Kimihiro Watanuki would be a ordinary high school boy only he has one extraordinary problem: he is plagued by spirits. He can not only see them, but they seem to flock to him inexplicably, often in large numbers. Through a series of seemingly random events, Watanuki meets the mysterious Yuuko who claims to have the ability to cure him of his curse…for a price. In exchange, Watanuki becomes an employee for the often eccentric Yuuko in her shop where nothing is ever what it seems.
xxxHolic is one of those series that is intriguing on so many levels it is difficult to know where to begin. From the story to the backgrounds to the character design, Holic has so many elements that draw the viewer in making for a very pleasing experience all around. However, it is not an action anime so if you need lots of ‘splosions you should probably look elsewhere.
People who hear me talk gush about xxxHolic always ask me about the genre. It isn’t really drama and it certainly isn’t action. To sum up what Holic is like in one genre is very difficult. Supernatural is the best way I can describe it but not in an “I see dead people” kind of way. Holic is akin to watching a dream but unlike the freakadelic series or movies (Le Portrait de Petit Cosette or Paprika come to mind), you feel more certain that you know what is actually going on. The stories in xxxHolic often deal with Japanese urban legends or myths and focus on the “ounce of truth” in the lie, as it were. Despite its seemingly episodic feel, the you seem to get the feeling that this is all tied together somehow. And you would be right! However, the one beef I have with xxxHolic is that, unlike its manga predecessor, the series does a poor job of tying up loose ends.
Don't be fooled by xxxHolic's seemingly episodic nature. Like everything else about this series, things are always more than what they seem.
The story (or stories) in Holic are almost like fables except the “moral” of the story is not always exactly what you would expect. Again, there is an episodic feel to it but the fine web of meaning we begin to see Yuuko weaving throughout is fantastic though sometimes unexpected giving lots of really great “Ah!” moments if you are paying attention.
Although Watanuki is, for all intents and purposes, the main character, it is Yuuko who provides the foundation for the entire series. Though on the outside she is eccentric and somewhat of a smart-ass who may or may not have a drinking problem, she often waxes very philosophical providing some of the best soliloquies I’ve ever heard (Shakespeare aside, of course). Even Mokona’s often insane antics have deeper meaning and although Watanuki’s character is often whiny and annoying, he is believable. Incidentally, Funimation’s dub for xxxHolic is one of the best they have ever done and it is actually the only dub I prefer to the original Japanese cast. Coleen Clinkenbeard’s portrayal of Yuuko Ichihara is so exceptional that I forget all about Carrie Savage’s rather annoying Mokona. Todd Haberkorn’s Watanuki is absolute perfection.
Anyone familiar with CLAMP should recognize their signature character design right off. Characters from Code Geass, for which CLAMP did the design and off course, CLAMP’s other ridiculously popular series, Tsubasa Resevoir Chronicles all sport the same long limbs, sharp features, impossibly thin torsos, and (for the females) very large bosoms. Yuuko’s get bigger as the series goes on, I swear they do. Anyways, this character design is sometimes met with negativity but as a personal preference, I love it. But it is not the character design in Holic that is the technical star of the series. It is the backgrounds, often in painstaking detail that steal the show.
I could pay attention to what's going on here but I'm distracted by how beautiful everything is.
Dislikes? Ha! Other than xxxHolic leaves you hanging a little bit, none! I absolutely love this series. It is as intriguing as it is beautiful. As for age appropriateness, there is hardly (if any) fan service in Holic. Some of the themes (particularly the “Monkey’s Paw” episode) might be a little frightening for young children but xxxHolic should be fine for anyone old enough to understand the content. 12+. I give xxxHolic a 9/10. Below I’ve tacked together a few of my favorite scenes all from episode one so there are no spoilers. Enjoy!
