Ai Yori Aoshi - Reviews

The story line is a rather interesting version of Romeo and Juliet almost. A boy who isn’t liked because he denounced his name and a girl who wishes nothing more then to be with him even against her parents wishes. It’s a rather romantic story, and then they have to add everyone else into the mix and well, we get this. Not to say this show is bad, its just… it gets dull after a while with pretty much every trick in the book being done to keep the two apart from roommates that get in a way to time they have separated from each other and even the family problems. I’m happy it’s not a slice of life in a school (and it’s not… technically…) but it sure feels like one. I most of the time wanted to bash a couple heads together and yell ‘GET TO THE POINT!’ but yet, I have to sit through some of the slowest moving pieces until someone finally gets to a punchline and then I feel myself sitting there sometimes asking ‘how the heck did that happen and where was the fun?’ I do have to mention now that this is one of my favorites of the genre, its just does have a lot of flaws though the good points.

Ai is so adorable though her personality is a little two innocent. She seems way to matter of fact and logical. She also sounds like a broken record in that she keeps going on about becoming his wife. She feels much like a Mary Sue character in that with almost everything she does, she does well and the stuff she isn’t good at is done in a way that makes her more Moe (and now I’m thinking about Konata’s saying from Lucky Star ‘Clumsy is sexy…’) to the point where I just want to smack her. Luckily, she doesn’t go into the realm that I would want her to be attacked by one of the girls from When They Cry, but she sometimes gets close to it.

Kaoru though seems well put together or else it’s because he is around crazy people. Sometimes I even wonder if they put him in the middle of all these crazies just to show how bland he really was. There are times though that I wish he wasn’t so easily pushed into doing things he didn’t want to do or would hurt Ai if she took it the wrong way. Unfortunately, both main characters are actually less interesting then the characters around them and the story just seemed to become dull just because I wanted to learn more about the characters and it wouldn’t let me. The arrange marriage thing is hard for me to think of in the modem day sense and makes me wonder if it actually happens still. There is a lot of fan service in this and it makes me feel really sad because it really didn’t need it!

Now we go into the extras and the reason why I call them extras and not supporting characters is this… they do not support anything. They are there to tear the two main characters apart and bring comedy into what could be even more boring story plot. I think without them, I would never have been able to get into the story. Their fun antics, although annoying at times, made me smile and laugh to break up the tension of a hard core sad areas. I do believe without them, the ending would not be as heart retching as it was because it seemed to have more meaning.

The artwork is so beautiful and shows a lot of detail throughout the show. The backgrounds are rich in detail for the most part but there are times that it looks rather low in contrast. The comical points are really odd looking, where most of the artwork during that time pretty much lacks. The opening is rather nice in following the sweet music for that. But seems almost like Ranma’s opening in how they made it.

The Voices are interesting, and Ai’s seems way too breathy. The English is a little off, almost like it’s a exact translation and I wish they would change it a bit. Some characters were a little creepy in voice and I was a little disappointed in that. The Japanese is alright even if it’s pretty standard for this type of show. The Japanese and English Ai sound very close to each other. It’s a little nice that way but also somewhat bothersome.

The music is so pretty for the opening and closing that I actually looked for the opening music on its own. The other background music is a little to sappy even for the happy moments and sometimes breaks the mood.

Just your basic typical long lost love story thats been done before and much better. Not to mention it seemed to me like it dragged on and on. The characters are very typical and none really stood out. It was not horrible, but did not stand out in my opinion.

"Ai Yori Aoshi" - A Heartfelt Romance Full of Warmth - 9/10

Story: 9/10 "Ai Yori Aoshi" revolves around the rekindled relationship between Kaoru Hanabishi and Aoi Sakuraba. The story beautifully combines romance and slice-of-life elements, portraying the challenges and joys of their love amidst family expectations. While it may follow some familiar romantic tropes, it stands out with its sincere and heartwarming storytelling. The series explores themes of love, commitment, and the importance of pursuing one's happiness. It earns a story rating of 9 out of 10 for its heartfelt narrative.

Animation: 8/10 The animation quality in "Ai Yori Aoshi" is solid, featuring well-drawn character designs and detailed backgrounds. While it may not push the boundaries of animation excellence, it effectively conveys the emotions and interactions of the characters. The art style complements the romantic and domestic themes of the series, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The animation deserves an 8 out of 10 for its consistent quality.

Sound: 7/10 The sound design in the series enhances the emotional depth of the story. The background music sets the mood appropriately, especially during tender moments between Kaoru and Aoi. Voice acting is competent, with characters' voices reflecting their personalities. While the sound quality is good, it may not feature standout tracks that linger in your memory. Nevertheless, it contributes positively to the overall atmosphere, earning a sound rating of 7 out of 10.

Characters: 9/10 The characters in "Ai Yori Aoshi" are the heart and soul of the series. Kaoru and Aoi are well-developed and relatable protagonists, each with their unique strengths and vulnerabilities. Their love story is both heartwarming and genuine, drawing viewers into their journey. The supporting cast, including Kaoru's friends and Aoi's housemates, adds depth and humor to the narrative. Each character feels like an integral part of the story, and their interactions contribute to the overall warmth of the series. The characters shine, earning a character rating of 9 out of 10.

Overall: 9/10 In conclusion, "Ai Yori Aoshi" is a heartfelt and sincere romance anime that excels in storytelling, character development, and emotional depth. Its portrayal of love, commitment, and family expectations creates a compelling and emotionally resonant narrative. While it may not have the flashiest animation or soundtrack, it captures the essence of a heartwarming love story. If you're a fan of romance and slice-of-life anime, "Ai Yori Aoshi" is a gem that deserves its high overall rating of 9 out of 10 in my assessment.

Story:

I enjoy the story for Ai Yori Aoshi. Basically, a young girl from a rich family is betrothed to a young man from a rich family. She likes him a lot even at such a young age, but he eventually disappears from his family. She goes to try and find him and ends up succeeding. They end up living together in a large house and many of their friends also end up living there. Of course, that are all girls and they all fall for the main male protagonist. The show basically follows their daily lives and the growth of Kaoru's and Aoi's relationship.

Animation:

The animation is nice and bright. I think it looks good and is drawn well. 

Sound:

I love the music in this anime, especially the opening song, Towa No Hana, it is very beautiful. I very rarely skipped this song while watching. They also do very well with the music during the episodes.

Characters:

I really enjoyed the characters, there really wasn't any that I disliked. They are all different with different personanlities. The main male protagonist, Kaoru, is a little bit too nice though. I enjoy watching the growth of the love between him and Aoi.  Aoi is probably my favorite female protagonist in a harem anime.

I think Aoi gets alot of flak because of her supposed "weakness" about wanting to cook and clean for Kaoru. No one makes fun of Martha Stewart for being good at cooking, entertaining and cleaning. Aoi is good at what she does and she knows what she wants, going after it with a rather single minded determination. She is actually one of the tougher anime characters out there. Everything she does is because of a dilberate choice, no one is making her do anything.

The other girls are also pretty fun, like I said before, with their own different personalities. Only thing is, like any other harem anime, I fell sorry for the girls falling in love and not being the one picked by the male protagonist.

Overall:

One of my favorite animes, in part because its one of the first ones I ever saw and probbaly only the 2nd or 3rd of the harem genre. I think it is a little different from a typical harem, because pretty much, you know from the start who is going to be chosen in the end. I think it is worth a watch if you like romance animes.