I'll be honest, I'm a sucker for comedies that suffer from gender issues. Take Ranma 1/2, which involves a guy who turns into a girl with cold water, and back with hot. Once you throw in many characters who fall in love with him(/her) in both genders, and people with similar changing problems, you get an awesome relational *insert name of crazy mixed up geometrical shape here*s. So when I read about this one, I couldn't resist.
Ouran High School Host Club is about Haruhi, a girl who, due to lack of concern, wears the attire of a guy. She also gets good enough grades to attend Ouran High School, a school for children of the "Super Rich", though she's just a common Japanese girl. One day, she accidentally happens upon the Host Club while looking for a quiet place to study... yeah right... where she breaks a vase and must become a server of the Host Club (because they think she's a guy). When they see her eyes (girl eyes), they realize she would be a perfect "guy" to work as a Host Club member. What does the host club do? Let Tamaki, the club President, explain:
"Ouran Private Academy is defined by... one, prestigious families, and two, wealth.... and prosperous people have much time on their hands. Therefore, the Ouran Host Club is about... these handsome guys that have time... giving hospitality to these lovely ladies who also have time... and profit off them. It's an elegant game unique to this super-rich school.
Haruhi is the main character, but what is really entertaining about her is that she brings out the personality of all the other characters, who really make the show. Tamaki, the "King", is very suave, yet is also very ignorant and... an idiot. Kauro and Hikaru are twins who have spent most of their life hiding from the world, until Tamaki befriended them (and now they liven up the show by constantly poking fun at him). Honey is a Senior who looks like he's five, and uses this in his host skills. Mori is Honey's friend who uses quite the opposite personality as a Host. And Kyoya is the organizer and really runs the Host Club from behind.
This show has got to do the best jobs of utilizing anime expressions and chibi forms to create humor and personality, even above shows like Lucky Star. Yet it feels less "OOOOOH, Kawaii!" (which means cute in Japanese) than most that use them. Bananas peels are occasionally utilized to cause trouble, making situations worse (AKA funnier). The elegant text boxes that appear everywhere to label and explain provide additional humor with an original feel to it.
I don't think that, since I watched Elfen Lied last year, I've had a strong "I don't want to turn this off yet!" feeling after each episode. And not since Fullmetal Alchemist (pretty much my original major anime series) have I had the "NOOOO! I don't want this to end!" feel, since I tend to look forward to completing a series. I might put this series as far as saying it's my favorite Comedy Romance. A sure 9 of 10 on MyAnimeList.net.
There's some side stories with one-time characters, but you spend a lot of time with the backgrounds of the main characters, learning how their life was before the host club. By the end, you see a complete story for each one, leaving you with nothing but the desire to see how it will all end. It's got an occasional twist and turn, and the end leaves you with a big ol' grin.
Sub vs Dub = I watched it in Japanese, the seyuu (voice actors) were great. I then watch part of a later episode in English. Haruhi has waaaay to masculine of a voice, while the Japanese Haruhi was just right. The only one I actually had any "Cool!" at all for was Tamaki, voiced by my favorite, Vic Mignona (Ed Elric in FMA, Kurtz in FMP!, etc.). But whoever the Japanese voice actor is, he makes Tamaki who he is in the original. Just stick with the subs!
Content = Ah, once again, a big section for content. While sexual references are near non-existent, and nudity is none, gender confusion abounded and produced some uncanny results. Of course, Haruhi accidentally kisses a girl (while a Host Club member). But then there's Kauro and Hikaru... who's relationship appears to be romantic (homo-twincest, yuck). But as the series goes on, you see everything is for play in the host club, and that all their lives the have shunned the rest of the world to the point the have nearly become one person. And you soon find they do have a natural interest in girls. Also, there's Haruhi's dad, who is a "okama", which means he dresses and acts like a woman... but it's not too bad. Lastly, there's the repulsive Lobelia High School Zuka Club, which is all made of feminists who want Haruhi to switch to their school. But of course, if she did, that would ruin the series. All in all, the show isn't crude or explicit, it's mostly just inappropriate. Probably a good 13+ that's already labeled would fit.
Sound = Great OP song, as I climbed Multnomah Falls in Oregon right after I began the series, I couldn't help but hum it to myself the whole way up and down. The ED always worked perfectly after whatever happened at the end of each episode. The main music was entertaining, full of piano, orchestral, and a general Victorian sound both enjoyable to listen to and fitting to the mood. There was a happy light version of the OP that played occasionally, which made the scenes feel automatically pivotal to the show itself.
Adaptions = The manga came first, and I think extends farther than the show. There's rumors of a second season, but they are nothing but rumors, as there isn't enough manga for it to happen. I think there's a PS2 and Nintendo DS game.
Category: Comedy
Length: 26 Episodes
Japanese Title: Ōran Kōkō Hosuto Kurabu
Year: 2006
Studio: Bones
Opening Video
Ending Video
Wikipedia
AnimeNewsNetwork
Download (Jap/EngSub) RECOMENDED!!!
Stream (Jap/EngSub AND EngDub)
Opening Song Single Download
Ending Song Single Download
Soundtrack 1 Download
Soundtrack 2 Download
Soundtrack Special Download
In Summary: This is a great series, full of laughs and little spots of serious moments here and there. Some inappropriate content, but if you are 13 or older and don't mind some gender confusion, you'll enjoy this heartfelt series. I flew through it in 4 sittings.
