Hayate No Gotoku! (episode 1)
This anime is also known as "Hayate the Combat Butler". My first review on one of the animes on my "2007 animes to watch" list.
Synopsis: An unfortunate high school student, Ayasaki Hayate spends his days working at part-time jobs to support his extravagant parents. After incurring a debt of 156,804,000 yen, they disappear, and Hayate was left holding the bag. Whilst running away from the debt collectors, he tries to kidnap a girl for ransom. However, the girl misunderstands his intentions and thinks he is confessing his love to her. Almost immediately, he botches the kidnap attempt but then manages to save her from other kidnappers, causing her to fall in love with him. The girl, Sanzenin Nagi, is actually the daughter of a millionaire family. In recognition of his services, she hires Hayate as a resident butler and even pays off the debt collectors.
This is how Hayate becomes a combat butler. In order to serve and protect his mistress, Hayate’s life-or-death butler life begins.
(from; http://www.animenfo.com/animetitle,3961,dseptv,hayate_no_gotok.html)
Genre: Comedy, romance, shonen
Status: Anime - Ongoing, (12 episodes as of 06/12/2007)
Manga - 11 volumes, ongoing
Began airing: April 2007
Thoughts / Review:
JUST A QUICK 411... This is an anime adaptation of the Japanese manga series by manga author Kenjiro Hata about a boy who starts a new job as a butler and the events he experiences with his employer. The style of the manga has a comedic gag with a slightly harem feel which constantly breaks the fourth wall. The series includes references to other anime, manga, and other things popular culture.
(from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayate_the_Combat_Butler)
TO START OFF... This is episode 1 of a three-episode introductory arc on the story. We meet 16-year-old boy, Ayasaki Hayate, and learn why he's the one working instead of his irresponsible parents. He's been in and out of different jobs, currently known as the fastest bicycle delivery boy in town. He's pretty well-trained and has a stronger body than most at his age due to his various work experience. When he goes back to the office, he gets fired by his employer because he learned that Hayate lied to him about his age and that he is underage to be working. His employer learns this little secret from Hayate's parents who dropped by the office and took Hayate's paycheck. Hayate gets worried that his paycheck was given to his parents, so he hurriedly went home. Their house is empty and he gets a note from his parents and a some spare change (about 12 yen) left from his paycheck which his parents used away (his mom gambles and his dad is unemployed). He gets another note saying that they have a "gift" for him since it's Christmas... the "gift" is his parents' load of debt off the local Yakuza. They say that he's the one to take care of paying that debt. The debt collectors come to their house to collect the debt and take Hayate away as payment. Hayate escapes, thanks to his quickness and agility.
He goes to the park and sees a young girl, Sanzenin Nagi, puzzling over the vending machine. He thinks the only way to pay his debt is to kidnap this girl and ask for ransom. While pondering over whether to kidnap her or not, 2 rude guys corner Nagi and bullies her. Hayate, out of instinct, jumps to her defense. He gives her his coat (which Nagi criticizes as cheap) as she is cold. Nagi is thankful for his kindness anyway and as her "thank you" tells Hayate she will do whatever he asks of her. Hayate decides to kidnap her but uses the wrong set of words saying that he'd like "to take her away." Nagi mistakes this as Hayate's confession of love, and says "yes." Hayate asks for Nagi's guardian's number to call for ransom, but he mistakingly says his name while calling. The moment he left Nagi by the vending machine, another 2 bad guys kidnaps her. Apparently these 2 bad guys has a large debt to the same Yakuza and has sort of the same plan as Hayate to kidnap and ask for ransom. Hayate goes off to save Nagi but eventually collapses from the cold (as he lent his only coat to Nagi). A girl named Maria finds him lying on the snowy ground and asks if he's ok. Seeing that he's cold, she gives him her scarf. Touched by her kindness, Hayate feels sorry that he resorted to kidnapping. He also learns that Maria is looking for Nagi, so he sets things right by saving Nagi from the 2 bad guys. Nagi is again thankful for his rescue and says he wants to repay him. Before collapsing from getting run over by a car, Hayate says he needs a job. Nagi decides she will make him her new butler.
MY IMPRESSION... Initially, you'd feel really sorry for Hayate because he's so burdened by the troubles of his situation wherein he has to act as the head of the family and act as the responsible adult since his good-for-nothing parents are so absorbed in nothing else but themselves and their wants. Grrr. That part really made me mad, especially when they left all 156, 804,000 yen debt for him to pay. That was just plain heartless, abandoning him like that.
Anyway, moving past that, I think all I ever did from the start to the end is just laugh all the way through. They talk back and argue with the narrator. "Hurry Hayate, the introduction is about to start!", "That intro was way too short!" Lol. It was a cold winter night and Hayate was commenting about dying like Nello and Patrache from "A Dog of Flanders" Haha. I saw that anime when I was little so I found that funny. When he was pondering whether to kidnap nagi or not, an tiny angel and devil Hayate shows up advising Hayate on what he should do, the angel says he should kidnap Nagi and then refers again to Nello and Patrache saying they're in heaven cheering Hayate on saying "Avenge us!" Lol. Then Hayate tells the 2 rude guys to "stare at Ruben's painting and reflect on your actions" (another Dog of Flanders reference... Lol). After instinctively saving her at first, he decides to kidnap Nagi anyway so he can pay for his parents' debt to the Yakuza. Hayate's wrong choice of words saying "Go out with me. I want to take you away" when he tries to tell Nagi he wants to rescue her and Nagi mistaking it for a confession of love, that was just so funny. Inevitably, this moment becomes the start of his adventures as Nagi's butler.
ON CHARACTERS... Hayate is just adorable. You can't help but root for him because he's such a good boy. He's hardworking, such a gentleman, kind, and cute to boot!
Nagi is also a cute character. I think she's 13 here. She can be such a brat sometimes saying hilarious things like " stop breathing, you're polluting the air! Be kind to nature!" Hahaha.
Maria is Nagi's 17-year-old maid. She is smart, kind and pretty. Hayate is touched by her kindness when they first cross paths. I'm rooting for Maria and Hayate to end up together someday... They look cute together. BUt I kinda have a feeling it'll be Hayate and Nagi anyway... but still, I want Maria and Hayate... Heehee.
They are basically the 3 main characters introduced in this ep.
Some funny moments also to note are the various references on pop culture, mainly other animes/mangas themselves. Lol. Everytime they mention them there's a *bleep* noise and only includes the first or last part of the word like ***dam or Pika*** (Gundam or Pikachu) There are even several images on screen of other well-known characters like Detective Conan .. .Lol... there's a Detective Conan statue. Haha. I'm not so sure though whether it's in this ep or ep 2. My mind's probably a bit wonky from too much laughs. I think there's also a bit of a parody of Death Note in there... one scene reminded me of a shinigami. There are probably more parodies of others that I missed and not able to take note of because I'm not familiar with them. My anime knowledge is not that vast.
They also word some of the dialogue in a sarcastic manner, like saying Hayate's mom is "investing money in her dreams" instead of saying directly that she's a compulsive gambler. I think it has something to do with the network's strict guidelines on violence, etc. or something like that. There's also this litle icon chracter that shows up with a holding a sign with "Can't show!" written on it whenever something violent happens, like when Hayate starts bleeding... Lol.. Nagi only says "Hayate there's red liquid coming out from your head" and then the "can't show" sign appears over Hayate and the camera pans upward.
I've seen only until episode 5 so far because I'm also watching Darker than Black. I think they have until episode 11 that's already subbed.
I just can't stop laughing out loud, it's very entertaining. I'm definitely gonna watch this and follow all the episodes. I'll be eagerly anticipating each subbed episode that is released. If you're into comedy and don't mind the cute animation, try watching it, I highly recommend it!
Have you seen it too? Have you caught some of the other parodies and references that I have missed? I'd love to hear your thoughts about it. :)
Synopsis: An unfortunate high school student, Ayasaki Hayate spends his days working at part-time jobs to support his extravagant parents. After incurring a debt of 156,804,000 yen, they disappear, and Hayate was left holding the bag. Whilst running away from the debt collectors, he tries to kidnap a girl for ransom. However, the girl misunderstands his intentions and thinks he is confessing his love to her. Almost immediately, he botches the kidnap attempt but then manages to save her from other kidnappers, causing her to fall in love with him. The girl, Sanzenin Nagi, is actually the daughter of a millionaire family. In recognition of his services, she hires Hayate as a resident butler and even pays off the debt collectors.
This is how Hayate becomes a combat butler. In order to serve and protect his mistress, Hayate’s life-or-death butler life begins.
(from; http://www.animenfo.com/animetitle,3961,dseptv,hayate_no_gotok.html)
Genre: Comedy, romance, shonen
Status: Anime - Ongoing, (12 episodes as of 06/12/2007)
Manga - 11 volumes, ongoing
Began airing: April 2007
Thoughts / Review:
JUST A QUICK 411... This is an anime adaptation of the Japanese manga series by manga author Kenjiro Hata about a boy who starts a new job as a butler and the events he experiences with his employer. The style of the manga has a comedic gag with a slightly harem feel which constantly breaks the fourth wall. The series includes references to other anime, manga, and other things popular culture.
(from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayate_the_Combat_Butler)
TO START OFF... This is episode 1 of a three-episode introductory arc on the story. We meet 16-year-old boy, Ayasaki Hayate, and learn why he's the one working instead of his irresponsible parents. He's been in and out of different jobs, currently known as the fastest bicycle delivery boy in town. He's pretty well-trained and has a stronger body than most at his age due to his various work experience. When he goes back to the office, he gets fired by his employer because he learned that Hayate lied to him about his age and that he is underage to be working. His employer learns this little secret from Hayate's parents who dropped by the office and took Hayate's paycheck. Hayate gets worried that his paycheck was given to his parents, so he hurriedly went home. Their house is empty and he gets a note from his parents and a some spare change (about 12 yen) left from his paycheck which his parents used away (his mom gambles and his dad is unemployed). He gets another note saying that they have a "gift" for him since it's Christmas... the "gift" is his parents' load of debt off the local Yakuza. They say that he's the one to take care of paying that debt. The debt collectors come to their house to collect the debt and take Hayate away as payment. Hayate escapes, thanks to his quickness and agility.
He goes to the park and sees a young girl, Sanzenin Nagi, puzzling over the vending machine. He thinks the only way to pay his debt is to kidnap this girl and ask for ransom. While pondering over whether to kidnap her or not, 2 rude guys corner Nagi and bullies her. Hayate, out of instinct, jumps to her defense. He gives her his coat (which Nagi criticizes as cheap) as she is cold. Nagi is thankful for his kindness anyway and as her "thank you" tells Hayate she will do whatever he asks of her. Hayate decides to kidnap her but uses the wrong set of words saying that he'd like "to take her away." Nagi mistakes this as Hayate's confession of love, and says "yes." Hayate asks for Nagi's guardian's number to call for ransom, but he mistakingly says his name while calling. The moment he left Nagi by the vending machine, another 2 bad guys kidnaps her. Apparently these 2 bad guys has a large debt to the same Yakuza and has sort of the same plan as Hayate to kidnap and ask for ransom. Hayate goes off to save Nagi but eventually collapses from the cold (as he lent his only coat to Nagi). A girl named Maria finds him lying on the snowy ground and asks if he's ok. Seeing that he's cold, she gives him her scarf. Touched by her kindness, Hayate feels sorry that he resorted to kidnapping. He also learns that Maria is looking for Nagi, so he sets things right by saving Nagi from the 2 bad guys. Nagi is again thankful for his rescue and says he wants to repay him. Before collapsing from getting run over by a car, Hayate says he needs a job. Nagi decides she will make him her new butler.
MY IMPRESSION... Initially, you'd feel really sorry for Hayate because he's so burdened by the troubles of his situation wherein he has to act as the head of the family and act as the responsible adult since his good-for-nothing parents are so absorbed in nothing else but themselves and their wants. Grrr. That part really made me mad, especially when they left all 156, 804,000 yen debt for him to pay. That was just plain heartless, abandoning him like that.
Anyway, moving past that, I think all I ever did from the start to the end is just laugh all the way through. They talk back and argue with the narrator. "Hurry Hayate, the introduction is about to start!", "That intro was way too short!" Lol. It was a cold winter night and Hayate was commenting about dying like Nello and Patrache from "A Dog of Flanders" Haha. I saw that anime when I was little so I found that funny. When he was pondering whether to kidnap nagi or not, an tiny angel and devil Hayate shows up advising Hayate on what he should do, the angel says he should kidnap Nagi and then refers again to Nello and Patrache saying they're in heaven cheering Hayate on saying "Avenge us!" Lol. Then Hayate tells the 2 rude guys to "stare at Ruben's painting and reflect on your actions" (another Dog of Flanders reference... Lol). After instinctively saving her at first, he decides to kidnap Nagi anyway so he can pay for his parents' debt to the Yakuza. Hayate's wrong choice of words saying "Go out with me. I want to take you away" when he tries to tell Nagi he wants to rescue her and Nagi mistaking it for a confession of love, that was just so funny. Inevitably, this moment becomes the start of his adventures as Nagi's butler.
ON CHARACTERS... Hayate is just adorable. You can't help but root for him because he's such a good boy. He's hardworking, such a gentleman, kind, and cute to boot!
Nagi is also a cute character. I think she's 13 here. She can be such a brat sometimes saying hilarious things like " stop breathing, you're polluting the air! Be kind to nature!" Hahaha.
Maria is Nagi's 17-year-old maid. She is smart, kind and pretty. Hayate is touched by her kindness when they first cross paths. I'm rooting for Maria and Hayate to end up together someday... They look cute together. BUt I kinda have a feeling it'll be Hayate and Nagi anyway... but still, I want Maria and Hayate... Heehee.
They are basically the 3 main characters introduced in this ep.
Some funny moments also to note are the various references on pop culture, mainly other animes/mangas themselves. Lol. Everytime they mention them there's a *bleep* noise and only includes the first or last part of the word like ***dam or Pika*** (Gundam or Pikachu) There are even several images on screen of other well-known characters like Detective Conan .. .Lol... there's a Detective Conan statue. Haha. I'm not so sure though whether it's in this ep or ep 2. My mind's probably a bit wonky from too much laughs. I think there's also a bit of a parody of Death Note in there... one scene reminded me of a shinigami. There are probably more parodies of others that I missed and not able to take note of because I'm not familiar with them. My anime knowledge is not that vast.
They also word some of the dialogue in a sarcastic manner, like saying Hayate's mom is "investing money in her dreams" instead of saying directly that she's a compulsive gambler. I think it has something to do with the network's strict guidelines on violence, etc. or something like that. There's also this litle icon chracter that shows up with a holding a sign with "Can't show!" written on it whenever something violent happens, like when Hayate starts bleeding... Lol.. Nagi only says "Hayate there's red liquid coming out from your head" and then the "can't show" sign appears over Hayate and the camera pans upward.
I've seen only until episode 5 so far because I'm also watching Darker than Black. I think they have until episode 11 that's already subbed.
I just can't stop laughing out loud, it's very entertaining. I'm definitely gonna watch this and follow all the episodes. I'll be eagerly anticipating each subbed episode that is released. If you're into comedy and don't mind the cute animation, try watching it, I highly recommend it!
Have you seen it too? Have you caught some of the other parodies and references that I have missed? I'd love to hear your thoughts about it. :)