DearS is a show that has had much controversy around it. Since its existence has become aware to the western world, the show has become a target for feminist groups and easily offended fans. Of course, when anybody, be it an authority figure or just a rabid fan, says not to watch something, it becomes ever more appealing. When the moment of truth finally arrives, viewers are sure to find some relief in the fact that the series isn't the woman-beating, demeaning, and hateful monstrosity it is made out to be. Actually, DearS proves to be a cute, charming comedy that can appeal to the full gender spectrum.

While the series may be entertaining, original it is not. Observant (and not-so-observant, for that matter) viewers will be able to draw many comparisons to Chobits. The same base elements are there, including the horny, yet well-meaning male; the cute not-so-human girl; and the geeky friend. This time, instead of super-hot supercomupters, the "cute female tool" role is filled by shapely alien slaves known as DearS (pronounced "dears"). The major male role this time is Takeya Ikuhara: a young man of low moral fiber that has made a business of stealing porno films from work, then "renting" them to classmates. And the geeky friend? The role is filled by the landlord's daughter: an introverted lady that tends to look after Takeya like a brother. Much like Chobits's Hideki, Takeya finds Ren alone and naked in the gutter of an unknown street. Ren knows none of the local language, and must therefore be taught by Takeya. Anyone that is familiar with CLAMP's production can basically predict exactly where the story will go through the first two episodes. Things begin to diverge at the third episode, however, when the plot finally moves away from the "fangirl tested, CLAMP-approved (TM)" blueprint. Instead of a part-time job, Ren ends up attending Takeya's school. As one can expect, misconceptions and raunchy hijinks ensue.

Apparently you can't toss a loser kid in Japan without hitting a naked alien chick.	What kind of school is this?

At this point in the series, DearS is a comedy first, and a drama second. The humor involved tends to be of the perverted variety, and is never afraid to go over the top. Of particular note is Takuya's teacher, Mitsuka-sensei. I'm talking about a woman that makes Mahoromatic's Saori Shijiko seem tame in comparison. Mitsuka is an exhibitionist that has no qualms with teaching her class in lingerie, or having her students translate erotica in-class. Factor in a class of curious classmates and a bumbling catgirl, and it becomes clear that things can get out of hand quickly.

Like most shows of its ilk, the female members of DearS are the ones that received the most attention. The DearS in particular are given the spotlight over the rest of the cast. They basically serve as fanservice in a cute package. Female humans, Neneko and Mitsuka-sensei in particular, are treated with as much care as the DearS, and are given a surprising amount of detail. The male members are not ignored, though, and are actually quite distinct when compared to similar series. For the female crowd, a male DearS made it into the cast, and serves as the requisite piece of man-meat.

For many, the series's soundtrack will elicit a "been there, heard that" feeling. DearS's background tunes tend to follow the Chobits style to a fault. Series composer Tomoki Hasegawa apparently decided that similarity is a good thing. DearS's basic instrumentation, tone, and overall style, for the most part, mirror that of Chobits composer Keitaro Takanami's original pieces. Even the familiar scat tunes are copied in a fairly uninspired attempt at a soundtrack. DearS's vocal themes prove to be far more original, and manage to capture the overall tone of the show thus far quite well. Both the opener, "Love Slave" by Under17, and the ending theme, "Happy Cosmos" by the series's voice actresses, are catchy, upbeat pieces that are sure to be caught in viewers' minds.

Fans that dote on extras are sure to find DearS's selection to be less than darling. Aside from the textless opener, the disc hosts a short art gallery that features pieces from series creator Peach Pit, as well as character designer Shinji Ochi. The disc's packaging features a gorgeous shot of Ren atop a surprised Takeya. The back of the cover places a short summary, the DVD feature list, and a set of screenshots around a Peach Pit-designed picture of Ren and Takeya. The disc's insert folds open to reveal a miniature poster of Mitsuka.

While the idea isn't exactly fresh, DearS proves to be entertaining, nonetheless. The one hurdle that really holds the series back is the "wannabe" feeling that seems to lurk around every plot twist. If the show can break away from the path it is on, then it could become a worthy addition to any fan's collection.

Distributor: Geneon
Creator: Peach Pit
Released: 2005