Hanabishi Kaoru is a college student, but lives alone due to a difficult family situation. One day, at the train station, he meets a beautiful troubled woman dressed in tsumugi. The boy decides to help her find an address, which, as it later turns out, is located not far from his apartment. Unfortunately, on the spot they find an empty plot of land for sale. Kaoru, without a moment’s hesitation, decides to invite his exhausted companion to his apartment and ask about the people he is looking for and her name. The girl introduces herself as Sakuraba Aoi and shows him a photo of her childhood friend. Kaoru momentarily recognizes himself in that photo….
Table of Content
Ai Yori Aoshi – Audiovisual Design
As is usually the case with anime from this era – I won’t go without admiring the character design. It is simply beautiful, and I really miss it these days (as I have mentioned more than once). Animation and consistency of drawing clearly improve after the first half of the first season.
In terms of voices – traditionally – each character has a perfectly matched voice actor for his character (yes, including the clumsy Tae, whose voice was supposed to be annoying). It simply has to be heard for itself. In any case, Kawasumi Ayako as the main character Aoi, Yukino Satsuki as Tina and Narita Sayaka as Miyu did a great job and it is their voices that are most memorable.
Ai Yori Aoshi – Plot and Characters
The initial episodes suggest a strong melodrama, and it was with this attitude that I started watching the series. However, around the fifth episode, the whole thing transforms into a story about everyday life and growing up. It was all served as a light comedy and with slow development of relationships between the characters. At first I was a little discouraged from continuing to watch, but from episode to episode I became convinced that I was wrong. The comedy itself is quite balanced for the era, however, this doesn’t mean that the typical humorous elements and style of comedy of the time are absent. You may or may not like it, but you should certainly take this fact into account and set yourself up to watch this series accordingly.
As for the characters themselves – most of them are college students – including our main protagonist – Kaoru. His chosen one – Sakuraba Aoi, after graduating from high school, did not continue her education, but devoted herself to domestic duties – a Yamato Nadeshiko type. Tina Foster is an extroverted American living in Japan since she was a young girl, Minazuki Taeko is a totally clumsy girl who, however, gives her best to fight her awkwardness. We also have an energetic and curious teenage girl – Taeko’s younger cousin Minazuki Chika, Miyuki Mayu – a cocky, highly talented girl with an ojou-sama personality and finally a mature businesswoman, Aoi’s guardian Kagurazaki Miyabi. To choose from, almost a complete range of characters and personalities. Surprisingly – there was a lack of tsundere.
As I mentioned above – the progression of the plot proceeds at a snail’s pace. We get to know the characters and get to know them by watching their actions in everyday life. Many hyperactive people will surely conclude that nothing happens and will be bored to death watching Ai Yori Aoshi. I, however, do not belong to this group of people – I like this type of presentation of the plot and building bonds between the characters. Sure – some scenes were a bit over-dramatized, others again quite ridiculous, but looking from the perspective of the whole – I really do not regret the time spent watching two seasons of this anime and I will certainly remember this title warmly.
PS. if anyone would be interested in the continuation in the form of a manga – you can start around chapter 85-86. The anime adaptation differs in several places quite significantly from the source material (mainly it is about the sequence of events). Well, and the artwork itself in the original (I mainly mean the character designs) does not have the same charm as the adaptation of the J.C. studio. Staff.
Evaluation and Summary
Ai Yori Aoshi makes up for its imperfections (which, of course, appear here and there) strongly with atmosphere (like many other series of those years), i.e. something more indefinable that you just feel and which strongly encourages you to continue watching. If you’re a fan of early 2000s series and by some miracle haven’t yet watched Ai Yori Aoshi – I don’t think I need to encourage you further. At the same time, I realize that this is not an anime for everyone. Especially for those unfamiliar with the productions of this period, but if you are a fan of slow romances that put a strong emphasis on the depiction of everyday life – you can safely give this title a chance as well.
Finalny werdykt
Final evaluation
Which translation do I recommend to watch Ai Yori Aoshi
- KickAssAnime – apart from adding typesetting and changing a few sentences, it does not differ significantly from the official translation (which is surprisingly good) – I can recommend wholeheartedly.
Gallery
Ai Yori Aoshi (season1)
Ai Yori Aoshi Enishi (Season 2)
