Rating: 
Summary: Great Show - deserves a US release!
Review: I have seen the light and it is the first few episodes of "Love Hina". Ok, I'm kidding, but it really is a good show. Animation is cute and pretty darn good, as is the music. It is very funny, with the poor main guy character getting beat on a lot for no good reason (you'll have to watch to understand - its not stupid!). I only gave it four stars because, well...I don't really know; It's not perfect I guess, and if they try to dub the voices *shudder*. It doesn't show too much in the first few episodes, but it looks like it will probably take a more romantic bend later in the series. I think it is aimed more to guys, but don't let that discourage any girl anime fans. It is definately worth looking into, especially if you like fast paced comedy type shows.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Anime for vets and new viewers alike!
Review: This Anime alone got me hooked on Anime in general and this genre in particular. I had never viewed Anime in the past, and when I bought this boxed set I was hooked. Their are many characters that you are introduced to throughout the story, and each one of them have their own personality. Each character is totally seperate in person, actions, and looks from the other, except one, a certain contempt for our poor Keitaro (at least in the beginning, but it's always there!).Beyond all of the laughs and joys their is a somewhat deeper meaning, but you really have to look for it. Mostly, this dips into every guys fantasy, and the perversity accentuates the anime's overall concept. But don't misunderstand me, this is not a "perverted" anime. You start to relate to Keitaro, and chuckle, for each of us (males in particular) understand what it feels like to be in some of those situations and how hard and screwed up love can actually be. But don't get me wrong, females you'll love it just as much, as you can watch first hand what us males go through, our fears and doubts, and how we can eventually overcome them. And I'm sure some guy has done or tried some of the stuff Keitaro does on you at one point or another, so you have plenty to relate to as well! If you are shopping for your first anime, or are tired of all those mech fighting, fantasy spellcasters, futuristic space combat anime, and are looking for a laid back (sort of ;) ), hard laughs anime, definetly pick this one up! It won't disappoint!
Rating:
Summary: What an excellent series!
Review: i really enjoyed Love Hina, because you grew to love the characters alot and you wanted to learn what happens to them. the entire show kept me so interested that i watched all the episodes in a day and a half!anywase there is one thing that i must mention is that on Amazon they only sell the box and vol.1 togethar forcing you to by the rest of the volumes seperately. i just bought the whole series in one box on Ebay for $29.95. i recommend anyone interested in buying this to do the same.
Rating: 
Summary: Disjointed, overrated, rip-off of Maison Ikkoku!
Review: The Love Hina manga are some well written, heart aching, and over the top comedy books ever to come from Japan. In a direct rip-off of Maison Ikkoku, it desperately tried to find it's own niche and failed wonderfully. So discovering that an anime series exists under the same name, one would logically assume it to be a well planned and executed enhancement of our favorite still frames from the books. Unfortunately this is not the case.
Watching the anime series of Love Hina is like watching cars drive down the road with lead-foot chipmonks in bikinis behind the wheel. Funny: yes, smart: no... and certainly not feasable. The main character is a complete pervert, (perhaps even more kinky than Ataru from Urusei Yatsura, which is less funny than it is frightening) yet he hides it under the overly cliche'd nice guy demeanor. So the relatively smart yet semi-unattractive dorky haircut and lame glasses look may fool anime girls, but not real girls, sorry guys.
And then there's the story... I remember following the DVDs in numbered order only to find out that one of the main characters all of a sudden was a pop star, and had this strange new character following her as if he'd been there all the time. Did I miss an episode? No, I didn't. The developers of this series (perhaps strapped for time and money) most likely did a second edit of each episode, making them feel like a series of comic strips scenerios that fit together only by sheer luck. Since the manga moves at a much more reasonable pace, (and is leagues beyond the "attempted" narrative in the anime) this is inexcusable. Never is time given to appreciate an individual character's thoughts or feelings, everything is implied (which is a very old but unnecessary trend in anime) until someone gets hurt... which is always the guy.
And when I say hurt, the guy is lucky that he isn't dead. The boarding house girls attack him with everything from tanks to katanas. In fact I dare say that every 5-10 minutes expect him to get a bloody nose from seeing one or more of the girls in various states of undress, followed immediately by a blow that launches him 100 feet in the air. The last time those kinds of gags were funny was way back in Ranma 1/2, and mostly becuase like everything else in life should be, it was dealt out in moderation. But no matter how much true pain and suffering the guy must have truly gone thru there is only one scene in which he actually ends up in the hospital. But that, (along with the many other unfortunate coincidences that occur in bringing the two leads together) also was lifted liberally from Maison Ikkoku.
But the line between total insanity anime and comedic romance is pointlessly being blurred at both ends. Perhaps it was inevitable, but considering the works of Rumiko Takahashi (Urusei Yatsura, Maison Ikkoku, Ranma 1/2) did it all first and did it all both better and funnier, the series feels more like a jump start update of a formula that didn't need it. Taking those cherished series to extremes in Love Hina (as well as in A.I. Love You) is not bringing the genre up to speed as much as saturating the market with sub-par quality anime by standing on the shoulders of others. That said I can see why those who aren't aware of the afore-mentioned series would appreciate this, but let me be honest with you. You're selling yourself short watching this anime, as the manga version is far more a complete version of this story. But if comics are not your thing Urusei Yatsura, Maison ikkoku and Ranma 1/2 are available on DVD... like gems waiting to be discovered. And they don't insult your intelligence with the exact same bathhouse peeping scenes over and over again.
Rating:
Summary: First four episodes based on Ken Akamatsu's manga
Review: How does a second-time prep school reject aspiring to enter Tokyo University become the manager of an all-girl's dorm? Well, it helps if his grandmother decides to go off on a trip and outright asks him. Two, as there's no manager lined up, the dorm would close, and the girls would have to leave. However, due to a mixture of sheer clumsiness, misunderstandings, and being at the wrong place at the wrong time, the tenants there give Keitaro Urashima grief after grief. On his first day, still thinking the dorm is an old hotel and NOT a dorm, he accidentally enters the girls' bath, runs off with a laundry basket with some women's undies still in them, and gets attacked by some large mechanical toys built by a precocious exchange student. Welcome to Love Hina, based on the manga series by Ken Akamatsu (Negima!).
Keitaro's tenants think he is at the prestigious Tokyo U, and are impressed. Their learning of the truth later doesn't get him into that much hot water than in the manga though. The long-haired Naru Narusegawa, who also happens to be at the same prep school and is also trying to get into Todai, takes some sympathy on him. The rest of the time, she is delivering him punches that literally sends him flying through the air to the other end of town. The sheer ridiculousness of this is highlighted at one point, when she aims a punch at him from the balcony below, and he screams out "how did that punch connect?" as he's making another crosstown flight.
Mitsune Konno, a.k.a. Kitsune. That latter is her nickname and means "fox" in Japanese. She has a tough and husky Osakan accent, kind of like a gangster's moll. Then there's dark-skinned Kaolla Su. Although we're never given her country of origin, it must be India, as she has a red dot on her forehead, loves superspicy foods, and in one of the mangas, we find out one of her coins has an elephant on it. The energetic, karate-kicking, mechanical toy inventor of the bunch, she has a bratty voice and just wants someone to play with her.
Two of the episodes help to introduce characters into the action. 2-year old Shinobu Maehara is cute and shy, and initially depressed. Her parents have divorced and she is the pawn in a custody battle. She meets the rest of the gang when she stops off to return Keitaro's sketchbook, and the rest is history. Yet in the manga, she is already a tenant when Keitaro arrives, so a variation there.
The other is Motoko Aoyama. Dressed in an outfit similar to Kikyo in Inuyasha, she is by far the most ferocious of the tenants coming from a long generation of sword fighters, her fantastic skills earning her a kendo mastership at the age of 15. So deadly is her swordplay, that she can create a vortex of wind with a swish of her blade. She gets mad over wrongly created conclusions, which isn't good for Keitaro, and at one time, challenges him for the managership.
As books become movies, manga gets turned into animes, and there are variations. One is that Naru's character is more sympathetic to Keitaro than the manga, where she is downright vicious. Another is the appearance of the three town elders, three men dressed in monk's robes who pop up to voice commentary relevant to the situation or person onhand.
What may also be interesting is that Megumi Hayashibara, who sings the insanely cheery and rapid-fire opening theme song, voices the laid back Aunt Haruka. Hayashibara also did the theme song and voiced the title character of a certain All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl. On another voice, Azumanga Daioh fans may recognize the voice of Yu Asakawa, who did the voice of the tall, long-haired, and shy cat-lover Sakaki. Here, she does Motoko.
Good start to the series.
Rating:
Summary: "What do you mean don't believe the hype!?"
Review: Love Hina a piece of animation genious with likeable characters and a good plot to keep you watching.
When i bought the first Love Hina dvd i watched it over and over until the second one came. I kid you not, i watched that thing at least a hundred times.
The series starts out by introducing all of the characters and MOST of the delimas. Keitaro Urashima is somewhat of a downer, and you have to wonder how the girls put up with him dispite the constant run ins with them in their towels, this is, if he doesn't have his head in Naru's chest. He is an extremely un-lucky guy!
The first dvd gets right into things and you will immediately find yourself rooting for Keitaro to find that little girl. The quality of the animation is top notch for a digital anime. Nothing is comprimesed right down to the very addicting soundtrack!
I would rate this dvd appropriate only for kids over thirteen and NO, that doesn't include thirteen year olds. There are numerous rather tame incounters with girls in their towels, and constant run ins (literally) with Keitaro and Naru. I dont think i would call all the punching and kicking violence because there is never anything at even looks realistic in terms of fighting. Its mostly the girls beating on Keitaro i mean he did just become manager of an all girls dorm! There are on or two swear words to look out for as well.
Dont get me wrong i LOVE this series, and especially this installment, im just trying to play devils advocate for the parents out there. Remember christmas is coming!
Rating:
Summary: Love Hina Anime Vol. 01: Moving In...
Review: Suggested Age by Bandai Ent.: 13
Suggested Age by me: 14
Reasons: Suggestive themes, brief language, and crude humor.
Length: 100 minutes (1 hour and 40 minutes)
Number of episodes: 4
Episode length (each): 25 minutes
Included: Keitaro's Guide to Naru Narusegawa
DVD Extras: Keitaro's Songbook and Keitaro and Naru's Character Photo Gallery
Back Cover Summary: Keitaro Urashima is trying for the 3rd time to get into Tokyo University, the most prestigious University in Japan. Why? Because of a promise he made to a girl when they were both children. But that was long ago, and he has forgotten who the girl was. His parents who only see him as a loafer, are constantly nagging him. So when his grandmother invites him to visit at her home, the Hinata apartments, he figures he can crash there. But when he arrives he suddenly finds himself under attack by the all-female residents of the complex. Before they completely destroy him, however, they discover that he's been named the new manager! How will the girls react to a man living in their all-girls building? He's already gotten off on the wrong foot. But as they get to know him...he still finds himself at the short end of the stick (and sometimes the katana). Can his good nature and pure heart win out?Will the girls of the Hinata Apartments accept him? Will his bones ever knit? Welcome to Keitaro's life. Welcome to Love Hina.
Episode 1: All-girls Dorm with Outdoor Bath: Hot Spring
Episode 2: The Hinata's New Resident, Shinobu: Arrow Signs
Episode 3: Kendo Girl in Love?: Swordplay
Episode 4: The Tokyo U Promise From 15 Years Ago: Diary
I hope you enjoy this DVD as well as I did, and thank you for reading this review.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent anime, but much better in Japanese
Review: This was the first "romance" anime that I got into. It's funny enough without being overly silly, although it does get sort of silly with the whole Turtle Civilization subplot. I think the manga has a better balance of relationship building vs. silliness.
Do yourself a favor and watch in Japanese with subtitles. Don't get me wrong - most English dubs in the past few years have been quite excellent. This one was not one of those. There are too many poorly done voices (Kaolla Su and Kitsune)
Rating:
Summary: Terrific romantic comedy series! One of the best I've seen!
Review: I purchased this disc sometime in about October 2002, and I've been a huge fan ever since. Love Hina is the story of a poor loser named Keitaro Urashima who keeps failing his entrance exams to get into Tokyo U, the most prestigious university in Tokyo. One day he is given the job of manager at an all-girls dormitory that use to be his grandma's and his life turns upside down!
Meet...
Naru Narusegawa, the "violent girl" who is constantly punching and hitting on Keitaro, who is also trying to get into Tokyo U, and who may have a crush on Keitaro.
Shinobu Maehara, a shy, but sweet girl whose a good cook and an addition to the Hinata Apartments in Episode 2.
Motoko Aoyama, swordsgirl who won't accept Keitaro as manager and challenges him to a duel.
Mitsune "Kitsune" Konno, a sly, sneaky girl who loves booze and money.
Kaolla Su, a foreign exchange student who loves spicy food, playing, and inventing things.
Aunt Haruka, who's well, just an aunt.
And, most importantly... Keitaro Urashima, the hero of our story! If you're looking for a good romantic comedy with a few laughs every now and then, I HIGHLY recommend getting Love Hina! But...beware...the dub is HORRIBLE!
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