OniAi

About OniAi

If you are hunting for a new comedy series, OniAi (Oniichan dakedo Ai sae Areba Kankeinai yo ne!) deserves a look (2012). The setup goes like this. At its core: After their parents' deaths, brother and sister Akito and Akiko Himenokouji were forced to live with separate families for six years. But now they have finally reunited and begin to live together.

From there, it fast turns into apparent that Akiko harbors romantic feelings for her brother; however, Akito only sees her as a sibling. When three more girls—Anastasia Nasuhara, Arashi Nikaidou, and Ginbei Haruomi Sawatari—move into their apartment, Akiko's hopes of living alone with her brother vanish. Moreover, these girls also like Akito in one way or another, making it even more difficult for Akiko to gain her brother's undivided attention.

With comedy at the core, timing, character chemistry and running gags decide whether it lands. It will appeal most to viewers who want something light between heavier series.

Production & Appeal

Production sits with Silver Link., which means the visual identity of OniAi follows that studio's craft. The comedy focus matters here: timing, character chemistry and running gags decide whether it lands. With a 6.6/10 score, it is more of a niche pick than a universal crowd-pleaser. It aired in 2012, which makes it easy to place in the wider anime calendar.