Search - Marmalade Boy: Ultimate Scrapbook, Vol. 2 on DVD

A simpler review

Susan Marie Strayer | Roanoke, VA- Hollins U. | 09/27/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"In this anime, Miki Koishikawa is a happy high school student, then her parents decide to get a divorce. But that's not the worst of it; not only are they getting a divorce, they are marrying another couple who has also decided to divorce (all of them having met while on vacation) and are going to live in the same house. To top it all off, Miki now has a new step-brother (Yuu) who is very cute. The rest of the series involves Miki struggling to accept this new family, sorting out her feelings for Yuu, and dealing with all of the guys who like her and being jealous of the girls who like Yuu. It all ends well, the last scene being Yuu and Miki's marriage, but in between you can get a bit tired of the love triangles (just when you think they have sorted out one problem, they add a new character!). Overall, however, it is a very good shoujo (girly anime). (Also, the name for this anime comes from a conversation between Miki and Yuu at breakfast in which Yuu calls her mustard girl and she counters by calling him Marmalade Boy- because he is bitter on the outside, but sweet inside.)
I do not know what the English version is like, having watched the whole thing in Japanese, but I doubt that it has changed much."

Love this series!!

M. McGrattan | Brantford | 04/25/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just finished the third scrapbook volume and I can't wait for the fourth and final one. As for this one I gave it five stars mostly because of the episode commentary in the extras section on disc two. I have never laughed so hard in my life. The voice actor for Yuu is hilarious and so is the voice actor for Miki. The volume itself is excelent. I was surprised with the new character Kei I can't help but like him even though he's a little devious. Poor misguided piano player, Miki will set you straight. Any way this was a great volume and again you have to see the episode commentaries they are hilarious.
"

Excellent Anime, This One Lacking

SecretiveGlee | New York, USA | 01/13/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Marmalade Boy is an excellent anime and I recommend it for anyone to watch. It's a drama between Miki Koishikawa and Yuu Matsurra. I won't say too much because incase you havn't seen the first volume. I will critique one and two.

When I bought the first I was quite extactic at how excellent it was. The opening theme song is superb but, the end is a little confusing. Who's house is that? You'll see what I mean. It isn't the best animation in the world but, remember it's from 1994. It took them 10 years to get it to the U.S. and translated. In volume one, Miki's parents suddenly decide to swap "parters" with the Matsuuras. Miki is not okay with this at all and she won't allow it. Finally she gives in and they all move in together in one giant house. Over the course of volume one and partially into two, Miki hides it because she thinks people will assume her family is nuts. Miki has to battle between two people. Yuu and her best guy friend Ginta. When Miki was younger she told Ginta something, and wrongly assuming his response, her heart was shattered by it. There happens to be a love triangle between these three! Then you learn about Yuu's past, Miki's best friend Meiko's secret, and a character named Arimi comes in and spoils the fun for all!

I am giving volume two four stars for a few reasons. I thought it was a bit dissapointing on how it seems to drag on. If you have read the Marmalade Boy manga, you can see that the anime has much much more than the manga. In the anime they add a key item that is so important I don't know how they added it in even though it wasn't in the manga, the medallion! That is one of the main things in the anime as well as the robot diary! Also, in the anime they portray Miki as a winy little girl. If you watch it a few times she won't seem like that but, in the manga she wasn't such a "drama queen." Well in this volume a few things are uncovered and Miki learns things from Yuu and Yuu from Miki. As pressures high, love is spuring in the air. In this volume you meet four new characters, Satoshi Miwa, Suzu Sakuma, Anju, and Kei Tsuchiya. Suzu stirs up mishchief, Satoshi "interferes", Anju is a childhood friend with a secret love, and Kei is just a hot head with one thing on his mind, MIKI! Will Yuu and Miki be tested or will "love conquer all"? Also, there is a band that plays and the ending title changes! It's wonderful! ^^

I recommend this to any who likes, shojo, romance, or drama. It's is packed with excitement and is appealing to the heart. This happens to be one of my all-time favorite anime's. I'm sure you'll enjoy it as well!"