Aishiteruze Baby is an underrated shoujo anime from 2004. It focuses on Kippei Katakura, an unmotivated high school playboy who likes to play around with whoever strikes his fancy, and who is often brushed off by his attractive classmate Kokoro Tokunaga. One day, he comes home in the midst of a family meeting - his widowed aunt Miyako has disappeared, leaving her 5 year old daughter Yuzuyu in the care of the Katakura household. By a unanimous decision, it's decided that Kippei will be the one who'll take care of her. Hilarity soon follows as Kippei begins to adjust to his life as the caretaker of a small child.
The art-style is, for lack of a better term, nostalgic. It's from 2004, before digital production became the norm, and it reminds me of the early Pokemon seasons - a bit shaky, but pretty good. The anatomy is off a bit (Kippei's proportions in particular), but it adds to the charm of the series.
The music is wonderful and varied. It has music ranging from gentle music-box to swelling orchestra to power-ballad guitar riffs (the latter standing out like a sore thumb, leaving me laughing for days whenever it appears), and it's mostly well-made and fitting.
The story is very emotional. It deals with Kippei growing as a person due to his new responsibilities, as well as Yuzuyu getting used to her new surroundings and fitting in at preschool. Drama often rocks the boat - there's a storyline where one of Yuzuyu's friends is beaten by a parent, and Yuzuyu's lack of parents comes up to hurt her more than once. Everything's mostly optimistic, but some dark subject matter is handled. However, it is handled very maturely and respectfully.
And finally - very, VERY little fanservice. None of it involving Yuzuyu.
I feel this is worth mentioning. Yuzuyu is not used for fanservice. The plot isn't remotely fanservicey. The few times fanservice springs up, it's Kippei's girlfriend Kokoro. And thank God for that - it's legitimately just a family friendly show about family. In a world where sexualized underage characters is more of a norm than a rarity, it's refreshing to see a show about raising kids being about raising kids, rather than drawing the kid as fanservice and having the plot be an uncomfortable farce full of sexual imagery.
I recommend this show. It's well-crafted, truly family friendly and underrated.
A refreshing, wonderful family show
Aishiteruze Baby is an underrated shoujo anime from 2004. It focuses on Kippei Katakura, an unmotivated high school playboy who likes to play around with whoever strikes his fancy, and who is often brushed off by his attractive classmate Kokoro Tokunaga. One day, he comes home in the midst of a family meeting - his widowed aunt Miyako has disappeared, leaving her 5 year old daughter Yuzuyu in the care of the Katakura household. By a unanimous decision, it's decided that Kippei will be the one who'll take care of her. Hilarity soon follows as Kippei begins to adjust to his life as the caretaker of a small child.
The art-style is, for lack of a better term, nostalgic. It's from 2004, before digital production became the norm, and it reminds me of the early Pokemon seasons - a bit shaky, but pretty good. The anatomy is off a bit (Kippei's proportions in particular), but it adds to the charm of the series.
The music is wonderful and varied. It has music ranging from gentle music-box to swelling orchestra to power-ballad guitar riffs (the latter standing out like a sore thumb, leaving me laughing for days whenever it appears), and it's mostly well-made and fitting.
The story is very emotional. It deals with Kippei growing as a person due to his new responsibilities, as well as Yuzuyu getting used to her new surroundings and fitting in at preschool. Drama often rocks the boat - there's a storyline where one of Yuzuyu's friends is beaten by a parent, and Yuzuyu's lack of parents comes up to hurt her more than once. Everything's mostly optimistic, but some dark subject matter is handled. However, it is handled very maturely and respectfully.
And finally - very, VERY little fanservice. None of it involving Yuzuyu.
I feel this is worth mentioning. Yuzuyu is not used for fanservice. The plot isn't remotely fanservicey. The few times fanservice springs up, it's Kippei's girlfriend Kokoro. And thank God for that - it's legitimately just a family friendly show about family. In a world where sexualized underage characters is more of a norm than a rarity, it's refreshing to see a show about raising kids being about raising kids, rather than drawing the kid as fanservice and having the plot be an uncomfortable farce full of sexual imagery.
I recommend this show. It's well-crafted, truly family friendly and underrated.