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Essentially what Inu x Boku SS is, is a series about a teenage girl who has put up a social barrier, looking down and pushing away any and everyone that tries to be nice to her. This is mainly because of the fact of how she's generally looked at. Being from a prestigious family, people more often than not don't help her out of goodness, but for reward or recognition from her family. So with that said she moves into a mansion that is very specific as to who may live in there, and each tenant is assigned a secret service (SS) ... agent.

Story 6/10: The story isn't particularly compelling, it does have supernatural elements to it, but they aren't delved into very deeply. They're certainly touched upon and a focal point of the show, but in a way that may not satisfy people who would watch this solely for the supernatural element. That said, it's just enough to moves things along nicely, and throw a couple of "curveballs" that makes suspending belief a lot easier.

Art 7/10: There wasn't anything special really about the art, however that doesn't mean it was good and solid throughout. The character designs were all fantastic and colorful, but the setting wasn't anything to call home about. The fights in the show were actually well done for the most part, though they weren't ever very long or focused upon to show much off.

Sound 8/10: Surprisingly, this was one of my most liked aspects of the show. The opening and ending were great and fit the show perfectly. As well as the soundtrack throughout the series that played throughout the battles and more relaxed/comedic scenes, it all complimented everything that was going on very nicely. The voice actors were also a wonderful crop, Miyano Mamoru (Okabe Rintarou, Yagami Light) was unique again, Hana Kanezawa, Sugita Tomokazu etc. They were all perfect for their respective roles.

Character 8/10: This was my favorite part of the entire series, was the cast of diverse and colorful characters, perfectly voiced as I mentioned already. Though my favorite part, there were a couple of recurring quirks for a couple of characters that were sometimes somewhat off-putting. Rirchiyo I thought was a good main girl overall, but at some point I thought she got to "cutely bashful", and took it too far sometimes. That being said, overall she was good as were the others given my rating, and is the backbone of this series for sure.

Enjoyment 8/10: Not much to say here other than I really enjoyed this series for what it was, a great comedy/supernatural/slice of life/romance sort of show. At some point or other, all of these elements are prevalent and were mostly well executed. At 12 episodes it's a nice quick watch, and I highly recommend it for anyone who is a fan of any of the genres I just mentioned.

Overall 8/10: For those looking for an enjoyable watch that can make you laugh from time to time and make you feel for the characters, I recommend this to you. The first 2-3 episodes are good, but then more gets quickly introduced to the story giving it more life, so hold out until then if you aren't immediately attracted or pulled in.

If you've made it this fair and are now reading my review, then by now you've realized this is an ecchi/harem, and a rather revealing one at that. I hardly think that's an issue with those of you who are interested in a good harem, and for those who came here expecting a deeply interwoven dramatic plot, it might be best to now consider what you're working with here. Nevertheless this is by far the most entertained I've been regarding any series in a little while and here's why...(The following review will contain no spoilers)

Story 6/10- The story isn't the reason why ... you're going to be interested in High-school DxD, plain and simple. However it certainly hold enough plot to actually make you wonder about certain things other than the obvious and enjoyable fan-service. Early on the main character Hyoudou Issei, a typical perverted highschooler is thrown into a not so typical situation. The supernatural elements are very prevalent in this story and it's actually pretty interesting for what it is. Highschool DxD does a good enough job laying a foundation where the characters can grow within, and not making it the most ridiculous thing you've ever seen.

Art 7/10- The art is good overall, nothing really to complain about but it won't amaze you in any profound way. All of the characters however are all very well designed, they all have some conventional traits from the usual archetypes presented in anime. That said though, they all have unique quirks and curves or lack thereof(I'm sorry I had to) that make them all very distinguishable from one another. Aside from the crisp character designs, the different settings they find themselves in are also nicely presented and you aren't stuck within a club-room or classroom like some Harem so often choose to do.

Sound 6/10- The sounds isn't anything to write home about. Much like the story, and there really isn't much to say about it other than it has have a good OP and the rare fitting score in the background from time to time.

Character 8/10- Other than enjoying the series itself, this is by far the best and most important part of the entire anime. Every single girl in the harem is noticeably different and aren't fawning over left, right and center for the guy. They all have unique powers and traits as well that interests you, and actually wants to see how strong they are. All of this is just gravy on top of how well the characters are voiced. I would normally put this part in the "sound" section but the seiyuu add so so much to the characters, it would be better mentioned here. They're all very fitting voices and provide distinct personality to every one of them. You just know it's a good harem when the characters are this well developed and presented when many other in the same genre tend to "cheat" and skip ahead. On top of that, the main character Hyoudou Issei is a great male lead. He's never whining or beating himself up over nothing. He will sometimes make a crack about how he hasn't done something, but nothing that will make you want to slap him silly. He also progresses nicely along with the others and quickly proves he has a strong place in the show.

Enjoyment 9/10- My favorite part of the review of course. This is my favorite harem I have ever watched for many of the reasons stated above and then some. I felt interested and invested in the characters and actually cared enough about the story arcs to be able to watch multiple episodes consecutively. Usually I find this difficult with a Harem genre since most don't have too much else drawing you in. This show has plenty of romance and it actually builds nicely rather than have all these beautiful girls just smitten with love right off the bat. Look at it this way, while he's surrounded by these beautiful women, he's only given an opportunity and still has to work very hard for their affection and love. Plainly put, I very much enjoyed this anime and will be re-watching it in the future when it leaves my recent memory.

Overall 8/10- I highly recommend this to anyone remotely interested in the harem/ecchi genre. The ecchi is very open but somehow does feel rightly placed because that's not all there is to it. There's a nice developing romance(s) going on, the characters are actually very interesting and easy to root for as well. For those who are thinking about watching their first Harem/ecchi this would be the one to start with.

This was an anime that popped up in my recommendations for a while based off various other's I watched. I simply didn't believe it would be anything close to what I wanted and became frustrated seeing the same cover page over and over of which I wasn't to fond of. I refused to watch it time and time again based on my own superficial reasons until I finally said to myself "it's 20 minutes of my life, I'll watch just one episode." It wasn't just 20 minutes, it ended up being a good portion of the season before I had to finally ... get some sleep.

Story- The story of Sakamichi no Apollon is one of the strongest I've ever seen in only 12 episodes. It gives a great back story as to why the main character (Kaoru) is where he is now and immerses you in the time frame of the story immediately. Although it's in the 60's and I was very skeptical of such a time frame, it's essential for the jazz fueled story of friendship that takes place. The story is truly touching and special as it addresses the great value of a deep bond of friendship as well as coming of age into your own person. There's certainly romance as well, although the most prevalent romance lies not with the main characters but with two supporting ones who in truth, really have their own amazing chemistry and story unfolding. This was one of the few plots that kept me invested, thinking and connected to everything happening at all times, it made you feel really heavy and then full of joy the next episode because of how much meaning the plot held.

Art- The art I was sorely mistaken on. I went in thinking for some reason it was going to have outdated animation purely because it was based in the 60's. In reality it was great quality animation, though I can't really pick out any instance where I was amazed by its creativity or colors. It does what it needs to do in this anime and depicts the time period of the 60's amazingly well, although it wasn't the brightest of times in Japan so I can see why it wasn't trying to be something it wasn't. The best part is the character designs as they're all crisp and perfectly fit their respective personalities. All in all the art compliments the story really well, but it's nothing to really to gaze at in itself.

Sound- This is what makes the anime other than the plot. I'll come right out and say it, I just couldn't handle jazz before, it didn't please my ears you could say. However, the second I heard Sentarou and Kaoru's first jam session together I was not only moved at how this music brought together the two most unlikely friends, it really gave me a new outlook on the music. Jazz is the driving force of this anime and this is easily the most important section of the review as there are so many situations that these characters must get through with their music. They even communicate with each other simply by being in the same room and playing their improv jazz, pouring out all their emotions to each other in instrumental song. For anyone who hates jazz, this show will at the very least make you tolerate it, they bring meaning to the genre for people who don't care about it in the least. Not to mention the theme song is the most fitting I've ever heard and the soundtrack is really something so unique and beautiful it needs to be experienced. I can rant on about how great the sound is for an entire review's length so I'll leave it at this.

Character- The characters are very well developed especially for a series that only spans 12 episodes. All of the main characters are very different but they all become bound by one similar interest in Jazz. While the typical delinquent meeting the quiet exchange student has been done before, both of these characters are far from common beneath the surface. Sentarou is one of the deepest characters in any show, and you can tell this almost right after meeting him, he had a feel to him that compelled you to be drawn to his story as well as the pure friendship between him and Kaoru. The seiyuu really bring these characters to life and add a great sense of realism to them to. Even the supporting characters play vital roles and all help the main characters along in their own way, as well as progressing their own stories in the time they have. What can be said overall is that there is not one annoying character or overly common one either. Every single character whether it be main or supporting has their own unique personality and goals that sets them all apart yet binds them together and that's what I find so impressive about the,.

Enjoyment- As you can all tell I thoroughly enjoyed this anime. It truly impacted me on a few different levels and really makes you think because there are so many real situations and desires you can relate to, despite it taking place in 1966. It just goes to show you that no matter the time or place, people will always have these issues to go through, and this show goes to show you how valuable having a deeply bonded friendship can be through that.

Overall- I highly recommend this to anyone who has even a slight interest in romance/comedy/drama/slice of life or even music. People who actually go into this liking Jazz beforehand will be on cloud 9 the entire way through. It drives home a message that I believe resonates with the majority that it will definitely leave you thinking deeply about it after you've finished. The only reason I did not give it a ten is because (and this is nitpicking now) even with these wonderful aspects I just couldn't put it on the same level as Steins;Gate, Honey and Clover, or Bakemonogatari. That being said it's extremely close to Honey and Clover, however H+C had amazing art while Sakamichi no Apollon had enough to convey its message.

It's hard to find a romance/comedy/slice of life that really leaves a good impression. Tonari no Kaibutsu-Kun does exactly that and for those of you who have already seen Lovely Complex and/or Honey and Clover it gives you some traits from each of those shows and adds it's own flavor into the mix as well.

Story- This is the weakest point of the series, however it's not so weak that it provides no interest or doesn't evoke any emotion from you. It's simple and laid out right in front of your eyes within the first two episodes essentially. That being said though, there ... are a few kinks in the story along the way that give you something to think about. So while it is the weakest point of the series, it also has it's strong point, and does enough with the core plot to move things along nicely at a solid pace.

Art- The art was a hair away from a ten, but I just couldn't do it so it wasn't meant to be i guess. Anyway, it really was my favorite part of the show and I've only thought this about maybe three anime I've ever watched. For the art to really have such an impact on the characters and story is really special I think. The pleasant background ambiance and bright, sometimes exotic colors give the scenery personality and a location as simple as their popular spot "the batting cages" suddenly becomes unique and colorful because of it.

Sounds- The OP is one of my favorites and the full length version of it is an extremely catchy song, not to mention a solid ED. There's a somewhat surreal feel to the background sounds i only mentioned in the "art" section of the review and immediately provide you with an engrossing feel that sucks you into what's going on. Every sounds seems to fit just right and because of this it all flows so naturally. Finally, the voice actors (or seiyuu) do a fantastic job portraying their character's attitude and feeling in various situation be it good or bad ones.

Character- At first they may seem like typical rom/com cookie cutter type characters but you'll be quickly proven wrong in that regard. It's not as though we haven't ever seen these characters before in this genre, but the way they're executed is what makes them so enthralling to watch. Haru is best compared to a wilder Morita (if that's believable for those who've watched Honey and Clover) he's more violent and protective you could say. That said, he's extremely passionate in everything he does as well as having nothing but pure intentions. He's very funny and extremely intelligent, and just an overall interesting character that is well designed based on who he is as well. Shizuku is a character that takes a little bit of developing for her to break out of her shell, and it works for the setting and story. You really get to see her grow with Haru and the other supporting characters slowly but it never truly gets tiresome as it's not your typical whiny self-conscious high school girl questioning her life/love every few minutes.

Enjoyment- Needless to say I rather enjoyed this, and I'll be sure to re-watch it eventually. I higly recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the anime I mentioned above, as well as anyone interested in a good romance told in a slightly different yet charming way.

Overall- It's a 9/10 like above the only reason it doesn't get 10/10 is because I believe you need to really go far above and beyond your genre and all other genres for that matter. This is definitely one of the best rom/com/slice of life iIve seen. This is also a perfect type of anime to get those who are just starting to pique their interest in this genre. At only 13 episodes it progresses nicely, and it doesn't have those cringe-worthy overly dramatic moments some romances have, so it's easier for someone new to the genre to dived in without worries.

This is officially my first review and me deciding to do it on a low rated ecchi/harem might be a little strange to some.

Firstly, I'll be rating this anime solely within the confines of its genre. Legitimate romance anime or well done comedies, they're out of the equation as this type of series can't possibly stand on level footing with another series that devotes its budget to great animation and story, not amazingly lively breasts that really look like they would hurt one's back. Now that's out of the way and in your thoughts for consideration, let's begin.

Story: For an Ecchi/Harem show ... I didn't find the plot to be lacking really. For this type of show it had enough underlying plot and back story to make sure it wasn't a stale watch. I'm not saying you're tuning in for the plot at all. In fact if you are then I suggest trying something like Death Note or Steins;Gate, it'll blow your away. I digress however. Point is, the story has enough elements so you are somewhat interested enough to watch more than one episode in a row.

Art: Not much to say about the art here really. I found it fine for what it was, the breasts are amazingly well done of course if you must know beforehand. Other than that, it's good enough, it looks new and sleek but nothing that stands out as special.

Sounds: This was the worst part of the show for me in terms of nothing really stood out. I mean, I did really like the intro but even so the background music and ending wasn't my cup of tea and overall the sound ended up adding very little to the show if anything at all.

Character: This is a strange thing to rate in a show like this for me. I personally found no one annoying in this show, and usually I'm not a fan of the overly tsundere loli looking girl. I think the designers actually found a great balance between those two traits for Himegami and I enjoy her. Not to mention the other main girls, they all have one similar obvious trait (except Himegami) but they also all have somewhat different ideals and motives for a harem. The best character is actually the guy when speaking of personality. He's a hilarious pervert but it's not as though he's pathetic and whiny. He actually holds a great deal of power and has some fight in him which is very nice to see.

Enjoyment: I thoroughly enjoyed this show, I knew what type of show it was before starting, i didn't go in expecting big plot twists or a deep complex villain. Instead I got a respectable enough story for its setting and characters. There's also decent enough romance, and plenty of seeds for future romance to develop and grow in the second season. So for those who like that touch of romance, don't think there isn't any because it's certainly there and developing.

Overall: As mentioned above I really enjoyed this series for what it was, and personally it's one of my favorite Harems, (third beyond Highschool DxD and Sekirei) and has enough devices to keep you interested and not bored watching the same thing every episode. It has a fresh kind of feel to it and they disguise a lot of cliches relatively well to.

For a ecchi/harem/martial arts/romance/comedy-- 8/10

Compared to any other genre- 5/10