Special A

How can I begin to describe this splendiferous anime??? I spent countless hours watching it, because the lead character Kei Takishima's personality fit my ideal! He has a cute reverse semicircle shaggy hairdo that adds even more to his cuteness! He is a "golden boy" in every sense of the word in that everything he touches he excels in.  Even though everything may come naturally to him, he becomes a mess when he finds himself worrying over his love interest Hikari Hanazono (another Ms. Perfect and Popular).  What is it about Kei that is so wonderful? Hm... well, he is hardworking (helps in his family business), super naturally talented physically and mentally (think Superman!!!), wealthy, tall, fit, yada yada yada!!! He also has standoffish/arrogant/scary attitude that reminds me of Darcy from Pride and Prejudice.  Moreover, he is bold and upfront and stands and fights for whatever and whomever he believes in. What drives me smiling everytime I watch this anime is whenever he becomes "oh, so helpless/vulnerable" around the woman of his dreams.  I love the dialogue interchange between the two especially since Hikari is innocent and clueless in her own personal affairs that whenever Kei makes advances towards her, she gives him a retarded comment and blows him off-- something which I find very very endearing to the neurotic side of me.

I've chosen to give a brief explaination of Kei and Hikari's background which I borrowed off from Wikipedia so read on...

Kei Takishima

Takishima Kei (滝島 彗?) Voiced by: Jun Fukuyama

Ranked first in school, Kei is the son of the CEO of Takishima Corporation. As Hikari's undefeated rival, he likes to refer to her as "Number Two", which never fails to provoke her. He has a photographic memory and the ability to do anything right on his first try. He usually prefers to do things on his own until Hikari shows him how much fun it can be to work together with others. Kei loves Hikari, a fact that he does not deny, and has loved her since they were children. However, he has not confessed his love to her because he knows that Hikari does not understand those feelings and would think that he is referring to a love between friends. Although he is stoic most of the time and always maintains a calm facade, things involving Hikari can bring intense anxiety out of him. It always bothers him whenever Hikari pushes herself too hard or causes trouble, but her strong will and determination are the reasons why he admires and respects her. He makes several attempts to express his feelings to Hikari, though is usually thwarted by some sort of misunderstanding on Hikari's part. Kei eventually confesses to her openly in chapter 52 and Hikari reveals that she reciprocates his feelings; the two start dating and become a couple in the following chapter.

Hanazono Hikari (華園 光?) Voiced by: Yuko Goto

Hikari is the protagonist of the story. She holds the 2nd position in school for having the best grades. Self-proclaimed as Kei Takishima's greatest competitor, she is determined to beat him in any kind of competition. Stubborn, proud and hot-headed, Hikari never backs down from a challenge, especially one from Kei, because she is constantly looking for an opportunity to surpass him, though has never done so. She is good at sports and academics, but she is very bad at teaching and cooking. Although she can handle her own in a fight (often against boys), Kei, nonetheless, gets irritated whenever she puts herself in danger. A kindhearted girl who always worries about others, Hikari sometimes lacks common sense and tends to be unaware towards how people regard her. Her optimistic personality, straightforwardness, and tendency to always see the good in people sometimes prevents her from realizing the more subtle aspects of relationships. Although Hikari is rather sensitive to others, she is quite dense when it comes to love. She is oblivious to the romantic feelings Kei has for her, though everyone else knows that Kei is in love with her. In volume four, Hikari begins to fall in love with Kei, though she does not realize it until volume six. They eventually admit their feelings for one another and become a couple in chapter 53.


Actually, the more I watched the anime, I end up loving Hikari as well! She's a super tomboy.  She's very beautiful, smart, optimistic, and hardworking.  She loves challenges and she's perfect as well! I actually know a few girls I am related to who have this golden girl type chracteristic as well... Oh, how the fates have been cruel!  But besides that, I love Hikari... bless her soul for being so naive whenever Kei would say lovey dovey things to her.

Ondatra zibethicus: The Muskrat

Finding Mr. Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) wasn't hard. He stands roughly around 5'5." He's full around the waist-- rather prodigious if you ask me... He smells like cigars. Has red-stained teeth due to his nasty betelnut chewing habit. And walkds with a limp.

After boasting that he's fathered a brood of 20 children, he then set his black  beady little eyes in my direction! Disgusting! Moreover, he's not even a true rat (of the genus Rattus).  Now, I am not saying that all rats are despicable.  I'm just saying this particular -- dewinged bat from hell --  surely is!

Without a shadow of a doubt this pesky fellow has managed to ruin my day!  If it was extremely hard to find Mr. Right in a Wrong Environment, then clearly, I've located the dwelling of a despicable rodent without much exertion.  Why? Why must such beauty be cursed to face this low life.  As gracious a hostess as I am, I did welcome the dirty little fellow; tended to his whims; and even catered to his every demand.  I wasted 4 hours of my day worrying over nonsense.  Feebly attempting to maintain my composure everytime the fink would ask yet another vain request.  "Please call me by this name."  Or "Please don't hesitate to call me at this number."  Or even more dreadful, "Come hither, sweet child, and speak to me as if I were more than a friend."

Maybe the old fiend would think twice befor using such tone with me, but I have overcome his advances. This ratticus wannabe is merely a hapless fellow in need of care.  So today, I found no indication of Mr, Right amongst the crowd.  But I will persevere! Makasete!

Finding Mr. Right in a Wrong Environment

Every little girl dreams that one day she'll find the man of her dreams and grow up healthy, happy, and in love with her perfect person. And he'll he relatively tall, tan, with greyish blue eyes, raven hair, a masculine physique, a deep yet tender voice, and of course he'll be the heir to a multi-billion dollar conglomerate pharmaceutical corporation , yada yada yada... But what if that lovely perfect person does not show himself to that lonely little girl? Eventually that little girl grows up. Hoping that the next passerby be that Mr. Wonderful knight-on-shining armor who carries her off her feet and whisks her away to his Paradise in the Pacific and makes earth shattering, wind roaring, avatar elemental bending passionate love to her!

Now, experience tells us-- or me, for that matter -- to be exacting. Men are truly a dubious creature. They fly just as swiftly as they swoop in for the kill as soon as a woman claims to wanna settle. Moreover, it's the truly fortunate female who can snare her beloved whilst still managing to accomplish her life's passion. I am on that journey. A sojourner on the path of life's rocky road of tears, heartache, and hell. I am the heroine of my own dramatic comedy. And that is why today marks the day I have chosen to log my path on this romantic misadventure of mine. A sleeping Cinderella who continues to dream of her Mr. Right.

My anime love lesson for the day is Kemono no Souja Erin. A Japanese anime about a beastplayer/healer named Erin who was raised in a village which trained toudas (dragons) for the mighty duke. Her mother came from a tribe called the Mist People. A society that leads a nomadic life with strict laws that once broken, death would be the only penalty. They are a mysterious people with piercing sea green eyes with a talent for the occult.

One day, while making rounds as a scout, her mother finds a wounded hunter and eventually falls in love with him. She says his courage, warmth, and kindness led her to forsake her people and follow him. He was the village chieftain's son. The anime doesn't mention it, but Erin's father(Assan) dies. And Erin's mother choses to remain in the village despite Assan's death. Even though they are both treated like second class citizens in the village because of Erin's mother's heritage, Erin's mother-- a talented beastinarian -- becomes assigned to take care of the duke's prized Kiba (retired dragons). One day, all the Kiba in the villlage die and Erin's mother becomes the scapegoat. She is ordered to be executed by touda trial (i.e. being eating alive by wild touda). Erin tries to rescue her mother by swimming in a wild touda infested sea to save her and by cutting the binds off from her hands and feet. But it is useless, for the executioners have already driven a sword into her. [I love this scene in the anime. I cried watching the young Erin yell out to her mother, "Okasan! Okasan!!!" As she desperately tries to save her]. Erin's mom is mortally wounded and with her dying breath, she summons up the strength to make a whistle with her fingers that halt the wild toudas from attacking them both. She tells Erin that she is committing a crime not to be repeated, and then calls a wild touda to take Erin to safety. [Tears].

It's safe to say the tears will come flooding again, but I've only watched up to that scene. Yet what I remember most about Erin's mother was the scene wherein Erin snuggles into her bed and asks, "Mom, what do I smell like?" Her mother lovingly replies, " You smell like the sun." Erin reminded her mother of Assan (Erin's father) who looked like the sun.

Kemono no Souja Erin has taught me this, thus far:
1) To love is to sacrifice.
2) Find your happiness.
3) You see the sun in the one you love.

I strive to learn more, and so will continue my Mr. Wonderful 101 quest!