藍より青し (Ai Yori Aoshi)
Hanabishi Kaoru is a lonely university student with a past that he would rather forget. After ending ties with the Hanabishi family and vowing never to return, Kaoru continues his lonely ways to shield himself from others.
One day, Kaoru encounter a girl dressed in a kimono at the train station. This will change his life forever. The girl, Sakuraba Aoi, was his fiancée when he was with he Hanabishi family. Now with the engagement called off, Aoi has decided she wants to be with Kaoru, as his wife.
Now Karou will need to figure how to live with Aoi in her family's mansion, along with Aoi's guardian Kagurazaki Miyabi, Kaoru's classmate Tina Foster, and the new live-in clumsy maid Minazuki Taeko. Throw in Taeko's cousin Minazuki Chika and Miyuki Mayu, can Kaoru stays ture to Aoi with all the distractions??
Ai Yori Aoshi was based on the same manga title by Fumizuki Kou (文月 晃). 2 TV series are developed (so far...).
Links:
Ai Yori Aoshi Official Site
(Japanese)
Ai Yori Aoshi Manga
Official Site(Japanese)
Tokyopop
(License holder in North America for the manga)
Ai Yori Aoshi (2002)
24 episodes TV series
A nice love story, plus some interesting characters, make this series one of my favourites.
If you are thinking that this is just another "harem" shows for boys, you are wrong. While fo course there areenough fan-services, the story has more depth than that, and I particularly enjoy the focus on "living together like a family", somethings Kaoru never has the proper chance to experience before.
Dino's Rating: 7
Will Girls Like It: Probably Not
Ai Yori Aoshi ～Enishi～ (藍より青し ～縁～)(2003)
12 episodes TV series
A fanservice for the fans, which is not bad. Set one year after the end of the TV series, this time Tina will have to make a decision that will affect everyone.
Not as good as the first one, but I will take it. Just don't watch it if you haven't watch the first one.
Dino's Rating: 6
Will Girls Like It: Probably Not
Ai Yori Aoshi (2001 - present)
15 volume manga (so far)
Fumizuki Kou's drawing is not exatly eye-catching, but the story is, so give it a try. Just beware of nudity though.
Dino's Rating: 7
Will Girls Like It: Slim Chance