Honey and Clover DVD 3

October 31, 2005 | 17 Comments

Okay, first of all, some brief news from Newtype Japan about the series. Due to the success of the anime, Honey and Clover manga manages to climb to the top 10 manga list alongside popular series such as Nana, Naruto, and Bleach. The latest monthly data reveals that the series sits neatly at number 6. The anime itself recently sits at number 8 within Newtype's top 20 ranking of popular new anime series. And judging from Amazon Japan's top seller list, it looks like the DVD is selling well. So in general, it seems the series is doing quite a good business in Japan. Anyway, by now you're probably bored reading the facts so here are some more scans of the third DVD packaging:

Slipcover, Front Cover

DVD box, Front Cover
DVD Case, Back Cover
Jigsaw Puzzle

As usual, the limited edition DVD comes with a digipack illustrated by Umino Chika herself. This time it's a shot of Takemoto, Hagumi, and Morita in front of the Ferris Wheel. The DVD itself features what I feel are some of the most memorable episodes from the series, episode 6, 7, and 8. Episode 6, if you still remember is the one where a zoo visit ends up becoming turning into a revelation into Shuuji's past with Rika and Harada. Episode 7 basically reveals Hagu's past and her tight bond with Shuuji. The infamous searching for the four-leaf clover which eventually becomes the theme of the series is also contained within this episode. Episode 8 is the one with twister game from hell.

One thing that I notice from this release is that there seems to be some kind of old film filter being added to some of the flasbacks involving Rika. If you have played games like Silent Hill, you'll know this kind of filter. I don't think I noticed something similar being used in the original version. At first I thought it's some kind of compression problem but I don't notice it on present-day scenes so I assume that it's a filter that's added to some of the scenes. I am honestly quite divided about this. I understand what the producer wants to do. The filter does add harshness to the flashback scene, making it looking more like a proper flashback. But I'm always against 'additional improvements' done to original artwork.

The extras on this version are a bit on the lacklustre side. The main extra is a jigsaw puzzle featuring the same image as the one shown on the digipack. The on DVD extras include an interview with Takemoto's VA, Kamiya Hiroshi, and Hagu's VA, Kudou Haruka. It's interesting to note that both VA sounds very different from their on-screen character. Hiroshi's actual voice is heavier and thicker in comparison to Takemoto's that when I first heard him I can't believe that he's actually Takemoto's VA. The rest of the extra is basically just a redone scene involving Takemoto, Hagu, and that scary poodle, Midori. In this redone scene, Midori doesn't just growl, she also unleashes some 'inner voice' given by its VA, KABA-chan.

Do not direct link to the images. If you wish to link, point the link to this post instead. Here is the detail of the DVD in case you're interested to purchase it:

Honey and Clover Volume 3 (Limited Release)
Format: R2 NTSC
Price: 3,948 Yen ($34.82 US Dollars)

Posted by Garten

Comments

October 31, 2005 | Mohammad wrote:

What is that yellow "thing" sitting next to the voice actors?!!

I'm not surprised about the difference between an actor's real and performance voice. Most of the voice actors in anime can do a whole variety of voices with only one of them being their real voice (which is shocking really. How do they do it?!)

Compare the voice of Kana Ueda as "Tominaga" in "Sensei no Ojikan" with her voice as "Hashimoto Mayumi" in the first episode of "Jigoku Shoujo" and then compare it with her voice as "Petoko" in "Petopeto san". It's a stark difference in all 3 cases. I still don't know how they do it but somehow they do.

October 31, 2005 | Garten wrote:

Haha, that 'thing' is some kind of bear mascot that Umino Chika (the manga's author) uses to represent herself when she makes an appearance in the manga. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of the bear at the moment. I assume that's not really Umino Chika inside the costume but just some random guy getting paid to wear the suit.

October 31, 2005 | kacper wrote:

and here i thought it was that Space Titanic rat/hamster... LOL@me.

I like Hiroshi. He's got a killer real-laughter (as heard in tsukuyomi interviews).

October 31, 2005 | Sora wrote:

Just wanted to thank you for keeping everyone up to date on various Honey and Clover news, even though the anime has finished airing.
It's nice to see someone else still in love with this series and these scans just made my day :D

November 1, 2005 | Sabrina wrote:

Thank you for the scans!

November 1, 2005 | Alpha wrote:

The thing also appeared in the last episode of hachikuro..it was when at the very last scene when takemoto brought in some juices to the party..Hagu was holding it..

And one question, did you guys notice that in the front case of dvd cover, there is a red 4-leaf clover with some texts in it..and i saw "year 2006"there..just wondering what it could be (second season perhaps?)

November 1, 2005 | regyne wrote:

hey, thanks for the scan! i like the pic of hagu, takemoto and morita standing in the falling snow =D

November 1, 2005 | Garten wrote:

Alpha, unfortunately the news written on that orange clover is nothing new. It's basically just a reminder that the live-action film of Honey and Clover will be released around Summer Holiday 2006. I thought most people already know about this one so I didn't bother to mention it. But if you haven't heard about it, you can read about it here.

November 1, 2005 | Alpha wrote:

Ah..ic then..I know about the live action movie but just dont understand what's the text in clover means..

thanks for keeping us up-to-date info on hachikuro

November 1, 2005 | Clover wrote:

Hm... So you are taking JLPT? May I ask which level you are aiming for? I hope you pass it with stellar score.

November 2, 2005 | Kabitzin wrote:

Damn, now I want to check out the HC manga! Muchos good luck with your JLPT!

November 2, 2005 | Garten wrote:

Clover, I'm taking level 3 this year. I mentioned more about it in the comment area of this entry.

And thank you for the kind word guys, I really appreciate it.

November 4, 2005 | Pajee wrote:

I found something interesting just now and thought you'd find it amusing Garten. ^__^

Hello Kitty Honey and Clover Cell Phone Strap

November 5, 2005 | Alpha wrote:

the link should be this

nice find btw

November 17, 2005 | Blue wrote:

Does anyone knows which volume of the manga has the anime ended in? I want to read the series, but only from where the anime left off. I read the first volume of the manga and it is exactly the same as the first couple of episodes of the anime.

thanks

November 18, 2005 | Alpha wrote:

It's ended in volume 7 of the manga

December 9, 2007 | jOana wrote:

i wish yamada and mayama would end up tOgether..but mayama is really in lOve with rikka.. seasOn 1 and 2 are sO sad..heartwarming!