AI YORI AOSHI ENISHI
And the �torture by hot chicks� continues for my pitiful self
Review by: Craig "Deja Vu" Norris
Length: 12 episodes
Genre: Romance
Watched: 1-12, subbed
At least this time, I knew what I was getting in to. When I watched Ai Yori Aoshi, I had no idea just how scrumptious and drool-worthy the chicks were, and how depressed and dejected I would become knowing that I could never know the joy of such company in real life. This time, I was well aware of the potential for dehydration from salivating at the fanservice excellence offered up by the cast. I even thought ahead and rigged up a system to drain the drool directly from my mouth and into a centralized collection dish, a design not dissimilar to George Foreman's grill. So, with antidepressants in hand, I sat down to watch this sequel series.
Plot synopsis: With the situation between Kaoru and Aoi's parents resolved, life returns to normal at the Sakuraba estate. Well, as normal as life can be with the current tenants. Even though Kaoru has committed himself to Aoi, he seems to have forgotten to tell the other girls, who are all still making a play for his affection. But just how long will the happy household be able to stay together before things change forever?
Artwork: Exactly the same as the first series, which I thought was decent. The show still struggles with backgrounds, but the cel animation is crisp and fluid. I like the character designs and the use of color, as well as the soft lighting which perfectly showcases the many occurrences of female flesh. It's not perfect by any means, but it complements the lighthearted mood of the series very well.
Music: The soundtrack is fluffier than a Sesshoumaru plushy. Not really a surprise, since it is a romance anime, after all. For the most part it works well enough within the show, but if taken by itself it is quite inane and unimpressive.
Characters: The main appeal of the show is in its characters, all of whom return for the sequel. They haven't changed much, and continue to behave according to how they established themselves in the first series. Kaoru is still a student, and seems to have settled nicely into the role of Aoi's fiance. (Then again, it's Aoi; who wouldn't?) He has shucked off some of his conservative demeanor, which allows him to have more fun and makes him more prone to sexual fantasy. (Then again, it's Aoi; who wouldn't?) Aoi is the same sweet, attentive and faithful girl that tugged at our heartstrings the first time around. She's a bit less apprehensive about being affectionate with Kaoru, and sometimes is even the romantic aggressor. Damn you, Karou! DAAAAAAAMN YOOOOOUUUUU! Taeko is still the maid, she is still clumsy, and yes, her breasts are still big and bouncy. Tina also still likes to squeeze those big and bouncy breasts, as well as every other pair that is within reaching distance. Her appetite for fun hasn't diminished, either, and she can still pack away the booze with the best of them. Mayu is still at odds with Tina most of the time, though they appear to have warmed up to each other a little bit. Chika is in the process of maturing during the series' run, so she has grown up noticeably, even though she is still the youngest and most inexperienced of all the girls. Miyabi still rules with an iron fist, but she has loosened up just a little bit since she first began her household dictatorship. Even though the characters seem a bit more subtle than in the first series, their behavior is more than characteristic and never stops reminding us why we liked them all in the first place.
Plot: To be honest, there really is none. All the episodes are just straight filler. Except for the last two, they all have very little consequence on the daily lives of the characters. Basically, they could all be interspersed at random between episodes of the first series without ruining the integrity of either series. All the episodes still exhibit the same charm and style, but that really can�t make up for the lack of a central plot. As entertaining and heartwarming as it is, I was really hoping for something with a bit more magnitude to hold the series together.
CHICKS!: Winners, all! First of all, there's Aoi, the best ever. End of story. No matter what your preference in women is, I guarantee that there is something that you will like about Aoi, whether it be her grace, her shyness, her caring, or her sublime beauty. I would gladly have both of my legs amputated in exchange for holding her hand. Besides, if I sit on my butt watching and reviewing anime all day, what do I need legs for anyway? Aside from Aoi, there's plenty of other chicks to lick the screen over. Taeko, the clumsy, bespectacled purveyor of fanservice is also present, and her luscious rack is just as supple and bouncy as it ever was. It seems that, no matter what costume she wears, her breasts are always cosplaying as bowls of jell-o. Tina, anime's own "girl gone wild," is back to her old breast-squeezing ways. She's still quite the party animal, and still quite the lush. In other words, the typical college girl. Mayu is still a spoiled rich girl and is still very possessive of Kaoru, but she seems to have matured and mellowed a little bit. And I think that she's of legal age now, though I'm not sure. Speaking of mellowing out, Miyabi is not nearly the hardass that she once was. She has abdicated the role of resident ubermensch and has adopted the role of surrogate mother and caretaker. Once again, the girls of the Sakuraba estate put on a tour-de-force display of chickness that is on par with almost no other group of chicks in the history of anime.
Overall: Twelve episodes of straight fluff would probably sound like a waste of time to most, and unless they were fans of the first series, I would have to agree with them. However, if you were enchanted by the charm of the first series (as I was to a mild degree), this chance to see the cast together again is entertaining. It is unfortunate that there is no real plot to hold it all together, as I believe that the raw materials that compose the show were capable of creating something with real majesty. But, as with most sequels, Ai Yori Aoshi Enishi forces us to settle for something moderately entertaining and formulaic.
IN A NUTSHELL
+ Same charm and style
+ Wonderful characters
- No plot
- Nothing but fluff and filler
Rating: 6/10
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