Forum - View topicAi Yori Aoshi
|
Goto page 1, 2 Next |
| Author | Message | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
LydiaDianne
 Posts: 5634 Location: Southern California |
|
|||
|
I recently got this on that really great Geneon sale at Right Stuf. I wasn't really sure if I was going to enjoy it or not but I thought I'd give it a try.
I ENJOYED THE HECK OUT OF THIS!!! I was afraid that Kaoru was going to be the typical harem-romance male protagonist - i.e. spineless, clueless and an idiot. Well, he wasn't an idiot - running around tripping into every one's boobs. Yes, it did happen but not as often or as contrived as some harem animes. Clueless - well, I think that he knew how the other girls felt about him but since his eyes were on Aoi and his heart belonged to her too, I just seemed like he really didn't know how to respond to the other girls' reactions so, for the most part, ignored it and treated them like they were his sisters. Spineless - No way. A spineless guy wouldn't have gone to Aoi's father and told him how he felt about her. I thought that part was the best scene of the series. That really took courage. I loved the animation, there are better ones out there but I enjoyed it anyway. There was nothing jarring in it that disturbed me and made me think about it. The colors were wonderful; I loved Aoi's various kimonos (I would really like to try one on!) The girls are all various stereotypes: The Traditional Japanese Girl, The Loud, Brash Girl, The Klutzy, Kind-Hearted girl, The Bratty, Young Rich Girl, The Female Protector and the Little Sister. But they were not way over the top and jarring. Tina's loudness didn't bother me as much as Tomo's of Azumanga Daioh's. Her boob grabbing raised an eyebrow but then it didn't happen every episode either. The one girl that did get on my nerves somewhat was Mayu but that was because I felt that she just didn't quite get the dynamics of the household. I just liked this series and I definitely recommend that it be in any one's collection. |
||||
|
||||
daxomni
 Posts: 2650 Location: Somewhere else. |
|
|||
Heh, nice. Just when you think you're out of the woods, BAM! It's gotten to the point that some average anime titles are almost becoming inadvertent parodies of themselves. Anyway, I just got this series in the mail today from the same deal. Also came with Stellvia, but little kids in space just isn't doing it for me. Bleh. I guess I'm always hoping for another Nadesico and usually come up empty. |
||||
|
||||
|
LydiaDianne
Posts: 5634 Location: Southern California |
|
|||
Stellvia doesn't really sparkle but I still enjoyed it. I don't know how far you've gotten in watching but the storyline concerning the truth about Ayaka (of the Big 4) and Yayoi is interesting. Give it a bit more of a chance and see. I also hope that you enjoy AYA as well. I'm starting to watch Ai Yori Aoshi ~Enishi~ now. I hope that I'll enjoy that one as much as the first. |
||||
|
||||
Animefreak6969
 Posts: 587 |
|
|||
|
Ahh, prolly my #1 favorite anime.
I know exactly how i felt when i saw that Kaoru wasnt the NORMAL loser stereotypic male character who didn't deserve the girl, i was like......"YES". I love this show with all my heart, I've had it since it first came out and glad i did. And im happy someone else enjoyed too!! Stellvia, I freaking love this show too, it wasnt Outstanding in many ways but it was a nice take on the future in my opinion. And Ai Yori Aoshi ~Enishi~ is nowhere near as good as the first. and is too Bubblegummy happy even for spoiler[Tina's trouble in having to go home] it wasnt sad enough, However i still love it and own it so NO COMPLAINTS!! |
||||
|
||||
undeadben
 Posts: 1212 Location: West Texas |
|
|||
|
I loved Ai Yori Aoshi. I think it is a bit different than your typical harem series and I completley agree about Kaoru. This guy is pretty solid compared to all the other typical male figures in this type of show. I think what really helps it out is that they build such a solid background for both Aoi and Kaoru that it's hard not to like and root for them.
I hope you do enjoy it. I wasn't so enamored with this series (Enishi) when I first watched it. It wasn't until I started reading the manga that I could go back and watch this show just for entertainment. You're already watching it so I don't want to spoil anything for you, but if you ever want to have a look, here is a short topic about Enishi that I made after I had just finished it: Ai Yori Aoshi ~ Enishi If you wanna have a look now, I did spoiler tag important things. |
||||
|
||||
|
LydiaDianne
Posts: 5634 Location: Southern California |
|
|||
Well, since I have no self-control and haven't met a spoiler that I won't read  I went and did it. You explained better why Kaoru is a good male protagonist than I did (solid background story). I've only watched the first episode of AYA~E~ and at first I thought that it was taking place immediately after the first series until they said spoiler[two years later. ] I think that I'm going to be, like you, spoiler[irritated that the relationship didn't come out into the open or progress anywhere in the two years.]
Oh, well. I'm going to take AYA~E~ like it is and enjoy it! |
||||
|
||||
|
Key
Moderator
 Posts: 18443 Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Mimiho Valley) |
|
|||
All of this is a pretty common reaction, and part of the reason why this was a surprise smash hit (relatively speaking) on both sides of the Pacific when it first came out. Personally, I was sucked in by how well Kaoru and Aoi fit together and how well-justified their relationship was. In an extreme rarity for harem series, them being a couple makes sense well beyond the fact that they're the leads, and every shot of them together was great. I thought the rest of the girls were more a distraction than a benefit, although each had at least one or two good episodes. Enishi, though it looks even better, is a bit dull by comparison, as it's nearly all filler. As for Stellvia, its real quality doesn't shine through until after the first major story arc is over and it has one of the better final volumes of any anime series, so bear through the so-so first couple of volumes and you'll be rewarded for your patience. |
||||
|
||||
Kruszer
 Posts: 7994 Location: Minnesota, USA |
|
|||
|
I really loved Ai Yori Aoshi as well. Really like the dynamic between Kouru and Aoi. I picked up the series after seeing a trailer for it which looked good. It ended up being even better than I thought it would be. The manga is better though. It was the first romance series I'd bothered to check out and led me to see a few others too.
There's a sequel series as well if you're interested. |
||||
|
||||
selenta
 Subscriber Posts: 1774 Location: Seattle, WA |
|
|||
BOO... HISS.... Stellvia has the most realistic, the most absolutely spellbinding premise (for those realistic premise sci-fi fans out there) I could even concieve for a sci-fi show (and considering one of the main reasons I went into astrophysics is due to my love of sci-fi as a young child~...). It is not only completely within the realm of realism, I dare say it's highly likely (as far as astronomical phenomina occur). I thought the show was much better in the first half, largely because of the premise. If anything, I thought it "jumped the shark" in the second half with the seemingly contrived and relatively unbelievable premise, combined with Shima's increasingly bi-polar behavior almost caused me to lose interest. The second plot was absolutely ridiculous in scientific terms. In the first half at least, there were relatively realistic personas emitted by the people. While everyone seemed content to work together for the species survival, they still competed with each other. When mankind spoiler[survived the second wave,] all that friendship disappeared and everyone's true nationalistic/egotistical nature was revealed; exactly as would be predicted in such a case. The strain that the students go through between eras is not only understandable, it is inevitable. Although I thought the second half was good, it was far far inferior to the first half in any way I can picture except spoiler[resolution of the love story. However, Kouta held no place in my heart as anyone other than being the guy Shima happened to like.] |
||||
|
||||
|
LydiaDianne
Posts: 5634 Location: Southern California |
|
|||
|
Well, once again, I have no fricking self-control. I just ordered all 14 volumes of the AYA manga from Right Stuf's Phat Tokyo Pop sale. Of course, at $6.70 per volume it's cheaper than if I got it through B. Dalton/Barnes & Noble.
**I really gotta stop doing crap like this. No wonder I'm broke!** |
||||
|
||||
|
PantsGoblin
Subscriber Encyclopedia Editor  Posts: 2969 Location: L.A. |
|
|||
|
I don't know why, but I never terribly loved Ai Yori Aoshi in any way. The only thing it had going for it that I liked was two things:
1. The relationship between the two main characters actually felt real as opposed to 90% of other harems. 2. Halko does a voice. Although, #1 really accounts for a lot of why I didn't give this anime a terribly low rating, but that's pretty much all I enjoyed about it. The plot seemed very cliched to me (bunch of girls living in one house with a guy, and then they bring in the whole "Romeo & Juliet" aspect near the end). Most of the anime was (imo, rather boring) filler with usual fan service. I don't think I'll be watching Enishi anytime soon... Edit: I forgot, I did see one episode of Enishi. I don't really remember any of it though... |
||||
|
||||
pknecron
 Posts: 41 Location: Victoria, BC. Canada |
|
|||
|
I loved AYA. Though I must admit that the Harem aspect of the show did feel forced at times, but the fact the Kaoru and Aoi fit together like hand and glove made up for it.
Enishi, while good, didn't quite have the emotional impact of the first series and spoiler[that fact that it ended without Kaoru and Aoi telling everyone the truth left a bad taste in my mouth. ] I still enjoyed it though, just not as much as AYA. Plus, on top of loving how well Kaoru and Aoi worked as a couple, I just adore Chika, and whish that she had had more screen-time. |
||||
|
||||
ManOfRust
 Posts: 1935 Location: Seattle, WA |
|
|||
Me too! I have enjoyed reading everyone's comments and have moved this to the top of my "what to watch next" list. I also got Enishi and Stellvia today, so the comments on those are appreciated as well. OT -- my copies of Enishi came with the little plastic figures of the women in the series. Is it just me, or are they, well, kind of creepy. Little plastic bags full of little dismembered plastic anime girls... 
Also OT -- Happy birthday, LD! You can't avoid them, but I'm just gonna quit counting pretty soon. I'm not too sure about this whole middle age thing. 
|
||||
|
||||
|
Redbeard 101
Oscar the Grouch
Forums Superstar  Posts: 16963 |
|
|||
Well not to sound repititious but I also loevd this show. Every so often I pick up a show I know nothing about to see what it's like. Sometimes I simply get tired of reviews and hearing the pros and cons of a show so I wanna go into something not knowing anything about it. Sometimes it backfires and I get flops. I don't wanna have this thread go off topic so I won't mention which ones and upset people. Sometimes they turn out to be pretty decent and worthwhile. Then, every so often I get lucky and find a gem. Ai yori Aoishi was one. I looked at Suncoast and picked this up on a whim and after vol 1 i was hooked. I loved how serious and heart felt the show started off as. The comedy started at the last episode of volume 1 and continued from there. However, it wasn't just mindless harem boob comedy. Sure you had those aspects but they were kept in check and there was plent of serious moments to balance it out. The best part was the interactions and relationship development between Aoi-chan and Kaoru-sama. While it does have some harem elements the main focus that stops it from being a harem comedy I think is Kaoru. He's not the normal spineless wimp. He's very loyal but can be assertive when he has to. His past also gices him just enough of an edge to make him feel more real and understandable. The other nice swift is that you start off from the begining with the relationship there, not using 26 episodes to build up to it, like in Love Hina for example. I agree with Key that they also fit together so well. Seeing Kaoru and Aoi together just made sense. They fit well and you never really doubt their relationship. The second season is good, but not up to par with the first. A niec continuation but mostly fillers. Definetly read the manga because it delved more into Kaoru's past and you even see him go home and see his grandfather, and turns out he has a brother (though he doesn't know it). I can't wait to see how that plays out.spoiler[ As for Stellvia, it was a worthwhile series but I feel it could've been better. The earlier comparison to Nadesico is pretty accurate and I agree it doesn't live up to it. The show and it's premise may be more believable but it falls apart. Stellvia starts to slow down and loose its power as it goes on. While Nadesico seemed to get more serious and get better as the series progressed. That's the big factor of why I like Nadesico better. ] |
||||
|
||||
|
undeadben
Posts: 1212 Location: West Texas |
|
|||
Ha! I hear ya! After I made that AYA ~E thread, and reading dormcat's posts, I went out and bought all 13 volumes(14 just came out this month) of the manga. Only three more to go, next one on January 30th. |
||||
|
||||
 |
All times are GMT - 5 Hours |
|
|
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group