The Lucky Star OVA
Least surprising review ever
Whether or not you like the recently Japan-released Lucky Star OVA (cleverly titled Lucky Star OVA) will depend almost entirely on the answer to one question: did you like Lucky Star the first time around? If you did, you’ll find yourself amused and charmed by irreverent non-sequitur comedy and a little blatant pandering. If not, you’ll find it hopelessly meaningless, unfunny, and riddled with too-obscure anime, manga, and computer game references.
What’s new and different:
- Konata’s ringtone is now “Love Legend of Mikuru” instead of “Hare Hare Yukai.” I know, it’s a damn revolution, right?
- Lucky Channel is live action. I have very little to say about this, as the sub I caught was unfinished, and no Lucky Channel subs. In Chris Farley’s immortal words, “Mother of mercy, I don’t speak Japanese!”
- An undercurrent of sweetness, sometimes almost off-putting preciousness, flows through the entirety of the video — it never gets overpowering, but the opening segment with Minami’s dog is not at all how I expected this thing to start. Think back to the final episode of the series. It worked then, but trying to manufacture it again after only a few minutes didn’t quite work.
What’s not different at all:
- Konata still speaks entirely in references to anime and games.
- Tsukasa is lovable and cute, etc.
- Minoru Shiraishi is still all over the place.
- Animation is rock-solid. Lucky Star’s simple style has always allowed Kyoto to give realistic motion and body language to their characters.
- I don’t care what anyone says. Aya Hirano is fantastic in Lucky Star.
Fans on both sides of the Pacific will no doubt enjoy little tidbits like Kagamin cosplaying as Miku Hatsune the vocaloid (leek and all) during the best segment, featuring Konata dressed in her Yuki Nagato witch gear as a poor man’s fairy godmother to Kagami’s Cinderella. Lots of MMO jokes kept me in the dark, but most anime fans probably cross over in that world at least every once in a while.
Watch it? Well, refer back to that first question. I personally enjoy Lucky Star quite a bit — trying to attribute any kind of significance to it is pointless, but that’s part of the charm. I can take it or leave it most times, so a short OVA like this every once in a while seems like a perfect way to enjoy the lighthearted and disconnected style.
From looking at your screenshots, the coloring seems to have an almost watercolor-painted look to it.
Actually it seems to me like the sub was a not-too-high quality rip. I would expect something brighter and less washed out from Lucky Star.
Just so you know, I loved Kagami so much I wanted to marry her back in ‘07 way before the likes of Noe and Ranka.
both of whom she’d beat the crap out of, I think it’s worth mentioning. You know, if they didn’t kill themselves first.
… i reached the end on the ova
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOand im angry at the subbers… i only speak enough japanese to ask how to go to the bathroom …. i wanna see what there saying damnitthere have been a couple new (complete) subtitles released since, and I bet we won’t have to wait too long for R1 release.