Hana Yori Dango 花より男子 (Season 1&2)
I know this is an anime review blog, but I mean, there is an anime for Hana Yori Dango!!! So technically, I am allowed to review it (even if I watched the AMAZING Japanese drama instead!).
ANYWAYS...back to its review.
IT WAS WONDERFUL!!! I loved it! It keeps you on the edge of your seat craving to know what is going to happen next! There are many plot twists, so don't dare think you know what is going to happen next. There are 9 episodes in Season 1 and 9 episodes in Season 2, each packed with a lively story.
The main character is Makino Tsukushi.
Cute, right? She's also a very strong girl, literally. She can pack a punch, and she refers to herself as the "tough weed", which is a derivation of her name. No matter how many times people step on her (which is often, for she is a poor girl in a rich school named Eitoku Gakuen), she always rises up and stands strong.
Eitoku High is a rich school ruled by F4, or Flower 4. F4 is a group of 4 boys who come from extremely rich families, and they bathe in luxury. I wonder if this is how real life rich people are...but I digress. The members are as follows:
Domyoji Tsukasa, the leader and heir of the Domyoji World Finance Group (and the male protagonist):
Oof. Matsumoto Jun. Girls...you already know. ♥ With his curly perm, he walks around like he owns the place. He is filled with pride and confidence, and is selfish as well. He has a very complex character, and you see all sides of him throughout the series. I didn't like him at first, but that's the way he was made to be; as the series progresses, he becomes more human (you'll see why!) and thus more lovable.
Next is Hanazawa Rui, the introverted son of a large company:
He is your typical knight in shining armor, your prince that every girl dreams to be with. He is a complete sweetheart. I fell in love with him at first. He's moody and a loner, but he's smart and sensible. Plus, Oguri Shun is a total cutie!
Next is Nishikado Sojiro, a player who is the heir of a tea ceremony school:
WHAT A PLAYER! But as the series progresses, and into Season 2, you see why he is the way he is. He has a temper, but he's very soft and sensible too. He rides a motorcycle like a cool guy, and he doesn't let any girls ride on the back because it seems he is reserving the seat for someone special. Also, Shota Matsuda looks really good in his traditional hakama.
Lastly is Mimasaka Akira, a madam killer with ties to the underground:
He is the most level-headed of F4. He is very kind and helps out people who are in need. He is always breaking up fights or acting as the referee between F4. He only dates older women and is a huge player. He is played by Tsuyoshi Abe.
In this crazy school whose structure you will only find in an anime, if a student gets on the F4’s bad side, he/she gets a red notice and is bullied and driven out of school. Of course, Makino Tsukushi gets a red notice and that is where the series begins!
I am aware there have been remakes of it EVERYWHERE: Korean, Taiwanese, Vietnamese, and Chinese now too. THERE IS A REASON IT IS SO POPULAR. You will love it!
Season 1's opening song Wish by Arashi (of which Matsumoto Jun is a member, in case you did not know!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Izp4XvtOzFw
Season 2's opening song Love So Sweet by Arashi:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzAbItPTARI
And...more pictures of Matsumoto Jun (I wonder if I will be scolded for this XD):
Ok Ok I'm done...♥ By the way, I worked really hard on this review because I totally loved the drama. And if the drama was good, the anime must be good too! So if any of the other reviewers ever watch the anime (cough cough DIANA cough cough), please review it! :)