Hana Yori Dango (Boys Over Flowers) is based upon a shoujo manga series by Yoko Kamio and was serialized in Margaret Comics. Hana Yori Dango is the story of Tsukushi Makino, a high school sophomore attending the very prestigious Eitoku Academy. The students at Eitoku Academy are known to be the sons and daughters of the very elite and rich of Japan. However, Tsukushi is everything but that, and actually comes from a poor family. With little money, Tsukushi doesn't care much about materialistic things. However, her parents, who dream of upgrading their social status, force Tsukushi to attend Eitoku Academy with hopes that she will capture a rich husband.

Knowing that she has nothing in common with the Eitoku Academy student body, Tsukushi convinces herself that it's better not to draw attention to herself and hopes that the high school years quickly pass by. However things don't go as planned when she stands up to the notorious F4, a group of guys at Eitoku Academy who are both loved, yet feared by the students. The F4, lead by the richest and strongest student Tsukasa, puts a red tag in Tsukushi's locker which gives other students the sign that she is the target for pranks, teasing, and bullying.

However, Tsukushi decides that instead of dropping out of school, she will fight back and declares war on the F4 whether she's ready for it or not. Intrigued by her courage, an expected turn of events occur and Tsukushi, the most ordinary girl in Eitoku Academy, finds herself connected with the most powerful clique in school and realizes that her life will never be the same again...

Hana Yori Dango divates from the usual anime that is released in both Japan and America. The animation, musical score, and even storyline contrast greatly from most anime TV series, yet contribute to Hana Yori Dango's unique appeal. The story itself is somewhat predictable, but has the ability to draw the viewer into the elite world of Eitoku Academy with its entertaining characters. The storyline is similar to a soap opera, and it is no surprise that Hana Yori Dango's live-action counterpart, Meteor Garden (Taiwan), drew a worldwide fan base.

The artwork of Hana Yori Dango suits the overall theme of the story. Unlike usual Japanese animation, the colors are created with pastel, soft colors that seem to melt together nicely. Most Japanese anime pay great attention to facial details, drawing attention to the characters' eyes. However, the facial features are somewhat simplistic, especially when the character makes "deformed" expressions. This is not a drawback, but in fact well suited to the simple, down-to-earth storyline.

The musical score of the series is very dramatic and creates Hana Yori Dango's soap opera-like feeling. For those who do not like classical music, it may be a little over dramatic at times. However, the violin is greatly emphasized in the musical score because it relates to one of the characters. The music contributes greatly to the overall package of Hana Yori Dango and makes the story and the characters come alive. For fans of more upbeat and J-pop music, the opening theme song is very lively and reveals the "genki" side of the series.

Hana Yori Dango is a refreshing change from typical anime because of its incomparable art and dramatic musical score. It's also a great introduction anime to those who have little or no experience with watching anime because of its down-to-earth and easy-to-understand storyline. It will of course capture the attention for all those shoujo fans who love an angsty romance storyline. Although Hana Yori Dango may not represent the traditional anime released in Japan and America, it may open doors to titles that in the past may never have been considered for release in the domestic market. Hana Yori Dango also proves that there are is variety of different genres and styles among Japanese anime that has yet to be discovered.