Check disc, but it looks like the white with blue stripes theme will be carried on. This time Ukitsu will be on the front.
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Nice and simple to navigate. All the main options are on the top page.
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Standard 4:3 transfer. Nice and crisp. With subtitles for the Japanese audio and a “signs” for people watching the dub.
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The usual outtakes reel, character design art and trailers. There’s also a promotional video for the show, but really that’s just another trailer.
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With the tournament now ongoing we pick up where we left off, Hakufu now has to face Kakoton, a guy she met once before, who taught her the importance of “Basics” and always to have a tub of poly-filler handy to patch up that concrete you just shattered with your opponents body!
The first surprise I got was there seemed to be a major boost of humour this time using comical sound effects for perfectly normal head movements, and reactions etc. Similar to what John K does (Ren & Stimpy, Ripped Friends). Kakoton’s sidekicks also offer up a few surprise laughs when they’re trying to figure out why he’s toying with Hakufu and not smashing her face into the pavement. They come to the conclusion he’s deliberately making Hakufu fall over to show them her panties so they cheer him on to show more. Meanwhile back at the greenhouse of lurv, one of Totaku’s henchwomen; Kaku seems to have it in for Ryofu and her new girlfriend Chinkyu.
In the next episode, major nudyness is the order of the day and a couple of spare plasma bags for all the nosebleeds Koikin’s about to have. Hakufu’s mum takes her and Koikin to a hot spring spa for a little rest and relaxation. Much to Koikin’s dismay as he thought she was just kidding around like she normally does. And would ya adam and eve it? By some amazing coincidence, Ryomou and Ryufu turn up as well!
Despite the obvious nature of this episode to provide an excuse for all the characters to all get naked, there’s a fair bit of important discussing going on as Hakufu’s mum is trying to come to terms with the fact that her Daughter may well be destined to die. Hakufu gets a blast from the past when she and Ryomou bump into her old Sensei; cue a classic martial arts moment that teaches the young fighters to never underestimate the tiny old bloke with a gnarly walking stick!
Now just when you thought you couldn’t get enough bear flesh, cleavage and panty shots the writers go and put a poolside bikini episode right after the hot springs one for good measure! Luckily this is all playing for laughs as even the characters comment on this being “overused” in the episode preview. This one is worth a watch just to see Koikin beaten to within an inch of his life with a volleyball when he makes the mistake of taking on Hakufu at a game. Also in a surprise move, even to his henchgals, Totaku finally gets out of that greenhouse to go see Hakufu at the pool. Of course Hakufu is completely oblivious to whom she’s been talking to and is more interested in the juicy watermelon he brought along.
Things pretty much go at a relaxed pace in these episodes with the only real obstacle being for Koikin when Hakufu’s bikini begins to fall off. But finally Ukitsu; the one Hakufu’s mum really wishes her daughter wouldn’t fight, turns up, itching for a match. Rounding things off nicely on a cliffhanger.
Basically, the calm before the storm, it was the comedy that really saved the day for this volume with everything now set up for the final battles in the fourth and final volume. And of course, those of you who like fanservice will definitely be getting your moneys worth this time around!
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A slight improvement on the previous volumes, especially in the comedy department, with an extra extra dollop of fanservice to make up for the lack of fighting. "
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