XXX Holic...
The premise for XXX Holic seemed reminiscent of Pet Shop of Horrors, so, I thought I might visit Yuko and Watanuki for a while...
Another reason I was drawn to the series was that I've had a fondness for the works of the artists known as CLAMP. CLAMP is fairly well known by anime fans for their artwork, character designs and story-telling. While, I can't say that I've enjoyed all of CLAMP's work, I still have high hopes that XXX Holic will not disappoint.
The old adage: "be careful what you wish for… you might get it", resounds throughout XXX Holic as many episodes follow a predictable formula where customer visits Yuko’s shop, receives some mysterious object and is given a warning. Upon failing to head that warning, some unfortunate fate befalls the aforementioned customer. Occasionally, to break up the monotony, Watanuki will be dispatched on some mysterious and often perilous errand. Watanuki, for his part, spends most of his time either jumping through hoops for Yuko, or pining like a love sick dog, for his romantic interest and not quite girlfriend, Himawari. Meanwhile, Yuko teases Watanuki about the other gut in Himawari’s life, Doumeki and she drinks a lot.
In XXX Holic, there are no naughty bits of fan service and although, sometimes, unpleasant things happen to people, there is no red ink. I’m not really fond on Watanuki’s antics in the series. Frequently, he is the butt of many jokes, but, more often than not, he just comes off as a jerk. As the series progresses, Watanuki does show a bit of growth and his antics diminish a bit over time.
The animation quality is good. The character designs, particularly for Watanuki and Yuko are bit unusual in that they are appear unusually slender. Another interesting aspect of the series is that frequently, background characters that are not the focus of the series are portrayed as grey shapes. Overall, XXX Holic was reasonably entertaining at first, but, became rather monotonous as the series progressed. Likewise, Watanuki's antics became less humorous and more of a distraction than I would have liked. Although, bad things happen to people, in my humble opinion, I didn't see anything that would be objectionable for younger anime fans. I do suspect that the younger fans would likely be bored with the series. I would give XXX Holic a 2 out of 5.
Although, I don't usually collect a series, sight unseen, I did in this case. The story seems reminiscent of titles like Pet Shop of Horrors or even Rei Rei (without the H scenes, of course). I expect that there will be some unfortunate characters in the series, but, given the length of the series, I would hope that it doesn't end up being a "monster of the week" type series. In general, the story seemed like something I might like.Volume 1
The choice is yours. Beware your desires...
Watanuki has been haunted by dark spirits his entire life, a curse flowing through his bloodline preventing peace. When his incessant demons drag him to the ornate door of the Dimensional Witch Yuko, he meets a mystical woman of insight and luxury, quick to help those in a bind... For a fee! One might very well end up paying with their soul! To be free of his visions, Watanuki will work in her shop of dreams and wishes. There is always a price to pay...
Volume 2
From the day you were born, you have always been different from those around you...
For high school student Watanuki, this statement could not be more true! Between rain without end and ghostly visions from beyond, the young man is getting used to not being used to anything at all. His role as Yuko's minion seems as close to normal as anything, and the haunted teen trudges forth within this strange world of weaving wishes. Many stop by to peruse the witch's goods, but more often than not the lesson must be learned the hard way. Greed, lies, manipulation, and broken promises. There is always a price to pay...
Volume 3
There are many unusual things in this world. Every day, events occur that cannot be explained...
Watanuki's life has never been normal, but working for Yuko has fast become an exercise in all things strange. Visitors from other realms mingle with ghosts down hidden corridors and a pinky swear can mean things far from expected. Every lesson exposed comes with a toll... Not all endings are happy, not all happiness final. While the witch can give you direction, each journey comes complete with inherent distractions. Each path is unique save for one fact: There is always a price to pay...
Volume 4
When two people meet, the meeting will change their lives in some way...
The hearts of the holics interact with every being they encounter, sometimes willingly and sometimes unaware. As insecurity, jealousy and love all wind downward in the same psychic space, there are bound to be casualties. Watanuki's confrontations with these truths are a constant, the boy intimately familiar with fates of the pained. Yet Yuko only waits for each tale to end... Though it can be argued that destiny is unceasing. There are moments of joy in even the darkest day, but there is always a price to pay...
Volume 5
People are capable of wishing for anything they think that they want. It could be happiness... or unhappiness.
The parade of those blinded by desire trudges even onward, and Watanuki without fail leads the procession of the petitioning. The world is getting smaller, faces from other realms more common every day. Lessons come hard and fast, with Yuko lounging blithely among the chaos. The litany of her demands is the same as it ever was, but how to play the game when the rules are set by one so arbitrary? Even so, there is always a price to pay...
Volume 6
When a person wishes deeply for something, that wish has the power to call the thing into being...
Yuko can speak of the endless something that connects all souls: The endless longing. The endless pleasure. The endless quest to become whole. Yet Watanuki recognizes the afflictions of the holics perhaps more than even he knows. While he intercedes for the insoluble, his own independence is worth questioning. Family is all important, and though his blood line begins and ends within his own veins, there are those who can understand his place in the strange journey of this life. There is always a price to pay...
Another reason I was drawn to the series was that I've had a fondness for the works of the artists known as CLAMP. CLAMP is fairly well known by anime fans for their artwork, character designs and story-telling. While, I can't say that I've enjoyed all of CLAMP's work, I still have high hopes that XXX Holic will not disappoint.
The old adage: "be careful what you wish for… you might get it", resounds throughout XXX Holic as many episodes follow a predictable formula where customer visits Yuko’s shop, receives some mysterious object and is given a warning. Upon failing to head that warning, some unfortunate fate befalls the aforementioned customer. Occasionally, to break up the monotony, Watanuki will be dispatched on some mysterious and often perilous errand. Watanuki, for his part, spends most of his time either jumping through hoops for Yuko, or pining like a love sick dog, for his romantic interest and not quite girlfriend, Himawari. Meanwhile, Yuko teases Watanuki about the other gut in Himawari’s life, Doumeki and she drinks a lot.
In XXX Holic, there are no naughty bits of fan service and although, sometimes, unpleasant things happen to people, there is no red ink. I’m not really fond on Watanuki’s antics in the series. Frequently, he is the butt of many jokes, but, more often than not, he just comes off as a jerk. As the series progresses, Watanuki does show a bit of growth and his antics diminish a bit over time.
The animation quality is good. The character designs, particularly for Watanuki and Yuko are bit unusual in that they are appear unusually slender. Another interesting aspect of the series is that frequently, background characters that are not the focus of the series are portrayed as grey shapes. Overall, XXX Holic was reasonably entertaining at first, but, became rather monotonous as the series progressed. Likewise, Watanuki's antics became less humorous and more of a distraction than I would have liked. Although, bad things happen to people, in my humble opinion, I didn't see anything that would be objectionable for younger anime fans. I do suspect that the younger fans would likely be bored with the series. I would give XXX Holic a 2 out of 5.
