xxxHOLiC Rou

10 years after the events of xxxHOLiC Shunmuki, a melancholic Kimihiro Watanuki has taken over the shop formerly run by the mysterious Yuuko due to a promise he made to her. His companions Maru, Moro, and Mokona live together with him in relative contentment, and some familiar faces arrive every now and then: former rival turned-steadfast friend Shizuka Doumeki, and the former psychic prodigy Kohane Tsuyuri. While Kohane studies folklore under Doumeki at university, they encounter a case that is perfect for the master of the shop.

Eventually, Watanuki receives a visit from Doumeki's grandfather, Haruka. He requests that Watanuki investigates his grandson's dreams. While inside the dream world, he discovers how their past adventures played out from Doumeki's perspective of view, leading Watanuki to discover truths from 10 years ago and secrets about the ties that bind their friendship.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Edit
Background

No background information has been added to this title. Help improve our database by adding background information here.

Preview Manga
Manga Store

Edit
Related Anime

Adaptation:	xxxHOLiC
Prequel:	xxxHOLiC Shunmuki

More characters
Characters & Voice Actors

Ichihara, Yuuko

Main

Ohara, Sayaka
Japanese

Watanuki, Kimihiro

Main

Fukuyama, Jun
Japanese

Doumeki, Shizuka

Main

Nakai, Kazuya
Japanese

Tsuyuri, Kohane

Main

Hidaka, Rina
Japanese

Modoki, Mokona

Supporting

Kikuchi, Mika
Japanese

Kunogi, Himawari

Supporting

Itou, Shizuka
Japanese

Maru

Supporting

Kojima, Kazuko
Japanese

Doumeki, Haruka

Supporting

Nakai, Kazuya
Japanese

Moro

Supporting

Mochizuki, Hisayo
Japanese

More staff
Staff

Mizushima, Tsutomu

Director, Episode Director, Storyboard

Wakabayashi, Kazuhiro

Sound Director

Suga, Shikao

Theme Song Performance

CLAMP

Original Creator

Edit Opening Theme

"Adayume" by Shikao Suga (ep 2)

Edit Ending Theme

#1: "Kaza Nagi" by Shikao Suga (ep 1)
#2: "Gomen ne" by Tiara (ep 2)

More reviewsReviews

May 5, 2010

2 of 2 episodes seen

Overall Rating: 8

8thSin (All reviews)

113 people found this review helpful

OVA "xxxHOLiC Rou" is set 10 years after Watanuki's part-timer years in the anime series.

The story begins with Ghibli-evil-assimilation-like disappearance of Yuuko, whether a dream or reminiscence, we are not certain. Watanuki makes a promise that he will wait for her return, and that he believes dream will come true as long as he believes in it. Watanuki was the new master at the 'shop' when he opens his eyes. No longer a jumpy and clumsy high school kid, Watanuki has an air of authority and confidence. However, there's the same care-free atmosphere in the 'shop' with Maru, Moro, and Mokona running around the house, and his role as the cook has not changed. Doumeki is now an assistant professor at nearby university, but runs errands and goes on missions on behalf of the 'shop' (like Watanuki in his high school days), but still shows Watanuki no respect. From what I've read in Japanese blogs, the setting is similar to manga, except more time has passed. The story in "xxxHOLiC Rou" is about a request for a mission brought by Doumeki to find a hidden relic in an old mansion.

Animation has not improved much from the previous OVA, but character proportions are much more realistic compared to "Kei", and much easier on my eyes. Music was very nice, and effectively used to create the eerie and suspenseful mood in certain scenes. Voice acting, once again, is very well done. Although the technical aspects of this OVA definitely lacked the wow-factor, it was incredibly well-directed. The pace and the setting was clearly established in about 10 minutes, and the plot flowed wonderfully to the very end. A number of poignant moments between Watanuki and Doumeki are abruptly interrupted by Mokona or Maru/Moko, which carries the thought to the ending, which was an 'interpret-by-yourself' conclusion. The OVA had a true Japanese cinema feel with excellent use of silence and pauses, as well as effective utilization of camera footage taken by Doumeki and viewing by Watanuki to advance the story.

I have not been following the manga series, but the setting of "xxxHOLiC Rou" was very easy to follow (although it raises a lot of questions to Yuuko's disappearance and what happened in the last 10 years). The mission this time is an unremarkable one, but it's themed around Yuuko's return, and a showcase of 'how the ship is ran' by Watanuki's as the 'shop' master. Once again, there is a lot of Japanese mythical references that were very interesting if you're into that stuff. The characters weren't given much space for development in the actual show, but it is rather a display of how the characters had developed in the 10 years without Yuuko. Character depiction was done exceptionally well as a half-feature-length-OVA.

Unlike the previous disappointing OVA "Shunmuki", "xxxHOLiC Rou" is nearly a flawless episode that uses the 40-minute run time very efficiently and a story well told. It doesn't necessarily bring a closure to the "xxxHOLiC" series or the "Rou" story arc, but I personally think it would serve as an excellent precursor and intro for another season of "xxxHOLiC" series since it really stirred my curiosity to events transpired in 10 years, and made me crave for more.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The second OVA episode is titled 'Adayume' (Empty Dream). This time, the mission is brought in Watanuki's dream by Doumeki's grandfather Haruka, who appeared in 'xxxHOLiC Shunmuki' OVA. The premise is still the same as the previous episode, most of the play duration takes place in the dream that Haruka wants Watanuki to change, and follows a series of past events from Doumeki's perspective. Once again, it's pretty heavy on folklore with references to Baku, the dream eater, and Houjou Masako, who is said to have purchased her sister's dream to become the shogun's wife (her sister could not interpret the dream).

The second episode felt a bit lacking, both in length and depth to the story, but it has some nostalgia value in revisiting past events. There is also an upcoming conflict foreshadowed by Yuuko, so perhaps there will be more episodes. 'Adayume' have only added more questions what happened in 10 years' time. It'll be interesting to see how everything will be summed up.

Helpful

permalink | report

Nov 14, 2010

2 of 2 episodes seen

Overall Rating: 8

kingdomclow (All reviews)

8 people found this review helpful

So my format I set this out in is that if I skip a line, that means its a new paragraph. If I have a new line, its the same topic; just a different point.

and.....I might include spoilers without me knowing it so.....As a precaution, I'll apologise now.

So the story takes place 10 years after yuko's 'death' or 'disappearance' and it show how much the characters have changed. Hiwamari is married, doumeki is a professor and kohane is a student in the same university.This setting is the same as the manga yet the story is well, a side story since there isn't anything like this read more

permalink | report

Jul 6, 2018

2 of 2 episodes seen

Overall Rating: 9

0Unknown0 (All reviews)

1 people found this review helpful

Alright I'm back with another review with this anime again. This OVA is even better than xxxHOLic, xxxHOLic Kei, xxxHOLic movie, and xxxHOLic shunmuki ( a bit good but not better than Rou). Major spoiler!!! You have been warned!!

Story (9/10): Okay so the story is pretty much rushed BUT it's awesome. The story took place 10 years later and I actually want to know what happened and I hope it show in the manga because I'll be reading it soon. I was really confused to as what happened to Yuuko when she says something about her already being dead and her disappearance. After her read more

permalink | report

Jul 27, 2010

1 of 2 episodes seen

Overall Rating: 10

vongolaxsora (All reviews)

31 people found this review helpful

Preliminary

xxxholic Rou
this sequel show us what happens after yuuko disappear for some unknown reason, and also give us a new prospective of how things are now that she is gone and watanuki who takes over the shop, as he seems more matured and focused on what he does this anime in particular is without a doubt a masterpiece which give us a piece of what one should pay for what one wants and also show that if u believe in that illusion of yours it may be able to come true and also that "there are no such things as coincidence in this read more

permalink | report

Recommendations

More news
Recent News

Second OVA of xxxHOLiC Rou Announced

The second OVA of xxxHOLiC Rou was announced in the short anime DVD distributed to those who enrolled in Kodansha's special campaign. The OVA will be released i...read more

Aug 28, 2010 9:07 AM by dtshyk | Discuss (47 comments)

New OVA of xxxHOLiC Announced

According to the official website, a new OVA of "xxxHOLiC" was announced. It will be bundled with the volume 16 of the manga. Director Mizushima Tsutomu an...read more

Jun 23, 2009 6:25 AM by dtshyk | Discuss (88 comments)

More discussions
Recent Forum Discussion

	Poll: xxxHOLiC Rou Episode 2 Discussion ( 1 2 ) tsubasalover - Mar 11, 2011	85 replies	by A_At »» Aug 21, 7:21 AM
	Did the Anime adapt all the manga? StufedAnmalQueen - Aug 10	0 replies	by StufedAnmalQueen »» Aug 10, 10:04 PM

xxxHOLiC Rou

Alternative Titles

Information

Statistics

Edit
Synopsis

Edit
Background

Preview Manga
Manga Store

Edit
Related Anime

More characters
Characters & Voice Actors

More staff
Staff

Edit Opening Theme

Edit Ending Theme

More reviewsReviews

Recommendations

More news
Recent News

More discussions
Recent Forum Discussion

More featured articles
Recent Featured Articles

MoreTop Anime

MoreTop Airing Anime

MoreMost Popular Characters

xxxHOLiC Rou

Alternative Titles

Information

Statistics

EditSynopsis

EditBackground

Preview MangaManga Store

EditRelated Anime

More charactersCharacters & Voice Actors

More staff Staff

Edit Opening Theme

Edit Ending Theme

More reviewsReviews

Recommendations

More newsRecent News

More discussionsRecent Forum Discussion

More featured articlesRecent Featured Articles

MoreTop Anime

MoreTop Airing Anime

MoreMost Popular Characters

Edit
Synopsis

Edit
Background

Preview Manga
Manga Store

Edit
Related Anime

More characters
Characters & Voice Actors

More staff
Staff

More news
Recent News

More discussions
Recent Forum Discussion

More featured articles
Recent Featured Articles