Ouran High School Host Club has a particular place in lots of veteran anime followers’ hearts. Despite missing a second season, the rumors have not died down within the 17 years for the reason that first season’s conclusion. It’s a powerful feat for any collection to keep up relevance with out a sequel, particularly contemplating the fixed revolving door of seasonal anime debuts. Ouran continues to be really helpful as a gateway into shojo anime and stays a staple for the demographic. However, its fame is affected by varied controversies relating to queerbaiting, sexism and incorrect translations that led to misunderstandings.
Held in excessive esteem for its campiness, Ouran High School Host Club‘s stronghold on the shojo demographic appears to be like prefer it’s right here to remain and will not be fading out any time quickly — particularly since shojo anime appears to be coming again into the highlight. Still, some followers cannot get behind the collection, deeming it too “problematic” and urging others to keep away from it. However, there’s one thing to be stated for Ouran‘s campiness, self-awareness and progressive mindset poised inside a problematic narrative.
Ouran High School Host Club first premiered in 2006 and appeared like yet one more shojo collection filled with fairly boys fawning over a unusual protagonist. However, those that watched the present realized that such an evaluation could not be farther from the reality. Haruhi was a novel protagonist who challenged the stereotypically “girly” norm for shojo leads on the time. She spoke in a means that does not appear too revolutionary in 2023, however in 2006, the concept of an androgynous shojo protagonist was far rarer.
However, Ouran continues to be fraught with controversies that some argue might have plagued its progressive efforts. One explicit episode is all the time talked about regarding Ouran‘s problematic streak. Episode 8, “The Sun, the Sea, and the Host Club!” featured Haruhi getting attacked by a gaggle of boys after she went to defend just a few women getting attacked by them. The different host membership members weren’t joyful to see her take the initiative towards the gang and scolded her for going up towards a gaggle of males.
If that wasn’t dangerous sufficient, Kyoya additionally tried forcing himself on Haruhi to “prove a point” that she’s unable to defend herself towards a person. He wasn’t really going to do something, however he needed to ingrain it in her head that simply because Haruhi did not see herself as female did not imply the remainder of the world would comply with go well with. Ouran additionally receives criticism for its depiction of the twins, with many arguing that they are queerbaiting and solely function meals for fujoshi.