Haganai
Parents say
Based on 3 reviews
Kids say
Based on 12 reviews
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Haganai
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that even though Haganai is an anime that centers on high school students, its sexually explicit content and strong language render it inappropriate for most teens. Characters play Internet games that allow them to role-play bedroom scenes, and you'll hear moaning, panting, and remarks such as, "It's coming! I'm going to lose my mind!" Girls wear revealing clothing (swimsuits barely cover nipples and groin areas, and skirts hardly obscure butts) and act provocatively, shaking their butts and breasts at each other. Teens also use sexuality to manipulate others, either as a temptation or to insult a peer's appearance. Language is another concern, with "bitch," "ass," "damn," "hell," and "pissed" being common fare. Even though they're overshadowed by such mature content, the show's messages about teen relationships are mostly positive and strongly caution against judging people on appearance or passing on friendship with someone who's different from you.
Community Reviews
Common Sense Media. let's please not go further into Otaku culture
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What's the Story?
A recent transfer student to St. Chronica's Academy, Kodaka (voiced by Jerry Jewell) has had trouble making friends because of a poor first impression, but a chance encounter with loner Yozora (Whitney Rodgers) shows him he's not alone in craving connections with peers. The two decide to start the Neighbors Club, a group for people struggling to find meaningful friendships in traditional niches at school. Their first member is Sena (Jad Saxton), the school's popularity queen, who claims to want something more than the constant adoration of her following of boys, but her contentious dealings with Yozora immediately cast doubt on the club's viability. As other students join, including Kodaka's younger sister, Kobato (Alison Viktorin), Kodaka and Yozora learn that friendship isn't always easy.
Is It Any Good?
HAGANAI takes a surprisingly insightful stance on the complications of teen relationships, and many of its messages about self-esteem and individuality are things you'd want your own teen to hear. The stories illustrate the dangers of judging someone by his appearance, for instance, and express the sense of despair teens feel when they're socially isolated. What's more, Kodaka's and Yozora's willingness to remedy this void in their lives by reaching out to their peers shows courage not many teens could muster in a similar situation. And even though they're rife with stress, the fact that friendships are forged across status lines suggests underlying similarities among the disparate teens.
So it's a real head-scratcher as to why Haganai intentionally puts itself and its positive messages out of reach for many teens by incorporating such racy, red-letter content among its high school-age characters. What with the full-figure nudity (minus views of the groin and frontal shots of breasts) and persistent suggestions of sexuality, Haganai is mature fare, and its likable messages are mostly lost on those who are on the other side of their teen years.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about this show's intended audience. What, if anything, would adults enjoy about the show? Why would creators make the series so racy if its messages are beneficial to teens?
Teens: How is sexuality presented in the media? Do shows you watch suggest that most teens are sexually active or at least thinking about sex? How does this compare to what you see among your peers?
Would you agree with some of the characters' impressions of social difficulties? What pressures do you feel to fit in with certain peer groups? Why is it important to nurture friendships?
TV Details
- Premiere date: October 7, 2011
- Cast: Jerry Jewell, Whitney Rodgers, Jad Saxton
- Network: Hulu
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters, Friendship, High School
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: July 30, 2022
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Thoughtful anime has great messages for older tweens.
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Magnificent movie with scary creatures and a strong heroine.
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