His and Her Circumstances Recommended

Director
Hideaki Anno
Production
GAINAX, J.C.Staff, TV Tokyo
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Series
Running time
25 episodes
Year
1998

His and Her Circumstances

By Annie Hong
9th May 04

Yes, I put God as the director. The person who directed the masterpiece that is Kare Kano deserves no less lofty a title. I can honestly say that this is one of THE BEST animes you will see, especially if you're into good storylines and sidesplitting comedy. I can't point to one episode when I wasn't so engrossed that you could have lit my shoes on fire and I wouldn't have noticed. It was that good. But onto the description...

At its base, Kare Kano is just a boy-girl high school romance. The main characters are Yukino and Arima, two academic rivals who eventually learn that each has something to offer the other.

Yukino was the undisputed top of her class and all around perfect girl. Although she acted humble, secretly, she craved the attention and envy of her peers. Unbeknownst to everyone, Yukino wasn't perfect naturally as she has led everyone to think. When Arima transfers in, all hell breaks loose. Arima is not only her academic rival (without even trying to Yukino's everlasting disgust), he's also apparently Mr. Perfect. Not only is he actually humble, he's polite, good at sports, good looking, and wonder of wonders, likes Yukino. When Arima actually asks her out, Yukino derives some pleasure in turning him down.

One day, while home studying (she wears these horrible glasses a la Narusegawa of Love Hina and a really dumpy sweatsuit), Yukino thinks that the person ringing her doorbell is a member of her family who forgot something on their way out for the day. Without thinking she runs outside and runs into Arima who had come by to let her borrow a classical cd (what else would Mr. Perfect listen to?!).

Now here's a perfect example of where Kare Kano goes beyond the trite and sappy writing often seen in this genre. Rather than just letting it go, Arima uses his insight into Yukino's true nature to blackmail her into doing his schoolwork! (Yes, I was as stunned as Yukino to discover that Arima could do something so underhanded.)

Throw in Arima's best friend (who puts all other playboys into the shade), various girlfriends with issues of their own, and a complete lack of redundancy, and what you have is an anime that I (in my humble opinion) feel everyone and their mother should run out to buy. Don't just sit there - GO! (And no, I don't work for Gainax or AD Vision)

P.S. This is by Gainax, the studio that gave us Evangelion.

10/10

-- Annie Hong 9th May 04

His and Her Circumstances Images