Oreimo: Limited Edition Complete Box Set (a J!-ENT Anime DVD Review)

Hilarious, fun and highly entertaining!  “Oreimo” is an anime series that showcases otaku lifestyle with a twist and I have no doubt that fans wanting an upbeat, fun anime series will enjoy this DVD release.  Especially for the swag that Aniplex has included with this limited edition box set.  How cool is that?  “Oreimo” is an awesome release that is highly recommended!

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Image courtesy of © 2011 Aniplex, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

DVD TITLE: Oreimo: Limited Edition Complete Box Set

DURATION: 16 Episodes

DVD INFORMATION: 16:9 Letterboxed, Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0

COMPANY: Aniplex

RATED: 13 and Up

RELEASE DATE: September 27, 2011

Directed by Hiroyuki Kanbe

Originally created by Tsukasa Fushimi

Original Character Designs by Hiro Kanzaki

Series Composition by Hideyuki Kurata

Music by Satoru Kousaki

Character Designs by Hiroyuki Oda

Art Director: Koji Eto

Anime Production: AIC/AIC Build

Featuring the following voice talent:

Ayana Taketatsu as Kirino Kōsaka

Yūichi Nakamura as Kyōsuke Kōsaka

Akeno Watanabe as Yoshino Kōsaka

Fumihiko Tachiki as Daisuke Kōsaka

Hitomi Nabatame as Saori Bajiina

Kana Hanazawa as Ruri Gokou (Kuroneko)

Saori Hayami as Ayase Aragaki

Satomi Satou as Manami Tamura

Yukari Tamura as Kanako Kurusu/ Meruru / Kurara Hoshino

For the past seven years, Kyousuke Kousaka’s relationship with his younger sister Kirino has been nothing but cold. It’s gotten the the point where the only talking the siblings do is to exchange greetings with each other. But one day, Kyousuke finds a moe anime DVD lying in the entrance hall of his house. His interest piqued, Kyousuke looks for the owner – only to discover it belongs to his very own sister Kirino. Shocked as Kyousuke was, this is just the beginning of the surprises that lie ahead…

In addition to being smart, pretty, and popular, Kirino Kousaka is also an obsessive consumer of anime and eroge. After Kyousuke promies not to mock her and keep this concealed from their parents, she starts to share a bit of her world with him. Kirino faces several problems as she tries to keep up appearances and balance her exemplary school life with her hobbies. Her brother becomes a crucial ally while dealing with all the difficulties that lie ahead.

Sis-Con.  The shortened word for “Sister Complex” and is typically showcased in anime as a strong brother and sister bond and of course, in extremes, it can be showcased as incestual relationships.

But “Sister Complex” has been featured in anime and while the most extreme form is usually reserved towards hentai anime, writer Tsukasa Fushimi along with illustrator Hiro Kanzaki decided to give a comedic, upbeat spin to the whole topic in their 2008 light novel series “Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai” (shortened name: “Oreimo”).

A manga adaptation of the light novel was featured on ASCII Media Works’ Dengeki G’s Magazine and in 2010, the 12-episode anime TV series received its anime adaptation, with four additional episodes streamed on the official website and on video streaming sites in the Spring of 2011.

Now, Aniplex is bringing the complete series of “Oreimo” out on DVD in the U.S. featuring a limited edition complete box set featuring all 16-episodes, 16 postcards, 24-page booklet, poster and 2-sided DVD cover.

“Oreimo” is a series that takes place in Chiba and focuses on a 17-year-old named Kyosuke Kosaka.

Kyosuke and his 14-year-old sister Kirino have not gotten along for years and often wonders why he never is treated with kindness like other younger sisters and their brothers.  In fact, each time she looks at him, it’s as if she is repulsed by him.

And the more he hears about younger sisters, it starts to tick him off.

But one day, while Kirino was leaving to join some friends, she accidentally drops a DVD of an anime series and inside the DVD is an eroge (erotic/adult) video game.  This can’t possibly be Kirino’s DVD.  Afterall, she is the top of her class, she is popular in school, she’s a track star, she’s a model and she has no connection to anime/video games at all.

But it does interest him to see if there is a possibility that the anime or game can be hers.  So, when he starts to tease about the situation in front of Kirino, Kirino tries to pretend its not hers.  So, when he asks if Kirino can throw it in the trash, she is unable to.  And for the first time, Kyosuke’s little sister reveals her double life.  She’s an otaku.

She loves a magical girl anime series and she is also an otaku that owns a lot of eroge and moe (hardcore fan of younger girl style of characters in anime, manga and video game series).

Afraid that her brother would blab about her secret otaku life, she is surprised that Kyosuke accepts her the way she is and has no problems with it.   And because he is open to her sister’s hobby, it opens things up for a true brother and sister relationship that Kyosuke had wanted (as well as what Kirino has wanted).

So, Kyosuke tries to help his sister with her hobby by finding otaku friends which includes the mecha fan and “Anime Girls Unite!” club leader, Saori Makishima and Kuroneko, a girl who is a tsundere-type (a cold attitude) that dresses up in gothic lolita outfits and the complete opposite of Kirino (thus the two having a not-so-friendly relationship).  Meanwhile, trying to balance her life with her real friends, fellow models Ayase Aragaki and Kanako Kurusu.

And for older brother, Kyosuke will do whatever it takes to have this strong relationship with his sister, but this relationship tends to freak Kirino’s friends who joke around that the two have a “Sis-Con” type of relationship.

The main characters of “Oreimo” are:

• Kyousuke Kosaka – The main character. A 17-year-old who lives a normal life and wants to have a real brother and sister relationship with his younger sister Kirino, but for years, she has acted as if she is repulsed by him.  But now that he has discovered Kirino’s secret, he becomes her biggest confidante and supporter.
• Kirino Kosaka – Kyousuke’s younger sister.  She is mature for her age but acts very cold and even repulsed towards her older brother.  She is a model, top student in her class, track star and is popular but she has a secret double life and that is that she is an otaku who is passionate towards a children’s anime series “Stardust Witch Meruru” and loves moe and eroge games.  She often uses her modeling money to fund her hobby and tries her best to keep her hobbies secret from her friends.  She is easily frustrated when Kysouke is around other girls, especially towards Manami.
• Manami Tamura – Kyousuke’s childhood friend. Manami is a girl with glasses and is described as being a plain, normal girl.  She likes Kyousuke and her family tries to do all they can to get Kyousuke and Mani together alone.  Kyousuke thinks that Manami’s mannerisms are like an older lady.
• Saori Makishima – The leader of “Anime Girls Unite!”.  A big Gundam fan, big otaku with big glasses and has a great body.  Always trying to keep the balance between Kirino and Kuroneko.
• Ruri Goko/Kuroneko – The complete opposite of Kirino.  She loves dark things, can’t stand sugary magical girl anime and it leads her to be at odds with Kirino.  She is also the older sister two two younger sisters and envy’s Kirino of having an older brother who takes care of her.  So, she starts calling Kyousuke “nii-san” (brother).
• Ayase Aragaki – Kirino’s best friend, classmate and a fellow model.  She’s rather quiet but when someone lies at her, she gets very upset and violent.  She dislikes Kyousuke, thinking that he is responsible for Kirino being an otaku.
• Kanako Kurusu – Kirino’s friend, classmate and fellow model.  She has a photographic memory when it comes to memorizing songs.  She also has a bratty attitude.
• Daisuke Kosaka/Yoshino Kosaka – Daisuke is Kyousuke and Kirino’s strict father and Yoshino is their loving mother.
• Kohei Akagi – Kyousuke’s classmate who also tries to support his sister’s otaku hobby.
• Sena Akagi – Kohei’s younger sister who is a brainiac when it comes to programming and fixing glitches in games.  She’s also hardcore into yaoi (guy and guy action) and often has dreams of her guy friends doing yaoi things to each other.

“Oreimo: Limited Edition Complete Box Set” comes with the following episodes (spoiler-free summary):

DISC 1

• EPISODE 1 – My Little Sister Can’t Be My Love – What happens when Kyousuke learns about Kirino’s secret hobby.
• EPISODE 2 – My Little Sister Can’t Bring Me to an IRL Meet – What happens when Kyousuke joins Kirino to meet other female otaku.
• EPISODE 3 – My Little Sister Can’t Be This Cute – What happens when Kirino’s strict father discovers her secret.
• EPISODE 4 – My Little Sister Can’t Be Going to Summerket – What happens when Kirino’s best friend Ayase finds Kirino coming out of Summerket (manga festival).
• EPISODE 5 – My Little Sister’s Best Freind Can’t Be This XX – What happens when Ayase no longer wants to have Kirino as her friend because she is an otaku.
• EPISODE 6 – My Childhood Friend Can’t Be This Cute – What happens when Minami invites Kyousuke to her home.

DISC 2

• EPISODE 7 – My Little Sister Can’t Be a Novelist – What happens when Kirino puts her effort in creating a light novel.
• EPISODE 8 – My Little Sister Can’t Be Animated – What happens when a company wants to create an anime adaptation of Kirino’s light novel.
• EPISODE 9 – My Little Sister Can’t Be This Absorbed into Eroge – What happens when Kirino gets to absorbed playing eroge games.
• EPISODE 10 – My Little Sister Can’t Be Cosplaying Like This – What happens when Ayase wants to buy Kirino a special present.
• EPISODE 11 – My Little Sister Can’t Be This Maid – What happens when Kirino wants to do something special for her older brother.
• EPISODE 12 – My Little Sister’s Advice Can’t End Here (Good End) – What happens when Kirino wants Kyousuke to purchase her two ero games, and what happens when Kirino tells Kyousuke that she will be leaving to Los Angeles for track training?

DISC 3

• EPISODE 12 – My Little Sister’s Advice Can’t End Here (True Route) – The true ending of what happens when Kirino tells Kyousuke that she will be leaving to Los Angeles for track training?
• EPISODE 13 – My Kouhai Can’t Be This Rotten – What happens when Kuroneko starts going to Kyousuke’s school?
• EPISODE 14 – My Kouhai Can’t Be This Cute – What happens when Kyousuke starts helping out Kuroneko with a computer game.
• EPISODE 15 – My Little Sister Can’t Have a Finale Like This – What happens when Kyousuke receives a text message from Kirino (staying in Los Angeles) telling him to trash her collection.

VIDEO & AUDIO:

“Oreimo” is presented in 16:9 LB and Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0.

AIC has done a solid job with the animation for “Oreimo” in the fact that it’s one of those series that doesn’t reuse scenes constantly over and over again.  Each scene, it’s like there is something new for the characters and the colors are vibrant and for the most part, the characters are often mobile, going outdoors, going to events, so it’s a pretty cool series when it comes to the overall look.

I also like the creative endings shown after each series and showcasing various artistic styles.  And the styles are featured in the included postcards that come with the “Oreimo” limited edition box set.

As for the audio, the audio is Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo.  For me, I chose to have stereo on all channels in order to have a more immersive soundtrack but for the most part, audio is crystal clear and the optional English subtitles are easy to read.

So, for the most part, I was pleased with the anime series and I hope that maybe Aniplex considers this title for a future Blu-ray release.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Oreimo” comes with the textless opening and textless endings of all 16-episodes.

EXTRAS:

And this is where Aniplex really went all out! Included in the “Oreimo: Limited Edition Complete Box Set” are the following items: 16 postcards of “Ending Cards” of all 16-episodes, 24-page booklet of character designs and original DVD/BD cover gallery, 2-Sided Original Poster, 2-Sided DVD Cover.

Fun, hilarious and highly entertaining… “Oreimo” is an anime series that takes on otaku lifestyle and makes you laugh and wish there were more anime like this!

At first, I was a bit hesitant in watching “Oreimo” because I thought this was going to be the taboo anime series featuring brother and sister romance.  I’m not into that but there is no doubt that incestual romance has its following in Japan, especially with hentai fans and personally, I’m not into that type of anime.

But what “Oreimo” ended up being is a fun and hilarious take on an otaku lifestyle and one brother wanting to reconnect with his younger sister and have that brother and sister bond that he had desperately wanted for years.   And when big brother Kyousuke discovers younger sister, Kirino’s secret otaku lifestyle, it ends up bringing the two together and possibly helping build that bond between brother and sister that had been lost for years.

In anime series, you often see the younger sister taking care of the older sibling when it comes to waking them up for school, serving them food and it’s a part of Japanese pop culture that I have seen in dramas, anime and manga series.  Where there is a bit more family support as opposed to the individual perspective that we see in America.

When I think about it…sure, we used to see brother and sister bonding on ’70s and ’80s shows such as “The Brady Bunch”, “Diff’rent Strokes”, “Mr. Belvedere” and “Growing Pains” but the more I think about it today, those type of series have disappeared from American television.  But in Japan, television still tries to show the connection between family especially between brothers and sisters and “Oreimo” tries to incorporate that.

And because these two are constantly arguing with each other, they do want to very much have a brother and sister relationship and because it seems anything but normal, their friends wonder what is up with these two and thus the “sister complex” jokes come up, especially since Kirino is into those type of video games that are moe and eroge.

And despite those games not being so “cool” or even disturbing for Kyousuke, he is open to playing them with his sister because it’s a big step in creating that brother and sister bond.

And of course, there is that otaku-lifestyle that the anime series tends to touch upon.  We have seen it on series such as “Genshiken” and the otaku-lifestyle, especially one having a cool and popular lifestyle but then having otaku inspired tastes. Sure, there are stereotypes that all otaku are nerds but even I know a few people who try not to have those interests hidden and keep it a secret.

But it’s the way the stories are handles that makes it quite fun.  And once the episodes are over, the four never-seen-on-TV bonus episodes are actually quite interesting as well as the writers touch upon things that are not appropriate on television.  From Sena Akagi’s hardcore yaoi addiction, Kuroneko’s feelings towards Kyousuke and Kyousuke’s true feelings about Kirino.

Granted, one should not worry about any brother and sister action, this is not that type of series.  Granted, there are moments where the two seem like they are going to engage into something unusual but the writers make sure that they tease the viewer than actually having the characters go through with any action.  There is no sister complex scenes but possibly one when Kyousuke is holding a package that Kirino wants and the two fight over it that they fall.  And of course, we get the fan service panty shot and Kyousuke landing on top of his sister while his hand happens to be on her breast while her friends look in shock.

That is probably the only scene where brother and sister get into any certain situations but outside of that, it’s a pretty tame anime series but it does have some mature language and a few fan service moments.  But for the most part, for those wondering if it’s a sister complex anime series, “Oreimo” is not that type of series.  The writers joke around the topic it but never gets serious.

As mentioned, you get all 12-episodes of the TV series, plus the four episodes that were only shown on the Website.  But with this limited edition complete box set, you also get postcards, a booklet and poster and an irreversible cover.

While I did enjoy this series, if I had to think up of some negatives, it’s the fact that the series does not come with an English dub soundtrack.  For me, I’m more biased towards watching anime in Japanese but I know a lot who are biased towards English dubs. The other thing that I can think of is for those who are wanting an HD release of this series.  It’s out in Japan and I wouldn’t be surprised if Aniplex does consider this series for Blu-ray in the near future.  I hope they do because there are not too many upbeat series like this out on Blu-ray in the U.S.

Overall, there’s nothing I can complain about this box set or the anime series.  It was very entertaining and fun to watch and it’s probably one of the more fun anime comedies I have seen in recent years, especially one that is presented with so much fan swag.  How awesome is that?

If you are wanting an upbeat, fun and hilarious anime series… “Oreimo: Limited Edition Complete Box Set” is highly recommended!

“Oreimo: Limited Edition Complete Box Set” will no doubt make fans of the series happy and others to have this in their anime collection.  For one, Aniplex has included a good amount of swag to come with this limited edition DVD release that I’m quite impressed with all that comes included with this release.

 

PURCHASE THIS DVD FROM RIGHTSTUF or BANDAI STORE