Search - Koi Kaze - Reunion (Vol. 1) + Series Box on DVD

The un-feel-good Anime of the year, but worth it...

Thomas Lent | Hayward, CA United States | 03/12/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Psychologists refer to it as "Genetic Sexual Attraction" and this series investigates it from the first-person point of view. Many Anime/Manga stories have had hints of incestuous relationships for comedic or even to heighten the erotic tension of a pornographic tale. Koi Kaze, on the other hand, looks at the emotional end of the bargain. Most of the characters are genuinely plain and unattractive. As far as I know, there isn't a single frame of fanservice. All that's left is a disturbingly human story of forbidden love.

This is a series that could have been acted out in live action but I'm sure something would have been lost in that context. What's presented here is just enough of a slice-of-life series to keep the characters in the realm of reality, yet artistically askew enough to allow the viewer the illusion of safety in the believe that it is not "actually" happening. The seemingly watercolored backgrounds almost give a sense of unrolling an old silk story scroll and the animation is just enough to bring it to life.

In the end, I'm left depressed and a bit uncomfortable with the humanity of it all. Koshiro, the male lead, is a man who has truly hit rock bottom. He has reached the point where he's so indifferent to the people around him that he even treats his (ex)girlfriend like a stranger. Yet, for a moment, the bright eyes of a young girl help him to see that it is actually spring time. Problem being; it's those same eyes that lead to a much greater downfall in the story to come.

More often than not, it's stories like this that make me appreciate Japanese Animation so much. Through simplistic artwork a subtle characters comes an emotional intensity that can't be matched by any level of violence or noise that the mainsream often delivers.

There might not be much room for a story like this in the American market. The faint of heart and anyone from the "moral" right should steer clear. But, for anyone else open minded enough to accept a bitter dose of reality. This story will hit where it hurts."

Wow, great series - social commentary of great and lasting w

Mordy | Ontario Canada | 08/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Literally Koi Kaze means: "love wind" in English, for those wondering. This is probably the most believably real and human story from Koshiro's (the brother's perspective) I have encountered in my entire life about how siblings can feel more-then-sibling feelings towards one another. The story deals with a brother and sister who have not lived together or known each other for their entire lives pretty much save koshiro's brief living with his baby sister for a very short period of time, and in a perfect hauntingly realistic way this shows how Koshiro and Nanoka after 15 years finally meet and then slowly develop more-then-sibling feelings towards one another. He is 27 and she 15 and then 16 we assume as she has a birthday as the series goes on.

This anime is world class, very realistic stuff (at least in the case of koshiro's character). For anyone who really wants to understand some of the complex dynamics and feelings of what having siblings is like this series is a must. For I think anyone mature who's open minded and has always wanted to understand or explore those `strange' and `weird' more-then-just-siblings feelings moments in their childhood, it will most likely be enjoyable analysis and social commentary on how non-disgusting genuine love between two people is, who just by fate happen to be related to one another grow to love one another. This is simply a must see for all mature brothers and sisters (who know who they are) who've struggled with similar more-then-sibling feelings at times, even if fleetingly for but a moment.

A brief note about the Amazon reviewer: The Amazon reviewer shows us his cluelessness when he says this anime is "for girls", I have no idea where he gets this idea from (as a guy myself) any guy with sisters will tell you that Koshiro is so hauntingly real and that there are millions of not billions of koshiro like brothers who've struggled with and outright suppressed, flirted with and purposely put out of their minds or forgotten their confused (and many times unrequited) feelings towards their siblings throughout human history.

The hardest character in this series to understand (or rather grasp fully) is Nanoka who is koshiro's sister, we don't really understand her or can grasp her depth like we do with Koshiro. You get a sense that the creators simply cannot get into this type of characters head. So we have a hard time pinning down what she sees from her perspective, and just what she sees in her big brother. After all Koshiro's character is so hauntingly real and run of the mill semi-unfeeling, slightly depressed/resigned human being we are left wondering which parts of Nanoka's character are unrealistic or purely fabricated to form the attraction to a koshiro like character. The series doesn't really give us a sense of how to understand how real the girl Nanoka is when trying to compare her to real world sisters who have felt more-then-sibling feelings towards their brother. We are often left wondering about just what her actual age in terms of mental and emotional maturity is, she sometimes seems to symbolically be cry out against the our modern world and so called modern age of more allegedly "sophisticated" and adult love and relationships that never last, because adults often times are chasing even more child like fantasies and that they become so cynical and tunnel versioned they can never be satisfied with the real, the genuine, life's road bumps and the imperfection in the contingencies of life.

If this series had been live action and shown at the box office and projected all the same feelings and hit the spots just right like the majority of this anime does it would most likely be up for an academy award in a more rationally educated, mature and non-religious sectarian culture. This is what is so great about the types of people that the Japanese culture produces, their refreshing honesty and mature, rational, compassionate and humanitarian look at things with a realistic honesty unrivaled in the entertainment of most other countries.

This is an excellent anime, all mature viewers who's had brothers or sisters in their family who have had vague or fleeting similar feelings or unrequited long terms flirtations with more-then-siblings feelings for their other sibling. I'd venture to say that most brothers with sisters will identify with koshiro right away. Nanoka (Koshiro's younger sister) on the other hand feels a lot less like a real woman but I'd love to hear some women review or comment on her character and what they think on the realistic believability of Nanoka's character actually being based on someone real. Most males with sisters will intuitively grasp that koshiro is based on some anonymous real life character the writers/creators of Koi Kaze either knew or have read about, this is what makes it so remarkably realistic. It will be hauntingly disturbing for many brothers to realize just how precise and exact koshiro captures how it really is for brothers that have those feelings. So all female viewers should know from reading this review that Koshiro's character is definitely reality based, there are no fantastic or unrealistic attributes in Koshiro's character. So if you want to understand how brothers can feel that way, Koshiro is a model to look towards if you really want to understand grasp and understand a real world brother's perspective and what many brothers have gone through, many times by themselves in an unrequited fashion.

This series in my opinion shows us why Japanese anime is very important as a world cultural legacy, as human kind evolves into more secularized, compassionate and rational human beings."

Somewhat Taboo Subject, But Excellent Nonetheless

David R. Seid | Fairfax, VA USA | 03/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mr. Solomon *again* dismisses an anime show based on his prudishness... While it is true that Koi Kaze does present the viewer with a taboo subject matter (much older brother/younger sister potential romance), it is presented in a way that seems rather innocent. This show is definitely for mature viewers due to the nature of the storyline, but not the actual audio/video contents (no nudity, sex or even bad language or violence). Instead of those anime regulars, we get a touching unconventional drama that has super high production values and can be enjoyed on its own as a clean fictional story. We do not have to agree with the premise, but Koi Kaze is a strong show on its own merits, regardless. If taboo subjects scare or upset you, then you will want to steer clear... all others that like a good drama/romance should enjoy this one."

When creepy is shown uncreepy

C. Hinkley | California | 11/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The topic of the love story that Koi Kaze follows for an american veiwer is something new and taboo, I remember reading about this anime awhile back, and I did buy the first dvd here right away but it sat unwatch and still in it's plastic for many months, cause I wasnt sure How I would like a story about A brother and sister relationship.
I thougth it will be wrong and disturbing.
yet when you sit down and watch it, it is amaxingly done. I dont feel creeped out by it, your heart wrenches for the characters.
I think Koshiro is one of the best ,and most realalistic anime charcters I have seen written in a very long time.
Shortly after watching the first DVD I had to run out and buy the other 2, cause I needed to know what happened.
it is sad, and involved.
I have found it difficult to try to bring new watchers into this series. I try to go into the the general plot and people ugh our sick. but it isnt like that.
I doubt this helped had a review , but trust me it is worth at least one veiwing.
it is a well done anime."