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skysenshi (11.18.2001)
Bittersweet reality...
Okay...before hardcore fans get disillusioned by the deceiving
title, I have to say outright that Lesson XX is not a vulgar,
wet and wild animated porn. It's about...
Coming out of the closet is perhaps the hardest thing for
a person to do, whether this person is male and female. The
pressures of life and society are always there to watch over
one like a vulture zeroing in on a dying piece of flesh. What
makes Lesson XX an inspiring shonen-ai, despite the mush and
fluff, is that reality is acknowledged through certain questions
that Morifuji tends to ask, especially on aspects regarding
his "forbidden" desire. Morifuji and Ichitaro are
not lost in their own odd world, but in fact take into consideration
the many obstacles they have to face, which could threaten
this beautiful relationship that they are only just discovering.
The downside that this anime has, however, is that the character
development seems pretty weak. There are so many other characters
that could strengthen the play of conflict, like for example in
the case of Bisaki Sakasegawa, the upperclass girl whom every
guy in the campus dreams about. Another is Masato, the male classmate
whom Ichitaro and Morifuji lives with. Masato seems to have a
rather strange interest in Morifuju's activities. So does Bisaki.
Add Maekawa, Ichitaro's female classmate, who is obviously infatuated
with him, to the picture and the plot thickens. Unfortunately,
these people seem to just serve as side dishes to the main course.
Despite this weak aspect, Lesson XX still manages to paint an
accurate picture of what really transpires at a time when a gay
person decides to come out. This is sweetly complimented by breathtaking
artwork and animation that make Lesson XX an unforgettable title
that shonen-ai fans would definitely want to add to their collection.
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