シャッフル! (SHUFFLE!)
Ten years had passed since the discovery of the 2 gateway to Shinkai, the world of Shinzoku (Gods), and Makai, the world of Mazoku (Devils). Since then, humans, shinzoku, and mazoku have been living together in the human world ever since...
Ever since his parents passed away in an accident eight years ago, Tsuchimi Rin (土見 稟) lives with his childhood friend Fuyou Kaede (芙蓉 楓), much to the jealously of other boys in their school. One day, two new families move in next door to the Fuyou household: The Kings of Shinzoku and Mazoku, along with their daughters, Lisianthus (リシアンサス) and Nerine (ネリネ). Rin's life will never be the same again, for not only the 2 girls are now the new transfer students in his class, he has to pick one of the two girls... as his future wife!! Who will Rin pick in the end...??
SHUFFLE! is first released as a hentai PC game by Navel back in 2003. Featuring character designs by Nishimata Aoi (西又 葵) and Suzuhira Hiro (鈴平 ひろ), it is an instant success for the company. Since then, one sequel hentai PC game, Tick! Tack! was released in 2005, and a new sequel hetnai PC game, Really? Really! is slated for release in 2006. As the franchise's popularity soars, a PS2 version of SHUFFLE!, SHUFFLE! ON THE STAGE, was released in late 2005. The TV series was released in early 2005 and runs for 24 episodes until January 2006.
Links:
Navel (Game Company, Japanese)
SHUFFLE! anime (Japanese)
SHUFFLE! (2005 - 2006)
24 episodes TV series
As a series, it is a hardcore fanservice aimed for all the hard-core fans. Plain and simple. To that end, plenty of panty shors, boobs shots in various angles, and plenty of awkward situations straight from the game. Lots of comic relief that will make the fans happy, as well as the ultimate naked girl shots (not too frequent, but there are nudity...).
While the first half delivers the laughs at the expenses of Rin-chan, the second half deals with his ultimate choice: which girl? Unlike the game, for the anime series to work, the producers make sure Rin will pick one, at the expenses of the rest of the girls' feelings. At least, every girl get to show their "in-game" problems while Rin makes the hard decision. In the end, it works perfectly. Besides, the Shinzoku allows polygamy... which means no matter who Rin picks, the other girls can still get their hands on him... he he.
While the show did follow most of the game storyline, only Primula gets a revised plot to make it more dramatic and to bridge the second half of the show with the first. That's fine, besides, it is hard to work out a way to turn Primula into another girlfriend for Rin without getting into trouble...
A pretty good hardcore fanservice show that I actually enjoyed in a long, long time, and I would recommend it to any newbie to the franchise...
Note: FUNimation will release it in summer 2007.
Dino's Rating: 10
Will Girls Like It: Maybe
SHUFFLE! Memories (2007)
12 episodes TV series
This is the classic example of how to milk every penny out of the fanboys, since there is no way they can do a sequel (unless they can create a even better story...), let's do a recap and spread it over 11 episodes! That's what happens for SHUFFLE! Memories. Episode one is the re-introduction, and then from episodes two to eleven are recap episodes for Kaede, Asa, Nerine, Sia and Primula, all separated into two episodes each. The only thing that is new in these episodes are the personalized OP and EP, with the CVs singing their own new image songs. Also, new animations for both the personalized OP and EP, with scenes inspired from the original game used for the OPs and brand new animation for the EPs.
Lucky for the fanboys, episode twelve is a completely "out-of-the-box" story not featured in the original TV series (nor you can fit into the story anyways...). Spending summer vactaion on Shin-chan's love boat is something, it is something else for Rin as everybody are wearing their sexy swimsuits...
Note: Available on fansubs
Dino's Rating: 6 (episode 1 to 11), 9 (for episode 12)
Will Girls Like It: No Way