Quality: Video seems to have been sourced from Laser Disk or a very good VHS tape. The colors were generally okay, but the video is a little grainy. Of course, the vintage of the animation itself -- early-to-mid 1990s -- might also play a factor. I used both my DVD computer drive and a standalone player, yielding similar results.

2.1 stereo only -- sounds clear and okay to me with no defects.

2.1 stereo only -- sounds clear and okay to me with no defects.

Aesthetics: That big, ugly Green "M" Manga logo shows up when you insert the DVD. E-mail information is displayed during the opening credits. The "M" bug is displayed after the opening credits and after the commercial break (upper right the first time; upper left the second time). Menu: An animated menu with Miki and Yuu in front of a photo of a pasture-like setting. When the page is turned, it reveals the exact same photo. The main menu has selections of "Play All", "Subtitles" (English and Chinese) and "Chapter". Selecting "Play All" or a subtitle language starts the DVD. Selecting "chapter" gives you the episode listings, but only in Chinese. By the way, you can only get the menu by pressing the "menu" key on your remote -- when you insert the DVD, you first get the big "M"; then the show starts immediately afterward, without going to the menu first. And if you use WinDVD on your computer, you can't get the menu at all. Chapters: Each episode (at least on the first disc) has 3 chapters: opening credits, episode, and sneak preview / closing credits. Packaging: Front has Miki and Yuu; back has the cast picture. The interior gatefolds have more pics of the cast, which match up with the DVDs, but, for some foolish reason, MI's e-mail address is plastered in light print all over the gatefolds. The name of the show is given on the front cover and binding in Japanese and English, though the English title was given as "Marmalade BOX" -- I don't know if this was an error, or if it's supposed to be a play on the show's title, since this is a "box" set. Story: This is a comedy / shojo story like no other, as two sets of parents divorce each other, then marry the other couple's spouses, then they all share the same house, to the chagrin of the parents' children, Miki and Yuu. "The Brady Bunch" was never like this. Very recommended, especially for those who can't afford the R1s (or saving up to buy the R1s later). (I only saw the first 3 episodes, so this review may not tell the whole story. I'll update this review if I see anything significant.)

Video was very good for the most part, I agree that it is most likely a laser disc rip. I did notice a few a spots on disc 3 where it froze for a few seconds. Colors were very good, just a small amount of macroblocking and that was it.

Very good basic stereo, no problems with humming or distortion. I did notice a very detectable change in the volume between disc 1, there it was quite high and then on discs 2 & 3 it dropped off.

Very good basic stereo, no problems with humming or distortion. I did notice a very detectable change in the volume between disc 1, there it was quite high and then on discs 2 & 3 it dropped off.

I love shojo stuff like this, Maison Ikkoku, Hanas Youri Dago, etc. It reminded me more of a soap opera than the others but it's still very enjoyable. Poor Yuu and Miki and all the supporting cast. I just got the second box set and can't wait to get into it. Highly reccomended!!

The video had the occasional glitch, nothing major & they're over pretty quickly.

Sound sometimes sounds a bit loud on the openings, but really very good.

Sound sometimes sounds a bit loud on the openings, but really very good.

The story moves along quickly, the characters are fun, and you find yourself getting caught up in the series. Especially for a shojo, this is a GREAT series! All openings & endings are present, and are even subbed. The menu's in English, but the chapter numbers are in kanji. There are 3 chapter breaks per episode: before the opening, after the opening, and before the preview. All in all, a really, really good series!

Nice Video. Probably LD rip. Noticed some glitches now and then. But of course this is an older series, so quality is limited to the source.

Nothing to complain.

Nothing to complain.

Let's be honest. This is extremely cheesy soap-opera stuff. Everyone loves everybody and vice versa. If this was brought to me in form of some brazilian telenovelas, I would run away screaming. But since it's anime, we're all excused ;-) Recommended, if you like this type of stuff.

At first, the video was quite shaky, but it got better. I think it's obviously not a DVD rip, but it's anyways nice. Colours are crisp and clear and the animation is just fine. It has VCR bars :( but in TV they are barely unnoticeable.

Just perfect. MMB has the best music I remember so far. Nice, orchestrated, romantic and so cute, this set has a very high sound quality. The series deserved it.

Just perfect. MMB has the best music I remember so far. Nice, orchestrated, romantic and so cute, this set has a very high sound quality. The series deserved it.

MMB is the best shojo so far. It's the series that made an otaku of me. If you are a little sensitive, you will laugh, you will want to cry, you will get angry and you will get even jealous :D When the japanese invented the term "shojo manga", they were thinking of Marmalade Boy.

The video & audio was great quality, the subs were also good all the names were correctly spelled. The font of the subs were not the best...and a few timing mistakes...but nothing that wasn't corrected right away. I really liked the pictures that they used for the packaging because they were closer to the manga style. The storyline of Marmalade boy includes every type of relationship possible and the character development of every character in the show makes each character come to life. The music in Marmalde Boy is excellent and catchy. This is one of my favorite shows. All three box sets are great!

The series is an emotional roller-coster, full of angst and other wonderful things. Its amazing how many times Miki jumps the gun. Now on to the review... Video: Clear and crisp for the most part. During the ending credits on the first disc, the video looked a little shaky but only a tad (nothing major). It seems like a LD rip but could be mistaken. 4.5 / 5 Audio: Nice and clear. There was no buzzing or pops in the sound from what I could tell. 5/ 5 Subtitles: A problem noticed is that in some cases, the timing of the subs was off or were a bit too quick. The subs did suffer from Engrish here and there. Only in one instance thus far did the subs run off the screen. 4 / 5 Packaging and other stuff: Openings and closings are included with each episode. The DVD menu is in English and quite simplistic. The packaging of the videos was nice although nothing awe-inspiring. 4.5 / 5 A note to those who use their PS2s to watch DVDs: Some episodes were not accessible (got the error "unable to read disc"). edited by maigrey on 06 Oct 2002 10:38 am