At Ender’s urging, I picked up this series near the end of its run. It actually ended up being perfect, because I was able to basically marathon the entire series over a week’s time. I was really glad I watched it, and the show made a definite impression on me.
Story
Kurenai features Kurenai Shinkuro, a high-schooler who does odd not-really-legal jobs for Juzawa Benika. The most recent of these jobs is to protect Kuhoin Murasaki from the powerful Kuhoin family. See, Murasaki’s family expects women to huddle up in the boring Inner Sanctuary and serve as incestual baby-makers to preserve the line. Since Homey don’t play that, Benika’s gang busts Murasaki out and Shinkuro takes over as Murasaki’s caretaker and general life-coach.
Characters
At first the plot description didn’t really inspire me, but I underestimated a variety of factors. First and foremost was Murasaki’s cuteness. I have seen the rich girl in a poor world thing done before, but Murasaki did it better than anyone else. Overall, the characters in this series were just fantastic. The only one I didn’t like that much was Yamie. I think the humor was perfect in this series and it really enhanced the characters for me. Here are a few of my favorite Kurenai moments (not all funny):
- Murasaki gets shampoo in her eyes and reacts as if she’s been stabbed.
- Tamaki gets smacked upside the head with a shoe for being a dorobo-neko.
- Yayoi finds that the only joy in her life comes from getting the high score in cell phone games.
- Benika parks in the Inner Sanctuary.
- Renjo tells Murasaki that beautiful story comparing Murasaki with the flower petals.
- Benika and Shinkuro learn that Yayoi has a thing for crusty old dudes.
- Yuno constantly tries to jump Shinkuro’s bone every day, then releases her tension by beating him up in the dojo.
Tilt
The pacing in Kurenai is very strong. I often hear Kurenai described as slice-of-life, but the short length and the undercurrent of fear give the show real oomph. I liked that the action was brutal and quick, and the director did an excellent job with this series. The skillful balance of high-school life and underground job duties kept Kurenai fresh and interesting the whole time.
The art was generally good throughout, although a few of the fight scenes looked a little odd (especially the final one). I especially enjoyed the background music, and it stirred up all the right emotions as I watched. The OP/ED were good, but not that memorable for me.
Verdict
I liked this whole show (except for maybe the musical portion), and I was satisfied with the ending. I found Kurenai to be a really delightful show with an exciting plot and really lovable characters. Even when the Kuhoins were making me rage against lolicons, I still found the family intriguing. In many ways, Kurenai reminds me of what Seirei no Moribito would be like if it was only 12 episodes.
Kabitzin’s Rating: 5/5
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This post was written by...
Kabitzin – who has written 1937 posts on Sea Slugs! Anime Blog.
One of the founders of Sea Slugs, I handle most of the blog admin tasks while wearing my I AM BOSS shirt. I like my action series well choreographed, and my romance series extra trashy. I also have a soft spot for puns.
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Noooooooooo, not you too!
Its been awhile since all my strings were pulled! I just wish there were more episodes
There are some minor gripes I have with the series. One: okay, like, there was one BG song that sounded WAAAYYY too much like Jurassic Park…. (oh, and a plus for me was the same guy who did the Sketchbook full colorS music also did Kure-nai) and, umm, Two: That evil girl who looks like a bird with the high heels towards the end, I feel they didn’t do a good job making her more “psycho bitch”-like. When ever she did her menacing giggle, her mouth sort of just squiggled. Yea, thats a sorry excuse for a gripe (and so was the Jurassic Park one), but she just seemed so plain! Like, Medusa from Soul Eater, she got it goin on! This girl, meh!
hmmm, yea thats it. I’d say this show is pretty much perfect! =3
Edit: Oh yea, that classmate with the glasses (grrr, I hate forgetting names!), they didn’t really do much with her… I sort of wanted to see her and the other love interest go at it! (if ya catch ma drift! ;3)
If you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with?
The classmate with the glasses was Murakami Ginko.
Haha, i never knew this finished. im still up to episode 4!!
The musical episode was awesome! Well awesome-r than all of Red Garden combined.
What surprised me in the end was that I realized I probably enjoyed almost every other episode MORE than the comedy relief musical one – and speaking as someone who usually watches anything for a laugh, that’s something.
I’ve one episode left to go, and already, regardless of how it ends, I know I’m going to want a second season of this. It’s also one of those shows where the What I Saw, Expected, Got meme was way off the mark.
Baka-Raptor: Just because you didn’t like it doesn’t mean you have to make everyone else not like it to.
Kurenai was a solid show, and I wouldn’t mind seeing a couple more extra episodes, since apparently Brain Base likes doing things like that. :3
The musical practice was funny, but the joke went on too long. I think Kurenai did better with short bursts of humor.
What would extra episodes be about?
Kuhoin Cousin 1: Damn, my sister is looking so fine today! I should force myself on her and have some retarded Kuhoin babies!
Murasaki: [slaps cousin with Shinkuro's stinky pillow] Noooo! That is not allowed, unless you two are in love!
I wonder why the Kuhoins don’t seem to have any debilitating genetic disorders after generations of inbreeding. Perhaps they are secretly offing the children that show any sort of physical or mental dysfunction.
Like Chocobos?
I would actually love a “Day in the Life of Yayoi” episode. She has to be doing something interesting while keeping watch at Samidare apartments.
The jokes in this show were just awesome; they were half the reason I loved the series ^_^
Sort of like Issa-sa myself, except the musical episode is #2 on my list.
“Funny” is more a feeling in Kurenai than actually making you laugh, I guess.
Kure-nai is really awesome, from start to end, but something about it is keeping me from giving the show a full mark of 5/5. Perhaps it’s the lack of more Ginko, or a much more GAR Shinkurou. Having seen the GAR version of him in the novel somewhat ruined my expectations of the anime Shinkurou :blank:
Ender also commented about how he thought Shinkuro was weak, but I thought that he was pretty good. I know everyone in anime can take down armies without even using weapons, but the kid is just some rookie who is still a high schooler! Plus he never really lapsed into emo doubt, so I liked him just fine.
I picked this up since Zyl mentinoed “Kurenai owned Kabitzin’s soul.” (Pardon me if it was a misquote.
) And was pleasantly surprised by how I’m enjoying the series… especially the female perspectives. My wife was so sure she’s just my latest save file. XD And we had a rigorous discussion on how bad-singing and the low self-awareness that always comes with it.
Still I had to take a break after the musical ep.
Red Garden meets Aishiteruze Baby meets Serei no Moribito.