seven shock-face/10

obtained from Lunar Anime
http://a.scarywater.net/lunar/
hardsubbed episodes 1-26 (full)

bittorrent

Closing Song: Nennensaisai (Every Year, Every Age) by Hitoto Yo

Summary:  Katakura Kippei is a slightly less than ordinary (nice way of saying below average?) high school student.  However he's really good-looking and something of a player.  There's really only one girl at his school who can't stand him, Kokoro.  One day when he comes home, he finds his entire family gathered at the table, his mother and father, grandmother and grandfather, older sister, younger brother, and a little girl.  The girl, Yuzuyu, is 5 years old and turns out to be Kippei's cousin.  Her father passed away, and her mother, unconfident in her ability to raise her child alone, has somewhat abandoned her in the care of her older sister's family.  Kippei's older sister charges him with the care of Yuzuyu.  How will it work out?  Is kind of what the story is about.

Review:  I really liked this anime, although it may not seem like I did from the 7/10 shock-face rating.  However, I really did enjoy this show.  There were parts where I was like, "ok, let's get on with the story already!" mainly when yuzuyu was being silly, or when kippei and kokoro were having their angsty love story. 

Here you see the love Kippei and Yuzuyu have.  So cute.  I really did think it was cute after a few episodes.  Although the show never really delved too deeply into angst or problems, I'm happy about it.  It was a realistic show and very enjoyable to watch.  One wants Yuzuyu and Kippei to have happy times.  In fact I probably wouldn't have minded watching an entire episode of mindless drivel of them just going through a normal day and having fun, that's how much you come to like the characters in Aishiteru ze Baby.

Facing us in this picture is Kippei's older sister, Katakura Reiko.  The head you see is Yuzuyu's mother.  She annoyed me but at the end of the show I came to terms with the mother and gained a greater understanding for her situation.  Kippei's older sister is awesome.  One of the great characters in the show you wish you see more of.  I barely knew her real name because Yuzuyu is so awestricken by her that she only calls her "Onee-sama" (sama is an extremely respectful term, and Onee-sama means something like "deeply respected Older sister").  Kippei himself, though so displeasing in conduct at school, defers to his older sister.  She really reminds me of Nakazawa Yuuko from Hello! Project.  Nakazawa and Onee-sama are both the scary-beauty types.  They can scare you into anything, but you'll be too awed by their beauty and sharp-tongue to care.

This is Kippei's younger brother, Katakura Satsuki.  He's only 12 but there's a really hilarious backstory to him (don't worry, no spoilers).  Mature, very mature, since birth (HAHA), he's a very quiet boy.  He rarely appears in the show, but he also cares deeply for Yuzuyu.  by the end of the show I had grown quite fond of him and wanted to see more about this kid!

Satsuki's girlfriend and their story together was also cute and likable.  Although I became upset at her when she was being stupidly girly in the bathroom, her anxiety turned out to be cute in the end.

Another intriguing character presents herself in Kippei's family.  She is Yuzuyu's cousin, Miki.  As you can see in this picture, which i love, Miki is a fierce warrior inside a school-girl casing.  At first you are inclined to think, who is this stupid upstart girl?  Then you realize that she actually is likable and understandable.  She really seemed like a brat until I gave her a chance and watched the episode about her.  It seems like all the youngins in Kippei's family are cool!

Of course, there was a really strong moment when Miki-chan does something quite incredible to Yuzuyu.  Although it might not seem very important, it was tied to the overall storyline and the realism of the story.  I was really upset at that time, but I later understood why Miki-chan (SPOILER) told Yuzuyu that she knew where her mother was.  It is understandable that a kid of 14 would be unaware of the kind of damage she could do to a 5 year old when she's being selfish.  In the end it was reconciled when Miki's reasoning is revealed.

Another excellent side-story was the story-line involving a little boy in Yuzuyu's class.  It was very upsetting, but the strives the parents take to overcome their ugly sides was a positive outcome.  I was satisfied at the end, but I wish there was a slightly longer conclusion to the story.

One of the characters who I had difficulty accepting was Kokoro.  She's the girl in Kippei's class.  I don't like the name Kokoro for a girl, it is so girly and vulnerable sounding that I really hate it.  What made her grow on me was her bluntly negative attitude toward Kippei.  I did want their relationship to work out.  I got a bit annoyed by the scenes where she's all emo, but that's probably because I'm over teenage angstyness already.  One of the things which also annoyed me about Kokoro was her earrings.  Watch the show and you will notice her piercings switching from ear to ear and switching around on her ear.  In the final two episodes it stablizes, but at first it was quite amusing.  What you have to tell yourself is that she has multiple piercings on both ears and maybe she isn't wearing all of her earrings all of the time, so that you can accept it.  It's pretty funny.  I did like her character by the end, but I have to say I prefer it when she's being cold and distant to Kippei than when she cries on his shoulder.

Yuzuyu goes to kindgergarten and that brings a whole new element to the show.  Although I'm already so old, I thoroughly enjoyed the growth Yuzuyu and her friends go through at the school.  I liked the realism of the characters too.  We all can say we know a snobby, mature kid like Marika.

Overall the show was very enjoyable.  Although originally I only picked it up because I was itching for some anime and it was the only title I recognized, I don't regret watching it!  I recommend it to everyone.  It's a delightful show and there are a lot of small moments that really impress you or make you laugh.  The characters really grow over the course of the show.  The end is also satisfactory.