The Essentials

Name: Ai Yori Aoshi (Season 1), Ai Yori Aoshi ~Enishi~ (Season 2)
Genre:: Romance, Comedy, Harem
Episodes: 36 (24 in Season 1, 12 in Season 2)
Released: April 10, 2002 – September, 2002 (Season 1),
October 12, 2003 – December 28, 2003 (Season 2)
Based On: Ai Yori Aoshi manga by Kou Fumizuki
Director: Masami Shimoda
Produced By: J.C. Staff, Rondo Robe
US Distribution By: Pioneer/Geneon

Major Japanese Cast

Kaoru Hanabishi: Souichiro Hoshi
Aoi Sakuraba: Ayako Kawasumi
Miyabi Kagurazaki: Akiko Hiramatsu
Tina Foster: Satsuki Yukino
Taeko Minazuki: Kaori Mizuhashi
Mayu Miyuki: Sayaka Narita
Chika Minazuki: Halko Momoi
Takashi: Kazutoshi Hatano
Satou: Makoto Higo

Major English Cast

Kaoru Hanabishi: Dave Lelyveld
Aoi Sakuraba: Michelle Ruff
Miyabi Kagurazaki: Lia Sargent
Tina Foster: Wendee Lee
Taeko Minazuki: Sue Beth Arden
Mayu Miyuki: Kirsty Pape
Chika Minazuki: Kari Wahlgren
Takashi: Lex Lang
Satou: Ron Allen

Scores

Animation: 8/10 (x 4 = 32 pts)
Story: 8/10 (x 4 = 32 pts)
Music: 9/10 (x 4 = 36 pts)
Coherency/Story Arc: 8/10 (x 2 = 16 pts)
English Dubs: 3/10 (x 1 = 3 pts)
Gut Score: 9/10 (x 5 = 45 pts)

Total: 164/200 (82%)

Review

Ai Yori Aoshi is about Aoi Sakuraba, the daughter of the head of a rich conglomerate, and her secret fiance-to-be Karou Hanabishi. When the two were little, their marriage had been arranged given Aoi’s stature and the fact that Karou was himself the heir to another major conglomerate. However, Karou was only adopted, and after witnessing the treatment of his mother, especially after she died, Karou ran away from the Hanabishi clan to live on his own. This, in turn, nullified the arranged marriage, but Aoi was still determined to marry Karou. As a result, Aoi’s caretaker, Miyabi, arranges so that they can live together – sort of – but mandating that their relationship be kept secret.

Now, how the story sounds up until now, it sounds like it’s going to be a pretty serious and romance-heavy story. However, the story takes a turn when Karou runs into an old friend from America, Tina, at college and she starts staying at Aoi’s place due to having no other place to stay. Another friend, Taeko, soon joins them for much the same reason, and Ai Yori Aoshi starts moving into the harem genre. This series does have an air of romance and seriousness that hangs over the series, with several episodes dedicated to the serious romance aspects of the story more than the harem parts – something which have been largely absent from most other series classified as harem – but it is still mostly a comedy.

Of course, the set-up leads into quite a bit of the comedy, with other female characters frequently hitting on or otherwise trying to lure Karou into their clutches with Karou unable to tell them that he is simply unavailable. Of course, each of the characters having their own quirks that add to the craziness helps as always.

Other than having the more serious romance aspects maintained throughout the series, this series is better than most harem series in another way: while there is fan service, I’d consider it to be more tastefully done. Also, despite being a harem series, it is hardly mindless. The relationship of all the characters evolve over time, with each of the characters learning from all the other characters on how to make themselves better, at least in their eyes due to each of the characters primary strength, whether that’s honesty, being headstrong, determination, or skill and knowledge.

Such a series could easily fall into a mess of goop, but Ai Yori Aoshi is able to keep itself going strong despite being a rather complex story. Add good animation and pretty good music to the mix and you have a pretty good series. The only technical part of the series that I’d have to say I was greatly disappointed with were the English dubs. I’m pretty tolerant of English dubs and probably 85 to 90% of most shows I hear dubs I find the dubs to be pretty much acceptable. Ai Yori Aoshi, however, falls into the other 10 or 15%. Despite having experienced voice actors in virtually all the major rolls, nearly every single one of them flops. Perhaps its not surprising that the ADR Director for this series only has one other ADR Directing credit.

Overall, I think this is a series that most people will like. If you like harem, this still holds to that genre without going overboard, but there is material in this series to help feed those who like more romantic comedies as well.

First Watched: October – December 2005
Do I Own: Yes
Do I Recommend: Yes