The first time I sat down to watch Ouron Highschool Host Club, I had a lot of questions and some very strong feelings from the start. In fact, there was a lot of yelling at the screen. I am actually half convinced that part of my watching this anime was so that Crymson, and later Vanri, could watch me watching it. I didn’t turn it off, though. In fact, I marathoned Ouron till the last two episodes because, at that point, I was emotionally invested and didn’t want it to end.
Ouron Highschool Host Club is an anime based off a successful series of a manga that was written by Bisco Hatori. The anime debuted in 2006. Fans have not so patiently been waiting for a second season ever since. The characters are all parodies of shojuo manga stereotypes.
In the pilot, we meet Haruhi Fujioka, the main character and honor student. Haruhi is attending the prestigious Ouran Academy on scholarship and looking for a quiet place to study. What Haruhi finds in an “abandoned” music room that is actually the home of the Host Club. The Host Club is run by six attractive and wealthy male students who entertain the school’s bored and equally wealthy female students.
Tamaki Suoh is the president of the club and its princely/king character. Kyoya Ootori is the vice president and the real brains behind the club while he represents the glasses/cool character. Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachii are identical twins in Haruhi’s class and the mischievous characters. Mitsukuni “Honey” Haninozuka is the sweet boy lolita character and his cousin Takashi “Mori” Morinozuka is the protector with a soft heart character of the club. Haruhi breaks an expensive vase and becomes indebted to the Host Club during this first meeting.
Haruhi starts to run errands for the club to work off the debt. Soon the club finds out that Haruhi is a natural with their female customers and offer to let Haruhi become a Host to pay the debt faster. The series shows Haruhi becoming friends and learning that the Hosts are more than their roles in the club. These friendships are written beautifully. The information about the Hosts are given slowly throughout the series in different episodes. We even get more information about some of the secondary characters; such as my favorite, the head of the Dark Magic Club Umehito Nekozawa.
The Hosts also strive to understand Haruhi better as the series progresses. Since Haruhi comes from a very different socio-economic world, the group clashes at times. These clashes usually lead to some cringe worthy moments for me while I was watching. The Hosts make each other better throughout the series. It is wonderful to watch them all evolve.
I did have a hard time with some of the verbiage of the show. Some situations also made me uncomfortable. Overall, I really did enjoy the show. The characters are fun. The animation is a great mix of beautiful and silly. The music is very catchy as well.
There is even a live action version of the show which I desperately want to watch.
I can understand why people love this anime. Ouran High School Host Club is silly and fun. It also has a lot more depth than you expect.
I would rate this anime as: Yes watch!
Always keep sparkling!
