4. Ouran High School Host Club
When I come across someone who doesn’t care for Ouran High School Host Club, it always throws me for a loop. Why? Because, in my opinion, it’s one of the most consistently funny and entertaining anime series to come out of Japan in recent years, and even if the tone or subject matter isn’t to one’s particular liking, the show’s strengths are still instantly recognizable. Then again, in anime fandom, it sometimes seems there’s more hate to go around than there is recognition.
No shortage of hate, indeed.
And Ouran High School Host Club is an easy show to hate, I suppose, what with its conspicuous shoujo style, flamboyant characters, and over-the-top narrative. Oh, and pointy chins. Some people just can’t handle pointy chins. However, it’s because the show is willing to cut loose and have some fun that it’s so remarkably entertaining. I haven’t smiled and laughed so much in ages.
Even more surprising is how the show manages to maintain such a high energy level from start to finish. I’m willing to admit that few of my personal favorites exhibit such consistency. Every show has its ugly moments, right? Not Ouran High School Host Club. It starts strong and ends even stronger. I suppose there are a couple of episodes that fail to live up to their full potential, but for a show that sets the bar so high, that’s to be expected. And there are more than enough “WOW!” episodes to make up for it.
So, if Ouran High School Host Club is such a model of perfection, why do I rank it fourth? Well, as absorbing as it was for a half hour each week, the buzz always wore off too quickly. Like another immensely popular show from the past year (something involving aliens, time travelers, and espers… can’t recall the name), it was the anime equivalent of a hit-and-run.
Felt pretty darn good, though.
So you’re doing rankings after all. I thought it was going to be a more of a retrospective without clear pecking order.
And also… Since you’re aware of the power of pointy chins, what throws you into the loop then? If it was a year of dearth, I suppose I’d take a look at Ouran. I saw Furuba with great interest despite Yuki’s chin which can be used to cut cheese. But in our times, a show must not have significant show-stoppers for me to get arount to it.
I thought it started strong and then… sort of repeated the same joke. It would have made a dazzlingly great 13-episode series because it did have a fair number of variations to play on its one note, but I lost interest around episode 16 or so.
The “Haruhi in Wonderland” episode was very good. I used to collect Alice in Wonderland variants. Most of them are wretched, but Ouran’s was, I thought, wonderful.
I’m not a shoujo fan in the least. Chins that can cut diamonds do nothing for me.
I LOVED this show. On my personal 2006 list, it’d have to fall second or third.(depending on how you count “shows from 2006″… if it’s just shows that had an episode run in 2006, it’s third. If it’s shows that ENDED in 2006, it’s second.)
The “flashing arrow” joke in the first episode made me laugh out loud, and it just got funnier from there. WONDERFUL stuff.
Ouran Host Club was lovely for really one thing: direction. Too bad it was pretty spotty. When it was good it was really really really good. When it wasn’t I forget what show I was watching. I think there are many things that’s wonderful about it, the Alice in Wonderland episode being probably the best of them all.
But it’s a far cry from Simoun, to put it in perspective.
I agree that it is one of my favorites from 2006, though there are a few shows I still would like to account for after completion. Two of the most intriguing aspects, imo, are the appeal to both genders and Suou Tamaki. I feel Ouran equally appeals to guys and gals, though it is shoujo. Suou Tamaki stands a character that defies my logic of personality. His smarts and charisma are sneaky and hidden well under his baka presence, but he is truly something good; the glue of the Host Club and its members is show for that.
There was some unneeded material, but I feel Ouran over 20 episodes was worth it.
Ouran is one of those shows I really wanted to like, but there is only one slight problem. I didn’t find funny, at all. It’s so frustrating when I know I like characters and there isn’t much not to like, but dammit… I simply don’t get the jokes.
Hey Jeff I had a friend who was crazy about this show so I’ll have to watch it in my free time.
well, i only watched ouran high recently, which was a great pity, considering that it is one of the best anime hits around. Still, I will probably rank it around this scale, since i have quite a few series that I enjoyed more in a different way.
I just wanted to say that I am really enjoying your “Year in Review” posts. I did enjoy Ouran; I found it funny and interesting, and the animation was wonderful. I thought most of the themes were handled quite successfully, but, thematically, what I enjoyed the most was that there was always more depth than what was shown if one read between the lines. There was always more to the characters than met the eye, and there was always an explanation for it.
Anyway, thanks for your posts! I will be looking forward to your #3 pick :-)
I thought that the Ouran manga was quite ok so when the anime was announced I figured I’ll check it out. Luckily I did, the anime was alot more enjoyable, credits to BONES for making it more entertaining than the source material :D
I’m kinda curious to know whether ARIA The NATURAL made it into the Top10 for JL’s list. Ep18 and Ep19 were stellar in fleshing out Aika’s character.
Narf.
I liked it well enough, I’d say it’s my #2 show of ‘06 behind the /other/ Haruhi. But you’re right, there is a lot of hate. I think one of my goals of ‘07 is to both minimize my own ‘hate’, and avoid that of others.
It was my favorite anime of 2006, I laugh so hard I nearly fell off my chair, another time I became over oxygenated (forget the word) and nearly fainted, … so awesome, also, I was able to hook my system on anime series too…
Haruhi comes second, or first, depending on the mood…
Mah!
Without a doubt, my favorite anime of 2006. It did have its weak points at times, but for me, its strengths completely blew everything else out of the water.
You watch Ouran High School Host Club in the beginning, and you think that it’s probably going to turn out to be one of those typical, comic relief kinds of things. But that doesn’t matter, right? Because you’ve been feeling sort of down lately, and a good laugh is exactly what the doctor ordered.
But then you really get into the anime - you just get so involved with the story. The development and backgrounds of the characters was just incredible, to say the least. Certainly, I got my share of more than enough “WOW” moments within this anime. At some points, I just needed to rewind and watch certain parts over again to receive that “WOW” again.
There’s a depth to OHSHC that you don’t get with some animes out there. Everything about this show was a treat for me to watch, and I think it was well worth its 26 episodes.
Just because of that depth and incredible moments, OHSHC is definitely at the top of my Top 10 List. I really recommend viewing it.
i really enjoyed that show so much!
i liked the ending but at the same time i didnt…kinda left me hanging..
i hope there is going to be a sequel..
i love the show it is so funny my fav 1 is honey ^-^
I really like all of its stories. I wonder if I was Haruhi (who has 6 rich and handsome guys around her, and those guys also want to be her friends too), maybe I would feel very proud. But, actually, I’m wondering which guy who will be choosen by Haruhi… The King, one of the Hitachi brothers (I forget his name), or maybe… Kyoya?
I really enjoyed this show, it was that type of show you wish you know what happens at the end. Like in the last episode they was like forgot her name had to married one of the guys. I think I already have a clue who would it be but the thing about it is that she don’t act like she like really like the French guy. So you know, its getting to me. There should be a second season if you ask me
Ouran high school host club was definitely the best anime I’ve seen since the short period of time i’ve been watching animes.. :D I’m not sure why, nor how.. but it made my life soo much more beautiful and definitely made me happier. I fell in love with Ouran High School Host Club from the beginning.. It’s so corny yet addictive. I also learned so much from Japanese culture. I HOPE WITH ALL MY HEART that there’s a second season.. it’ll really upset me if there isn’t.. I heard this rumor that it’ll be coming out this may, june or july.. is that true???? En tous cas, this anime really deserves more than just a four.. it made me see the brighter things in life.. (f)
Ikram**
Ouran High School Host Club is one of the best anime series I’ve seen, especially comedy-wise. It had me laughing to the very end, and I find that when I’m down and have absolutely nothing else to do, I always check out a few of my favourite episodes. If you really want to enjoy Ouran, you’ve got to look past the chins and the flamboyant personalities and enjoy the silliness as a whole, ’cause that’s what this show is all about: silliness. Outrageous ideas, you-know-what’s-coming jokes and general loveableness.
I think that Bisco Hatori shouldn’t consider doing a second season. Think about it, how much funnier can you get? Can you come up with new unthought of jokes? And how would the relationship between characters progress? I found the ending entirely satisfying, so really…enjoy the first season with all you’ve got. And unless Bisco Hatori proves me wrong, we’ll see how it goes.
Enjoy!
Astal Fox
ouran high school host club is the best anime i,ve ever seen and also the most funniest.It,s the only show that one could watch as many time they want without getting bored.
i think since that they made the MANGA into an ANIME, and only used the books as a reference to make the anime, if they do make a second season, it will be straight from their imaginations…
ps, i ABSOUTELY LOVE the HITTACHIN BROTHERS kaoru is to die for
I just love this ANIME!!! There has to be a sequel. They can’t just end it like this… We need to know more about Haruhi and who she will end up with!!! :D
P.S. - i thought they should have made the last episode A LOT longer than the others.
I thought that it was the greatest anime I’ve ever seen and i havn’t found one as good. it was just so funny. and who cares if they have pointy chins get over it and watch it coz its really good
Wow. OHSHC is a show that I somehow started to love. The anime and the manga to me are just hilarious and when I watch the anime, the animation is simply to die for. XD
Kaoru and Hikaru are simply cool. POWER TO THE TWINS.
Has the show completely ended or do we have to wait for the next season?
I just finished watching the series. I loved it. Although there were a few boring episodes this anime was amazing overall and a very fitting ending too =3. Will there be a sequel? And in the last episode Haruhi was wearing a dress while dancing with all the members of the host club, does that mean her secret is out?
I desperately want there to be a sequel - I have most of the manga and all of the DVDs, a poster and a BunBun Plushie from a convention.
Tamaki love
I really liked Ouran. It was so funny though.
I want to ask is there a dvd of this anime? i want to have it. so that every time i can watch this show everytime. please answer me? Arigato…!!!
The first half of the series will be released on R1 DVD in October 2008.