Ever since I discovered the wonders of Evernote, I've been inspired to create a comprehensive checklist of the different TV series, movies, anime, manga and books
that I have yet to get around to watching or reading. I ended up with
a longer list than I expected, so I decided to utilize the small
pockets of time every day to try to tick off some items on the list.
Because, really, there are few things as satisfying as placing a check
mark on that box.... but I digress.
It seemed easier to get caught up with my manga reading list first, since it was the shortest. I decided to start with Inu x Boku SS, which is listed as Youko x Boku SS in
manga scanlation sites. After reading the latest translated chapter
and removing the manga title from my list, I realized that I never got
around to writing about the anime version of the series, which was a
part of my winter anime picks (which was also the case for spring title Kore wa Zombie Desu ka? of the Dead, albeit the reminder came in the form of an OVA episode).
Inu x Boku SS (or The Dog and I Secret Service) begins when Shirakiin Ririchiyo decides to move to Maison de Ayakashi
to isolate herself, which is the only way she knows how to avoid
treating people with her caustic behavior, a by-product of her
insecurities and past experiences with people. While Maison de Ayakashi
seems like an opulent apartment for the privileged, it actually houses
those who are descendants of youkai (monster), and are reincarnated
within the same family over the years, manifesting the same powers of
the original youkai. Much to Ririchiyo's dismay, she finds out that she
is assigned an SS agent, Miketsukami Soushi, who expresses
intense devotion to serving her. She also encounters the other
inhabitants of Maison de Ayakashi, including childhood friend Sorinozuka Rensho and his SS Yukinokoji Nobara,
who are all friendly and seem to overlook her acid tongue. Thus,
Ririchiyo's life begins at Maison de Ayakashi and she discovers reasons
that increase her desire to overcome her inability to speak kindly to
others.
The world of the inhabitants of Maison de
Ayakashi is small, because the families who are descended from youkai
know of each other. For example, Miketsukami used to be the attendant
of Shokiin Kagero, who is actually Ririchiyo's fiancee because of a family agreement; Kagero and Miketsukami used to spend a lot of time with Watanuki Banri and his SS, Natsume Zange; and Watanuki is in love with Roromiya Karuta,
who is the current SS assigned Kagero. And it's this weird sense of
shared history that makes for an interesting mix of characters, not to
mention the fact that those shared histories can be quite intriguing
themselves.
The relationship between Ririchiyo and Miketsukami, however, is the core of Inu x Boku SS,
with the series chronicling Ririchiyo's attempts to open up more to her
SS and Miketsukami unwavering in his devotion, which as it turns out is
devotion to Ririchiyo herself, and not just devotion to his role as an SS.
While the series does hint at the shounen (battle/action) elements of the series, the romance
genre is at the forefront of the anime, which it actually pulls off
very well. The chemistry between the two leads, however unlikely it
seemed because of Ririchiyo's diminutive stature, was blatantly obvious
from the beginning and charming to watch, no matter how (or mostly
because of, depending on who's watching) tsundere Ririchiyo got. And
the reveal of their shared history was engaging and all kinds of
squee-inducing. In fact, the Ririchiyo-Miketsukami tandem was a serious
contender for my top anime couple (from recent viewings, that is),
until the Tsumiki-Io tandem from Acchi Kocchi claimed it with their adorableness.
Then,
there's the supporting characters. Every inhabitant of Maison de
Ayakashi is quirky, from Kagero's obsession with labeling everything and
everyone as a sadist or masochist, Zange's (who's a guy) daily and
unreciprocated flirting with Miketsukami, Nobara's (who's a girl)
obsessions with girls, Karuta's seeming airhead quality and constant
eating, to Watanuki's quest to become a delinquent to become stronger.
Even Rensho's placid nature is a quirk, especially when he transforms to
his youkai form, an Ittan-momen, which is a floating roll of cotton cloth that totally matches his monotone voice.
Inu x Boku SS mixes
a lot of genres with much success. Admittedly, I would like to see
more of the action since the characters have youkai enhanced strength
and magical powers, but it does well in mixing drama, comedy and its supernatural
elements. The Ririchiyo-Miketsutami and Watanuki-Karuta tandems will
be the driving factor for the sappy romantics, while the comedic
ensemble of the different characters keeps the rest of the audience
(those not quite as sappy or romantically inclined, or in denial that
they are either) entertained.
I normally try to separate my comments about the anime adaptation from its origins, which is a manga series in the case of Inu x Boku SS,
but I do have to point out that the ending of the anime series isn't
really the end for Ririchiyo and the rest of the inhabitants of Maison
de Ayakashi. The manga continues their story, where it turns into so
much more in terms of storytelling. I don't want to give spoilers (or
at least I try not to), but Inu x Boku SS develops into a more
layered and complex piece of fiction. Everything, including the
characters, the relationships and the stakes, are affected. Let's just
say that while the romance is and, I think, will continue to be a
factor, there's so much more to how Inu x Boku SS plays out in terms character development.
Oh... the possibilities.
Somebody, please, make a second season happen. Though I suppose we have to wait until manga series author Fujiwara Kokoa writes more chapters (which are too few and far in between) that they can actually animate.
Happy viewing!!Labels: Action, Adaptation, Anime, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Inu x Boku SS, Must-Watch, Romance, Supernatural, TV
