Paradise Kiss

Reviewed By: Carla Land

Geneon (Pioneer) DVD

Review based on volume 1 (episodes 1-4)

Rating 16+

What it’s (basically) all about: Yakari is a serious student studying for her college entrance exams when she meets some fashion school students who ask her to model their clothes in a fashion show. What started as a chance encounter becomes a life altering experience. Yakari has no dreams or aspirations, and meeting people who do makes her look at herself and her life in a whole new way.

Nitty Gritty: Special features include a photo shoot with Yu Yamada (Japanese actress who plays Yukari), a press conference, TV commercials, character concept art, a Tokyopop manga preview (DVD rom only), DVD credits and Geneon previews for Last Quarter (live action), Saiyuki Reload Gunlock, and Kyo Kara Maoh! (part 2). All of the special features are appropriate for all ages.

The animation style uses a lot of live action shots, and it’s very creative and interesting. The characters are well developed, though Yakari’s rebellious changes aren’t brought on gradually. I think this is what makes her character seem so real- teenagers seem to change overnight and Yakari only take a couple of days to decide that her parents and cram school are not what she wants to focus her energies on. One of the keys to the show is bringing about understanding between different types of people, and I think it was very well done. The theme music is also really catchy.

The language isn’t over the top- the worst word used is sh*t and it isn’t used more than a couple of times. Basically the language is milder than in a lot of YA literature, and is PG in nature. There is also some alcohol use, and Yukari gets drunk and passes out because she didn’t realize she was drinking real champagne.

There is some innuendo and some mildly sexual situations, but there is no nudity (not even stylized) and nothing that could be considered more than PG happens during the course of the first four episodes. George, the male lead, claims to be bi sexual at one point, though he is clearly interested in Yakari and doesn’t seem to be romantically involved with any male characters. He does joke with Yukari about her virginity (which as of episode 4 is still in tact). Yakari walks in on Arashi and Miwako getting cozy on a pool table, and it’s obvious that the two of them are sexually active in their relationship (which is monogamous and progressed from childhood friends to something more.)

Survey says: This one kind of rides the line, but I think it would be okay in most young adult sections. I’ve had a lot of requests for it from teens, and the plots of each episode deal with teen oriented situations (first love, overbearing parents, school, etc.) I’ve seen more sexually provocative material on primetime TV than in the first four episodes, as well.

Personal Ad: I didn’t think I’d care much for this one, but I actually really liked it. I think it’s very well done and interesting and it’s the first anime in a long time that I’ve watched and then considered purchasing for myself. And I didn't see it at first, but I noticed several parallels with Stephanie Meyer's Twilight, too, so it will probably appeal to fans of the books who like the angst but don't necessarily need the vampires.