Ranked #144

Seto no Hanayome

Seto no Hanayome is one of the rarest types of anime you can find - a parody rom-com that is actually extremely funny!

This is without doubt one of the funniest animes released in the past few years, and I have never seen parody done so well since the original Jungle wa itsumo hale nochi guu (especially Michishio Nagasumi's pardoy of Ken from Fist of the North Star, and Runa's father as the the terminator).

The art style in this anime, like most parodies, can take a little getting used to, but it doen't really cause headaches. The characters have all have their own quirks and foibles (San-chan's sakura petals appearing out of nowhere for instance, and Nagasumi's first kiss - I laughed so hard I got cramps), but these traits enhance the characters.

One of the biggest plus points for this anime is the ending. All too often in anime we see a great series end with a whimper. Not here. The ending was brilliant in both it's seriousness and it's humour - in other words it's seriously funny.

I would recommend this series to anyone who likes jaw dropping, side splitting, mind boggling humour. I have laughed as much since I first watched Inukami - now there's ashow that's SO wrong :D read more

First off, I would like to get this straight. I am not a huge fan of romance anime's, throw in a harem in the way, then just forget about it . Now, dont get me wrong. I am not saying this anime breaks away from the tired formula of harems, in fact it has the word cliche written all over it. But what separates this anime from the rest, is how it uses those cliche to its advantage.

Read the synopsis, an average student gets forcibly married to the girl. We all know how those goes, right? Yes, the plot has been done a hundred times before and its teeming with stereotypical characters. Even each individual episode is predictable, as the anime goes through any harem anime would. Throughout the anime more girls come to like the protagonist, more fan service. its all textbook execution.

Make no mistake here. Yes, the episode start out predictable at first, but you have no idea what Seto is capable of. It will go from cliche and then takes a huge step forward and jump to embellished. It has a fast paced and frankly, I liked it.
Its a nice change of pace. You get to laugh non-stop in a whole episode.

I have no qualms for the sound and animation, as it does not pursue to be anything different. The animation is what you expect it to be in an anime(gravity defying hairs, radiant character designs) and the sound does nothing to stand out for me to mention anything. But from the start of the OP, it tells you that the anime will make you laugh.

But one of the key factors of why Seto No Hanayome is so downright hilarious is its brilliant application of the K.I.S.S theory. Seto No Hanayome is by no means a laid-back anime, but at the same time, there is no dull moment here as every moment is hectic enough for you to go "lmfao!". It tries to be what it can and should be, simple and funny. Because of this, the formula works.The anime is all about comedy, nothing else. It wont throw you any cheap drama just for the hell of having it. Although because its lackluster for romance, it becomes a turn off people who hunger for something amatory. But that doesnt mean the relationship between Nagasumi and San doesnt develop, its just a little late thanks to the rest of the female cast that constantly grasps Nagasumi's attention.

Another strong points of Seto is its parodies. Its derision ranges from Japanese Culture to American, heck, it even makes fun of itself. Who wouldve thought that they actually include a Hokuto No Ken parody here? Not to mention Terminator. Every episode will have you tapping the floor at least once because of its unrelenting low-brow humor.

The supporting characters also gives way for comedy, as each of one of them is provides comic antics albeit that all of it are horrifically trite. Whether its the over-protective father, the yandere, or the timid class president, they will all crack you up. Plus, the influence and interaction on each other have has a significance.And to my surprise, there is even character development. The typical lame protagonist not only goes through a transition, but something you can never imagine. He is able to mature, and he erase whatever bad impression you have for harem male leads.

Seto No Hanayome adds nothing new to the genre. It is another recycling of harem anime's. But its sheer presence of comedy is outstanding that you'll pay no attention to its unoriginal qualities. For the first time in a long time, a harem is done right.

To sum up, Seto No Hanayome is the romantic comedy that you have been looking for. Its rollicking, its over-the top and its just plain straightforward. To say its funny, would be an understatement. This is cliche at its best. read more