I absolutely adored Ouran. The ending was also very fabulous. It was a romantic comedy that I wouldn't mind watching again and again. Though sometimes it made me cry, I was laughing 80% of the time.
Ouran High School Host Club tv Review
Haruhi Fujioka is a poor girl in a rich kids' school. She only got to go there because of a scholarship. She happens upon the Host Club when she is looking for a place to study quietly. After getting there, she breaks an $80,000 vase. After which, she is forced to work at the club to pay off the debt.
The only problem is that the members don't realize she's a girl....
Story & Characters
The plot of this anime may make it seem like a typical shoujo anime. However, it is a bit more than that. This show is really a sly parody of shoujo anime/manga and its conventions.
The whole idea of a Host Club (where different types of beautiful men serve women) is equated with the world of anime/manga/video games geared towards girls where companies will make a game filled with a variety of different guys to suck the female audience in (think about shows like Weiss Kreuz or games like Angelique). The male characters all represent different stereotypes from the pretty boy (Tamaki) to the borderline incestuous twins (Hikaru and Kaoru) and the "little kid" (Honey).
What sets this show apart from what it parodies is how the characters aren't what you expect. Take Haruhi, for example. She is not your typical heroine. Although she sort of looks like a boy, she didn't crossdress in order to get into Ouran. She's a smart, independent girl who doesn't get flustered by all the pretty boys around her.
Each of the male characters has traits that run opposite to their stereotypes. Tamaki may be a pretty boy but he's also goofy and a guy who actually spends the whole anime chasing Haruhi . Hikaru and Kaoru each start to break away from their sheltered world over the course of the show while Honey is far from the helpless little kid he seems to be.
Overall, the story gets an 9 for the way it parodies shoujo anime/manga while also having great characterization. The only real problem with the story is the fact that it doesn't have a definitive ending.
Rating:
Art
The art for this anime is quite good. It definitely looks like a show made for girls. The predominant colors are purple, pink, and yellow. Everything in the show from the massive Ouran campus to Haruhi's small apartment is lovingly rendered. The animation is pretty good for a shoujo show (and is far better than, say, Vampire Knight).
The character designs are very good and fit the show well. All of the characters are easily distinguishable from each other, even the supporting characters who appear in only one or two episodes. Unlike other shoujo animes, none of the characters have unnatural hair colors. There's no one with blue or green hair to be found. Despite this, fans of bishounens will not be disappointed.
The show also did a good job with the design of Haruhi. She really looks like you could mistake her for a feminine looking boy but is also easily recognizable as a girl. I personally like the anime character designs over the manga's and for that, the show's art gets a 9.
Rating:
Sound
The sound quality of this show is pretty good. The original Japanese voices are excellent. Any English dub would be hard-pressed to top it but Funimation tries very hard.
The English performances are good across the board with a few standouts and interesting stylistic choices. The English voice of Haruhi does a very good job with a character that is particularly tough. The actress gives Haruhi a deep, somewhat Daria-esque tone. Even though it's a bit different than what the Japanese voice actress does, the voice fits the character.
The English voice actor for Tamaki also takes a slightly different tack with the voice of the character. His Tamaki lands somewhere between cultured gentleman and stereotypical gay. It will take a little getting used to for fans of the Japanese version but if you're coming into the English version fresh, you will probably enjoy it.
The show's background music doesn't really stand out. However, the romantic strings do suit the anime perfectly.
Great Japanese version, a very good English dub that keeps the spirit of the original while making changes, and a good (but not great) score give this show's sound an 8.
Rating:
Presentation
Ouran High School Host Club is an incredibly fun show that will hook you from start to finish. It's a very funny show that will be even funnier depending on how much shoujo anime or manga you have watched. It's filled with in-jokes, slapstick humor, romantic elements, and even a little drama. It also doesn't rely on running jokes as much as some anime comedies.
Although it's geared towards girls, guys will get a kick out of this series too if they get past the pretty boys and bright colors. A solid English dub also means that those who hate to "read" their anime won't lose out.
This is a show worth your time and the 13-episode boxsets are a good deal. This hilarious show that has more depth than it seems desrves a 9 for presentation.
Rating:
Final Verdict
8.8333 (very good)
Reviewed by sterfish, Feb 14, 2009
Comments
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Sy-chan Feb 18, 2009
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davidh01 Feb 18, 2009
Not bad this review. You've made some interesting observations and comments - and you have now got me interested in checking it out further because of your comments. Ultimately that makes for a good review and is the sort of thing we're looking for here at MT. Well done.
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Swordlily003 Feb 20, 2009
Ouran, the show, was great. But I hated how they just ended it. I'm now reading the manga and I would have loved it if they had continued the show till the end of the manga
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tsuyoshi7171 Feb 21, 2009
the best serie... i love tamaki
the ending shissou is cool -
Sy-chan Feb 26, 2009
I have to agree with SwordLily003, they really should have continued the show. Most companies discontinue it because of lack of funds and stuff. Ouran will have you laughing till your sides hurt though, so it's definitely one I'd recommend specially when you're feeling blue. ^_^
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AngelKate Feb 26, 2009
Ouran is one of my favorite animes! You did a great job with the review and captured the show really well. :)
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shawn2death Feb 27, 2009
Nice review indead :D
I really love this anime.
This anime is very fantasy and adorable.
Moreover, the ending is very touching.
I kept watching it for three times >.< -
Kiara4ka Mar 01, 2009
nyaaa~~ this anime is great, sugoii ^^ the characters are so different & the art is so beautiful :3
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SukiLovesAnime Mar 02, 2009
I love this anime so much
it's so funny as well XD -
DOUBLESKIPHEART Mar 07, 2009
The anime is very nice. Like, the whole concept is very shoujo, but unlike many shoujo this was actually a fun watch and the protagonist isn't annoying. It would have been nice if they hadn't ended it at 26 episodes I think. The manga is also very good, and every one should read it. <3
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beryl0402 Mar 15, 2009
the best shojo ever!
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chumbariwap123 Apr 21, 2009
this is a great series, i dont know what the its genre actually but its cool enough for us teenagers,
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arifffahdlanbinamin Apr 24, 2009
this anime is funny
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excaliburer May 10, 2009
This anime has crazy comedies. I can't endured my laugh when I watch it. And the characters are so cool! I like Hikaru and Kaoru so much
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pigmypuff Jun 03, 2009
so funny n make me crazy
ho..ho.. -
yuyuppi Jun 07, 2009
waiting 4 the next season..
haruhi in love with who? -
pappo1 Jun 09, 2009
it's funny i like
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pmgbapm Jun 23, 2009
I like the sound very much~~
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K-A-W-A-I-I Jul 18, 2009
Kyyaaa! I LOVED Ouran High School Host Club! I loved how it was a harem and each boy who gave at least a slight hint in liking Haruhi were all different and each had their own strengths and weaknesses in gaining Haruhi's 'love'!
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lordryo Jul 21, 2009
I really liked this show.
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ResonantSoul Jul 23, 2009
Love it! XD
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yukirina Aug 06, 2009
It's soo good
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SchRita Aug 23, 2009
Thanks for the review!
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ShadowNeo Aug 26, 2009
this anime is funny
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