This is another Shoujo anime. It is mainly focused on girls but I've had a few guy friends who enjoyed this series as well.
The show started as a manga or comic. The comic ran for a longer time than the anime so there is more of the manga. The manga was written and drawn by Hatori Bisco. It was originally published by Hakusensha publishing.
The plot
The story follows Haruhi Fujioka, a lower middle class girl, 16, living in Japan. Through a scholarship, Haruhi is accepted into an elite private school for the children of rich business men. When she arrives, Haruhi finds that Ouran Academy is more like a playground for the rich than it is a school. While trying to find a quiet place to study, Haruhi stumbles across music room three, the room of the Host Club.
Tamaki Suo, the Host Club "King," automatically takes an interest to the "commoner." During Haruhi's first encounter with the Hosts, she ends up breaking an 8,000,000¥ (US$ 88,797.23) vase. The Host Club's money manager, Kyoya Ootori, informs her that she will have to pay off that debt. Because of Haruhi's short, choppy hair, her baggy clothes, and her gender-ambiguous name and face, she is assumed to be male. Tamaki insists that Haruhi becomes the Host Club's "dog" or errand boy to pay off her debt.
Through the course of the first episode, each member figures out that Haruhi is a girl on their own, with the exception of Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin, who discover the truth at the same time. After a quick makeover, envoked and carried out by the Hitachiin twins, Tamaki raises Haruhi's status to an official Host. It takes until the end of the first episode for Tamaki to find out that Haruhi is a girl. He is the last to find out.
The Hosts all decide to keep Haruhi's true gender a secret. This task proves difficult through the series. In the second episode, Haruhi is almost revealed during the Physical Exam. After that, no large exposition close calls present themselves.
Character Relations
I do not normally do these but I feel like this is an exception.
In relation to Haruhi
Tamaki - He has an obvious crush on Haruhi that he tries to cover up with claiming Haruhi as his "daughter" in the made-up serrogate family of the Host Club. Haruhi thinks of him as simply, Senpai (see my page on Terms like this) even though she does have romantic feelings for him.
Kyoya - Kyoya has very small romantic feelings for Haruhi. Mostly, he cares about her as if he were her older brother. This is often shown through "life lessons."
Haruhi is a bit creeped out by Kyoya at first. However, she slowly warms up to him throughout the series as she discovers more about him.
Hikaru - Hikaru develops a large crush on Haruhi. Later in the series, Hikaru finds out that his love for Haruhi was actually puppy love. His feelings of care never falter though.
Haruhi thinks of Hikaru as a trouble making brother. Sparks between the two are suggested when Haruhi goes on a date with Hikaru.
Kaoru - Kaoru holds slight resentment towards Haruhi. He also appreciates that Haruhi can be there for Hikaru.
Haruhi thinks of Kaoru in the same way she thinks of Hikaru.
Mitsikuni Haninozuka (Hani-Senpai) - Hani-Senpai looks up to Haruhi in terms of intellect. He thinks of Haruhi as a helping force in the Host Club.
Haruhi enjoys time with Hani-Senpai as far as their conversations go. She is constantly amazed by his martial arts prowess.
Takashi Morinozuka (Mori-Senpai) - Mori
In relation to Tamaki
Kyoya - These two are the best of friends. Opposites attract. Kyoya believes that Tamaki is an idiot, a love able idiot.
Tamaki enjoys Kyoya's company and it's his goal in life to get Kyoya to lighten up and enjoy school life.
Hikaru and Kaoru - (They think the same.) They think Tamaki is an idiot as well. However, they respect him enough to call him "Boss" and enjoy carrying out the tasks Tamaki orders them to do. They also enjoy pulling pranks on him.
Tamaki believes these two to be trouble makers in every aspect of life. He tries to protect Haruhi from the twins whenever possible.
Hani-Senpai - Hani-Senpai is very great full for Tamaki. He likes spending time at the Host Club and feels like he owes Tamaki for giving him that time.
Mori-Senpai - Mori-Senpai is also great full for Tamaki because Tamaki was the one who took Hani-Senpai out of a place where he was miserable.
The twins are inseperable.
Hani-Senpai and Mori-Senpai are also inseperable. Mori-Senpai feels the need to protect and serve Hani-Senpai even though Hani is perfectly capable on his own.
The show started as a manga or comic. The comic ran for a longer time than the anime so there is more of the manga. The manga was written and drawn by Hatori Bisco. It was originally published by Hakusensha publishing.
The plot
The story follows Haruhi Fujioka, a lower middle class girl, 16, living in Japan. Through a scholarship, Haruhi is accepted into an elite private school for the children of rich business men. When she arrives, Haruhi finds that Ouran Academy is more like a playground for the rich than it is a school. While trying to find a quiet place to study, Haruhi stumbles across music room three, the room of the Host Club.
Tamaki Suo, the Host Club "King," automatically takes an interest to the "commoner." During Haruhi's first encounter with the Hosts, she ends up breaking an 8,000,000¥ (US$ 88,797.23) vase. The Host Club's money manager, Kyoya Ootori, informs her that she will have to pay off that debt. Because of Haruhi's short, choppy hair, her baggy clothes, and her gender-ambiguous name and face, she is assumed to be male. Tamaki insists that Haruhi becomes the Host Club's "dog" or errand boy to pay off her debt.
Through the course of the first episode, each member figures out that Haruhi is a girl on their own, with the exception of Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin, who discover the truth at the same time. After a quick makeover, envoked and carried out by the Hitachiin twins, Tamaki raises Haruhi's status to an official Host. It takes until the end of the first episode for Tamaki to find out that Haruhi is a girl. He is the last to find out.
The Hosts all decide to keep Haruhi's true gender a secret. This task proves difficult through the series. In the second episode, Haruhi is almost revealed during the Physical Exam. After that, no large exposition close calls present themselves.
Character Relations
I do not normally do these but I feel like this is an exception.
In relation to Haruhi
Tamaki - He has an obvious crush on Haruhi that he tries to cover up with claiming Haruhi as his "daughter" in the made-up serrogate family of the Host Club. Haruhi thinks of him as simply, Senpai (see my page on Terms like this) even though she does have romantic feelings for him.
Kyoya - Kyoya has very small romantic feelings for Haruhi. Mostly, he cares about her as if he were her older brother. This is often shown through "life lessons."
Haruhi is a bit creeped out by Kyoya at first. However, she slowly warms up to him throughout the series as she discovers more about him.
Hikaru - Hikaru develops a large crush on Haruhi. Later in the series, Hikaru finds out that his love for Haruhi was actually puppy love. His feelings of care never falter though.
Haruhi thinks of Hikaru as a trouble making brother. Sparks between the two are suggested when Haruhi goes on a date with Hikaru.
Kaoru - Kaoru holds slight resentment towards Haruhi. He also appreciates that Haruhi can be there for Hikaru.
Haruhi thinks of Kaoru in the same way she thinks of Hikaru.
Mitsikuni Haninozuka (Hani-Senpai) - Hani-Senpai looks up to Haruhi in terms of intellect. He thinks of Haruhi as a helping force in the Host Club.
Haruhi enjoys time with Hani-Senpai as far as their conversations go. She is constantly amazed by his martial arts prowess.
Takashi Morinozuka (Mori-Senpai) - Mori
In relation to Tamaki
Kyoya - These two are the best of friends. Opposites attract. Kyoya believes that Tamaki is an idiot, a love able idiot.
Tamaki enjoys Kyoya's company and it's his goal in life to get Kyoya to lighten up and enjoy school life.
Hikaru and Kaoru - (They think the same.) They think Tamaki is an idiot as well. However, they respect him enough to call him "Boss" and enjoy carrying out the tasks Tamaki orders them to do. They also enjoy pulling pranks on him.
Tamaki believes these two to be trouble makers in every aspect of life. He tries to protect Haruhi from the twins whenever possible.
Hani-Senpai - Hani-Senpai is very great full for Tamaki. He likes spending time at the Host Club and feels like he owes Tamaki for giving him that time.
Mori-Senpai - Mori-Senpai is also great full for Tamaki because Tamaki was the one who took Hani-Senpai out of a place where he was miserable.
The twins are inseperable.
Hani-Senpai and Mori-Senpai are also inseperable. Mori-Senpai feels the need to protect and serve Hani-Senpai even though Hani is perfectly capable on his own.