first love interests AFTER they had dated other people. So REALISTIC drama can have that type of ending. It is NOT fairy tale, and it is not illogical. Sometimes you just marry that person you have known for a long time, and who you know also likes you. I just don't get why people are so fixated these days on trying to have people marry/engage/hit the sack with 10 different people and marry a complete stranger. Must be a Melrose Place thing.
Just because something can happen in real life doesn't mean it can't be a storybook ending. It happens everyday, but that doesn't make the situation itself more realistic.

What Ai Yazawa did was what indeed is the more sensible approach. The fairy tale ending would have been Yukari marrying George. Now THAT would be awfully convenient.
And I applaud her for making that decision, as, you're right, it would have been wrong. Her marrying Hiro wasn't quite as bad, but it still isn't my cup of tea.

[fugupinkeye]

on second thought, maybe I will burden you all with my opini... I mean the definitive answer to this. 93%, just for the rushed ending? Cause I saw no other flaws in this one. Blah. 95 should be the grade. Maybe 96, I'd have to check, but I truly would not want it to pass GOTFF, though I have no problem rating it higher than whatever anime series from the 70's you profs dug up to review this week. I personally thought this was one of the best shows I have seen. But 93% Parakiss rates below Gundam! Gundam for chirstsake. Below Kenshin. My 13 year old cousin grew out of kenshin. Below Kare Kano. Paradise kiss rates lower than cut outs on popsicle sticks, and you bottomfeeders want it lower? Maybe I should take comfort in the fact that those who want Parakiss lower are the same ones who railed when FLCL fell off the top 10%. OK, I've said my peace. I'm done.

[Sorrow-kun]

Lieg can rate it where she wants. I'd rate it significantly lower. And, if we're bringing up injustices in the library, let's have a look at some of the titles that ParaKiss is currently above: BECK... an infinitely superior Koboyashi Osamu outing; Gungrave; Kino's Journey; Millenium Actress... plenty of other titles in the Library that deserve to be higher than ParaKiss, in my opinion.

And you're talking about the Kenshin OVA there... which was infinitely superior to the TV series. That's a title that I'd personally rate higher than it is in the Library. Hell, in my opinion, that's one of anime's greatest achievements... which is particularly amazing considering it was spawned from a slightly-better-than-mediocre TV series.

Liegy has ParaKiss rated worse than no more than 20 titles.... I can easily name 20 titles which I think are better than ParaKiss... and at least 3 of them are shoujo (and, no, none of them are Kare Kano). And, for the record, I couldn't care less where FLCL is rated.

[Lurker]

Sorrow's an angry little monkey today. =)

[Sorrow-kun]

Not so much angry as not really feeling like being insulted because I can see flaws in the show that other people can't.

[soundchazer]

on second thought, maybe I will burden you all with my opini... I mean the definitive answer to this. 93%, just for the rushed ending? Cause I saw no other flaws in this one. Blah. 95 should be the grade. Maybe 96, I'd have to check, but I truly would not want it to pass GOTFF, though I have no problem rating it higher than whatever anime series from the 70's you profs dug up to review this week. I personally thought this was one of the best shows I have seen. But 93% Parakiss rates below Gundam! Gundam for chirstsake. Below Kenshin. My 13 year old cousin grew out of kenshin. Below Kare Kano. Paradise kiss rates lower than cut outs on popsicle sticks, and you bottomfeeders want it lower? Maybe I should take comfort in the fact that those who want Parakiss lower are the same ones who railed when FLCL fell off the top 10%. OK, I've said my peace. I'm done.

Again... I will grade it lower, and I was the one that made FLCL fall the top 10%. And I don't think Gundam is all that. And I do believe Beck was better directed, and yet it had the same basic fatal flaw in the very end, but you will read about it when the time comes.

[Major Tom]

Well I finished this a few days ago. I loved it. More of my opinions can be found in the 'Rate the animes you have seen thread', but more than likely I'll be extrapolating on what was wrong with it here.

Overall, whilst I will be looking forward to the Good Doctor's review, my opinions on it line up more with Liegenschonheit's. I didn't see that much wrong with it, and any flaws other than the ones I will mention were minor enough to go either unnoticed or I could ignore without worry.

First of all, I will agree that the super deformed parts in the beginning were jarring. Not because of the SD style itself, but more the way they just suddenly dropped out out it, sometimes in the same scene. It was like suddenly putting on the brakes. However, this got much better after episode 3, but I think that had more to do with the SD parts appearing much less frequently.

Alot of the people on this thread complained about the eyecatch/scene change.....whatever the proper term is. They didn't bug me much. They were weird for the first couple of episodes, but they weren't a problem for me after that. I suppose that kind of thing isn't seen much in anime. Besides, I liked the daisies one. I thought it was cute.

And the last epsiode. Despite my best efforts, I have not been able to find volume 5 of the manga anywhere local, so I had no idea how it was going to end. But even I could feel that there was another episodes worth crammed into there. When did George have doubts about becoming a designer? We know that those around him have commented that as he is, he will get absolutely punished in the real world, but I don't remember anybody actually telling him so. It was only in the last half that things started becoming paced a little more slowly, and my brain could catch up.

I don't think it is too difficult to figure out what was going on, but I think the effect on the viewers is somewhat dampened by having it crammed together so much.

On a final note, I do think...Lurker I think is the person who posted this....is right about that people who have read the manga would get more out of this show than those who have not. But I think the show has been designed in a way that it is not necessary to have read the manga to be able to enjoy it, unlike some other shows.

[C0MPL3X]

I didn't see that much wrong with it, and any flaws other than the ones I will mention were minor enough to go either unnoticed or I could ignore without worry.

I don't know, but if the anime is not ambitious, does that count as a flaw?

The last episode was by far my favourite, probably because I haven't read manga to know how much I was missing out. Anyway, the last episode covered quite a lot, happy with the pacing.

When did George have doubts about becoming a designer?
If I remember correctly, he never had any doubts. It was a sad excuse to stay with his mother and care for her.

But I think the show has been designed in a way that it is not necessary to have read the manga to be able to enjoy it, unlike some other shows.

How many shows are actually designed so that we have to read the manga to be able to enjoy it?

[Major Tom]

I don't know, but if the anime is not ambitious, does that count as a flaw?

I don't understand what you are getting at here.

The last episode was by far my favourite, probably because I haven't read manga to know how much I was missing out. Anyway, the last episode covered quite a lot, happy with the pacing.

Meh. I didn't read the last volume, and I felt very rushed. I suppose this is where we will have to agree to disagree.

If I remember correctly, he never had any doubts. It was a sad excuse to stay with his mother and care for her.

For the second part, I think that was more a way to not be the utter d*** is father is.

As for the first, George loves making clothes, and Paradise Kiss did try to make a go of it. They offered their wares for sale, and even sold a dress. The point is that we are never shown that he has doubts over his ability to become a designer, and then suddenly he's chucking it in to study make up under Seiji.

How many shows are actually designed so that we have to read the manga to be able to enjoy it?

Cromartie High for one. There are several point where they tell you to read the manga to get bits. But I never said that it was designed that you must read the manga, or really insinuated that there are shows that have been.

Some shows, probably unconsciously, rely on some foreknowledge of the manga counterpart in order to really get a show. The current run of Fate/Stay Night is shaping up to be an example. There are some details that so far, one would have needed to play the game in order for them to fall into place.

[C0MPL3X]

George loves making clothes, and Paradise Kiss did try to make a go of it. They offered their wares for sale, and even sold a dress. The point is that we are never shown that he has doubts over his ability to become a designer, and then suddenly he's chucking it in to study make up under Seiji.
George was quick and unexpected in actions throughout the series, Yukari being the hesistant one (where we get to see how she is thinking, not how George is thinking). The show was always about Yukari wasn't it? And it's more of him thinking rationally, or living a cowardly way (having a secure life even if his father abandons him), never his doubts over his abilities (I mean, by this point, he has been established as a genius in designing. Doubts? He's among the very best, and still young, all he needs is to 'believe in himself' and make his dream realised).

[Major Tom]

George has no doubts about his ability to design clothes, neither does anyone else. The thing is, they have doubts about his ability to become a designer, as in ready-to-wear, like Happy Berry. That's the thing I got the feeling he was shooting for, and his combination of both perfectionism and idealism is what would get his arse pwned in the fashion world he's aiming to get into.

Others have expressed doubts about his asperations to be an designer, but nobody has actually done so to him. Some time between the end of episode 11 and the beginning of 12 someone has taken him aside and explained the grim facts to him, or he has come to that realisation on his own. The problem is nowhere, either through Yukari's monlogues or anywhere else does this happen. It just does, and it left me bewildered for a good half of the last episode.

[Pachinko]

Yes, Paradise Kiss was absolutely not ready wear; they aimed at a more couture level, which is why they had trouble selling to the general public (and why George got a job in the field of drama, for his dramatic designs). How do these concepts at all show doubt?

[Major Tom]

Pachinko, are you replying to myself or COMPL3X?

[ureshii]

er...this may be a little bit off-topic: does anyone know what is up next after Paradise kiss?

[Niner]

Uhm, what do you mean? That's the end of the Paradise Kiss story, as it were. Ai Yazawa doesn't have any more to draw or write about that, as far as anyone knows.

However, she is authoring a current manga called Nana, which will more than likely be translated into anime format. So I guess you could say that's what's coming up next.

[soundchazer]

Uhm, what do you mean? That's the end of the Paradise Kiss story, as it were. Ai Yazawa doesn't have any more to draw or write about that, as far as anyone knows.

However, she is authoring a current manga called Nana, which will more than likely be translated into anime format. So I guess you could say that's what's coming up next.

http://www.animeacademy.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21568


Not must likely. It is a certainty.

[Rove]

er...this may be a little bit off-topic: does anyone know what is up next after Paradise kiss?

If you mean works done by Yazawa Ai (the creator of Paradise Kiss) then her next work is Nana, like Niner and Soundchazer wrote. However there's a manga and anime version about some of the secondary characters in Paradise Kiss (Miwako's sister, her husband, Arashi's mom, etc) called Gokinjo Monogatari (losely translated as Neighborhood Stories).

Now if you mean the next installment in NOITAMINA's schedule (as in, what replaced Paradise Kiss after it finished airing), then it is Ayakashi ~Japanese Classic Horror~.

However, Ai Yazawa has said that she might continue the stories of some of the characters of Paradise Kiss, (she is especially fond of George), but this needs to be confirmed.

[soundchazer]

If you mean works done by Yazawa Ai (the creator of Paradise Kiss) then her next work is Nana, like Niner and Soundchazer wrote. However there's a manga and anime version about some of the secondary characters in Paradise Kiss (Miwako's sister, her husband, Arashi's mom, etc) called Gokinjo Monogatari (losely translated as Neighborhood Stories).

Now if you mean the next installment in NOITAMINA's schedule (as in, what replaced Paradise Kiss after it finished airing), then it is Ayakashi ~Japanese Classic Horror~.

However, Ai Yazawa has said that she might continue the stories of some of the characters of Paradise Kiss, (she is especially fond of George), but this needs to be confirmed.

Just to clarify, Gokinjo Monogatari is actually sort of the "prequel" to Paradise Kiss. We do get to see Miwako and Arashi as small kids, but in reality the center of the story are Tsutomu and Mikako (Miwako's older sister and head of Happy Berry in Paradise Kiss). Arashi's parents are also there. All of them are about a couple of year YOUNGER than the characters in Paradise Kiss (meaning around 16 years old).

That series is a bit more dramatic in nature, kind of a teen soap opera, where the themes are not as adult like, but it is still a wonderful read/watch. Still, Paradise Kiss and Nana are light years better.

[ureshii]

Now if you mean the next installment in NOITAMINA's schedule (as in, what replaced Paradise Kiss after it finished airing), then it is Ayakashi ~Japanese Classic Horror~.
yes, i meant the next installment :D oh, ive heard of Ayakashi before, but didnt know it is the next NOITAMINA project. "Paradise Kiss" let me down a little bit, but I guess Ayakashi is very promising ^^
Thanks for all your replies :D

[punkusa20_2001]

there is already a nana thread......parakiss is dead, dead i tells ya. just write a review and move on.

[Tyrdium]

Paradise Kiss has been licensed by Geneon!

[alien222]

I didn't like the ending very much. How could George leve???

[Pachinko]

I didn't like the ending very much. How could George leve???

If you read the entire series, you'd have an idea.
I was expecting it...

[soundchazer]

Good news...

Paradise Kiss was picked up by Geneon for a North America release!

[Mana]

Good news...

Paradise Kiss was picked up by Geneon for a North America release!

* Mana points at Tyr's post a few posts up ;)

[soundchazer]

darn it... I was too excited and had not seen that the thread had been updated

[WinterLaurel]

Paradise Kiss has been licensed by Geneon!

Yay! That warms the cockles of my heart. Or something like that. I'm hoping the rights to the ending theme (which I adore) are included in the deal.