Year: 2012

Subbed

4 OVA episodes

Cat.: Yaoi, Science fiction

Summary:

Ai no Kusabi takes place on the world of Amoi, which is ruled by a computer named Jupiter. Jupiter has introduced a number of strict social rules to society. Among them, social status is determined by hair color, blonde being the highest, down to black or dark brown as the lowest. The Blondies, genetically engineered by Jupiter, are the highest social class and occupy the capital city of Tanagura. They travel to the satellite pleasure city of Midas, which has an independent slum area called Ceres. Under Jupiter's restrictions, the Blondies are sterile and forbidden from indulging in sexual activities. They keep "pets" (adolescents in their late teens) for about a year, for purely voyeuristic purposes, before discarding them. Further emasculation is seen in the "Furniture", adolescent boys who serve the Blondies.

Contrary to popular belief, the hair-color caste system only applies to those working in Tanagura and not in Ceres. The true separation is between those genetically created in a lab (those in Tanagura) and the "mongrels" formed the natural way (those in Ceres). However it was written in the novel that Tanagura manipulated even the natural births of Ceres, ensuring that its population did not grow by restricting the number of female births to 1 in 10.

*******

This is the first yaoi I've ever watched or read that had this complex back story. Most are just straight up romance stories with just a time and a place added that don't really matter. This OVA is a remake of the 1992 version based off the novel. 

I would not recommend this to newcomers of yaoi, definitely not ones to Shounen-ai. The opening alone might be too much for some people. For newcomers interested in yaoi/shounen-ai Junjou Romantica would be more your speed.

That being said I did like this, the story was cool and the art was good.

I give it a 4 out of 5.