I's Pure

Title:I's Pure
アイズピュア
Overall:Rent
Keywords: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Notables: Animation - ARMS
GOTO Yuko
ITOU Shizuka
KADOWAKI Mai
KATSUKI Masako
KOBUSHI Nobuyuki
NAKASE Asuka
NOMURA Katsuhito
Original Concept - KATSURA Masakazu
SUZUKI Naoko
YUYA Atsuko
Seto Ichitaka-kun has always admired Yoshizuki Iori-chan from a distance. She is in the drama club and he's just a watcher that is almost a stalker. One day his best friend hands him a magazine that features up and coming stars and this month features Iori in many provocative poses! Ichitaka is stunned. Here the girl he likes is more worldly than he thought. In class that day they decide that two people are going to put on a play to welcome the freshmen class. The 2 people? Seto and Iori, of course. Too bad that during their project planning phase Ichitaka drops a photo composition of a nude body with Iori's head, right in front of this girl... and things don't exactly get easier when Akiba Itsuki, Seto's childhood friend and his self-acclaimed fiancé, returns from America to move in at the house of Ichitaka's family...
[6 OAV episodes (the first five eps contain a 90sec Ichitaka Delusion Diary omake with pure ecchi fanservice) based on the manga I's (15 volumes). See also From I's.]
From the Mangaka of Video Girl Ai and Dokokade Nakushita Aitsu No Aitsu.
The name "I's" is coined by Iori during the first episode from the first (Roman!) letters of the names "Iori" and "Seto", as to form a team of these two for the school project, but also all characters relevant for our male lead have a first name starting with the letter "I".
1:30 min Series Opening - YouTube Video
Episode Details 
B01
OverallArtAnimationCharacter Design MusicSeries StoryEpisode StoryReviewer
Rent 8 7 8 6 7 7 Ggultra2764 [series:1276#1552]
It's not perfect, but this second animated adaptation of I"s is an improvement over the subpar 2002 take on the series. With six episodes in length this time around, there is more time focused on exploring the buildup and tensions in the love triangle that develops with Seto, Iori and Itsuki. The series does add some solid twists in the developments of the triangle to make it unique such as one among the triangle bowing out of the romantic mess towards the middle of the series and the eventual couple facing their challenges at being together thanks to one among the pairing getting rising fame as an actress. The visuals are also an improvement here with smoother details on characters designs and a more vivid color palette applied to scenery and character designs. I"s Pure still has some issues carried over from the first OVA series with a few occasions of peril added in just for the sake of drama (with one recurring character involved in all three instances) with one of the female leads almost being raped or killed and an omake bonus featuring Seto's lewd fantasies of the two girls he has interest in. Otherwise, I"s Pure does make for a decent romance title to kill time on with its solid focus on the romantic developments involved in its love triangle.

Last updated Saturday, September 21 2013. Created Saturday, September 21 2013.
Buy 6 8 6 7 8 8 Xenoknight [series:1276#2967]
A tale of two people and the trials of life that stand before them and love...

This title was just what the doctor ordered. My breath was taken away after the first episode and I stuck around to enjoy the rest of the series. I knew I was going to love this title from the jump, but I had no clue what I got myself into. The trials of life can be cruel sometimes and the determination of a crazed pervert that refused to let his lust lie, certainly didn't make things easy for the lead love interest. This title was one of those "sit down and just enjoy the trials of romance" titles. If you can see yourself liking a story with these elements, then this title will not disappoint you.

There were a few "potential" rape scenes and I was completely transfixed with the events that lead up to them. The male lead had his hands full making sure nothing would happen to his crush (it was very "real" watching him risk it all for the girl of his dreams).

Things really got interesting when his childhood friend came to see him and put a huge damper on his plans to win his dream girl. He never thought that things could end up the way they played out (with the childhood friend showing a little too much interest in him), but in the end, he is able to let go of her without too much heartbreak.

The notion of "cell phones" are dominant in this title. Almost every time anyone was close to revealing their true feelings and emotions, that blasted phone would ring and ruin the mood. It happens throughout the entire series and never fails to miss a chance to cripple any potential love confession.

Towards the end of the series, we get some serious time jumps to a time where all is well (with the usual excuse of work to get in the way of love) until a certain job forces the couple apart. The main lead never stops thinking of her and demonstrates his love and devotion with espionage (LOL). After a very dramatic event, her love for him is tested and I say she failed miserably (she saved him with a stupid phone call for crying out loud).

The video he got from his childhood friend was really heartwarming and cool at the same time and was a beautiful way to end this little love drama.

All in all, this title is one that you can just watch with no worries of boredom or story gaps. The extra ecchi content is just extra icing on the cake. It was amusing stuff if I do say so myself.

On the same level as REC and Ajimu Beach Story, we get a drama filled love story topped with mixed feelings, shy emotions, and the forces of destiny trying to pull the love interest apart. All three titles won't fail you, but I say REC was the best of the three.

Check out my award list to see some of the best anime titles in the world!

Never forget Xenosaga.

Last updated Saturday, June 06 2009. Created Tuesday, December 02 2008.
Rent 9 9 8 6 8 9 Devil Doll [series:1276#752]
[Score: 79% = minimum "Rent+"; the second half alone would have been a "Buy". Recommended non-Fantasy Romance Drama anime: Koi Kaze, Lamune, Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora, Suzuka, Kimi ga Nozomu Eien, Hachimitsu to Kuroba II]
  • Drama: Med/High (not just the triangle but some real danger elements)
  • Comedy: Low (more incompetence of characters than real fun)
  • Action: Low/Med (occasional violence, the "stalker" element)
  • SciFi: None (plain old earth, normal people)
  • Ecchi: Med/Low (girls in underwear but mostly in episode 1, the loli OP sequence, and the "Delusion Diary" omake, but almost nothing during episodes 2-6)
"God created love, and then the Devil created the cell phone..."

I had been horribly disappointed by the previous release from this story's universe, From I's. Yet, with the manga being kind of famous (and from the same mangaka as two other anime I like, see above) I'm giving this one another chance as a buddy gave this OVA the highest praises... and despite its slow start this is a winner during the second half of this short series.

We're getting the standard romance plot of the late-bloomer boy having a (very) bad start with his idol girl (take this literally) whom he secretly admires from afar, and his comedy relief wingman Teratani trying to bring them together.
As for the Characters: While Itsuki started as the pain in the neck of this show (being a weird combination of naive Yui from Ichigo 100% TV and clingy Hikaru from Kimagure Orange Road (TV)) she soon turns into the most interesting character of the main staff while playing only a side role. Iori-chan looks awfully cute but is really not that bright, falling for the same trick three times in three episodes; the same applies for Ichitaka who always gets beat up when trying to defend Iori. This is once funny, twice acceptable, but boring if repeated in each episode, making me downgrade Series Story (which otherwise was great). And whenever Ichitaka is together alone with one of the girls he will allow whatever incident happening to interrupt their "date", thus irritating not only both girls but the audience as well: When you're right in the middle of a ceremony to make sure you'll be in love with the girl next to you would you actually interrupt that to simply answer your cellphone!? Baka!!! (Yes, that call was important, but still.) This repeated use of the same story elements is the one big design flaw of this series: The comedy elements soon become too predictable to still be funny. Then again, episodes 4 and 5 feature a scene where nothing happens at all - which still is one of the highlights of this story! You have to watch it by yourself to understand.

Technical aspects: The vocals of the OP song are unnerving me, the ED song is plain boring, so low grades for Music. Then again, the visual presentation is excellent, with both Art and Animation doing what has to be done to tell this story (the alcohol scenes were particularly great).
  • Episode 1 (weak): Ecchi parade of girls in underwear (think Ichigo 100% TV or Green Green), with lots of perverted boys (including attempted rape in some classroom).
  • Episode 2 (nice): Romantic triangle, none of which can be honest with their feelings, and with both girls competing for... their rival to win the boy!
  • Episode 3 (weird): Action/drama elements (again including some perversion/violence) with both Iori and Seto acting exceptionally silly but childish-looking Itsuki acting surprisingly mature at times.
  • Episode 4 (powerful): Character relation development (introducing a new side character Isozaki Izumi, one more name starting with "I"...), and Iori finally acting a lot less stupid), and several breathtaking moments (closer to Ajimu Kaigan Monogatari now).
  • Episode 5 (top): Teratani, Seta, Iori and Yuka go on a double date on Christmas! Prepare for cellphones ringing at the wrong moment.
  • Episode 6 (weird) Iori follows her dream, and Ichitaka tries to make the best of it...
This anime has clearly surpassed Ichigo 100% TV in terms of character quality and in the end is closer to Ajimu Kaigan Monogatari or Suzuka, meaning this is much more drama than comedy. And I removed the "Ecchi" keyword from the category list.

Last updated Wednesday, August 10 2011. Created Thursday, June 07 2007.
Unevaluated Forbin [series:1276#1573]
Based off a manga and looking a lot like Ichigo 100% TV the animation is very high and since the manga is done, it looks like it will have a definte ending. Lets hope it keeps it up.

Also seems to be a bit of the Pantsu fetish. I guess this will keep me from going into Ichigo Withdrawal.

Last updated Tuesday, January 03 2006. Created Tuesday, January 03 2006.

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I's Pure - Product Page http://www.liverp.co.jp/modules/tinyd10/index.php?id=36
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