A frenetic parade of quirky characters storms right through the center of something that could have made a mundane coming of age anime about adolescent boys who like to take pictures of girls in their gym suits. Director Hiroshi Nishikiori grips his material with a familiar anime touch and then twists it.

Wacky? Yes. Driven along a discernable arc? Yet to be seen. Yuusuke remains cocooned in his archetype throughout these first three episodes. Noelle, though, brandishes a sincere vulnerability in the final scene of episode three. Having spent the majority of three episodes trying to smother Yuusuke with affection, Noelle comes to realize that winning his favor has to start with her own growth.

The Studio Pierrot team delivers in spades. Hiromi Kato's inspired character designers define these glut of personalities when the script doesn't have the time. And Art Director Chikako Shibata renders backdrops as characterful as the characters themselves.

Refer to Ryan Mathews' column on the Synch-Point dub of "Tenshi ni Narumon."

Gabriel says 'damn' once, and a gentle perversity pervades the work, but the most shocking image is the fringe features of a naked Noelle.

When the wrestler Delicious White steps onto the scene, the Pierrot clan comes close to crossing the line, teasing it, making it quiver, but never crossing it.

Noelle isn't content with calling out someone's name once, but must repeat and repeat, like a deaf home room teacher calling out roll.

Love it? Hate it? Buy it.