Double Anime Review - HMP & Maid-Sama

Review Time...

First up, Heaven's Memo Pad. The title is a rather off handed line from the head NEET detective explaining her business to her less than swift new assistant. Well, that's mean... her assistant is rather forcefully dragged into a world he does not exactly fit in (in the beginning) and only really bumbles at the start.

So, the show is a coming of age story for a Japanese high-school boy. How common - trope city in fact. It seems so common, so over used. But this is a nice turn on the old motif. He is forced into a world he did not expect, filled with odd characters - most of the NEETs. 

You can barely see it... but I envy that computer set up.

I expect I should explain NEET here... but why? Just click the link.

Various cases are solved, friendships formed, it really does seem average on the surface. But the series really wins at the end. At the end of Episode 9, the series does something that was completely unexpected. And it does it well... especially for what comes off as a coming of age story - one that is more character driven by the side characters than normal.

Good characters, very well animated, wonderful music (the opening few notes of the title music is beautiful), and a real solid twist. Worth watching.

Heaven's Memo Pad

3.5 Stars

Now on to...

Kaicho wa Maid-sama! 

This really starts off as your typical Romantic Comedy. Misaki Ayuzawa is Student Council President, very strict, good grades. The boys at school are irritating, rather boorish, and of course they rail against Ayzawa's efforts to improve the school (in an albeit strong handed way). But of course, she has a secret. She is dirt poor and has therefore taken a rather uncharacteristic, but high paying job, to help her mother and sister out. She works at a Maid Cafe.

Next time I'm in Japan I'm going to one...

Cafe Latte.

Anyways, as stories go, someone must discover her secret. One of the boys at school, Usui Takumi, constantly breaks the hearts of girls since he always flatly turns down their advances. (See where this is going?)

 Usui, and a group of three guys who later become known as the Three Idiots, discover Ayuzawa's secret. Comedy ensues. All four boys do work to keep her secret, but for their own selfish reasons. Thus more comedy ensues.

Sta-a-a-r-e [I so love these scenes.]

It is a very typical comedy. There is misunderstandings, innuendo, cross dressing (both sexes), accidental moments, and lots of dead-pan moments. 

It seems typical. It really is.

But I laughed, alot.

And more Sta-a-a-r-e... with takoyaki.

I was also frustrated a lot. This time, not because the main male character is ignorant of others feelings, but because in this series, the female lead refuses to accept that the male lead is actually serious. Now Usui does pull some nonsense stunts that make him seem very flippant, but he also has his serious moments. His obviously serious moments.

There are endearing qualities to the series, and some less than stellar ones too. The introduction of a character in the last four episodes... not thrilled. Too 'deus ex machina' for me... too forced.

"We're just filming a movie!"

Lots of humor. Lots of predictability.
 

Dogs. But seriously, do not just throw new characters at me.

It's good... but its not really new. I think the anime lacks what the manga gives - length. There is much more than could have been done to expand and work on certain themes (the male lead helping the family, etc). There was mystery about certain characters that was not cleared up. The manga, I can only guess, expands on these. Like many series that move from black and white pages to the full color screen, things are left behind. I do love the staring... that was a well used bit of humor.  


This could have been better. But it was still a good romantic comedy, formulaic at times, but those same formulas are used because they are truly solid. Enjoyable, but do not expect a ground breaking series like Steins;Gate (a real 5 Stars) here.

Kaicho wa Maid-sama!

2.5 Stars