Kizuna OVA 1

Originally released in the U.S. by adult video distributors Ariztical Entertainment back in 2002, and riding a surge of popularity for Boys Love manga and video, the first two Kizuna OVAs are seeing the light of day again in new releases from Be Beautiful. The first half hour OVA was released in August of 2005, with the second to follow in October. This DVD is Be Beautiful's first foray into animation and they have produced a solid, if no frills, release, which is a decided improvement upon the original.

Enjoji and Ranmaru

Ranmaru and Kai

If you're not familiar with Kizuna -- and shame on you if you're a Boys Love fan, and you're not! -- it's one of the longest running, best-loved Boys Love manga series out there, at ten volumes and counting. Mangaka Kodaka Kazuma has spent over a decade affectionately spinning out the love story of Enjouji Kei and Samejima Ranmaru, allowing both they and their relationship to grow and flourish in ways most manga characters never get a chance to. The first OVA, dating from the early 1990s, goes all the way back to volume one of the manga, where readers are introduced to the lovers when they are college students, already well-established in their relationship, though still susceptible to misunderstandings . . . and the interference of others.

The plot line to OVA 1 is very slight, and takes a back seat to what's really important: the characterizations. It revolves around Enjouji's younger half brother, Kai, and his fixation on Ranmaru, dating back to when the latter was a high school kendo champion, before enemies of Enjouji and Kai's yakuza father inadvertently end his career in a car accident. Now a rising kendo star himself, Kai is determined to take Ranmaru away from Enjouji at any cost, despite the fact that the two live together and give every appearance of being quite in love (to viewers at least -- their relationship isn't public). He gets a chance to prove his mettle when he rescues Ranmaru from a lecherous professor, even though it's Enjouji the drugged Ranmaru calls for. This leads to an inevitable showdown between the two brothers, though they are interrupted by the professor's hired thugs before things can turn truly nasty. The OVA ends, unsurprisingly, with the lovers still together, and with Kai still on the prowl.

Truthfully, the plot isn't much more coherent or sturdy than that (Kodaka didn't really hit her stride until volume 2 of the manga), the animation quality is very dated, and the episode's sexual content is milder than the manga, but viewers tuning in to savour Enjouji and Ranmaru's relationship, both emotional and sexual, won't be disappointed. Enjouji, suave women's host by night, is perpetually smitten by and in serious lust for his beloved Ranmaru. He'll do anything to protect his Ran-chan, including fight his half brother. Ranmaru is more reserved, and as likely to pop Enjouji one for being an idiot as he is to kiss him, but still clearly also devoted to his man. Despite being opposites, and despite the difficulties inherent in maintaining their relationship, their affection rings true throughout the story. So in this sense, the OVA is both a delight and a success.

Sexy Panning Screen

Be Beautiful's release corrects one serious flaw in the original: Ariztical's version had subtitles that not only couldn't be turned off, their timing was incorrect, so it was nigh near impossible to determine who said what. The new release is still Japanese language only, but the English subtitles are both timed correctly and can be turned off. A dubbed DVD may follow later -- which may not have appeal to existing Kizuna fans used to the Japanese voice actors, but has the definite potential to attract new viewers, especially those who like their on-screen Boys Love mild. The one place this version is lacking is in extras. While there are apparently some goodies planned for volume two, this volume contains only manga previews of other Be Beautiful titles, set to music. But this is hardly a detraction from the enjoyment of finally having a watchable version of this classic title.