Kashimashi: Girl Meets Girl. The title says it all! This anime had me at "Girl Meets Girl!" Seriously though, after reading the description of this anime, I thought it would be a low quality ero-game type dissapointment. The character designs looked good, but would the plot actually work out? Read on to find out!

After watching the first episode of Kashimashi, I can honestly say that I can’t wait for the next episode. This anime is not perfect by any means; the story sounds ridiculous, but somehow it works…

Osaragi Hazumu is your typical anime guy. Except that he has a girly face and he likes flowers. After confessing to and being rejected by his flower friend, Kamiizumi Yasuna, he’s hit by an alien spaceship! The aliens rebuild him, faster, stronger, better! Oh wait, no, they just rebuild him as a girl. They also give him eyes, which he was sorely missing previous to the accident. Strangely enough, after Hazumu turns into a girl, Yasuna seems to start liking him… err… her.

So yes, the story is kind of unrealistic, but just for reference, here’s a few other anime that had situations just as crazy!

• Midori no Hibi (Girl likes guy, girl turns into guy’s right hand)
• Ranma 1/2 (Guy turns into girl when he gets wet)
• Ginban Kaleidoscope (Girl is possessed by Canadian stunt pilot)
• Daa Daa Daa! (Guy and Girl have to keep their alien baby a secret)

I guess the whole alien spaceship thing was just thrown in there, but why couldn’t they have just used magic or something? Perhaps it’ll be essential to the plot later. There is also another character, Tomari, who seems to like Hazumu. It’ll be interesting to see how the love triangle (between 3 girls!) works out.

I thought this episode was really well done. I noticed the framing and everything was just awesome (I’m actually an ex-Media Arts major, so I notice this stuff). The episode had a little of everything: Comedy, Drama, and most importantly, Engrish! There are some instant classics such as:

"Recheck it! Don’t you understand!? We’re not allowed to make any mistakes this time!" (implying that NASA has made quite a few mistakes in the past?)

"I’m afraid that that’s the fact. All the data prove its existence."

"What the heck!? Aliens attack you say? Emergency! Call to the President!"

I was hoping someone would say "What you say!? Main screen turn on!" as a tribute to Zero Wing… What’s weird is that the voice actors for the Americans are obviously native English speakers. Why didn’t they just fix it up a little!?

The character designs for this anime are really strong. All of the female characters are cute! The supporting cast is especially strong. Tomari the tomboy is interesting, and I liked Ayuki and Asuta too. Did anyone else think that Ayuki looks like adult Nanaka from Nanaka 6/17?

Hazumu’s parents are comically overprotective (no wonder he acts so girly), and his teacher talks with a strange dialect or accent. Overall, the cast is an interesting bunch of characters.

Note: the version I watched was a speed sub, and I think it ignored
to explain a joke with Hazumu’s parents. Or maybe the joke was just not
funny? If anyone knows, please let me know!

The show didnt’ begin with an OP, and I think the song they played at the end was the OP. Whichever it was, I liked it; it sounded like something CooRie would sing. I’ll try to put up the OP and ED when it’s available.

Overall, Kashimashi is looking to be one of the top anime of the new season. Yes, I know I just said that for Magikano, but this one tops it! I didn’t have very high hopes for this anime, but after giving it a try, I’m hooked! Here’s to more Girl Meets Girl anime in the future!