Anime: Ai yori Aoshi: Enishi

What is this? What happened to Ai Yori Aoshi?

When describing this show thoughts like boring, lame, long, annoying, and stupid come to mind. This series really has nothing going for it. Nothing. I honestly was looking forward to Enishi after Ai Yori Aoshi finished, because of the engrossing end, but after enshi I was greatly dissappointed.

First of ~Enishi~ never gets rid of the things I found annoying and stupid about the first series. Tina is still jumping all over the screen grabbing tits, Taeko is still a clumsy and stupid maid, Chiko still has an annoying tan line and no other special features besides being a loli with a consantly imprinted smile, and Mayu still fails at everything she does while remaining biggest spoiled brat in existance.

Not only does ~Enishi~ keep these stupid traits that I managed to ignore in the first Ai Yori Aoshi only thanks to the relationship between Aoi and Koaru; ~Enishi~ focused on them, FOCUSED. What were the idiot creators thinking. Why the fuck (pardon the cursing) would I want to know about Chika and her friends who I care nothing about. She takes up two, TWO, episodes in ~Enishi~ about trivial parts of her life. One episode was just about her two friends visiting. Literally the entire thing was about the visit, and Chika worrying about her friends seeing Kaoru. The other episode was about a swimming competition. Yeah thats right a swimming competition. What a brillant way to add romance to an anime about two lover suffering the burden of not being able to expose there love for each other publicly. *sigh*

Onto the review (oh dear):

Animation/Sound

The Animation was nothing special. Average as can get if not below average. I saw still frames quite a bit. Unless it was a romantic seen between Kaoru and Aoi the animation sucked. There were no amazing shadows, no breath taking color schemes. Just mediocre composition and thats about it. Aoi was great though.

The sound also had some good moments during the romantic scenes, but there were so damn few of them. The opening sucked, so did the outro. I could name a hundred shows with better op/ed before thinking of Ai Yori Aoshi ~Enishi~. Nothing horrible that made me scream either. I still feel I am being lenient on the scoring though.

Story/Character

What can I say... There was no story. Wait, there were two episodes at the end that could've replaced some shit in the middle, so I guess that bumps the score up to two instead of one. But even the two episodes in the end never touched on anything serious, and guess what? They concentrated such a brillant character too. Tina. (sarcasm)

The fact of the matter is that nothing was really resolved in Enishi that was left untouched in Ai Yori Aoshi. Aoi and Kaoru are still living in a secret engagment relationship, and all the other girls are still boring. I honestly expected a lot from Mayu but she disappointed me in the first Ai Yori Aoshi, and she didn't fail to do so in ~Enishi~. I guess it was better to leave a interesting potentially good character like Mayu and go onto a worthless character like Chika. Why not? She is obviously the ideal choice to create a in depth story an amazing love triangle and a hardcore swimming competition. Yeah what a nice pedophile relationship they would have. -_-


Another thing that pissed me off was that I expected some family problems. Considering that for Aoi and Kaoru family supposed to the biggest problem. Not to mention that "family" is supposed to be the godamn theme of the series. But no, none of that, those important conflicts aren't needed because ~Enishi~ is to good for that. After ten fucking (OK SORRY FOR CURSING AGAIN) episodes of low end comedy and filler bullshit we finally get a story. Sure the ten episodes had some redeeming moments of romance (three or so) between our sweet Aoi and Kaoru, but that wasn't enough to turn a blind eye to the rampant bullshit the secondary characters did for 90% of the duration of the show.

Where would this show be without the great Aoi and Kaoru? They are about my favorite couple out of any anime, which makes reviewing this so painful for me. But really why the fuck (sorry) focus on them? Why the fuck would the viewer be interested in Aoi and Kaoru and their awesome relationship/past? Why when we have Chika and her hardcore swimming competition. I think that episode tops off even the amazing "there is a ghost haunting the house," episode. It is also the episode with the least romance and the stupidest most stereotypical jokes.

Yeah despite Aoi and Kaoru not even close to getting their deserved screen time and not progressing there relationship nearly as much as they should have they are the reason I gave the character rating a seven and not a three. Despite ~Enishi~'s attempt at butchering their relationship it thankfully still fails. About the only other character worth mentioning is Tina in the last two episodes who becomes ok (she also happens to have two awesome episodes in the first Ai Yori Aoshi).

Value,Enjoyment

Not enjoyable, not valuable. This isn't memorable or rewatchable. Ok I laughed a few times thats about it. No progression, no intresting events. This is a wasteful investment in terms of both time and money. Go watch something else don't let ~Enishi~ spoil Ai Yori Aoshi for you. I'm not sure why other reviewers gave this show the marks they did. Half of them admit it being boring yet still give it a recomendable rating. Whatever I hated this, I guess this can be watch out of extreme boredem thats about it.

A season full of fillers galore with absolutely no plot development. The only thing I liked about the first season was the drama and the characters. This season was good to see the characters again.. but it was so dull that it became a background on my computer while I'm surfing the net. The last couple of episodes progress more on Tina which left a good taste at least. So for people who mildly enjoyed the first season should only check out the last couple episodes! If there isnt going to be another season then this is a complete waste.. if there will be I hope it progresses more and focuses on the drama between the Sakuraba and the Hanibishi families. Thats what I want to watch, a good ol' family fued.

The sequel of Ai yori Aoshi, a good comedy/romance anime, that sadly I don't think is equal to its prequel. It could have been better, things seems rushed out, even if there are fillers here and there.

Animation is good, just like in the first season: it is full of colors, and the characters are well drawn, even if they lack a bit of particulars. Background are really good, again with a lot of bright color that really make the scene more vivid. As for the first AYA, I don't like the drawing style of the eyes, they look plain sometimes.

Opening and ending themes are both good, but it is the latter that really shines. Background music is well done, merging with what is showed on the screen.
Seiyuu did their work: Kawasumi Ayako (Mahoro in Mahoromatic); Hoshi Souichirou (Kei in Onegai Teacher); Hiramatsu Akiko (BT in hack/SIGN). Sadly I must say that no one really shines, apart from Yukino Satsuki (Chidori in Full Metal Panic - Kagome in InuYasha) in the role of Tina, that really is a level above.

The story is really what let me down this time. It has a lot of potential, but sadly it is not expressed. It is different from the first AYA, where filler episodes where mixed with very interesting ones, here we have again fillers, and when there is something important, they miss to build up enough climax. Even the ending wasn't so good. The script was made by Kanemaki Kenichi (with others), the same one who did the script for Kimi ga Nozomu Eien, but the difference between these two shows is really as night and day. Don't get me wrong, the story is funny, with good moments of romance and laughing, but it could have been done way better.

Characters are like in the first season, well done with a good background. I'll repeat myself: a good bunch of them are cliques, but they become really funny from time to time. They don't change theirselves so much, but this doesn't apply to Tina. I must say they developed way lesser than in AYA.

Not a so great rewatching value, it has to few interesting scenes mixed with a boring bunch of episodes.

I quite enjoyed it, but it was dued principally because I really loved the first season. I'm a bit angry for the fact that it could be way better than this.

PS.
The story changed sensibly from the manga, that hasn't ended yet, and I don't know if the authors can return to the original plot, even with a lot of twists, without getting a senseless story. Actually there isn't enough room for a third season, but it could change in some time with the developing of the manga's story (that is indeed becoming quite interesting!). I think we could expect a couple of OVAs, but they have to really do a better work.

A good, but not great continuation of Ai Yori Aoshi.

Kaoru and Aoi have been together for two years now. It seems like such a long time, their enishi (destiny) awaits them, and the Sakuraba mansion gets more exciting everyday...what will be the future for this secret couple? Also, it seems that Tina is having some troubles...

Sad to say, the story doesn't move very much at all till about episode 9. I was hoping to see more the "all-love" mushiness that reigned the middle of Ai Yori Aoshi, but my expectations diminished towards the middle, and it felt like a directionless story. Even when it becomes more dramatic towards the end, Ai Yori Aoshi ~Enishi~ loses all interest, and doesn't compare too greatly to its predecessor.

A beautiful animation, and a lot of other simlarities with its prequel.

The animation is Ai Yori Aoshi ~Enishi~'s strong point. It and it's former are both beautifully drawn, with colorful characters, lush landscapes, and captivating moon-lit dramatizations. Aoi is of course cute as ever, along with the complete cast of dashing beauties and Kaoru living it up with them...he's damned pimp I tell you. ;-) The faces tend to get a little crazier than before, as well as the ecchi moments. However, they don't add/detract from the animation in any way, shape, or form.

Of course, the characters are as good as they were before. Their comedy routines are sometimes a little funnier, but the humor in the Ai Yori Aoshi universe is lighthearted and easy...you don't really laugh at it; it is very much hyperbole and doesn't convey hysteria one might find in similar romantic-comedies, such as for example Kare Kano or Onegai Twins.

The opening number is just as corny as the first season's, so it isn't any new feat that the anime has. However, the ending is upbeat and much more attractive than the other OP/ED's that I've seen from the AYA Universe. The background music is the same as usual, but still great to hear over and over again.

As for the voice acting, it only makes sense to say that the voice actors are of the same value and consistency as in the prequel - I just wish the story wasn't so thin, as there could have been much more activity for the seiyuu.

I am disappointed somewhat; but I'm glad nothing awkward nudged its way into the story.

Though the story makes Aoi and Kaoru's situation a little more concrete; it doesn't finish their story at all, and left me dissatisfied. Three or four filler episodes could have been used to carry their relationship further, but nothing like that was meant to be. Because of this, I don't know if I'll watch Ai Yori Aoshi ~Enishi~ anytime soon, IF ever again.

Recommendation: Only to those who saw the first season AND liked it. To those who hated it, they would hate it more; and to those who haven't seen the first season would think too much lower of the second. Such is the "enishi" of this story...