Fancy Lala Recommended

Publisher
US: Bandai
Director
Takahiro Omori
Production
Bandai, TV Osaka, Yomiuri Advertising
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Series
Running time
26 episodes
Year
1998

Fancy Lala V. 2

By David Rasmussen
23rd Jan 05

Studio - BANDAI
Age - 7-up (all ages)
Episodes 6-10
Dual Language (Japanese/English) with English Subtitles
Optional Extras? It‘s got a few (keep reading)
Time - 125 minutes
Created by Studio Pierrot
Planned by Minoru Ohno, Yuji Nunokawa & Shigeru Watanabe
Art Director ¨C Hitoshi Nagasaki
Directed by Takahiro Omori
Animation Produced by Studio Pierrot
A Production of TV Osaka, Yomiuri Advertisement Agency & Bandai Visual.

Once again we look at the last all ages series I raved about, mainly Fancy Lala.
With the upcoming release of Magical Meow Meow Taruto (BANDAI) I am bringing back the reviews of the series that came before it which I raved about, and was all ages suitable.
So sit back and we'll once again share some quality time with Miss Shinohara and her eternally hungry mascots Pigu and Mogu.

Fancy Lala Volume 2
"Sharing the Spotlight"
Episode 6 : Lala a Rival?
Now that Lala is slowly becoming more and more popular it's slowly becoming harder for Miho to balance school, home, and work as Lala all at once. For now it's slowly getting harder, but it'll only get more difficult as time goes on.

As for this episode? Looks like Miho is being worn out by all the work she has seeing that she just "arrived" as Lala, so much so that while hot-footing it down to Ekran TV (where Miho's mom works) to read for a bit part in a TV drama, she's so wiped out physically that she begins hallucinating on the spot.

Is that a good thing? No, not really. That's not a good sign since she's usually not in motion when daydreaming. Today, however, that's different. Watch out for that sidewalk!

What happens next is a highly memorable dash (as Miho) THROUGH the station's security guard (and a huge group of Hiroya Aikawa fans), a quick run past Ririka (who doesn't know she just got bypassed by the person she's waiting for), and a very inventive transformation from BENEATH a female star's dress! Eh? Well, it‘s easier to see it than explain it so watch!
Anyway if it seems that you recognize this trick it might be that it should be familiar... if you are a fan of Saint Tail. How so? The whole trick of hiding under someone's large dress was also the same trick used in an issue of Saint Tail, only that was a wedding dress in that instance (and she just used it to sneak out of a place instead of transform).

As for the role Lala is reading for? Apparently it has something to do with Octopus (Tako) Dumplings but while this scene (with Ms. Haneishi kinda going overboard on describing what the show could be) is fun, it also serves to introduce Ms. Haneishi's rival in the talent business and his one "big gun" talent, Miki Yumeno (in the opening credits he's the guy seen standing behind Miki with that scowl on his face).

This isn't the first time we saw Miki. We already saw her in Episode 3 (picture) and we'll see her again in future episodes so she isn‘t a one shot character.
Miki? Well she seems a bit cold, but when she runs into Lala again as Miho she‘s quite a different person.
Huh? How did she run into Miho? Well it seems that (in Episode 3) you find out Miki is the cousin to Taro, who's Miho's neighbor and the other main male character of the series who goes to Miho's school and who isn't the cute one! And, yes, she's visiting Taro and family when Miho and her mom run into her.

Well, it is abit of a shock to find out your rival (who seemed abit cold at work) is actually a rather nice person when she's not on the job. And, to top it all off, she also is very good friends with Miho's mom.
Pity Miki keeps her likeable personality in a box when she works because she's not a nice person on the job. As for the thing that brings these two "rivals" (and two more girls who are as much newcomers to the biz as Lala) together? That'd be a swimsuit shoot.

Problem. It's still winter and they have to shoot this so it's out in time for summer!
So, winter plus ocean scene equal a freezing cold job!
Heck, it is WAY too cold to wear a bathing suit at the beach, but do that they must!
Of course it's also way too cold to be standing in the water in swimsuits, but somebody's whining makes that happen! That'd be the whining from Miki, by the way, but Lala has a strong talk with her and she bends a bit (which is technically how she becomes Lala's rival).

Now you should think that's odd since I think that's odd. Miki's really friendly with Miho (even gave her a gift), but is rivals with Miho's alter ego Lala. Weird.
HOWEVER, it's not as weird as that bit part Lala was in at the start of this episode! Somehow I think I like Ms. Haneshi' idea over this "trust me, it's one you just have to see to believe.

Episode 7 : The Terrifying Care Duty for Mokko!
Mokko? What be a Mokko and what is so "terrifying" about it's care?
Mokko would be the school's sheep (as in the school where Miho goes to learn).
So, with that being said, what is so terrifying about that?
Well, let us count the ways the terror can grip the story.

We start the episode off with Lala at work (she always works on the weekends) but she also has to hightail it to the school she goes to help take care of Mokko, the school sheep, with Akiru, Taro and Anna (that'd be the girl Miho upstaged on the first day of school accidentially back in Episode 1).

Problem? It seems that the studio bathroom is locked and Miho ends up having to head to school as Lala. The answer to her problem (she needs to transform) is simple, right? Do it in the school where she has the entire building all to herself.

However that leads to a new problem. Why? Well, while waiting for Miho the three in question are positioned in a good spot to see the school building and Taro spots her (as Lala) running through the school. Now he thinks the school is haunted!

It's a classic case of mistaken identity yet what is this story about a haunted music room? And who is this shadowy figure wielding a knife? Just because the trio confused Lala/Miho for a ghost doesn't mean there isn't some really scary things going on it their little school during the weekends!

What this episode does that is so right is that it takes what could have been a cliche plot and runs with it, making it a quite memorable and fun episode from start to end. Well worth watching.

Episode 8 : Kitten Lilu and the Secret of the Magic
So far we've seen the power of the Chrono/Pen/sketch pad allow Miho to create clothes, and ages her 6 years so she can become Fancy Lala, but can she also use the Chrono Pen & sketch pad to create other things? That is today's question we're about to ponder as the episode begins.

The episode starts with Lala doing an interview, and talking about her kitten Lilu.
But who is Lilu? And how did she get Lilu? Flashback to four days ago while Lala is on another job and teamed up with a "younger" star (who is in fact older than 9-year-old Miho) and they're both introduced to a kitten during a shoots (they're supposed to be sisters in the shoot) and one of them can take the kitten home. Lala gives the kitten to her "younger" co-star but is still thinking of kitten when she gets home only to realize she left her sister's compact at work (which she borrowed)!

That leads to a rather interesting question.
Question - If she can use the pen/sketchbook to make clothes and clothing accessories, can she make other things using the pen/sketchbook?

Looks like we're about to find out as she puts the power of the book to its limits and tries that theory out.
In short here's the results.

Compact? Well, yes it does have something so I guess so.
Hiroya Aikawa CD? While she can, again, make the physical form guess what? No music. Apparently she has to draw the contents of the CD to make it work.
Camera? No. While she can draw the shell of the camera, there's nothing in it. It's an empty shell (same idea at work here as with the CD).

So what have we learned so far about the pen/pad? She can make things, but not complex things. Unless she has the time to sketch out the complex workings of difficult devices then the items she makes has to be simplistic like clothes or accessories like shoes or compacts or they won‘t work.

So, then, if she can't create complex devices how about a kitten. Uh -- kitten??
Uh... well... no, not really. That should be impossible!
Why? Well sure, while she can make a kitten drawing-wise, it's just a statue.
Even if she could draw it lifelike she couldn't draw life into it. And even if she tried there's just no way you can translate the spark of sentient life into an image or design that can be easily sketched.

Life, however, seems to come to the kitten when moonlight shines on said kitten during the night bringing it to life. How that happened remains a mystery, but for this episode Miho creates her own kitten, naming the kitten from ideas Pigu had (Lili or Lulu, splitting the difference gives the kitten the name "Lilu").

So, then, why does Mystery Man (seen briefly in this episode) have such a worried expression on his face? Because he's got a lot to worry about it seems, and when this episode ends you'll see why he's so worried.

Anyway, babysitting duties for the kitten? That falls on Pigu & Mogu's shoulders. Well guess what? They're not too thrilled with it! But then again consider it payback since Pigu has been eating up all the money Miho's been making as Lala (in the form of snacks) since Episode 3, and then there's the fact they trashed the kitchen in Episode 4. So maybe they had it coming to them.

In short? It's a great episode, another must-see. And, yes, I think you'll be able to see this ending coming from a long way off... but that doesn't make it anyless powerful even if you figure it out before it's over.

Episode 9 : There's No Way I Can Be A Singer
Remember Episode 5? That's the episode Lala first learns she can sing.
So what happened to her confidence since then? Well, that episode didn't end well because before she could sing in front of people (the people she was auditioning for) she ran off when she learned her friend Akiru was sent to the hospital in an ambulance (read the review of Fancy Lala Volume 1 for details on what was happening that episode).

Apparently what happens in this episode gives her confidence a downer. Why? Well I wish I could say but this is the stopping point and it's also a two-parter (the events of this episode tie into what is happening in the next episode), but here's some notes on it.

Why is Miho so down? Her class did this science experiment and for the first time Miho heard her own voice -- but it sounded weird to her! So weird in fact that it screws up her confidence and she doesn't want to sing anymore. That's a bad thing because Ms. Haneishi went through a lot of trouble to outbid her rival from Five Star (Five Star being the name of rival company in question back in Episode 6 by the way), and they might use Miki Yumeno to replace Lala if she can't deliver.

With a little help from an unlikely (or likely if you think about it) source (and some help from a likely source or two) she'll get her confidence back. This is also the first time she sings for real (where it counts)!

Episode 10 : The CD Release Campaign Disaster!
Oh, great. Another Volume is about to end with Miho pushing the limits of her abilities and possibly failing once again. Last time she did that she tried to be in both this contest with her friend Akiru, and audition for this TV spot and she ended up botching both (worse, her friend ended up taking a trip to the hospital! Nothing serious happened but that was a major panic moment for Miho/Lala).

This time out the situation is much worse, and tied into the events of last episode.
I'll leave that a mystery as well. You'll find out soon enough (hint - the song she sang last episode is about to become a CD and Ms. Haneishi gets miffed when she's bothered once again by her rival and she sorta commits Lala to working on a school day which is NOT good for Miho!).

Let's see if Miho can pull a rabbit out of her sketchbook and get out of this one.
Okay. That's that so let's move on!

Region 1 Optional Extras
Textless Ending Credits
Akemi Takada Interview (text) - Want to know a little bit more about the series? Here's a good place to start (reading this should give you some more insight into what your watching!).

Fancy Lala Breakdown
What's Hot?
Second verse, same as the first.
It's good. One of the few all ages series I have raved about no questions asked!
It's a nice solid show with an interesting cast that you can really like, a nice easy-going plot, good animation, nice music, and just a solidly done series all around.
Of course it also helps that it's one of the few All Ages (7+) series I can recommend. That just makes the series that much more accessable to viewers in my opinion. Having a series that is abit different, with a wider accessibility range in terms of age, is something good in my book.

What's Not?
Okay. Truth be told not everyone is fascinated by the Magical Girl series.
I happen to be a fan of the genre (among other anime/manga genres) so I liked it a lot, but you might not have the same reaction to it. Remember, it's a lighter-fare series so it's for someone who either wants something light (or likes the genre). If you have any doubts, rent it and give it a test spin to see what you think of it, and if it works for you or not.

Moments to Remember?
Lots and lots and lots. All six volumes are just packed to go with memories.
I could rattle on for awhile if I started listing my favorites, so I'll just leave iut for you to discover.

What to Ignore?
Once again nothing seems to leap out at me as forgettable. Sorry.

Overall?
If you're a fan of the Magical Girl genre, or just wanting to put something into your collection for a lighter taste of anime in your set (that is solidly made), this is something to consider.
There isn't many series of all ages status I can recommend and rave about, but thankfully this happens to be one of those series I can rave about. Good job eh?

-- David Rasmussen 23rd Jan 05

Fancy Lala Images