Welcome to the first entry in our Couch Co-Op column! Couch Co-Op features two writers discussing their opinions on a certain topic, laid out as a conversation. This week, Ken and Jade tackle the extremely popular anime, Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai!. They both started the series when it first aired, and by the time it ended, had some pretty different opinions. Be warned: This column will contain SPOILERS and some NSFW images!

Jade: Recently an extremely popular Anime with a ridiculously long name, wrapped up. Both Ken and I started watching it together when it started, and by the end of it…my god….

Ken:  *Comic book guy voice* I believe you mean “Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai!”  Also known as Oreimo for short. But yes, it IS a ridiculously long title, as is the trend right now. This forces lots of weird nicknames for shows such as “Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai” shortened to AnoHana by fans.

J: I think sometimes anime’s are given long names, just so super cute shortened versions can be created… But Oreimo was originally a light novel, correct? Like the Haruhi series?

K: Yup, light novels are where a lot of anime come from nowadays. That or visual novels.

J: I suppose we should explain the plot briefly, for those who haven’t heard of the show. However I will say that this column is going to be full of spoilers, and written from the perspective of the two of us, who have seen the show in its entirety.

K: Yes, this is will be full of spoilers for the anime, the light novel and even the PSP game.

J: …and fill of pictures that will be slightly NSFW…since this show is slightly NSFW…

K: It rides a fine line on the side of BARELY SFW

J: And then the fans went running at full tilt into hardcore hentai territory! Yay!

K: Which is normal for, well, ANYTHING Japanese.

J: To sum up the series briefly, Oreimo revolves around the main character, Kirino Kosaka and her older brother Kyosuke and their…fucked up relationship. Kirino is a popular junior high student who excels in sports, and also works as a model. BUT SHE HAS A DARK SECRET! She is actually, a total otaku. Keeping a secret stash of eroge hidden in her room, she lives in her secret world of sin! Until her brother finds out, and is forced to accept that he has an otaku for a sister! Hijinks ensue!

K: Yea, it’s not exactly a healthy relationship. Although their “public” relationship is pretty normal as far as siblings go. And her collection is mostly lolita-style-little-sister-type dating sims and anime.

J: There are other important characters too. Kirino eventually makes some fellow otaku friends, like the super tall Saori who always carries around a backpack and has Umino-style swirly glasses. And the Elegant Gothic Lolita loving Kuroneko, who always dresses in character and watches deep, gothic themed anime.

K: I know your favorite of course. a glasses wearing, shapely childhood friend who is likes Kyosuke. Manami!

J: Hell yeah Manami. The only character in this damn show with any sense. Plus, her parents own a sweet shop. Kyosuke is a fool!

K: Poor Manami, helps Kyosuke along, gives him candy and gets abuse in return. I can’t argue that. She is a damn near ideal girl for most.

J: That brings up perhaps my first serious issue with this series. Kosuke is pussy, and Kirino is such a huge bitch, there is nothing redeemable about her character. I know they are supposed to have an exaggerated sibling relationship…but Kirino really is a horrible person.

K: Kyosuke is a very typical clueless protagonist from visual novels and Kirino is a typical tsundere character. Tsundere being the character trait where they act very abusive towards the person they like until certain key moments, like when they are alone.

J: But that works in eroge, because the main character, is supposed to be you: the player. So he doesn’t really need to have a personality, or a backbone. He’s just there to help you get to the boobies faster. This concept works in eroge, but watching that character in a series, is rough. Especially when they DO try and give Kyosuke some personality, and show him actually wanting to help his sister. And then Kirino just retaliates with smacking him, calling him names, and being an overall flaming bitch. In an eroge, at least you would get like a hot shower scene or something. But no! Kyosuke just comes across as a pushover. Halfway through the show, I wanted them to both fall off a bridge.

K: Yea, this show is supposed to be a reflection on eroge and otaku culture overall. So, Kyosuke IS lacking in character besides his overriding drive to help Kirino. Who… yes, is a bitch.

J: I understand that this show was made, for fanservice. There really was no other reason, and I’m totally okay with that. Shows like that can be enjoyed! But if a show is bad, it’s bad. It doesn’t matter what the purpose was. And Oreimo has a shoddy plot, characters that were not fleshed out correctly, and one of the dumbest endings ever.

K: Which ending?

J: BOTH

K: Haha ok, thought I could get you to slip up.

J: I do admire the fact that they decided to have “alternate routes” like in eroge…but in the end Kyosuke couldn’t choose anyone other than Kirino… Which was NOT like an eroge. I get the choice of several different girls when I’m playing. I felt like the ending where he goes to America to bring Kirino back, was out of place and forced. Like, okay we understand that you are worried about your sister…but it happens so quickly and is just explained in words. We don’t SEE Kirino struggling with fitting in in America, or having trouble keeping up with the other track team members. She just talks about it, then they have a totally G-rated lovey moment, and then she comes home. Uh, okay?

K: Yea, I loved that they did alternate endings. It was also a saavy business move, since it ended with a “Kirino [GOOD]” end on TV and then the [TRUE] route was with the DVDs. The [GOOD] end was over-the-top sappy and dripping with sugar. The [TRUE] end was… odd. It went from “Good! She’s gone!” to “OMG Kuroneko is making a move!” to “OMGWTF he’s a moron!” There was however, good fore-shadowing during Kirino and Kuroneko’s conversation, which pays off in the [TRUE] end storyline.

J: Man, I would feel so cheated if I purchased those disks for the other ending. But then again, I was no longer enjoying this show when they dropped the whole “Kirino wrote a book! Now it’s an anime!” stupid plot point. That went NOWHERE. Yet another flaw I had with this series…it had too many plot points that went nowhere.

K: Yea, I have no idea why that didn’t go further. Just another example of Kirino failing until Kyosuke and friends save her. Kirino did have one redemption episode where she actually apologizes to Kyosuke during that random party.

J: I’m guessing the writing-a-book-thing was explained better in the novels, but it really made no sense in the anime. But that party ITSELF made no sense! Apparently Saori is a millionaire or something? They show her in a huge house with butlers and such, but never make any mention of it. Once again, I’m guessing this was explained better in the novels. But this anime was pushed, on its own. Was I supposed to read the books first? I can watch Haruhi and GoSick just fine without having read the books…although I did read the Haruhi novels after finishing the series…And I highly recommend them!

K: As an overall story it really doesn’t go into the other characters enough. Saori gets the least as far as background stories go, which is sad. She’s a great friend to all the main characters, is a babe when she’s not in full on otaku mode, and is apparently rich! Manami gets one episode with the family trying to get her to hook up with Kyosuke. Overall this show was full of moments and brief scenes from the light novel. The different plot arcs really didn’t get fleshed out enough. Although I have started reading the light novel and man, I am HATING Kyosuke. He’s even meaner to Manami in that than on the show.

J: How could anyone be mean to Manami??? Although, I haven’t read much of the novels…and frankly don’t care to after this train wreck of a show. But it’s good to know that Kyosuke actually shows some kind of emotion, other than being a punching bag for his fucked up sister. Even in the cute episode with him and Manami spending the night at her house, it feels stagnant and forced. Like, oh here’s another girl! But she isn’t Kirino…so she isn’t important.

J: Kuroneko ended up playing a huge role, in the [TRUE] ending. I was excited that they decided to send Kirino to America and focus on Kuroneko instead!

K: Yea, Kuroneko is a much more major character than she first appeared to be. I’m REALLY disappointed that the show did not go into them actually dating like they do in the Light Novels. It was another one of those tease…. NOPE! moments.

J: I thought they were going to! She sits on Kyosuke’s bed…scandalous….

K: I know! Going to his room alone, hanging out with him all the time…

J: But then, instead of focusing on Kuroneko…they bring in a character EVEN MORE annoying than Kirino…uuhhhggg

K: I have to agree that the replacement girl, Sena Akagi, is the worst character in this show and possibly of all the anime I saw this past year.

J: Oh man. She is fucking horrible. And it isn’t even because of the “crazy” things that she says. The series has some hilariously graphic dialogue, and that’s totally fine. It was the CONSTANT YELLING. And FLAILING. And CRYING. It was like being around a super obnoxious anime fan at a convention. I wanted to roll up a newspaper and hit her with it.

K: Yea, it was supposed to be the stereotype of the fujoshi, which as they explained in the show as the “rotten girl type”. But holy crap they went overboard.

J: In contrast, look at the series Kuragehime (Jellyfish Princess.) All of the females in that series are otaku or fujoshi in someway, and they are NOT giant klaxons of screaming annoyance.

K: That’s what she was supposed to be. But she is not just a fan girl who likes homoerotic games. She is also a psycho bitch! She has soooooooo many problems Freud could write a whole new thesis on her!

J: I did however LOVE the scene at the end of the [TRUE] arc where Kyosuke runs into Sena Akagi’s brother, who is also waiting in line to buy eroge. That scene is the best part of the entire show. Kyosuke discovers that his good friend also has an otaku sister! When all the other fujoshi clap for him…I was busting up!

K: Hahaha yea, the misunderstanding between two guys lining up at midnight, to buy a homoge (Homo erotic game). It’s one of the best aspects of the show. Reflection and commentary on otaku culture, like midnight releases, (which I’ve been to my fair share here in America.)

J: Homoge sounds like some kind of fancy vegan juice…just throwing that out there…

K: I say you register that name and URL right away.

J: “HOMOGE! FOR COLON HEALTH!”

K: That’s.. so wrong. But so could sell.

J: So, the point of this column is for us to voice our varying opinions on a topic. I think i’ve made it clear that I really disliked this show. I gave it my all, and watched the entire thing. But in the end, I was like “Wow. That SUCKED!” And despite there being a novel series, and games…I was done with it. Ken, you didn’t flat out hate it though, correct?

K: Yeah, I remember we were both hyped for this show. We were both like, OMG otaku culture show! It’ll be like Lucky Star and then the excitement faded: mine flatlined, and Jade’s took a nosedive. But in Japan, it was a major hit. Not only did it spawn the anime, but it also spawned a TON of fan made (Doujinshi) comics. In most stores, OreImo had its own section! Along with Evangelion, K-On and Monster Hunter.

Jade: The actual animation is fantastic. And I also really liked the voice acting. The series itself was done with a large budget, and it shows. And the opening theme isn’t super obnoxious! Amazing!

K: The production was really something for this show. There were so many freeze frame jokes for anime, game, and manga fans. Kirino’s seiyuu (voice actress) is also the voice of Azusa from K-On and has a really strong tsundere voice. However Kirino’s character has tarnished her voice a bit for me…

J: They totally swindled me too…releasing the nendoroid for Kirino before the show really got going…so of course…I bought it…sigh. Then, they released Kuroneko…and of course I had to get her too. But nobody to blame but myself!

K: Yea, I ordered the nendoroids and I am happy with them. Especially Kuroneko.

J: But you also have a soft spot for the tsundere’s…and Kuroneko is your favourite character from the series, right?

K: Absolutely. She is a proper tsundere who actually makes her intentions known. Kyosuke is just too much of a thick headed moron to notice. She’s also is a talented artist, writer, seamstress.

Jade: And she wears cat ears

K: Sigh, I was trying to not bring up the cat ears. But yes. She wears them.

J: It’s okay. I love the big boobs and glasses. You can have the nekomimi.

K: Manami is a very close second, since she also owns a candy shop! Saori is nice but man, she’s tall. She’s rich but she also has a double life so I dunno….

J: I would say Manami’s one fault, is her voice is a little on the screechy side.

K: Feed her more candy to change her voice. :p

J: Good idea! We barely get to know the other characters. Kirino’s “normal” friend, Ayase is sort of a main character in the show? She shows up from time to time, but even her plotline doesn’t make sense.

K: Yea, Kirino’s friends are all bitches. Ayase has a lot of screen time but man… I keep expecting her to flip out and hit Kyosuke with a bat. Or a katana. Or drop a building on him. And that other model girl Kanako is a pure, gold-digging, do-anything-to-get-to-the-top type of girl.

J: Ayase starts off hating otaku culture, because she’s ignorant and doesn’t understand it, but then is suddenly is somewhat okay with it… but still hates Kyosuke because he takes the fall for Kirino…aaand then later she’s like “Kirino is my friend, so it’s cool.” It’s so wishy-washy and weird? Like they were trying to have her character turn around and come to a realization, but didn’t want to dedicate any screentime to it?

K: Again, she gets left off to the side, due to them trying to treat it like a dating sim. But there are no real routes for the other characters.

J: In a real dating sim, you would have an Ayase path! Speaking of…there is a very surprising Ayase path in the PSP game.

K: Yes! In the PSP game there are 4! endings for each girl, [GOOD], [NORMAL], [BAD], and [TRUE]. I dont think anyone expected that particular Ayase end… where she ends up… PREGGO!

J: DUN DUN DUUUUUUUN! Whelp, I guess that’s better than Kirino ending up pregnant….

K: Yea… I don’t think they would go there. The Doujinshi on the other hand… will happily and often did go there.

J: Oh yeah, there are no boundries in doujin. None at all.

K: The bookstore shelves were packed with them. Have you ever cringed at reading bad porno parody titles? Imagine a whole wall of them.

J: The only Oreimo doujin I would read would be Kirino and Kyosuke free. Well, maybe Manami and Kyosuke. But that’s it. Some Kuroneko x Manami would be rad. But Kirino needs to get hit by a car.

K: There are a ton of Kirino X Kyosuke of course. Followed by Kyosuke X Kuroneko, then the other girls with Kyosuke.

J: I’m happy with Kuroneko X Kyosuke…but their love needs to be pure and sweet. Not porno! I wanted Kuroneko to have actual happiness. Yes, her character has some flaws, and she can act bitchy…but they show her actually being a good person. Like caring for her sister, offering sound advice, worrying about others… all the things Kirino doesn’t do!

K: Yea, she is the most believable character. She is reserved due to her hobby, but she is not ashamed of it. And she has protective tendencies due to taking care of her younger siblings.

J: But back to the topic at hand. What were some favorite moments of the show? Parts where you thought, oh maybe this isn’t like having all your teeth drilled?

K: I’ve had almost all my teeth drilled so that’s nothing. This show has many flaws and I wouldn’t rush to recommend it to anyone. But it excels in the moments where it roasts otaku culture. Like thousands of fans lining up at Tokyo Big Sight for a comic convention, (which I’ve now done,) and otaku concerts, (which both Jade and I have done.) Basically, I like many otaku-themed moments, and I love Kuroneko. I was really glad Kirino wasn’t around for most of the [TRUE] end. Did you have ANY moments that you liked? Besides wanting to kidnap Manami?

J: I will agree that when the humor was good in this show, it was hysterical. I loved how they brought to light some of the really ridiculous, and yet true parts of otaku culture: Like paying obscene amounts of money for the extra-limited-only-50-made-alternate-costume-boxed-with-the-special-edition-pre-order-only figure that’s like an inch tall….which neither Ken nor I know ANYTHING about…

K: BTW I have to mail you that limited edition japan mail order only set of figures that’s 1 inch tall

J: You sure do! I’m waiting!!!

J: I also loved the accessorizing that goes with otaku culture, and they highlighted that a lot. Boob mouse pads, carrying around your swag bag emblazoned with your favourite characters, grown men decking out their cars with giant stickers of moe ladies. I loved that the president of the RPG computer club had totally decked out his bike. That was a sweet ass bike.

K: Ahhh, Itasha bikes and cars. A sign of a true extra high level otaku. They also showed the typical otaku stores in Akihabara, like the glass case shops where people sell their collection of rare items at sometimes insane prices. Complete with those otaku live action performances!

J: Oreimo shows Otaku-dom in the correct light. It shows that yeah, sometimes things are taken to an extreme, but they also make sure to point out, that ANY obsession can be taken to a not-cool level. They also show the deep comradery that goes on in otaku culture, which always makes me really happy. Yeah, maybe liking eroge is considered weird, but if you are surrounded by friends who also love it, that’s a great thing, and it’s no longer weird! In the episode where Ayase tells Kyosuke that otaku’s all end up being psychotic and hurting women, I was wondering how they were going to handle that. And to my surprise, they handled it quite well, pointing out that, in those tragic cases, it was one person acting out because of problems that already existed. It was not a reflection on otaku as a whole. It’s a brief conversation, but it made me respect the writers of the show more. And they really needed that, because most of the time I was putting my head down on the desk sighing.

K: It does a good job of showcasing otaku culture, especially in the first half of the show. Otakus take their hobby far too seriously at times, but the mainstream media and people often look down on them with extreme prejudice, and sometimes go too far with the hate. Kyosuke and Kirino’s father is a prime example, where he watches the news and believes watching any anime will lead to a life wasted.

K: It’s funny that people are having that same conversation here, except it’s about games and violence. Everything taken to an extreme is bad, but people with issues who play games or watch anime… HAVE issues. That’s separate from whatever hobby they choose.

J: Exactly. Oreimo was good at showing otaku culture, but pretty much sucked ass at everything else.

K: Well, at least I got you to admit there is SOME good in the show. It’s kinda hard to fully defend, but I did enjoy enough of the show to not to totally hate it.

J: Another issue I had with the series, is a personal one. Kirino reminded me way too much of Haruhi. And as Ken knows- I fucking hate her. I love her show, but want her to fall flaming into a lava pit.

K: Yes, another show where we both dislike  the main girl, but  we both LOVE the “other” girls, and want to smack the main guy upside the head.

J: Mikuru Beamu for life, yo.

K: Yuki. N>  Ready? [ENTER]

J: Hahaha yes! But that is another post

K: Yup. At least I have more ammo for that. XD

J: Are there other points you wanted to bring up, for Oreimo?

K: Nope, I think we covered all the main points, good and bad.

J: While I can’t say I would ever recommend this show to anyone, it is an interesting watch if you A) Enjoy eroge B) Consider yourself an otaku or C) Like watching fanservice anime. And once again, let me reiterate: there is NOTHING wrong with fanservice anime.

K: Nothing wrong with that at all. That is why shows like Queen’s Blade and Ikki Tousen exist.

J: Fanservice shows have a place, yes…but if a show’s plot is so bad it makes the fanservicey bits not worth it…that’s a problem. And that is how this show made me feel. If you want to watch a GOOD series that deals with some otaku issues, albeit in a lighter way, watch Jellyfish Princess. I recommended it on an episode of Couchbound too! Or Lucky Star, which is just a fantastic show all around.

K: This isn’t the worst story I’ve seen in a fan service show, but it does get grating, even when the social commentary bits are so well done. Then it just goes into poor relationship type writing…

J: Basically if you want to watch fanservice anime, you will be alright skipping this one. There are much more satisfying ones available.

K: I would say if you want to watch a show about otaku culture, and also geek out over the sheer number of real eroge boxes in the show, then you will find things to enjoy. Otherwise it will be a weak brother/sister relationship taboo story with under utilized, stronger side characters.

J: I think that about wraps up our first Couch Co-Op column, wouldn’t you say Ken?

K: I think we’ve ranted and raved for long enough tho I’m sure readers will have something to add in our comments section.

J: Yes! Leave some comments! I look forward to hearing what other people thought of Oreimo, and of the format for this column, since this is the first one!

K: Yup! This is basically just one of our daily rants…so thanks for reading, and let us know if you liked it!

Tags: anime, couch co-op, eroge, jade kraus, ken chan, oriemo, otaku