If most fight shonens revolve around indomitable action heroes who’re goofily amiable until the moment the bad guys threaten their friends... then I suppose comedies-of-manners like this are almost always about some working-class social climber finding his or her way into the world of the privileged. Few kinds of conflict push your buttons more reliably than class conflict, am I right? To that end, I may very well have have just found the anime to recommend to the Whit Stillman fans in your life.
Anyway, this is another series whose controversy really seems to precede it. As in, I’m only just getting around to watching it for myself, but I feel like I’ve heard about it for a very long time (and whatever I’ve heard has usually been accompanied by some hot blood). At present, I can’t really can’t see what the rumpus would be about. Surely, anybody who didn’t see the gender switch surprise coming from a mile away (c’mon - - that voice actress never sounds like a guy) would at least know that such a twist comes with the territory. Maybe some people just can’t, at all, stand the notion of a show seemingly worshiping preps? (And hey - - I can't really blame them).
I actually wouldn’t blame such viewers - - even though I did find this pilot quite entertaining, myself. Yeah, I don’t know how funny this show is, but it does hooks you in rather easily by setting up some of the most direct basics of character drama. You really want to see our androgynous lead show up these brats. You really feel for him/her when the spoiled shrews play their mean pranks. And you really do feel rather moved when the most seemingly-snooty members of the titular club prove themselves to actually be above their classmates’ shallow dismissiveness.
It also happens to be - - dare I say - - an exquisitely-animated show with a sense of style that’s quite compelling on its own merits. Yeah, all these elements are working so well for the show… so where exactly does the controversy lie?
Watch this episode, "Starting Today, You Are a Host!" here and decide for yourself.
Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - - tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk
