It depicts the romance between "perfect" student Yukino Miyazawa and her academic rival Soichiro Arima, and the relationships of several of their friends.

Directed by Hideaki Anno, the episodes were broadcast in Japan on TV Tokyo from October 1998 to March 1999.

Yukino Miyazawa is a Japanese high school first-year student who is the envy of classmates for her good grades and immaculate appearance.

In the privacy of her own home, she is spoiled, stubborn, a slob, and studies relentlessly and obsessively to maintain her grades.

On entering high school, she is knocked from her position at the top of the class by Soichiro Arima, a handsome young man whose very existence Yukino considers a threat to the praise on which she thrives, and she vows to destroy him.

Her observant little sister Kano points out that her rivalry with him comes from admiration, causing her to rethink her own feelings.

Tired of being used, Yukino revolts and Soichiro apologizes, and admits he still loves her and just wanted to spend time with her.

It is eventually revealed that Soichiro was striving to be perfect to avoid turning "bad" like the parents who abandoned him.

When Yukino unknowingly hurts him, he becomes even more jealous and afraid, and begins to wear another façade of the "perfect boyfriend" in an effort to protect her from his "ugly" self.

The end of the series shows Yukino and Soichiro in their 30s, with their three children, and gives updates on the various friends they made along the way.

Still new to professional manga writing in general, shortly after starting the series she had to put it on hold while she finished working out the framework of the story and where she ultimately wanted it to go.

He emphasizes the dialog over the animation using a variety of techniques, including iconic scenes, production sketches, real-life location shots, repeated imagery, and even using animation versions of manga panels or simply printing the lines of the dialog being spoken over static screens.

According to Michael S. Johnson of Nausicaa.net, Anno objected to the restrictions placed on television anime by TV Tokyo after the Pokémon seizure incident.

[6] However this was not close to true in Anno's own interview from the Kare Kano Blurays, he talks about how they created one of the first eye catches that told audiences to watch in a brightly lit room away from the TV.

[11] Kare Kano was initially licensed for an English language release by Mixx Entertainment in 2000, but it subsequently lost those rights before publication began.

[12] In July 2001, the company's Tokyopop division announced that it had reacquired the license and that it would be serializing the title in their Smile magazine starting in 2002.

The series is licensed for regional language releases by Editions Tonkam in France by Grupo Editorial Vid in Mexico, by Glènat España in Spain, by Dynamic Italia in Italy, by Carlsen Comics in Germany, by Panini Comics in Brazil, and by Planet Manga in Portugal.

Miyazawa Yukino is the most popular girl in school, but in real life she is a spoiled, lazy, stubborn, and unmanageable.

In the end, Yukino and Arima decide to let loose a little and slowly break away from the perfect images they had set up.

While Yukino is walking in the hallways, she bumps into Asaba who tells her that he wants to use Arima as his partner to get girls and ends up making her feel bad.

Eyecatch (8): Serene and composed (安閑恬静, Ankantensei) The girls in class 1A realize that maybe Miyazawa is not really a model student after all.

Eyecatch (11): Tender, protective feelings for women (憐香惜玉, Renkōsekigyoku) Tsubasa insists on staying the night at Yukino's house, saying that with his engagement, her father no longer wants her, just like Arima.

At a formal dinner, she meets her attractive future step brother, Kazuma, who is the same age as she is, but when he mistakes her for an elementary school student, she loses her temper.

Yukino finds out that Asaba lives alone due to an estrangement with his parents, particularly because of his inability to get along with his overly strict and formal father who resents his son's casual attitude.

Eyecatch (15): Difficulties of all shapes and sizes (多事多難, Tajitanan) The Miyazawa family visits Miyako's father, who does not get along with his son-in-law, Hiroyuki.

After Arima finally returns triumphant from his training and kendo tournament, having won the national championship, Yukino finds it hard to deal with her increased affection for him.

Only when Arima loses his composure, corners her, and desperately declares that he will "never let her go" does she realize how much she has hurt him and is able to explain her feelings.

A mysterious transfer student, Tonami Takefumi, arrives, and preparations for the culture festival ignite Yukino's competitive spirit.

Eyecatch (241⁄4 ): Even a fool has influence in the absence of a sage (瓦釜雷鳴, Gafuraimei) Eyecatch (241⁄2): Content with the old ways, never seeking progress (故歩自封, Kohojifū) This episode deviates from the main story, focusing on an anime original tangential story about the younger Miyazawa sisters, Kano in particular.

[18][21] The three CDs were released as a box set in Japan, along with a fourth disc containing an additional 22 tracks, on February 23, 2005.