Ôran kôkô hosutobu

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.

This is by far one of the most enjoyable animes i've seen in a long time. Following the popular idea of a girl having to pretend to be a guy at school, the show follows Haruhi, a 'commoner' at an elite school for the rich and powerful. After breaking an expensive vase, she must pay off the debt by working as a host in a club created to entertain girls. However, to do this, she must keep up the pretence that she is a guy. The plot lines are hilarious, with moments of sadness or sweetness thrown in. There are a few taboo-ish themes, like homosexuality, incest and rape, but they are dealt with in a non-confrontational manner, so it is unlikely a conservative viewer would be particularly offended by anything.

Particularly of note are the characters and their development throughout the series as we learn more about them. In the club is the 'Lord', Tamaki, a perceptive, empathetic leader who often comes across as a bit of an idiot (but there is more to him than meets the eye); Hikaru and Kaoru, the mischievous, incestuous twins who use their closeness to appeal to girls; Kyoya, the money-minded, enigmatic shadow-lord; Hunny, the loli-shota obsessed with sweets, and his loyal friend Mori, a silent, stoic type. Haruhi herself is bookish and immune to the charms of the guys, yet becomes entangled in a (very light) love-triangle, which is vaguely resolved by the end of the series. It's easy to relate to and fall in love with all of the characters, and OHSHC is one of the rare shows where you find yourself caring about every character, not just a few.

I would recommend OHSHC to anyone above the age of 13. It seems like a show aimed more at girls, but I gave it to my brother to watch and he loved it. I haven't read the manga (yet), so I can't compare; also, I hear that there will soon be an American-dub version released. As American dubs are notorious for their censorship, i have no idea how that might change the show (probably for the worse), so i'd recommend going and watching the original Japanese version with subtitles: the voice acting is pitch-perfect!

This anime is the tops. I have never seen a shoujo anime that I have enjoyed as much as Host Club since I saw Fruits Basket. Do yourself a favor and buy the DVDs of it, plus the manga. You will not be sorry, especially if you're a shoujo fan, or even if you aren't one...the characters are so vibrant, cute and fun that anyone, yes even a non-anime fan would fall in love with the Host Club. Outrageous, dashing, handsome, and idiotic Prince Tamaki, the crazy Hitachiin brothers (who put on a fake incest act that the girls seem to love??), Kaoru and Hikaru, Cute Momiiji Sohma-like Hunny, Mori, the silent strong host, and my absolute favorite and the HOTTEST host...cool and evil Kyoya, the "shadow prince" of the club. Haruhi, the heroine is refreshing, because way too many shoujo heroines are too bright and bubbly and in-your-face, Haruhi is calm and practical. I really hope they bring Host Club to America and dub it, but for now, watch Host Club any way you can, this series is too too amazing to miss!!!