Ôran kôkô hosutobu

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.

This is without a doubt the best anime I have seen so far. It's in the romance/comedy genre and is full of some of the funniest characters ever! Haruhi is a "commoner" scholarship student who enters elite Ouran High School, where lineage is second only to wealth, and becomes indebted to the Host Club, six male students who let the female students of Ouran enjoy their company. They each take the role of a certain "character" to entertain the girls; The prince, the loli-shota, the cool type, the silent type and the "brotherly-love" twins. Needless to say, hilarity ensues.

The plot is mainly light and fluffy, but touches on lesbianism, twincest and severely obnoxious people. Personally, I think it would be absolutely fine for anybody aged 12 or above, as none of these heavy themes are dealt with clearly. One can take what one wants from it.

I urge anyone who enjoys anime to watch this, as it will certainly raise more than a few laughs.

This show tackles many social problems in a teenagers life nowadays. The first dozen episodes explains and dissects the characters for the audience and also creates some mini plots in the series that they elaborate on later. A few topics of taboo they encounter is, Lesbians, incest, rape, bullying, love triangles and gender oriented problems. No show in North America covers these things, yet maybe they do , but for me its too subtle. If America or Canada do make a show this risqué for kids then , wow! I kind of like Japanese animation better than what N.A. does.

But not all of the ones listed are taken very seriously, so it keeps the environment light and comedic. Great show even if I'm watching it from the other side of the planet. July, 5 2006 Ontario, Canada.

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.

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.