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Based on the manga by Ken Akamatsu, Love Hina (2000) is one of the best-loved examples of the "harem comedy" genre. When he was five years old, Keitaro Urashima promised a girl that they’d attend prestigious Tokyo University together. Now he's 20: he's failed the entrance exam twice, and is attending cram school, hoping to fulfill that promise. His life grows very complicated when his grandmother retires, making him the manager of the Hinata Apartments, which serves as a high-school girls’ dorm. The residents include an assortment of standard anime types: painfully shy Shinobu, violently anti-male kendo champion Motoko, irrepressible Su and brainy, pretty, hot-tempered Naru. Keitaro's kind heart wins over the girls, despite his low self- esteem, poor study habits and over-active fantasy life. Many of the episodes play off other series. In "Kendo Girl in Love," Motoko dreams herself into an old video game that spoofs Sailor Moon and El Hazard. (American viewers may not realize that the Dragon Palace and giant turtle refer to the Japanese Rip Van Winkle story "Urashima Taro", a play off Keitaro's last name, Urashima.) In another episode, the cast stages a slapstick adaptation of the classic Chinese novel "The Journey to the West" that brings down the house--and the theater--when they accidentally uncork a hidden hot spring. Further complications ensue when Keitaro blows the entrance exam yet again, and his grandmother returns from her travels, throwing his future into limbo. When he goes off to brood by himself, the other members of the cast reflect on how much their favorite goofball means to them, despite his shortcomings. Everyone may not live happily after, but by the end of Episode #24, they sort things out in a way that's appropriate to the story--and leaves openings for sequels. (Episode #25 is included with the Love Hina: Christmas Movie). Rated TV 14: comic violence, risqué humor, brief nudity, tobacco use.) --Charles Solomon (1. All-Girls Dorm with Outdoor Bath: Hot Spring, 2. The Hinata’s New Resident Shinobu: Arrow Signs, 3. Kendo Girl in Love? Swordplay 4. The Tokyo U Promise from 15 Years Ago: Diary, 5. Wow. A Trip to Kyoto! 6. Keitaro's First Kiss Is With...? 7. First Date. Keitaro's True Feelings. 8. Kendo Girl and the Legend of the Dragon Palace, 9. The Case of the Missing Hinata Apartment Money: A Mystery, 10. Who Is the Beautiful Woman Wandering in the Moonlight: Transformation, 11. The Idol Shooting for Tokyo U Is a Prep School Student: Sing, 12. Changing After the Wedding? Swordsmaster Makoto's Sunday Best: Feminine, 13. The First Kiss Tastes Like Lemon? Marshmellow? Grown-Up, 14. Naru's Crush Is Now a Tokyo U Professor: Turning Into Love? 15. I Love You! Romantic Confession Inside a Cave: Tall Tale, 16. Monkey Performance at the Seaside Teahouse Hinata: A Kiss? 17. Mesmerized by Naru on the Haunted Island! Something's Fishy! 18. Girls Dressed in Yukata for the Summer Festival: Let's! 19. Marry Into Money? A Prince From Across the Sea: Warm, 20. A Sepia-Colored Promise with a Sleeping Girl: A Trick? 21. Jealous Outburst? Two Lovebirds on a Boat: Tremble, 22. Little Sister Mae's Devious Plan: It Can't be! 23. Naru Narusegawa--Her Wavering Heart and Keitaro: Crushed, 24. Celebrate! Are the Blooming Flowers Tokyo U? Love? Everybody)
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