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Welcome to Osaka High School

Sometimes an anime will grab my attention because of how similar the story and setup are to another work I have enjoyed. That is how Season 1 of Hana-Kimi first caught my eye because of how similar it is to Ouran High School Host Club. It is, however, when doing my research that I have to thank this series for leading the way for one of my favorite romantic comedies. At the same time, inspiring an entire generation of mangaka and writers.

Hana-Kimi is the first anime adaptation of the acclaimed manga series. The story follows Mizuki Ashiya and her first year at Osaka High School in the hopes of meeting her hero. Instead, she must navigate the school’s all-boys culture, protect her identity, and deal with the shock of “never meet your heroes.” Fans of the genre will also be quick to note the characters and tropes that would become genre staples or how they influenced other characters and series.

It should be noted that I’m anime only when it comes to Hana-Kimi. Because of that, this review will not compare Season 1’s events with their portrayal in the manga. Instead, my critique focuses solely on the anime adaptation and how it stands on its own.

Please Be My Friend

Mizuki Ashiya is a girl who becomes infatuated with Izumi Sano after watching him compete in the high jump on TV. Determined to meet him, she enrolls at the all-boys Osaka High School while hiding her true gender.

Season 1 focuses on her first year and her attempts to navigate school life while protecting her secret of being a girl. However, her first day is not what she had dreamed. Besides being late to her first class, she learns that Sano has quit the track team, which has affected his relationship with his dormmates. At the same time, her disguise is not fooling everyone. Sano is quick to see through it but keeps it to himself, while Shūichi Nakatsu develops feelings for her but still thinks she is a boy. Her only true confidant is Dr. Hokuto Umeda, who is quick to notice because he is a medical professional.

Ashiya must navigate the delicate situation she is in while also working to not only get close to Sano but to convince him to return to the track team.

I’m a Guy

When it comes to the impact and influence on the concept of gender bending and identity exploration, Hana-Kimi is among the most significant and influential, second only to Ranma 1/2. While the latter approached the topic in an exaggerated manner with all the hallmarks of the shonen genre, the former has been more grounded in reality. Hana-Kimi is a romantic comedy, but it places a stronger emphasis on the dramatic aspect and the human connection built between the main characters. This is achieved through its holistic approach, where conflict, humor, love, and the human experience all play an equal role in shaping the overall journey of Mizuki Ashiya. That way, you can laugh at her antics while also relating to her struggle as a woman or understanding what Izumi Sano is going through.

Do note that the series is mostly a drama, and it does tackle issues that a young woman will have to deal with, for better or worse. Ashiya’s disguise does not fool a lot of people, and some brush it off as her being a more feminine-looking boy. Others who refuse to believe that do show some of the ugly aspects of being in a male-dominated space. This can be conflict where she is overpowered by a guy or where someone will try to have their way with her. Particularly, parts of the summer vacation storyline deal with this, with Can Things Stay This Way? being a turning point in the arc. These moments are going to be difficult to watch, and the series does not shy away from them.

Going back to its impact on the genre, as someone going into this for the first time, I could easily see how Hana-Kimi influenced Ouran High School Host Club. It is not just in the plot about a girl pretending to be a boy in a male-dominated school environment. It can also be seen in the characters, as it was clear that Takashi Morinozuka was designed after Izumi Sano and that Tamaki Suoh’s design was inspired by Shūichi Nakatsu. Those who have read both manga will definitely recognize more than I can.

Bringing Hana-Kimi to life is animation that is perfect for such a series. It has all the elements of what you want from an anime while also conveying its story in a grounded manner. At times it does fall back on stylistic tropes when the moment calls for it, and it works to its advantage. No moments or elements that break the tone. It is all kept in reality while still being an anime.

Do They Hate Me

My only issue with the series is what I noticed as a major plot hole: how did Ashiya get accepted to an all-boys school without anyone knowing she is a girl? I am not a stickler for accuracy in procedure, but it would have been nice if some explanation was dropped instead of assuming she signed up and her gender was verified with a simple “It’s cool bro, I’m a dude.” I like to think she had a brilliant idea regarding the school administration, but how did her family, specifically her older brother, not know about this? This is a plot point in Episode 6, and based on Shizuki Ashiya’s shock, it seems not even her folks knew about the school being all boys. Not to be that guy, but no responsible parent is going to send their child halfway across the world to a school without doing some proper research, instead of accepting their kid’s “trust me, bro.”

One reason I am harping on this issue is that Hana-Kimi is too grounded in reality regarding its tone, setup, and overall world for such a plot hole to go unnoticed. Whereas Ouran High School Host Club leans so heavily into the comedy aspect that it can get away with a plot hole or with very little to explain it.

One more thing worth noting: I want to point out how rushed the final episode, I Was the Same, went. The end of the season was promoting this big track race where Mizuki Ashiya gets to show off her running skills, but the race itself was depicted as a rushed job. No momentum, no edge-of-your-seat thrills, just a race and then it is over. Basically, a finale that was built up but delivered on a whimper.

A New Semester Awaits

Season 1 of Hana-Kimi brings to life one of the most influential works of gender identity exploration, second only to Ranma 1/2. The season introduces us to the many characters who will stand by Mizuki Ashiya during her time at Osaka High School. It knows how to find a balance between comedy and drama while keeping itself grounded. Just be aware of how its main plot also carries an unexplained plot hole.

Disclaimer: I watched the entire season on Crunchyroll, which I pay for myself.

8Bit/Digi is an news outlet for anime fans of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Hana-Kimi (Season 1)

9

Excellent

9.0/10

Pros

• One of the most influential romantic comedies finally gets an anime adaptation
• Story finds a balance between comedy and drama while staying grounded in reality
• Tackles a number of topics regarding a woman in a male-dominated space.
• Anime style and play is ideal for such a series

Cons

• The general story has a major plot hole that is never explained.
• Final episode ends on a whimper rather than a bang.