Skip Beat
"I will make you so regretful that you will want to die."
Genre: Comedy – Drama – Psychological – Romance
Length: 25 episodes
Year: 2008
Studio: Hal Film Maker
Director: Sayama Kiyoko
Script/Writer: Sekijima Mayori
Character Design: Kumagai Tetsuya
Music: Tada Akifumi
Animation: Hata Satoshi
Licensed by: -
Based on: Skip Beat manga 25 vols. – February 2002 (ongoing) - Author: Nakamura Yoshiki Illustrator: Nakamura Yoshiki – serialization: Hana to Yume
Characters: Mogami Kyouko (Inoue Marina), Tsuruga Ren (Konishi Katsuyuki), Fuwa Shoutaro/Shou Zero (Miyano Mamoru), Kotonami Kanae (Hayamizu Risa), Yashiro Yukihito (Kawanago Masahito), Sawara Takenori (Hamada Kenji), Kouenji Erika (Enomoto Atsuko), Matsunai Ruriko (Kawasumi Ayako), Takarada Maria (Konno Hiromi), Takarada Lory (Ishii Kouji), Ishibashi Yuusei (Kawakami Takafumi), Ishibashi Hikaru (Sasada Takayuki), Ishibashi Shin’ichi (Nara Tooru), Shingai Seiji (Nojima Hirofumi), Aki Shouko (Natsuki Rio), Ogata Hiroaki (Fujita Yoshinori), Taishou (Satou Haruo) and Taishou’s wife (Komi Midori).
Synopsis: Kyouko is a cheerful and lively 16-year-old girl living in Tokyo, as proposed by her childhood love with whom she is living, Shotaro, who didn’t want to take over the family’s inn and so suggested Kyouko to move to Tokyo, in pursuit of a career in showbiz. Even though Sho is everything but kind to her, Kyouko self devotes entirely to the likes of the spoiled rising star.
But this relationship is about to change. One day, as Kyouko is bringing him lunch, she overhears him saying that she is a boring and plain girl with no sex appeal that he’d like to get rid of, considering her his maid, and then begins to flirt with his manager, which contrasts with his cold attitude towards Kyouko. Feeling used and betrayed, her “Pandora’s box” opens and the berserk Kyouko vows revenge but before she has the chance to physically punish him, she’s stopped by security. Sho mockingly says she would have to become a bigger star than him for that. Angered, Kyouko with unstoppable fighting spirit and thristy for revenge gets a makeover and tries to enter into the rival company L.M.E.
After some overwhelming torment by Kyouko’s amazing skills, she manages to convince the manager Sawara-san to ler her enter into a casting and she discovers Ren Tsuruga, Sho’s rival who he hated, also is in L.M.E.
Will Kyouko succeed in her quest for revenge or will someone be able to make her turn her number one motive into her love for acting?
Openings:
- 1. Dream Star – the generous (eps 1-19) [HQ]
- 2. Renaissance – the generous (eps 20-25) [HQ]
Endings:
- 1. Namida – 2BACKKA (eps 1-19)
- 2. Eien (永遠) – Yūsaku Kiyama (eps 20-24)
- 3. Dream Star – the generous (ep 25)
Appreciation: Since I haven’t read the manga yet, I will just have the anime in consideration (although I’ve check a bit and it seems the anime is 100% faithful to the manga). I must say, it was a surprise, since this kind of showbiz stories don’t appeal me much. It turned out to be extremely entertaining and I’m anxiously expecting a second season.
To start with the story is logical and realistic (not one of those instant-sucess kind of, although the development is predictable), but the best aspect of the anime are the characters’ personalities, with a great highlight in our protagonist, Kyouko. She has to be one of the best female protagonists, with a very characteristic personality (aswell as the others), that is definitely impressive. I liked that each one of them (the main characters) are not perfect stereotypes and it’s easy for one to understand their mentalities and so relate with.
The animation is well done (lol Kyouko’s inner demons), though no particular action scenes. The colors are fairly vivid and the art is good. I really liked the seiyuus, and I have nothing special to mention about the music. The story still feels a bit green, so I’m waiting with hope for the second season as the manga continues.
If you like comedy with a bit of romance, you’ll most certainly will have a good time with this original anime. Really recommend.
Rate: Excellent
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