KOR

[Daniel]

I just finished the KOR TV series. Thought that it deserved its own thread. ^_^

(I just watched the _TV series_, so the below comments are in regard to the TV series only. I'm not talking about the OVAs/movies/manga; would have to refresh my memory on those first. But, you guys are free to take the discussion down that route, if you wish.)

So, on the negative side, it got kind of repetitive. I mean, how many times do we see Kyosuke and Madoka get close, just to get interrupted at the last moment. There wasn't particularly any suspense for me in that regard. And, talking about repetition, how many times do we see Kyosuke make Hikaru go off crying, just to have them make up before the end of the episode? (The Umao and Ushiko gag was repetitive, but I loved it every time. )

I mentioned this in another thread, but the fact that Madoka can do basically anything and everything gets kind of annoying after awhile. This isn't to say that anime has to be realistic; oh no, of course not. It's just the way that Madoka can be a female wrestler in one episode and an expert skateboarder in the next that kind of gets on my nerves. But again, as I mentioned in another thread, this girl that can do everything may actually be weak inside.

The TV series ending doesn't particularly resolve the love triangle. Are Kyosuke and Madoka finally together? What about poor Hikaru? For all we know, she could just pop up unexpectedly, interrupt Kyosuke and Madoka, and set us back to square one.


But, on the other hand, with all that, jeez, this show is addicting. I just can't put my finger on what it is about KOR that is so enchanting... Can you? (or do you not think that KOR is enchanting?)

Your thoughts on KOR?

[davemerrill]

To be honest I agree with most of your negatives, and will suggest that the whole psychic family subplot is not only a waste of time, but doesn't fit in at all with the rest of the series; I imagine some editor thought the story was too dull and told Izumi Matsumoto to throw in some ESP to liven things up. On the whole Kyosuke is spineless, Hikaru is super annoying, and Madoka's big secret is that she is actually kind of boring. I'll give you some great Akemi Takada design work and the second series opening credits are swell, but on the whole the appeal of Orange Road is something I never got.

Man, I HATE characters like Kyosuke. He's the template of the indecisive, spineless, unsure "nice guy" pushover that's infested Japanese cartoons - and in fact the whole world - for decades. Koji Kabuto would break his nose. Ataru Moroboshi would take both Madoka AND Hikaru on dates. At the same time. He'd strike out, of course, but at least he's in the game. Kyosuke is standing there with his nose against the fence going "Um... uh..."

[Heero]

To be honest I agree with most of your negatives, and will suggest that the whole psychic family subplot is not only a waste of time, but doesn't fit in at all with the rest of the series; I imagine some editor thought the story was too dull and told Izumi Matsumoto to throw in some ESP to liven things up.

I think the ESP thing is just a McGuffin to let Matsumoto work himself out of dead-ends with random psychic powers. Without the powers, the whole triangle makes no sense; the hat thing at the start of the series is less connected (Why does Madoka fall in love with Kyousuke at the beginning?!?) and WHY does Hikaru get a crush on Kyousuke to begin with? But all in all, KOR is an OK show (and yes, has a GREAT OP in there), but is worth watching for older fans if only because of how quintessentially 80s it is.

I think the thing I hated about "Kimagure Orange College" (fan comic sequel to KOR) was that the writer basically just slapped a "third wheel" in there with Kyousuke & Madoka and (only read first chapter, dropped it after that) Kyousuke just jumped on board with that despite EVERYTHING they dealt with in KOR. That just struck me as idiotic. Plus, at least in the case of KOR, Hikaru is Madoka's best friend and for the front half, Kyousuke has to deal with the bizarre see-saw of trying to form a relationship with Madoka WITHOUT alienating her by hurting her best friend. (that really is the issue in the beginning, as it progresses, it becomes more of a wishy-washy thing, but early on it IS more tentative)

[greg]

Well, I love KOR. Yeah, Madoka can be a rock singer, master surfer, female wrestler, you-name-it. I guess it is annoying, but I never took it too seriously to let it bother me. Hikaru is certainly annoying, but I think her annoyingness, much of the flakiness, and Komatsu and Hata are typical filler for the TV show that aren't much of a big deal for the manga (Hata doesn't even exist in the manga). The whole ESPer thing is a plot vehicle, much as baseball is in Touch and the body changing ability in Ranma 1/2. Isn't that what they call a deus ex machina?

The indecisive nature of Kyosuke is his major character flaw, for sure. However, whereas the TV show ended on a positive note, the KOR movie shows the fruits of his indecision and he certainly reaps the destruction that he had sown.

I remember the old Kimagure Orance College fan manga! The art was great, despite it being an American effort. I got to see it only once, but I didn't have the money to buy it myself (I was a broke college kid at the time).

When the new KOR novel came out, my wife read both parts. I was glad that it was eventually released on DVD in English (I think ADV put it out instead of AnimEigo). I was hoping that it would end with Kyosuke and Madoka getting married, but that didn't happen. It wasn't as great as I'd hoped it to be, but it was still a decent followup to the series.

[Heero]

When the new KOR novel came out, my wife read both parts. I was glad that it was eventually released on DVD in English (I think ADV put it out instead of AnimEigo). I was hoping that it would end with Kyosuke and Madoka getting married, but that didn't happen. It wasn't as great as I'd hoped it to be, but it was still a decent followup to the series.

I kind of liked the first Shin-KOR novel (the second one got kind of weird). It especially had really nice illustrations. (Hikaru grew up nicely) Regarding the movie based on the novel, I'll also say "Kyousuke #1" is a really nice piece of music. I wonder if I still have it somewhere.

[greg]

I kind of liked the first Shin-KOR novel (the second one got kind of weird). It especially had really nice illustrations. (Hikaru grew up nicely) Regarding the movie based on the novel, I'll also say "Kyousuke #1" is a really nice piece of music. I wonder if I still have it somewhere.

Yeah, I'm a sucker for short hair, but the "hair helmet" she wore was ugly in the TV show.

I finally got my stuff, and I finally saw my KOR soundtrack again. However, it isn't the Sound Color CD, but the regular soundtrack instead. Maybe now that I live in Japan again, it's a good excuse to pick up the Sound Color CD for cheap somewhere.

[kndy]

I just finished the KOR TV series. Thought that it deserved its own thread. ^_^

The TV series ending doesn't particularly resolve the love triangle. Are Kyosuke and Madoka finally together? What about poor Hikaru? For all we know, she could just pop up unexpectedly, interrupt Kyosuke and Madoka, and set us back to square one.

Ahh....you have to watch the movies! (well, OVA's as well) but the first film resolves the love triangle. The second film revisits the three as adults.

[Daniel]

Making my way through the first movie. Really rough...

[Heibi]

KOR was one of the very first series I watched on LD. I got to enjoy the ever so irritating Arctic Animation subtitles. But hey, at the time that was all that was available to us back in the LD and tape days.

I love KOR. Looking for the DVDs so I can remaster my old versions.

[Daishikaze]

I enjoyed KOR quite a bit. The Flaws that were pointed out don't really bother me in this instance, I had alot of fun with the show and that overrides everything for me. I'd probably be more annoyed by it if it was much much longer, but its what? 48 episodes? Its tolerable at that point. If it went over 100 eps I'd be pissed off by the end of it. Hell, Maison Ikkoku, which is a much better show, nearly pissed me off in the final stretch because for a moment it looked like it was just going to keep teasing it and never have anything happen in the end.

I understand my threshold is much higher for this sort of thing, so I can see why KOR pisses people off I guess.