OURAN KOUKOU HOST CLUB

DESCRIPTION

CAST

MANGA ComedyOuran Koukou Host Club

REVIEWS

• 

  TheRealKyuubey

  90/100
  One of the funniest anime ever made, but the drama's pretty damn good as well.

  “Only those with excellent social standing and those from filthy rich families are lucky enough to spend their time here, at the elite private school of Ouran Academy. The Ouran Host Club is where the school’s handsomest boys with too much time on their hands entertain young ladies who also have way too much time on their hands. Just think of it as Ouran’s elegant playground for the super rich and beautiful.”

  These are the words that greet Haruhi Fujioka, one of the only commoners with good enough grades to actually enrol at Ouran, as she slips into an abandoned music room for some quiet study time. Instead, she finds anything but peace, as the academy’s infamous host club mistakes her for a boy… Thanks to her ultra-short haircut and lack of an expensive uniform… And they assume ‘he’ is there to enjoy some man-on-man entertainment. In her efforts to escape this collection of carefree casanovas, she accidentally destroys a renaissance vase that’s worth more money than several generations of her family combined. And she winds up on the hook for every yen of it!

  They recruit her as their dog… Well, we’ll use the term ‘errand boy’ to be nice… And by the time they’ve all realized their mistake, Haruhi Fujioka has already been inducted as an official host! Which unfortunately means posing as a boy for the remainder of her non-compulsary educational tenure.

  Haruhi is a practical, level-headed girl, which is the direct result of her upbringing in a low income, single parent household. Her background and thrifty ways fascinate the club’s charismatic president and cofounder, Tamaki Suoh, a half-white airhead who lived in France until the age of fourteen. He’s the last person in the club to realize she’s a girl, and since he’s emotionally unable to deal with his instantaneous attraction to her, he instead decides to adopt her as the daughter of his host club family.

  This all works out very well for the highly meticulous Kyoya Otori, the cofounder and accountant of the host club, as Haruhi’s natural chemistry with their female clients presents a business opportunity that he just can’t pass up. The rest of the club is rounded out by the infamous Hitachiin twins, Hikaru and Kaoru, both of whom are troublemakers from Haruhi’s class, as well as the adorable sweets-loving Honey and his strong, silent protector Mori, both of whom are highly skilled prodigies from respected martial arts families.

  Together, these six… No, these SEVEN hosts… serve their squealing, insatiable clients as your typical reverse harem archetypes… Tamaki plays The Princely Type, Kyoya plays The Cool Type, Honey plays The Boy Lolita Type, the twins play The Mischievous Type… As well as delivering heaping helpings of implied twincest… And Mori pretty much acts as an accessory to Honey, because aside from that, I can’t really recall anybody actually requesting his company. And now, with Haruhi playing The Natural Type, their harem is complete!

  Ouran Highschool Host Club was produced by Studio Bones, the producers of equally popular shows such as Soul Eater, Black Butler, and… Oh man, what was it called? Something about an Alchemist… It doesn’t matter, that one’s pretty obscure. Anyway, in typical Bones fashion, the production is beautiful at first glance, but somewhat unbalanced when you look a little closer at it. There’s fluid, graceful movement going on all over the place, from the characters themselves as well as from the flowers that occasionally fly across the screen. Because of the distribution of the budget, however, it still has the ever-present problem of people freezing into statues in the background, and this isn’t just limited to background characters. It’s a fairly common problem in anime, but in this case, it actually kind of works with the humor style of the show.

  This aside, Studio Bones makes up for any technical failings with some of the most captivating art design you’ll ever see. I’ve praised a lot of shows for having impressive detail in their artwork, but Ouran really is a cut above the norm, as it takes the flowery aesthetic that you’d expect from a shoujo manga and uses it to it’s very best potential. The characters and their outfits are designed with bright, lively pastels, and they stand in stark contrast to the much softer, darker pastels that make up the beautifully lit, cleverly shaded backgrounds. Every inch of Ouran Academy, as well as the few other environments that we visit, are detailed from the architecture down to the very last flourished handrail. It’s beautiful, and so is the music, which is conveyed almost entirely with classic style violin and piano. They never seem out of place, complimenting the comedic scenes as well as the dramatic. The only place you’ll see consistent modern style music, like drums and guitar, is in the opening, which stands as probably one of the most well made openings of all time.

  Unfortunately, the original Japanese opening is all but absent from the DVDs, only really appearing for one episode. It’s otherwise replaced by an English language version, which may be inferior in the eyes of purists, but it still holds up well on it’s own.

  That opening is really the only aspect of the dub that I can see raising some irritated eyebrows, as the acting in the english dub is a very close match to the outstanding Japanese track. Caitlin Glass, who’s mostly known for giving really big, enthusiastic performances, proves she’s just as good on the other end of the scale, going low and throaty but adding just enough femininity to make Haruhi’s exasperated cynicism palatable. Vic Mignona proves to be the perfect man to play Tamaki as a foppish, ignorant spastic that he is, and J Michael Tatum slithers his cool demeanor comfortably into the manipulative, meticulous Kyoya.

  The Hiitachin Twins are played by Greg Ayres and Todd Haberkorn, and while they do have significantly different voices, they play the personalities of their respective characters perfectly, while still retaining the same relative pitch, and they complement each other very well. Luci Christian is mercilessly cutesy and childish as Honey, while still somehow carrying a sense of maturity that defies appearance. It’s hard to talk about Travis Willingham’s performance as Mori… Not because he does a bad job, but because he does a good job, putting genuine effort into a character that any talentless shmuck could play. In other words, it’s a job that even Mark Laskowski could pull off, so you can imagine how thankless a job it really is.

  There are a lot of minor or otherwise one-shot characters in this show, but the two I’d like to call attention to are Chris Sabat, who plays a tough looking guy who’s sick of people always being afraid of him, and Monica Rial, who plays the group’s excitable manager Renge. Renge often appears on-screen via a mechanical stage that can pop up out of the ground anywhere and everywhere, and she acts as one of the two commentators on some of the many shoujo tropes that Ouran likes to make fun of. She handles fanhoods and character archetypes, shamelessly explaining them to us when necessary. Yes, it’s exposition, but it’s really, really funny exposition. And the other commentator? A little girl, who blatantly points out that Shoujo mangas are full of reverse harems and debauchery.

  In my review(s) of Okami-san and Her Seven Companions, I mentioned that Ouran is really good at transitioning between comedy and drama. Well, the truth is, I was underselling it. Ouran can transition smoothly between many different types of comedy and drama, while never feeling forced or pretentious about it. A show like Family Guy falls flat on it’s face when trying to deliver dramatic or serious storylines… The one about Quagmire’s sister was a particular low note… But Ouran pulls it off naturally, as every second of it is used to develop either the characters or the story. Every single character has a rich, complex backstory, with more than enough room to grow. Okay, maybe Mori is the exception. The Hiitachin twins in particular get some of the deepest, most introspective material of all, cementing them easily as my favorites in the cast.

  The only time Ouran isn’t funny is when it’s not trying to be funny, and that’s a rare trick to pull off. A lot of it comes from the fact that it’s able to ruthlessly satirize and deconstruct the shoujo genre and many of it’s sub-genres without ever becoming mean spirited about it, so in effect, fans and haters of that material will both find plenty of things to love about it. So even if you can’t enjoy this show for it’s girlish presentation and buckets of cartoony shoujo fan-service, you can still enjoy it for it’s pitch perfect comic timing, chuckling along with the joke as it lampoons those very elements.

  If there’s one element that Ouran doesn’t tackle, it’s romance. This is supposedly a romantic comedy, but the only romance that ever takes place is with the occasional star-crossed couple that the Host club has to mediate. There are a lot of affections being thrown around, but when it comes to the main cast, none of these affections are ever really reciprocated. Thankfully, unlike School Rumble, Ouran doesn’t back itself into a corner by making these affections the main hook of the series. Instead, the main focus is on friendship and character development, and while the ending can be a bit unsatisfying from a plot perspective, this is a character driven story, and the subtle maturations of our hosts will still bring you to a very heartwarming place by the conclusion.

  Ouran High School Host Club is one of the funniest anime ever made. It’s executed flawlessly, trying it’s hand at a surprisingly large number of tones and effortlessly succeeding at nearly all of them. The artwork, animation and music are all breathtaking, which is clearly indicative of the love and time that went into this project. While it may not carry the label of “Ironically bad-ass” that Princess Tutu has been blessed with, it’s still one of those few shoujo titles that’s just as enjoyable for male viewers… Perhaps even more so… As it is for female viewers. The characters are rich, complex and loveable and care deeply for one another, but not so much that they can’t antagonize and prank each other in the process. So if you’ve got too much time on your hands, then please, step into this series and allow the hosts to pamper you just like their actual clients. I give this series a 9/10.

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• 

  holdenreklaw

  60/100
  This is accidental non-binary representation whether you like it or not

  I recently watched a documentary about the culture of Japanese host clubs and thought it was really interesting. I mean, if I was rich and a woman I could definitely see myself as a regular at something like this if I lived in Japan, I do love attention after all. I suppose what I’m trying to say is that the concept of host clubs was interesting to me, and when I discovered there was a pretty well-received and popular anime about hosting, I thought I’d check it out.

  This one was definitely a ride. I almost rage dropped the show halfway through, the only thing keeping me going was knowing that people really like this show and it’s got a cult classic status, so I gave it the opportunity to redeem itself and luckily it did bounce back. Don’t get me wrong there are a LOT of problems with this series, oh my god are there problems. But it has a charm to it that I didn’t expect.

  Things I thought were great about this show include the characters. All the host boys and the side characters are all distinguishable in design and personality. They’re not the greatest guys, we will talk about that later, but they are unique and the writers in the show tend to understand the characters and their motivations very well, so they never really deviate from what we would expect from them or break character, except for one instance I’ll mention in the spoiler section of this review.

  I like the comedy as well, the show isn’t laughing out loud funny but it has a cheeky (for lack of a better term) scenes of humour that entertained me. Keep in mind though, the show is 15 years old and good god the comedy is a bit dated (I definitely cringed in places.)

  The subplots were fun, and the show followed many characters in their journey to overcome challenges and become better people. For instance, Honey is challenged by his toothache, Haruhi is challenged by thunder, the twins are challenged by navigating friendships and feelings of jealousy, and Tamaki deals with being attracted to femboys/j. There are also the dynamics between the boys and their families, given they all come from money, power and fame. These aspects of the boys' lives are not overlooked and end up playing a significant role towards the end of the story, and I liked that the audience gets to know the characters on a personal level like that.

  This is the kind of show I could see having several seasons, it doesn’t, but if it did I probably wouldn’t watch beyond this season if I’m honest, I feel like I get the idea. There is quite a lot of filler content in this but luckily it’s not too boring, but yeah sometimes it hits and sometimes it misses. Judging by the way the show ends, I can see it is possible that the writers were leaving certain plot points open in case they were renewed for a second season. Personally, I think it’s fine the way it is and I feel like most people agree.

  Now I want to talk about the problems this show has. It doesn’t have a lot, but it can’t be ignored.

  I want to preface by saying I am aware this show is 15 years old and I’m not holding it to the same standard I would hold shows today. I mean, I wouldn’t even consider Ouran to be offensive by today’s standards, not at all, it’s just super fucking cringe in some places.

  The taboo topics are very hit or miss. For instance, Honey as a character doesn’t freak me out, I know the idea is that he’s supposed to look and act 5 but is actually 17/18, which is why he’s a hit with the ladies. Like sure it’s weird that the fact he’s very young at heart is what makes him attractive but like, I understand why it’s done. In an early episode, it is explained that the boys appeal to the female gaze and that’s why they do what they do so well. In the west, I don’t think men who act like toddlers are a hit with the ladies but it may be different in Japan and that’s fine, it is what it is, it’s age play, I’m not going to judge, just acknowledging that it’s all a bit weird.

  Despite that, though I really liked Honey as a character, I thought he was unique and I like that he overcomes challenges in order to be his true self, at the end of the day and I think that’s a good message. There’s not really an easy way to dance around the fact that if you really wanted to nitpick at the show, the certainly an argument to be made about how it sexualises infancy, but I just don’t have the mental strength to initiate that discussion.

  However, the situation with the twins is less innocent. Like for what reason is it implied that they fuck? I know it’s meant to be for the female gaze and was just an act to play into taboo female fantasies, but gee whiz, they’re still grabbing each other's asses while the girls are away. Is this fan service for the women watching the show? Look, maybe it’s just not for me, I acknowledge I am not the target audience for this show, not at all. But the boy love scenes between the twins is cringe af, I hate to kink shame the ladies who thought this was hot but please girls, go watch Haiyku to get your hot teen boy action like everyone else.

  The rest of the boys in the host club are less fetishy. You’ve got the Prince Charming, the sensitive type, the dark and mysterious one, things vanilla women usually gravitate towards. But then there is the situation with Haruhi.

  Now I’m not sure whether it’s just the translation I saw and if it’s different in the original but the translation I watched heavily implied for the first few episodes that Haruhi was a trans (non-binary, gender fluid or possibly transmsac). Not that she was a masculine girl, it was heavily implied based on the language used that Haruhi was trans. This excited me so much, I would have LOVED to see this plotline, it would have been absolutely groundbreaking. But like I said, the show is 15 years old, and as you continue to watch the show, you discover that at no point did the writers of the original series ever consider Haruhi’s gender identity to be up for debate. She was 100% just an androgynous girl. That’s fine too, but for the love of God, it would have been nice if her androgyny wasn’t fetishised so much. For a shoujo show meant to be about “what women want” the male gaze is so painfully obvious here.

  Speaking of Haruhi taking the brunt of poor writing choices. There is one scene that almost made me drop the show. Look, I am not a pussy ass bitch. I love tragedy and terror and thrill and pushing boundaries...but who the absolute fuck thought having Takashi almost r@pe Haruhi was worth putting in. Not only is this totally out of character for Takashi (he’s meant to be the strong silent type, not the sex offender type.) It adds fuck all to the story, it happens in the middle of a tense episode so it’s not done to make stakes higher or anything, the only effect it had was pissing me off. And then everyone carries on as if that never happened? This guy who is a third-year pins a first-year down on his bed and threatens to r@pe her because she accidentally walked into his room...and then there are no repercussions from that? Great writing team!

  This genuinely pissed me off more than all the other stuff, more than the suspicious age player, more than the homoerotic incest, more than the unappealing portrayal of queer people. And look, the way Haruhi’s dad is treated in the show is mostly a product of its time. He is meant to be the butt of the joke because he’s a crossdresser, but he is still respected… I guess. Like nobody commits a hate crime on the guy which I am considering a win for contextual reasons alone. Anyway, yeah the particular scene I referred to in the paragraph above was just dumb and almost ruined the show for me.

  Then there’s all the queerbaiting with the guys which isn’t cool but look, it’s an old show from a culture vastly different to mine, I'll just consider it a win that homosexuality isn't weaponised or demonised. For all I care, the boys can pretend to kiss each other for female attention all they want. Knock yourselves about boys! If the young Japanese female population lead to believe that gay men are “hot” then kudos, because over here in the west, they’re still young people growing up to believe that gay men are a personification of evil and of devils. I know which interpretation I prefer personally.

  In conclusion, Ouran has its ups and downs, its peaks and valleys. At the end of the day, it was a show that surprised me with how much heart and attention to detail it possessed. I know I can safely recommend it to certain people, not for everyone, but for people I know will benefit from the messages and themes the show presents. Now, somebody point me in the direction of some Ouran fanfiction in which the boys buy Haruhi their first binder. Hurry up before I’m forced to write it myself.

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• 

  Benkei

  88/100
  Spoiler-free review of Ouran Koukou Host Club. Comfy, original, and funny, even nowadays.

  ════ ⋆★⋆ ════ Considerations ════ ⋆★⋆ ════ ● __This is a spoiler-free review.__ ● 80+ in my rating means really good. ● I've added one of the anime soundtracks to the soundtrack section. If you wish, scroll down, start it, and use it as your background music while you read. ════ ⋆★⋆ ════ The Story ════ ⋆★⋆ ════ Haruhi wins a scholarship to attend Ouran High School. A prestigious school reserved for the rich. She ends up entering the room of the Host Club and breaking an 8 million yen vase. With her little concern about physical appearances, she decides to become a male host and work her way out of the debt. The story of Ouran Koukou Host Club is amazing. I personally loved going back to the old style of anime and their "cliches", like repeating a animation with their comical trigger several times. I ended up having a really fun time while watching it. To my surprise, the anime contained far more than just comedy, and it was also a very comfortable anime. I took my time, watching one episode here and there at night just to relax and laugh. Although it is a comedy-focused anime. There's also a serious side by packing an amazing drama related to characters and some nice diversity when there's a transgender, several references to homosexuality and a main character that is non-binary in a 2006 anime. I think that my main points are how it's subtle and how it felt natural. It's not like the main point is Haruhi's queerness, nor do they try to explain her; she is like that and that's it. ════ ⋆★⋆ ════ The Art Style ════ ⋆★⋆ ════ The animation is classic 2000's anime. By that, I mean __4:3__ aspect ratio, not much background animation, but it has its charm. The color palette and scene composition are very well done. If you're used to "old animes," you're going to be in good hands. The anime has a very shojo and moe style. Lots of pink, lights, petals, flowers, and everything that makes the genre. I'm not personally fond of the shojo style, but it didn't bother me since everything was used through certain triggers. Like having flowers or petals with pretty guys rather than overusing them everywhere. ‎ (I'll forever remember the way they say irasshaimasu.) ════ ⋆★⋆ ════ The Characters ════ ⋆★⋆ ════ There are a large number of characters in this work. Haruhi, all the host club members, their customers, and many other episodic characters. As expected, secondary characters are there to either provide comic relief or fill in blanks, but the core is very well done. The main host club members have episodes dedicated to showing their backgrounds, developing their personality and mentality. The stories are very original for each one, and they're ultimately really good. As I always like to talk about the main character, Haruhi was really good. Her impact in the series is amazing as she acts as the one with common sense and opens up ways for the development of other characters by being caring with everyone. ‎ ════ ⋆★⋆ ════ Soundtrack ════ ⋆★⋆ ════ The soundtrack is really good. Mainly focused on classical pieces using a lot of oboe, piano, and violin. Some parts do kick in some rock when spirits need to be raised. I think the "comfy" vibes come from this classical soundtrack that helps you get into some sort of a "Renaissance era."

  ════ ⋆★⋆ ════ Conclusion ════ ⋆★⋆ ════ If you're like me, you skip everything and read only the conclusion because you don't want to get spoiled with other themes. So I will try to be brief on this point: Definitely watch it. I know that some people really dislike the series. I do admit that it is very silly in the beginning, but when the character development starts to kick in, it is an amazing show that still holds up after more than a decade from its original release.
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