Here we have twelve more episodes of what is certainly one of the best anime shows ever. It's always sad to see your favorite show work towards a conclusion but that is exactly what Volume 7 of Maison Ikkoku does. Several side plots and characters such as Yagami and Coach Mitaka are more or less put to rest in terms of the Kyoko / Godai romance story.

I find that as I review each volume of Maison Ikkoku I find myself with less and less to say. It's not that I am losing interest in the show but that I feel there is nothing more I can say that hasn't been said before. Maison Ikkoku is consistantly good and if I was to find any fault it would be that at times they don't deviate much from the path. While I would love to see more episodes focusing on the side characters like Yotsuya and Akemi this is a show about Godai and Kyoko.

I can't wait to watch the next and final volume. While I will be sad to see the show end, I know that I will most certainly have to watch it again. It would certainly be a good excuse to try and introduce it to some friends.

Labels: Animation, Anime, Classics, Maison Ikkoku

In what seems like ages I have returned again to one show that gets put on the shelf for far too long. Maison Ikkoku is quite simply put an absolute masterpiece. It's also a crying shame that I shelve it to "spread it out" over time instead of just watching it all. After all, I can tell that once I'm finished with it I will go back to it again and again.

In these episodes we get to peek more into the life of young Yusaku Godai. The poor guy never can catch a break and yet strangely has a few female admirers despite his undying love for Kyoko. In these episodes things seem to get more and more confusing for the guy as he now heads out looking for a "real" job. As a man who was in this situation last year (and is somewhat considering doing it all over again next year or the year after) I can certainly see where he is coming from and how frustrating life can be.

What's a crying shame is how these are now out of print. Sadly, despite Maison Ikkoku being a masterpiece, the American anime fan never was willing to pony up the cash for it. If you do get a chance, check it out. You won't regret it!

Labels: Anime, Classics, Maison Ikkoku