The Yaoi Review

Temperature Rising

2011-12-19T09:35:00.000-08:00

Title: Temperature Rising

Author: Souya Himawari

Media: Just Manga. Happiness Recommended is technically the first in the 'series', however Temperature Rising is strong enough as a stand alone.

English Release: Yes. It's available from Waterstones.

Summary:

The description of this novel makes it sound dirtier than it really is. Prostitution is a feature here, but Temperature Rising is actually quite light on the palette. Some of the scenes are steamy and the general storyline is a little overused. This manga sits somewhere in the middle ground of hard and softcore.

Finally, if you like your school settings, then this a definite read.

Artwork:

Unique. Enough said.

The characters were very hard to tell apart and to make things even worse there is a set of identical twins (one of whom is the main character). By the end of the reading I was still confused but I was willing to overlook this.

At times the artwork is a little strained, but the rounded features make for a pleasant change to other styles.

Story:

As I mentioned, we have prostitution and a school setting. That's at least the majority of 'got to read this!' manga criteria already ticked for me. For those of you wanting a little more substance, Temperature Rising can also deliver.

The story is told from the point of view of the Seme. He is in love with his best friend at school and is shocked to find out he is selling his body to provide for his army of brothers. The history is that Mizumo is one of several brothers, abandoned by their mother and father. They have very little money to survive, and so Mizumo turns to using his 'natural talents' to bring the bacon home, as it were. His friend, Minori, is not best pleased with Mizumo's money making ideas and uses his allowance to pay for Mizumo's affections. However, Minori's intentions are not all pure as he harbors deep feelings for his friend.

Character

Not much development here.

Mizumo refuses to rely on others for help and insists on providing for his brothers. However he is rather pushy and has no inhibitions in taking the lead when it comes to sex.

Minori is seemingly quite happy to be bossed around, and has a hugging complex.

For supports there is Mizumo's cast of six(?) other brothers and a couple of other students. But as a one shot it tends to focus heavily on the main two and doesn't waste much time creating a world of other people.

It didn't take me long to read and as usual I was left seriously wanting more. As a result I picked up Happiness Recommended, which technically comes before Temperature Rising, but I was left bitterly disappointed with that. As a result I can strongly recommend Temperature Rising, but don't look much further than this.

Sukisyo!

2011-12-19T03:57:00.000-08:00

Title: Sukisyo

Artist:

Author:

Status: Complete (12 Episode Series)

English Release: None.

Summary:

Different websites claim the beginnings of Sukisyo happened in different orders. A BL game that spawned a TV series and short Manga, or the other way around, Sukisyo has a fair amount of material to keep fans busy for a time. Apart from the games, there isn't anything here too disturbing for light yaoi fans and for hardcore viewers Sukisyo can be a refreshing tickle. However, the lack of action in the bedroom department left me feeling frustrated and often shouting at the monitor for more.

Artwork:

The manga's artwork varied greatly from the anime series. At times the panels felt a little sloppy and rushed as far as characters were concerned. For the most part the backgrounds have been lovingly rendered in good detail which added life to each scene.

Story:

Without being able to confidently confirm where it all began, I will simply refer to the anime coming before the manga for the sake of ease (I watched it first, see!).

The manga's storyline differed greatly from the anime and I was overall rather disappointed with the reading. Here the two room mates find themselves forced to act out a play (Swan Princess), and their struggles to overcome various obstacles leading up to performance day.

That's pretty much it, folks.

The anime tackled things slightly differently, and opened brilliantly with some subtle bedroom action that also served to introduce us to the main two and their situation. The storyline in the anime is more of a sideline to the manga. Over twelve heart warming episodes we are slowly fed the main plot, whilst being distracted by the side events produced by the 'School Do-It-All Team'. When the main plot finally kicks in it is typically late in the show.

As I have said before, there is nothing heavy/hardcore here and it makes for pleasant viewing.

Character:

There are two main characters and three support.

Sora is the main, blue-haired lead. A little hot headed and quick to anger he has trouble remembering his past. Though nothing mold-breaking here, Sora is a fun character and I found myself quite attached to him.

Alongside Sora is Fujimori. Obviously more effeminate with equally outrageous hair colouring, Fujimori is more serious and contained than his counterpart.

The two contrast well together and the supports provide a variety of interactions seemingly aimed at bringing the two closer together.

The Series

As I have mostly covered both parts together, here I will take the time to talk about the voice actors.

There was a good cast used here and in my usual way, I recognized Sora's voice actor in an instant. Those of you familiar with other popular series (if you don't know the following titles, go, now! Experience for thou art lacking!) such as Kirepapa and even Togainu no Chi, will also recognize Modorikawa Hikaru's distinctive voice.

The series was well acted and the characters really came to life.

The Game

I understand there are two versions; the hardcore, and the softcore. I sadly have access to neither and am therefore unable to comment further, really. However, I do believe it focuses heavily on Sora's and Fujimuri's past.

Okane ga Nai

2011-12-18T14:50:00.000-08:00

Info

Manga: Okane ga Nai (No Money)
Artist: Tohru Kousaka
Author: Hitoyo Shinozaki
Status: Ongoing (8 volumes)
English Release: Not announced. Officially Japanese only.
Media: Okane ga Nai has a four episode OVA and a couple of drama CDs. It was originally a novel and has been adapted in to the Manga.

The Review

Summary:

Come prepared. Okane ga Nai is not afraid to cross certain lines and as a result may leave some people cold. However, for those with the stomach to face it, Okane ga Nai is one saucy little manga. The Drama CDs are well worth a listen (good headphones are a requirement, ladies) and the manga has some quality yaoi scenes.
Readers, you have been warned!

Artwork:

Research shows that many people put down this manga purely upon seeing Ayase and Kanoh's distinct height difference. Though it echoes of shota-con, Okane ga Nai is most certainly not of that genre. At times it is difficult to look beyond (such as the rediculously over-sized bed in Kanoh's apartment), however I do not feel this is a strong enough reason to disregard Okane ga Nai altogether.

The level of detail used to depict Ayase is wonderful. Some people think its overly complex, however I found each panel to be an individual work of art. Kousaka has made his characters extremely individual, thus eliminating the common problem of 'who is who?'. Except, of course, in the case of the Twins!

Story:

If coercion, violence, rape and forced captivity are not your cup of tea, I can strongly recommend you don't try Okane Ga Nai. This manga treads a dangerous path through each of the aforementioned areas and dabbles in other equally disturbing activities as well. It doesn't bother to make excuses for its behavior, either.

The story opens with Kanoh remembering a chance encounter from years past, and incidentally 'purchasing' the boy from his memories at a slave auction – namely Ayase. Over the course of the current eight volumes Shinozaki guides his characters on a journey of self discovery. What I liked most about this manga was the lack of sudden realizations; even after three volumes or so, Ayase is still struggling to accept his position.

However. Some of the situations – and frequency! - that Ayase finds himself in can be a little tiresome.

I really, really liked the way the last released volume ended. To avoid spoilers, I will simply say the following:

It threw a hefty spanner in to the works, and made me as a reader question the seven volumes that came before. A manga that can do that is a manga worth the read.

Character:

Overall the characters in Okane ga Nai could do with more personal development. As it is they are all a unique bunch and combined with the witty and often sharp humor, become rather likable.

Ayase is overly optimistic and extremely naïve to the intentions of others and as a result he is often left with shattered illusions and tear stained cheeks. He has yet to develop properly within himself, yet his slow and obvious struggle to overcome his predicament makes for a tantalizing read.

Kanoh starts out as a cutthroat loan shark. He doesn't change much. His interactions with Ayase are excellently written and his eagerness to secure the younger boy's affections often has hilarious results. As a character he is deliberately very flawed, and designed to be the complete opposite to his love interest.

The OVA and Voice Actors

The Okane ga Nai OVA followed the first few chapters closely. Events do not happen out of order, nor is anything missed out. Overall the OVA stayed true to the manga. The animation was good and used some different techniques not often seen in other adaptations. For example, a memorable scene near the beginning of Episode One used boxed outs around the main image to bring the viewers attention to a particular action.

As for the voice acting I found it rather good. Jun Fukuyama did justice to Ayase's 'girly' voice and I found myself impressed on more than one occasion with his ability to pull off such a smooth sounding pitch. His voice didn't crack once, even during the heated scenes (I mean the arguments, too!).

The other most notable voice was Nobuo Tobita, who played the transvestite Someya Kaoruko. Bringing such a colourful character to life can never be easy, yet I felt Tobita excelled here.

Final word on the OVA: Good animation, good voice acting. Sadly with just four episodes, I would have mopped up a good twelve episode series of this. That may just be me though.

Drama CD

I have never come across a drama CD that has failed to deliver on the promise of steamy sound effects. Okane ga Nai does not fail here, either. Unfortunately I am at this time unable to identify the voice actor that plays Ayase in the Drama CD, however all the others are played by the same voice actors as in the OVA.

Unfortunately I am also unable to extensively comment on the Drama CDs due to a lack of English translation. From what I have listened to (repeatedly, some parts) it's quite different from the direction the OVA and manga took in some respects.