Final Series Review: Kaze no Stigma

Amanda Liu September 26, 2007

When I think of Kaze no Stigma, I think of cake. That is,I think of a multi layered cake that has been sitting there for three weeks in the open made out of cheap store-bought cake batter and delicious icing coated on top. Because that’s what this show is. It’s cliché, dull, well-worn, and it fills you up with a whole lot of nothing. But once in awhile, we get a taste of what could have been good.

I’m looking back at my first impressions of Kaze no Stigma from way back when and I noticed that I’ve complained a lot about how it was disappointing. Well that never changed. I also complained about how the animation sucked because GONZO was focusing on Romeo x Juliet. Well that never changed either. But I also said that the “worst aspect of this show is Ayano”. That line amuses me because Ayano is my favorite character in the show. Well besides Kazuma of course ;).

While Kaze no Stigma suffers from many faults such as bad production values, lack of originality, lack of excitement, bad directing, retarded fanservice, and what the not character development was one thing that Kaze no Stigma wasn’t bad at. Well at least for the two protagonists. Ignoring whatever happened in the novel because I didn’t read it, a number of these characters came from a long way. Especially Ayano in particular. She grew from a hot headed, irritating bi0tch, to an idiotically weak girl with no confidence, to an admirably strong and confident girl who actually deserves to be the next head of the Fire Clan. I really grew to like her and she, along with Kazuma, brings this series to life. Kazuma is a refreshing character that is actually tough and has simple traits that most male protagonists don’t. His actions and logics defy a lot of actions and thoughts that most male protagonist such as “revenge for a dead loved one” and etc. He still manages to be a flawed character, but he is still a good realistic one nevertheless. The cruelty and bitterness of Emo Kazuma is astounding too.

As far as the consistency for Kaze no Stigma, well it had none. A constant mix of ups and downs, one episode could bore you to tears while the next could keep you screaming for the next. Interestingly, all the arcs seemed to lose steam throughout the middle which made me wonder sometimes if Kaze no Stigma should have been a one-shot series of “Pimp My Daughter”. Because indeed, the outlandish matchmaking humor was probably better than most of the serious conflicts within the series.

Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this series. I don’t exactly regret watching this series but if a second season came out I’d probably skip over it unless everything other series in the season really sucked. While Kaze no Stigma had the characters (along with their development, relationships, and antics) going for it, this series is still primarily a fattening mess. So unless you absolutely have no life or something along those lines, avoid this entrée of anime junk food.

Tags: Kaze no Stigma

Category: Series Reviews

I believe myself~

23 Responses to “Final Series Review: Kaze no Stigma”

JRoxas http://jroxas.animeblogger.net/
September 26th, 2007 at 12:37 pm

I must say, I admire and envy your ability to stand watching the entirety of this series.
Amanda Liu http://
September 26th, 2007 at 1:36 pm

JRoxas> LOL it’s a curse not a blessing. Also, I’m completely biased and I tend to stick through shounen/seinen and drop any harems/light comedies on the spot.
anne
September 26th, 2007 at 3:39 pm

I would recommend it for Kazuma, but I’m not sure he alone can save the show. Ayano does grow, but it takes a loong time for her to. Though I never minded her and didn’t why people hated her so much. She’s not that original of a character. But to me, the most annoying character was probably Ren and his oniii-sama and oneee-sama’s. Everytime he was on screen the show died a little for me. It’s a show that has promise under all the bad crap, but you can kind of tell GONZO didn’t give a shit about it.
Jobrill
September 26th, 2007 at 5:17 pm

I ended up watching the whole series myself. I don’t HATE it, but it wasn’t exactly “good” either. I definitely agree that Kazuma and Ayano were the best parts, and if they had been developed a little more and we’d seen more of Ayano’s father’s attempts to matchmake it, it would be a lot more fun. I do hear that Ayano is a bit more proper and ladylike in the novels, which I think certainly would have been an excellent twist to her character.

But yeah. I like Ayano and Kazuma as characters, they’re fun. I’m also actually a pretty big fan of the blonde female detective who’s name I forgot. But that might be because she looks like Quistis. Though I think it was more how she was pretty sly and foxy, but still mature and businesslike. Nice combination. I would have liked to see more focus on her.

But anyway, yeah. This is a series that’s a decent time waster, but could have been a LOT better.
Amanda Liu http://
September 27th, 2007 at 12:05 pm

anne> As awesome as Kazuma may be, no individual character can save a series. I also am aware that Ayano is not the most original of characters but I find that she is a wonderful, fully developed character with strengths AND weaknesses. She’s not a one-shot trick.

About Ren, I didn’t really notice him most of the time but that stupid Ayumi x Ren arc was the crappiest thing I had ever seen. He wasn’t that annoying to me but hey I didn’t find Raki from Claymore annoying. Maybe I’ve grown an immunity to annoying characters LOL?

Oh and yeah, the production values pretty much shout that GONZO pulled this shit from their ass. All they’re concerned about is Romeo x Juliet anyways.

Jobrill> Yeah I heard that about the novels too. I have never read them personally because I know as much Japanese as brain cells in this director’s brain (AKA almost nothing). I hate Katherine and her Engrish though. But that’s mostly because she interfered with Kazuma x Ayano. Though her laugh was irritating beyond hell…

I think I’ve stated my position on this series already but I thought it might be handy to know that I place this series LAST in my list of Spring 2007 anime (that I didn’t drop).
Kabitzin http://www.seaslugteam.com
October 7th, 2007 at 2:14 pm

Man, this show ended up being the suck, and I feel bad for recommending it at first. There were some moments of light fun, but the awful production values really hampered the series. I think they did manage to get a decent ending, but it felt like too little too late.
hegapm
January 3rd, 2008 at 4:26 am

Maybe u should rethink about anime when not one of u can creat such a series.So shut up already,and get a life u re not gonna find a good anime everywhere so do w/ wat u have.Especially “Amanda” stop bein a bitch , critizin people out of plain account.
Me
January 5th, 2008 at 2:31 am

I haven’t read novel, so I think that could be the reason I liked this… xD
But I really liked it.
Blue
January 14th, 2008 at 1:02 am

Meh Ayano still seemed iffy to me at the end, especially with her being the only person that could ’stop’ Kazuma, still can’t believe that actually worked. Overall I liked it as a series but wouldn’t reccommend it. The best part by far was definately Kazuma
AzureD
January 25th, 2008 at 4:55 pm

I don’t know about you guys but I liked this show a lot better than Bleach or Naruto. Kazuma is a better character than all the best characters of those other animes.

It is a good thing that they focused on Kazuma half the time. Every time he is on the screen is a pleasure. Come on doesn’t he just make you crack a smile every time he spouts one of his lines?
MikeH
January 29th, 2008 at 1:01 pm

i thought it was a good anime could have done better but i want to see a second season to continue on with the story and give it a proper ending
arerara
January 30th, 2008 at 7:07 am

i liked this anime a lot.. dont know y u guys hate it so much… guess diff ppl have diff tastes? O.o
Bexxy
February 5th, 2008 at 7:36 am

mm, i reckon this anime had the right makings- i hesitate to say original idea, but… mm lots of people like “magic” and fantasy anime, but don’t like mecha or magical girl- so maybe under different direction this anime might have worked.

OH good job for sticking it out
greenlove
February 10th, 2008 at 1:17 am

this was a great anime(my opinion).it had a good story line and i watched in one day bcause i was addicted. i loved it. the ending was funny but kind of a let down.
hmmm
February 11th, 2008 at 8:04 pm

i found the overall series good i think amanda liu is taking it a bit far comparing it to a cake (cookoo if u ask me) the ending would have been better if it had been a heartpounding romantic ending where kazuma sort of nearly kills ayano then realises what he’s doing and wakes up + i dont get why everyone looks down on wind users i mean it is the strongest element
Jemi_Rose
February 12th, 2008 at 10:27 am

Hello People?

Ok, I just finished watching the whole season of this very potential series. It’s interesting that some of you would say the best part of this series is ‘Kazuma’ who has ’still’ more of developinghis personality and same with Ayano.

I do hope that reasoning for saying Kazuma is the best not because he’s personality needed development or that he was (from what some people have said] ‘he’s good looking and charming. No,no,no, that reason doesn’t work.

I did see this series as having some flaws because of filling each or so episodes with conflict, which some weren’t resolved, and leading with very random spots open in the series.

But, if there were to be a second season, let’s look at this way.

Reasons?
!) We get to see [hopefully] development in the main characters.
2)Some of the conflicts will be answered in this season
3) We get to see who Ayano’s father really is [matchmaker]
4)We will get to see development in the character’s figthing skills
5)We get to see how the hero/heroine would defeat the antagonist in the series, meaning, burnheart.
6) We will be able to see who thmain characters really where to eachother in the past more.

But, all this, is just speculation.
But, second season seems to me worth of watching. ;D
Cole
February 13th, 2008 at 7:55 am

I don’t know what you’re talking about, I mean.. Sure it wasn’t grade SS+ but it was a great anime. Very funny in some parts, and very exciting in others. Kazuma was crazy cool, and in no way (emo). When you think about it just ask yourself, “How would I react?” You’ll understand better then most likely. I’ve watched countless anime, I have a mixed taste but its a good mixed taste none the less & I still say that Kaze no Stigma was not the average moldy cake as you describe. More like a nice chocolate eclare, with a fresh cold glass of milk to boot. ^_^
azteca158
March 20th, 2008 at 11:44 am

is this anime rele only 24 episodes? the 24th episode isnt an ending at all but i cant find any sign of more episodes on the way does anyone kno?
nightyume
April 6th, 2008 at 10:53 am

well, it was a decent time waster

didn’t delve too much into any character really, the secondary characters could have been fun (Ayano’s friends, especially the one with the info finding skills for example, definitely not Ren’s friends).

Ayano was decent

The best thing about Kazuma in my opinion is basically that when he went evil, he didn’t go totally insane and whatnot, he still had his ability to reason, he hadn’t turned total evil or been possessed but rather gave in to his darker inclinations.

And true, the whole “only Ayano can stop him” bit was crap. It wasn’t that it was her, but more what she said. Which I find somewhat more realistic and adds weight to my argument that when Kazuma went mad he didn’t go insane, just kind of lost focus and gave in to his more violent instincts.

But yeah, decent time killer

p.s. I agree that it was better than Bleach. Don’t get me wrong, Bleach has better fights and such, but the characters are just COMPLETELY flat. I don’t remember if they always were or if it’s just after so many seasons and eps, but they’re flat as paper.
tamtam
April 9th, 2008 at 12:52 pm

is there a second season???
saijin
April 10th, 2008 at 5:23 pm

is there a second season???????
skywind
May 21st, 2008 at 8:31 am

i just finished this show, and found it to be a good show. it may not have been top-notch (rurouni kenshin and such), but it deffinitely suited my tastes and kept me interested. the characters were well developed, and the bursts of action kept Kaze No Stigma one of those shows where anything can happen at any time =]
Its a show which requires specific tastes, and for one i noticed that i dont much care for plot, if it isnt the focus of the series. this show was intended on the romance and the random action was a bonus to help show different situations the characters were engaged in. some shows, which rely on the plot, and fail to exercise the plot, arent good, but this is simply not one of those shows!
aya_chan
May 29th, 2008 at 11:06 am

I’m actually watching the series now and i have to say that if it wasn’t for Kazuma, I would’ve stopped watching the show for the second time. I started watching this show a while ago and then stopped. I can’t rememebr why exactly i stopped but i think it was probably because Ayano is the most annoying girl ever…I hate how easy this girl gets jealous and how she get so easily irritated. Hearing her screech is so obnoxious. I can’t see how someone like Kazuma could love a girl like that… and the fact that he does pisses me off. I really do hope that she matures soon because i don’t know if Kazuma will be enough to keep me watching it as much as i love his character.