xxxHolic

Season one did a pretty good job of sticking with the manga. I love the manga, a personal favorite that I wouldn't mind rereading a few times. It does a really nice job of incorporating myths and morals into a fantasy that really makes you question things. If this was a review for the manga it would be straight fives all the way through, but its not for the manga. Honestly, as an anime, I really didn't much care for it. Other than the fact that it intrigued me just because i knew the entire manga plot was the only reason I think I stuck with the series. In the end season two stops following the plot as closely as one, and I've all but dropped that season. I encourage you to read the manga though. Music wise, I personally liked the opening and closing scenes and thought that they did a good choice in music all in all. Animation was alright, but not great. It was obvious that they were trying to make it look as close to the manga as possible, but because of that I think it lost a bit of potential charm. Although due to my reasons for watching this series, it struck me as good.

The show is rather interesting, though it plays on the mind a bit. Think of Pet Shop of Horrors with wishes and spirits that turn up all over the place, not just given by the shop.
I somewhat understood all that was being said but then some of what they talked about, I felt would only make sense to a Japanese person such as the game ‘Angel’ which seems to be a Japanese version of Ouija Board or Wigi Board. When they first talked about it, I thought that it was something else. Another thing that is bothersome to me is that no one takes her advice, which I understand, some of the reasons for it but then they get into problems and suffer for it and I just have to roll my eyes at it.
The animation is alright but all the characters are much too thin and long limbed which makes it hard to watch sometimes. Even fluid movements would never make the shows good to me. There are many times when the artwork pretty much sucks for an anime, and really makes me wonder. It surprises me that such a low design could come from Clamp. In fact, the fact that there are references to other Clamp manga’s in the show is interesting if you take the time to pick them out. Sadly, the only details with this seem to be in the background except one or two things the characters end up wearing and the characters themselves are poorly lacking in detail and actual proportions with arms and legs going everywhere during freak outs. I also don’t like how their eyes are all blank. They have no high lights what so ever so it makes them look dead.
I really like the English Voice acting, which to me, it’s much better then the Japanese. The English has more fluid movement in fact then the Animation and feels like a cloud of smoke to the ears. At least for most of the things Yoko says. The other actors are pretty good for them going with Shizuka’s monotone to the crazy way Watanuki’s voice gets with some of the things he gets in to. Really I do feel sorry for the boy. The music is also really well done, giving it a really nice mystic feel to it and the opening is rather fun.
I would watch this for the story line but pretty much not much else.

Watanuki Kimihiro just walk to home, with every ghost and dark spirits around him. He has been like this since his parents died in accident, without his desire he can see what normal human can’t. Most of them issuing dark-stink smoke and only Watanuki could smell it. Unwittingly, he arrived in small house between two tall buildings. He think he should come in, but he enter the house. Directed by Moro and Maru to meet Yuko Ichihara. She let Watanuki to come inside and she begin talking about Watanuki’s life. This is the first time they meet and Watanuki just concentrate in her words, without know about her, he confused. He begin to angry after Yuko ask him to pay her, to pay what she just said. Then they arguing each other, Maru and Maru just repeat what they said. In the end, Watanuki have to be Yuko’s employee, which more over to servants.

The house Watanuki enter actually was Yuko’s shop, a shop that will granted costumer wishes. The costumer only come if they have something to be granted. This also applied to Watanuki, he wonder why he have this unwished power. Even so, Yuko thought it was what make Watanuki’s special.

Domeki Shizuka, ‘friend’ of Watanuki also attract Yuko. Domeki has special ability to felt spirits, as you expect from child whose grow in shrine. But contrary with Watanuki, dark spirits afraid with Domeki. Yuko often told Domeki to accompany Watanuki during his works, she believe Domeki would have been big help for his employee, even Watanuki willing not with him.
Watanuki himself had crushed on Himawari Kunogi, a cute girl in his school. Three of them used to have lunch together. Sometime he jealous if Domeki chat with her. But there would be flower around Watanuki if Himawari said something good about him. But somehow, this girl have special role in this series, she seem a little bit mysterious.

This series would discover all mystic things, folk stories, and some ghost stories too. Most of each episode focused one problem, but there time you have to watch two episode to get what the story are telling. Most of all scary but not all about ghost. You might confused in beginning, but Yuko always there to explain to Watanuki and you~

watanuki kimihiro is a typical high-school student living on his own. He is down-to-earth and selfless, but also very irritable, especially when it comes to Yūko's lavish demands and Dōmeki's stoic attitude. Watanuki begins working for Yūko in exchange for the fulfillment of his wish to never see spirits again. Apart from Dōmeki and Himawari, Watanuki does not seem to have any friends at school; in fact, Yūko teases him about being unpopular.

Yūko Ichiharais a very powerful witch, mostly known for her ability to send people to other dimensions and times (sometimes called "The Dimensional Witch"), and for her ability to grant any wish in exchange for an equal cost. Despite her seemingly immature and free-spirited attitude, Yūko is also sage-like and serious when the time calls for it.

Shizuka Dōmeki is Watanuki's classmate and one-sided rival. He is part of the school's archery club and often participates in school competitions. He lives in a shrine owned by his late grandfather. Dōmeki's personality sharply contrasts with Watanuki's, as he is calm and often sarcastic. Dōmeki has the ability to rid evil spirits and is immune to most curses, mostly due to his ancestry and his upbringing in his grandfather's temple.

Himawari Kunogi is Watanuki's main love interest. She is a kind and caring girl, but inadvertently brings bad luck to everyone she comes into contact with, with the exception of her parents and Dōmeki.