StoryThere is something humankind has never been successful with: Sequels. They are always terrible. Who can forget the adrenaline pumping Speed 2, the testosterone fuelled 2 Fast 2 Furious or the epic fail that is the Kanokon OVA? Despite the rare occasions where the follow-up formula does actually work, I had very little hope that Sleeping with Hinako would fare quite so successfully as Toy Story 2; it just sounds so bland.
And guess what? It is. To be honest, you get everything that is on the tin: Hinako sleeping, but it is actually very dull. Where Training with Hinako was fun, and at a push, had some practical uses, Sleeping with Hinako is an utterly boring and pathetic way of trying to milk some more cash from the top-heavy cow. Opening with the familiar faced cutie, it seems another day of strenuous exercise has completely drained our idol, and she is ready to sleep. But today, she wants to share her bed with the viewer and let them experience a night watching her scantily-clad, buxom body as she visits the land of nod.
Firstly, avert your eyes as Hinako coyly strips off layer after layer. Then follow her to the bathroom as she works her toothbrush to fill her mouth with creamy white toothpaste, as oral hygiene is extremely important. Once the seductive minx is ready to sleep, she tugs a thin sheet over her shapely body and gets ready to settle down for the night. And it is at this point that the dirty otaku amongst you will be rubbing their hands together in glee; the thought of Hinako at her most vulnerable as she breathes deeply, gently tossing and turning will definitely have the most voyeuristic of fans reaching for the tissue box.
Unfortunately, there is a huge disappointment on the way for these people, as Hinako actually spends less than half of the show asleep. Well, how about the initial promise that this would be a great way to help insomniacs with their problem? Even this is pretty much forgotten, as Hinako irritating giggles as she hides her face shyly beneath the sheets, or mumbling as she staggers to the kitchen to sleep-eat are more than enough to make a person spend the evening desperately searching for the remote just to make her stop...AnimationUsing the same animated standards as Training with Hinako, the
lines (or more specifically, curves) are clean and fresh looking.
Gravity is a little hit and miss, as the star still doesn’t seem to
have any back issues and somehow her clothes remain fully attached to
her body no matter how she twists or turns with her impressive DD's.
Even if there is a disappointing lack of nip-slip, the sleek and dainty
nightwear has been drawn to give even those most lacking imagination
food for thought.SoundBubbly and bright as ever, Hinako brings certain energy to the show. Where the high pitched excitement was an absolute must in Training with Hinako,
it feels extremely out of place in a show designed to lull the viewer
into a soothing slumber. Although her girlish whimpering is adorable as
she sleeps, the over exuberance during her playful moments are more
like a cheese grater to the ear than a silk scarf.CharactersShe doesn’t snore. Or eat toast and make crumbs in bed. Hinako is the perfect woman!OverallI questioned whether to give this show 1/10, or an ironic 10/10 for
bringing something so different to the table. Sadly, it errs more
towards the former. Satisfying neither the voyeuristic, nor the sleep
deprived amongst its viewers, Sleeping with Hinako aimlessly
flails about in desperation for forty-five minutes. Apparently, those
purchasing the legitimate DVD will have the option of an 8 hour
play-through, where the scenes are tacked together to treat a restless
sleeper to a view of Hinako sleeping alongside him – albeit through a
television screen. Personally speaking, I’ll hold out for Shopping with Hinako, or maybe even an interactive game on the Wii...