Cabin fever got the best of me this weekend, so I drove out to Aspen, taking the scenic route through South Park, the Sawatch Range, and over Independence Pass as opposed to the more direct route via the Interstate. It made for a lot of driving, but it was worth getting off the beaten path and enjoying the late summer scenery along the way. The Rocky Mountains, as the name suggests, aren’t particularly lush, but the closer I got to Aspen, the greener things got. On occasion, I was reminded of trips through the mountains of Japan, and, after awhile, the setting got me thinking about a particular anime series I had been meaning to rewatch for over a year now.
So, to recover from my long journey, I sat down the next day and popped Onegai Twins in the DVD player. In case you didn’t know, Onegai Twins (and its predecessor Onegai Teacher) takes place on the shores of Lake Kizaki in Nagano Prefecture, at the foot of the Japanese Alps. It’s a fine setting for an anime series that takes place solely in Summer, and practically serves as a tourist brochure for the region. The scenery has attracted many of the show’s fans, at least.
It’s also one reason I enjoy the show so much despite its obvious shortcomings. Onegai Twins was actually one of the first shows I covered when I first started anime blogging - in fact, it was the subject of my very first anime blog post four years ago - and even though I enjoyed the show a fair amount when I first watched it back then, I could never quite decide whether it was worthy of being labeled “good” or not. Even after a subsequent rewatch following its DVD release here in North America, I had difficulty forming a solid opinion about the show. I figured my most recent rewatch would produce similar results.
Except, it didn’t. Perhaps the passing of time does make the heart grow fonder, for the show clicked for me this time in a way it never had before. Much has been made of the story’s overreliance on the, “We might be related, but we might be strangers,” conflict that pops up again and again (and again), and you can definitely count me among those who found it annoying the first time around. It’s something that dominates over the show’s middle acts, transforming what should be a quick and simple thirteen episode romp into a frustratingly long slog. Sure, the show starts strong and ends competently, but it gets a little lost along the way - and it’s in those middle episodes that I think a lot people’s negative opinions about the show are formed.
I can’t blame them, really. The show practically begs for its own drinking game. One shot for every instance of, “We might be related, but we might be strangers.” Two shots for every time Karen and Miina show up naked in the bath. The whole bottle for each time you think, “Damn, Maiku’s one lucky bastard.” Although, depending on present company, you might want to just down the bottle without saying anything…
However, the more I think about it, the more I come to realize that, “We might be related, but we might be strangers,” is more than a repetitive catchphrase. It truly is the conflict the entire story is built upon. So, should it be all that surprising that Maiku, Karen, and Miina spend much of the story grappling with it? If I were to find myself in their shoes, I suspect I’d be equally confounded as well. Love triangles are complicated enough as is… the knowledge that one member of the triangle is, in fact, your twin sister, makes it all the more complex.
And, as easy as it is to crack jokes about Maiku sowing his wild oats on the family farm, is it really all that unspeakable that he should fall in love with Karen and Miina, given the circumstances? Or vice versa? I’ve seen Onegai Twins described as creepy, but I honestly don’t follow. Koi Kaze is creepy. Onegai Twins is not. Unless, of course, you’re looking for a simple reason to dislike the show that can’t be challenged. After all, It’s kind of hard to argue with, “It makes me feel dirty.”
Then again, perhaps I’m just desensitized to this sort of thing. It’s amazing what years of watching anime can do to you. Still, I think that, for subject matter that could clearly be dealt with in a vulgar manner, Onegai Twins’ handling of it is pretty reasonable. In fact, the more I write about it, the more I think, “Is it really worth mentioning?” I don’t think so, but just because it’s not an issue for me doesn’t mean it’s not an issue for others. Like I said… it’s amazing what years of watching anime can do to you.
In the end, however, I feel compelled to say positive things about the show in an effort to change some hearts and minds. It’s what I do. And, given my newfound appreciation for the series, I already look forward to watching it again.
Next Summer, perhaps?
Good post, but I’m afraid I’m one of the people who wouldn’t touch incest in any shape, way, or form - exactly why I never checked out this series or Koi Kaze.
Ah, the post title alone was enough to put a smile on my face. (And the song is in my head now, thank you ever-so-much. Credit that tune for sparking my Kotoko fanboyism…)
O-Twins is certainly the weaker of the two O-stories, but it’s not an actually bad series overall. The main problem is the “are we or aren’t we” sing-song see-saw, but there aren’t many other major flaws when you get right down to it. Granted, this is assuming that the theme of potentially-incestuous romance doesn’t turn you off. I can completely understand why some people won’t touch this series with an eleven-foot pole.
Mind you, I also remember O-Twins fondly for being one of the shows we debated back when the ABM forums were at their peak. Nostalgia’s a funny thing.
Now if you’ll excuse me, my MP3 player needs some attention.
Onegai Twins was the show that led me to find your blog to begin with.
I just watched it myself a couple of weeks ago as well, and ended up really liking it a lot more than my previous two viewings of it were. I was a very new anime fan when I watched Onegai Twins, in fact it was the first fansubbed series I watched. But I liked it a lot when I first watched it (though I always felt it was clear it was inferior to Teacher - but I liked Teacher a LOT more then than I do now). I felt conflicted and annoyed with its shortcomings when I again watched the show on DVD, but I actually really enjoyed it when I watched it recently. I don’t think I’d mind it being a show I revisit every so often at all. At least more than I have in the past few years.
I’ve called Twins my “guilty pleasure” in the past, but with the arrival of Ikkitousen: Dragon Destiny, it’s moved into that slot.
These days, it’s a show that, like you, remember fondly. The incest theme doesn’t bother me much, considering that the three of them spend the entire series worrying about the taboo… and therefore not doing anything until they know for sure.
Plus, Maiku actually has a spine. Such a rarity in a ‘harem show’ makes it worth watching.
I actually prefer it to Teacher, but that’s just me.
I loved Onegai Twins - which I thought was a significant improvement over Onegai Teacher.
Twins has been described as an incest show but the whole dramatic point of the story is the unravelling of the mystery as to who is the real sister so as not to break the taboo. As you pointed out, they spend the whole series grappling with it and I thought the way it was resolved (with the added twist about the photo) was very satisfying.
I had it for a while back, but I stopped watching it, why, I can’t remember, and I do not know. I also must say I prefer Onegai Teacher over this one so far (I should watch O-Twins anyhow).
Second I must say I am a little touched by what you wrote this time, and that picture (moe.imouto?) very nice aswell.
And as Zyl mentions, that O-Twins “…has been described as an incest show but the whole dramatic point of the story is the unravelling of the mystery as to who is the real sister…” I must agree with that. I have yet to see the end but I’llmake sure o see it soon.
Jasper
While i enjoyed the anime adaptation of Onegai Teacher, Twins and OVA it’s still a pale, twisted version of the manga (twisted? yes, twisted)
Just read it and find out…made me feel like a slider entering an alternate Earth.
Haha, you blogged Girls Bravo back in the day. That show, Goddamn.
I’ve always meant to watch Please Teacher. Never really considered twins though.
I think the ultimate problem with Onetwi is that it’s hard to follow Oneti.
But like wonderduck just evoking the words “Second Flight” was enough for me. Onetwi OP is still one of the most memorable anime OP/ED personally. it captures that summer-in-Nagano well enough within that minute-and-half that just by watching that I can relive the Onetwi experience…without reminding myself the sloggy narrative itself.
I actually prefer Onegai Twins to Onegai Teacher, the reason being that Onegai Teacher is loaded down with so much “stuff” - the sci-fi element, in particular. Yes, I know the premise relies on it, but I think the show uses it as a crutch as the story progresses. It especially plays too great a role in the ending.
However, it’s been years since I last watched Onegai Teacher, so who knows how I’d feel if I rewatched it now.
Back to Onegai Twins, though… I think it’s interesting how it’s labeled an “incest” show, when, for all intents and purposes, nothing of the sort ever occurs. Yes, some kisses are exchanged (which might be more shocking for a Japanese viewer, I suppose), but that’s it. Also, one thing I only noticed in my most recent viewing is that, in the two instances Maiku kisses his real sister, it’s purely accidental. The instances in which he kisses his non-relative, however, are not. Funny how they danced around that.
Oh, and PassinGass… the Onegai Twins anime series predates the manga by a couple of years. The Onegai Teacher anime and manga series ran concurrently. In both cases, I believe the anime versions are to be considered canon.
But not the OVA. That just stank on ice.
I prefer Onegai Twins to Onegai Teacher too!! My particular reason is the characters (Karen mostly,… lol). I think the “incest” label is because two young and beautiful women living with a guy all the three by themselves however nothing happens… or at least we see nothing… and nobody knows yet they are family.
but anyway i liked Onegai Twins..
^_^
>> I actually prefer Onegai Twins to Onegai Teacher
…
Pedo.
Sorry for the double post in advance.
But, I watched the first couple episodes of O-Twins and I must say I kindof.. look at it differently, like I look at Moetan now I looked at it then, it’s good, some clutchy things here and there but hey, who am I to complain. It reminded me of my want for Byousoku 5cm(! hint)… Gee how am I drifting off right now.
A little word on the incest part and kissing, the way I see it in Japan (or japanese in common) are the more sophisticated and delicate people who take things more seriously are devout. Recently I read about a drunk japanese person how he was drunk driving, forgive me for my insultness (if that’s a word) but it made such a ruckuss that I think they aren’t used to disorder. Am I right, I think I am not sinceI merely speak from an ants position looking at the sky.
I think they “kick” on it seeing things like that.. perhaps.. Hmm, i think it needs to be revised.
Best of all,
Jasper
…
Pedo.
Hey, some people just have a healthy appriciation of boobs that are considerably less likely to sag when they’re 25 of age :p
Onegai Twins is probably the best, most relaxing “summer” anime along with Kamichu. My weakest spot for them is their crisp depictions of life in those picturesque Japanese small towns. As much as I love slice-of-life show like Honey & Clover and Manabi Straight and etc, Onegai Twins always holds a special place in me because like you said, there’s no other elements interfering me from just purely immersing myself into the tranquil Japanese Alps summer. It’s screaming with Seishun Banzai.
“But like wonderduck just evoking the words “Second Flight” was enough for me. Onetwi OP is still one of the most memorable anime OP/ED personally. it captures that summer-in-Nagano well enough within that minute-and-half that just by watching that I can relive the Onetwi experience…”
ditto*omo
Good to see more positive things being said about Onegai Twins.
Seriously, this was one show I’ve had fond memories off, both good and bad, and this was really the show that made me find your blog in the first place.
While many may go rasp rhetoric on how much the show sucks, they should just really sit down and enjoy it for everything.
This show is truly a show that’s more than the sum of it’s parts.
P.S. Second Flight wins. Hard.