Nobuta wo produce

I've been putting off watching this series thinking it's just another one of those ugly- duckling-turned-beautiful-swan series -- but I was wrong! This is by far one of the best TV series on friendship I have ever watched. It's about a girl who lacks self-confidence that's why she is always being bullied -- she goes through a transformation with the help of two unlikely individuals: one, the most popular guy in school, and the other a comic outcast who is actually the heir to a multi-million company. What is so nice about the story is that while Nobuta undergoes some transformation, her character doesn't change too much. She is still the quiet type of girl who lacks self-confidence, but you see her struggling to get out of her shell -- to talk to people and even play a newscaster in her club! It's this struggle that makes the story so real. And while Nobuta is changing, all the others around her also change -- the people who bullied her, her classmates who make fun of her, and most importantly, the two guys who have started to "produce" her also experience change.

The three main characters are played by a brilliant cast. Maki Harikita played Nobuta so well, and made the character so endearing to the viewers. Despite being quiet and shy, you become empathic to the character and would cheer her on as she tries to change for the better. Kazuya Kamenashi is also a brilliant actor -- he made his character three- dimensional, showing his struggle between maintaining his popularity, and being true to himself. As for Tomohisa Yamashita (or Yamapi), he is my favorite of the three. He played the character so naturally -- a comical, nerdy guy who is extremely rich yet extremely loyal. At first, I thought he was playing an annoying character, but as the show went on, his antics become more lovable, that's why it has become the favorite of many people.

This is an awesome tale of friendship -- how three unlikely individuals will come together and form a bond that no one else in school ever has. There are funny and touching moments that will make you laugh and cry, and sometimes laugh while crying.

It's a great show, and Kame's acting is very great. YamePi on the other hand acts drunk most of the time, but his acting excellent too! The girl in the story got bit of annoying though. Basically, the story takes depth as it continues, and a love triangle somewhat evolves. Shuji (Kamenashi Kazuya) and Akira (YamePi) are the points of the story. But as for the girl, things just get worse as she gets adjusted to knew life. There is even a song by Kame and YamePi, "Seishun Amigo". I thinks it's the greatest song ever! But, I would give it a 9 out of a 10, because it could've built more suspense, but it didn't seem to do that.

This drama is pretty amazingly original. If you're taking a break from those predictable love dramas this one is good to sit down and watch. Although it looks like somethings gonna happen to the three's friendship, things turns out different. This drama is unpredictable and fun to watch. The storyline is also very interesting and if it isn't, it is always fun to watch what happens to them as they spend more time together. If you're fans of Kame and/or Yamashita, you'll enjoy their acting and characters; especially Yamashita's. His acting in this drama is my most favorite out of all the others I have seen, and Kame's acting was also better than in Gokusen. The girl in the story's acting is also really amazing. These two guys are a great combination. The ending song is sang by Kame and Yamashita. It is really the greatest song and goes well with this these two guys.

Fascinating and quite realistic dealing with important issues in Japanese schools such as: popularity, social conformity, and trust. Not to mention some universal issues of friendship, and betrayal. Lots of plot twists in this series, and some unusual changes in characters.

I fully agree with previous comments about the great job Horikita Maki did as "Kotani Nobuko". She really inhabits that role, very convincing acting.

According to http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Nobuta_wo_Produce this series recently won some major awards: 47th Television Acadamy Awards: Best Drama, Best Actor: Kamenashi Kazuya, Best Supporting Actress: Horikita Maki, Best Director, Best Script, and Best Music. Well deserved awards. As of June 2006 this series is apparently available on Japanese DVDs.

An excellent 11 part TV series featured in the fall TV season in Japan on NTV.

The show utilizes the typical teen school angst genre, but with surprising twists, and characterizations. Focusing on the storyline of a misfit young girl bullied by her classmates in a cruel way that has been the topic of many news stories in Japan. The young girl is saved by two male students who along with their new charge transform her, and themselves. The camera angles, music, and energy is quick paced with in-joke references to other Japanese pop trends. What could be clichés turn out to be fresh moments.