Having recently been more interested in watching live action drama, I know that I've left this blog fairly unattended. It can't be helped since my interests change often from one area to another pretty sporadically. There is still hope that I'll return to the anime and manga blogging scene as there have been few anime series and manga series I have left unfinished. But while I continue on my new quest to enjoying live action drama, the animanga zone will definitely continue it's extended hiatus.
Of course, that doesn't mean that I've forgotten about it completely. Because in the coming future, I have my own plans to post certain articles in the drama zone in which will include some elements of anime or manga.
With that said, here are two live action drama series based off of ever popular cross-dressing reverse harem shoujo manga, Hanazakari no Kimitachi e by Nakajo Hisaya:
Hanazarkarino Kimitachie also known as Hua Yang Xiao Nian Xiao Nu (花樣少年少女) -- a 2006 production in the Taiwanese Idol Drama genre.
The story line to Hana Kimi is a perfect match for Taiwan's hit television series arena wherein Idol Drama's rule the entertainment industry, showcasing the hottest new artists and stars who are capable of singing, dancing and acting as well as simply looking pretty or handsome. Lead by S.H.E. girl group member Ella Chen alongside Fahrenheit boy group members Wu Chun and Jiro Wang, this series became vastly popular throughout Asia with it's sweet and fun story base as well as rising star cast. While probably not the best drama series production in Asian media, Hana Kimi truly was a hit among young girls all over the world. This series boasts musical numbers from S.H.E., Fahrenheit and Tank.
Hanazakari no Kimitachi e: Ikemen Paradise -- a 2007 production from Japan, it is also referred to endearingly as IkePara.
As with any popular Japanese manga, it is only a matter of time before the country takes it's own productions to create a live action series for the people to enjoy. While not truly following the original manga story line, it takes elements and plot devices from the manga and incorporates them into a separate story altogether. Packed with hilarious Japanese humor and excellent comedic timing, this series boasts some wonderful entertainment as well as elements of slice-of-life philosophy about being young and following dreams. Among the cast are Horikita Maki, Oguri Shun, and rising star Ikuta Toma who pretty much steals the spotlight from the ever beloved main couple. With this series, Ikuta Toma received his biggest break, capturing hearts of young girls all over the Asian region and catapulting him into main leading roles in his own drama series as well as movies.
Both of these above mentioned series have been analyzed to death by this weblog fangirl. There has never been a doubt that Hana Kimi will forever be one of my most favorite shoujo manga ever created as I can easily reread chapters upon chapters without feeling bored about them. As a warning, the articles posted above are fairly in depth and may contain spoilers. But as they were broadcasted more than four years ago as well as are based off of a well-known manga anyway, it probably doesn't hurt for me to spoil just a little bit of the story line. After all, for the most part, romantic comedies typically yield the same predictable formulas regularly.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
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