Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu review SOME SPOILERS

I've watched up through episode 6 of Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu,
and I have to give it a huge recommendation. It's on my "buy as
soon as possible" list (well, as soon as my bank account will let
me) because it's Just That Good.


Spoiler
space
goes
here
but
not
that
much
because
I'm
too
lazy
to
type
more.


The premise is pretty standard, cute smart but somehow still ditzy
girl who is the star of the school, has a secret: she's been an
anime and manga otaku since she was a little girl. She accidently
reveals this to a classmate, the Nice Guy (who refreshingly turns
out to be neither too shy nor too put-upon) who agrees to keep her
secret. There is an immediate attraction between them, which they
both take pains to ignore at first, but as the story progresses
(so far) they realize that they do care for each other. The guy
Yuto ends up helping her find the strength to admit to her classmates
that she is indeed an anime and manga fan, and that it's okay.

I'd say the main feeling I get from the story (so far) is that it's
a sweet romantic comedy, with hardly any annoying characters (so far).
Even the bratty little sister isn't that annoying, although the
constantly drunken sensei is pushing the limit (she's pretty darn
sexy though). Yuto's older sister is a pain, but even she reveals
a good side, which helps soften the pain of her appearances.

There have to be impediments to any romance, of course, and one of
them is revealed in the opening credits (and slowly through a few
episodes) as the stereotypical "genki girl". Another is Haruka's
parents, especially her father, who are vehemently against her
choice of fandom, to the point that at the end of episode 6 I'm
getting a very bad sense of foreboding. I can't wait to see what
happened off-camera leading up to the final scene.

I have to say also, that the creators have taken great pains to
make the backgrounds extremely accurate, I have pictures from
Akiba and Tokyo Big Sight that match the scenes from NHnH, and
I think they had to get permission to do some of the "product
placements" that they did. Toranoana and others weren't renamed
into replacements, although "WenDonalds" did show up. They even
showed the giant saw at Tokyo Big Sight, the first time I've seen
it in an anime or manga.

All in all, I'd highly recommend this, and I hope it gets licensed
soon, because I have a space already put aside for it in my shelf
(well, for the box. The DVDs go into the player right away).

Cap.

--
Since 1989, recycling old jokes, cliches, and bad puns, one Usenet
post at a time!
Operation: Nerdwatch [url]http://www.nerdwatch.com[/url]
Only email with "TO_CAP" somewhere in the subject has a chance of being read

"Captain Nerd" <cptnerd@nerdwatch.com> wrote in message
news:cptnerd-47EE91.18184018082008@news.giganews.com...[color=blue]
>
> I've watched up through episode 6 of Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu,
> and I have to give it a huge recommendation. It's on my "buy as
> soon as possible" list (well, as soon as my bank account will let
> me) because it's Just That Good.
>
>
> Spoiler
> space
> goes
> here
> but
> not
> that
> much
> because
> I'm
> too
> lazy
> to
> type
> more.
>
>
> The premise is pretty standard, cute smart but somehow still ditzy
> girl who is the star of the school, has a secret: she's been an
> anime and manga otaku since she was a little girl. She accidently
> reveals this to a classmate, the Nice Guy (who refreshingly turns
> out to be neither too shy nor too put-upon) who agrees to keep her
> secret. There is an immediate attraction between them, which they
> both take pains to ignore at first, but as the story progresses
> (so far) they realize that they do care for each other. The guy
> Yuto ends up helping her find the strength to admit to her classmates
> that she is indeed an anime and manga fan, and that it's okay.
>[/color]

In one sense, the series feels a lot more shoujo than shounen because we
haven't really gotten to know much of anything about Yuto. What does he like
to do? What hobbies does he have? Who are his close friends? Essentially he
is similar to the typical shoujo bishii protagonist, except that Yuto isn't
an s.o.b. towards Haruka. So while this doesn't really detract from the
story, it still feels rather odd.
[color=blue]
> I'd say the main feeling I get from the story (so far) is that it's
> a sweet romantic comedy, with hardly any annoying characters (so far).
> Even the bratty little sister isn't that annoying, although the
> constantly drunken sensei is pushing the limit (she's pretty darn
> sexy though). Yuto's older sister is a pain, but even she reveals
> a good side, which helps soften the pain of her appearances.
>
> There have to be impediments to any romance, of course, and one of
> them is revealed in the opening credits (and slowly through a few
> episodes) as the stereotypical "genki girl". Another is Haruka's
> parents, especially her father, who are vehemently against her
> choice of fandom, to the point that at the end of episode 6 I'm
> getting a very bad sense of foreboding. I can't wait to see what
> happened off-camera leading up to the final scene.
>[/color]

I'm betting that this is a red-herring, but I may be wrong.
[color=blue]
> I have to say also, that the creators have taken great pains to
> make the backgrounds extremely accurate, I have pictures from
> Akiba and Tokyo Big Sight that match the scenes from NHnH, and
> I think they had to get permission to do some of the "product
> placements" that they did. Toranoana and others weren't renamed
> into replacements, although "WenDonalds" did show up. They even
> showed the giant saw at Tokyo Big Sight, the first time I've seen
> it in an anime or manga.
>[/color]

I always find it odd that anime set in Tokyo Big Sight don't show the upper
floor food court area. Whenever I've been to Tokyo Big Sight for a trade
show or convention the food court level is always busy. (I wonder if it
isn't open during the "fan" shows.)
[color=blue]
> All in all, I'd highly recommend this, and I hope it gets licensed
> soon, because I have a space already put aside for it in my shelf
> (well, for the box. The DVDs go into the player right away).
>
> Cap.
>[/color]

I heartily second your recommendation.

Dave Baranyi

In article <48aa1b97$0$19364$834e42db@reader.greatnowhere.com>,
"Dave Baranyi" <a_nospam.b_nospam@sym_nos_p_am_atico.ca> wrote:
[color=blue]
> "Captain Nerd" <cptnerd@nerdwatch.com> wrote in message
> news:cptnerd-47EE91.18184018082008@news.giganews.com...[color=green]
> >
> > I've watched up through episode 6 of Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu,
> > and I have to give it a huge recommendation. It's on my "buy as
> > soon as possible" list (well, as soon as my bank account will let
> > me) because it's Just That Good.
> >
> >
> > Spoiler
> > space
> > goes
> > here
> > but
> > not
> > that
> > much
> > because
> > I'm
> > too
> > lazy
> > to
> > type
> > more.
> >
> >[/color]
>
> In one sense, the series feels a lot more shoujo than shounen because we
> haven't really gotten to know much of anything about Yuto. What does he like
> to do? What hobbies does he have? Who are his close friends? Essentially he
> is similar to the typical shoujo bishii protagonist, except that Yuto isn't
> an s.o.b. towards Haruka. So while this doesn't really detract from the
> story, it still feels rather odd.[/color]

I wonder if they're making assumptions about how many of the light
novels the audience has read. According to ANN, they were releasing
the seventh when they announced this anime (and manga) adaptation.

I get the feeling there's going to be A Revelation (or A Backstory)
about Yuto. If nothing else, they have to flesh out the scene of them
in the playground from 10 years earlier...
[color=blue][color=green]
> > There have to be impediments to any romance, of course, and one of
> > them is revealed in the opening credits (and slowly through a few
> > episodes) as the stereotypical "genki girl". Another is Haruka's
> > parents, especially her father, who are vehemently against her
> > choice of fandom, to the point that at the end of episode 6 I'm
> > getting a very bad sense of foreboding. I can't wait to see what
> > happened off-camera leading up to the final scene.
> >[/color]
>
> I'm betting that this is a red-herring, but I may be wrong.[/color]

Whatever it is, it's a pretty safe bet that Yuto will get involved
in it. He's been very protective of Haruka since the beginning of
the story, and I don't see him backing down even against her parents.

[color=blue][color=green]
> > I have to say also, that the creators have taken great pains to
> > make the backgrounds extremely accurate, I have pictures from
> > Akiba and Tokyo Big Sight that match the scenes from NHnH, and
> > I think they had to get permission to do some of the "product
> > placements" that they did. Toranoana and others weren't renamed
> > into replacements, although "WenDonalds" did show up. They even
> > showed the giant saw at Tokyo Big Sight, the first time I've seen
> > it in an anime or manga.
> >[/color]
>
> I always find it odd that anime set in Tokyo Big Sight don't show the upper
> floor food court area. Whenever I've been to Tokyo Big Sight for a trade
> show or convention the food court level is always busy. (I wonder if it
> isn't open during the "fan" shows.)[/color]

Are you talking about the one on the outside? With the conbini and
the stalls, and the restaurant with the animated neon "BEER" sign?
I imagine they would close that down for something as big as a
Comiket, just because of the crush of people wanting food or drink
or both. I doubt they could keep enough in stock, or be able to
bring in more, either. Just thinking about being one of those
stall-keepers with 300,000 people right there, gives me the cold
robbies...
[color=blue]
>[color=green]
> > All in all, I'd highly recommend this, and I hope it gets licensed
> > soon, because I have a space already put aside for it in my shelf
> > (well, for the box. The DVDs go into the player right away).
> >
> > Cap.
> >[/color]
>
> I heartily second your recommendation.
>
> Dave Baranyi[/color]

This one should have mass appeal, provided it gets enough play.

Cap.

--
Since 1989, recycling old jokes, cliches, and bad puns, one Usenet
post at a time!
Operation: Nerdwatch [url]http://www.nerdwatch.com[/url]
Only email with "TO_CAP" somewhere in the subject has a chance of being read

Dave Baranyi <a_nospam.b_nospam@sym_nos_p_am_atico.ca> wrote:[color=blue]
> "Captain Nerd" <cptnerd@nerdwatch.com> wrote:[color=green]
>> All in all, I'd highly recommend this, and I hope it gets licensed
>> soon, because I have a space already put aside for it in my shelf
>> (well, for the box. The DVDs go into the player right away).[/color]
>
> I heartily second your recommendation.[/color]

I'm not quite as enthusiastic about this show as you two (probably
because I'm not that much into fan-service shows in the first place),
but for some reason "Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu" works rather well for
me, too. Maybe it's because it doesn't give me the impression that
they're doing fan-service for the sake of doing fan-service.

cu
59cobalt
--
"My surname is Li and my personal name is Kao, and there is a slight
flaw in my character."
--Li Kao (Barry Hughart: Bridge of Birds)

In article <g8edevU4lqL2@news.in-ulm.de>,
Ansgar -59cobalt- Wiechers <usenet-2008@planetcobalt.net> wrote:
[color=blue]
> Dave Baranyi <a_nospam.b_nospam@sym_nos_p_am_atico.ca> wrote:[color=green]
> > "Captain Nerd" <cptnerd@nerdwatch.com> wrote:[color=darkred]
> >> All in all, I'd highly recommend this, and I hope it gets licensed
> >> soon, because I have a space already put aside for it in my shelf
> >> (well, for the box. The DVDs go into the player right away).[/color]
> >
> > I heartily second your recommendation.[/color]
>
> I'm not quite as enthusiastic about this show as you two (probably
> because I'm not that much into fan-service shows in the first place),
> but for some reason "Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu" works rather well for
> me, too. Maybe it's because it doesn't give me the impression that
> they're doing fan-service for the sake of doing fan-service.[/color]

Actually, for a romance show I really don't see all that much fan
service, other than one panty shot each in the first couple of
episodes, and those are only enough to set up the basic encounter
situation with "Plot Complication Girl". Granted the opening
credits have a lot of service, but that isn't reflected in the
actual episodes of the show, at least as far as I can see.
Perhaps I've become jaded, but they could have shown a lot more
and what they've shown has only been in context, not gratuitously
at all.

Cap.

--
Since 1989, recycling old jokes, cliches, and bad puns, one Usenet
post at a time!
Operation: Nerdwatch [url]http://www.nerdwatch.com[/url]
Only email with "TO_CAP" somewhere in the subject has a chance of being read

Captain Nerd <cptnerd@nerdwatch.com> wrote:[color=blue]
> Ansgar -59cobalt- Wiechers <usenet-2008@planetcobalt.net> wrote:[color=green]
>> I'm not quite as enthusiastic about this show as you two (probably
>> because I'm not that much into fan-service shows in the first place),
>> but for some reason "Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu" works rather well
>> for me, too. Maybe it's because it doesn't give me the impression
>> that they're doing fan-service for the sake of doing fan-service.[/color]
>
> Actually, for a romance show I really don't see all that much fan
> service, other than one panty shot each in the first couple of
> episodes, and those are only enough to set up the basic encounter
> situation with "Plot Complication Girl". Granted the opening credits
> have a lot of service, but that isn't reflected in the actual episodes
> of the show, at least as far as I can see.[/color]

I meant fan service not only of the "panty shot/naked skin" variety, but
also maids, cosplay and stuff. Perhaps not too well worded on my part.
[color=blue]
> Perhaps I've become jaded, but they could have shown a lot more and
> what they've shown has only been in context, not gratuitously at all.[/color]

My point exactly.

cu
59cobalt
--
"My surname is Li and my personal name is Kao, and there is a slight
flaw in my character."
--Li Kao (Barry Hughart: Bridge of Birds)

In article <g8q59rUfbvL1@news.in-ulm.de>,
Ansgar -59cobalt- Wiechers <usenet-2008@planetcobalt.net> wrote:
[color=blue]
> Captain Nerd <cptnerd@nerdwatch.com> wrote:[color=green]
> > Ansgar -59cobalt- Wiechers <usenet-2008@planetcobalt.net> wrote:[color=darkred]
> >> I'm not quite as enthusiastic about this show as you two (probably
> >> because I'm not that much into fan-service shows in the first place),
> >> but for some reason "Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu" works rather well
> >> for me, too. Maybe it's because it doesn't give me the impression
> >> that they're doing fan-service for the sake of doing fan-service.[/color]
> >
> > Actually, for a romance show I really don't see all that much fan
> > service, other than one panty shot each in the first couple of
> > episodes, and those are only enough to set up the basic encounter
> > situation with "Plot Complication Girl". Granted the opening credits
> > have a lot of service, but that isn't reflected in the actual episodes
> > of the show, at least as far as I can see.[/color]
>
> I meant fan service not only of the "panty shot/naked skin" variety, but
> also maids, cosplay and stuff. Perhaps not too well worded on my part.[/color]

I see, I was using a definition that wasn't as broadly(sorry) defined.

[color=blue][color=green]
> > Perhaps I've become jaded, but they could have shown a lot more and
> > what they've shown has only been in context, not gratuitously at all.[/color]
>
> My point exactly.[/color]

Of course episode 7 had to go off the wall with the traditional
"rich people must have their own armies/self defense forces"
riff, not to mention something like the "powerful husband who's
really henpecked" meme. It's nice that they didn't play that
one like usual, instead of just being a submissive guy, the father
got a taste of "you do NOT mess with Mama Bear's cub" and he
wisely backed down.

I would really like to get hold of translations of the light
novels that this story is based on, it seems the anime creators
had some very good writing to base this on. Maybe if Tokyopop
does well with their Full Metal Panic novels et. al. they might
pick up this series, too.

Cap.

--
Since 1989, recycling old jokes, cliches, and bad puns, one Usenet
post at a time!
Operation: Nerdwatch [url]http://www.nerdwatch.com[/url]
Only email with "TO_CAP" somewhere in the subject has a chance of being read