[br][br]The major characters all know each other when the show starts. In this case that is not so good. I find that that makes a difference based upon the genre of the story. Romance comedies should either have the characters not knowing each other at the start or include flashbacks to when and how they meet. That way we, the audience, get the joy of seeing how they get to know each other. This show doesn't do that. It startes in the middle where all the turmoil has already died down - the relationships are set, everybody knows about the ESP powers, etc. The intro, such as it is, isn't shown until the middle of the series and then it is only about how the twin's power got discovered. Which, at the risk of spoling things, is rather anti-climatic - nobody bats an eyelash about it. Who cares? It is hard to care about an anime when even the charcters don't seem to.
[br][br]The stories mostly involve the various selfish interests of one or the other twin. That selfishness is a nice relief from the overly altruistic characters of many anime. After the first 10eps or so, the stories get better but never great. I suppose I'm really just disappointed that all of what would have been interesting drama had already been settled before the show even started.
Both anime are coming of age stories about middle-school girls dealing with everyday matters and problems. Making new friends, studying, going to school trips, worrying about growing up and the first love. All of those are central themes, presented in a sweet manner and with a melancholic feel, remindful of one's youth.
The similar tranquil atmosphere and execution only make sense, as both are adaptations of shoujo manga directed by the same woman, Tokita Hiroko.
Explanation by gojetablade on Wednesday, 08.09.2010 02:22