Common Name: Ouran High School Host Club
Alternate Names: Ouran Koukou Host Club
Score: 7/10, 4/5
Length: 26 episodes
Genre: Comedy, Harem, Romance, School Life
Summary: Fujioka Haruhi has been mistaken for a boy for the vast majority of her school life, but it doesn't really bother her since it's a problem that hardly affects her studies. With her intellect alone, Haruhi has earned her place the prestigious Ouran High which is typically reserved to the world's elites. And, for a while at least, she lived a fairly normal life there until she runs into the school's host club and breaks an expensive vase during her attempts to escape, opening herself up to becoming their errand boy and fellow host to pay them back for the damaged property. For once, Haruhi's more manly features are paying off, her debt that is.
Review: Ouran's one of those titles that a lot of old and new anime fans alike seen to know and love or are generally indifferent toward. I've never known someone who legitimately disliked it once they got a taste, and I suppose that speaks in part to it's quality as a show. I like it personally because it takes the one of the genresI dislike the most--referring to harem animes--and flips it on its head. Rather than being filled with eroticism and characters that only exist for the purpose of titillation, Ouran plays a far more relaxed and carefree approach to the subject. While the characters might not be much for than standard tropes these days, they were and still are vaguely memorable even with the surge of similar properties in recent years. While I admit most of my memory of the series comes from the manga, rather than the anime itself, I recall finding it to be relatively loyal to the subject. The humor was palatable, if a bit off-key at times. The drama was never more than suspenseful. The romance was just fun to watch as the characters slowly grew more accustomed to the new woman in their lives in different ways. It was simple, sweet, and fun, and I honestly couldn't have asked for more.