Ask John: What is Muv-Luv?

Question:
I saw models in a Hobby Japan issue from a show called Muv Luv. The designs were very Five Star Stories in complexity and grace, but still had the rugged looks of a Gundam, with the sort of bio-mechanic look of an Eva. What is the show about and will it be a likely candidate for US release?

Answer:
Muv-Luv seems to be the next hentai title poised to cross over into mainstream success, following in the footsteps of past hentai titles that have crossed over into the mainstream including Kanon, To Heart, Welcome to Pia Carrot, Raimuiro Senkitan, and Comic Party. The Muv-Luv game is apparently a sort of risqué version of Gunparade March- essentially a combination of adventure game style dating simulation and strategy RPG style mecha combat. Muv-Luv debuted as manga in the May 2002 issue of Dengeki Daioh magazine. Enterbrain Publishing then released the Muv-Luv Prelude guidebook with CD-ROM in September 2002, setting off a wave of Japanese fandom that’s only now beginning to reach Western fans. Probably the biggest entry in the Muv-Luv franchise so far is an adults only PC game from Age Soft, scheduled for Japanese release on the 28th. Age-Soft’s similar PC game Kimi ga Nozomu Eien (Please note, the official site contains 2 small screenshots with graphic nudity) has just been announced as being in development for an anime TV series, so Muv-Luv anime may not be far behind.

Muv-Luv is already immensely popular, having 4 character resin kits and 7 mecha resin kits from famous garage kit studio Volks; at least 3 different hentai doujinshi from the Fukupukutei, Kenro Koubo, and Kimpotsu doujinshi artist groups; at least 3 sets of cel phone straps; fashion dolls of Kagame Sumika and Mitsurugi Meiya; at least one shitajiki; at least two telephone cards published by Dengeki Daioh Magazine; $400 schoolgirl costume replicas from Japanese cosplay specialty shop Cospa; a soundtrack CD and theme song CD single, and more!