I just finished watching The Shining, so I thought I might contrast this great movie with the great OAV (original animation video, a sort of direct-to-video format) series we're showing tonight, Koko wa Greenwood. But fortunately for everyone reading this, the undertaking was too much for me, so I'll just do a run-down of Greenwood alone.

The first time I saw any of this series was when the last two episodes were shown during an informal CJAS Valentine's Day showing last year. I liked it, but I wasn't over-awed. Since I'm writing an article on the series, you might figure that I have change my opinion. Good guess. After I had a chance to watch the complete series, I was really able to appreciate it more.

The OAVs are divisible into two parts: the first four episodes, which are various comedic escapades, and the last two episodes, which is a very well-done romance. One of the reasons why this is such a good series is that the final two episodes are built upon the viewer's sympathy and liking for the main character, Hasukawa Kazuya. After watching the first four episodes, I couldn't help but root for him in the last two.

Greenwood is based upon the manga by the same name written by Nasu Yukie and carried in the publication Hana to Yume, which translates to "Flowers and Dreams" in English. It has also been released in a compiled format, and the first volume has been translated into English. This translation is available at: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~jackr/anime/higw/manga/index.html.

Additionally, all six episodes of the Greenwood OAVs, spanning three volumes, are available now from Software Sculptures. If you are as impressed with this series as I was, you can get your own copy. Yay!

Well, that's it. Enjoy the show, buy the manga, purchase the videos, and stay tuned for my article next week, in which I compare Evangelion to Strictly Ballroom.