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Rating: 7.5/10 (remember, new rating system)

Impressions:

This final episode of OtoBoku was released as DVD special, and features Takako as Tsunderella in the OtoBoku version of Cinderella. Of course, this is a pure comedy episode, though I would have preferred some kind of aftermath episode following on from episode 12. Anyway, contradictory to what the screen captures might suggest, this episode is animated almost entirely in chibi form, with a few exceptions (comedy and fanservice). Hilarity-wise, this episode proves to be pretty good, with an awesome cast. Parodies of Snow White are apparent as well, and overall the chibi style of animation really topped everything off.

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Popularity: 7% [?]

Rating: 9.3/10

Overall Series Rating: 8.2/10

Impressions:

This is actually a pretty good ending in my opinion, and I’m not even a Takako fan. I know there are quite a few people who don’t like open endings, especially this one, but in my opinion, there is no other way to end a school life show. How do you actually ‘end’ the series if it’s about nothing in the first place? Other than killing off all the characters lol. Well, I guess the problem which slowly presented itself over time was the relationship everyone had with one another. The most important ones would be those between Mariya, Mizuho and Takako. Mariya and Mizuho resolved any issues between them last episode, while he and Takako, as well as her and Mariya, resolve their problems this episode. Because of this, I see it as a fitting end. As the credits role, Mizuho and the ‘gang’ are shown in various fun activities, before she finally graduates. I doubt the OAV coming out in a few months will resolve anything. It will probably some sort of reunion of Mizuho and the others. Actually no, that’s what I hope the OAV will be about. It just seems more fitting that way.

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Popularity: 15% [?]

Rating: 9.2/10 & 9/10

Impressions:

These two episodes are surprisingly very good, combining drama and some comedy with more plot movement than perhaps the whole first half of the series. Mariya, my favourite character, gets some serious development while Takako finally learns about the truth about Mizuho just when she is about to realise her true feelings for him. And yeah, I guess I should call Mizuho ‘he’ now, since the chest is pretty strong evidence. It still doesn’t explain that time when she tries on bikinis…Anyway though, the final episode (yes I don’t know what happens) should resolve Takako’s feelings for Mizuho, while Mariya will probably have some fight with her as the grand finale. I don’t think Mizuho will end up with anyone as, well, he IS meant to be a girl in an all-girls school, so it doesn’t really work; unless the series is yuri enough to make everyone assume same-sex love is more normal than straight love…I’m assume the very end will be Mizuho dancing with someone, and both girls (Takako and Mariya) calming down over Mizuho and accepting their position in his life. I mean, it’s not like Mizuho has shown any interest in anyone yet, with is HIGHLY unusually since he is surrounded by girls everyday.

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Popularity: 8% [?]

Rating: 8.3/10 & 8.7/10

Impressions:

Hmm so it’s been some consecutive per-character episodes, meaning that each main character gets the spotlight for an episode to further develop their character and perhaps a little more of their past. Yukari takes episode 8 while Mariya takes 9. As Mariya is by far my favourite character, episode 9 has been my favourite episode so far, and it is the least foolish as well. However, because of that, I am already sad at the notion of a Mizuho x Takako pairing. The happy-go-lucky, fiery childhood friend is so much more fun than the aggressive, tsundere student council president and classmate, and a more fitting companion of Mizuho as well, in my opinion. I was quite touched at her story though, as hers is the only one so far that has some intelligence in it. Mariya, seeing Mizuho step forward by herself without her, is worried that she is losing her. Soon, Mariya won’t be needed, and the dreadful feeling of loneliness will kick in. (And wow those childhood pictures are cute, though Mizuho is definitely a girl in all of them; no questions asked).

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Popularity: 12% [?]

Rating: 8/10

Impressions:

Ok, I am still wondering why Mizuho is supposed to be a guy. Is there any point in this? Was making her ’supposedly’ a trap meant to attract more viewers? I mean, the show can still go one as usual even if she was declared 100% female. And love has nothing to do with this, as Maria-sama ga Miteru and Strawberry Panic show shoujo-ai is not such a strange genre. Talking about love, it seems that Takako is becoming more likely to be Mizuho’s love interest, or the other way around. She’s getting a lot more screen time, suggesting she will have an important roll soon enough. Anyway, this episode introduces the characters in their new black, winter uniform. But that’s not really important, as the ‘fight’ between Mizuho and Takako over Kana’s ribbon, as well as Mizuho’s lesson in life, clearly take precedence in this episode. I’m a little annoyed at the pointlessness of everything, since all this does is perhaps develop the characters more. Usually, for a school-based anime with no clear direction, the episodes to pass time are meant to be more meaningful and fun.

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Popularity: 8% [?]

Rating: 8.5/10

Impressions:

OtoBoku 6 takes a dive for comedy once again, and makes excellent use of it too! There are many humorous scenes scattered throughout the short time-span of 22 minutes. Character development is present once again, this time focusing on Mizuho and Takako, and perhaps Mariya and Takako as well. Mariya’s reason for having a grudge on Takako is rather idiotic I’d say, and it’s on the writer’s part for coming up with something so simple and poorly thought out. The setting this time is the swimming pool, a common area of focus in bishoujo anime, but being the type of show that it is, OtoBoku decides to not centre the entire time on cute girls in swimsuits, but throw in some extra plot ridden with opportunities for more girl-to-girl interaction. There’s also an abundance of fanservice this episode as well, thought I’d point that out. Mizuho in a swimsuit is but one of many examples, and it seems like she (yes it’s a she!) actually got breast implants before coming to this school. What dedication…

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Popularity: 8% [?]

Rating: 7.8/10

Impressions:

All the theories regarding Mizuho’s mother and Ichiko’s senpai are either confirmed or refuted. Mizuho’s mother did indeed stay in her room, and she is Ichiko’s senpai from 22 years ago. It seems that Mizuho’s grandfather put her in that particular room because it belonged to her mother once, meaning it is some sort of special place. However, I wonder why Mizuho was never informed about this fairly important piece of information. With that out of the way though, the show is free to continue on with The Adventures of Mizuho and Company, since there is now no more past dramas to worry about. However, something serious is probably going to happen near the end of the series as well. I hope it doesn’t get darker before then though, since I find Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru does better with comedy rather than drama. Ichiko’s major arc seems to have passed now, and next episode appears to revolve around Mizuho and Takako, but I wonder whether it will be as friends or rivals. There still needs to be a real Mariya-centric episode, since she’s still my favourite girl. Also, neither Kana nor Yukari have gotten their individual episodes yet, so that will be something to anticipate. By looking at the episode titles of the next few episodes, I can already see a Kana and Mariya episode.

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Popularity: 9% [?]

Rating: 8.5/10

Impressions:

I am quite surprised with the sudden implementation of the paranormal (yes, I have decided to write in present tense from now on since that’s what my English teacher always tells us *sigh* not that she’s gonna read this blog anyway). I was highly expecting everything to be a simple misunderstanding, until the ripped charm in Kana’s hands start glowing (argh, present tense sounds so weird for some reason!) At least now I know who the ghost girl in the ending sequence is. Eh, did I mention her seiyuu is the one who did Mikuru from SHnY? I became quite perplexed about the situation where Ichiko not only manages to materialise herself in the real world, she actually becomes solid as well. I had been puzzling over how she had suddenly gained the ability to touch living things, but I figured it’s probably a sign of her closeness to Mizuho. Omni mentioned that Ichiko’s onee-sama from 22 years ago was in fact Mizuho’s mother. That is most likely true since it seems like the kind of situation the writers of OtoBoku would come up with. I really do think they are trying too hard with the drama in the show, as everyone has already said, comedy works wonders when it is used as the main appeal. Even so, the funniest part this episode had to be the after-ad shot of chibi Mizuho freaking out over his stubble, with Kana just wtfing in the background.

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Popularity: 8% [?]