SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

People are voting emotionally.

Let's be realistic.

If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

'Kimagure orange road' (or 'Max et compagnie' as it is called in France) is the best anime series I have ever watched. It's a touching, beautiful adaptation of the great comic series by Izumi Matsumoto. The character designs by Akemi Takada are simply wonderful. Madoka must be my favorite female character ever. The series has a nostalgic feeling about it but the story is interesting enough on it's own. Although the animation may look somewhat dated by today's standards, i find it to be appealing at the same time. If you are looking for an anime that isn't about fantasy worlds or fighting contests, look no further. Kimagure orange road should be watched by all anime fans... A classic!

Seven years after first learning about _Kimagure Orange Road_ from a preview on one of AnimEigo's tapes, I have finally watched the entire TV series. I must say that I'm glad I finally got around to it, and wish I had done it sooner.This series reminds me a lot of Rumiko Takahashi's manga (and the anime adapted from it): among other things, it has slapstick humor, a romantic triangle, and a sense that everything is eventually going to come crashing down. But one important difference in _Kimagure_ is the way that the story is presented.For example, Kyosuke Kasuga is not only the protagonist of the story, but also its narrator, having several voice-overs that comment on the action. Also, at several points (particularly at the ends of episodes), the "camera" zooms back from the picture on the screen, revealing that it is a photograph; at other times, the entire screen will black out, except for a character's face, further giving the impression of a photograph and allowing Kyosuke to make a comment. These techniques all contribute to the feeling that the true story of _Kimagure Orange Road_ is not what is happening, but how Kyosuke remembers it: he is reflecting on his junior high days, the things he did then, the emotional changes he went through, etc. We all go through the kinds of things that Kyosuke and the others do, and we often find ourselves thinking back to "those days."The series also makes several references to live-action films, such as _The Graduate_, _Top Gun_, and even Nagisa Oshima's _Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence_. I had fun finding them out. The reference to _The Graduate_ (in episode #11) is particularly clever.One thing that I like about this series is that even though --POSSIBLE SPOILER-- Kyosuke and his sisters have psychic powers, the plots do not use this gimmick as a crutch. In fact, the powers take a backseat to the interactions among the characters, and in some episodes, the Kasugas do not use them at all.The three characters in the show are likable enough, although I would have liked to see more development of Madoka Arukawa (but I suppose her mysteriousness is part of what makes the story) and Hikaru. Their interactions with one another, as well as their personalities, make you care what happens to them. The numerous supporting characters (another similarity to Takahashi) add to the story as well, often providing comic relief.I think the animation in this series is very good and is well suited to the story and characters. Strangely enough, even though this show ran for only one season, it has three different opening sequences and three different closing credit sequences, each with its own song.So I highly recommend this series for anybody who likes clever plots and good storytelling. In a word, this show is about life.

Although this IS the first anime TV series I have seen, I have done alot of research and the other ones seem bent on fighting and girls...Not that those are bad things, but a good story is more important I say. (Don't misjudge me, I'm just basing it on other people's comments and descriptions.)It all starts out with a 15 year old guy named Kasuga Kyosuke (Or Kyosuke Kasuga, which you would call him here in America.)He meets two women, Hikaru and Madoka, Hikaru appoints herself as his girlfriend, but Madoka seems to be his true love.How he keeps his friendship with Hikaru just a friendship while trying to be with Madoka and keeping Hikaru from being heartbroken is quite a story in itself, but Kyosuke also has telekinetic abilities, which he tries to hide from others because they had to move 7 times because of it.This series rivals professional live-action movies in it's romance and realism, there is also comedy in parts, but many touching scenes too. (I know critics have made that phrase a cliche, but I don't know how else to describe them.)The subtitles aren't too bad, and at times you can figure out what they're saying without them, and Madoks's voice is very good.I'd recommend it to 13-20 year olds, some episodes wouldn't be appropriate for anyone younger than that.I bought the entire TV collection after I investigated it, and I think that if you're interested, that's the perfect way to start.I'm thinking about getting the two movies too, I'll post a review on those when I do.All around, 9 out of 10. A very good series.

When I saw the first episode, I have to admit I wasn't too impressed. Kasuga Kyouske is a junior-high school student who comes from a family with ESP, and has just moved into a new town (his younger sister Kurumi used her powers to augment her sprinting abilities, and thus the entire family had to move to regain inconspicuousness). The animation quality was only average, and the plot bordered on "cheesy." However, I was drawn into the anime with each episode as I watched more of Kyouske and listened to his personal voice-overs. Even though he has ESP, he is just another teenager trying to fit in some way, keep up with school, and falling for the most attractive, mature, sophisticated (yet also the most pure-hearted) girl in class. It's not one of those anime in which every episode is filled with action or inflated with emotional sap; rather, a cumulative appreciation for the true originality of the series develops as the viewer discovers the opportunity to relate to the many frustrating trials of poor Kasuga.The anime is one of the few that has that rare, poignant aspect which reveals the universality of human feeling. I could recommend the series for the various phrase: "there's love, humor, action...(blah blah blah)." And so I do. But (of course) there's so much more than that. I laughed, I cried, I yanked my hair and thought, "Arrrgg! He was SO close! That @#%!* Hikaru!!!" The show's not just about the "silly" things only adolescents (supposedly) go through. It enables the viewer to realize how similar individuals can be...and how to look up, once in a while, from self-absorption and smile at life.