Ai no Kusabi (2012)

Ai no Kusabi (2012) is the newest adaptation of a light novel of the same name published in 1986-1987. It’s first adaptation was airing in 1992-1994 and it had 2 OVA’s. This adaptation consisted of 4 OVA’s so double the fun, right? Well, yes and no, unless you call unfinished work fun. In that case it’s yes and yes.

Story: 9/10
It’s set in a fictional world with mostly men because of some genetic issues. The society is divided into castes where elites are at the top and mongrels at the bottom. The story revolves around an elite and a mongrel but don’t get the wrong idea, ... this isn’t a Romeo and Juliet spin off.
Iason Mink, an elite of the highest degree, encounters Rikki, a mongrel, in slums. He finds him interesting so after some events, takes him in as his… well… pet (read: sex toy). After 3 years of captivity, Riki’s rather restless and keeps making Iason trouble. That’s where the first OVA starts. Riki unsuccessfully tries to escape and Iason, pressed on by other elites decides to free him for a year, hoping he would come back on his own.
Don’t expect any sort of cheesy romance without point or the usual falling in love after being raped thing. The story follows Riki as he tries to fit back in into slums and regain his past reputation. However, stuff don’t go as easily since everyone keeps asking him where he was for the past 3 years and his former lover is trying to get back together with him at all cost. It all gets even more complicated when Iason decides that Riki had enough freedom and tries to get him back.
The only complaint I have about the story is, that it’s unfinished.

Art: 10/10
Truly amazing, one of the best things about the anime. It shows that it was done recently. Character designs are also very interesting, even of the side characters.

Sound: 10/10
Incredible opening and ending, both fit perfectly to the anime. VA’s are very good and I don’t think they could have picked better for those characters.

Characters: 9/10
Characters are about the most interesting part of the story. Riki is strong, prideful and arrogant. His nature is part of his inner struggle to figure out his feelings towards Iason. He hates him for imprisoning him and treating him like a toy. There’s even a moment when he spaces out obviously in fear from his memories after seeing him after a long time. At the same time it’s clearly shown by his actions that he is attracted by Iason ever since they met but he isn’t and doesn’t want to be aware of that.
Iason, on the other hand, is completely aware of his feelings for Riki but it never happened to him before so he’s confused by himself.
Other characters have a role in the story. We have Gai, Riki’s former lover who tries to make Riki open up and return to him, Kirie a boy who wants to become a pet and enjoy life full of money, Katze mysterious guy working in black market who was once Iason’s servant so he keeps in touch with him and the rest of Riki’s former gang.

Enjoyment: 9/10 (AKA yaoi scenes)
This is a true gem in the yaoi world. I don’t think I’ve seen a yaoi that would do them better than this. They didn’t feel forced, they weren’t randomly thrown to please fans and it wasn’t the typical girly, unexperienced and shy uke with the perverted and experienced seme. They were both perverted and at some points Riki seemed more experienced than Iason. Censorship is there but it doesn’t feel awkward and it never made me want to hit my fist through the screen unlike many other yaoi.

Overall: 9.5/10 (rounded to 9 because of no ending)
If you are bored with stupid and annoying romance in usual shounen ai like me. Then this anime is exactly for you.

I think this Ai No Kusabi could never compare to the original because the first is always the best plain and simple. However if you were confused about the story in the original this reboot tells some back story. Unfortunately it never ended the art is the same except the city,sound is beautiful and characters are same as always.

I'll be blunt: if you have already watched the 1992-1994 Ai no Kusabi, listen to me, don't waste your time watching this.

Of course it's -almost- the same story with absolutely the same characters, but this rendition is not as intense as the old one. It doesn't add anything, possibly it waters down the story and the tension.
Note that the story in these four OVA is not complete. It was in the two OVA old version.

I like the concept of Ai no Kusabi, the plot, the set, the characters, and I'd like to watch a very extended and complete version of it, but I think I ... gained nothing from watching this.

Remake of the anime "Ai no kusabi" first aired in 1992.
Story: 6/10
These ova show just half of the story, but when you confront it with the first version is easier to follow the plot.
Something changed in the story, anything really important, but is usually something that annoies me , the author chose what happened, then why in the animated version should it change?
Art: 10/10
Yessss, this is quite the thing, the art is awesome, I really liked it. But that's it.
I watched a more glamour version of Ai no Kusabi. But damn, that was pretty sexy xD
Sound: 8
Nice, I liked voice actors' job, and the ... soudtrack was nice, but... Pretty out of theme, I mean, some tracks destroyed the atmosphere...
Character; 9/10
Character were canon, no strange reactions or something out, they were phisically identic to the old version but anatomically more correct and of course more handsome. I liked this version's outfit the most, but sincerelly, the relationships between the characters weren't clear at all. You don't really understand how deep are the feelings between Riki and Iason, or how Gai really feels towards Riki.
Enjoyement:9/10
The plot does take you and the drawings are gorgeous. Not ten on ten Because it was nice but not a masterpiece, sorry.
Overall:8/10
I don't understand those who said that this remake was trash, personally I liked '92 version the most, but you have to recognize that the art is actually good and, if you don't compare it with first version this is a good anime.
Not a masterpiece, doesn't make you go berserk for its magnificent storyline, but it's a good one.

Really a superb piece of work... if only they would continue it. Sadly, at only four episodes, this will leave you wanting and in which I case I highly recommend seeking out the original two-part OAV, which although at a much faster story pace, will grant a resolution to the story.

Also recommend the original for a more passionate, intense, and graphic bit of Yaoi anime.

However, on it's own there is an incredible world to delve into and the artwork is amazing for both characters and backdrops. For anyone who is tired of the mundane stories of classmates and businessmen that most yaoi and BL stories ... feature this is not something you should pass up!

I like both this remake and the original, and here is why.

The characters, unlike a lot of yaoi aren't your generic bishounen. They have substance without being overly flamboyant or flashy, which I like a lot. Iason's cool demeaner and Riki's feisty personality are good compliments to each other without being too plain or generic.

The artwork is very nice, this is one of the reasons I liked this one better then the first. Everything is very smooth and crisp and nice to look at. They obviously put a lot of work into the graphics. Now, I know many are disappointed at the lack of ... sex scenes, but the teases we are given are still pretty nice.

As for the story, this I also enjoyed, its not too stupid or cheesy like a lot of yaoi works. Its a dark setting in a world were the mongrels are the lowest of the heap and prejudice is a main theme, and even while its a theme that's done to death some of us don't really get tired of it! I like the story.

Sadly there are four ovas and they did not and will not complete any further. :/

Five words: A complete waste of time.

If you're into yaoi like I shamelessly am, you've probably heard of Ai no Kusabi or even watched the original. Yes, Ai no Kusabi (2012) is a remastered version of an adaptation which was released in 1992. When the words "remastered" or "rebooted" are thrown into the mix, one might expect that this new version would either tell the story better, or pair the same story with better art. Due to the fact that the entire duration of both adaptations are relatively the same, with this one being four 24-minute episodes and the original being two hour-long episodes, ... I honestly didn't think the story would be altered that much. Unfortunately, I was crushed to learn that the story I fell in love with was heavily mutilated.

The reason why I loved the original so much was because it took a different route most R18+ yaoi anime seem to take, one where it focuses more on developing a start-to-finish plot rather than simply adding in spicy sex scenes when things get slow. It was literally an anime where I could say, "I only watch this for the plot ;)" and ACTUALLY mean it. In this new version, only half of the plot is delivered, meaning that those who haven't read the light novel or seen the original might be confused about what the hell is happening in this fictional universe. Also, remember that intense, tragic ending that was shown in the original and gave closure to the story? It's nowhere to be found. Not only that, but the plot elements that WERE saved from the cut and weren't replaced with sex scenes were placed completely out of order as well. Character backstories are shown in the final episode, when they should have been shown in the first episode, etc.

This new plot that we're given just seems to be all over the place and horribly configured. I almost see it as an insult to the original anime, because what Ai no Kusabi (2012) does is that it completely erases everything that made the story stand out from other animated yaoi and seems to only serve as a thirst trap for fans who watch these types of shows for the sole purpose of the more intimate scenes. There's no longer anything special to be appreciated about this anime, making it easy for it to blend in with all the other yaoi out there.

The only redeeming quality this anime seems to have is its art style. Having been made 20 years after the original's release, the art does a great job modernizing the overall look of the characters and scenery. I don't want to say that this version necessarily has BETTER art compared to the original - because there's no denying that they were released during two different eras of animation styles - but it was definitely not an eyesore to say the least. Unfortunately, the positive change in art does not overpower the negative warping of the story.

In general, watching this anime was a huge let down. The whole story was laid out perfectly once before, so having it drastically changed in the way that it was makes me feel like I was robbed. If you're the type of yaoi watcher who cares more for plot rather than intimacy, I would strongly suggest using these two hours to watch the original instead. However, if you're not too keen on seeing a story develop and only want to see the intimacy part, then this one might be perfect for you. When compared to other 2-4 episode yaoi anime out there instead of comparing it only to the original, I definitely will agree that this is one of the better ones.

Well, I didn't expect to find myself here. I'm not a big yaoi fangirl, even though I have found myself exploring the genre of the late. When this was recommended to me, I was expecting something very smutty, but instead I was met with a lot more deep, introspective character and plot than I expected. Here's my opinion as a non-fujioshi and someone who hasn't see the original version of this anime.

To begin with, I expected there to be no character at all. Especially since I had been watching some clips on Youtube, I expected it to be entirely fluff or graphic smut. Instead, ... I found it to be tale of depravity and the twisted obsession of a high ranking member of society with a 'lowly slum mongrel'. It is by no means sweet or heartfelt. Instead, it is vile and corrupt and nothing about it is pure or normal in any way. Yet, the characters remain human and the plot remains realistic. I was really disappointed when this ended early, which is the only real reason that it's not rated a ten. I really wanted more of this.

As for the art, it's some of the most beautiful art I've ever seen in my entire life. It's clean and all the characters are well done and easy on the eyes. (Riki, oh my god... <3) In addition, the details evident in the animation of the bodies, sweat, drapery/clothing, and technology of the era is all so beautiful that I had to rewind a few times because I was too busy paying attention to all of that instead of the storyline. Honestly gorgeous.

The sound was also very good. I loved the OP and closing, both of which had a sordid feel to them. The voice actors did an amazing job, portraying their characters with such an accuracy I had trouble believing they weren't real. The background music instilled this sense of hopelessness and pain for Riki in the heart of the watcher.

Unlike I expected, the characters... actually had character? Unlike the other (very few) yaoi I have seen, the characters are not just stereotypes or secretly entirely masochistic kittens who fall to submissiveness immediately. Riki is strong and unapologetic, no matter how he is tortured. While Iason is in reality a terrible person, his unfeelingness is also in line with the plot. Instead of falling head over heels immediately for Riki like most 'stoic' seme in yaoi do, he enjoys Riki's torment in line with his character and the era he lives in. All the characters are so realistic and human that it's honestly surprising how well they're written.

Overall, I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would. Despite all these compliments I'm giving this series, I have to say that this is not everyone's cup of tea. It's graphic, hopeless, and disturbing. It's humane and honest and messed up. If you can't handle dark material, this definitely not a good fit for you. On the other hand, as someone who enjoys dark subject material, I can safely say this was an outstanding show and that I will definitely be watching the original and reading the light novel.

I would recommend this if you: like yaoi, want darker yaoi than usual, want plot-heavy yaoi, enjoy a slave-master dynamic, enjoy a snappy bottom, like dystopias

I would NOT recommend this if you: like the traditional seme-uke relationship, like submissive ukes, like romantic/loving semes, can't stomach rape/sexual assault/kidnapping/non-consent in general, can't handle watching people get tortured (especially sexually/physically)

Have a great day everyone!

Okay so i gave this a fair because I was disappointed that there are only four episodes!!! There needs to be more! I'm not going to give any spoilers to the show but.. I'm just disappointed because they DEFINITELY leave you hanging and wanting more, when they leave you with soo many questions. Which is why i gave this a fair.
I REALLY HOPE they continue the story to 13 episodes like they were originally, because the story has great potential and I enjoyed it, so fingers crossed! But to people who watch this, I really liked this anime, so as long as you're into ... yaoi, you will really like this one!! It does have some kind've intense scenes (they don''t show anything) that I personally skipped because it was too much, but I still really liked this anime and how different it is compared to the usual romance story. The story overall is good,with great artwork and quality, but it can definitely use more episodes for more character development, backstory, and an overall finished plot line, but they are supposed to be 13 episodes and there is definitely room to make them! So yea hopefully they follow through with making more! Hope this helps :)

I had assumed that I was watching the original 1992 version instead. However, that was no the case when I realised the series I was watching had 4 episodes. Upon reading the reviews of the 1992 version of Ai No Kusabi, I was quite intrigued with the prospects of a raw and very dark romance with strong themes. However what I received with the 2012 version was just confusion. I had no idea what was happening at all times of the show. I have ADHD and found it really hard to focus as the scenes and the moods kept changing so rapidly. AT most, I ... could only comprehend the erotica scenes as they didnt involve any plot details LMAO WTF. Generally, I don't recommend the 2012 adaptation if you have a very short attention span and if you are not the type of person to hyper-fixate on details and over0-analyse plot devices. I did not enjoy this.

This is mostly filling in the gaps the original 1992 one had. I strongly recommend binge watching the original and then this one. The only improvement we have in this one is the art and coloring in general, i also like Riki`s image in this one more, but Iason`s in the 1992 one.
It feels less lewd and less emotional in general compared to the 1992 one as well.
The ending is crap, basically its non-existent. Where as the original had such a strong ending. You can enjoy the original without watching this one but you cant enjoy this one without watching the original.

This yaoi anime shows edging as a form of sexual torture, and I feel that accurately describes the experience of watching the 2012 OVA. The design of the sci-fi world is wonderful, the characters look great - attractive and expressive (I personally could not take my eyes off Riki), and --

-- hold up, where's the rest of it?

These four episodes totally leave you hanging. One can assume this series got cut short, because none of the storylines are resolved. You're teased with all this beauty and sexiness and possible relationship conflicts but none ever come to fruition. It is a fundamentally unsatisfying experience. Son, I ... am disappoint.

To start, I have not watched many anime of this type in a long while. It has been awhile since I have indulged myself and enjoyed a "yaoi" such as this, mainly because the ones I have seen have been poor. Going into this I had no clue what to expect other than the characters looking hot. The OVA is very short with only 4 episodes, however it manages to deliver an enjoyable experience. I found myself giggling and very much enjoying many of the sensual scenes. The character design is great and super sexy. The animation looked really good and the scenes were pretty ... cute. I like the bro/muscular style of the characters. The overall story was interesting with an interesting setting. I love the duality of the characters, and I feel it really highlights a reality of "gay" men. I can relate to the cast in that aspect where as I am very much a bro, but I am also very feminine at the same time, so that was cool to see in the cast. This stands out to me as a great "yaoi" style anime, not like others I have seen. I would recommend anyone watch Ai no Kusabi for its simplicity and cuteness with masculine flair.

This anime is a remake of the original 1992 "Ai No Kusabi" anime. I thought the 2012 remake was literally straight up garbage. It looked like it was rushed and not enought attention was put into it with denial and what not it's not easy to say that as it is to do. This anime also known as the remake was also poorly put together. I thought this remake of the original that took twenty years to piece together would have been longer. But, it definitely was not. The first anime and not the remake is the one that I decided to add much more ... details in then the last one.