Since he's a scholarship student rather than a rich kid, Haruhi cuts an odd figure at posh Ouran High School. Looking for a quiet place to study one day, Haruhi stumbles upon the Host Club, a group of young men who make schoolgirls happy by providing tea and cakes, conversation, and a bit of flirting. When he breaks a valuable vase and becomes indebted to the Host Club, Haruhi is put to work as a gopher, but his charm and cute appearance quickly result in his graduation to Host status. There's only one problem: Haruhi is a she! Refreshingly, this is not a story about hidden identities (Haruhi's gender is revealed to the club members at the end of the first episode), but rather a plot device for some straightforwardly hilarious stories that play on the club member stereotypes (the prettyboy leader, the smart guy with glasses, the twins), while also having fun with issues related to frustrated romance and social disparity. Presenting 13 episodes (out of 26 total) on a dual-language double-disc set, rated TV-14, DVD extras include commentary tracks, manga pages, and outtakes. Highly recommended. [Note: Ouran High School Host Club, Part 02 is slated for release on Jan. 6.] Aud: P. (L. Martincik)
Ouran High School Host Club, Part 01
(2006) 2 discs. 300 min. DVD: $59.98. Funimation (avail. from most distributors). ISBN: 1-4210-1462-9. Volume 24, Issue 1
Ouran High School Host Club, Part 01
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