Ouran High School Host Club

What a surprise! I've just recently gotten into anime, always trying to find new and unique dimensions to this genre; had seen a few of the classics and essentials. I assumed this would not be something for me, until I watched the first episode and there I was, a 33 year old, bearded American guy, laughing his butt off at a "teen comedy". Though I don't know much (or care much) about shoujo(?), I LOVE a good satire in any medium and this, folks, is up there, at times, with the best. The themes are familiar to Americans: the "plain-Jane", rebellious type, gets dolled up; the girl masquerades a boy for some reason; the lower-class student strives to survive or "pass" amongst snobby rich peers; the fish-out-of-water scenario. But here, they are combined in a very well conceived and, at least in our cultural context, highly subversive cocktail made from all of these generic themes.

And it is quite an intoxicating and addictive cocktail. I even find myself thinking, "dear gawd, I can't tell anyone about my taboo love-affair with this show, can I?", but then I realize it is usually 5x more intelligent, well written and poignant than anything on American TV since the Simpsons of the early/mid 1990s.

Based on the manga of the same name by Bisco Hatorri and produced by the studio Bones, who's work I quite like, we follow the titular Ouran High School Host Club, a sort of entertainment club for students at an elite, ultra rich high school in Tokyo. Newest member Haruhi Fujioka joins the previously all male club after her short hair leaves her mistaken for a boy. Anime antics ensue as she learns about each of her new school mates, is fawned over by club leader Tamaki, and gains friendships that will last a lifetime. Again not the type of anime I'd typically flip on I've been wanting to branch out, and this often appeared on lists of top comedic shojo. Honestly I had a lot of fun throughout, the characters are all unique, both in the expected tropes they're satirizing, but also with enough nuance that few feel superficial. With the characters each a trope, the series often breaks the 4th wall and plays for drama in pure parody that left me laughing out loud more than once. There is of course some silly romance, and lots of playing to taboos, but the series can also have plenty of more meaningful dramatic moments, with genuine connections between characters. At only a single season while I feel they could have done more it feels like they did enough for it to feel well rounded and complete by its conclusion. If it already seems like your kind of thing, would highly recommend, was great.

When I saw this series was available to watch legally on line on Funimation's YouTube channel I recalled that a friend had mentioned enjoying it so I decided to give it a go. As soon as the opening credits started I thought I might have made a mistake it was all pink and flowery and clearly not made for men, I decide to watch the first episode anyway to see what it was like. I'm glad I did as I found myself really enjoying it and over the next few days watched the remaining twenty five episodes.

The series opens with Haruhi, a new scholarship girl at the prestigious Ouran Academy looking for a quiet room to study in. She looks into Music Room #3 where she is surprised to find a group of boys, the eponymous Host Club. One thing leads to another and Haruhi accidentally breaks an antique vase, as she doesn't have the eight million yen required to pay for it she is told she must join the Host Club... to do this she must pass herself off as a boy as the club's purpose it to provide male company to the girls of the academy. With her short hair and small chest she manages to pass for a boy although her femininity isn't lost on the boys.

At first the boys of the club seen frivolous, being fascinated by Haruhi's commoner lifestyle the take to drinking her exotic instant coffee and do things as daring as going to the supermarket. In return they think nothing of taking Haruhi with them when they go off to a private resort during the summer holidays. As the episodes progress the boys seem less selfish as we learn why they are the way they are, by the end when things appear to be going badly for them it is genuinely sad.

While there is nothing really offensive in the series some people might be disturbed by two of the boys who act like a couple... the potential problem is that they are identical twins. Personally I thought it was funny, after all it is just an act for the girl's amusement. Even though this series is clearly aimed at girls I'd recommend it to anybody wanting a funny character driven series.

These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles.

This is one anime that I never expected myself to watch. My girlfriend and her girlfriends went crazy about this anime. I took one look at it, and decided it wasn't my thing. Looked like the most girl thing in the world.

Later, I was randomly on IMDb.com, and I bumped into this show. I took a look at the story, and it was actually kind of cool. So I downloaded the entire show in English dubbed. It was 12:30 p.m. And I watched the first episode. It was one of the funniest things I have ever watched! It had hilarious and awesome characters, a clever story, amazing animation, and so on. After that, I watched the 2nd episode, then the 3rd, then the 4th. At that point it was pretty late in the day and I decided to only watch up to the half way point. When I got there, I couldn't stop, so I decided to watch a few more episodes. On episode 20 I said "forget it". Next thing I know it's 6 a.m and I finished the last episode.

It literally came out of nowhere by how much I loved it. In one day, it became my second favorite anime, (1st being DBZ). Everything about it is so cool. Not just for girls either, it's got some pretty hilarious guy humor as well.

The story is pretty clever. During scholarship student Haruhi Fujioka's first day at Ouran Academy Private School, she "accidentally" joins a host club full of six male gentlemen, (all mistaking her for a guy) from a direct cause of her knocking over an 8,000,000 yen vase. After realizing her true gender at the end of the episode, they continue to have her serve as a host to pay the debt with her guy appearance and personality. The rest of the show is pretty much her tasting the life of rich people, while they taste the life of poor people.

There's a bit more in the mangas, but I really don't care for them to be honest. Though I must say this is one anime that I enjoyed 100%. Very good and well made anime that is definitely worth checking out. Whether you're a guy or a girl, this should be enjoyable.

Ouran High School Host Club was one my first romance animes and it was a amazing watch.

Great characters, a cute story, hilarious comedy and lovable characters.

However it is not the perfect anime, a shojo classic but no 10/10.

The shortage of episodes is really an issue with this anime. After the last episode I began reading the manga.

This anime should of got an extension, if it did definitely would get a point up to a 9. Why not 10 you probably ask? Well here's why...

Like it or not the title should really be: Haruhi's harem. Even if you like harems it does get annoying the fact that everyone adores the main character.

Listen, is a great character her cheekiness is awesome but why can't at least someone not like her?

Not in a second (at least what can recall) does any of the host club members hate Haruhi.

They ADORE her, personally I wouldn't. She has a great personality and all but she has flaws that get in the way of liking her, I mean, come on. Why does everyone love her at first glance?

You may not agree with his review which is perfectly fine. Ouran High School Host Club is great and one of my favorites.

A great shojo, a awesome English cast, good animation, and a catchy theme song.