Re: Anime like "Ai Yori Aoshi?"

On Wed, 19 Nov 2003 04:13:41 GMT, "Christopher Fiore"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>"Ai Yori Aoshi" is one of my favorite anime that I've seen this year. When
>it deals with Aoi, Kaoru, and their relationship, it's incredibly sweet and
>heartwarming.  There more anime romances than I can count-- can anyone
>recomend any that are similarly relationship-driven, with the same kind of
>"warm and fuzzy" charm?

        I agree with Fruits Basket (available in North America through
Funimation), and would also suggest Haibane Renmei (Pioneer/Geneon has released
the first two of four DVDs), as well as Boys Be.  They all have a similar "warm
and fuzzy" charm to them, without relying too much on the anime character
stereotypes, although Boys Be (the weakest of the three) is the only one that
really deals in romance.

        Although Ai Yori Aoshi ~ Enishi is currently being produced, I'm
hesitant to recommend that, after seeing the first five episodes of it.


Season


One


Spoilers


        In the first season, you watched the two lead characters, Aoi and Kaoru,
overcome the various obstacles which would prevent their staying together.  You
also got an introduction to the other women in the series, learned their back
stories, and wondered how Kaoru would handle it and if he'd stay true to Aoi.

        In the second season, Aoi and Kaoru don't have any obstacles to
overcome, you already know the other women in the series, and you know that they
pose no threat to the overall relationship.  And each episode so far has done
nothing to change this.  It's possible that the series is just re-introducing
everybody for those just joining the series, but if that's the case, it would've
been nice if they could at least do some foreshadowing for those who aren't new
to things.  Hopefully they'll get out of neutral soon, or else I'll be ignoring
most of this series, instead of getting the full season like I did with the
first.