Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

OniAi: Complete Series Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman December 26, 2013

Funimation has caused a bit of a stir in hardcore anime circles with the release of OniAi, letting this lesser known title become the first Japanese anime release from the label not to include an English dub. The label has gone to great lengths to discuss (some might say “rationalize”) their decision, stating that this way, they can release more product without the expense (which admittedly is relatively hefty) to write and record an English dub for everything they release. Some cynics may actually applaud Funimation for not offering an English dub for this harem series, for if one doesn’t understand Japanese and also doesn’t read the subtitles, one might be immune to the fact that this series seems to be about an incestuous relationship between a long estranged brother and sister.

The two main characters in OniAi are Akito (male) and Akiko (female), two supposed twin siblings who haven't lived with each other for years but who are reunited as the series starts up. Akiko has very definite sexual urges toward Akito, which the slightly older boy wisely doesn't return. When a gaggle other females turns up (rather inexplicably) to live with the pair, Akiko's jealousies begin to fester. In the meantime, Akiko is entranced by a series of naughty books the frequently have illicit (and incestuous) affairs as their subject matter, books which were actually written by Akito. What seems to be a decidedly smarmy plot actually resolves in a relatively harmless manner, but this series certainly dances right up to the edge of propriety while pulling a few tricks out of its hat at the last minute to reassure discombobulated audiences that what they've thought was going on really wasn't (or at least, not in the way they thought it was).

OniAi: Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

OniAi is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Funimation Entertainment with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. This is a fairly standard looking anime, with a couple of notable exceptions. Colors tend to be quite bright, varied and very vividly saturated, but the character designs are traditional looking, if admittedly well done, with good, sharp line detail. When Akiko reads, there are some fantasy elements that are much more detailed, especially with regard to backgrounds (see screenshot 2).

OniAi: Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

OniAi's sole language track is the original Japanese mix delivered via Dolby TrueHD 2.0. The show is not overly ambitious from a sound design perspective, with the bulk of the series given over to simple dialogue scenes, with occasional music and ambient environmental effects entering the fray in unobtrusive ways. Fidelity is very good, though dynamic range is somewhat limited. The track has no issues of any kind to report.

OniAi: Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• New Anime Features (1080p; 19:31)


• Textless Opening Song "Self Producer" (1080p; 1:32)


• Textless Opening Song "Self Producer" Version 2 (1080p; 1:32)


• Textless Closing Song "Life-Ru is Love-Ru" (1080p; 1:31)


• U.S. Trailer (1080p; 00:53)

OniAi: Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If you make it to the end of OniAi—and that's a pretty big "if" given the questionable content of the series—there are a couple of sleights of hand that cast everything that's gone before in a new light. That probably will only partially mitigate the slightly uneasy feeling some are going to have getting to that point. For those with an interest in this title, the video and audio are good, if unremarkable.