Idyllic
It was an absolutely gorgeous spring night, and Claire Sato couldn’t
remember when she’d been so content.
The young woman of sixteen, with short black hair and a reserved air, currently strolled about the cordoned off grounds of the elite Ouran Academy. Not too long ago, she had taken every opportunity to leave the school after her classes had concluded for the day. But that had all changed about three months prior, when she had been asked to become the designer for the infamous Host Club.
I was so jumpy the first week, Claire thought to herself,
looking back. And in truth she had been.
She had rushed after her final period towards Music Room #3, not wishing to be late, and had effectively face-planted into one of the Host members. She had apologized profusely to Mori-Senpai (the unlucky fellow she had slammed into) and had been utterly embarrassed. Kyoya, the one to invite her to join the club
Romance/comedy/reverse harem/slice of life
Introduction
The romance between love and comedy is greater than any Shakespeare ever put to pen. It is no wonder, considering the sensation of laughter and the sensation of being in love are highly similar. As the great Spanish novelist Pedro Calderon de la Barca said, "When love is not madness, it is not love". This might sound a little pretentious, but I feel it's in the spirit of the beautiful and hilarious comedy, Ouran High School Host Club.
What's this show about?
In Japan there exists an outrageously expensive private academy frequented by the 1% of the 1%. This, as the title of the show would suggest, is Ouran Academy. Haruhi Fujioka, the protagonist, enters the school on an academic scholarship, but is immediately put into debt by accidentally breaking an expensive vase. To pay off the debt, Haruhi is enlisted into the academy's very own Host Club - a "host club" being an outfit of handsome men who are paid to flirt with (but not touch) women...this is a real thing in Japan. Haruhi is put at a slight disadvantage by actually being a chick, but when she puts on the uniform and cuts her hair right she looks the part of an attractive bishonen, so she perseveres regardless. The show revolves around her reactions with the rest of the Host Club, who at first blush would appear to be stock reverse harem archetypes...but, of course, they're vastly more interesting and entertaining than all that.
Animation and Sound
Everything here is just lovely. This is top-tier animation, even by Studio Bones standards. Everything is very shoujou-ai, with enough bright eyes and flying roses to shame Anthy and Utena. Everything is very fluid. As for the music, it's always regal waltzes, sonatas, and orchestral productions - beautiful on their own, but when contrasted with the absurdity that's actually being depicted they feel especially fitting in their unfittingness. The VA's do an exceptional job, of course, whether you pick the dub or the sub. There's not a sour note in either cast. I'm slightly more partial to the dub, considering this is one of those shows where everybody talks at a mile a minute, but you're not missing out either way.
Characters
As there are common archetypes in harem anime, there are equal and opposite archetypes in reverse harem anime. The members of the Host Club assume these roles both to appeal to their teen-girl audience and as idealized versions of themselves, even if it's not the reality. For instance, Tamaki positions himself as the "knight in shining armor" type, when in reality he's a dopey manchild. Kyouya, the "cool-headed guy with glasses" type, might seem a smug snake - and, well, he sort of is, but he's got his reasons. Hikaru and Kaoru are identical twins who like to play on the obvious incest angle ("I've never seen brotherly love quite like that!"), but they've got a much more interesting story to tell aside from that. Honey, who looks exceptionally young despite being an upperclassman, might resemble a "reverse-loli", but- well, I don't want to give away what his deal is, but suffice it to say he's my favorite. Finally, there's Mori, the "strong, silent type" type. He might seem to be a very what-you-see-is-what-you-get sort, but he's got more depth that what he reveals. And, of course, the main girl, Haruhi - she's very charming. Some reverse harem protagonists are obnoxious brats (cough, Brother's Conflict), but Haruhi's down-to-earth attitude gives her appeal as an anchor when everything's going to hell.''
So why should I care about this show?
Well, in a word, it's fun. It's a brilliant comedy and a deconstruction/reconstruction of the entire reverse harem. The show is bursting at the seams with gags, both of the visual and verbal variety. This is one of the funniest shows I have ever seen - not just anime, but period. There isn't much of a fourth wall, either ("You boys are the homosexual supporting cast. So please make sure you don't step across this line.") But, here's the thing - it's not just comedy. Normally adding drama kills shows like this - nobody wants joke characters to suddenly pull sob stories out of their ass. Here, however, subtle touches of seriousness in the right parts actually enhance the viewing experience and help us get invested in the characters. Really, the whole thing is so good I feel kind of at a loss to describe it.
I'm a man and I'm worried this show might turn me gay. Is there anything to be upset over?
It is exceptionally girly, but I feel that the comedy surpasses the gender barrier. Everybody, regardless of sex, creed, race, or orientation enjoys seeing people get hit in the face with a good pie. I'd recommend this show to anybody.
This show has laughs, sighs, and cries. Who could want more than that, really? It's not something for people who are in the mood for something exceptionally deep, but it's perfect for lifting your spirits. That's why I suggest you watch this show.
MAL link
This show is available for free on Hulu, in both sub and dub format.
Hulu link