Paradise Kiss
2005
Original language: Japanese
- animation
- drama
- comedy
The story
Yukari is a typical high-school student who listens to her parents and attends school everyday. As she starts to question her way of life, she encounters a group of fashion design students who has a clothing label known as "Paradise Kiss". The group needs to find a model to showcase their designs in an up-coming fashion show and decides to pick Yukari instead. Initially, Yukari was reluctant to be associated with this seemingly eccentric group, but eventually, she realises that they are really nice people. Furthermore, their passion and enthusiasm to follow their ideals and dreams make Yukari realise that she has not been enjoying her life and this motivated her to pursue her own dreams.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated wardrobes against plain school uniforms and grey urban streets give this live-action Japanese series its visual contrast: a fashion studio full of fabric, sketches and mannequins, lit warmly and busily, set against the flatter tones of everyday classrooms. The camera stays close and conversational, with quick cuts for fittings and runway energy and longer, quieter frames for late-night talks. The mood is bittersweet and youthful, with a sense of possibility, and the soundtrack leans toward pop and light melodic pieces that mark both the excitement of making something and the ache of first attraction. The pacing is unhurried, built around everyday scenes of work, friendship and gradual intimacy rather than big set pieces. Its people change slowly: a restless student learning to want something for herself, a group of design students who are as awkward and sincere as they are stylish. Intensity is low: romance, some suggestive moments, teenage emotional turmoil and a few tense arguments, with no violence and no gore. It suits a comfort watch on a weekend afternoon or a late evening with tea, and it is best for viewers who enjoy coming-of-age stories, fashion worlds and gentle romance.
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