CREATOR

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Sawaki Riho

PlOTLINE

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[Sukisyo!] is also commonly known as [Sukisho!]. Both are the abbreviated versions of the series' full title of [Suki na Mono wa Suki Dakara Shouganai!].

Ok, first of all, [Sukisyo!] is a BL game to begin with. BL stands for Boys' Love, which of course, means yaoi. A BL game is essentially a game/application you can play with on the computer.

[Sukisyo!] starts with Sora, a seemingly-normal high-schooler who is returning to school following a shocking accident where tumbled from the 4th storey of a school building. Curiously, he seems completely unscathed, except for his childhood memories before the fall - which he lost completely. After his return, people he both recognised AND forgotten start popping up, the most significant of which is Sunao, whom everybody says is Sora's childhood playmate. Sora of course, doesn't remember Sunao at all, and things didn't help when they both turned out to be each other's dormitory roommate. As they both try to work out their relationship and Sora's lost memories, their pasts start to catch up with them - and not entirely in a good way. What happens next is a whirlwind of crazy escapades, split personalities, conspiracy theories, and violence even.

COMMENTS

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First of all, I have absolutely no contact with [Sukisyo!], the BL game at all, so I'm reviewing this solely based on what I think of the series. On the surface, I think [Sukisyo!] is a very confused series. It's like the creators can't decide if this should be a waffy, or angsty or action/adventure kinda series. Had the creators stuck to either waffy, or angsty, the series would be more convincing. Instead, they try to mash everything together, so the end result is like I said, just confusing.

Yet, the series is not without its merits. The sweetness and fluff of its filler episodes are fun, the characters are easily likeable, and hey, everyone's a bishounen! Also, some episodes, particularly the one with the little ghost, are pretty touching. Now let's look at the angsty underlying layer. That isn't too bad either. I can see there're attempts to explain and justify all the conspiracy theories cloaking the series. In other words, there actually is a comprehensible ending and rounding up of the series, something which cannot be said for other series.

All in all, we have to remember that a BL game is just what it is, a game. When you turn it into a series, there's really very little plot, setting and characterisation to work with. [Sukisyo!] has its charm. It's unrepentantly yaoi and indulgent, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy at least *some* aspects of the series! So yes, yaoi fans, just watch it. If anything else, you do get to see bishounen cuddling and making out! Just don't expect too much from it.

MAIN CHARACTERS

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There's a big villain I've left out in the character panel. Big villains aren't meant to be revealed that easily anyway! ^_^

HASHIBA SORA. Our rather cavalier central character. Amnesia isn't his only problem. He also struggles with his growing feelings for Sunao, AND the fact that his past seems to be seriously catching up with him.

YORU. The second personality of Sora, Yoru is dark, sexy, and seems rather sinister. However, he is very fond of Ran, and doesn't hide his feelings at all.

FUJIMORI SUNAO. The high-strung best friend of Sora who's not just miffed about being forgotten, but also has to deal with his very obvious attraction to Sora, and what seems to be a hidden agenda beneath his innocent exterior.

RAN. Ran is like Sunao without the inhibitions and uptightness. Ran is basically very simple. His world evolves around Yoru. ^_^

HONJOU MATSURI. Hands down, the most flamboyant and unrepentantly ditzy character of all! Matsuri is an opportunist. As long as he can get a good deal out of something, he'd do it. In addition, although his methods are unorthodox, he's very kind at heart!

MINATO SHINICHIROU. His day job is playing teacher in the high-school. And when he's not doing that, he's playing detective all around the place. He is also intricately linked to Sora and Sunao's past. And yes, he's the 'husband' of Nanami. ^_^'

NANAMI KAI. When he's not being Minato's sidekick during detective work, or playing his 'wife' at home, Nanami's the school doctor/nurse(?). Like Minato, he's involved with the boys' past, but he's more cautious about it, unlike Minato's rashness.

ICHIKAWA GAKU. The junior of Sora & Co. He's a brash, passionate kid who also has the world's hugest crush on Nagase Kai (Ichikawa has balls, you gotta give him that). Also, although he looks rather thick-headed, he's actually surprisingly sensible. ^_~

NAGASE KAI. A senior student who's also president of the Chemistry Club. For the most part, he floats around the school, scaring the beejeezers out of Sora, and just being sinister. But he's small fry really. There's someone else behind him who's the bigger evil. ^^

SAKURA HIROMU. Sakura's actually a very, very minor character, but I'm sorry, I just have to feature him! He's sorta a ghost. And damn, he's the sweetest, cutest, most petulant chibi ghost I've seen yet!

MANGA DETAILS

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Mangaka : Matsudaira Tooru
Number of volumes : 1
Status : Complete

Uh, it's just as confusing as the anime? LOL. Ok uh, the artwork is not bad. It's not outstanding, but it's pretty good! However, I think you should be familiar with the background of the series before attempting the manga. The manga's character design seems to be more in line with the novels and the game itself. Also, the manga progresses on a different tangent from the anime altogether! Of course some aspects are retained - the major plot points - but everything else seems to be different.

ANIME DETAILS

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Character Design : Tsutae Yuzu
Episodes : 12
Status : Complete

ANIMATION

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The animation is average, and very colourful. The anime looks like candy! The character design is not bad, although it's rather different from the game, novels and manga, I feel. It's a pity the anime has only 12 episodes, which makes the pace rather uneven. It kinda starts meandering, and then flies towards the end. But at the same time, 12 episodes is a good enough number to round up a small, curious little series like this!

SCREENCAPS

VOICE-ACTING

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One more aspect of the anime that should draw seiyuu fans. The seiyuu cast of the anime is ALL-STAR. They're all good. Do we expect any less? They're veterans of not just yaoi, but also BL drama and all, you know! ^^ I'm definitely not disappointed in any way. There's enough range in the anime to stretch the seiyuu a bit. And since Midorikawa Hikaru voices our main character, let me focus on him here. I think he did a great job voicing Sora. Sora is a character who is as strong as he is fragile, and of course, he's a high-schooler, remember? Midorikawa Hikaru covers all these aspects pretty well!

MUSIC

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Uhm, I didn't think the music was great or anything. I mean, it's just there. But well, the OP and ED are alright :

• Just A Survivor (OP)
• Daydreamin' (ED)

RESOURCES

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SUKISYO TV OFFICIAL WEBSITE

SPREAD THE LOVE (fan site)