Ai Yori Aoshi: Enishi - Complete Brick Shrink Set (Geneon)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: B     Episodes: A

 

 

Kaoru Hanabishi meets Aoi Sakuraba in Tokyo looking for her first love, to both their surprises it turns out to be him.  Engaged years ago, Aoi has never forgotten their promise, but the problems lies in the Kaoru has given up his right as the heir to the Hanabishi clan and their marriage has be called off!  After a bit tussle with the family clan, Aoi's determination convinces her family to let Aoi remain by Kaoru; however their relationship is not official.  Kaoru and Aoi move in together in the Sakuraba Mansion, but as tenant and landlord.

 

They are soon joined by Aoi's Guardian Miyabe, shocked by Aoi's decision to be with someone of lower class she keeps watch over the two young lovers and the curfew, kicking Kaoru out every night!  And adding to the group Kaoru's friends in the photography club are fun loving American classmate Tina decides to return and with no place go decides to crash lands with Kaoru as another tenant, also another one of their classmates Taeko gets thrown out of her job as a live in maid come begging to Tina and Kaoru for a job in the Sakuraba Mansion as their maid.  And finally Kaoru's long time friend Mayu whom Kaoru helped out long time ago comes back Japan and joins in the rivalry for Kaoru's affections.  Things become even more complicated as they try and keep Kaoru and Aoi's relationship a secret, meanwhile Kaoru get placed into crazy situations with women he isn't suppose to date from the school to the seaside to even into the bathhouse, how will Kaoru and Aoi's relationship ever bloom, much less be acknowledged?

 

The group ends up going out to the beach, hotsprings and with all the girls want to show off their sexy swimsuits to Kaoru, Aoi is left a little blue in what she can do in the race for Kaoru.  Later a trip the zoo ends up to be a day with Tina, followed by a drunken night ending up in a love motel. How will Kaoru tell this to Aoi?  Fortunately for Aoi, Kaoru remember their promise and finds the time in to help and support Aoi and their relationship.

 

As finally Kaoru lets in Aoi into his painful past Kaoru and Aoi's love blossom for each other, sudden Aoi's father steps in to tell Aoi to that she is marry someone else and forget Kaoru, as things come to a climax, will the two be separated or is there something they can do?

 

In the second season Enshi, 2 years have gone by and Kaoru is in grad school and the gang is all still together with all their crazy normal habits.  But this time Kaoru faces instead of the past, the decision of what to do with his future with Aoi.  And Tina faces the possibility leaving Japan after she graduates, maybe for good. As time roles by how will that change their friendships and relationships?

 

 

'Aoi Yori Aoshi' literally means ' blue Indigo' but it is also 'Aoi' name of the character but means in Japanese blue or green in referring to the young/spring love that hidden and blossoming between the Kaoru and Aoi and the gang.  In the second season 'Enshi' means and refers to the word 'bonds' in which also symbolic to in the Japanese culture the 'red string fate' bonded to fated lovers, but in this case is the relationships between all the characters.  The first season explores and is represents the past of the characters while the second season represents what future and hope is, is in store for them.

 

The two main characters are almost like a Romeo and Juliet, two powerful families the Hanabishi and the Sakuraba and the romance between the main characters Kaoru and Aoi.  The characters who are bound by tradition and family loyalties as they as their love blooms behind the scenes... a struggle between modern and traditional values.

 

As some people would call this series a harem/dating anime, a one guy with a lot of girls, like series like Love Hana or Tenchi Muyo, but I found the series to be entertaining and comical, filled with drama and romance in which was developed more.  Friendships and rivalry occur and are tested, but each character are strong characters and unique in their own way and has there own reasons of being there.  From a painful past to just another crazy day in life, as the story grows so does the determination and dedication of the characters, there are some heart warming moments as well as characters overcoming either painful memories of their past or their own flaws.  Towards the end the series the second season was added on not only a chance for comedy but develops more of the drama tension between the main characters, giving it's viewers a slice of life, the value of friendships, and the prospects of the future.

 

The entire series is a wonderful series from beginning to end and keep the viewer coming back for more.  The DVD series (all 1.33 X 1 video and Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) also include a ton of great stuff including extra episodes, music videos from the voice actors, art galleries of the characters, reversible covers and much more.

 

 

-   Ricky Chiang