Kizuna
Overall Rating: B+
Media Reviewed: DVD
Creator: Kazuma Kodaka
U.S. Licensed: Yes
Released by: Be Beautiful (U.S.)
Run time: 60 minutes
BL Content: Moderate (sexual situations, nudity)
Genre: Comedy/Romance
Other media:
English-licensed manga [review]
Episode 1 DVD [review]
Episode 2 DVD
Episode 3 DVD: Much Ado About Nothing [review]
Based on the long-running manga by Kodaka Kazuma, the anime treatment of Kizuna features one hour of perhaps the happiest, most well-adjusted couple in all of yaoi anime. Sweet and unassuming Samejima Ranmaru and his lover, the more brash and sensual Enjoji Kei, do have their problems, though. Their biggest problem is named Sagano Kai and is Enjoji's younger half-brother, who just happens to be in love with Ranmaru too.
Ranmaru and Enjoji's history is covered in just a few minutes at the beginning of the hour-long OAV. In high school, Ranmaru was a world-class kendo champion, who had to quit kendo after a car accident. Enjoji's father is a Yakuza boss, and the accident that hurt Ranmaru was set up by a rival Yakuza. Enjoji was the intended target, but Ranmaru pushed him out of the way, being hit himself. However, this only brings the two of them closer, and we quickly see that the couple has been together for several happy years. Both are now attending the same college, when Kai comes on the scene. Kai works his way into Ranmaru and Enjoji's lives, much to their annoyance and the annoyance of his Yakuza father. Eventually, Araki Masanori, one of Kai's father's employees who practically raised the boy, arrives to take Kai home.
That is the plot in a nutshell of the entire hour, but there are a lot of sweet little scenes that do nothing to advance the plot, and only serve to illustrate the relationships between the main characters. Enjoji and Ranmaru get a lot of darling little moments, but the scenes where Enjoji seduces his protesting sweetheart are my favorite. Ranmaru's blushing, stammering arguments are always quickly silenced by Enjoji's loving skill, and the viewers are treated to plenty of long panning shots of naked skin and tasteful sex shots. Just as endearing as the main couple, the flashback scenes of Kai growing up with Masanori as his father/big brother/hero figure are very touching. The close relationship of the older man and younger boy hints at something that could be more, if Kai weren't so interested in Ranmaru.
The original animation and voice acting, however, are very good. Sometimes the picture seems rather too bright in well-lit scenes, and rather too dark in nighttime bedroom scenes. However, the art is very nice and the boys are really beautiful. No long-legged willowy boys here! Enjoji and Ranmaru are both well-built and muscular, yet beautiful. The two of them together are especially attractive, contrasting, but lacking in the usual large seme/tiny uke dynamic.
The best part about Kizuna is the wonderful loving relationship between Ranmaru and Enjoji. At this point in their relationship, their love has already proved itself. This is not a story of discovering first love. Rather, it is a tale of steadfast love seeing a committed couple through some difficult problems, and remaining strong and even sexy throughout.
