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Suzuka Vol. 2 episodes 6-10
01/05/2008 . Source: Phil Jones 
region2 DVD: pub: Revelation Films. FUN73002. 1 DVD 145 minutes 5 episodes plus extras. Price: £15.99 (UK). Buy Suzuka in the USA - or Buy Suzuka in the UK  check out websites: www.revfilms.com www.funimation.com/suzuka
These episodes continue to explore Yamoto's efforts to win Susuka's heart. After his arrival at his aunt's in Tokyo to start a new life and new school, he is smitten by his new neighbour, Susuka. She, too, is starting afresh at the same school. A talented high jumper she too lives at Yamoto's aunt's spa and bathhouse.
Like the previous episodes, his efforts are tinged with mostly accidental success. Most of the time, though, he ends up annoying Susuka rather than engaging her interest. Things start off OK. Yamoto desperately seeking away to spend time with Susuka signs up to a newspaper to gain two free tickets to fantasyland. The last two tickets the seller has could be the way to get to go out with Susuka. Things as they tend to, do not run smoothly in love. He managed to loose the tickets to the cats shredding abilities but all is not lost when he later discovers that Susuka has some free tickets, too. He asks her whether she wants him to go with her the following afternoon. Yet again things do not go too well. It's raining and Susuka's fed up. An indoor ride cheers her up but when Yamoto finally gets round to telling her how he feels about her, Susuka's mood changes and Yamoto is left getting the cold shoulder.
To try to get closer to Susuka, Yamoto decides to join the track and field team as he's already been spotted as a good short distance runner. His friends try to warn him off the idea as it could be seen as him being desperate or even stalking Susuka. He joins anyway, even though Susuka warns him of how hard it's going to be. The first practice doesn't go well, and this annoys Susuka as he's just slowing down everyone's training. She feels even more so that his hearts not in it.
Things improve in the track and field department, not with Susuka, though. At trials for the upcoming Tokyo event, Yamoto runs 100 metres in less than 11 seconds. A lot faster than anyone else in the team. So both are entered into the event, but even this does not seem to impress or please Susuka. Yamoto discovers that on the day off before the Tokyo event, Susuka is going back home to Yokohama to visit an old flame. He decides to find out where she used to live and go and talk to her. He ends up bumping into Susuka's sister who takes him to where Susuka is. Her old flame is not quite what Yamoto expected to find and he leaves without talking to Susuka. Yamoto hits a low and things start to slide when Yamoto confronts Susuka and reveals the personal information he's discovered and ends up getting slapped.
This series started off gently. It's the basic romance tale of two people trying to make head'n'tail of love. The complexity of this story increases with the last couple of episodes. We start to understand why Susuka behaves so meanly toward Yamoto. We get a feel for her perfectionism toward achievement and why she is so reticent for Yamoto to join the track and field team.
There is a new-found depth to what started off as a fairly light series. Fans of the manga will be disappointed with the artwork and animation which on the whole is average. The music when the scenes are serious or sentimental is very good, but for some of the time, the music just doesn't quite come up to scratch. Even the supporting cast seems to be getting a bit more depth although not getting quite as much attention as in the first five episodes.
There is a lot to like here. The dialogue is often witty and the exploration of Yamoto's thoughts and feelings adds an interesting male perspective. Although you do begin to wonder why he puts in so much effort into getting Susuka when there are other girls desperate to go out with him. The English dub is, as casting goes, very good, fitting in with all the characters. Like most Funmation series, though, the English dub is not totally true to the Japanese. If you read, the sub-titles along with the English soundtrack you'll spot subtle differences and nuances. The overall feel is there but a few things are missed along the way. It's your choice what you want to follow altogether though the English soundtrack also tends to be toned down language-wise. Don't watch this if your expecting a lot of track and field action though because you won't get it. The one problem I can see arising is that both Yamoto and Susuka could become annoying or less likeable characters if the story carries on in the same manner. Hopefully, this won't happen as at the moment it's still an enjoyable series.
Extras-wise, the usual clean open and closing songs and a rather-amusing commentary of episode six by two of the English actors along with some shots made to look like a yearbook. As romantic anime goes, it may not have the same depth as some but it's still none the less an enjoyable take.
Phil Jones
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