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ローゼンメイデン 
Since the Spring season anime is about to start, I thought I may as well re-organise all of the informations about this series while I still have some free time. I have to say that I'm quite surprised with the amount of coverage that Hachikuro has received from various anime magazines. Newtype seems to be very keen about the series. So far it has given its reader 2 two-page spread of the series in the past two months. Animage and Animedia seems to be interested as well although so far neither magazine has bothered to give a 2 page spread. That seems to be reserved for series such as Tsubasa, Eureka 7 and Sousei no Aquarion.
Official Site | Hachikuro Cafe (limited period) | Promo Trailer
Original Manga
Original Title: 「ハチミツとクローバー」 (Hachimitsu to Clover)
Authored by: Umino Chika
Serialised in: Young You magazine
Broadcast information
Starting date: 14 April 2005
Station: Fuji TV
Animation Studio: J.C.Staff
Opening Theme
「ドラマチック」 (Dramatic) - clip 1 | clip 2
Performed by Yuki
Ending Theme
「ワルツ」 (Waltz) - clip
Performed by SuneoHair
2nd Ending Theme
Mistake
Performed by The Band has No Name
Episodic Insert Songs
Episode 1 - 「ハチミツ」 (Hachimitsu)
Performed by Spitz
Episode 2 - 「８月のセレナーデ」 (Hachigatsu no Serenade)
Performed by Suga Shikao
Episode 3 - 「月とナイフ」 (Tsuki to Naifu)
Performed by Suga Shikao
Episode 4 - 「波光」 (Nami Hikari)
Performed by Suga Shikao
Episode 7 - 「多摩川」 (Tamagawa)
Performed by Spitz
Episode 10 - 「魚」 (Sakana)
Performed by Spitz
Episode 13 - 「そろそろいかなくちゃ」 (Sorosoro Ikanakucha)
Performed by Suga Shikao
Episode 14 - Y
Performed by Spitz
Episode 15 - 「夜を駆ける」 (Yoru wo Kakeru)
Performed by Spitz
Episode 18 - 「ユビキリ」 (Yubikiri)
Performed by Suga Shikao
Episode 19 - 「黄金の月」 (Ougon no Tsuki)
Performed by Suga Shikao
Episode 22 - 「月に帰る」 (Tsuki no Kaeru)
Performed by Spitz
Episode 23 - Room 201
Performed by Suga Shikao
Episode 24 - 「スピカ」 (Spica)
Performed by Spitz
Cast Lists
Takemoto Yuuta: Kamiya Hiroshi
Hanamoto Hagumi: Kudou Haruka
Morita Shinobu: Ueda Yuji
Yamada Ayumi: Takahashi Mikako
Mayama Takumi: Sugita Tomokazu
Hanamoto Shuuji: Fujiwara Keiji
Harada Rika: Oohara Sayaka
Morita Kaoru: Takewaka Takuma
Nomiya Takumi: Hamada Kenji
Yamazaki Kazushi: Tsuchida Hiroshi
Teshigawara Miwako: Neya Michiko
About the series
Takemoto Yuuta is a poor art college student sharing an apartment complex with other equally poor students, Mayama Takumi and Morita Shinobu. Because of their poverty, the guys often find it hard to get a decent meal on a day to day basis. Of all the three, Shinobu seems to be the only person who actually has a job. The thing is, no one in the apartment actually knows the kind of job that he does. An eventual meeting with a talented art prodigy called Hanamoto Hagumi makes the guys realise that they have no idea what kind of career they want after graduation. The series basically then follows these characters' ups and downs as well as their love life.
Literally translated as Honey and Clover, Hachimitsu to Clover was a winner of the 2003 Kodansha Manga Award. One of the things that makes the series good apart from its humour is the real life problems that the characters face on a day to day basis. As an ex-art student, I can understand the hesitation, confusion, and doubt that one faced when deciding what job to look for after finishing an art degree. Of course, regardless of the field of study, it is fair to say that the problem of being a college student is pretty universal and applicable to almost everyone. Well, I supposed if you have a lot of money then you may not have that much of a problem. :)
Gallery
Note:
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Do not redistribute the images above.
The video clips are in MP4 format. It can be played using Quicktime or placed onto PSP.
Since the animation is done by J C Staff, we should expect some quality stuff. The fact that the manga received the 2003 Kodansha Manga Award makes it even more worthwhile to watch.
By the way, did anyone notice the strange colouring scheme used in the pictures Garten posted so far. There seems to be a light mist surrounding all the characters. It creates a strange feeling when you look at it. I don't remember any anime show that used this kind of colouring approach before.
To me it looks like they're using some kind of water-coloring method. Whether it's manual or digital, I'm not too sure. To be honest, I am a bit concerned with the mist thing. One of the reason I don't really like Bleach is because of that washed out effect. So I hope this show shows a little bit of restraint when it comes to using it.
I also hope they use the washed out effect better than in Bleach, but yep, so far it looks like HachiKuro has some innovative colouring sort of thing. It's almost probably digital, I don't think anyone uses cel these days anymore.
Interestingly the splash for the HachiKuro website shows credits for a "Clothing Supervision" and "Clothing Assistance"... They're actually getting adidas and Levi's and other people to help with the clothing?!
And actually because it's done by JC Staff I don't know if it would be quality... It depends on the budget really. Utena looked awesome but Daphne had terrible animation and MoO had some unfortunately bad animation + finish animation (the lines were so bleh...) and I can't remember many well animated stuff from them...
This looks to be a very promising show, as with Emma. JC Staff, you wow'ed me with Mahoraba, you wow'ed me with Read or Dream, and now you should be able to pull it off in a shoujo show. Sweet.
The animation quality doesn't bother me at all. It's better than a lot of other new anime series anyway. I'm not that into the drama aspect of the story (only a lil bit I am, since I can relate to the characters), because it's the comedy aspect that I get much more into. Just the first episode alone made me recommend it to my friends.
It is one of the most interesting animes that I have ever seen. It handles many issues that affect young people's future such as their study and the job that they will have in future and how can these students handle these matters in their poor environment. The thing that I like most about this anime is that they apply it a comedy way. It is also includes some emotional matters such as love between the two sex and love between friends and how it is nice to care about others feelings and thoughts.
All in all
It is SUPER
Unless I'm much mistaken, you're missing the insert song in the fourteenth episode by Spitz.
You're right. Thx for reminding me about it!
hachimitsu to clover rock
I am the fan for anime. So, when i have watch Honey&clover, for me, its so soft artwork. I like the way is Umino Chika draw. But, theres a comment, in the end of the anime, it is doesn't work so much and unlogic! But i haven't watch Honey&clover part 2 la......And don't forget. I'm to love all its theme song. So touching....!
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