History Manga / DearBrother

''Dear Brother'' (''Oniisama e...'') is a GirlsLove {{manga}} series by Creator/RiyokoIkeda, also the author of ''Manga/TheRoseOfVersailles''. Serialized in Shueisha's ''Margaret'' from March to September 1975, it is one of the earliest examples of the genre, and has had a considerable influence on many yuri and [[ShoujoDemographic shoujo]] series that came after it. It was adapted into an {{anime}} series by influential director Creator/OsamuDezaki, which first aired on NHK from 1991 to 1992 for 39 episodes.

%%* PoisonousFriend: Mariko at first.

* AllForNothing: All of [[spoiler: Fukiko's]] cruel scheming to keep [[spoiler: Nanako]] away from [[spoiler: Takehiko]] is ultimately pointless, because not only are they [[spoiler: half-siblings]], but in the end [[spoiler: Takehiko]] marries someone else anyways. [[spoiler: Fukiko]] debased herself, risked her social standing and [[spoiler: ultimately kicked off a chain of events that led to the end of her precious sorority]] for nothing.
* AscendedExtra: Tomoko gets much more facetime in the anime than in the manga, mainly thanks to a specific early incident being changed. ([[spoiler: Namely, in the manga Tomoko only rekindles her trashed-by-Mariko friendship with Nanako almost at the end of the story; in the anime, she does this after less than two episodes.]])

* BaitAndSwitchLesbians: [[spoiler:Kaoru aka Kaoru-no-Kimi (marries Takehiko in both manga and anime, with different results on each continuity), Mariko (implied to enter a relationship with Fukiko's brother Takeshi, though only in the manga), Fukiko (revealed to have loved Takehiko all along, then [[TheMourningAfter deciding to remain celibate]] after Rei's death and Takehiko hitching up again with Kaoru). Nanako subverts this: in the manga there are no hints of anything aside of her mourning for Rei, but at the end of the anime she mentions that she fancies a "university student" -- but we don't know if said student is a boy or a girl, since in the original Japanese she uses gender-neutral pronouns when talking about them. (It gets LostInTranslation in fansubs, logically)]]

* EmpathicEnvironment: In the anime, and specially in the first part, it's very common to see the GreyRainOfDepression start as soon as something bad happens.

** At some point in the anime, we have [[spoiler: Kaoru]] stripping twice (one of them also including KimonoFanservice). She's very beautiful, but both times we see her naked, are in regards to how she [[spoiler: had a mastectomy due to breast cancer and is showing her physical scars to others (first to her boyfriend Takehiko, [[BreakHerHeartToSaveHer to break up with him]]; later to her friend Nanako, while explaining her backstory).]] We don't get to see that, exactly, but the context [[TearJerker will get your eyes blurry anwyway.]]

** Also, in the anime we're fooled into believing that Nanako and [[spoiler: Fukiko]] will have a GirlOnGirlIsHot-like "moonlight swim". [[spoiler: But then Fukiko ''almost drowns Nanako'' to scare her off, via hooking her foot under a log and then leaving. Nanako only survives because Fukiko didn't mean to go for the kill and returns to her soon.]] The scene goes from prospect LesYay to ''utterly chilling'' in few seconds flat.

** And Fukiko gets a bath tub scene of angst in the anime, [[spoiler: after Rei's death]]

* GodSaveUsFromTheQueen: Fukiko is the undisputed ruler of Seiran's social order, and she is admired and revered as a queen. In spite of her graceful and poised facade, she is a ruthless and cruel girl who manipulates others for her own petty ends without any feelings of remorse for the pain she inflicts. Moreover, she is the staunch defender of an oppressive caste system which pits students against each other year after year, and leaves the losers with deep and long-lasting feelings of bitterness.

** Played differently in the anime, [[spoiler: where Nanako and Rei are about to have a meeting is all bout stated to be their first date... but Rei dies right in her way there. Nanako is left waiting for her and only learns about it when Tomoko takes her to the hospital where Rei's lifeless body is.]]

* JapaneseSchoolClub: Some of the Seiran girls are in these clubs whether they go or not to the Sorority, and overlap is tolerated as long as they keep up with their grades and activities. Kaoru is the star of the baskeball team, Tomoko is a member of the cooking club, and Fukiko says she is not just the StudentCouncilPresident but also a part of both the flower arrangement and the horse riding clubs. (And we do see her in activities related to both of them.) Rei isn't officially in any group but she's seen helping the girls from the Drama Club in the anime [[spoiler: and used to be in the basketball team]], and Nanako wanted to join the cooking club but being pulled in the Sorority ruined these plans,

** Aya does this quite a bit, but an especially good example is when she mocks both Nanako's middle-class background ''and'' [[spoiler: Mariko's dysfunctional relationship with her father.]] Doubled when, some time later, she publically annunces to her classmates that [[spoiler: Mariko's parents are getting divorced in a very scandalous manner. [[GirlWithPsychoWeapon And then, Mariko massively snaps on her]].]]
** [[spoiler: Fukiko's abuse of Rei]] is like kicking a puppy ''repeteadly''. Specially when [[spoiler: she tells Rei to wait for her under a tree. During a rainy, cold day. Rei stays there for '''hours''' as Fukiko "classily" conducts study sessions, ''and she fully knows Rei's out there''.]]. No wonder Kaoru hates her so much.

* LateForSchool: Nanako is almost late for her first day in Seiran when she meets Rei. in the anime, so is Tomoko.
* LightFeminineAndDarkFeminine: Played straight with Nanako and Mariko. While cute, mild-mannerd Nanako sits firmly on the Light spectrum, Mariko is a [[RavenHairIvorySkin fair-skinned, raven-haired]] {{Yandere}} (with some elements of {{Tsundere}}) from day one.

%%* RichBitch: The school is full of them, but Aya is an uber-example.

* StoodUp: [[spoiler: Rei's death causes a '''Type Five''' in the anime, since she dies in her way to her and Nanako's would-be first date.]]

* SurprisinglyGoodEnglish: Numerous scenes taking place during English class. For the curious, they're reading from Creator/EdgarAllanPoe's ''The Gold Bug''.
* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: Nanako and either Rei or Tomoko. Expecially Rei, given that they fit the Japanese idea of a [[ButchLesbian Butch]]/[[LipstickLesbian Femme]] role so closely.

* UnlimitedWardrobe: Specially for Nanako, Tomoko and Fukiko. Lampshaded by Nanako when one of her early letters to Takehiko begins with her describing the outfits she wears to school in loving detal.

** [[spoiler:Fukiko has shades of this, in another way. Rather than turning her disappointment against the object of her affections, Takehiko, she turns it against others, like Nanako and ''specially'' Rei.]]

* IllGirl: Kaoru, who actually repeated her freshman year due to this. [[spoiler: She has cancer, actually, and even went through a ''mastectomy'' at the age of sixteen.]]

* KnifeNut: Rei/Saint-Juste has rather good aim with her throwing knives.

''Dear Brother'' (''Oniisama e...'') is a GirlsLove {{manga}} series by Creator/RiyokoIkeda, also the author of ''Manga/TheRoseOfVersailles''. Serialized in Shueisha's ''Margaret'' from August to October 1975, it is one of the earliest examples of the genre, and has had a considerable influence on many yuri and [[ShoujoDemographic shoujo]] series that came after it. It was adapted into an {{anime}} series by influential director Creator/OsamuDezaki, which first aired on NHK from 1991 to 1992 for 39 episodes.

* EvenTheGirlsWantHer: Kaoru and Rei both have sizable female fanclubs. Not to mention Nanako, who has Mariko clinging to her as well as a RomanticTwoGirlFriendship with Tomoko.

%%* RomanticTwoGirlFriendship: Nanako and Tomoko, and to a degree with Mariko.

%%* UnluckyChildhoodFriend: Tomoko, if you see her and Nanako's relationship as a RomanticTwoGirlFriendship.

''Dear Brother'' (''Oniisama e...'') is a GirlsLove {{manga}} series by Creator/RiyokoIkeda, also the author of ''Manga/TheRoseOfVersailles''. Serialized in Shueisha's ''Margaret'' from August to October 1975, it is one of the earliest examples of the genre, and has had a considerable influence on many yuri and [[ShoujoDemographic shoujo]] series that came after it. It was adapted into an {{anime}} series by influential director Creator/OsamuDezaki, which ran on NHK from 1991 to 1992 for 39 episodes.

* SchoolgirlLesbians: Yep, again ''lots'' of them, even though [[spoiler: the girls wind up either alone or with guys in the end]].

** Mariko and her mom Hisako live in a really nice home too. [[spoiler: After the Shinobus's divorce, they move out into a cozy but small flat.]]

* ParentalAbandonment: Mr. Shinobu barely sees his daughter, which contributes to her severe abandonment issues. Mr. Ichinomiya is barely home, isn't there for Fukiko's birthday and from an emotional point of view, he's not involved in her life. Both Mr. Shinobu and Mr. Ichinomiya contribute financially to their children's lives but are not involved enough with them to be aware of their struggles.

''Dear Brother'' (''Oniisama e...'') is a GirlsLove {{manga}} series by Creator/RiyokoIkeda, also the author of ''Manga/TheRoseOfVersailles''. Serialized in Shueisha's ''Margaret'' from August to October 1975, it is one of the earliest examples of the genre, and has had a considerable influence on many yuri and [[ShoujoDemographic shoujo]] series that came after it. It was adapted into an {{anime}} series by influential director Creator/OsamuDezaki, which ran on NHK from 1991 to 1992.

* ThemeTuneCameo: Nanako hums the opening theme in a couple episodes.

It's available on Creator/{{Hulu}}, Viki, and [=RetroCrush=] under the title "Dear Brother." DiscotekMedia announced that they licensed it for a Blu-Ray release in 2021, though due to licensing restrictions, the series will only be available for a year.

It's available on Creator/{{Hulu}}, Viki, and [=RetroCrush=] under the title "Dear Brother."

* PastelChalkedFreezeFrame: At least half a dozen per episode.

''Dear Brother'' (''Oniisama e...'') is a GirlsLove {{manga}} series by Creator/RiyokoIkeda, also the author of ''Manga/TheRoseOfVersailles''. Serialized in Shueisha's ''Margaret'' from August to October 1975, it is one of the earliest examples of the genre, and seems to have had a considerable effect on the series that came after it. It was adapted into an {{anime}} series by influential director Creator/OsamuDezaki, which ran on NHK from 1991 to 1992.

* YourCheatingHeart:
** Fukiko's father cheated on his wife with a maid who was working in his household. Since the result of the affair was not only [[spoiler:Fukiko but Rei as well]], the affair seems to have been long term.
** Mariko's father cheats on her mother, his latest conquest being a beautiful young actress.

It's available on Creator/{{Hulu}} and Viki under the title "Dear Brother."

[[quoteright:333:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/oniisamae.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:333:Tomoko (left) and Nanako (right).]]

''Dear Brother'' (''Oniisama e'') is a GirlsLove {{manga}} series by Creator/RiyokoIkeda, also the author of ''Manga/TheRoseOfVersailles''. Serialized in Shueisha's ''Margaret'' from August to October 1975, it is one of the earliest examples of the genre, and seems to have had a considerable effect on the series that came after it. It was adapted into an {{anime}} series by influential director Creator/OsamuDezaki, which ran on NHK from 1991 to 1992.

It's available on Hulu and Viki under the title "Dear Brother."

''Dear Brother'' (''Oniisama e'') is a GirlsLove {{manga}} series by Creator/RiyokoIkeda, also the author of ''Manga/TheRoseOfVersailles''. Written in the 1970s and published in Shueisha's ''Margaret'', it is one of the earliest examples of the genre, and seems to have had a considerable effect on the series that came after it. It was adapted into an {{anime}} series in the early '90s by influential director Creator/OsamuDezaki.

* AdaptationExpansion: The anime adds quite a bit more to the manga's storyline. To give some perspective, the manga is only three volumes, while the anime consists of 39 episodes.

* BaitAndSwitchCredits: The opening credits seem to be sort of thing suited to Shojo anime, but [[spoiler:after Episode 11 and Rei's apartment are seen, they take on an eerie new significance. Even more so after episode 23, where we see Fukiko's RoomFullOfCrazy...]].