Happy Lesson 3 – Mama-Lama-Ding-Dong (Animé TV)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: B-     Extras: C-     Episodes: C-

 

 

The limited Happy Lessons (2001) concludes with this third and final DVD, offering the final four shows.  This is essentially aimed at young girls.  Joining late, it is apparent that the girls here are just beginning to deals with boys and one of their brothers is a target of their particular curiosity.  There is also the issue of teachers, including one who develops multi-le-personalities.  It is treated as semi-comic, though it is no laughing matter in real life.  Instead, she comes across (in all languages) as a malfunctioning robot.

 

That is also somewhat related to the idea of the girls trying science experiments, especially on people, but no one seems to be happy and the girls seem to be botching things up.  The result is one of the most confused Animé shows I have seen yet.  I can see why this was limited, being almost as much an experiment as anything on the show.

 

The sound is available in both Dolby Digital 5.1 English and 2.0 Japanese mix with Pro Logic surrounds.  As usual the Japanese sounds more natural and smart than the English, as the English has watered-down dialogue.  Extras include the opening and closing animated credits without text, previews of other ADV DVDs and character sketches.

 

This is only mildly humorous at best, but is not a serious show, pointing more towards the female-aimed cycle of Animé.  Too bad it could not make up its mind, as something interesting could have developed.  Happy Lessons may not make you happy, but the puzzlements will probably make this an Animé curio down the line.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo