Oreimo - Reviews

-Story-

At first I thought that the premise to 'My Little Sister Can't Be This Cute' was pretty interesting, but as the show progressed, it kind of let me down. There are couple of things that I didn't like, like how Kirino is a total bitch to her brother despite all of the nice things that he does for her. I also did not like how Kirino writes a novel and has it made into an anime series in two episodes, but it is hardly mentioned after that. Plus I hated how the trip to America by Kirino premise was sprung upon us at the last minute when it was rarely mentioned before that she was a track athlete. The plot here has too many loose ends that it never had the time to fix, thus making the plot to this show a Frankenstein's Monster of half plots. One thing that I did like however, was the relationship between Kyousuke and Manami, and I wish that had gotten developed more.

-Animation-

The animation here is nothing really special, but it did not use stills excessively, and it had vibrant colors and landscapes. However the animation is just average, but thats ok really.

-Characters-

The characters in 'My Little Sister Can't Be This Cute' were mostly dreadful. Kirino is a total bitch to both Kyousuke and Ruri and Manami. I get that she was supposed to be a tsundere character, but the 'dere' part was absent for many episodes, and when it did appear, it was largely overshadowed by the 'Tsun' parts surrounding it. Kyousuke is an ok character, but I feel that he is too much of an idiot for putting up with Kirino. A normal person would leave her hanging with the kind of treatment that Kirino dishes out, saying 'deal with it yourself you bitch'. Ruri and Saori  were pretty decent characters, but they had some flaws. Ruri is smug and arrogant too much, but she does pull off the Tsundere role a milllion times better than Kirino because its more of an even balance between the two extremes. Saori  seemed like she wasnt quite there, and I wished they had dug a little deeper into who she really is.

-Overall-

I can't say that this is a good anime, there are too many bad things about it. I would not recommend it.

She can be, but boy she's a needy b****

Here we go, finally my last review of the Fall 2010 season! As expected, there is a clear dichotomy of opinions when it comes to Oreimo. There are the fanboys (and girls) who will refuse to acknowledge any shortcomings in the series and wait with baited breath for the next season or OVA, whatever comes first. Then, there are the people on the other side of the fence to will curse Oreimo's name as jejune rubbish that they've seen before mostly just to spite the fanboys (and girls). So as I often do (unless I'm trying to strongly argue a point), I'm going to attempt to provide as objective an opinion as possible. I'll start with the basics. The OP is great, "irony" by ClariS (as a passing note, they have another good performance in the Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magika OP). The lyrics and the title of the song itself are very appropriate for the series, it gets you into the mindset of what to expect right away. As far as the EDs go, they're done on a rotating basis (as Kirino would have it) with a new ED for each episode. Typically I don't like this strategy because the songs will always be hit-or-miss. That is the case here. Even though I did like a few of the EDs, it's not like I remember them because it only lasted one episode. As far as animation design, they go way over-the-top with blushy cheeks on the female characters which will automatically annoy some people, but it is appropriate to the series. If not the lackadaisical plot, then the greatest point of dichotomy in this series would be the characters. More specifically, this refers to the female lead, Kirino. There's really no choice, you either love her or hate her. I would err on the side of love (though her abscence in the True Route does knock her down a peg). It's not so much that I was tremendously infatuated with her character, but she has that enthralling quality that makes you gravitate towards her which is a strong contributing factor to the success of this series. You have to buy into it, otherwise, just don't watch. Honestly, at times I may have found Kuroneko (aka the goth loli) to be a better character. I know I'll be crucified for suggesting such blasphemy, but so be it. The male lead, Kyousuke, is not so polarizing as his little sister, Kirino. I'm sure that even the dissenters would identify with him to some extent. He's just a regular honest guy really. So much so at times, that it's refreshing. The lengths he goes to just to protect his little sister (one way or another) shows his amicable character behind his facade of indifference. The minor characters seem to randomly rise and fall in an out of obscurity with little rhyme or reason. I should note that I consider Kuroneko to be a main character (at least she will be by the next installment of Oreimo). Not to condemn all the supplemental characters to the flames, Saori has her moments as does Ayase, but then they sort of just disappear for a while. Manami is a horrible childhood friend character and really is only used for the purpose of being ignored. As far as the story and the plot are concerned, the less said the better. The funny moments are funny, sometimes even hilarious. The scenes that relate to the plot are usually pretty cute/ touching though these scenes are few are far between. But you could say that all this talk is really missing the point of the series. Moreso than anything else, this series creates the ultimate irony of Kirino's anime fantasy where she unwittingly plays the hard-to-get lead. And now we get to the heart of the matter, the ending(s). The "Good End" (i.e. episode 12) had promise but fell flat with the lack of a confession/ kissing scene. At first, I was particularly peeved by this. However, after watching the "Bad End" (i.e. the special, episode 13), I no longer viewed the "Good End" so harshly. The "Bad End" is such a horrible alternative; I'm glad they left it for a special instead of including it in the series directly. But it does give you some insight into why they took the less-than-gratifying approach in the "Good End." So in conclusion, as I've alluded too, Oreimo goes by way of its characters. If you can buy into the whole schema, that everything revolves around Kirino, then you have yourself a series to enjoy for many years to come presumably. If not, just don't watch, don't complain, and get on with your life. I'd give Oreimo an 8 out of 10 for content and promise.

P.S.  If you noticed the ultimate irony of this review, call me out for it and I'll be incredibly impressed.

*Minor Update*

If you hated Kirino but more or less liked the overall vibe of the series, then I would definitely recommend watching the True Route specials. It's been amazing so far (way surpassing the quality of its predecessor).

Oreimo: A Sibling Relationship That's as Uncomfortable as It Is Unconvincing

Story (4/10): "Oreimo" initially presents itself as a story about a high school boy, Kyousuke Kousaka, who discovers his younger sister, Kirino, is secretly an otaku with a passion for eroge (erotic games) and anime. While the premise is intriguing, the execution leaves much to be desired. The story struggles to find a clear direction, often getting lost in a sea of uncomfortable and unnecessary scenarios. It tries to blend elements of comedy, drama, and romance, but these elements clash more often than they harmonize. The overall plot lacks depth and substance, making it difficult to invest in the characters or their dilemmas.

Animation (5/10): The animation quality in "Oreimo" is decent, with character designs that are visually appealing. However, it doesn't stand out among other contemporary anime series. The visuals neither elevate nor detract from the viewing experience.

Sound (5/10): The soundtrack and voice acting in "Oreimo" are serviceable but unremarkable. The opening and ending themes are catchy but not memorable in the long run. The voice actors do their best to breathe life into their characters, but they are limited by the material they are given.

Characters (4/10): The characters in "Oreimo" are a mixed bag. Kyousuke, as the protagonist, is somewhat relatable, but his actions can be baffling at times. Kirino, on the other hand, is a polarizing character. Her abrasive personality and inconsistent behavior make it challenging to empathize with her. The supporting cast, including other potential love interests for Kyousuke, often feel one-dimensional and serve as little more than plot devices to create romantic tension. It's difficult to form a genuine connection with any of the characters due to their lack of development and the overall discomfort that permeates their interactions.

Overall (3/10): "Oreimo" is an anime that had the potential to explore the complexities of sibling relationships, the stigma surrounding otaku culture, and the challenges of pursuing one's passions. Unfortunately, it falls short in nearly every aspect. The story lacks focus, the characters are unconvincing, and the uncomfortable themes it occasionally delves into do not serve the narrative well. While it may have its moments of humor and heartfelt moments, they are overshadowed by the overall awkwardness of the series. "Oreimo" might have been an interesting concept, but its execution leaves much to be desired.

(Comparative Note: "Oreimo" is based on a light novel series, and some fans of the source material may find more depth in the characters and story than the anime adaptation provides.)

While it didn't have much depth(character or plot-wise), Oreimo is a touching story about sibling love. Lighthearted and humorous, the story of incredibly normal Kyouske and his too-perfect sister(with a bad attitude) Kirino was oddly compelling. There's a lot of things that could have been done better, but the heart of the story was (mostly) innocent sugar-coated sweetness, and that's really what fluff is all about, right?

I quickly got bored when he basically rejected kuroneko

Best girl in the show