Paradise Kiss

This is my first rewiev since I joined here and I don`t know when I will write another. A friend of mine recomended it for me and when I saw the title I was expecting anything: between hentai and madness and still, the show took me by surprise. The series has 12 episodes, and is part of the Romance genre, but I think it's more than that. After you watch the first episodes, you'll find it sounds more interesting than the title, which is the name of fashion houses. Story The story is centered around a student, Caroline (Yukari Hayasaka), who is noticed by a group of designers, and is proposed to be a model and present their creations. She rejects the idea initially, especially after she sees Arashi, a punkhead with piercings, who runs after her. After passing out at the sight of Isabelle, who was dressed as a widow, Caroline reach designers shop, which will become their place of entertainment for the next period of her life. She befriends rather quickly with Miwako, younger sister of a famous clothing designer, and is impresed by George, who is the manager of the whole team and the one dealing with all Parakiss creations, their own brand of clothing. Together with them, Caroline will spend the period before exams, and eventually will have to choose what path to follow in life. Graphics The graphic style of this anime is a little different of the "clasic" style, especially on the characters level. These have features much closer to reality, girls characters have more lines than we are accustomed from other animes and, as you will see, this increases their expressiveness. The animators did a great job with graphics. The characters are drawn almost perfectly consistent, regardless of angle, position or even hair and clothes. These last two elements are specifically mentioned. When a character changes the arrangement of hair, it remains perfectly recognizable, but at the same time is deeply different, much like in reality. In terms of character clothes, and considering the subject, Paradise Kiss is impressive: most of the characters change their clothes very often (as would be expected from them) and clothes (and accessories) they are very great designed. In another chapter defining graphics, backgrounds, Paradise Kiss is somewhere in the middle level. Backgrounds are generally well worked and occasionally beautifully detailed, but rarely impresses. Sound The soundtrack was one of the impressive things in this anime, because I've rarely met songs so well rhythmic and exciting. The OP and the ED fit perfectly with the atmosphere and characters in this series, and this time, I liked both. The OP is called "Lonely in Gorgeous" and is composed and performed by Tommy february6 and the ED is called "Do you Want to ", and is played by Franz Ferdinand. Marika Matsumoto plays Miwako. Her voice is most remarkable because it seems much younger than she is (22 years). Hiroaki Sano was Music Producer for the series Jyu Oh Sei (another great OP), and the music was made by The Babys group, and with Narasaki voice from Coaltar of the Deepers. Almost always you will hear the noise of the city in crowded places, the people who speak or cars passing on the street. Otherwise, you will hear most often the heavy metal that Arashi is listening in the workshop, and you will also hear the "Ballad of Arashi".

My first-ever review! I recently finished watching this anime, and I must say, I absolutely loved it. It was an amazing experience from start to finish. The animation was stunning, and the music added so much to the overall atmosphere. I was so absorbed in the story that I managed to finish the entire anime in less than two days. And let's not forget about the unforgettable opening theme! It's so catchy and sets the perfect tone for the series. Even though I didn't always agree with all the main character's decisions, I believe the series teaches us an important lesson. It reminds us to prioritize our own happiness and follow our own paths in life. It's essential not to live solely to please others, as it can leave us feeling overshadowed and unfulfilled. Making our own choices, even if they turn out to be wrong, is a crucial part of personal growth and self-discovery.

Let me explain why I didn't rate the anime as much as I had hoped to when I started watching it. I watched Nana by the same creator Ai Yazawa last year and it had a huge impact on my life, I loved it more than anything I had ever seen in the recent years. That's the sort of expectation I had when I saw there was another anime created by this woman. Maybe I was just expecting too much of it. Also, I'll try to keep the explanations rather simple and short. VERY MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD Story (8) The story itself was very realistic and very relatable. I enjoyed the pacing but at times I didn't feel like there was a clear goal to what the characters were doing. But maybe that's because there's no such thing in real life either. The ending was great and dramatic, you'll most likely cry. In fact, I didn't dislike the story at all. But one thing ruined it for me, which is: Characters (3) I saw many reviewers saying the characters are very relatable and real but I sadly couldn't see the same in them. Yukari is a good main character and I enjoyed seeing her development. But besides her, I only really liked Miwako. That's why I'm especially sad we almost got no backstory on Miwako besides some short scenes related to her old childhood friend. Maybe that's because this is a 12 episode anime. Maybe this is better explained in the manga. But that's my biggest issue of the show: the lack of character background and depth. I just couldn't get into the characters at all. My biggest bother was George. Yes, he's hot. But does that justify everyone loving him for his not-so-great actions and how he treats Yukari? I didn't think it was "realistic", it was just too random for me how he got away switching between uwu and you're-so-ugly-and-untalented in seconds. Also I wish there was more explanation of the studio and how they became friends. I'm not saying the characters are all bad, I just wish they had more time to gain depth throughout the show. Art and Sound (both 9) The opening is on repeat all the time and the ending was a fun way to end each episode. There wasn't that much of a soundtrack as far as I noticed. Or at least nothing really stood out to me. But the opening and ending alone set the mood so well already, I can't help but score it this high. The art is from Ai Yazawa so I'm pretty biased since I love her style. The chibi drawings are also really cute and I just love how she draws eyes and lips. The visual character design was also really well done, the clothing was stunning. The mix of realism and cartoon in some scenes was weird at first but added to the overall mood of the anime. Enjoyment (5) I wish I had enjoyed it more. And maybe that's why I struggled to do so. Maybe my expectations were too high after watching Nana. Maybe it just wasn't an anime for me. I enjoyed the story but I couldn't really care about most characters. This is one of the first times I actually think characters were the main reason I disliked an anime. Overall (6) It is a very real anime and that's what I liked about it the most. If you enjoy anime that include serious and realistic themes, you'll most likely like it for this. Many people here enjoyed the characters a lot so maybe you will too. Just give it a chance and see if it's for you.

This anime is very good in it its own way and very different from what i've seen myself. It has a very realistic outcome and besides True Tears I cannot find any other anime that ends up being as realistic as this one. Story (8) Though the story is rather simple, the development is it is very interesting. A girl who enters a different environment that she is used to be in and gets excited about the surroundings + gets involved with a boy. What else do you need? Art (8) I gave the art an 8 because I found it really challenging and different from what I've seen before. For some it may be negative, but to me it was really good, and especially a sight worth watching. Sound (6) Honestly there isn't much unnecessary sound in the anime so I don't know what to say about it. All there really is to it is fine voice acting and no major sound effects. Character (7) Honestly all characters are very believeable to being realistic. Some are a bit over the edge to make it interesting, but there isn't a single character who is overdone. It's really good to see they can keep it up. Enjoyment (7) I gave the enjoyment 7 for a couple of reasons. It's very easy to watch, marathonable even which is very positive to me. Furthermore it has an easy storyline and you don't have to think too hard while watching it, just enjoying it. Overall (7) I decided to give this anime a 7 even though I really like it, I have to admit it is very girly. I'm not gonna say 7 is low or high, but to me 7 is a really good score and then an anime is as girly as this and gets 7 it is really big. I believe this should be watched especially by girls, as it seems it would be received very postively. - Kukker

Story - 4 Caroline stumbles across a group of fashion students who want them to model for her, within that there's a lot of romance/drama (with nudity) going on within the anime. In my opinion, the storyline is quite rushed and even though it's a 12 episode anime therefore there's not enough episodes to make a complex story, I feel like this anime develops the storyline quite badly as it jumped from one thing to the next rather randomly. However the flaws in the story made it quite entertaining because I'd find myself laughing at how random it was. Despite this, I did enjoy the ending. Art - 7 Nice art, nothing out of the ordinary but there are a lot of different type of characters from typical "girly, cute" looking characters to others with piercings etc. Sound - 9 Really good music that definitely fits the anime. The ending theme song is a Franz Ferdinand song, who I personally really like. Character - 3 The character development is rather poor and does not allow time for me, as a viewer to develop any emotional attatchment to the storyline. Enjoyment - 6 It's a decent anime, I found myself laughing a lot at the cringey parts of it and how random it was. Overall - 6 I watched it because I really enjoyed NANA and was recommended to watch this but personally I don't think it's anything like NANA for character development and plot development other than similar looking characters.

Painfully and beautifully realistic. It's a great blend between search of what you want from live, about love, hard work, dreams and patterns of life. I'm more fan of classic anime drawing style, but after first episode I loved it. The characters are very classic, but easy to fall for. The art is inspiring, and the story it self leads to think about your own life choices, why we do what we do, and, in my opinion, it's the definitions of great anime, if in the end, you not only enjoy watching it, but also it stirs questions about yourself. The love story is not the main object of all anime, which is great. And, like i said in the begging, it's painfully realistic, it shows how relationships aren't just about romance, it's also how they help grow and how they change person inside. The ending killed me little bit, but hey, that's life, and any how you look at it, it's beautiful. I'm still heartbroken, but I'm also in love with this anime.

What I like about this anime is that, the romantic story is one of the most realistic ones that I've seen. It's not a fairy tale type anime, but yet it still tugs at your heart. Quriky and original, you could see this anime being someone's actual life. It's fun, funky and a pleasure to watch. With tons of fashion, drama, and interesting characters, this show doesn't have a boring episode. I wasn't a fan of the art in the beginning, but it grew on me as the anime progressed. I think it perfectly suits the tone of the anime, and the characters themselves. Bright and quirky! Two words that perfectly describe everything about this anime. The ending wasn't at all what I expected, but it was very fitting, it is realistic and makes sense, considering what had happened throughout the show. It left me satisfied with the conclusion. It's short, but I think for the story line, a longer series would have dragged and lost the wonderful upbeat momentum. I don't think it would have really been able to go anywhere had it been longer. The dub is fairly good, most of the voices match their personalities very well. If you want something light and easy, but enjoyable to watch then I would recommend this!

Paradise Kiss is basically about a girl name Yukari who is tired of her boring old life and want some excitement. Well, she gets it when she gets across one of the designers from a group who designs what is known as "Paradise Kiss". They need a model to represent their dress for the upcoming fashion show so they decide to pick her. Along the way, she meets other characters, falls in love, struggles a relationship with her mother, and finding who and what she can do in her life. Story: I think Paradise Kiss definitely has a unique storyline to it. Other than the usual love story and friendships, the story about a group of students who dreams of being a fashion designer. One other reason I liked about Paradise Kiss is that the story has more realistic stories into it and not have girls with gigantic boobs or have dragons and talking animals (I'm kind of exaggerating). Art: For me, I thought the producers did an amazing job with the animation. Even though it's not the best quality, not to mention it was aired in 2005, but the details were significant and not to mention the pretty designs they came up with in the show. Sound: Even though I liked the OP song, the BGM didn't stick out too much for me while I watched the series. And even when I finished the series, I wasn't looking forward to getting the OST or even looking for it. (hm.. now that i think about it, I don't have ANY of the songs from its OST..) Character: For an 12 episode series, I think they did an amazing job at giving personality to each characters. There's the tough guy, the cool guy, the confused girl, the cute innocent girl, and bunch of different character. And I admit, I couldn't help but like every single character in the series. It's one of those series where you just have to understand and accept their personality and not complain about it, espcially at the end since alot of people didn't agree to it. Overall: I enjoyed watching this series and it's kinda disappointing that I watched it not so long ago, and not when it first came out. If you're into romance and just a everyday life story, then this one's definitely for you. Finally, Paradise Kiss gave me a good life lesson personally. Hopefully, it will do the same for whoever watches it c:

At this point in time, Studio Madhouse was starting to feel the weight of the industry pressing down on them. Pumping out the amount of anime that they were just meant they could not keep up both quality and production. For this reason, it was around this time in late 2005 where Madhouse started to slow down a bit, and begin to look for alternative ways for anime production. Paradise Kiss is actually a sequel set within the same universe as the show Neighborhood Stories from the mid-90’s and is a standalone story from it as well. Returning Madhouse Director and person who likes to be part of everything involved with the anime he works on is Osamu Kabayashi (Beck). Yukari Hayasaka is in her final year of high school and is pretty much bored with life. She does not care much about which university she ends up. All she wants is to get out of town and do something different with her life. This is where by happenstance she runs into a group of college fashion design students that want her to be a model for their final project. After some convincing, Yukari agrees to the task and slowly learns and gets engrossed into the world of the fashion industry. Almost immediately the audience can see the similarities between Paradise Kiss and Beck (2004): same director/studio, still frames, heavily detailed in the theme of the show, silent settings for characters, and it is more of a teen drama. Basically, Paradise Kiss is an unconventional unique anime. However, it suffers from similar faults as well: bland backgrounds, awkward moments without a reason, a strangely rushed conclusion, and weak romance elements. What are the strengths to Paradise Kiss? That starts and ends with how clothing, body language, and the fashion is presented. The characters are presented extremely detailed from something as simple as a few strands of hair falling over an eye to the outstanding detail of clothing texture with authentic designs. This show also shows a pretty good portrayal of a teenager struggling to find their reason and purpose in the world. Yukari learning what it means to takes risks towards a passion, learning the difference between a fling and love, and what it means to grow up are all great examples of a protagonist’s struggle. Even the other characters in the main cast have unique portrayals. In particular, the character George whom has bi-sexual and sadomasochistic tendencies, the anime tends to focus more on his passion for the fashion industry than his alternative life choices. Paradise Kiss is one of the most unique examples of an anime breaking away from the norm. It truly represents a slice of life focusing on something other than a hard-romance. Everything in this show seems to be new and refreshing at the same time. There just isn’t enough of these kinds of anime and Paradise Kiss is one of those that a typical anime fan will need an open mind to dive into.

I decided to watch Paradise Kiss due to its similarity with Nana- one of my personal favorites for a long time. The story follows the main lead Yukari Hayasaka who’s your typical: type A, devout, hardworking high school student. She’s approached by group of students to model for their high school fashion competition. The story follows her internal, family, and friendship struggle in choosing her own future rather than following what her parents laid out for her. Ai Yazawa, as always, outstands with her beautiful artwork and exceptionally wonderful characters. Each character’s life struggle is reflected in our own, which allows us to deeply bond with the characters. What I love even more about Ai Yazawa is the fact she shed light on the lgbtq community through her beautiful characters. I was really disappointed with the animation—there were many parts where the animation seemed out of focus or too slow, which is a shame since the artwork was extremely well done. Overall, it was a lovely anime with realistic view on life decisions and relationships.

I figured I knew what I was getting into when I read what Paradise Kiss was about. I like shojo manga and this one looked like a classic one. While what I did get was entertaining and typically shojo in many aspects, it was also a little disappointing and fell flat at times. Story- The story wasn't bad, and i think overall it was a very interesting take on a typical school story. The modeling aspect gave the story a distinction from all the other similar high school love stories. My biggest issue with the story was how it ended. I won't spoil anything, but I felt like there were many many loose ends that weren't elaborated on. And while I have watched anime with a mysterious cliffhanger type of ending that did work, this one didn't. I was just left asking too many questions and wondering why the final episode didn't feel like a last episode at all until the last 5 minutes. Art- The art is pretty, and a nice adaptation of the manga style. I thought it fit the high fashion style the story was about and the over dramatic clothes and hairstyles really fit in to the scenes well. While the art was pretty, there were visible hiccups in the animation and it didn't always flow as well as it could have. Sound- The music was good, and the opening and ending songs fit the type of show this is. But one of the things that drove me crazy was the English dub voice acting. Yukari and George, the two main characters, both had voices that were overdone and silly. While there were a few actors I recognized and enjoyed their performance, they were often minor characters who didn't get much screen time. The main cast was a little annoying to listen to, and all seemed very forced. Character- I did NOT like George. Still don't. But that doesn't really affect my score for character. Yukari's personality was very similar to a good natured teenager who goes on a rebellious streak and something good comes out of it (her modeling). But George just seemed like an ass to me. He never really changed enough throughout the course of the show to grow on me. Most of the other characters were typical or boring in my opinion, but I can see some of them (like Miwako) being a likable character to many people. Enjoyment- I felt a little bored through a lot of the show, and I didn't care much for the level of progression that was set. But it wasn't a bad show, and I did like it. In the end it was worth watching, even though I would likely never watch it again.

*Don't expect plot summary from this review!* (Note: I was way too harsh on this when I first reviewed it. I've since re-watched it and really found it to be considerably better the second time around--so this review may get re-written at some point!) Not really my cup of tea. It does have a lot of redeeming values--the background art is frequently lovely, and the clothing designs for the characters (and how often they are changed) is to be admired--oftentimes anime characters are only given an outfit or two and just cycle through them, much to the relief of the animators, no doubt. That said, some of the more extravagant outfits here are barely animated at all--annoyingly enough, this includes the ornate dress the characters have spent the entire series hand-crafting. When we finally see it it's mostly only in still frames, or with the model wearing it being shown simply bobbing up and down as she walks. Granted, I know essentially nothing about runway fashion, but it seems to me that part of the appeal about an outfit like this would be the way it behaves as it's actually being worn and moved in, so it's disappointing to lose that dimension of the experience. That aside, the characters are fine for the most part, though they largely remain pretty firmly rooted in anime stereotypes. There are some exceptions, which are especially noticeable in the minor characters--all of whom are more interesting than the primary protagonist, whom I actively disliked. By and large she's a typical anime heroine--klutzy, lovesick, unsure of herself, etc.--this is made up for eventually when she manages to grow a bit of a spine, but the fact that she occasionally goes into complete bitch mode doesn't really make me any more invested in her ultimate fate. Unfortunately, the side characters aren't explored to the same level of detail that she is, and the writers cheat a bit by making at least two of them very wealthy--which explains how they can get away with everything that they do without suffering much in the way of personal or social consequences. The series also doesn't quite know when to end--the denouement stretches on for at least a full episode longer than it should, though at least it works hard to wrap up pretty much any questions fans should have about the fates of the characters they've spent so much time with up to this point. All in all, it's a fine coming-of-age story, and its frank (well, PG-13 frank) explorations of teenage lust are worthy of praise. I was ultimately underwhelmed by it on the whole, but I could see it having a stronger effect on others, particularly young women. This is a series I would not hesitate to recommend to a 13-year old girl, which is something I rarely find myself unable to say about many anime series I watch.

This review is mainly intended to convince people to watch this anime (don't read the ending section) but also for finished watchers. I mainly talk about characters here. I'm writing this review right after I finished the 12th episode, and I've got a lot to say about this beautiful, beautiful piece of work. Its just so realistic, touching, and inspiring. I loved how they portrayed the physical aspect of relationships, because it just made the show so much more believable, and REAL. I will cut the chase and keep my review as succinct as possible, even though I can probably talk about for ages. George -- So a lot of people call him an asshole, but to be honest, I think George is one of the best male characters/boyfriend ever. Now his crude and sometimes emotionally ruthless personality really does characterize him as a dick(player and all, apparently he also had a boyfriend??), there is no doubt in the fact that he inspired Yukari to be who she is by the end of the show. He was someone who encouraged her to be independent, tell all the haters to f*** off, and believe in herself. His incredibly liberal attitude got me shook, because its rare to see such a mature character who has very 'western' ideals. He only does what he wants to do, and pursues his own dreams, regardless of what the society or people around him say. To me, George was an incredibly inspiring character, in addition to being a total gaudy, hot, billionaire (His family is LOADED its insane). Miwako - At first, she just seemed to be a typical pink haired loli with a really high pitched voice, but in the end, I really liked Miwako. I consider her kind of like that cute, happy friend that just cheers everybody else up. Arashi - piercings and band and fashion! Yes! At first, Arashi seems like that boorish, angsty teen you don't want to talk to. However, he is surprisingly pure and loyal. He is loyal to his friends, his love music, his love for Miwako, and his beliefs. I love his relationship with Miwako, especially the moment when he says that sex isn't what makes him happy. His like a gigantic teddy bear on the inside and definitely BFF material. The song he sang for Miwako was so heart touching I legit hugged the computer screen. Isabella - An unique, transgender character. Unique, yes, but still realistic as hell. Though short, the flashback to her childhood as a boy with George was enough to give depth and meaning to this character. His struggle with her gender was on point, and how George gave him the dress was a genius way of establishing their friendship.(Again, why George is AWESOME) Isabella was like the mature mom of the group. She always gives consort to people around her. You can't hate Isabella. And of course she just also happens to be loaded and GORGEOUS. Hiroyuki -- A sensible, likeable character. Honestly if everybody were to be like Hiroyuki, the world would be a better place. I'm not gonna talk about manga spoilers, but from what I read this guy had a happy ending. Finally, Yukari -- I love her character. The development in Yukari was astonishing. From her lack of motivation in life and family pressure to her current model self, the process was well written and again, so realistic. Personality wise, I couldn't find anything annoying about her *surprise surprise. She is usually calm and levelheaded, not over dramatic, have great work ethic and an amazing attitude towards life. I love her interactions with George too. She's a female MC that can stand her ground, and I respect her for that. The characters are what made this anime so enjoyable. So I won't waste my time talking about the story, because the plot is for you to discover and all I've got to say is that its well written and developed. and have an inspirational message. Music was good. Arashi's song was amazing. But otherwise, it did its job. The opening had a super catchy intro. Art: it was such a turn off sometimes. So Madhouse was experimenting with some weird photographic inserts as backgrounds, which was more evident in the first few episodes (THANK GOD), like I know you're trying to be unique and hyperrealistic, sometimes it just looked downright awkward. The black, faded out transition cuts were sometimes super awkward too. Otherwise, the characters were animated with care. I loved how expressive the eyes and eyebrows were. ENDING: The first thing I thought of was the movie LaLa land. Yukari and George doesn't end up together. Now people might be mad about it, honestly I was happy about it. Because it was exactly what George(notably) and other characters stood for. This idea that they are all walking their separate paths. If Yukari went to Paris with George, this would mean to contradict her own beliefs. Thank GOD she stays to pursue her modeling career. Life isn't perfect. Life is full of sacrifices. I mean, why should watchers even complain when even George said to Yukari: "That's the right choice/answer!" when he asked her if she wanted to come with him to Paris. **This didn't mean I wasn't balling at the end though. All in all, this was a masterpiece. The only reason why it wasn't a 10 was because of the issues regarding art I had mentioned above. Otherwise, it takes the crown of being the best romance/drama anime I've ever watched.

I give this story a 10. I watched it because it was recommended if you enjoyed the anime Nana created by Ai Yawaza. Her stories are always powerful and have a lot of different and unique characters to relate to. The plot was wonderful. For other being only 12 episodes, I was worried that the story would be sped up with alot of confusion but no, perfect pace and it ended nicely. Some people didn't agree with the ending but I say it was satisfying once you realize the meaning of everything that happens on this anime. For the art, very realistic. And also, alot of people hate seeing an anime with a bunch of characters that look the same and hard to follow. Everyone here are unique and have their own distinctive look. Different voices, they all don't sound the same. Also, this anime is about fashion, so the different styles of clothing they create here is pretty nice too. Some people thought it's ugly or old fashion but people need to remember that this is an older done anime. Fashion sense were different then. I seen what was being portrayed with the art given here. The main character, Caroline is changing and learning new things about her and how to control her life, so in each episode her fashion sense grows as well as her maturity and independence. For sound, the opening song isn't too bad. I know it's called Lonely in Gorgeous. Also, since I watched the anime Nana English dubbed, I did the same for this anime to see if the voices were sorta similar or the same. They were similar. I watched it English sub and their voices fit well with the characters too.. the little music that is played in the background fits well with the scenes. Nothing that jumps out, most noticeable songs played are the intro and outro. For the characters, I am only going to do the main character because I am trying not to spoil it.. Yukari aka Caroline, she's basically the main character. Her mom is very strict on her and for her 18 years all she's done is study to become the best in school, for her mother. Once her new friends discovered her inner talent before she could, she then elopes for several days. Confident in her choices. Trying to find what exactly she wants for herself, and no one else. How to be your own person and not make excuses or blame others for the decisions you make. The relationship she goes through with her boyfriend George and her other fashion friends helps her grow up and become an adult. Not knowing she actually had someone in her corner to give her advice, she gets herself together and do things the right way. She's also given an ultimatum but does not regret her decisions. Everything is a learning experience and viewers can relate to her because it's something that everyone faces in their life. But she actually had the courage to not follow in anyone's footsteps except her own. It was either a beginning of a new love or beginning of a new career. The message was very powerful on the last episode and it's not a sad one, it's a realistic ending with no sugar coating. George, Yukari boyfriend and also head of fashion line Paradise Kiss, I felt that the creator made viewers wishy washy with him. The whole time you think he's being a fake controlling person but overall he was very kind, thoughtful and sweet to Yukari. There are a lot of things left unsaid about him that makes you not like him so much but can see how much love the both of them had for each other. These two are the ones you will remember the most. The other characters are great as well. I love all of them and all of them have their own story which I love. You get to know where they all come from from , flashbacks occur as well and the passion they all have and strive for. All and all, I love a anime that is realistic and that I can relate to. I don't really like short animes but the message is powerful and universal. I recommend this anime and it's one of those you would watch again. I hope my review helped out and I hope whomever that reads would watch it and get a taste of how well put together it is.

I think at the point of our lives when after high school ends, you’re going to ask yourselves, “What am I going to do with the rest of my life?”, that is if you always think of that a numerous amount of times and you become less of the person you wanted to be and you start to question your way of life. That’s what Yukari Hayasaki (later being nicknamed “Caroline”) is being described as and it’s no contest about that, especially since it’s beginning to become repetitive and she needed to experience something new and that is when she is encountered with these eccentric fashion design students and they wanted to scout her to become a model for their clothing line Paradise Kiss. The group consists of Jōji "George" Koizumi, the charismatic student who has a talented gift for fashion design with his extravagant ideas, even if he’s cold at some times, since some of his ideas may not be accepted by the public. Miwako Sakurada is the pink-haired student who works with George and is exceptionally cute and sweet and tends to act child-like manner, either by the dress of the Lolita style and engaging personality. Arashi Nagase is the student with a taste for punk style, piercings (especially around the oral area) and alternative music. He is Miwako’s boyfriend and despite that they seem really unmatched for each other, they have known each other since childhood. Although one of the subplot in the series is that Miwako had feelings for Hiroyuki Tokumori, an prodigy who goes to Yukari’s school and was the object of her affections, and Arashi is known of that, which is why he’s insecure of that. Isabelle Yamamoto is the mother figure of Paradise Kiss and is the epitome of high class and femininity and also inspired George’s first dress during their childhood and often encourages Yukari when she needs it the most, whether it’s George or her studies. I don’t know if this is spoiler territory or not, but she happens to be a transgender woman. If you already know, this is based off the manga series by AI Yazawa and it’s a stand-alone sequel to her previous work, Gokinjo Monogatari, although that manga or the anime isn’t in English. There is also the point that a 5-volume manga is only squashed into 12 episodes. I’m not complaining about that but it seemed like some parts of the anime may have either been rushed or forgotten. The plot of the show isn’t what most people call ‘original’ but it’s not the same rehash of any other story you ever heard. The themes of the story are very realistic, along with the characters, and you feel like you actually know some characteristics of people in real life pursuing their dreams of doing (insert whatever you can think of, I wasn’t really interested in just the fashion part of the series). The animation of the show is done by Madhouse (9th times the charm, isn’t it?) and it does show a lot of quality brand of animation around the time of 2005 and even if it’s been over 7 years since the release, the animation still holds up today and the one thing that does weird me out is the deformed looks of the characters once it’s shown and it is me, or does Yukari in her deformed mode looks like if Olive Oyl was an anime character? I’m serious about that. The music really holds up well during the show, especially the opening and ending music. The opening theme, “Lonely in Gorgeous” by Tommy february6 has this funky vibe of J-Pop mixed in with ‘80s Madonna vogue music. “Do You Want to” by well-known British pop-band Franz Ferdinand, originally from their album You Could Have It So Much Better, and I like it how it always played off during the end of an episode that isn’t a clean cut to the end credits, plus, it’s an fairly awesome song to listen to. The background music is not really that noticeable throughout the show but it doesn’t stick out awkwardly. FINAL VERDICT: Despite that I really don’t know much in the fashion world, I did enjoy this series in it’s entirely. The story is very compelling and doesn’t stray away for only one character as it covers basically all of them. This is the type of anime that focuses on realistic characters in realistic situations and do you know how people always say ‘we need a break of the norm’? Well, Paradise Kiss is the break of the anime norm.

I watched this anime because one of my friend recommended it to me. And when I look at the genre, I saw the Comedy and that makes me think like "Okay, it is a comedy. So let's give it a try" (I'm a fan of comedy genre). So, then I watched the anime. And I was like "Where's the comedy?" I mean, I can count how many time I laughed throughout the show. WTH? The Comedy genre is definitely out. Don't go and put the genre as Comedy if it only has several laughable scenes. As a comedy fan, it pissed me off. Some other anime like Usagi Drop also has some comedy in it, but you don't put it as a comedy because it's not. So does Paradise Kiss..! Also, I hate the main character's voice. What with her voice? She sounded so lame. She is supposed to be someone beautiful and repulsive, so the voice should be more lively and confident. Just hearing her voice makes me annoyed. At the beginning of the anime, there were like some unnecessary stuffs. I don't even know what are those for. Just skipped to the part where the title is on. For the male character, I don't have any feeling for him. Well, different people has different taste. As conclusion, I won't recommend this to any of my friend. :o

There is a moment in life when the future that was carefully planned for you suddenly feels unfamiliar. Not necessarily wrong, just distant from who you are becoming. Paradise Kiss is built around that moment. Instead of romanticizing youth as a carefree dream, the series examines the uneasy moment when expectations begin to feel heavier than the life they were meant to secure. The story follows Yukari Hayasaka, a disciplined high school student whose life has been shaped almost entirely by academic expectations. Her days revolve around studying and preparing for university, following a routine that appears stable but leaves little room for personal desire. That stagnant routine is disrupted when Yukari crosses paths with a group of eccentric fashion design students who recruit her to model for their graduation project. What initially feels like a bizarre encounter slowly becomes the gateway to a completely different world. One built on creativity, risk, and self-expression over stability and approval. Drawn into their creative world, Yukari begins to see a different possibility for her future. At the center of this world is George Koizumi, the ambitious and enigmatic designer behind the brand “Paradise Kiss.” George is talented, charismatic, and unapologetically devoted to his artistic vision. But he is also emotionally distant and uncompromising, someone who values passion over practicality. His presence challenges Yukari’s entire worldview. Through him, she begins to experience a life driven not by obligation, but by desire. Paradise Kiss is fascinating because of how the story never frames George as a perfect romantic hero. In many ways, he functions more like a catalyst than a partner. The connection between George and Yukari feels less like a traditional romance and more like the relationship between an artist and his muse. George sees Yukari as the person who gives life to his designs, while Yukari sees George as the person who awakened her ability to choose her own future. Their attraction is real, but it is also fragile because their values ultimately move in different directions. George pursues ambition without compromise, while Yukari slowly learns that independence also means protecting her own emotional well-being. The story subtly suggests that inspiration and compatibility are not always the same thing. Another strength of the series is how alive its world feels. The narrative does not revolve exclusively around Yukari and George. Each member of the design group carries their own ambitions, struggles, and personal histories. Their friendships, frustrations, and even small victories create a sense that these characters exist beyond the central plot. Because of this, the drama rarely feels artificial. It resembles the messy but meaningful experiences of young people trying to build a life around their passions. Visually, the anime embraces a striking aesthetic that reflects its fashion-centered setting. The character designs are eccentric and stylized, yet never off-putting. Instead, they embody the bold artistic identity associated with creator Ai Yazawa. The world of the series feels vibrant, filled with color, attitude, and creative energy. Fashion here is not simply decoration but it becomes a symbol of individuality and self-definition. However, the same realism that gives the story depth can also make it uncomfortable at times. George’s personality is often divisive, as his arrogance and emotional detachment can create an imbalance in his relationship with Yukari. Their romance does not follow the comforting structure of typical romance narratives, and some people may find the dynamic frustrating. In many ways, the result becomes the most reasonable outcome. The pacing can also move quickly through certain emotional turning points, allowing some developments feeling pretty abrupt. The story jumps 10 years into the future, offering only a brief glimpse of where the characters end up. The moment feels almost like a closing snapshot. However, considering the series spans only 12 episodes, the brevity of the ending is somewhat understandable. Despite these imperfections, Paradise Kiss remains a memorable coming-of-age story. It doesn’t treat youth as a romantic fantasy but as a complicated stage filled with uncertainty, ambition, and difficult choices. Ultimately, Paradise Kiss is not really about finding perfect love. It is about the moment when youth collides with reality where admiration, ambition, love, and identity all begin to pull a person in different directions. The series suggests that some relationships exist not to last forever, but to transform us. And sometimes the people who change our lives the most are not the ones who always stay beside us, but the ones who push us to finally decide who we want to become. Anyway, keep in mind that no opinion is ever purely objective, and every perspective remains open to discussion. Even so, each viewpoint still holds its own value. If you happen to see things differently, simple mutual respect is more than enough. That same respect is the spirit behind this reflection as well. Wishing everyone a peaceful day ahead, and thank you for taking the time to read.

As a straight male in my mid 30s with no interest whatsoever in fashion design or modeling or anything to do with that world, I really doubt I'm the target audience this show was aiming for. And yet, despite this pretty clear mismatch, I enjoyed Paradise Kiss. I can see why others in my demographic might not, however. As a whole the show oozes style. It's not quite at gold standard Cowboy Bebop level, but it definitely has flair. Characters have unique hair colors and overall looks, the color palette on display really pops despite the show being two decades old as of the time of this writing and the opening and ending themes are both super catchy bops. I never once skipped through the intro sequence, which is something I almost ALWAYS do when watching other programs. I enjoyed this show's approach to drama. It felt more mature and grounded in reality than most other anime featuring a high school aged main character and its conflicts felt more believable and less contrived. The interpersonal relationships between the main character and the rest of the cast, the ups and downs that inevitably come with this period of life and the intricacy and nuance of romantic relationships are what drives everything forward. As a tradeoff, because the drama is more subtle and grounded in reality, there are fewer true highlight moments, if any at all, and certainly the ending of this anime, while easily believable and acceptable, is not memorable and does not hit you with an emotional gut punch. I'm not sure if ANY part of this anime is memorable three months after the fact, which one could argue is a strike against it, but that doesn't mean it isn't enjoyable in the moment all the same. COMPLETELY devoid of action or combat or any kind of mind-blowing twist, I can see how certain anime watchers might find this boring. I don't know that it's ever RIVETING, but I found there was enough meat on the bone, even if there aren't leftovers afterwards, to keep me engaged. Ultimately, would I RECOMMEND Paradise Kiss? To the anime audience at large, no. To those who already know they enjoy drama and romance anime and aren't turned off by the lack of action, yes. With that, use your discretion. OBJECTIVE RATING- 7-7.5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT RATING- 7

"Once upon a time there was a lady. She had no children, and no happiness either. And at first she cried for a long time, but then she became wicked" "Paradise Kiss" is the first Ai Yazawa's work that I got to experience and I have to admit that I'm ashamed that I didn't watch it earlier. It's definitely one of the greastest examples of bildungsroman, in anime, done right. Add to it the fact that it's also one of the few punk anime ever made, and you've got a really interesting title that should not be overlooked. Plot As I stated in the foreword, "Parakiss" is first and foremost a story about growing up and maturing. Despite being only 12 episodes long the series manages to tell a compelling story with interesting themes and characters. We follow Yukari's journey towards becoming a master of her own faith, her story's main strenght is it's reality. At the beginning of the anime Yukari is just another teen who's overwhelmed by the lifestyle that has been imposed on her and who's trying to find her purpose in life. Once she enters the rabbit hole, which is the world of fashion, love and interpersonal drama, she becomes infatuated with the ideas of rebelling against the social order and exploring all of the sides of her new life. But the more she sees, the more she understands about it's darker and more down-to-earth side. What's great about her story is that we can't really predict what she's going to do next. Yukari's doesn't have a lot of life experience, she's prone to succumb to sugestions, which may not always benefit her, and doesn't really know how far should she go in her actions, and that's why this story works so well. You can understand what Yukari's need to go out of her way in order to manifest her hatred towards the life that she's been experiencing for past 18 years, and thus, why she is acting this way. The important thing is that the show doesn't suppor all of her actions and let's us know that she's oftenly overdoing it and going with the flow without a second thought, so you may feel for her but at the same time you know that she's not always right and you'll want to condemn some of her actions. Alongise Yukari's story there are also two other going on. The first one is George's, who's the leader of Paradise Kiss and who's the direct cause of Yukari's transformation. The thing that's really interesting about George is that he has already went through what Yukari's going, during the series, and now he has to struggle with problems that come afterwards. The more we learn about him the more of his flaws we start to notice. His story is mainly about what choices you are to make after you make the first steps. George has to realize that his actions have been influenced by and are influencing others, and that being a part of the society means that you'll have to cooperate with others and accept that you may be wrong. While Yukari's story is exploring one's character, he's exploring one's place in society and that's why they complement each other and help each other solve their problems. The third major arc in this series is Miwako's, but unlike Yukari or George, it's not about improve herself or realizing what should she do with her life but about making important decisions and realizing whom she loves and understand what relationships are really about. The story tackles the topic of love in a very mature, not as prevalent in anime, way. What arouses the conflict is the difference of how Miwako and Arashi understand love, you can genuinely feel for the characters who both have valid points and have to make hard decisions in order to overcome their struggle. As I stated before, this arcs main strength is the fact that it feels real, love is but a simple thing and this story encapsulates this fact very well. That's about it when it comes to the main arcs, while you could say that there are also few other minor arcs that are going on (such as the story of motherhood and how important it is , in one way or another, for the main cast) I'd argue that those arcs mainly serve in order to compliment the three major arcs that I wrote about, and should be treated as their subplots. Although it should be mentioned that all of them help explore new ideas which make us appreciate main cast even more (e.g. Isabellas' backstory), but unfortunately not enough time is dedicated to them so I could call them a separate stories. Overall the entire plot is not only very cleverly written, and let's us see the story from many different perspectives with many possible outcomes, but is also structured in a way that makes everything clear and let's you follow multiple arcs without them overwhelming you with unnecesary information. It knows which themes it wants to explore and it does it without overstaying it's welcome. Characters People behind series are aware of the fact that in order for it to work the viewer has to care about it's characters, so that's why there's something's going on with the vast majority of the named ones. But let's start with the important ones. Yukari is definitely the most interesting one, we get to see her highs and lows, understand her what motivates her and why is she acting the way she is. Throughout the story we see her evolve from a vulnerable teenager to a person who can be proud of oneself, not all of her choices are smart,and we as the audience are expected to condemn some of them, but that's what makes her seem real, because if you've ever been teen then you must know that not everything is being directed by logic. When it comes to other characters, George and Miwako should not be treated as side ones. As I wrote in the previous segment there's a lot going on with them. The first one starts as a really mysterious guy who's surrounded by this unique gravitas-creating vibe and the second one starting as a quirky comedic character. But that's just a tip of the iceberg. The more you learn about them the more you realize that they are proper characters with human problems. They are prone to commit mistakes and misunderstand eachother. And their arcs help us explore new ideas while also not forgetting that they are people with a lot of other things going on in their lives, the series does it's best to treat them with respect and doesn't bring them down to just few traits. The show wants you to know both the charming and assholey side of George and both serious and playful side of Miwako. Arashi is an interesting case because while he serve's mainly as a complementation of Miwako, he has his moments and some of them hit really hard. He's a great counterbalance to Miwako's idealism and he oftenly brings the more down-to-earth point of view to the table. Isabella may be this show biggest weakness, she's present in every single episode, we can see her being the most mature one of the bunch and understand what role is she fulfilling in Paradise Kiss but unfortunately she doesn't get a proper developement. There's a one backstory but that's way to little for a character with so much potential as her. That's about it for the main cast. While writing about the other characters I should point out that only three of them get some sort of developement and that's Hiroyuki, Mikako and Kaori, I won't go into much detail about them but I'd just want to point out the fact that they first and foremost are in the story in order to help our main cast realize something about themselves. They don't appear in a lot of solo scenes but that doesn't change the fact that we get to learn about what motivates them, and why are they acting in such a way. They may not be the most fleshed out characters in fiction but they still add a lot to the series, and watching them is a joy. The rest of the secondary cast is really one dimentional (with few exceptions) but, that's what I'd expect, and I'm not going to complain about that, they can only fit so much in this series after all. Production When it comes to writing about this anime's productio…

Paradise Kiss could've been as great as Nana was. Right of the heels of my favorite Josei-Drama and listening to that Opening, I knew I had to watch Paradise Kiss as well, a well-cared-for child of noitaminA with an ending by Franz Ferdinand. And for the most part, the heart and personality of these characters really pull the show. Sure, some of them aren't nearly as realistic as the others, like the sisters Mikako and Miwako, one of which looks 14 despite being in her mid 30s and the other that still has me debating whether or not she was supposed to be a cute ditz girl or actually mentally challenged. But on the other hand, George, Yukari and especially Isabella are especially well-written and realistic characters in contrast and all of them have interesting lives who just happened to intermingle. A beautiful young man with sometimes very ambiguos motives interested in fashion with a very estrangered relationship to his family, a girl who feels the need to break out of her normalcy, but mostly ends up asking others what to do and struggling to find her own way, and a beautiful woman set on her path by a certain impactful connection in her past and present. The story is tailored to fit these characters especially well, too - they carry it in its entirety. It's just what happens when these characters come together, kind of like Baccano is carried by being as wild and badass a show as most of its characters are. It's all very natural and these people bounce off of each other very nicely. This show also has a lot of style very reminiscent of the early 2000s and you can tell its author really loves and cares deeply about fashion. But despite all these elements covered - in my book some of the most important aspects when watching an Anime - the show still ended up pretty underwhelming. The main problem is the noticeably rushed pacing and its many time skips as well as the production and lackluster presentation in general. This show really would have greatly profited from a 20-episode run to balance these elements better and show more out of the life of these characters, give them room to breathe. Isabella especially suffered from this, as one of the most interesting characters next to George, but once her "secret" if you want to call it that is revealed, she kind of falls by the wayside. Same goes for the relationship between Miwako and Arashi - whom I haven't mentioned before because he is, while still likable, probably the least interesting character of the bunch. Looking at this show however... while the character designs and outfits are beautiful and the general setting feels authetic, especially the bar these characters spend most of the time in, you can really tell that the author was still working on her style that had not fully come into its own. There are quite a few super-deformed moments for comedic purposes, but almost all of them fall flat. Aesthetic aside, some of the timing with these really doesn't go together with the more naturalistic voicework in most of these. They're also not that well integrated. What was probably just a small panel on the edge of the page in the Manga now goes full center and the contrast feels a bit jarring at times. There are also a lot of awkward transitions between scenes that drag on for long enough to distract. There's no snap to the change between scenes most of the time and it makes the whole show feel kinda sloppy and slow. It's one of those shows I feel conflicted about because I can see its heart and intentions that are my kind of thing, but it's all so washed down with the poor production and other small problems that I can't enjoy it as much as I think I should. It was worth watching, and I'm happy this helped the author to show so much of her understanding and interest in Nana, but as it stands, it's an unpolished diamond not allowed to shine as brightly as it could have.