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TL;DR: It's exactly as you read in the summary. Nothing more, maybe a little less.

Because CLAMP has always been known for pushing the envelope between Shoujo and Shounen Ai, I've been meaning to watch this and X for a while. It was...a tad bit disappointing.

Not because of the protagonist, Subaru, who, in contrast to his rambunctious, slightly impulsive sister, is a gentle, soft spoken spiritualist who occasionally makes fatal rookie mistakes because of his naivety. Neither because of the enigmatic-with-a-touch-malicious Seishiro, or any of the supporting cast per se. The first episode gives you EXACTLY what the synopsis says. No 5-minute exposition about who ... they are, where their parents are, or anything having to do with the background of the anime whatsoever (the one-liner doesn't count). It just throws you into what Subaru is, then says, "You got all that? Great! Let's go find some dead bodies." And then throws episode one at you. For manga readers, this is perfectly acceptable. For first-time viewers? Not so much. It's not written horribly enough to make you lost, but you come away with only a superficial understanding of the overarching story...if there even is one.

The second episode is even worse because it gives you a teaser about the background of the characters, then manages to suck even more out of the episode than it gave. So you end up with less than nothing. You have questions, but there's only two episodes. You want to find out more, go back, see if you missed something--nope! They provided you two episodic plots and told you to take it or leave it.

It can be argued that both episodes are theme-based rather than plot-based. But together, what do those themes build? Absolutely nothing. So more disappointment there.

Let me also add to this the other things that were disconcerting: Subaru and Seishiro, who are canonically supposed to have a "thing" are probably no more suggestive than Doumeki and Watanuki (HOLIC), who canonically DON'T have a "thing". We get two 45-50 minute episodes, each with their own side characters and circumstances, but when we finally get to the "bad guy" of each episode...it falls horribly flat. You don't need a convoluted reason to do evil, but make it compelling, for heaven's sake. So when you finally reach the end, you might wonder what was the purpose of it all. I know I did.

Moving away from the anime's cons, the action scenes were very well done. The animation itself is passable; it feels reminiscent of Cardcaptor Sakura but if it were given a B-rated budget. There's no "high peak" to the animation, but the animation doesn't look particularly terrible in any one frame, either. A change from Magic Knight Rayearth, which, despite its close proximity in age, looks twice as good as this, but maybe that's the fault of their respective studios.

But overall, I can't say I didn't have fun watching it. There's that CLAMP charm mixed with 90s antics and the-little-BL-ship-that-could sailing in the distance. It's a bit tough to get invested in anyone (besides Subaru), but it's a good time-waster and a decent teaser for the manga (which might give more breadcrumbs than this 2-episode OVA). But would I watch it again? Meh. It was worth a first-time watch, but I doubt it'll be going on anyone's bucket list.

TL;DR: Those who can't handle grey will back off, and those willing to step into some mud will witness a beautiful series. It's hard to recommend, but I don't want to NOT recommend it, either.

Koi Kaze dumps you into a pond of squick and leaves you there to soak to death, making it very uncomfortable to watch the first few episodes. Especially from Koshiro's side, you witness his clumsy attempts at realizing, controlling, and managing his feelings, and at times it's painful to watch. Meanwhile, our princess Nanoka acts like a normal, sometimes-bratty, sometimes-innocent teenager, seasoned with a generous helping of maturity to quell her ... tongue. They balance each other out wonderfully: Koshiro being an almost thirty-something manchild, and Nanoka being an almost-teenage-adult.

As the anime dives deeper into their pasts, you realize how the seemingly little things in childhood have profound effects. For Koshiro especially, his emotional immaturity is a reflection of what he was and was not given. Combined with his natural underwhelming personality as a child, he grows up to be somewhat of a stewing mess--which has and continues to mess up all his relationships.

The metaphors and symbolism are tastefully done, and several parallels are drawn throughout the series: Nanoka versus her two friends, Koshiro verses his two coworkers, one of them arguably his closest friend. The OSTs really brought out the emotion in the scenes, leaving your stomach dropping with nervousness or fluffy with glee, and they handle what could've been smut scenes very tactfully and tastefully. It's not meant to get the viewer stimulated; it's meant to portray a very staunch picture, and it does a great job of it.

I'm a bit disappointed at the end; it feels a bit weak compared to the rest of the series, as it leaves it on a positive and open-ended note. It doesn't bother to discuss what would, could, or should be; it just gives you an ending, and asks you to be fine with it. Given the controversial nature of this anime, though, I would have preferred something a bit more solid.

That said, I did enjoy this anime. It carries the characters' emotions with subtlety and grace, and doesn't overplay anything. I rate it high, but it certainly isn't for everyone.

TL;DR: Do I recommend this? Maybe--it depends on what you're looking for.

Nostalgia dictates that I give this a high score, and I did have a lot of fun re-watching this after so long. But for those watching this for the first time, what they might see is a slew of archetypes with conveniently placed plot points and an MC who barely makes sense.

Starting with our cast, if you can imagine a crybaby, clumsy, turn-the-other-cheek, too-naive-for-her-own-good, never-say-die Sakura Mikan (Gakuen Alice), you've got yourself Amano Ichigo. Comparing her to Manga! Mikan and Kurata Sana (Kodocha) would be a slap in the face, despite all ... of them looking almost exactly alike. Similarly, comparing the stoic-yet-complex Hayama to Kashino, despite them looking, feeling, and having similar backgrounds would be a slap in the face. All three iterations of these girls and their male counterparts catered to different times, and it shows. If another pig-tailed, brown-eyed and brunette young maiden starred in an anime today, I would then compare her to the other three and probably say the same thing. Comparing anything now to any shoujo anime in the 90s is simply out of the question.

Hanabusa and Andou, despite having some nuances, are largely archetypal in their behaviors. Worse, although there are some episodes that focus on them, they mainly serve to counteract Kashino, whose harshness sometimes brings the MC to tears. And the few things that they could've given some depth to they decided to gloss over it with a course brush, put some perfume on it, and hope it doesn't stink too much. But again, it's a shoujo; it caters to a young audience, and it shows.

Its imbalance with female and male main characters is a bit of a problem too, and most female characters have to be won throughout the series before they're considered the "good guys". Meanwhile, although Amano's male posse was neutral-negative to her in the beginning, they warmed up fast over the first few episodes, and their loyalty rarely wavered. It gives the feeling of a reverse harem without actually being labelled as such. I've never liked harems of any kind, so I take that as a negative. Contrarily, her slow-burn hint of a romance with one of the male leads was a really nice touch, and it accentuated how the boys treated her over time.

But what's really nice is how Amano, despite never growing up in some ways (you'll be exasperated with her selfishness until the end), learns to utilize her talents to the fullest as she continues on in her path to becoming a patisserie. Her kindness knows no bounds, and although she's self-absorbed she's very willing to share (which has gotten her into some really sticky situations). If you're an older viewer, part of you will dislike her, but part of you will keep cheering her on. The ending is predictable, but you find yourself wanting to see it anyways.

Admittedly, there were a few filler episodes I skipped in the latter part of the series (say episode 30+) but it didn't take away my understanding of the show. Overall, it's a fun time waster and a blast from the past that gives you good vibes. Of course, if you're looking for something fulfilling, multifaceted, and deep, this is most certainly not it.

TL;DR: This was a series with a lot of potential that was unfortunately wasted.

The beginning of the series pulls the audience in with intrigue. Opening was fresh, cues you in that something's going to be different with this one. It's rare you find an anime with a good ending song too; this one fit the bill. Ecchi was thrown at me in the first thirty seconds, but after watching the first episode, I realized this anime had risque undertones at best. This is good for non-ecchi lovers, probably bad for others.

After the first three episodes, you come to the saddening conclusion that this is, but ... in fact, another episodic series. Which has the possibility of working well, but makes you wonder, "just how is this anime going to close if there's nothing tying it together?" In HOLIC, each unassuming episode built you up to a startling revelation and a stunning climax. It's why that anime, despite being sorely underrated, is still regarded relatively well by those who care to watch it.

This anime...had no such luck. After being bruised by sudden antagonists and a spotty trek of a plot reveal you probably could've spotted a mile away, the series decides to give us a band-aid for our boo-boos and send us on our way. (Simply: the ending sucked.) There was no explanation for certain characters, and only a brief explanation of why the story was the way it was, and there certainly wasn't a chance to analyze anything. Sure, the individual episodes shed light on Japanese mythology with a side of slice-of-life and a jug of drama, but as for the main characters themselves? A very "take it or leave it" stance.

There seems to be the hintings of a possible season two, but I wouldn't hold my breath. And without it, this anime unfortunately falls flat. Still, I liked Ren, Oto, and Sumireko's dynamics, and the side characters themselves were relatively likeable. It's hard to find an anime that stands out like this one, so I didn't want to give it too low a score, but it really doesn't deserve anything higher.

This is the problem with changing standards: it's evident that Ikoku Irokoi was received better in its hayday than it is now. It's not that this anime is bad, per se; it's more that it reflects the inclinations of the early 00s.

So before you completely dismiss this anime, consider a few things:

1. It seems that not many have focused on Ranmaru's wife despite her serving as a catalyst in this anime. Kaoru, who he wed to for the sake of his family, was physically and verbally abusive, which only gets worse over time. As a result, Ranmaru meets Al, who he immediately becomes attracted ... to.

There's a stark contrast between Kaoru, a highbrow yakuza's daughter who repeatedly shows her disdain for marrying a brutish, old-fashioned man she believes to be beneath her, and Al, a chauvinistic gentleman who's aloof enough to prioritize having a good time. So the anime presents a situation where Ranmaru is faced with two choices: the wife he doesn't love and that doesn't love him back, or the man who seems to fetishize the very traits his wife loathes, and that Ranmaru himself is proud of. It's obvious to see why it's called a "Love Affair".

2. Although there was non-con in the series, it was NOT between Al and Ranmaru. Not only did Ranmaru not stop or want to stop Al's advances (even when he wasn't drunk), but he plainly acknowledged it, his bemusement stemming primarily from cultural differences and his naivety with relationships. I won't go as far as to say that there's enthusiastic consent, but their relationship would better be classified as dubcon at least. That still might be a deal-killer to some.

Al, despite his gracefulness, is kinda scummy, but so is the whole cast. There is no development to be found here; there's only a string of tangentially-related one-night stands that clumsily guides the viewers to the grand finale. You'll be terribly disappointed if you expect anything more than what the title indicates. (Admittedly, there are things here and there to give the feel of 'the heart grows fonder apart', but that feels like a bit of a stretch.)

3. And, finally, keep in mind that this is the same creator of Viewfinder and Crimson Spell, the former of which was briefly animated. If you're expecting a well-rounded, tame, wholesome couple with no problems whatsoever, you won't find it with Yamane's works. Instead, try Given, Cherry Magic, Sasaki to Miyano, or any of the other BL series that are more suited for the times.

With that said, I personally have always enjoyed this (albeit with a few eye-turning caveats), especially as the smut was more daring then than it ever will be now, but I realize my opinion is a sorely unpopular one. Taking the larger audience into consideration, it's very likely that some viewers new to BL or searching for a mainstream-compatible series will not find enjoyment in Ikoku Irokoi, which is why I struggle to recommend it. That said, it doesn't erase the few charms the series does have, between its above-average animation and some lighthearted scenes here and there to soften the mood.

Yes, yes, this anime does have its fluffy, lovey-dovey couples, no problematic content, whatever. Not that it needs to be barren of problematic content to be considered a good story. Anyways, I personally enjoyed this anime for a few reasons, but it's not without its problems.

Let's just put it up front that I'd give 10 stars for one particular supporting character who was an absolute riot throughout the series. They're the very embodiment of 'don't judge a book by its cover', which makes every interaction with Adachi absolutely hilarious to watch. So there's your comedy.

One part of the story that might not have been ... discussed in other reviews is how the anime slowly takes the concept of mind-reading and flips it on its head. Cherry Magic slowly deconstructs this super-power, revealing its pitfalls through the eyes of the characters. Honestly, if it had been just the beginning, this anime would have received a much lower rating from me, but I really like the problems that came along with the second half. It was a unique take on a hackneyed cliche.

That's not to say this anime is without its problems. We're given one couple in the beginning of the series, but somehow end up with two by the end. It's a very 'Junjou Romantica' approach, but unlike Junjou Romantica, which gives each of the three couples similar amounts of screen time (more or less), it's more like a 3:1 ratio between the first couple and the second. The transitions between the couples takes a hit, too, and while the main couple gets away with it by the skin of its teeth, the side couple takes a hit for it. Its much easier to forget Tsuge and Minato than Adachi and Kurosawa. Tsuge has been both Adachi's support as well as the lead of his own romance, but Minato leaves much to be desired.

There's also a lot of cringeworthy moments in the anime, both having to do with mind-reading powers and just the natural 'non-normie' charm of Tsuge and Adachi. And then there's the animation, which, along with the telepathic scenes, was the most cringeworthy part of it all. For every significant thought the characters have, the viewers are unfortunate enough to have to sit through 15-30 seconds of stilled frames as we listen to whatever character think whatever life-changing thought they're having and how it impacts Adachi (or Tsuge). If this happened every so often it wouldn't be a problem, but it happens every. Single. Episode. It's awkward, and it takes the enjoyment away. I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks so.

It's with these praises and complaints in mind that I can't fully recommend it, but still say that I enjoyed it very much. There's no such thing as a 'perfect' anime, sure, but the problems really do weigh a lot on the viewers enjoyment of the anime, and should definitely be taken into consideration when deciding whether to watch it.

"What's old is what's new," right? For those who Wedding Peach rings nostalgic for, this sentiment probably hits the mark, including myself. But after re-watching this anime, the rose-colored glasses have unfortunately shattered. Still, its inherent charm still carries on.

Story: This anime has a persistent--almost borderline obsessive--fascination with the concept of love, yet its portrayal of love is one-dimensional at best, and stereotypical at worst. Many of the episodic couples have similar themes, with similar dynamics, with similar endings. Some episodes promote outdated premises, which could be uncomfortable for some viewers. There was also an episode that, while not intentional, could have really drawn out ... some Madoka Magica vibes if it had been taken to its logical conclusion. Fortunately, Wedding Peach is a purebred, through-and-through supernatural shoujo anime, where there is no such thing as debilitating, permanent hardship and where love always wins.

Like Magic Knight Rayearth, one of the female leads unfortunately gets the short end of the stick. In particular, that latter love square (I'll call it a square because of the innuendos (whether perceived or canonical)) had so much potential, which was unfortunately wasted. I really can't say more without spoiling it, but it does involve one of the later villains in the show. I've seen many shows (including Sailor Moon, Wedding Peach's aunt-in-law) showcase various types of loves with various endings, and THAT would have been the time to really delve into it. Wedding Peach's insistence on its certain portrayal of love really hindered it.

Characters: The three main characters all fill a "cliche" (the fourth appearing literally 3/4th into the show), yet have some trait that benefits the story. True, Momoko is a naive, loud-mouthed, childish, hot-headed, sometimes-slower-than-her-peers female lead that makes you either sigh in second-hand embarrassment or irritation, but she's THE kindest character in the entire show, including the so-called "angels" of love. She has repeatedly given second and third chances to her enemies, earning her several allies and the hearts of her viewers. It's occasional, but you'll find she's worth watching for. Her friends, well...

Then there's Yousuke. Initially, he's presented as a side piece to the guy who should have been the ML, Kazuya Yanagiba, but ends up outshining him over the course of the series. He comes off as a supporting character, but is actually a main character. Which is great, because his character is generally likeable and a bit more complex than the main cast. He initially comes off as brutish, snarky, and insensitive, but is revealed to be so much more through his interactions with Momoko and her friends. He's also implied to be more than he appears from relatively early in the series, which encourages the viewer to want to watch it despite the entourage of cardboard foes in each episode.

Speaking of foes, most of them felt like a horde of NPCs with a few notable exceptions. In hindsight, Lord Pluie was great foreshadowing for the show, despite his piss-poor performance. His charismatic bravado will either make you love him or not care for him. The other notable villain (besides the great mummy herself) is Igneous, who operated less as a villain and more as a construct and catalyst. Although his job was similar to his predecessors, he took a much more lackadaisical approach and had no problem enjoying himself along the way. He's not entertaining because he's a good villain; he's entertaining because of his relationship with the other characters.

And then there's Potamos, the bane of the viewers' existence.

Last Thoughts: Besides its stubborn portrayal of love, Wedding Peach also falls down with its reused footage each and every bloody episode. Worse, skipping 2-3 minutes during the transformation scenes sometimes allows viewers to miss vital parts that progress the overarching story. That said, Wedding Peach has stood the test of time, and while predictable, is still entertaining to watch to some degree. If you have your sanity after lasting 15 episodes, you'll probably scrounge up the patience to last the whole 51.

Take solace in the fact that those beautiful two males featured in the advertising art will be nowhere in this anime. You can also take solace that for seven painstaking minutes, you can watch two stick figure chibis hopping around that LOOK like the main couple.

Which, speaking of those seven painstaking minutes, each episode features a collection of mini-skits with a pretty stagnant background, not much motion, not much deviation, and not much introduced. I'd be bold enough to say that it's half a step above a drama CD, which...this anime would have probably fared better with than this thing. Not only is this ... animation a slap in the face to the original manga, but with how scarce it is to find the original four episodes, its evident that folks outside Japan don't care much for it either.

The interactions are kind of cute, but the enjoyment is smothered by how boring it is to watch the same thing with different desserts. The characters' personalities don't really add anything to the charm either, but it does fit its role as a slice-of-life, saving this rating from an insulting 1 star.

As I don't have access to all four episodes, I've put a preliminary review based on only the first episode, but honestly, I don't see my opinion changing much.

If I can, I'll still watch it to the end, only as this is the only review for this anime and to give it a complete assessment. But ultimately? It's not worth your time.

FAKE is kind of an anomaly in that it's hard to recommend it, but hard NOT to recommend it.

It's entertaining in that cutesy 90s slapstick, romcom, fast-paced-banter sort-of way, where all the main cast are all familiar with each other and have their own intertwining circles of harem. If the dynamics of Kimagure Orange Road (or Ranma 1/2) turned gay and given a crime-mystery feel to it, you'd have FAKE. (And maybe that's an oversimplification but the bill should fit somewhat.)

With how they rapidly introduce the main cast, it feels like you're being dropped in the middle of a series, with only enough detail ... to get a superficial grasp as to how they're all connected. To their credit, they did give a 5-minute background check on the main couple, Ryo and Dee, and how they became involved with each other. Everyone else, including the love interests of Ryo and Dee respectively? Not a chance. Still, it's pardonable given that they try to tell a cohesive, original story in 1 hour, and they do it alright.

The mystery was a sloppy Burger King special. After the scene is set, it's laughably easy to narrow down the suspects, and therein the motives. No taste, much less flare. But the anime laughs it off anyways; it's background music for showcasing the main duo's relationship, which seems one-sided but is surprisingly mutual. There's also not much development you can do with a story that's already crammed with mystery, slapstick, spurts of fanservice (?), and frequent character introductions, so their ending, while sweet, falls a little flat.

The music was greazy. Not much else to it.

It took a good while to get used to the animation. Not cause of its stereotypical 90s look, but their faces. My god, their faces. I'm used to seeing cutesy art like the original All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku, Slayers, and the like, not...even Kizuna and Zetsuai weren't so bad compared to FAKE. But that's probably more subjective than not.

Overall, it was an entertaining hour that's purposefully open-ended in that "and their journey continues" kind of way, with new developments up to the last minute before credits, but at least leaves you not feeling weighed down. It's not an anime you should go searching for, but if you find yourself interested, you probably won't be too bored.

Let me be the trendsetter and be the first one with mixed feelings towards this anime.

First, concerning the somewhat "off-putting" animation style, it's really not as bad as it could be--IF you're used to 80s and 90s animes. I'm not talking about well-known ones like Bepop and Lain; I'm talking about the majority of anime series that were buried amidst the 2000s wave of really influential household anime names. It definitely takes some getting used to, but not enough to be an eyesore. (And it's still not as bad as its sequel with their razor-sharp chins.)

The biggest problem for me is pacing. And I get ... it--only 45 minutes to shove in a few chapters from the manga. But it does play a part on how this anime is perceived. Takuto in particular comes off as overly cagey and defensive. Then, three-fourths in, after Kouji sacrifices yet again for Takuto, he suddenly switches to warming up to Kouji, which leads to the finale.

On the other hand, Kouji is pretty stable throughout; he's true to his desires through and through. He's obsessive and possessive, and his desperation increases as the story goes on. Although Takuto is technically the one with the sad backstory, it's easier to sympathize with Kouji.You see the sacrifices he makes to Takuto without any prompting, and you feel for him each time he gets rejected.

Their messed-up relationship is supposed to set the stage to mirror Takuto's past, allowing him to make a crucial decision in the end that...is left to our imagination. Because they cut it off right at the end. I guess it's good they decided to air the sequel so we're not constantly wondering what's going to happen next.

Overall, Zetsuai is an anime with a good premise, but doesn't leave much of a lasting impression (except for a character study). Because I was interested enough to go to the sequel, I could find some resolution with this anime and say I wouldn't mind watching it again. Rated by itself, though, this OVA's performance is average at best.