Oreimo

Oreimo
The cover of the first novel
俺の妹がこんなに可愛いわけがない
Genre	Comedy, Drama, Romance
Light novel
Written by	Tsukasa Fushimi
Illustrated by	Hiro Kanzaki
Published by	ASCII Media Works
Demographic	Male
Original run	August 10, 2008 – present
Volumes	7
Manga
Written by	Tsukasa Fushimi
Illustrated by	Sakura Ikeda
Published by	ASCII Media Works
Magazine	Dengeki G's Magazine
Demographic	Seinen
Original run	March 2009 – present
Volumes	3
Anime
Directed by	Keiichiro Kawaguchi
Studio	AIC
Released	October 3, 2010 – present
Video game
Developer	Bandai Namco Games
Publisher	Bandai Namco Games
Genre	Visual novel
Platform	PlayStation Portable
Released	January 27, 2011

Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai (俺の妹がこんなに可愛いわけがない, My Little Sister Can't Be This Cute), also known as Oreimo for short, is a Japanese light novel series written by Tsukasa Fushimi, with illustrations provided by Hiro Kanzaki. The first volume was published by ASCII Media Works under their Dengeki Bunko imprint in August 2008; as of November 2010, seven volumes have been released. A manga adaptation drawn by Sakura Ikeda started serialization in the March 2009 issue of ASCII Media Works' Dengeki G's Magazine. A 13-episode anime adaptation produced by AIC began airing in Japan in October 2010.

Plot

Kyōsuke Kōsaka, a normal seventeen-year-old high school student, has not gotten along with his younger sister Kirino in years. For longer than he can remember, Kirino has ignored his comings and goings and looked at him with spurning eyes. It seemed as if the relationship between Kyōsuke and his sister, now fourteen, would continue this way forever. One day however, Kyōsuke finds a DVD case of a magical girl anime entitled Hoshikuzu Witch Meruru (星くず☆うぃっちメルル, Stardust Witch Meruru) which had fallen in his house's entrance way. To Kyōsuke's surprise, inside the case is a hidden adult video game titled Imōto to Koishiyo! (妹と恋しよっ♪, Let's Fall in Love with Little Sister!). Kyōsuke attempts to fish out the culprit who dropped the case by bringing up the topic of magical girl anime at the family dinner table. All that comes out is a strong negative reaction from his parents, especially his anti-otaku policeman father.

That night, Kirino bursts into Kyōsuke's room and, in perhaps the first conversation she has initiated with him in years, says they "have things to talk about." Kirino brings Kyōsuke to her room and shows him an extensive collection of moe anime and lolicon bishōjo games she has been collecting in secret.

Characters

Kōsaka family

Kyōsuke Kōsaka (高坂 京介, Kōsaka Kyōsuke)

Voiced by: Yuichi Nakamura

Kyōsuke is the 17-year-old main character of Oreimo. He has a distant relationship with his sister, feeling that this will never change. However, this suddenly changes when he finds one of her adult games and learns that she is an otaku. Through this, he tries to be a supportive older brother while realizing he himself knew very little about his sister, such as being almost flawless at school to working as a model. Later on he takes up more of his role as an older brother to her, and appears to be able to tell what she is thinking or really meaning to say despite her tsundere personality. Despite this, she is generally the dominant person in their relationship, with Kyōsuke being shown to be openly intimidated by her, only standing up to her in truly serious situations. Kyōsuke prefers to have a relatively peaceful and simple life despite the fact that the drama Kirino brings makes his life anything but peaceful. He also seems to enjoy drinking tea from a carton as he frequently has a glass of it when he gets home.

Kirino Kōsaka (高坂 桐乃, Kōsaka Kirino)

Voiced by: Ayana Taketatsu

Kirino is Kyōsuke's 14-year-old younger sister. She is mature for her age with a cold, tsundere-like personality. She has a strong "little sister" fetish and owns many adult games with older brother/little sister themes, which she got a job modeling to pay for. Despite this, she states she does not know why she started liking it, though it is suggested that she has a brother complex and is using the games as a surrogate to this. She often denies such feelings and believes the 2D and 3D worlds should be kept separate. Nevertheless, she is shown to be very frustrated when he is with, or shows interest, in other girls such as Manami who she accuses as being "all over" Kyōsuke. Likewise, she frequently forces Kyōsuke to spend time with her, whether it is playing games or taking her out, but denies that she actually enjoys the time they spend together. She uses the screen name Kiririn when with her otaku friends.

Daisuke Kōsaka (高坂 大介, Kōsaka Daisuke)

Voiced by: Fumihiko Tachiki

He is Kirino and Kyōsuke's domineering father. He is a high ranking officer in the police and has a no nonsense policy at home. He does not like the fact that Kirino is a model, but allows her to do so if she does well in school. He is severely against otaku, believing them to be a waste of a life, so when he finds out Kirino is one, he orders her to throw away everything otaku-related in her room. It is shown he truly does care for Kirino despite his gruff exterior, as he owns every article and picture of all her accomplishments.

Yoshino Kōsaka (高坂 佳乃, Kōsaka Yoshino)

Voiced by: Akeno Watanabe

She is Kirino and Kyōsuke's loving mother. She is aware of her daughter's obsession, as she has referred to her as "my otaku daughter".

Tamura family

Manami Tamura (田村 麻奈実, Tamura Manami)

Voiced by: Satomi Satō

Manami is Kyōsuke's childhood friend who wears glasses. She is described as 'plain'. She has a crush on Kyōsuke and blushes to his compliments. She becomes comically blind when she is not wearing her glasses and seems to sprout dog ears when complimented. Due to the time they spend together, the people around them assume they are dating. According to Kyōsuke, her speech patterns resemble that of a grandmother.

Iwao Tamura (田村 いわお, Tamura Iwao)

Voiced by: Hiromi Ohtsuda

Iwao is Manami's younger brother.

Others

Saori Makishima (槇島 沙織, Makishima Saori) / Saori Bajīna (沙織・バジーナ, Saori Bajīna)

Voiced by: Hitomi Nabatame

Saori is the leader of the "Anime Girls Unite!" group on the Internet, who Kirino meets in a meet-up. She wears very thick glasses (shown as swirls). She is a fan of Gundam and is also a collector of their model kits. She gets along well with Kyōsuke and it is hinted she is from a wealthy family. As Kyōsuke says, Saori is drastically different from how she communicates through the Internet and through phone or speaking with her in person to which she seemingly switches to a refined and sophisticated persona. According to Kyōsuke in the light novels, she is dressed as a typical otaku from television but has the body of a supermodel.

Ruri Gokō (五更 瑠璃, Gokō Ruri) / Kuroneko (黒猫)

Voiced by: Kana Hanazawa

She is another otaku girl who lives near Kirino and often wears gothic lolita clothing based on a character from her favorite anime, even during hot weather. Due to both of their tsundere-type personalities she constantly clashes with Kirino when it comes to anything. However, Kuroneko does care for Kirino. Unlike Kirino who likes little sister-themed games, Kureneko enjoys teen-centered fantasy anime. She often mentions her "dark magic" within the anime, usually to Kirino or to Kyōsuke.

Ayase Aragaki (新垣 あやせ, Aragaki Ayase)

Voiced by: Saori Hayami

Kirino's friend and classmate who works as a model alongside her and is also her best friend. Ayase is a friendly, nice, and refined lady, but becomes agitated and somewhat violent at the thought that she is being lied to, which she hates above all else. She tends to believe what she sees on the news. Therefore, she disapproves of anime and manga, calling it a disgusting hobby, especially eroge, due to the media portrayal that otaku will eventually become criminals.

Media

Light novels

Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai began as a light novel series written by Tsukasa Fushimi, with illustrations provided by Hiro Kanzaki. The first volume was published by ASCII Media Works under their Dengeki Bunko imprint on August 10, 2008; as of November 10, 2010, seven volumes have been released.

Manga

A manga adaptation based on the light novels drawn by Sakura Ikeda began serialization in the March 2009 issue of ASCII Media Works' magazine Dengeki G's Magazine sold on January 30, 2009. The first bound volume was released on ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Comics imprint on October 27, 2009; the second volume followed on August 27, 2010.

Drama CD

A drama CD, based on events from the first and third volumes of the novels as well as a newly written scenario by Tsukasa Fushimi, was released by ASCII Media Works on March 31, 2010. The CD stars Ayana Taketatsu as Kirino and Yūichi Nakamura as Kyōsuke.

Internet radio show

An Internet radio show entitled Ore no Imōto ga (Radio de mo) Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai (俺の妹が(ラジオでも)こんなに可愛いわけがない) to promote the anime adaptation began streaming on August 13, 2010 via the official website of the anime. The show is hosted by Ayana Taketatsu, who plays Kirino in the anime, and Kana Hanazawa, who plays Kuroneko. As of November 2010, seven shows have been broadcast, with new episodes being streamed every second and fourth Friday of the month.

Anime

A 13-episode anime adaptation produced by AIC and directed by Keiichiro Kawaguchi began airing in Japan on October 3, 2010. The anime retains the voice cast from the drama CD. Aniplex USA began streaming and simulcasting the series in North America through Anime News Network (ANN), but security issues involving the illegal leaking of episode two online resulted in the stream being placed on hold. The stream of Oreimo returned to ANN with the first four episodes on November 8, 2010. The opening theme for the anime is "Irony" by ClariS, while each episode features a different ending theme sung by one of the seiyus. The music of the anime is composed by Satoru Kōsaki and a soundtrack will be released on January 12, 2011.

Ending themes

1. "Little Sister, Plea~se!" (妹プリ〜ズ!, Imōto Purīzu!) by Ayana Taketatsu
2. "Shine!" by Ayana Taketatsu
3. "Horaism" (ほらいずむ, Horaizumu) by Ayana Taketatsu
4. "White Heart" (白いココロ, Shiroi Kokoro) by Saori Hayami
5. "Orange" (オレンジ, Orenji) by Ayana Taketatsu
6. "Maegami☆" (マエガミ☆) by Satomi Satō
7. "Masquerade!" by Kana Hanazawa

Episode list

This incomplete list is frequently updated to include new information.

#	Title	Original air date

Visual novel

A PlayStation Portable visual novel developed by Bandai Namco Games will be released on January 27, 2011.

Reception

The Mainichi Shimbun reported that the fourth volume as the light novel which sold the most copies in August 2009. Anime News Network reported in April 2010 that the first five light novels have sold collectively 920,000 copies in Japan.

External links

• Official website Template:Ja icon
• Anime official website Template:Ja icon
• Visual novel official website Template:Ja icon
• Oreimo (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia