It seems there may be a new trend in anime in recent years. The concept of monster girls who lives in the human world is becoming more and more of a trend. Rosario + Vampire, Kore wa Zombie Desu ka?, Monster Musume no Iru Nichijou, and even to an extent, To Love Ru Darkness display traits where its main character cast composes of non-human female characters. So where does that put Jitsu wa Watashi wa? Nowhere too different really. To sum it up easily, this is a series about a guy who discovers that there are non-human beings living in his world. And one of
...
them is not so far away as much as he thinks.
Adapted from the manga of the same name, Jitsu wa Watashi wa (Actually, I am…) is a harem rom-com. There’s two ways the series goes about this. One is the way the characters are introduced, one by one in oddball fashions to the main character. The second is how the main character connects with them with a variety of feelings. And if you can guess, it mostly steers into a road of romance. However, it is also interesting to note that the series takes itself more as a comedy rather than human drama. How can human even fit into the same phrase here?
Well, there’s the one human protagonist we meet from the very beginning. Known to his friends and peers as Kuromine and others as “Eromine” (there’s reason for this explained comically later), he is essentially the average teenager you can expect to see in any school related series. One day at school, he discovers a startling secret. He discovers that his secret crush, Shiragami Youko is actually a vampire. The key word here is ‘actually’. This is because the show is a matter of not ‘if’ but ‘when’. By predictable plot standards, it’s easy to guess that Kuromine will find out the secrets of other characters too. But for starters, his discovery of Youko lands him into some awkward waters. The way the show sets their relationship essentially begins as a form of pact. Kuromine likes Youko and vows to keep her secret from others. In turn, Youko begins to understand Kuromine and naturally begins to develop similar feelings. And as far as that goes, their school life begins to take into a road of misadventures as others get involved with their “relationship”.
As a series about rom-com, the main protagonist is hardly outstanding. He is the typical nice guy, the beta harem type that you can find literally in any similar series. What does make him slightly interesting is that he is honest and loyal. The first few episodes establishes this as he promises to keep Youko’s true identity as a secret. If not, Youko would have to be change schools in order to avoid shame. His personality seems to have influence on others as well as the characters encountered by him understands his intentions more than they originally had thought. This seemingly also attracts others towards him as they see Kuromine as a sincere person. Characters such as Nagisa begins to have conflicting thoughts about him as the series progresses, Youko falls further and further in love, while he attracts other weirdos like self-proclaimed pervert, Shiho Shishido. As amusing as this sounds, there’s hardly any good characterization on them. The series easily makes its point that it’s more of a comedy gag show rather than something to take seriously. The plot is also structured in episodic-like nature with some episodes that have little to no connections with the rest.
Despite this, I do have to admit that the show has genuine comedy. This comes mainly from the character face expressions. In essence, we get two types. The first is human-like ones from Kuromine and his childhood friend Mikan. Their reactions to many events in the show is priceless and often seems like a work of art. Although it’s not as powerful as to the manga, it still retains its clever facial tone. The second is the dialogues. Because Kuromine is helping to keep a secret, there will be a lot of times where he gets into complicated scenarios where he may have to make up something in order to avoid trouble. Think of it more as “lying with the truth” and the dialogues that comes from it is hilarious. Of course, expect misunderstandings and events to get complicated more than they seem.
The series ultimately can be a hit or miss for fans when it comes to adaptation. To me, it’s a bit of both. I wouldn’t say it’s a failure but neither is it compelling. Rather than following the manga straightforward, the adaptation reshuffles certain chapters to make the overall story flow better. While this seems like a positive at first, it can also lead to important elements of the original omitted or parts added in too quickly. The good part that comes with this is the better pacing as some of the episodic scenarios can be frustrating and almost like if it’s testing the patience of the audience.
TMS Entertainment is not a powerhouse but their involvement for this show does have some good values. The character designs aren’t outstanding as the characters looks generic and lacks the compelling feel of the manga. However, it makes it up for the facial expressions in particular Kuromine and Youko. Every episode has them and it’s hard to ignore. Otherwise, background work such as the school, neighborhood, and communities lacks concrete in detail. There’s also some bits of fan service used mainly for comedy gags. Don’t really expect much though as the show again often emphasizes comedy rather than eye candy.
In similar terms, the soundtrack is just fine as it is. The OP and ED theme song plays on note with comedy although can be easily forgettable. There’s also some spoilers in the theme songs so fast forwarding them if you want a better experience as an anime original viewer. There’s also a problem with Youko’s voice as she sounds like a character that is younger than she actually is. It will take some time to get used to as I did throughout the show. On the contrary, character voice mannerisms during “climatic scenes” are easily laughable for its comedic intent. When combined with the face expressions, the show really brings out a colorful side to the humor.
So what’s to say about Jitsu wa Watashi wa in the end? It’s probably a better idea to watch it for yourself. The show is something that should be watched if you want a fun laugh rather than any sort of realistic drama. The romance is almost like a satire at times as it feels dense yet amusing as the story progresses. And of course, who can forget about our colorful cast of monster girls? In retrospect, this show is more like an imaginative storytelling that can strike as peculiar when a guy learns what actually is…
Alternative Titles
Synonyms: Jitsuwata, The Truth Is I Am..., I am...
Japanese: 実は私は
More titlesInformation
Type:
TV
Episodes:
13
Status:
Finished Airing
Aired:
Jul 7, 2015 to Sep 29, 2015
Premiered:
Summer 2015
Broadcast:
Tuesdays at 01:35 (JST)
Producers:
TV Tokyo, Sotsu, MediaNet, Pony Canyon, AT-X, DAX Production, Asmik Ace, 3xCube, Akita Shoten, TMS Music
Licensors:
Discotek Media
Studios:
TMS Entertainment
Source:
Manga
Demographic:
Shounen
Duration:
23 min. per ep.
Rating:
PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
Statistics
Ranked:
#51452
2
based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity:
#886
Members:
273,168
Favorites:
560
Available AtResourcesStreaming Platforms | Reviews
Filtered Results: 43 / 43
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Your Feelings Categories Sep 28, 2015
It seems there may be a new trend in anime in recent years. The concept of monster girls who lives in the human world is becoming more and more of a trend. Rosario + Vampire, Kore wa Zombie Desu ka?, Monster Musume no Iru Nichijou, and even to an extent, To Love Ru Darkness display traits where its main character cast composes of non-human female characters. So where does that put Jitsu wa Watashi wa? Nowhere too different really. To sum it up easily, this is a series about a guy who discovers that there are non-human beings living in his world. And one of
...
Sep 29, 2015
If I were to choose whether I liked it or not, I'd say I liked it. The plot is decent, the characters are funny, and the anime is without flaw... OK, it isn't flawless. But it does have a certain charm to it, and I never even had the thought of dropping it. It was really entertaining. But the ending left room for improvement, and the characters' sub-par performance, in terms of uniqueness, quality and improvisation, could have been avoidable. If it gets a sequel, I'd watch it, though.
Story: 7/10 The plot takes a very rough road to its destination. Once you're in a few ... Sep 28, 2015
TL;DR: pacing is awful, characters are generic and removable, + for sound and animation, poor conclusion.
I felt like I've been betrayed after finishing this show. Yeah the general premise of it isn't by any means original, but given the circumstances of the show, it could have been a decent rom/com. Ironic enough the score I'm giving it is classified as "decent." The show has a promising first few episodes, filled with comedy more than anything else. Really, there isn't too much to say about this adaptation because it lacked a lot of development in every aspect. The story seemed to follow the usual trend of ... Sep 28, 2015
How can a romantic school comedy work if the main protagonist is someone who can't lie and the female protagonist is a very dense person? Jitsu wa Watashi wa, or "Actually, I am...", is a romantic school anime which incorporates supernatural elements as well as comedic ones to enhance the narrative.
As mentioned earlier, the story is simple and centers around Kuromine Asahi, the "leaky basket", and Shiragami Youko, who happens to be a "dense" vampire. Having a person who can't keep secrets can only lead to problems. The anime utilizes these situations to its advantage to present amusing situations and develop their relationship. However, the ... Oct 14, 2015
Basicly it's a boy loves girl but can't confess ... He finds out her secret and tries to keep it despite being a "leaky basket", to prove so he ends up being friends with her instead of just confessing his feelings.
Moreover other girls come into the story to make things more difficult ... more complicated for him to get closer to "the girl" who is pretty dense when it comes to her feelings and romance, and then mistakes his affection for her thinking he's in love with THE OTHER GIRL. Comedy wise... not so funny it got me yawning most of the time, I ... Mar 2, 2016
Jitsuwa Watashi was a breath of fresh air. It followed a simple story that was easy to follow, without the emotional commitment. It's a pallet-cleanser anime. I had just bawled my eyes out after watching AnoHana, and I need something to ease the pain. I decided to try it on a whim, and ended up watching the whole thing in one sitting.
It delivers a refreshingly light humor that let me just relax while I watched. I credit much of that to the timing of its jokes, as well as the pacing of the story. This show is definitely a hidden gem. Sep 29, 2015
TL;DR Review
Story- MC has to keep a girls secret or else she'll be deported to Mexico, I mean back home to her parents and will move schools. The MC can't keep a secret at all, so they try to turn that into a plot device only to not make any other plot devices. That's pretty much the show. Nothing else really happens apart from more characters popping up and a harem. Art- It's average. Not good or bad really. Sound- It gets the job done but doesn't pop out at all. I can't remember any of the background songs used apart from the intro and ending. ... Oct 8, 2015
Romantic-comedies are one of those staple genres in every part of the world, with some focusing more on the romantic aspects while others focus more on the comedic sied of things. Despite being quite a bit unrealistic in relation to the romance part, most rom-coms are very much grounded in reality. Jitsu Wa Watashi Wa is just the opposite with its non-sense comedy.
Jitsu Wa Watashi Wa (Actually, I am…) is the anime adaptation of the rom-com manga of the same name, published by Shounen Champion and created, written and illustrated by Eiji Matsuda. The adaptation is directed by Yasutaka Yamamoto (Mondaiji-tachi ga Isekai kara Kuru ... Sep 28, 2015
Secrets are the spice in a person's life. Everyone has a secret, and it's because of these little factoids about ourselves that make us different...and make people want to know about them even more. So, with Jitsu wa Watashi wa, or "Actually, I am...", what kind of secrets will we learn about today?
Story: Kuromine Asahi is a relatively average guy in school. He's normal, but has one fatal flaw to his character, and that is, he can't hold onto someone's secret for the life of him. As such, he has been called the "Leaky Basket" by all of his peers because ... Nov 4, 2015
Jitsu wa Watashi wa is indeed a surprising unexpected gem for the summer season, and has a certain thing that makes you to keep watching it even with its mediocrity. I won't say it is totally mediocre, but most of its elements are rather seen in other anime which makes it not suitable for other viewers. Despite those, it is still a fun romance to watch because of good and proper pacing and execution.
The story is set to be in an ideal school harem setting, it is about a generic brown-haired guy named Kuromine Asahi who can't keep secrets. Together with the introduction of each ... Sep 30, 2015
Hey , hey, Jitsuwata is over
Hey, hey, what can I say? Hey, hey I'm making a review. And here's how I'm gonna do it. Story: 1 time: The plot may depend on the usual harem genre, but it cannot be consider as a true if there is an absences of competition among the harem members for the guy's affection. ... Aug 5, 2016
Is it even possible for something that is very cliched to still be very enjoyable? For example, a lot of anime involve vampires, secrets, harems, and mutual feelings to never be confessed, and those are just among what this anime contains. Even though I knew this, I really looked forward to watching this particular anime when the July 2015 season rolled around; I couldn't shake off the feeling that it was going to be fun to watch. Sure enough, I was right, although I wasn't able to catch up to it in time for it to end. Well, now that I've finally been able to
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May 1, 2016
Oh joy! I get to spend Easter (orthodox holidays) in Germany, where people wouldn't recognize good humor if it hit them in the face... Lets download some comedy anime so that I have something to watch while I'm there. Lets see... A guy who can't lie has to keep a secret about a vampire girl? That sounds hilarious! The only way they could possibly screw it up is if they added completely needless... They added god damned slapstick...
You see people, the point of slapstick comedy is to take hard, painful, boring situations and turn them to funny ones. A cat chasing a mouse for example ... Mar 20, 2016
(This review has been adapted from my blog/reddit thread. Spoilers ahead!)
Jitsu wa Watashi wa loves its secrets. Many people (myself included) like secrets. It does not matter which side, either keeping or having them. Keeping them is all about trust between the parties, because once one person reveals the secret then it is a secret no longer. (This brings into question how many have to know a secret before it is no longer a secret, but that is a conversation for another day.) And having them is all about knowing who, if anyone, to tell. There is actually a third side: the people not in the ... Oct 12, 2015
Jitsu wa Watashi wa (Actually I am...)
To be honest with you all, I never expected to see such decent anime from the summer-season (Heat Season for Ecchi anime) of 2015 like this one. Okay. Let's be honest with ourselves. Arts for Jitsu wa Watashi wa was poor. There were number of my mates who thought the anime was going to be crap just by seeing the arts and genre under it, which was 'Romance' and 'Ecchi' and 'Comedy' and 'Vampires'. Oooh, is it going to be 'Twilight' all over again...... That was what I was thinking. How wrong I was. Story itself was quite well designed and all characters ... Jun 30, 2023
A romance anime that initially delivers a slightly different proposition. A boy who doesn't know how to lie discovering the secret of a vampire in his class.
During the anime more secrets of other characters are presented, and until then the anime was very fun. However, from episode 6 onwards, the plot begins to decline and what was fun in the anime began to take a backseat. The introduction of some characters from episode 6 made the anime quite disappointing with the direction it took, along with its ending, which opens the door for a second season, but does not bring the feeling that the story has ... Feb 22, 2017
May I just start off saying... wow I loved the art and the sound of this anime. The story was okay, and it was one of those almost skit like anime that never goes anywhere. A love triangle story where they just do the classic ping pong back and forth and no one can solidify a relationship. That is not where this anime shines. This anime shines from the funny and outrageous things that happen and the Faces that go with those scenes. Nothing like seeing a devil get whats coming by a human but the human has the smile
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Sep 28, 2015
I'm new to anime in general, and Jitsu wa Watashi wa is one of the first series I ever completed. So take my review for what it is, a noob's review.
The first episode drew me in almost immediately, and I related with the protagonist very quickly. Aside from the "fantasy" side of the story, the overall plot isn't anything out of the ordinary. Your basic love triangle type deal with complications along the way. However the characters are memorable and the school setting is fitting. Also, there are a few twists in the story that do make it stand out, especially for a romantic comedy. ... Mar 23, 2022
Your typical go nowhere harem, just trying to use strange characters as part of the harem to make it interesting, and failing badly.
Where we normally have one clueless male typically as the MC, instead we have a bunch of clueless people, all in love with the same guy, and sometimes a is trying to help b, or b thinks a likes c. It's obvious and see-through who the show wants someone to be with, as the comparative air time, Though the characters are a bit unique, there is no depth to them, they are generic in thinking and it gets boring quick and is ... Apr 24, 2018
Alright, first and foremost before we even start this review: *Read the damn manga.*
It's already completed and the story, arcs and characters are way better portrayed there. The anime adaptation, however, was only a poorly executed atempt to advertise the manga. But don't get me wrong, it is, in fact, not a complete trainwreck. Each episode mirros the original source really well and the humor is pretty much the same. The voice acting is decent to and Inori Minase as (best girl) Nagisa is, as usual, masterfully well acted from her part. The weak points of this series is the fact that it's only 13 episodes long, ... |