"Saabisu saabisu. Saabisu saabisu. Saabisu saabisu." Hayate no Gotoku OVA is a fanservice OVA (o rly?) for the Comedy/Romance anime Hayate no Gotoku, which is best known for its impossible-to-understand-all references and the beautiful and epic voices of Kugimiya Rie and Wakamoto Norio respectively. While seeming to be the obligatory beach episode, the viewers are sure to realize that this show is just mocking those generic episodes. The story doesn't even try to be unique at all, and how that whole beach and the island can be owned by Sanzenin family is anybody's guess. Going into a girl's room while she's changing, check. Getting stranded onan island, check. Team Rocket, ...erm, SPs blasting off again, check. Isumi getting lost, check. The important thing is that the producers know how many clichรฉs they have in this OVA, and uses those for their advantage in a rather successful attempt to make viewers laugh. The story overall, because it wasn't all that different, got a 7 from me, which is what I would've give to the first season if I had reviewed it.
One thing you are sure to notice is the difference between the character designs between the first season and this OVA. Although you probably know it already, this is because it's J.C. Staff animating this OVA (and the second season that'll be following in April.) While it may take a few episodes for us to adapt to this drawing style, it surely won't get in the way of those great parodies to come. Anyway, the drawing didn't particularly bother me and will continue to be in the standards of a 2009 anime. Maria and Hinagiku-san are as lovely as ever, and have surely didn't even lose a speck of their beauty. The animation seems even more light-hearted now, with the new choice of sharper coloring. Not trying to be awesome or the best in the world, the art is certain to be befitting and cute. 8/10.
When you talk of sound, you talk about two things, the BGM and the voice actors. Talking broadly, you wouldn't even notice all the small background noises in a normal slice of life anime (slice of life meaning no action or supernatural thingies involved,) while you are sure to miss it if you ever decide to watch an anime silently. Hayate no Gotoku OVA, while bringing no new and unexpected additions to the BGM, it certainly does not allow you to miss the natural and the usual sound of a slice of life anime. Besides, anything too catchy or exciting would just kill the mood.
When we come to voice actors, that's where Hayate no Gotoku excels. Two of my all time favourite seiyuu Wakamoto Norio and Kugimiya Rie filling in with their awesome voices, I was sure to like the voice acting, and I surely did. Tanaka Rie, with the voice acting of Maria-san, is always a nice addition to any anime. I am sure that there are other good talents in the show, but none of them seem to be as rememberable as those three. What I want would be a little more of Wakamoto Norio, but any more of the epicness that is his voice would be incomprehensible by any human being and could cause major disorders in the brain. 8/10
There was NO character development in the OVA, which is fine, considering it is just a reminder that HnG2 is coming at full speed in april. The characters, however, were already well developed from the past season. Other than introducing a new Sister-san, whom we anime watchers can not know anything about her at this point, nothing interesting about the characters happens. Then again, we get the re-introduction of all the characters from the original series, just in case of a memory disorder due to unknown reasons. You couldn't have just forgotten Hayate no Gotoku, right? Right?!? *insert yandere pic here* Yeah, Nice Beach. 8/10
The main aspect, the selling point of this anime is, as 99% of you will agree, the comedy. Due to many references and Nagi-ojou-sama's cute tsundere'ness, it is impossible to NOT enjoy this pillar of fabulous jokes. I, for one, am a sucker for heavy comedy anime, because my enjoyment from an anime usually comes from how much I laugh. If Wakamoto Norio's opening sequence wasn't enough to make you laugh out loud, I don't know what will. Female viewers (or those who find it excessive) might be turned down from the fanservicey content of this OVA, but using that fact to generate more comedy is pure genius. As a healthy male who does not mind such services and jokes derived from it, the OVA really got me in enjoyment. 10/10
Summing things up, this OVA is an excellent re-introduction of the characters that you've surely not forgotten (!) with the usage of fanservice and parody. Serving as a bridge with the first and the second seasons, it is pretty normal for it to contain no character and story development and just better than average soundtrack. It is, however, an OVA that will bring a smile to your face when seeing the superman-esque Hayate, lovely Maria-san and cute Sanzenin Nagi ojou-sama again, accompanied by the famous voice actings (yeah, I worship them) of Wakamoto Norio and Kugimiya Rie. Satisfaction? Guaranteed! 8/10
