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Episodes Reviewed: 1-3, Import DVD (pirated, likely)

Overall Grade: A-

Believe it or not, I'm going for a spoiler-free review. *ahem* Just as Keitaro Urashima's life is finally going his way, he gets into a minor accident and has to return home to explain his situation to his parents. One week later he returns, only to announce that he'll be traveling around with Mr. Seta for a while as he tries to rediscover his dreams. While he's away, Naru appears to be up to some mischief... strangely sexual mischief that's not like her character at all. Meanwhile, Mutsumi arrives with a letter from Keitaro, but her announcement is cut short by a typical chase around Hinata House. Finally, there's some confusion as the mischief-making Naru and the normal Naru meet. The real Naru is trapped and told by the other Naru that she is the one who made a promise with Keitaro. Eventually the two Narus end up in the hot spring and the imposter Naru is revealed as Kanako Urashima, Keitaro's sister! She says that she was given the job of manager by her brother. But the real shock comes when she says he won't be back! The residents already don't like her very much, and they can't stand her new rules, but Naru says it's okay. She wants Keitaro to be happy knowing that his sister is okay, but she also wonders why Keitaro made the Tokyo U promise with his sister. Near the end of the first episode, Keitaro appears suddenly, but it wouldn't be a surprise if anyone actually read the letter he sent. Now that everyone's back together, and Keitaro's sister is here to complicate matters, further, how will life be at the Hinata House?

Type: Comedy/Romance

Ch. Development: 8

In this short OVA, we finally see some closure, certain people reveal their feelings (again), and, well, the change is especially noticeable if you watch the first few episodes of the TV series again.

Overall there's more sexually-oriented jokes, actions, fan-service, etc. than the TV series, but still not detailed at all, which I guess is okay; it doesn't betray its original form.

While the emphasis was on comedy in the TV series, Love Hina Again is dominately romance despite the many, many hilarious scenes.

See above. There won't be any cool battles, but the battles near the end (battles? true!) actually make you feel the emotion. Of course, there's plenty of wavering emotions like in the last four episodes of the TV series, and huge doses of comedy to balance everything out with.

There are a few scuffles and chases, but that's usually all comedy.

It seems to have lost its touch, but it still does its job right.

I found this DVD while I was wandering a mall in Daly City. I figured, when am I going to get the chance to buy an import anime that I know is good, and get it subtitled? So, I spent 15 bucks at that kiosk (by the way, this was during some sort of toy exhibition tour or something, but it's long-over now). I don't regret it at all.

Love Hina Again is definitely a good anime, but it can hardly compete with the best. The animation style and quality have changed... for the worse in my opinion. Several of the character designs look vastly different from the TV and manga... most noticable being Shirai, who, despite being called fat by girls, appears much smaller and thinner than Haitani. The fan service in LHA is two or three times that of the TV series. The animation quality actually looks worse than the TV series. Finally, the emphasis is clearly all on Keitaro, Kanako, and Naru, with little thought to the other characters. We don't really know much about their feelings, and if that could have been done by adding a couple more episodes, that would have made this anime close to perfect. Despite having an A-, I highly reccomend Love Hina Again, which is still a must-buy for romance-comedy fans.

That's my Story and I'm Sticking to it!