Inu x Boku SS (2012) User Reviews

They may be part-demons but this isn't a fighting series

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 15 May 2012]

This series is set in The Maison de Ayakashi, a luxury apartment block for those whose ancestors included demons; each of them has a secret service body guard. From that basic premise one might expect this to me a series with lots of magical battles and evil enemies... you'd be wrong if you thought that though; this is a fairly gentle comedy with a romantic main story line. The protagonist is Ririchiyo, a teenaged girl whose protector is Soshi, he is descended from a mythical nine-tailed fox. Their personalities couldn't be more different; she hides her shyness by being harsh with everybody and he is so desperate to please her that he is almost obsequious. Over the course of the series it becomes clear that she has feelings for him but it seems impossible that she will find away of expressing them. The other characters are an entertaining bunch which includes a self-styled delinquent who turns into a cute tanuki (Japanese raccoon dog) Ririchiyo's 'fiancé' Kagero who believes everything is either sadistic or masochistic and Zange, a character who doesn't appear to take anything too seriously.

I rather enjoyed this series; at only twelve episodes it did not outstay its welcome; in fact I wouldn't have minded if it had been longer. The characters are an entertaining bunch that provided plenty of chuckles. While it was fairly obvious that by the end Ririchiyo and Soshi would end up together there were some twists and turns along the way that made it seem possible that they wouldn't. The comedy is fairly gentle with little to offend and there isn't too much fan service... although some viewers may think Nobara, the large chested blonde girl crosses the line a few times! Overall this is a fun series which is well worth watching if you want something fairly light to pass the time.

These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles.

Truly wonderful feelings and humour stained by depravity

[ecvoid · 6/10 · 24 March 2020]

I generally dislike anime. A few however manage sometimes to break from the norm and genuinely impress me. So I gave pure romance anime a chance for a change. To the most that I've watched I just gave a rating. But I stopped to review this one because of its capacity to leave me the very best and worst thoughts about it at the same time. So here it goes.

The inhabitants of the luxury apartment complex are all interesting. I wasn't sure what to expect at first about their trace of supernatural blood that allows them to transform into creatures from legends. However it blended nicely with the rest of the story. Almost all of the characters won me over either by being adorable, quirky or both. The operative word here being "almost". Keep this in mind. The central characters are the socially inept Ririchiyo and her inappropriately subservient yet caring bodyguard. Their clumsily budding romance was filled with heart felt affection, devotion and humour that ranged all the way to being subtle (remember to keep an eye on the screen in the supermarket displaying a dog breeds documentary). Most of the supporting characters are an integral part in the development of the protagonists' love story. They each have a certain allure. My favourite is the adorable girl who thoroughly enjoys food. Although she has her head in the clouds to such extent that she creates weird situations for herself, she is uncannily empathetic and caring. Which makes her terrifying supernatural form quite a contrast to her good nature. There is also her good friend who nurtures romantic feelings for her and puts up a tough front to make up for his not so tough supernatural form. All characters residing at the complex are delightful or funny. Even the attractive blonde secret service lady who can't stop making, what I thought at first, were pretty sleazy remarks and advances towards the other girls in the complex is adorable. There is nothing dark or disrespectful in her over the top sexuality.

Which makes this the right time to move to what this show actually gets wrong. The blonde secret service lady is often used for fan service or as a transition to it. Which in itself is not something I am opposed to if it's contained within certain bounds of respect. However she is just the first piece in the domino effect. She is also used to degrade an attractive, yet cute at the same time, maid. The show just had to have a woman in a maid outfit in a demeaning situation... What's worse they also made her dumb.

The final straw was the introduction of the sadist who also views everyone as either sadists of masochists. Remember the innocent, food loving girl? She was debased by him to sickening levels while still being the least explicit scenes in the show. Without spoiling anything I can just say it's not violence which makes it even worse because it's not actually denounced. In fact it's quite condoned because the girl is showed in a character slide later exactly in the same circumstances. I am not the cleanest guy in the world, but that was just revolting.

So in conclusion this anime is like a really good fruit that I love right to the point where I bite out a rotten piece. Both the good parts from before the spoiled piece as well as the tasty portion after just don't taste the same any more...

Magnificent

[nezechatman · 10/10 · 23 November 2020]

I love this anime, I've watched it many times and it brings back so many memories when I was a freshman eating it for the first time. This anime deserves to have another season

Beautiful

[Trixie_reviews · 9/10 · 18 October 2018]

I absolutely loved this series. However, I do wish the romance wouldn't truly kick in only in the last few episodes. It was beautiful though, and Ririchiyo and Miketsukami really seemed to be made for each other. Despite a few creepy factors, the story was amazing. It's too bad there's only one season. But if you liked the series, I highly recommend reading manga Youku x Boku SS to keep enjoying the story.

seriously LOVE this anime!!

[yuukisekai · 10/10 · 3 June 2017]

In "InuXBoku SS", Ririchiyo (leading female role) and Miketsukami (main male role) balance one another out perfectly. Both have lived sheltered lives, yet "Chiyo-tan" uses harsh sarcasm toward people and "Sou-tan" does not view himself to be worthy of life. There are many other character relationships but you must watch this series to learn about them.

This anime is about atavists (those with stronger youkai blood) and their secret service agents (whom also are atavists but might have darker pasts) that protect them. It does not help that a few of the characters, including Ririchiyo have to attend public high school. They all live at "Maison de Ayakashi" (Mansion Ayakashi), which is a very expensive condominium complex. The story does not actually reveal where in Japan this all takes place. (Perhaps I missed that detail, myself?)

Miketsukami Soushi (which loosely translates as "honorable fox spirit" and "pair of kindling fire") is an ancient kyuubi or nine-tailed fox. I have not looked up of the meaning of Shirakiin Ririchiyo but she reveals her true form later.

So... the anime title translates as "The Dog and I" hence the name of first episode. Of course, SS means Secret Service. Love plays a vital role in this show and it is shown through many forms. I really like that with any anime and manga, or just with any show and book.

I really love this show but it is bit lacking with only twelve episodes. I recommend watching the anime reading the corresponding manga "YoukoXBoku SS"(written and drawn by Cocoa Fujiwara). It explains the characters and story line in more detail. Plus you will like that it is MUCH lengthier. It honestly made me cry more than once.

Really cute anime series!

[Irishchatter · 9/10 · 25 March 2018]

I like how this anime was different because we are shown a smart rich girl Ririchiyo who is like this emo like girl along with her passionate bodyguard (secret agent) Miketsukami. I've never seen an anime character like him be so obsessed with protecting Ririchiyo like he is literally the perfect lover for her. I really liked how when he was in his super form, he had cute dog ears and three tails (reminds me of Tails from Sonic X). He really is an anime fan girls (or boys) dream lol!

Im glad like the characters personalities were different from each other, it brought new ways to make the series more enjoyable. I'm even more satisfied that they didn't make Ririchiyo into a spoilt whiny rich girl, they made her be a strong character who wants things done and she too cares about Miketsukami. As well as Miketsukami looking mighty cool in his super form, Ririchiyo was also a badass. I loved that she had Taurus like horns on her head, it really suited her character. I have a funny feeling that the writers and the creator (RIP) were inspired by astrology even though it doesn't say it on this page or anywhere else that I looked up on this show. They had to be inspired somehow to have made this show lol!

Anyways it was an interesting anime, the characters were awesome and the fact it was different, makes a lot more enjoyable to watch it even more. 9/10