Paradise Kiss | complete

Breathless…

There is a tiny tinge of disappointment at the final episode of this series, I’ll get that out of the way first. I really did think it was slightly rushed, there was too much put into it. The same events could have unfolded, but a little more depth could have been put into every situation. I know in my mind why each character behaved the way they did, and their motivations were fine, but I think I still would have liked to see them gracefully presented the way that everything else in the series was. That being said, the conclusion ultimately wasn’t what the series was all about, so it’s easily forgiven.

Still though, it was enough for me to not rate this as a masterpiece over at ANN. Even now I’m so torn between re-rating it as such, the eleven main episodes were so brilliant, so wonderful… it’s just the last episode that in a tiny miniscule way taints this enough to drop it one mark. I suppose in a way I am very close to disappointed with the finale, but the rest of the series is still swirling in my mind.

Not every character is fully developed, and some of them are there for context, but the ones that are developed are stunning. One of the most surprising characters to deliver some amazing dialogue and display amazing depth was Arashi. In many senses he really was heroic, even through his brash and stubborn behaviour.

Simply put, Yukari is beautiful. Not only is she drawn with brilliance, but her character has so much to her, so much reality that makes me instantly fall in love with her. Just so you know, falling in love with fictional characters is quite normal for me; no shame at all. She has so many emotions and conflicts within her, and there is an earnestness and desperation in the way that she lives and develops that lifts me up in her joys and crashes me down in her dispair. Even in her confusion though, she lives her life with a passion and intensity that I feel is so similar to my own; being terrified of new things yet being determined to try them. She’s so headstrong and stubborn herself, but learns to freely express herself with confidence when she truly wants to. She is one of the most wonderful characters I’ve ever experienced in anime and film, and she will now always be one of the dearest characters to me.

I fell in love with George too. He isn’t callous at all, nor is he uncaring, but shows his affection not only with physical intimacy, but with the respect he has for others as he challenges them. I really identify with some of these traits quite strongly because they are so similar to my own. He isn’t always right and often makes mistakes as his pride blinds him, yet he loves all of his friends equally, and truly treasures Yukari.

I’ve just gone back and re-rated this as a masterpiece. Just reflecting on my own life, and having just exited a deeply intimate relationship, I understand that life isn’t a fairytale – it’s better. It’s that George and Yukari will carry their expressions and experiences of love with them for the rest of their lives, and that those things are a part of them, no matter where they go, no matter what they do.

I feel like this series has lifted me up, like feeling the freedom of flying, soaring through the air high above the ground without any fear, truly tasting and savouring life. I know that this is how I live everyday already, it’s just so amazing to see it expressed so beautifully, so tenderly in an anime.

Josei forever – I need to get more of this…