Kara Dennison
April 9, 2021 
Back in 1975, shoujo romance manga Dear Brother captured (and broke) hearts in three short volumes. The series would not see an anime adaptation until 1991, but it was worth the wait. The show is a classic in its own right.
Briefly released on DVD by now-defunct crowdfunding/streaming site Anime Sols, the series is now available via RetroCrush. Soon, it’s coming to Blu-ray courtesy of Discotek. And when it lands on home video (or sooner, even), this gorgeous series deserves a watch. If you’re unfamiliar, let us get you caught up.
A Riyoko Ikeda Classic
Dear Brother hails from celebrated manga author Riyoko Ikeda. The Rose of Versailles artist penned the series for a two-month run in the shoujo magazine Margaret. Of course, it likely doesn’t take all that keen an eye to notice Ikeda’s fingerprints all over this beauty.
Protagonist Nakano goes from comfortable high school friendships to drama and intrigue when she ends up on Seiran Academy’s “Sorority.” Now she bears the jealousy of her classmates and finds herself thrust into the Sorority’s heated drama. A story of class, romance, and envy — all very on brand. (And yes, you’ll spot a character who looks an awful lot like Lady Oscar!)
Makes Mean Girls Look Tame
Dear Brother‘s innocent, well-meaning Nakano is understandably shocked by how differently she’s treated once in the Sorority. But the “class” gap isn’t all she has to deal with. Within the Sorority itself are personalities tortured by family, love, and circumstance… and they need to get some aggression out.
Take Nakano’s sudden friendship with Mariko — friendly, troubled, and more than a little possessive. And then there’s the “Magnificent Three,” a trio of exception women with tangled love/hate relationships of all kinds. In some way or other, everyone is connected to everyone else… and the ways aren’t always good.
Wonderful Tragic Love
If you like your romance with a side of angst, Dear Brother delivers. Nakano’s one confidant is the “brother” of the title — actually her former cram school teacher, Takehiko. While he remains outside the action (or so it seems, at least), feelings fly within the Sorority.
The series is full of onscreen and offscreen love: familial, romantic, and platonic. And sometimes it’s hard to tell the “romantic” from the “platonic,” as these characters really do love to feel their feelings. You can be assured of at least two good cries before the series is over… probably more.
Be sure to pitch up Dear Brother on Blu-ray, and check it out streaming!
