life line by line

Looks like there has been some misunderstanding on my part. This is the second OVA released after the TV series by the same group that did the TV series. However, I’ve been counting the Jump Festa “preview” OVA as the first. So under my counting scheme, this is the third OVA while in reality should be called the second.

Anyway, believe it or not I actually enjoyed the third OVA for Ichigo 100%. Not because the crappy animation was at least consistent. Not because I love the seiyuus (voice actors/actresses) in the series. No, it’s because for once they followed the manga story line to an T resulting in a very hilarious and true Ichigo 100% episode. Even more surprising are the little changes that were made are mostly for the better!

I don’t have much to say in terms of quality as I’ve ranted about Madhouse’s lack of ability in almost all my Ichigo 100% entries. Also for a synopsis one only has to turn to the related manga chapters to understand what’s going on, which can easily be found in volume seven chapters fifty-eight through sixty.

Instead I’ll just point out the changes made:

• General timeline is a little messed up, I think. Misuzu and Chinami are already introduced even if they only have two lines in the whole episode. So the episode can be placed anytime after their introductions, which actually doesn’t matter much now that I think about it a bit more.
• More added animated T&A when Junpei is hiding in the classroom.
• A bit more comedy when Junpei tries to find a men’s bathroom.
• The girls’ physical exams. Plenty of T&A plus the added chibi-like girl. So cute!
• Junpei “sticky” situation that I don’t off-handily remember happening in the manga.
• More comedy when Junpei is escaping the guards, teachers, and female student body.
• Junpei’s saviour not some fugly female Komiyama but a S&M dominatrix voiced by Akiko Hiramatsu!
• Comedy added with The Bra Incident (Tsukasa Nishino Version).
• Instead of the great Junpei & Nishino scene about Nishino’s fanclub (”Tsukasa-chan!”), replaced with everyone beating the crap out of Junpei. Also Junpei gets a sneak-peek at Misuzu panties when he knew it’d end his already endangered life.

The ending sequence, similar to the second OVA style, are just a bunch of pastel-like drawings of the starring girl (Nishino) taken from different points in the manga. Not as original as Aya’s but still nonetheless nice to see. Ending song, which I almost forgot to mention, is “Daigyakuten Kiss” sung by Megumi Toyoguchi off the second character single. I guess the song sort of works with the various images used but it’s nothing special to write home about.

Overall my opinion of the animated Ichigo 100% is going slightly up after watching this OVA. It took Madhouse long enough, but they finally realized some of the material in the manga is good as is. There simply is no need to go original or butcher the stories to death! Now only if they could do something about their horrible animation…

I’m also guessing for the fourth OVA, it’ll probably focus on Satsuki since the previous two have been Aya and Tsukasa. Only problem is I can’t remember any good Satsuki centered chapters from the manga! Still though I can’t wait to see it, if I’m right that is.