Typically when you finish an anime series you end up with some kind of feeling. A sadness left over by a heart-wrenching ending. A euphoric feeling from that show that ended with an upbeat message of hope and love. Maybe even that "thank God it's over feeling" when a series just plain sucks. Well I have a feeling, but it isn't one of those. More like any second now the 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy' guys are going to pop up at my door and berate me about my fashion sense and decorating choices. Well either that or ask me to go clubbing with them *shivers*. Throw masculinity aside men, welcome to the world of Paradise Kiss.
Paradise Kiss is one of those shows that feels like a late night HBO mini-series. Too adult for the kiddies and so snooty it just seems to be above us common folk. The story revolves around a high school girl named Yukari Hayasaka. She is just a girl trying to study as hard as she can so she can get into the best college and make her mother proud. One day while going to school, a punk looking man by the name of Arashi approaches her and is just stunned by her gorgeous looks. He wants her to model their line of clothes. After some coaxing and a few minor plot tools, Yukari agrees to model their clothing and in turn find out more of what she wants out of life.
Something about Paradise Kiss is just mezmorizing and addicting as sin. Who knew the fashion world could be interesting to watch with the ambigiously gay men and flashy as all get out costumes. The entirety of the show consists of Yukari dealing with her confusing life and her on again off again love with the main designer in their group George. The whole point of the show is they are trying to create the best dress for an upcoming festival whereby the winning designer gets a scholarship to a foreign design school. Not much else goes on during the show and yet somehow it's fun to watch and agonizing at the same time when characters just seem to go around in circles in their relationships. Either way, entertaining is all that matters.
Rating:
Animation was monumental in making this show a success. Honestly, a show about fashion and makeup with poor animation would be pure misery to watch. Thankfully the animation department was working overtime and pulled off some masterful animation. This isn't one of those shows where the outfit you see now is the outfit you'll see until the show ends, but you'll likely see all the major characters change clothes once or twice each episode. Even after that you may never see that outfit again (the fickle world of fashion I guess). It isn't as if it is just the outfits that change either. Characters hairstyles and makeup will change to fit this new clothing style thereby keeping up the whole fashion mystique. Now granted much of what they wear in this show I would never be caught dead in (unless those Queer Eye guys tell me to) but somehow it looks attractive in the animation. The biggest complaint I'm sure most will have with the animation is the characters lips. At times it does seem there is entirely too much detail put onto the lips, so much so that they stick out in most cases and appear too large.
But seriously, who can resist the absolutely adorable Miwako / Mikako combo?
Rating:
Whoever decided on the opening and closing songs for this anime should be given an immediate raise. Typical pop wouldn't fit this as all, but some light techno with synthesizers galore fits the bill perfectly. The opening is "Lonely in Gorgeous" by Tommy February6 and just has that "I'm better than you cause I'm stylin'" feel to it. To top it off the closing is by Franz Ferdinand and the way it's used feels like I should be watching someone trot down the runway while it's playing along. Although lets be honest... some "I'm too sexy" by Right Said Fred would have been the ultimate in entertainment; but you can't win em' all... (I'm too sexy for my shirt, too sexy for my shirt, so sexy it hurts). *cough* The background music for the most part is on the scarce side but when it's there it works out well. Much of the BGM consists of other Tommy February6 songs playing on a radio in the background or other various rock songs that Arashi might be playing, so it fits nicely.
Voice acting can only be described in one word; convincing. Miwako has the happy-go-lucky (also read as incredibly
ditzy) personality and the voice had that feel to it, albeit maybe a tad too whiny for most peoples taste. Yukari ran
the gammut of personalities as she adjusted to this new life and her tumultuous relationship with George. Although it
was fantastic work all-around, I have to give the best vocal acting to Kenji Hamada as George. I overall hated the
characters personality but in terms of pulling off the most convincing character, he managed. George at first glance
(and probably last) has that "I'm better than you and can pick up any woman I want, even your girlfriend...
too bad I'm gay as a three dollar bill" type attitude all the time, but damnit he does it well. If I could
spit the type of game George can without batting an eye I so would... I just wouldn't dress like him. Wow was that
a rant or what!?
Rating:
Who knew? There were two main reasons I bought Paradise Kiss. One is that I am the biggest Geneon DVD whore on the earth and the other is well it was called Paradise Kiss and if any title screams "shoujo" that one does. I'm a sucker I admit. When I first started the show I had no idea that I would enjoy as much as I did, much to my chagrin. It has a simple plot that is enjoyable to watch. Characters that you can love one minute and want to punch in the face the next. Top notch voice acting and music. Attractive and extremely detailed animation. It's got it all and in only 12 episodes. I won't say it's one of the greatest animation achievements in history, but a damn fine watch at least.
As for recommending it, it's a rather hard sell. To convince someone that a show about dress making and fashion is a good watch is hard to do even with a raving review to back it up. Well that and selling it to a guy is an even harder sell. I guess maybe if you can stand to watch the Bravo network for an hour (and James Lipton's show DOES NOT COUNT) then this show might be up your alley.
Rating:
8.5000 (very good)
Reviewed by shoujoboy, May 02, 2007
Carson and Kyan are goin' to barge thru your door in the next 5 minutes (god, I love the Fab 5... yeah... sue me).
Is Yukari skinny? Like Top Model skinny? Coz' if she is, I ain't watchin' it.
Nice review, dude. Just make sure you can still get that thing up... check on it.
i watched the whole episode and your right that type of anime serie isnt the type to let little kids watch.. i was kinda disapointed of the fact that a girl would give her virginity t a man she barely knew and in highskul,, i know this is a new generation when it comes to that... but im a bit old fashion when it comes to that...lol..
Hmm...I might bring down the art rating a bit if it were me, shoujoboy. Personally, I thought the clips for the ending
SUCKED. Big-butt dancing...? What WAS that? And overall, it just wasn't pretty enough. But hey, the original
creator was Yazawa Ai, and she's just about the Master of Pretty Fashionable Shoujo.
Thank you from the behalf of all of Minitokyo for yet another great review. (Your next one is your 30th!)
@blackrose07: Those things happen ALL the time in Japan (apparently)...if all those shoujo storylines are accurate...
Your review has me wondering if it would be a good one to watch. But you have gotten my quirosity up so I might.
Thanks
wecojail
I totally agree with this review, it was really good. It's too bad it was only 12 episodes. I liked the story line, it was pretty different from anything out there and the art wasn't too bad either. If you've ever had doubts about what to do with your future or feel like your parents are making all your decisions for you, then I'd recommend this show. You might be able to relate to the main character a lot more than you think.
I absolutely adored this anime! I also have the manga, and the anime failed to live up to the manga's ending but I still loved it so much.
Thanks for the review!
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