Ai Yori Aoshi

The story itself isn't out of the ordinary......boy meets girl, falls in love and another 4 girls do the same. However, it is good the way the story develops around the two main characters. The male lead isn't an asshole nor an idiot and that makes him a likable character. The female lead is.....interesting......She doesn't know anything else besides her love for the male lead and it's kinda interesting to see how the story develops around her.

There is no tragedy to make the plot a little more complicated (except the facts concerning the past of the main male character which I won't spoil for you), ... so all you can expect is love-love in every episode.

The motivation of each character is explained and you get to identify with the situation of a few characters, however there are some that only do what they do because they want and that leaves you with the feeling of emptiness.

I would recommend this anime if you want a light story of love....

Ai Yori Aoshi is a very straight forward one dimensional anime. There isn't anything else i could say to describe this anime other that. It's a typical lovey dovey through and through, but nothing else.

It's story is incredibly simple. It's a typical harem anime in the sense that the main male character is surrounded by five or six females who all have feelings for him. However it is very evident in the beginning who he will end up with. The story it's self does not know what it wants to be. It doesn't know whether it wants to be a romance anime that specifically focuses ... on the two main characters or a harem anime. Sadly because of this the series takes the horribly awkward approach and tries to do both things, but fails miserably at it.

It's harem elements are never flushed out enough to ever bring anything to the table, other than two or three episodes, most of which are filled with echhiness rather than the actual problem at hand. The feelings just linger throughout the series with nothing to make note of.

The two main characters are forced to hide their relationship, and thus have to "sneak" around in order to get any alone time. But this is incredibly misleading, because the backyard is like a different dimension of which no other character is ever allowed to step foot in. Even though the scene's done with the two main characters are done correctly and are very nice to watch, there are very few of them and very spread out through the series.

It's characters however are the weakest part of the show. Most of the characters in this series are plot devices use to simply keep the harem plot moving. They never try to confront their own feelings, they are barelly even aware of it throughout the series.

The main characters are just flat, nothing more. They aren't deep. Aoi is a character with very little emotion at all, expect that of the love she feels for our main protagonist Kaoru. Kaoru is a character i had hope for. He is the only character that even has a chance of development with the fact they actually take the time to explore his past. But instead of having him confront his past, the allow him to run away from it the entire series, and use the same three clips to show his "awful" child hood. He remains flat, undeveloped and almost unlikeable.

The art is nothing spectacular. It uses many still frames, and focuses on the characters faces a lot. Not to much attention to detail, at least nothing popped out to me. The characters have a very moe feeling, which is fine since they are really well done, with a lot of detail in their facial features. It's not bad but not great either.

The sound track of this anime is different. It's music when it's upbeat is pleasant and easy to listen to. However when every there is anything remotely bad happening it uses the most dramatic and mysterious music ever. I found myself thinking i was watching a murder mystery at many parts rather than a romantic comedy. It's original Sub is fine, but avoid the dub at all cost. Despite some decent English VA's it is awfully done, one of the worst dubs i have personally come across.

Overall if you are in the mood to see a lovely dovey anime with echhi scenes in it than you should give it a try. However if you are looking for an anime with any sort of substance than steer clear of this.

Why do I rate this anime so highly? Why do I give a 10 in nearly every category? Well, it's simple. It's an awesome show! In my own personal taste, in what I liked to see in an anime, this was what hit the spot. I'll review this as I have a few others, by category then by my overall take on it.

**Story**
First of all, the story. In my opinion, one of the 2 most important aspects of any anime. You can have crazy action, you can have ecchi-ness and nudity, whatever, but without an actual story that ... makes sense and that is fun to follow, there's nothing to be had from watching it. When I first heard of this anime, I thought it sounded silly - a man who's had some girl devote herself to him since she was little who plans on marrying him and giving herself completely to him. Who does that? But as I watched more and more into the show, I began to realize that it was exactly that point that made this story so unique and fresh. Karou already has Aoi-chan. She's his, will be his wife one day. But then you've got a twist that they have to hide it. Suddenly Karou is surrounded by other girls, and you've got yourself what appears to be a typical harem anime. However (I won't spoil) there's so much more that happens here and much later into the anime that just makes you root for everyone; Karou and Aoi and all the other characters.

**Art**
What can I say? This one is beautiful. Attention to detail everywhere, from the outfits to the floorboards and walls. It would see that every scene is fully animated and given great care. There are several of those "awww" moments with the gorgeous backgrounds, the shading and texturing on the faces, all that jazz. I really can't say more here, as you just have to see it.

**Sound**
The only category I did not give a 10. It takes a lot for me to give an anime a 10 in sound. In this category I include the music as well as every little sound effect and noise and speech and everything else. The music was alright, nothing too special, nothing that blew me away. The sound quality, likewise. But it was the character's emotions in the voices that made me rate this as high as I did. You can feel true emotion pouring out. So well voice acted that at times, you want to cry right along with a character.

**Character**
The other most important aspect to an anime. Without a good set of characters and the way they interact, what's left? A narrative about the beautiful landscape? No, especially in this show, the characters are a major driving factor. I would even go so far as to say that characters are what determine, develop and drive a story. That being said, Ai yori Aoshi brings us some of the most interesting and lovable characters I've seen in an anime. You've got crazies, you've got adorable cuties, you've got sensitives, hard-asses, uptights, lowlives, and nearly every imaginable kind of character, all represented amazingly well. The only other thing I can say about this category is that when you have such high quality characters interacting with each other, you're bound to have an emotional response, be it laughter, crying, anger, frustration or something else. I experienced all these while watching.

**Enjoyment**
Well, as you can tell thus far, I enjoyed this anime. Like I mentioned before, I've watched it three times. There's just something about Aoi-chan that keeps bringing me back to watch this. Karou, likewise. He's a great guy. He genuinely cares for those around him, and especially Aoi-chan. The same parts that made me cry and laugh and get frustrated the first time had a similar effect the second and third time. I wouldn't doubt it if I watched it again, I had the same responses. Not much else to say, other than mentioning that the dialogue and story are what make this so enjoyable to me.

**Overall**
How do I feel about this anime overall? Well, obviously I loved it. One of my favorites. I rated it a 10 overall. Why? As I stated above, all these categories shine out. I truly enjoyed every aspect of this anime. I love watching the ending as it feels so resolved (even though they made a sequel, which is also good). I get such a good feeling after finishing this anime. If you at all enjoy romance and slice-of-life genres, then you must give this anime a try.

This IS the best ROMANTIC Seinen anime ever.....

To me the story feels like Love Hina yet more Japanese, the main plot is that Kaoru is a student and by chance meets a girl who is lost at the Tokyo Station, he helps her and so have it she is going near where he lives, Kaoru helps the girl (Aoi) out to find the house but yet to find a empty plot, so the note she had was wrong, it starts to rain and Kaoru lets Aoi come to his place to keep dry then he finds out who he is and thats the person Aoi ... was looking for.

This is all in the 1st episode (which i have to say is one of best opening to an anime i have seen) then the rest of episodes are like Love Hina with the day to day life.
I would put no more but with the great voice acting of all characters like Tina (whos voice is perfect for that character) and also Aoi and etc....

The animation skills are top notch and with a great story and music this is a perfect anime, unlike Love Hina there are a couple straight away but have to hide it from the world due to some reasons you will find out. The ending is quite good but was quite predictable, but i didnt see no wedding which is what i wanted to see but maybe its in the next season.

A nice mix of how the girls all get to like Kaoru was nice development and also the way its portrayed and stuff was amazing overall a MUST for any romance fans.

This is so far my favorite anime that I have seen so far. Its the kind of anime you don't want to end, because you want to watch more of it lol. Its a great story of a guy and a girl who has pretty much been waiting her whole life to be with him. It is technically a "harem romance" but it is really close to just a pure romance, because even though the main character is surrounded by girls, it is very clear who his love is.

Like i said earlier, the story is very good about a girl who has been waiting ... her whole life to be with the guy she loves and how they interact with each other and the things that they have to go through to be together. It has lots of fun and interesting characters. Unlike traditional harem romances, they main character knows who he loves and wants to be with, unlike the usual premise where he has to decide by the end of the show. The main female character has no doubt of who she wants to be with also. The other girls are also fun and likable, in as much as you don't really find yourself rooting against them, even though you know what the primary outcome is going to be.

The art and music are also very well done. The art is drawn very well and is bright and colorful. There is a lot of good music in the anime, not just the opening and closing scores but also in the episodes themselves.

basically I really enjoyed watching it, to the extent that i have re-watched it 3 times. I really believe that if you like romance animes, that you will love this one.

Ai Yori Aoshi is like your typlical love story; boy meets girl, they fall in love. . . but then four other girls do the same. What?

What makes this story different is that the main male character, Kaoru, is really sweet and he is a one girl kind of guy. True, he is tempted by his housemates a lot but at the end of the day he still truly loves his fiancé and it’s not hard to tell either.

As for the main female character Aoi, she’s basically obsessed with her husband to be and has spent basically her whole life training to be a perfect ... wife for him. She’s devoted herself to making him happy and she is constantly thinking about him, making it extremely hard for her to hide her undying love for him from the others. (I feel her character pushes the image of what a "typical women" should be and I some what dislike her character for that, you'll see what I mean.)

The plot isn't very complicated and is easy to follow, but that doesn't mean you’ll know exactly what’s going to happen during the whole course of the anime. The series ends on sort of a cliffhanger so the outcome of their relationship and what happens with their little family is unknown, but it’s not too hard to guess what will happen.

Over all this anime is truly beautiful. You learn so much about each character and it’s not hard to notice how happy and loving they all are towards each other. This anime won't hesitate to make you laughing, crying and possibly hanging onto your seat, but most of all it will have you wishing you were a part of their wonderful family. Watching how quickly they all go from strangers to practically brothers and sisters is truly amazing.

In a nutshell, Ai Yori Aoshi is a "feel good" kind of anime. It's primary strength resides in its pure, innocent and lighthearted storytelling that revolves around the unconditional love shared between 1 man and his 5 female companions. While this kind of story is naive (slice of life tag, what?) as in real life a scenario like this would be highly unlikely and accompanied by more impure feelings (such as lust), I still think that this anime has plenty of good points which I will go over section by section in this review.

STORY (7/10) :

As outlined in the synopsis, the story follows the ... life of the male lead - Kaoru Hanabishi and his fiancee Aoi Sakuraba. Early on in the show we are also introduced to a lot of other [female] characters that will accompany the male lead in virtually every episode. The nature of the story is very episodic and the plot progresses extremely slowly (think To-Love ru). The episodes themselves are mostly based on the adventures (or in some cases shenanigans) of the main cast.

Despite the show's romcom nature there is still some breathing room for a bit of drama but that aspect is unfortunately curtailed by this show's prime flaw - lack of realism. I can say this straight away - your investment in this series will be on a purely abstract basis. Real life harems are a rare thing indeed and difficult to achieve I imagine, not to mention that they would carry a lot of consequences with them (School Days anyone?). As such, the story is slightly detached from reality.

That said, there are plenty of positive aspects in the plot - it is extremely straightforward and doesn't require much thinking. It almost feels like an accomplishment to be able to understand every single plot point. The major strength however and prime entertainment value resides in Ai Yori Aoshi's comedy. While you will certainly find a lot of cliched slapstick moments here, you will also be surprised at the sheer amount of unorthodox comedic content, so to speak. As an example I can say that this is the first anime where I've seen the male lead successfully infiltrate and escape from a women's bath house UNDETECTED. Who would have thought that?

CHARACTERS (6/10):

The characters are definitively likeable. The male lead shows a lot of kindness and understanding to the world around him, hence the rest of the cast is drawn to him like a moth to a flame. The female characters are diligent, hard working bunch of people and rational too. And so in a way you will like the cast simply because they are good, virtuous people.

However, the problem with this section is that there is little to virtually no character progression, something that has troubled me tremendously while watching Ai Yori Aoshi. Kaoru and Aoi start off as a shy couple and 12 episodes in (half way through) not much really changes. In the first season, at least, their development is minute and falls short of what I'd expect to see in a romance themed series. The writers of Ai Yori Aoshi could have definitively squeezed in a lot more focus on those 2 characters.

Likewise the rest of the cast stays tremendously underdeveloped and for the most part - shallow. I feel that the time that was used for some of the plot insignificant episodes (there's a lot of those) could have been used better to give the cast more substance and depth. More flashbacks, character exclusive episodes that focus more on the plot etc.

ART (8/10)

The animation in Ai Yori Aoshi is exceptionally good when you consider that it aired 12 years ago. Everything is fluid and crisp through the entire length of the series. The studio has paid attention not only to the characters but also static backgrounds and such.

For today's standards the quality of art in this anime would probably be considered average or sub-par. In comparison with recent animes I would have to drop 1 or 2 points from this section however I am being lenient here because I'm rating this anime in comparison with other works from around that time. Bearing that in mind, the artwork IS pretty good.

SOUND (8/10)

Likewise, the sound department of Ai Yori Aoshi maintains a high standard. The OST is truly original and features some really heartwarming pieces. The quality of the music is good, the music itself fits in perfectly with the overall tone of the series and additionally, there is a tune for every single occasion.

The only two minuses here would be the opening and ending song. They were fairly bland and I found myself skipping them after hearing them once.

ENJOYMENT (9/10)

The strongest aspect of Ai Yori Aoshi. I have enjoyed this anime a lot. Despite the numerous pitfalls (especially the underdeveloped cast) I liked the story for what it was. A stress free, easy to follow love story that is sure to cheer up even the most depressed individuals. Watching this anime is good for the soul. I'd prescribe Ai Yori Aoshi to any individual who feels that the weight of life is turning them into a cynical and harsh being. The sheer innocence and purity of the romance contained in here is staggering. I'm not delusional however and I realise the naivety of the plot, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. Who doesn't like to immerse in a fantasy every now and then?

OVERALL (8/10)

A truly appropriate rating for this anime would be 7,5. However MAL's rating system is rather limited and 7,5 would round up to 8 anyway so that is the grade I will go with.

To recap, the strengths : Heartwarming tale, good comedy, good art, good soundtrack, high enjoyability

Weaknesses : Shallow characters, slow plot progression, nearly non-existent character progression

All things considered however, it is still a very good anime. Solid 8 points.

When I watch this anime, I feel touch by the way the romance goes, this is probably the only anime (that I know of) were the lead male character actually ends up with his childhood friend ( he only met her once as kids) and the lead male did actually lived up as to what he is about. Also,I really do admire the lead female character for living up as a "Yamato Nadeshiku," the two are a perfect match. So how do I rate this:

Story: Very Good 8

I like the romance on which the lead female character is so in love with the male lead ... that she herself went out of her way to look for him and also despite of other temptations of the other ladies involve he remains true to the female lead.

Art: Very Good 8

The art is ok so there is nothing more to say.

Sound: a decent number 4.

I hate the opening theme.

Character: a fair number 6.

There isn't much to say about the characters and about their roles, but I do have a lot of awkward questions about them- OK I know it's just an anime but I just like asking it anyway,so let's start:

Karou- Ok,so he's a college student, but what was he taking up in college? We do know that he and his grandfather never got along and he always ends up beaten with a bamboo cane in the back, good thing that he was still able to maintain his sanity and not sustained any spinal fracture. So for him to have those whip marks on his back his grandpapy should be using a whip not a bamboo cane or a some kind of kendo stick thing whatever.

Aoi- my question for this character is:
-Did she had a normal teenage life or was she just confined to learned how to cook, do origami, sing, do household chores or any other stuffs that traditional Japanese women do?
-Is she younger than Karou or are they at the same age?
-Did she actually attend school or was she just home schooled?
-Does she ever wore any other clothes other than a Yukata?
-Since she's rich,I wonder as to why didn't she enrolled in the same college as Karou?

Miyabi- my question for her is:
-Did she also enjoyed a normal teenage life or was she confined to be Aoi's Babysitter/bodyguard/ playmate?
-I wonder as to how old is she and if she's gonna get married?

Tina-
- Now why does she have to attend college in Japan when she can go to any of the top universities in the US?

Taeko-
-If she's so clumsy, I wonder if she's as clumsy with her grades?


Enjoyment: a fair number 6

So far, even if this anime has a comedy tag in it, it is still the romance and drama part that is more profound.

Overall: It is a very good number 8.

No need for me to discuss.

I never thought that i came across an anime that is almost has the same meaning as 'cliche' . Don't know why but , whenever i watch Ai Yori Aoshi , i always feel like i have seen this type of characters , storyline etc. Just can't put my brain into it . Then , i suddenly realise that what i was thinking about is that this anime is so cliche .

The story is like any other romance genre where a guy named Kaoru Hanabishi goes to college and then went home . On his way to the train station , he then meet a ... girl wearing a kimono and that is our lovely heroine , Aoi Sakuraba . She suddenly fall to the ground because she was push by someone . Then , you guess it . Her shiny knight came to rescue her . See ? It's like the same kind of stuff that happens a lot in anime . Girl in distress . Hero came to the rescue . Though i admit that this kind of stuff happen on other anime quite often . I can't say more on the storylines because im afraid that it will be like a spoiler .

The arts and animation here are average . Some sceneries and animation on Ai Yori Aoshi are beautiful and some are dull . Thats what you get from watching an anime that was from 2002 . I admit that because its from that kind of year , i was expecting this kind of arts and animation . But , it could have been better because other anime that was from 2002 has better arts and animation . Why can't this anime be like that ? I don't really know actually...

Moving onto the sounds , i won't lie that the voice actors here does sometimes annoyed me , but for me it was good . It doesn't annoyed me too much or too often to the point that i just wanted to drop the series . It tends to annoyed me where they try to make a comedy but fail because of the voice actors . The opening theme song and ending were good . Not too good . Nothing i like or didn't like about the opening and ending theme songs . All i can say is that the sounds for this are average .

The characters here does have its background and stuff . the girls in this anime tends to fall for the mc either its because she is a childhood friend or because he was so nice to her or to something that i don't even know . It could have been a better harem genre where at least give a true reason on why she likes him . Just because he was nice doesn't hold a true purpose here . The backgrounds of each characters also need to be improve because it just look like they were lazy to think about a background that they just put on whatever they can think off . All i can say is that it need some improvement .

Onto the enjoyment . I can't really say that i enjoy it too much but i can say that i enjoy it too little . Of all the comedy they were making , only some of them did make me laugh . Others didn't even reach me because it tries to hard to make jokes but fail to do so . I also didn't enjoy the story plot here because of the clicheness that exist in this anime . Either way , i didn't enjoy most of them .

Overall , i can say that this anime does need a lot of improvement on the characters , the story plot etc. If you were into a romance genre , this is for you . But , don't get your hopes up on other genre that exist here or hoping that this anime is not like any others out there . If you simply want to watch old animes that have romance in it , then give this anime a try . I must warn you that this anime is very predictable Where you can actually predict whats gonna happen next . Just like me .

You really can't judge an anime based on the synopsis and reviews alone because there will be anime out there that everybody hated but you actually will like. I myself have experienced this many times hence I always give all anime a try. Ai Yori Aoshi is a good example of this. The synopsis sounded like it was written by a pubescent virgin and the reviews weren't that good either, but after finishing the series I found out that there is more to this anime than what it looks like in the outside and I ended up enjoying it more than I should have.

Ai Yori ... Aoshi or Bluer than Indigo is adapted from a manga with the same name and back then it was a actually a pretty popular manga for older guys. The story revolves around Kaoru Hanabishi, a college student with a traumatic childhood. Kaoru is from the wealthy Hanabishi clan, albeit an illegitimate child. His grandfather hated him resulting in very abusive treatments, until one day he finally decides to cut off all his ties with the Hanabishi clan and start living on his own. Kaoru has been living peacefully on his own but that will all change when a person from his past appears again. Who is it? well it's none other than his ex-fiancé Ai. Sounds cheesy and cliché? it is.

The story and characters of Ai Yori Aoshi is pretty much a rip-off of Love Hina, only without the tsundere bitch and the wimpy main protagonist instantly making it a hundred times better. I found Ai yori Aoshi's characters more likeable especially Ai who's basically the perfect wife that doesn't exist in real life. I really like how the series shows how Kaoru and Ai grew their relationship together. They really are perfect for each other. This is something I always look for when watching romance - a brilliant chemistry between the main couple.

I like watching harem anime, it's just one of my guilty pleasures. However, this is a harem anime I would have much preferred if it's just a standard love triangle because I only really cared about the relationship between the two main characters Ai and Kaoru and the other characters were pretty much non-existent to me.

The biggest flaw of this anime is the pacing which is generally slow. Being a slice-of-life romance anime it was kind of expected. There weren't much conflict in the series but the little drama that it has was pretty well done in my opinion. The animation and art style is okay, it's something you would expect from a series that aired in 2002. There's nothing noteworthy in the music department maybe except for ending theme song which I really liked.

Overall I would say I really enjoyed watching this anime but I will understand if the majority of viewers will find this to be one boring shit. If you like slow-paced romance anime where it focuses more in growing the relationship of the main couple rather than throwing conflicts and drama left and right then you might want check out this one.

I'd like to say Ai Yori Aoshi was a fantastic anime. Both Kaoru and Aoi faced many obstacles that prevented their happiness, but in the end the true feelings are much stronger than obstacles.
The message is very clear here and to me always staying true to ones feelings will overcome almost any obstacle that is put to prevent happiness.

Story: I liked the first part of the introduction story regarding the Sakuraba and Hanabishi family. It was interesting to see every character's background story covered in detail. In my opinion the story did not lack anything, it had comedy, romance, and serious moments as ... well.

Art: For an anime made around 2002 the Art was pretty good. Every character didn't look overused, and the animation was very well done. My only complaint has to be Chika-chan's tanning because she has lighter skin tone in the ares where she has clothes on. I honestly found it annoying with Chika-chan's skin tone lighter in different areas because it made it seem that she had some sort of pigment problem or she wasn't getting her skin vitamins.

Sound: Both Opening songs were fantastic. Honestly the way the Opening songs showed the past of the characters was very well done also. The second opening song is slightly different and in the end it compliments the true feelings of Kaoru and Aoi in the ending.

Character: I was surprised with the way Kaoru behaved throughout the entire series. I was expecting some type of multiple lover issues but that's not the case. Kaoru is a guy who is respectful, has true feelings for someone, and despite being surrounded by girls every day he doesn't let his manly emotions get the best of him. Every character's personality was very well done too. There was a lot of balance in this anime regarding personalities. I was also impressed with Tina because she was a very energetic girl who was open for any adventure, and to see her behave properly at home an not act all hyper was simply impressive.

Enjoyment: Every episode I enjoyed to the fullest. Comedy + Romance make it very interesting to watch in my opinion. The story also played a role because I wanted to know how things were going to end.

Overall: Even if there wasn't a 2nd season the ending was very well done and in my opinion this first season lived up to my expectations. I expected an anime that would make me laugh, keep me wanting for more, and also thinking about the message being sent: Stay true to your feelings and do not lose hope on what you are working for.

An uncommon plot: boy and girl fall in love, and boy and girl are loyal to each other throughout the whole series. It doesn't deserve to be called a harem for that in my opinion. Yes, there are several other female characters, all of whom seem to have feelings for the male lead, but he (as I said) is pretty kind about things. The female lead is positively beyond human--patient, kind, and generally perfect to a point that is impossible for a real person. It's a happy, uplifting show. Absolutely wonderful.

Ai Yori Aoshi is an "ecchi" type of anime meaning it includes naughty scenes, sexy characters and at the near end of the series, it progresses to maturity.

Kaoru, a clumsy guy met Aoi which happens to be his fiancee to his surprise! What's happening in his life right now is nothing to complain about, why would he even dare to complain when at his doorstep a lovely & very charming girl is claiming that he is her husband to be? But it all goes down to a clan he left for a painful memories of his childhood...

Can Aoi make him forget that past? Is her ... love enough for him to marry her?

You'll enjoy this anime if you like comedy, school life and romance that progresses to real love :)

Once again, I’m dipping my toe into the pool of harem anime and I’m still very much against the genre as most of it is just unfunny, uninspired, sophomoric and juvenile shows about what annoying girl gets to be with some generic guy and the dumb-ass antics they go through. I may come out as being cynical towards it but yet I got every reason to and I don’t know about this one, as I don’t feel that cynical towards this title mainly because of its story. So what is it about, you ask? Oh, did I mention that the title in English is actually ... called Bluer than Indigo?

Kaoru Hanabishi, a college student who lives alone, met a beautiful but bewildered girl dressed in kimono at train station. He volunteered to guide her way to the address she was looking for, which looked like in his neighborhood but turned out to be an empty lot. Not knowing what to do next, Kaoru invited the devastated girl to his apartment and asked for additional clue -- a photo with two children whom Kaoru immediately identified as himself and Aoi Sakuraba, his childhood friend. It turned out that the girl in front of him is Aoi Sakuraba herself, his betrothed fiancée who came all the way to Tokyo to marry him. Her revelation was not only surprising but also reminded the deepest part of Kaoru's memory for why he left the Hanabishi family in the first place.

Well, what can I say? The romance between Aoi and Kaoru is really the heart of the show and I was really rooting for those two to get together and make it last with the drama of their families keeping them apart makes it more interesting, like a rendition of a classic love story……….

BUT………unfortunately, as the series starts strong, it limps into almost Love Hina/any harem category when the main plot is sidestepped by the additional characters of the story. I get that reason for their existence is that Kaoru can have someone as family to him considering his mother abandoned him and his family kicked him out of his home and I would be fine with that, if the characters weren’t just the basic harem archetypes…but then again, it could be worse.

Also, I’m impressed with how long they kept the secret of Aoi & Kaoru being together from the tenants as some other shows would have somebody knowing about it halfway….that or some of the tenants aren’t that bright.

But like I said, the only interesting characters in the show are Aoi and Kaoru and yet, there are some things that I don’t like about them. For example, Aoi is about as adorable as a character can be, but she is more like an otaku’s waifu dream and that’s not a good thing. She’s more of a fantasy self-insert character that only wants to be that guy’s wife and nothing more. Kaoru is the more reserved character but not the generic passive, simpering moron you see in most harem shows although that does lead to the next problem of why so many of the girls in the show are attracted to him. First, there’s the token American character Tina Foster, the very energetic and loud character whom loves animals, drinking a lot of booze, and can often play grabby hands once it comes to Taeko, the accident-prone and ditzy bespectacled girl who’s only purpose in the anime is being either cosplay fetish…..oh, did I forget to mention that she has big breasts? Miyabi, Aoi’s bodyguard, is the one character who at first, I thought I would hate but actually she’s one of the better characters of the show….well, her and the pet ferret. Mayu, the prodigy, is the worst offender of them all as she is the most annoying character of the show, up to Love Hina levels, as she keeps going on and on about being with Kaoru and often fights with Tina, which makes her more bearable in comparison and last is Chika, Taeko’s cousin, who looks up to Kaoru as an older brother, but thankfully, not in a creepy way.

The animation by J.C. Staff is very artsy in its own way. The scenery is like what most amateur painters would want to capture in their own canvas. There were a few mishaps in some parts of it, mostly the gag-based animation, but it still holds to being alright. The music is sweet and gentle as the show fits although the opening and ending themes do nothing for me other than skip through them.

The Pioneer (Geneon) / Bang Zoom dub was more of a miss than hit. Michelle Ruff as Aoi was convincing enough to enjoy it and Dave Wittenberg was listenable as Kaoru but Wendee Lee’s portrayal of Tina Foster was just unbearably obnoxious and grating as she tries to sound like a drunken Texan; Karen Strassman (or Kirsty Pape) and Sue Beth Arden’s performances were a bit too high with their voices and mostly irritating, coming from Strassman’s performance. There is also an unrecognizable Kari Wahlgren (Kay Jensen) as Chika and honestly, I thought it was some other actress doing that voice….and I checked the VA’s of this show beforehand.

FINAL VERDICT: The show does feel like another harem clone in the making if it weren’t for the romantic love story angle that kept the show from being bad, but you should give the show a chance to look at before judgment.

Ai Yori Aoishi is good, if you're looking for a light-hearted happy anime where two people basically chase each other down, to what appears to be at no avail.

Aoi is basically your typical hopeless romantic, prepared to give her heart and soul to Kaoru-sama, who is much less than interested, with sporadic bursts of feelings for her at his own convience. The characters aren't very well developed in terms of their personalities and what makes them so in love, all we really know is that Kaoru has many girls attracted to him, and Aoi is relentlessly competing for Kaoru's attention. You know where it's ... going to end up, though, right? Yeah, because it's very typically Shoujo.

The plot is only as well-developed as the characters are, and at times it can be very good - just light hearted and fluffy. It's basically a typical boy-meets-girl harem Anime.

The art is very good, but it's more a Moe or "Kawaii" style than detailed. The men look somewhat Bishounen, and the girls just look "cute".

Overall, it's a very good anime, but very fluffy.

Note: This will be a review of both seasons.

Overview:
"Ai Yori Aoshi" is a slice-of life romance anime that first aired nearly two decades ago, and since then has faded into almost complete obscurity. As someone who happened to come across and watch it myself, I think that is a real shame, as it has many strengths that set it apart from most of its genre while also lacking many of the things that make many other examples annoying. The result is a very mature and nuanced romance story that, while by no means perfect, should definitely appeal to any older person who enjoys the genre.

Story ... (7.5/10)
Set in Tokyo, college student Kaoru Hanabishi comes across a young woman wearing a kimono, and offers to help her find the person she has been looking for. After a series of events, however, he discovers that the man she has been trying to find is actually him, and the woman in front of him is actually his childhood friend Aoi Sakuraba, whom he hasn't seen in a whopping 18 years. While that would be surprising enough, the truly shocking thing about his meeting is that Aoi is engaged to be his wife, a role she has spent her entire life preparing for. Unfortunately, things are nowhere near as simple as they seem, as Kaoru left his family a long time ago as a result of constant abuse, as well as the fact that he was never really one of them since his parents never married. Ultimately, when it's clear that Aoi won't give up on Kaoru, her family reaches a compromise with her- they will allow them to be together, but in the meantime they will live in a summer mansion owned by the Sakurabas, with various people joining them as the series goes on. During this time, Kaoru and Aoi must keep their relationship secret, with Aoi posing as the landlady, in order to avoid shaming the Sakuraba family.

I can't say that there's an awful lot to the plot, but there doesn't really need to be. Rather than having a group of extremely dysfunctional people, the story is instead focused on developing the relationship between Karou and Aoi, and it does so in the most realistic way possible. Overtime, they are joined in the summer home by various other girls, and while this does result in a harem, it's by no means the focus, as Aoi has already won within the first few episodes. The focus instead is the story of two people who will not only to anything for each other, but will do absolutely anything to be together, no matter how much the world seems to be attempting to keep them apart from one another, which makes for a really sweet and heartwarming love story.

Unfortunately, the pacing of the series could definitely be better. It takes three-and-a-half episodes for the story to really start, a lot of which consists of Kaoru and Aoi talking in the former's old apartment. While this does provide exposition regarding the two's relationship as well as Kaoru's troubled past, I still couldn't help but feel that it didn't need to be as long as it was. And while things do get better once the rest of the cast are introduced, the main obstacle regarding Kaoru and Aoi's relationship is more or less resolved at the end of the first season, making the second season, "Enishi", feel like little more than a sequence of side stories since none of them to anything to resolve any other of the plot points. That's not to say these are necessarily bad, however, as episode 9 in particular has probably the single most romantic moment in the entire show. Ultimately, though, the story ends incomplete, which will leave you believing the series needed a few more episodes to really wrap things up.

Art & Animation (8/10):
"Ai Yori Aoshi" has very good art for its time that still manages to hold up even to this day. The characters are all very well drawn and the environments don't look bad either. The fanservice is also kept to a decent level, as the series definitely knows when do use it and when not to. It can get a bit odd during comedic moments, however, such when a character's facial expression gets wacky and their nose disappears for no reason, which I have always found to be an unnecessary feature in anime.

Sound & Dialogue (9/10):
"Ai Yori Aoshi"'s soundtrack is best described as unconventional, but great. While there were no tracks in particular that stood out, the music as a whole has this very romantic, Japanese feel to it that really fits the tone of the story, and especially emphasizes the most romantic moments in the series. The voice acting is great as well, with Dave Wittenberg and Michelle Ruff delivering great performances as Kaoru and Aoi, respectively, and Wendee Lee giving Tina a hilariously exaggerated Texan accent that somehow fits her perfectly. Overall, I would definitely call this the best part of the whole series.

Characters (8/10):
On the surface, Kaoru may seem like your typical nice guy protagonist, albeit a few years older than the norm. However, his usually cheerful demeanor is largely just a front, and he's secretly very hurting with plenty of scars, both emotional and physical as a result of being abused by the Hanabishis. While he's definitely kind-hearted, he's also prone to a mixture of anger and depression whenever he's reminded of his past. After meeting Aoi, he slowly grows to realise that he had nothing to live for before he reunited with her, and now he can stop wondering why he was born to begin with. All in all, he's a very well-written and sympathetic character, and later episodes show him slowly start to heal and change for the better. Besides that, he's also very mature and refreshingly loyal, as whenever he starts to show attraction to someone besides Aoi, he's just as quick to shrug it off, reminding himself that Aoi is his only love and the other girls who surround him are just friends.

My favourite character, however, would have to be Aoi herself. As kind as Kaoru is, Aoi gives him a run for his money, as she is never seen getting angry or saying something bad about anyone. While such behaviour is perfectly normal in Japan, some Westerners may find the idea of a girl preparing their whole life to be someone's wife as sexist, and I've even seen some complain that whenever a girl acts tough in anime, it's always a cover-up for some insecurity. But really, how many pieces of Western media portray traditional feminine traits as being worthless and imply that women must masculinise themselves in order to be taken seriously? The answer is 'more than I can count' so it's good to know that there are at least some people out there who understand the value of feminine traits and that while your gender may not define you as a person, it's rather childish to believe it doesn't matter at all. While Aoi starts off very shy, she's definitely not weak, as she defies her family time and time again to be with Kaoru, showing that it's something she wants and will make HER happy rather than the will of someone else. Her character doesn't revolve solely around Kaoru, either, as she interacts plenty with the rest of the cast and goes through some genuine character development, showing that Kaoru is just as good an influence on her as she is on him.

The rest of the cast aren't quite as good, but they're still far from bad. One example is Tina Foster, an American woman who attends the same university as Kaoru. She and Kaoru met in the past when he first started college, and she joins the Sakuraba summer house due to not having a place to stay, having just come back from a trip around the world. To sum her up, she's very loud and outspoken, and often greets women by groping their breasts, basically making her the complete opposite of Aoi. While she's mostly comic relief in the beginning, she becomes a much more serious character when her insecurties come to light, particularly those in regard to her hopeless crush on Kaoru, which would probably be returned if it weren't for Aoi. There's also Miyabi Kagurazaki, Aoi's caretaker and the manager of the summer house who is the only one besides them who knows the truth about Kaoru and Aoi's relationship. While she starts off quite cold to Kaoru, it's mostly because she wants what's best for Aoi and she eventually accepts Kaoru upon realising just how good a match he and Aoi really are.

Next up is Taeko Minazuki, a woman who attends the same university as Kaoru and Tina and is in the same club as them as well. She soon joins the Sakuraba household as the maid, though she's not that good at it due to being very clumsy. Along with Tina, she serves as the main comic relief of the series, perhaps even more so as she doesn't become more serious later on, even if she does have quite a sad backstory. My least favourite of the major cast would have to be Mayu Miyuki, a spoiled rich girl who, like Aoi, has been in love with Kaoru since she was young. Unlike Aoi, however, her crush is very unrealistic, and more often than not she is very bratty and rude, though she does at least have a sympathetic excuse and some rare cases of being kind. There's also surprisingly few incidents of Kaoru getting beat up by girls, as whenever he ends up in a compromising situation, he's nearly always given a chance to explain himself, as they know he's not the kind of person to be doing that sort of thing. Overall, I really liked the characters, though some far more than others.

Enjoyment (8/10):
Mature it may be, "Ai Yori Aoshi" remains a very lighthearted series throughout. When it's not being sweet or heartwarming, it's being really funny. This is in no small part thanks to Tina and Taeko, but Kaoru also gets in on the fun whenever he has perverted fantasies about Aoi, which can get pretty hilarious. The slow pacing may hurt the enjoyment for some, but hopefully not so much that it ever gets boring, as that wasn't the case for me.

Overall:
"Ai Yori Aoshi" is a deeply touching, very heartwarming and extremely mature love story that has been sadly overlooked by the newer generation, to the point that nowadays you'll hear people talk about it once in a blue moon. It definitely requires a good understanding of Japanese culture to truly enjoy, if you get past that you will be rewarded with very likable characters and a great soundtrack, and a number of really touching, heartwarming moments. While the story may feel somewhat incomplete, I nevertheless believe that any romantic drama fan will walk away satisfied.

Score:
7.5+8+9+8+8=40.5/50=8.1/10

Ai Yori Aoshi is a pretty good romantic comedy anime. The story is also really good too. I think that the characters are pretty good, which each being funny in their own way, like Tina always being the rowdy type of girl, Aoi being the understanding one & most loyal, Taeko being a complete klutz, although she doesn't mean to, Miss Miyabi is the more of the stricter type, Kaoru is actually a pretty good guy, Chika is ok & Mayu is the young spoiled brat type of character. Honestly, this is a good romcom anime that I've enjoyed watching, as you can appreciate the ... two main characters bond that much better in each new episode.

A love story between a boy and a girl. There are other girls involved as well but the main plot is about the main male and female characters. The one good side about this story is that the male character isn't an idiot or a pervert. He is a normal likable college student.

If you like romantic stories with happy ending then you may enjoy watching this anime.

Very good anime. I liked it. If you liked Ah! My Goddess, you'll like this. Unless you don't like ecchi.

Story:
The main storyline did drift off at some points, and there were non-important side stories that had no real point but overall the story was very unique.

Art:
The art was very bright but the animation was not the best I've seen.

Sound:
The opening theme was abosutely beautiful with an ok ending theme. The two special ending themes were also just ok. Didn't care too much for the insert song. The background score is nice but I wouldn't listen to it without watching the anime. The vocal cast was ... really good though and really fit the characters.

Character:
The two main characters, Kaoru and Aoi, are very developed. This anime has a lot of non-important side characters though. Such as Tina, Taeko, and Miyabi but the ones that really have no point are Mayu and Chika. Chika's tan is also really dumb.

Enjoyment:
I've seen this series twice and I enjoyed it both times ^.^

Overall:
If you want a not-so-strong storyline, ecchi, and romance then this anime is for you!

Hello, fellow pack members! It's me, your frosty fur-friend, Kiba Snowpaw. Today, I'm gonna talk to you about an anime that has definitely left some paw prints in my heart. Hold onto your tails, because we're diving deep into the wintery lovefest that is "Ai Yori Aoshi."

"Ai Yori Aoshi," or "Bluer than Indigo," is like a warm furry burrow in the midst of a snowy forest – cozy, comforting, but not without its share of ice-cold winds and thorny branches. On the surface, it's like any other harem anime, but just like you can't judge a wolf by its fur, you can't judge an anime ... by its genre.

Now, let's talk about the storyline. Boy meets girl. Girl loves boy. Four more girls love the same boy. Sounds like any other harem anime, right? Wrong! The series goes for the throat with a twist – the male lead isn't a brain-dead doofus, and the main female lead is as enigmatic as the Northern Lights.

The romance in the series feels as real as the cold wind on a winter's night. It's not diluted by mindless tragedies or overcomplicated plot elements. And while the protagonist’s past does play a part, it only adds to the refreshing simplicity. It's pure, unadulterated love in every episode. Kinda like biting into a snow-cooled apple, if you ask me.

The anime does a pawsome job in explaining each character's motivation, leaving you with a feeling of understanding and empathy. But, just like a blizzard, it leaves some characters out in the cold, their actions unexplained, creating a sense of emptiness.

"Ai Yori Aoshi" may be as straight forward as a wolf's path in the snow, but it brings a certain one-dimensionality to the table. The anime can’t quite decide if it wants to be a focused romance or a full-blown harem. It's like a dog chasing its tail, unsure of what it truly wants.

The harem elements feel like an abandoned den, not fleshed out enough to bring anything substantial to the series. It felt more like it was filled with frosty fanservice rather than substantial plot elements. And the two main characters having to hide their relationship? Well, let's just say it's like a snowball fight where only one side is allowed to throw snowballs.

However, let's not growl and snarl just yet. Despite its lack of depth and development, the anime does a commendable job of presenting the characters. But, like an icy river, the characters have a frozen surface. Aoi, our main female lead, is like a snow sculpture - beautiful but devoid of varied emotions. And Kaoru, our protagonist, has a past that could have been an avalanche of character development. But instead of facing it, he runs away, making him as flat as a frozen lake.

Talking about the artwork, it's like a winter morning – nothing extraordinary, yet pleasing. It's got a good focus on the characters' faces and the use of still frames, just like a quiet snowfall. However, the moe character design is a paw-point. The soundtrack, on the other paw, feels as mismatched as a hare in a wolf pack. The happy tunes are pleasant, but the dramatic ones make you feel like you're watching a murder mystery. And let me tell you, the English dub is more dreadful than a starved grizzly bear!

Yet, despite its pitfalls, "Ai Yori Aoshi" manages to present a straightforward, uncomplicated love story that will warm your heart like a good bowl of deer stew. If you're in the mood for some fluffy romance with a dash of ecchi, then by all means, dig into this series like a wolf digging into a freshly-caught hare. But if you're prowling for something deeper, well, you might find this anime as satisfying as a mouthful of snow.

Now, why do I rate this anime as highly as a mountain peak? Why am I barking out 10s left and right like a happy husky? Well, it's because it hits the spot like a well-aimed snowball. This show is a perfect paw-print of what I love in an anime - a good storyline, interesting characters, and art that catches your eye like a glint of sun on snow.

The story is unique and fresh, like the first snowfall of the year. It begins with an unusual premise – a girl devoted to a man since childhood, planning to marry and give herself completely to him. It sounds more unrealistic than a wolf adopting a rabbit, right? But as you delve deeper into the series, the story draws you in and keeps you captivated.

The artwork in "Ai Yori Aoshi" is stunning, like a perfectly etched ice sculpture. The attention to detail is commendable - from the character's outfits to their facial features, every aspect has been lovingly crafted.

When it comes to sound, it might not be as hauntingly beautiful as a wolf's howl in the dead of night, but it is effective. The emotional depth of the characters reflects in their voice acting, which truly tugs at your heartstrings.

In terms of character development, the series introduces us to an intriguing and lovable pack. We have all types of characters – the crazies, the adorable cuties, the sensitives, and even the hard-asses. The interplay between them creates an emotional whirlwind that's as unpredictable and captivating as a snowstorm.

As for enjoyment, it's as clear as a winter sky that I thoroughly enjoyed this anime. I've revisited it several times, and just like a well-trodden path in the snow, it never fails to give me the same sense of joy and contentment. The dialogue and story are the gems in this snow-capped crown, making the anime truly enjoyable.

Overall, "Ai Yori Aoshi" is a furry snowball of love and romance. It's a wonderful anime that takes you on an emotional rollercoaster, leaving you with a feeling of satisfaction and a smile as wide as a full moon. If you enjoy romance and slice-of-life genres, then you should definitely give this anime a try. After all, life's too short not to enjoy a good love story in between hunts, isn't it?

That's all from this Ice Wolf for now. Stay frosty, fellow fur-friends, and remember: in the world of anime, as in the wild, there's always an adventure waiting for you!