If you enjoyed the first season, “Motto to Love RU” is much more wilder, crazier, perverted than ever. Now featuring three crazy mini-stories per episode, “Motto to Love RU” ups the ante in perverted anime comedy TV series. While not for everyone, if you are wanting something a bit more risque and perverted, this anime series is for you!
Image courtesy of © Kentaro Yabuki-Saki Hasemi/SHUEISHA, Toloveru Project. All Rights Reserved.
DVD TITLE: Motto To Love RU – Complete Collection
DURATION: Episode 12 (300 Minutes)
DVD INFORMATION: 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen, Japanese 2.0, English subtitles
COMPANY: Sentai Filmworks
RATED: TV 14
Release Date: April 3, 2012
Originally created by Kentaro Yabuki, Saki Hasemi
Directed by Atsushi Ootsuki
Series Composition by Yasutomo Yamada
Music by Takeshi Watanabe
Character Design: Yuichi Ouka
Art Director: Yoshimi Umino
Anime Production by Xebec
Featuring the following voice talent:
Akeno Watanabe as Rito Yuki
Haruka tomatsu as Lala Satalin Deviluke
Ayako Kawasumi as Saki Tenjoin
Fuyuka Oura as Ren Elsie Jewelria
Kana Hanazawa as Mikan Yuki
Ryoka Yuzuki as Lisa Momioka
Misato Fukuen as Golden Darkness
Aki Toyosaki as Peke and Momo Belia Deviluke
Sayuri Yahagi as Haruna Sairenji
Takehito Koyasu as Zastin
The insanity that began when a very naked (and very female) alien teleported into Rito Yuki’s bathtub (while he was in it) continues. And even though Princess Lala has finally started to admit her true feelings for the young man she’s inexplicably engaged to marry (as a result of what happened in said bathtub and Develuke customs), her sometimes erratic technology and the snags and snarls of intergalatic politicse and intrigue are still causing major problems.
That transporter? Yeah, it still has the nasty habit of leaving the clothes behind. Alien bounty hunters? Yep, even more of them and they’re even more devious. Add body switches, alien skunks, a bathroom that changes size and shape, the inevitable sleepover that you just know it’s going to go horribly, horribly wrong (spoiler: it does). Worst of all, there’s Valentine’s Day, and even in space you’ll be able to hear Rito scream!
In 2006, the series “To Love Ru” (which in Japanese “Toraburu” can be read as in English “Trouble”) is a manga series by Saki Hasemi (“Moetan”, “Pinky:st”) and Kentaro Yabuki (“Black Cat”, “Yamato Gensouki”) was created and is currently featured in Weekly Shonen Jump. In the spring of 2008, Studio I.G. subsidiary Xebec, Inc. (known for working on “Love Hina” and “Martian Successor Nadesico”) released a 26-episode anime series which was followed by video game releases for the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP. The anime series has been released in the US courtesy of Sentai Filmworks in 2009-2010 in two DVD volumes.
In 2010, a second season titled “Motto To Love-RU”, a twelve episode series aired in Japan. And now in 2012, the second season will be available on DVD courtesy of Sentai Filmworks.
“Motto To Love RU” is produced by Xebec but features a new creative team.  The second season is directed by Atsushi Ootsuki (“Kanokon: The Girl Who Cried Fox”, “Wagnaria!! Season Two”) and features a screenplay by Yasutomo Yamada (“Bakegyamon”, “Boys Be…”, “Potemayo”, “Venus Versus Virus”). Character design is by Yuichi Ouka (“Softenni”, “Over Drive”), art direction by Yoshimi Umino (“DNA2”, “Ben-To”, “.hack” series) and music by Takeshi Watanabe (“Moetan”, “Saki”, “Ichigo Mashimaro”).
The second season also is different from the first. In the original, each episode had a full storyline but now “Motto to Love RU” features episodes with three short stories about seven minutes long.
What is “To Love RU” all about?
“To Love RU” is about a teenager named Rito Yuki. A teenage boy who has always loved his classmate Haruna Sairenji. But somehow due to unusual circumstances, by trying to save a girl named Lala (who happens to be an alien princess) and now Lala believes that Rito is in love with her and because Rito has proposed to her in Deviluke tradition (grabbing the woman’s breast and telling her that he loves her), they are now officially engaged.
Lala has made her residence at Rito’s home and expects Rito to be her husband. But Rito is in love with Sairenji, not Lala…what is a powerless, teenage boy going to do? Rito has been trying to find ways to have the marriage dissolved but finds himself getting deeper and deeper in trouble that even Lala’s father, King Deviluke expects him to marry or else Earth will be destroyed.
Now Rito finds himself caring for both Haruna and Lala but what is this young teenager going to do?
What about “Motto To Love RU”?
The second season is much different than the original series. More adult humor, more perverted and really doesn’t get into anything serious. If anything, the harem storyline and love triangle still exists as Sairenji and Lala both want to be closer to Rito but Rito is not so much of a major factor in this season in terms of having to save Lala. If anything, he is more of the comic character who is typically getting involved in the wrong situation against his will and has his butt kicked by the extra terrestrials.   While the emphasis are more on the female characters as they discuss their emotions and each other’s breasts, grabbing each other’s breasts and having fun, it is more evident that this series is targeted for more the lonely otaku who love tons of fan service. And you definitely get it with “Motto To Love Ru”.
Because there are 12 half-hour episodes (3 mini-episodes each episode, thus 26 different episodes in all), here are a few storylines that are featured in “Motto to Love RU”.
- Yui and the discipline committee implement a demerit policy to ensure morality in school.
- What happens when Mikan’s teacher goes to visit her home to meet her and Rito’s father (a manga creator). Since their family has been gone for a long time, Rito must pretend to be her father. But because he is not good at lying, Lala gives him a drink to calm him down, but instead it makes him drunk.
- Yami wonders how it would be to wear Earth fashion, so the girls take her out on a shoppoing spree.
- It’s Valentine’s Day and Yui wants to make chocolate for Rio.
- What happens when Saki invites Rito and friends to her private beach.
- Yami is ill and Rito tries to get her some medical help.
- When Rito does poorly on his exam, Yami tries to help him.
- Haruna, Sairenji and Oshizu take part in an alien process to make their breasts larger.
- What happens when Momo accidentally transports Rito into Peke’s body.
- What happens when Celine drinks Cola.
- Nana and Momo get angry when she tries to sneak into Rito’s bed.
- Which girl will Rito pick at the end?
“Motto To Love RU” features the following main characters:
Rito Yuuki – A teenager who is deeply in love with Haruna Sairenji. Not a popular guy at his high school and quite shy until he meets Lala. After saving Lala and squeezing her breasts, now he is officially engaged to her. Now Rito wants nothing but to get out of this engagement but finds himself caring for both Haruna and Lala.
Lala Satalin Deviluke – The Princess of Deviluke who ran away from home (left her planet) because she did not want to marry any of the men that her father has chosen for her to marry but when she sees Rito fighting and defending her, she falls in love with him and after he grabs her breast, by Deviluke customs, she becomes engaged to him and moves in with him. She is complete oblivious to the fact that Rito cares about Haruna. Lala tends to not know about Earth’s customs and gets herself in trouble when she takes off her clothes off. She also is an inventor but her inventions tend to not work the way she wants at times.
Haruna Sairenji – Rito’s classmate who cares about Rito but keeps her emotions to herself due to Rito’s engagement with Lala. She cares for him and knows that he cares for her. She often wonders if Rito cares for girls like Lala and girls with bigger breasts. Often entangled in Lala’s inventions and she and Rito and gets caught up in unusual, nude circumstances.
Yami/Golden Darkness – An assassin hired by one of Lala’s suitors to kill Rito but is now more of a person who loves to read books and study Earth culture. She is not sure why Rito is nice to her, despite her being his enemy and wanting to hurt him. Often punishing Rito as he thinks he is always trying to look at her panties and see her nude.
Peke – Lala’s robot who can change to a weapon or the clothes that she wears. He tends to be the voice of reason when Lala is confused.
Ryoko Mikado – The school doctor of Sainan High School who also worked for a black market extraterrestrial organization. She uses her medical skills to help the students at the school but also aliens. Likes to wear slinky clothing and sometimes no clothing at all.
Kenichi Saruyama – Rito’s best friend who is a pervert. Never can get a girlfriend but with his friendship to Rito, he’s having a ball with meeting his new female friends. He likes a girl but doesn’t know it was Rito who was changed into a girl due to Lala’s invention.
Yui Kotegawa – An uptight student who doesn’t like things that are unacceptable behavior and thinks Rito and Lala’s behavior towards each other is unacceptable. Dislikes delinquent behavior at her school and is now in charge of writing demerits for those who are mischievous. Unfortunately, she gets caught up in getting groped by other girls. She also wonders if she is falling for Rito.
Risa and Mio – Risa Momioka and Mio Sawada are Haruna’s and Lala’s friends. Risa has a tendency of groping other girls.
Nana Asta Deviuke -Lala’s younger sister and twin sister of Momo (has longer hair and a visible tooth). She somewhat likes Rito but also has a breast complex because hers is so small. Always trying to find ways to make her breasts big.
Momo Velia Deviluke – Lala’s younger sister and twin sister of Nana. Has shorter hair, sweeter and has bigger breasts than her sister and likes to flaunt it around Nana. Collector of plants.
Mikan Yuuki – The younger sister of Rito. She knows he got himself in deep trouble and that he cares for both Haruna and Lala and thus, tries to help him at times.
Saki Tenjouin – The popular girl at school who dislikes Lala because she is suddenly getting all the attention at school. Her friends Rin and Aya are loyal to her and do her dirty work. Lately, Rito has been falling on her lately and landing on her breasts.
Ren/Run Elsie Jewelria – A childhood friend of Lala who changes from male to female when he/she sneezes. As Ren, he wants to marry Lala. As Run, she is secretly in love with Rito. Run is also a extra terrestrial pop star.
Kyouko Kirisaki – A pop star who is also a half-Earthling/Half-Alien and can generate fire. She is the star of “Magical Kyoko”.
Oshizu Murasame – A ghost at the school building who now has a prosthetic body created by Mikado-san that she can possess and attend school with the other girls. She also has feelings for Rito.
Celine – A carnivorous plant given to Rito by Lala for his 16th birthday. She has the appearance of a little girl (with a big flower on her head) and Rito takes her in as part of the family.
VIDEO & AUDIO:
“Motto To Love RU” is presented in 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen. For a television series, the series features a lot of colors and artistic backgrounds feature a good amount of backgrounds from school settings, shopping/city settings, Rito’s home, etc. Typically for a TV series from a smaller studio, I don’t expect to see so many backgrounds or an over utilization of artwork but XEBEC did a wonderful job in the animation and Yuichi Oka with the character designs. I don’t know how close his designs are actually to Kentaro Yabuki and Saki Hasemi’s original manga but overall, character design and art backgrounds are well done.
Audio is featured in Japanese 2.0 with English subtitles. Voice acting by the seiyuu are well done as Akeno Watanabe (Taruru of “Sgt. Frog”, Jo of “Burst Angel”, Chachamaru Kamakuri of “Negima”) does the voice of Rito. Haruka Tomatsu (Mileina of “Gundam 00”, Misao of “Asura Cryin’ 2”) does the voice of Lala and Sayuri Yahagi (Chisato of “Sola”, Hanaka of “Buso Renkin”) as Haruna. Anime is front channel driven but if you have a receiver that allows for stereo on all channels, that was my listening preference.
There is no English dub track in this DVD release of “To Love RU”.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“Motto To Love RU – Complete Collection” features the Clean Opening and Closing Animation themes and Sentai Filmworks trailers.
Wilder, more perverted and more fan service than the previous season, “Motto to Love RU” will definitely appeal to those wanting more risque anime with tons of fan service and adult humor!
While watching “Motto to Love RU”, I have to admit that I was in one sense happy that the series was back, since I enjoyed the first season but also a tad bit disappointed that the full stories that were featured in each episode have now been replaced by three mini-episodes.  And the episodes were definitely made to be more wilder and perverted.
In the last season, it was basically dealing with the love triangle between Rito, Lala and Sairenji and of course, Rito having to defend his honor and the people he cares about. There was a bit more action in the first season but this time around, Rito is more of the comic-centric character that is always in the wrong place at the wrong time (mainly caught for peeking up a girls skirt or in some situation that happened beyond his control) and getting punished for it. If anything, this season focuses more on perverted comedy and a lot of fan service.
In some ways, it is reminiscent of mangaka Rumiko Takahashi’s “Urusei Yatsura” as a character ends up engaged to an alien. But in this case, Rito is nothing like Ataru (nor is he perverted). But “To Love RU” has its fair share of crazy antics, fan service and yes… nudity. Unlike Lum, Lala doesn’t know how Rito feels inside, even though family and friends know that he’s gotten himself into a mess. Also, similar to another Rumiko Takahashi anime series (Ranma 1/2), the character of Ren/Run able to change genders is quite interesting and makes me wonder if series creator Kentaro Yabuki was paying homage to Takahashi’s works.
But this second season definitely amps up the hijinks, the craziness, fan service and the perverted humor of the series. And for those who enjoy this type of anime, “Motto to Love RU” is for you! Do you need to watch the original anime series to understand this second. Yes and no. The first does explain why the aliens are living with Rito and of course, you get their introductions. But the second series is created as mini-episodes with hijinks and fan-service that one can understand what is going on.
It’s only the final episode where you actually get something somewhat deep as the question of which girl Rito will pick comes to play. But needless to say, I’m sure that the hijinks of these characters will continue, in the manga series or with more seasons of anime episodes.
As for the DVD release, I wished there were more special features than the clean opening and closing themes and I’m sure there are fans who wish there was an English dub included. The Japanese voice acting is still enjoyable and well-performed.
While the DVD is rated TV 14, it’s important to note that there is nudity and a lot of sexual humor and images, so this is not an anime series you want younger people to be watching.
Overall, “Motto To Love RU” is a hilarious anime series that was fun for me as I enjoyed the first season, but also a step back as it was not full-story episodes but an episode of three short, wild and crazy stories..
If you are looking for a series with adult, perverted humor and a lot of fan service, “Motto To Love RU” is the anime series you definitely want to watch! Recommended!
