Dear Brother

Nanako Misonô is the daughter of a professor who enters Seiran Academy, a prestigious girls' school where privilege and talent shape social standing. She hopes for a quiet student life, but the school is dominated by the Magnificent Three, whose influence reaches every club and corridor. When Nanako is invited into the elite Sorority, she finds the polite surface hides harsh rivalries, secrets, and emotional manipulation that slowly unsettle her sense of who to trust. To cope, she writes long letters to a man she calls her "Dear Brother," and those letters become the clearest record of her confusion and growing pain.

The series aired in 1991 and was directed by Osamu Dezaki, adapted from Riyoko Ikeda's manga. Dezaki's signature visual techniques and theatrical staging are present, and the voice cast includes Hiroko Kasahara, Keiko Toda, Kenyu Horiuchi, Mami Koyama, and Masako Katsuki.

Critical reaction has been mixed to positive, reflected in a modest fan score around 6.5 out of 10. Reviewers often note Dezaki's stylized direction and the show's willingness to tackle difficult emotional themes, including identity, intimate relationships between women, and psychological trauma. Its intense melodrama and heavy emphasis on interpersonal politics make it a polarizing series that some viewers find emotionally powerful while others see it as overwrought.

Over time the show has built a devoted following and gets mentioned frequently in discussions about 1990s shoujo anime and portrayals of same-sex attraction in animation. Iconic imagery, like dramatic close ups and symbolic dream sequences, has kept it in the cultural conversation, and scholars and fans still reference it when talking about darker, more adult-oriented school dramas.

The series did not sweep major international awards, but it has been the subject of retrospectives and academic interest for its themes and visual style. Its reputation rests on a mix of passionate fan support and continued analysis rather than on trophy cases.