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The caveat is NOT having seen the original manga, not having seen any other previous TV or otherwise animated incarnation. I found this one good enough, in face, very good enough.

Good enough in that the series is short (30min, 8 episodes), it has a purpose, it definitely has a style. In the end I wanted to see more.

The story revolves around a student who can see things, and 2 of his friends and how they come across a person who grant people wishes in exchange for something of equal value.

There is a definite style to the madness, cinematography is bokhen filled, shallow depth-of-field, long lens, slow motion at times - this captures the self center teenager years well (as well as the problem they are internalizing).

Anne's outfits and decor is very lavished and her character exposes well a sense of loftiness and business-as-usual, matter-of-fact personality.

The costume has fine details - and that's where it seems to money went even though you know this is a relatively small budget production - but looks really really good.

The main character he-of-April-1st, has a good grasp of the role as well. The casting of female student is excellent in the idiosynchroncies of the particular look and the of course again the small details of the costuming. The other, tall athletic male co-star exhumes just that and compliments well to counter the other 2.

I wish they can expand and do a 2nd season.

Note that IMDB lists the anime here, while actually it is a live-action version.

Once you see the anime you can not avoid comparing the two versions. And sorry to say, the anime wins by far, even though this live-action version is enjoyable enough. But it simply misses the energy that the animation has. Also the special effects and locations look cheap. The same is true fot the lighting, everything shows it's made on a budget. Even most actors are plain, however Yuko stands out, Anne Watanabe does a real sensual and good interpretation. The sensuality of the two helpers Moro and Maru can't ofcourse be copied into the live action, in the anime you question their age all the time, but in the live-action you can't make kids do that. Worst of all, the constant tension between Domeki and Watanuki from the anime is more or less gone, so compared to the anime everything is a bit flat.

It could have been much more but it is enjoyable enough

OK, to begin with, I know the manga, but never read past volume 1. Yet, just to add my movie collection, I got the movies. One day out of nothing, I played it, so here is my review.

The Good

The movie is just beautiful. Each of the episode is short, around 20+ minutes, yet it is just enough. No dragging scenes and plots. And the main attraction, the witch lady is just mesmerizing. She is - sorry, to be honest - not among the best eye candies or best looking actors. Yet, she managed to bring the mystical, beautiful, mysterious, temptation and beauty aura in this movie. It is as if the movie is made for her. She and the character are the main thing in the movie, at least for me.

The Bad

The main characters are too old to play high school (or is it college?) students. Also, for a supposed to be a horror theme story, the series is not scary at all. Last, the visual effects are a bit on the low end, maybe because of budgetary reason.

Conclusion

This is a good series to watch, not dragging at all. I hope they can do a season two with better plot. Oh, and never knew Anne Watanabe before, but will look for more of her movies.