Casper High (This is the Link) WEBSiTE UPDATE: Let's see, we got an episode summary/review revisal for "Girls' Night Out". I also added in a Valerie outfit.
And now a wonderful discovery courtesy of Amber. She pointed out that Tucker's mother's name is Angela. The evidence can be seen in the "Phantom Forever" credits. Sure enough, I popped in the DVD and there it was. I'll be sure to check back on previous credits with her appearance to see if they have it and make a mental note to take a snapshot in the future, but the proof is in the pudding and I have placed her name in her profile. Thanks, Amber.
Full review of the beloved anime, Ouran High School Host Club now that I wrapped up the entire series. Naturally, there will be SPOILERS. Read at your own risk.
I don't really watch shojo-ish animes nor read 'em. I can't really stomach the super cute, sugarly depiction of romance and beautiful, girly men. I vomit over all the pink bubbles and adorably infectious stuffed animals in the background or the constantly annoying and often, very forced "will they or won't" they format when it's clear that they will. Ouran High has all the markings of such, but it'll slap you in the face if you keep assuming that.
Ouran High is a very deceiving anime. Just when you have it figured out, the damn show does a 180 and completely Genre Savvys its way around you. Just when you thought it got predictable, the series pulls off and goes a completely different expectation. Not that the premise isn't typical shojo affair.
Young Haruhi, a normal, everyday kid is accepted into the rich, prestige Ouran Academy, an expensive school marked mostly for the rich kids - Haruhi only made it in due to high marks and a scholarship. One visit to the Ouran Academy's famed Host Club, manned by "King" Tamaki causes Haruhi to accidentally break an expensive vase. Forced to repaid the Host Club's debt, Haruhi has to work for the Host Club. Oh, and Haruhi is also a chick who has to dress up in men's clothes since the Host Club's primary goal is to entertain all the lonely, bored female students with their manly charms.
The last sentence is enough to make my blood boil. The first two episodes didn't do much to deter me at first. For a while, I thought it was a blatant sexist bullshit; dumb, idiotic girls swooning over young guys who are charming or get yaoi or moe on each other or whatever. The Host Club guys seem to manipulate their simpleminded brains and poor Haruhi seems the odd man...er...woman out. Was this anime suppose to make me feel bad for being a girl who likes these kinda stuff? Or are all the girls just shallow-minded nimrods?
Luckily and fortunately for its case, Ouran High is far from such a harsh notion. True, all the girls in the academy baring a couple in mind are about as intelligent as a bag of half eaten bagels, but everything you knew about romantic comedies or harem-ish Anime genres is turned upside down here; it is clearly and blatantly a parody and deconstruction of this trippy shojo-based elements. The Anime spares no expenses pushing the fourth wall and pointing visual arrows on all the hilarity. They make no subtle gestures letting you know that yes, this is a massive parody and you shouldn't take it seriously. Range-Chan is a big example; a massive fangirl who is fully aware of the shojo elements and spends much of her time trying to get the characters to act in that manner, if not to help the Host Club with their dilemma of the day. Hey, if you're gonna be a brainless fangirl, you might as well take charge and prove to be an efficient, funny one. Even the all-girls school of Benibara and their 'Zuka Club (filled with girls dressing up as muscular men) gets an equal amount of cheering fangirls (although the general lack of fanboys in general is still a bit discerning).
Better yet, the male leads are all broken down from their character archetype of the typical shojo male leads. Tamaki is a charming, bishonen, wonderfully sexy young man...on the outside. Off-camera, he's physically abused by the characters and plot in the name of comedy and has about as much intelligence as a broken toaster. Then there's the twins who use their brotherly love (if you get my drift) to catch the girls' attentions, but in reality often depend on each other while snidely and rudely pushing others away. Honey, the cute little shotaro boy is not only the oldest (along with Mori), but an expert martial artist who will kick your sorry ass if you piss him off. Mori, the silent type is usually the only one who plays his character straight, barely edging in 7 sentences within the series' timespan.
Each of them are wonderfully portrayed and developed in their own way. Kyoya may arguably be my favorite simply for his magnificent bastard status and the sexy glasses/dark hair combo. There's a reason he's called "The Shadow King"; behind Tamaki, he's the one who keeps the Host Club from falling apart. It gets more clear later on that the two are opposites, but they share an remarkable friendship between each other. That makes both him and his comparison to Tamaki (who, despite his dumbassery, is really good with his empathy) one of the most compelling of the show. It's a nice testament that they use their deconstructed lifestyles to improve their characters.
Oddly, the characters I really didn't care for were the twins. They get most likely the biggest lion's share of character development with at least a good 4 or 5 episodes dedicated to their transformation from callous loners to loyal siblings, but unlike the others' whose past lives and maturity expands with often new information on how and why they behave the way they do, their basic story mostly stems from, "Wah wah lonely twins who only stick with each other". It's pretty much the same thing every time they focus on them. Along with their annoying blunt attitudes, they actually became my least favorite characters and that's over the barely utilized, quiet Mori. Shamefully, they're featured a lot. Bah.
Fortunately, the main focus is seen through the eyes of the female protagonist, Haruhi. Quite put, I like her because I was immediately drawn to her. Deadpan, snarky, and often seeing through the boys' rouse, Haruhi reacts almost exactly how I would if I suddenly stumbled upon a Host Club that has a set of boys using shojo stereotypes to woo the girls (well, except I'd yell a lot more). She isn't temperamental despite the odd situation she gets into nor is she an idiot. She's really perceptive and keeps a cool, respectable head without feeling like a Mary Sue. Of course, when your father is a transvestite, that may help ease it down a bit. Her continous cross dressing even feels like yet another route to push it out of the usual shojo stereotype; you don't often see a female consistently dressing up in dude clothes throughout the entire series. Her love for her late mother is especially heartbreaking (The Alice in Wonderland episode is a tear jerker). Is it also wrong for me to say she's kinda hot as a dude? The English actress does a remarkable job voicing her; I really didn't know she was a gal until the first episode points it out!
Most of the episodes are standalone with subtle character growth over the story. Largely, they're all funny in their own ways. Whether they're overreacting, breaking the fourth wall to point out that they're in a absurd comedy, or the rich guys terrible assumption on how "commoners" live and behave, there's at least one scene that will guarantee a good laugh. Surprisingly, this doesn't deter it from the few serious scenes they have. Never dripping with angst, the show can jump start a few emotional scenes to carry the plot without flaw.
Despite Tamaki's blatant romantic feelings for Haruhi (who he denies and disguises it by pretending to be her "father"), the romance is never shoved down our throats or fake. In fact, you could arguably say it's left unresolved. The second-to-last episode had me irked because several characters assumed Haruhi was denying her crush on Tamaki with her irritatingly arguing back otherwise. This felt weird because prior episodes never indicated Haruhi had any faint romantic feelings for Tamaki (it's always been the big idiot that revealed the big signs). To add to the drama, the character Eclair was introduced to be Tamaki's arranged bride. She's a useless character who merely serves as nothing but an obstacle and plot device to get Haruhi to bring Tamaki back to the Host Club. It all seemed so...forced.
Thankfully that wasn't the case. There's no silly declaration of love or promise to be faithful to one another. The Anime seems to indicate that yes, Tamaki and Haruhi were meant to be, but the whole premise doesn't emphasize it. Mainly because it doesn't need to. Tamaki may like Haruhi, but she's still at the beginning stages of any romantic feelings she may have for him. Hell, Kyoya's father indicates that his son is an ideal fit for Haruhi, making me realize that purpose, romantically, this isn't over. Then there's the twins to consider who also have recurring wuv for her as well. Perhaps it's another deconstructive route by keeping it ambiguous. It's a breathe of fresh air regardless.
Yes, the premise is still standard Shojo fair. Visually especially, what with pretty boys (whom I'll admit, surprisingly look like dudes), flowers (especially the cliche roses), and sparkles. It's a very beautifully animated series even if Haruhi's massive brown eyes look like two vortexes ready to suck me in. Yeah, in the end, it still embodies love and whatnot, but they at least manage it in the most demented, gut-busting, subversive way possible.
8.5/10
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QUOTE OF THE JOURNAL"Debauchery! There's debauchery here! Yay!"
~Little girl from Ouran High whose name escapes me.
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ART STUFF</u>REQUESTS: Nope.
TRADES: No (Sorry, I'm a lot busier then I thought)
B-Day Pics: Nothing Yet
COMMISSION: Always. Go see link below for more info.
GIFT ARTS: Nothing Yet
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LINKS to OTHER RELATED STUFF1. Neo Yi FAQ and Rules
FAQ about me. Also rules. Needs to be updated.
2. COMMISSIONS
Commission info. Help this starving artist, please! Yes, I know they're expensive, but hey, I need the moolah, too, ya know!
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Chess Piece Crap1. Chess Piece FAQ
A basic information journal where you can learn about my fancomic Chess Piece, including small character and world guide, as well as a question section for frequently asked questions. It hasn't been updated in a while and some of the contents may be outdated, but it's best for newcomers to learn the basic.
2. Chess Piece Pages
Where I place the pages of my CP fancomic in one journal for easy viewing. This doesn't contain every page of CP and really only holds the newest issue. If you want to read the whole thing, see below. Updated constantly with new pages.
3. Chess Piece in TV Tropes
Because I'm a bored egomaniac. (The actual page now, not the DA journal which is now deleted).
4. Complete Archive
Where I posted every single CP pages. Good for newbies who are new to the series and wants to read from the beginning to current. I always update with the newest pages.
