Haré + Guu Vol. 3 2001   AN Entertainment Official US Website Buy It Now Official Japanese Website

The jungle might be a fascinating wonderland, but it’s also a place filled with untold dangers. Exotic animals, poisonous plant life and insects are all things to be wary of, but the residents of the jungle have found there is another danger that threatens everyone and everything, and her name is Guu. However, it may not be the locals that are in as much trouble as poor Haré . . . . scratch that, it’s everyone, and the third volume of Haré+Guu, or Jungle wa Itsumo Harénochiguu, finds Guu up to no good once again, and that’s exactly how the series should be.

Once again we find Haré, running through the jungle, crying his eyes out because something horrible has happened that has turned his life upside down, and usually Guu is the cause of it. The mischievous little girl certainly has a way about her, and she’s not letting up just yet. As the volume begins, Haré is placed into his usual domestic servitude after Weda decides they need to have fish for dinner, and Haré just can’t say no (or he won’t.) Guu however decides to fish as well, resulting in some hilarious imagery on Haré’s part, and she brings back some rather unexpected things like seals, a whale, and a young girl who apparently has tried to commit suicide. After Haré decides that she can’t stay in the village, Guu swallows her, placing her into the same dimension as Seiichi and Tomoko who can’t cope with her and summon Haré to help them out.

Guu however isn’t always bad, and we find some instances of her actually helping Haré and Weda, though in her case, it might simply be self-serving. Weda, who we have heard is one of the best hunters in the village, disappears during a hunting trip and Haré and Guu head off to find her. You may note in this episode that the elder still is wearing his chest hair like before and during this volume, you’ll also notice that Guu’s wig is still sitting on top of the television, though she does find a need for it at one point. What the two find in the jungle however is a bear and while Haré might not be a match for it, Guu can handle herself. Here however we see that she transforms into yet another girl, though it may simply be something that Haré imagined.

Guu also lends a hand when the village goes out to the beach and Haré and Weda find themselves adrift with no land in sight. This even gives Guu a chance to take on a much larger form (?Guuzilla?) and as always, laughs are the result. Being helpful however isn’t always something that Guu excels in, and she seems to delight in tormenting Clive after an old woman has decided that he’s her dead husband. What makes her think that? Easy, it’s the white hair, but honestly, he look nothing like the guy and is now running for his life. Since grandma, or Dama rather, has an afro, Guu really takes pleasure in once again breaking out her chest hair wig and sneaking around.

Now, maybe some of the things that come up in Haré+Guu have slipped past you, or perhaps you’ve been left scratching your head wondering what some of the things in the series really mean. That’s where the translation and cultural notes come in handy, and you will find these included with the DVD extras (and more companies really should start including things like this.) Also, there are clean version of the opening and closing animations, a look at more of the Japanese promo spots for Haré+Guu, a production gallery filled with sketches, and outtakes from the dubbing sessions. Inside the DVD there is also an insert that has the cultural notes once again and plenty of other fun stuff such as the first 13 things that you might not have known about Guu.

The craziness and off the wall comedy of Haré+Guu shows no signs of wearing thin, and it’s going to only get better (I’ve see a number of the raw Japanese episodes towards the end of the series and they are hilarious.) Does the series make any sense? Well, to a point, though defying logic really is a big part of Haré+Guu and that’s part of the charm. Plus, with a character who is as mysterious as she is diabolical, you can’t help but anticipate and love each and every minute and Guu is as cool and hip as ever.

Episode 8 – But, Ms. Yamada

Weda has decided that fish would be the prefect thing for dinner and Haré, along with Guu, has been sent out to do a little fishing. After the fish are frightened away though, Guu goes a little fishing of her own and brings up some rather interesting catches including a young girl who has now been forced to live inside Guu’s stomach.

Episode 9 – A Black, Big, Hard, Shiny, Smelly Strange Noise-Making Creature

The village has gone out on a late night hunting trip but something unspeakable has happened. They have encountered an unknown creature and everyone has returned . . . expect for Weda. Haré is determined to find his mother and bring her home, and Guu is on the hunt as well.

Episode 10 – Love, Love Grandpa

Gupta is in dire need of a haircut and “grandma,” the resident barber has come to the school to take care of him. However, when she sees Clive, she thinks that he’s her alte husband (the resemblance isn’t even close to uncanny) and now he’s gone into hiding to avoid the crazy old woman.

Episode 11 – In Short, Sea-Pic

The jungle has gotten unbearably hot so Weda has decided that it’s time for everyone to make a trip to the beach. While it should be innocent enough, when Haré and Weda fall asleep on a raft, they soon discover they are somewhere at sea with no land in sight and only Guu to get them back to safety.

-mike-