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Most people probably never heard of Saka Mikami in the anime or manga industry. Their two other works are very obscure one-shots that didn't catch the public's eye. Then, this series came. The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity is what I consider a dark horse of the season, an anime that begins to unravel its true form more and more with each passing episode. It sets the golden standard what other romance dramas should emulate.

The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity is reliant on what it tries to be from the start. We have two schools next to each other seperated by their reptuation: ... Chidori Public High School and Kikyo Girls' School. The initial setup immediately throws the impression of a society where certain characters won't get along. Their school rivalry stems from social status because Chidori Public High enrolls deliquents while Kikyo is composed of respectful ladies. The story follows male protagonist Rintaro Tsumugi, with an intimidating face that gives the wrong impression and is easily the most misunderstood character in the series.

On the other hand, Kikyo's Kaoruko Waguri represents the opposite of Rintaro character, as a beautiful girl with a respectful personality, graceful appearance, and academic excellence. Their fated encounter brings together a common trope in romantic dramas, or in this case, "opposites attract". It is indeed a setup for the main story once when realize how kind Rinatro actually is. As cliche as it sounds, the old textbook saying 'don't judge a book by its cover' applies here. And that's exactly why because Rinatro begins to built an emotional relationship with Kaoruko from day one. It's through his kindness and selfnesses that she sees who he really is. They are the heart and soul of this franchise.

The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity's character cast endores a colorful cast with a diverse range of personalities that leads to memorable moments. I can't stress this enough but for a romance drama like this to succeed, there needs to be the right cast to make the story flow. Chidori Public High's students exmplifies just that with characters such as Shohei, Saku, and Ayato. The trio are often seen together and are Rintaro's closest friends. Similar to Rintaro, they are often misjudged and misunderstood by the public's eye, specifically members by Kikyo's Girls' School. The most outspoken among them is the silver haired beauty Subaru Hoshin, who previously had a troubled past with boys. It's because of her past that she becomes protective of Kaoruko and intially had a rocky impression of the boys. Nontheless, Hoshina is built as a flawed character who originally seen the world as black and white. It's not until she discovers true kindness in Rintaro and his friends that her impressions begins to change.

Similar to Rintarou, Hoshina is a character who is misunderstood. Despite her cold demenaor and protectiveness over Kaoruko, she is deep down a sensitive and kindhearted girl. Remember, part of her personality stems from being bullied by boys from the past. Now in the presents, she experiences what's like to be treated by kindness by other boys, namely Rintarou and his friends. Watching her character growth is normal for this type of romance drama. It's almost parallel to Kaoruko as she opens up more, slowly accepting others around her and looking past their flaws.

Rinatarou and Hoshina are not exactly soulmates. Despite this anime advertising the two as a main couple, the first season mostly builds their relationship on an emotional level than a romantic one. Let's also not forget that both characters are flawed, that traces them back from the first day they met. It's what makes them human and relatable for viewers, especially ones around their age. But make no mistake, their emotional connection is the main draw of the anime and executed with purpose. They are paired up together beyond the 'opposites attract' trope.

Is it any surprise that Cloverworks ended up being the studio to adapt The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity? Not a bit and in fact, this is a first ballot candidate. From the vibrant colorful setting, to the delicate characters, environment, and mood, this anime has it all when we talk about its asthetics. The director and studio obviously also wanted us to connect with the cast so character emotions were made with care. Creatively, it also sneaks in some humorous gag moments such as Kaoruko's reactions to eating sweets or Rinatarou furiously blushing when flustered.

The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity sets a standard for a romance drama, that doesn't overstep its boundaries. This anime doesn't try to make viewers anticipate who kisses who, but rather who can build a meaningful relationship. From day one, we meet characters that sets realistic expectations and relatable in everyday life. It's what makes this anime succeed as a romance drama and one we should appreciate.

I've always had a soft spot for Grand Blue. It demonstrates the principle of having a fun group of characters enjoying their lives in a sitcom-like format of storytelling. After so many years, it's fitting this anime returns in the Summer season, a season so well suited for this show orchestrated by its colorful and over-eccentic cast.

Iori Kitahara's return creates the same atmospheric energy of the previous season. We're not left out from one bit of this anime's crazy antics, courtsey of the Peek-a-Boo club. You remember them don't you? It's a collection of college guys and girls gathered together to enjoy life of drinking ... and partying than diving. It's the foundation of this anime's loose plot, where every episode shows the life style of open minded college students. Forget school and academics, this anime ditches the classroom doors and goes straight into the adult world.

There's a reason this anime revolves around college age characters than teenagers. It had to abide by the age limit so it artificially boosts the characters' ages. It works because drinking and partying tends to happen far more frequently during the early stages of adult life. Practically every character in this anime has a love for drinking in some way or form. Even when it's used to serve as a distraction, drinking is considered the common norm where it would feel unusual if a character didn't drink. This also extends the fan service because all the characters are well-built. The male characters have lean and muscular bodies while the female cast are well-endowed with athletic looks. Don't believe me? Just watch the OP song and see you for yourself. It's up there as a candidate for the most fan servicy OP song of this season.

Still, this season does love itself for creating misunderstandings and giving characters chances to be themselves. Some of them are tested in games while others are paired up through certain circumstances. Chisa seems to be the main culprit whenever she gets involved with Iori. The whole season has them flirtnig with idea of them getting together, although it's not depicted as romance. It's more of a crowd pleaser and baiting to see who can really make the first move. Fans should know this anime loves having fun with itself than creating tearjerking or dramatic moments between character pairs. Some characters in fact have too much fun and power to themselves. An example is Sakurako Busujima, a new character who has developed a bizarre relationship with Iori. Throughout the series, he is her primary target for bullying, although it's mostly deconstructed with light humor. She serves somewhat as a somewhat rival compared to Chisa, the ever serious and level headed girl of the Peek-a-Boo club. Watching their character rivalry draws out Chisa's insecure side where she unintentionally says things she wasn't prepared for. Her presence is felt throughout this season and she can be designated as a breakout character.

The rest of the cast aren't much different after all these years. Kouhei returns with his love for girls and anime. Aina is still the same shy person who holds feelings towards Iori. Others such as Nanaka and Azusa plays their roles to serve as more mature characters for the club. It's really the cast that reminds us what being an adult is about in this show, even if not all of them are responsible. Perhaps that's an understatement. Hardly any of them are responsible and often gets sucked into the ectasy of their own personal interests. I mean, ask yourself, how many times has Kohei tried to get a girlfriend? Or Iori trying to hit on girls? These young adults behave like how you'd expect them to in this social age, where life opens to unlimited opportunities. Grand Blue Season 2 takes those opportunities and have way too much fun with them.

Season 2 of My Dress-Up Darling was destined to happen. Despite the four year gap between the first and second season, fans' support made it happen, like a cult classic reborn. The first season was also well reviewed and with the manga's growing popularity, this was just a matter of time. My Dress-Up Darling has established itself as an iconic anime franchise but does set the standard for today's rom-coms.

CloverWorks has been known to produce multiple anime every season in recent years, and it appears to be on a trajectory to establish itself as a powerhouse studio. The first season of My Dress-Up Darling had ... its imperfections from time to time but the animation quality was always stellar. Let's be honest, for a franchise like this to succeed, it needed uniqueness, diversity, style, and artistic expression. After all, it's based on a story about cosplaying and any show revolving that theme needs to make a strong impression right out of the park. Season 2 is no different as the first few episodes remind us the colorful cast of character we grew fond of.

Anime lover Marin Kitagawa returns as not only the poster girl but continously devote her time into her love and interests. By love, it also reaches to the romantic side when it's obvious she fell for Wakana Gojo. If you remember from the first season, the two built a bond from a common interest that slowly but surely grew into a close friendship. However, Marin wants more than just being friends and the mixed signals she sends to Gojo becomes more and more noticable with every episode. Gojo himself also feels the stress of his work this season. Just from the first episode alone, he deals with multiple problems that stems from Marin's Halloween themed outfit. Indeed, season 2 tests Gojo not just in his skill to make cosplay outfits but challenges of his relationship with Marin. It's tested throughout the entire season ranging from misunderstandings from both sides. Truly, a rom-com like this can't be complete without those.

My Dress-Up Daring has a creative character cast that you know would exist in this type of rom-com. Marin's friends are gyarus who shares a common interest of cosplaying. Even though some of their ideals differ from one another (noticably Juju), they are supportive of her. Season 2 introduces Amane Himeno, a character who can be somewhat relatable to Gojo. As a crossdresser, he had to step out of his comfort zone and be who he wants to be rather than feel like being judged. Gojo was in that position before as he felt he couldn't live up to expectations. This season sees his confidence grow more not only through his experience but also because of his commitment to Marin and the world of cosplay. It's inspiring but also slightly sad knowing Gojo overworks himself at times. Because let's face it, his life is far from relaxing with the presence of cosplaying, Marin, and everyday drama revolving around him.

Some might call this anime as a cash-in for the popularity based off of the first season. However, My Dress-Up Darling has established itself as its own brand with the diverse range of colorful cosplaying outfits. The show truly respects the world of cosplaying with its vivid details and outfits. Marin is the poster girl and represents the very fabric of cosplaying. There's no better role she'd be in as the main female protagonist as she adds endless possibilities about what its truly like to be a cosplayer. Gojo's character bond with her emphasizes on their importance through that important connection, and potentially developing into something more. Whether Gojo is experimenting with new ideas or remaking projects into something better, the two are the heart and soul of the franchise. With season 2 here, this was the ideal show to put two characters together in a world of cosplaying.

If the first season of Call of the Night is described as a supernatural, vampire rom-com thriller, then the second season should be a step forward, an evolution that takes the core of the show and make it even better. Indeed, the first season introduced a mischievous group of characters such as Nanakusa Nazuna, Kou Yamori, Seri Kikyou, among others. We came to understand their backgrounds and personalities. While season 2 doesn't introduce a whole new set of cast, we do get familiar with a prominent character, the ever clever vampire hunter Anko. Introduced with her set of beliefs and agenda to kill vampires, she ... represents the biggest threat Nazuna could face. It's not her either as Kou comes to realize what she's capable of. Nazuna's complicated relationship with Anko is revealed in vivid details this season as we learn the truth.

To say Anko is the main antagonist this season isn't entirely true. She has her morals and isn't a violent person. She can be described more as an individual with an agenda. Unfortunately for vampires, that agenda is the exterminating them as part of her profession and personal goal. From her viewpoint, vampires exists as monsters with no redeeming qualities. And because she was raised like a loner, Anko had trouble connecting with people. Through flashbacks, she isolated herself with books and literature while also developing a fascination for detective mystery. These shaped the foundation of her later life that we see today. But through her encounter with Nazuna and Kou, it sparked a change in her. This season explores that change and how even someone like Anko can open the eyes to reality.

Kubura Honda (Nazuna's adoptive mother) is also a character focus this season. Her complicated relationship with Nazuna stems from the her past history with Nazuna's real mother. That and the similar look she shared with her daughter makes matters all that much more complicated. As a vampire, she does show more traits associated with them but her motherly side is what defines her character. Even when Nazuna is not around, she tries to associate herself with Kou, the closest person with a connection to Nazuna. She's a character with a unqiue position that explores the boundaries between humans and vampires.

And really, who can forget about the relationship between the two stars of this show - Kou and Nazuna. They're the heart and pulse of the franchise and this season still builds their connection. Even as a vampire, we can tell Kou's influence on her existence. Nazuna displays many traits similar to humans and she even develops attachments to them. Kou is the most obvious opposite attraction but this is more than just about pairing the two up in a romantic relationship. It's about showing how two polar opposite characters can co-exist in this timeline. Their personalities are like magnets that attracts to each other, and it has been this way since the beginning of the season. As the old saying goes, opposite attracts.

Nonetheless, season 2 exists to tell a story. The apex of the season comes from the Halloween Night Arc that has Anko and Nazuna clash. It's a battle that is destined to happen since their stories were told. Anko's ambition to destroy Nazuna is more than just proving herself and her ideals. This is about telling how Anko wants to finish her own story with Nazuna. What we see in this arc is the character study of both of their characters and it's a lot to take in. But through detailed storytelling and background characterization, it shouldn't be hard to understand both sides of their characters by the time the credits roll.

Call of the Night Season 2 exmplifies the identity and motivations of characters on why they do what they do. While season 1 worked more like a supernatural rom-com, this sequel sell itself more as a storyteller. It's a show that really made us understand why events happen and how they unfolded while definining the most prominent characters in their unique ways.

If rom-coms these days can have characters' lives changed dramatically because of one person, then the anime adaptation for Dealing with Mikadono Sisters Is a Breeze reminds us how exactly that happens. We're living in an age where anime has evolved with every aspect of the rom-com genre. Dealing with Mikadono Sisters Is a Breeze seems no different when it adheres to its usual core of elements. But looking beyond what we see, this show have its own colorful appeal for the rom-com genre.

It sounds as about as straightforward as the premise. The story writes for itself when we are introduced to male protagonist Yuu ... and the Mikadono sisters he meets. Yuu Ayase is considered a normie compared to the talented Mikadono sisters. It's an inferiority complex that he has carried throughout his life. Clearly, the first few episodes sets him apart from the sisters who are all talented in their fields of expertise. And the reason for that is because of their overly strict father. It doesn't really take long to see that among its family, they are estranged between each other. That is, until Yuu enters their lives.

Comparing the Mikadono sisters to Yuu is like comparing apples to oranges. They come from different backgrounds and almost look like they're from different worlds. Yuu, while being talented with cooking has no outstanding skills or achievements. On the other hand, Kazuki is an upcoming actress, Niko has her martial art skills, and Miwa has the professional talent of a shogi player. After their initial meeting, it's clear the sisters aren't impressed by his presence. They are in fact, more annoyed they have to share a house with him. Treating him like a servant, the first few episodes puts Yuu under mundane housework tasks. He makes the best of his situation but it's Yuu's kindhearted nature and personality that really captures the sisters' attention.

Yuu himself also has life goals and isn't aimless throughout the show. While it's not entirely clear his endgame goal is, it's evident that he wants to experience what being with a real family is like. Being together with the Mikadono sisters gives him that experience. In return, the Mikadono sisters also becomes closer as result of Yuu's influence. Despite his lack of skills, Yuu's ability to bring out the best from the sisters is a recurring plot element in the story. Watching him help the sisters in any way possible shows that he is a selfless person and truly honest in his feelings. It's because of his actions that slowly, but surely, the sisters begins to fall for him. A few examples including Yuu's support for Niko during her tournament match, helping Kazuki develop her feminine traits, or giving confidence to Miwa to improve on her shogi games. Even when their father returns, Yuu promises to make the Mikadono sisters happy in any way he can.

Ironically, dealing with the Mikadono sisters is far from a breeze. What Yuu has gotten himself into was not something he was clearly prepared for. Yet, this rom-com makes it an unique as a harem trio of girls not overly fighting for their right to have him. The romance is light, usually told through expressive reactions than drama. When watching this show, it's clear the anime wants to build character relationships than tell a soap opera-style story. Yuu is the magnet that attracts the sisters and that's the bottom line what this anime wants us to experience.

This is the author's first anime adaptation and it has a colorful asthestic overall look. Each of the Mikadono has their vibrant personality that is reflected by their design. Despite looking flawless on the outside, the character vulnerabilities are highlighted by their expressiveness. Yuu is designed to look as average as possible but still has his own shining moments. They kept this season with minimal fan service with most of it being played with light humor.

Dealing with Mikadono Sisters is a show with a balanced cast that doesn't fight for your attention. It plays out naturally with how the sisters develop a meaningful relationship with someone outside of their field. To let a story tell like this isn't easy but by the end of the show, it feels like this anime captured what it wanted us to see.

Kowloon Generic Romance is perhaps one of the most mysterious anime I've seen all year and it's no understatement. Behind the dense city population of 33,000 contains a love story - a story about two adults in the 30s. This romance comes at a price because the female protagonist Reiko Kujirai suffers a case of memory loss, one that finds herself struggling with throughout all series long.

Kowloon Walled City is far more than what it seems with a mysterious background history. The dystopian-like vibes blends a historical and modern look. Furthermore, Reiko suffers from memory loss and apparently has a history with her love interest ... Hajime Kudou. But if you think this is some "generic" romance, then take a step back because there's far more than just relationship building in this story. It quickly carries into a sci-fi genre once the first episode reveals its true nature.

The mysterious nature of the show adds even more layers of mystery once we understand more about the cast. Reiko's identity crisis becomes a key plot that revolves the existence of Kujirai “A” and “B”. Although Kujou is aware of Reiko's memory loss, he doesn't mention it early on. Their relationship becomes complicated after Kujou rejects her but nonetheless, Reiko remains in love. What she isn't sure about is the existence of "Kujirai B". Why does she look just like Reiko, what's her purpose in their world, and her connection with Kujou? Those are some questions she and the audience should ask themselves early on. To make this anime even more mysterious is the Kowloon Walled City itself. It resembles an alternate sci-fi version of the real life Kowloon Walled City. The existence of Generic Terra, a mysterious sphere in the sky adds an eerie and unnatural feeling, adding to more curiousity. A revelation also reveals that the current Kowloon is not the one that existed throughout history. The original was demolished in the year 1994 and it raises questions of what is truly real in the story's current timeline.

Nonetheless, characters in this show all have various degree of personalities. Some also seems to serve as foil characters such as Yaomay, a doll maker who wants to escape her past. Through her chance encounter with Reiko, the two bond yet have conflicting views about how they handle with their past and identity. Watching this anime continously also show how much characters complicates their relationships. A shining example is Miyuki Hebinuma, the president of Hebinuma Pharmaceutical and Tao Gwen. Their relationship is complicated by Miyuki's father and the company they run. Framed as a show of complexity, Miyuki also suffers from a case of self identity. It's a recurring theme in the show that forges on how characters develop their life paths. Who do they accept themselves as? But the biggest difference revolves around Kujirai A and B. Kudo's relationship with these two characters has a mirroring bond that at times contrasts and other times reflect similarity. The main timeline Reiko however has a more complicated relationship with Kudo. It's obvious at times, Kudo reflects about his past and to an extent, compares his relationship of Kujirai B with Reiko. Watching the relationship dynamics of this series always make us question about their identity crisis. Reiko's memory loss affects both her relationship with others and discovery of herself.

Kowloon Generic Romance is definitely an anime with a more complicated plot that requires more attention. It doesn't hold your hand and requires the viewer to actively pay attention to character expressions, feelings, dialogues, and their interactions. The plot is woven as a story connecting the past, present, and how it influences the future. Most importantly is the identity of the characters and if Reiko can truly embrace herself. The sci-fi elements far dominates the romance, and to say the least, this anime's romance falls into a category of unorthodox. It really seperates itself from most romance stories due to the internal conflicts of the story. To make an anime work sell itself is not too simple as its targeted audience may not be who it seems.

It takes the art style of the manga and animates it as accurately as possible. For those familiar with Jun Mayuzuki's previous work, the character designs has a similar look compared to After the Rain. Characters are adapted with an mature tone given the character's ages. Furthermore, character expressions are thoughtfully decorated to reflect a variety of mood changes. But perhaps the most interesting part is the setting: Kowloon Walled City. It has a fusion of old school and new school that makes its setting stand out more unique. Adapted with a sci-fi theme, it's been stated that the author was influenced by the video game Kowloon's Gate. Finally, I also want to give a shout out to mesmerizing performance of the opening song "Summertime Ghost " by Suiyoubi no Campanella. Not only does it carry variety of symbolism but also has one of the most decorated chereography I've seen in recent anime.

Kowloon Generic Romance may not be an easy anime to follow but it the time is worth investing into once you're drawn to its cast of characters and story. You don't need to grind this anime for multiple rewatches but understanding what the themes of the show really brings together a sense of enjoyment. It's these type of anime that I wish the current industry would embrace more of than the generic high school fairy tales or isekai copypastes we see pretty much every season.

Reiji Miyajima is more known these days for writing the series we come to known as 'Rent-a-Girlfriend'. It aired for three seasons with a fourth to air in July 2025. He's also known for creating AKB49: Renai Kinshi Jourei that for some reason yet hasn't gotten an adaptation yet. The Shiunji Family Children did however receive one and a 12-episode adaptation sets us into the world of the Shiunji family.

There's no doubt this series is adapted as a romantic comedy, the type with relationship building among all the cast. Or to be fair, the most important members. At the center is male protagonist Arata, the ... eldest son. The early revelation of Arata not being related to the Shiunji family breaks a field of controversy, at least related to incest. Make no mistake that this show is protrayed in a lighthearted style of storytelling, not one with mature tones. There's obviously romance and relationship building, with some characters being more relevant than others.

Adapted as a 12-episode anime, Arata has to navigate with the revelation that his siblings are not related to him by blood. They're adopted and this triggers previously hidden feelings among them. The anime aimed for a colorful cast, and each female member of the family excels in some for talent. (ex. sports, intelligence) Watching the first episode casts the female characters as being unique and different from one another. For example, Banri is the oldest member of the female member of the family so she seems more comfortable with teasing Arata than others. This contrasts with Seiha who display a more timid nature. Ouka and Minami are somewhere around the middle, that they are open minded and confident in themselves, but not enough to be completely open with their feelings. And of course, we can't forget Kotono, the youngest daughter and most timid of the family. Each episode is designed to allow Arata to get closer to each of them in some way or another. Collectively, Arata has to deal with his own feelings that takes him by surprise.

Indeed, the creator tried to aim for a variety of tastes with its colorful cast. It wanted the audience to understand each female character and their feelings towards Arata. Some of them may appear more complicated than others such as the case with Ouka. Others are triggered more naturally such as Arata getting involved with Minami's sporting events. However, the show does a meek job at best for Arata to understand himself and his own feelings. It appears he's more confused with how he feels about these female characters, as if it's he's constantly testing himself. The most prominent example is Ouka that spans upon multiple episodes and after being kissed on the lips. It's an experience Arata has to wrap around with in his mind without a definitive answer to why it happened. Others are more forgetable with his relationship with Seiha and Kotono. It appears that the more vibrant characters in this show stands out more, if intentionally or unintentionally. Either way, even as a 'balanced harem', there's definitely characters that stand out more than others.

The Shiunji Family Children does carry a similar tone because of the author's previous works. There's misunderstandings, dates, and the obvious rom-com tones. It stays away from controversial topics and doesn't push the boundary of romance too much. Collectively, the performance by the family members share a special bond. There's no serious rivalry between any of them and their behavior mirrors those of an actual family. Even though Arata seems like the odd man out, he is still represented as an ordinary male protagonist. Yet, he has his character flaws, namely having trouble to make up his mind about important choices in life. Watching him reject some of the characters is stubbornly frustrating at times, because deep down, he cares about each of the female characters.

It's no secret this anime wanted to be a romantic comedy from the start. It's filled with colorful characters decorated with features each unique to their look and personalities. Arata may be misunderstood at times with his words and look, but he's still a typical protagonist you'd expect to carry himself. Nonetheless, do be prepared for some light fan service and comedy gags. While this anime contains less mature tones compared to the author's "Rent-a-Girlfriend", there's still some to go around. Character expressions and emotions are also constantly put on display depending on the situation. It's a rom-com that also explores human behavior when they learn the truth after all.

Zatsu Tabi That's Journey, a show that chronicles the journey of Chika Suzugamori who was rejected by the manga industry. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise as she ventures on a journey to discover the world around her. They say life can be filled with surprises, and Zatsu Tabi That's Journey tipify exactly just that.

Chika is an indoor girl. This is made obvious from the first few episodes but that doesn't stop the show from giving her the chance to explore. By explore, it doesn't just mean discovering new places but also discovering herself. The first episode sparks a new curiousity and ... goal in her life: to go on a journey. There's really no set destination because at the heart of this show, it's about the experience. Throughout this journey, Chika explores the culture of places shes visit, finding common interests with people she meets, and experiencing new inspirations for her work. It's not hard to say this anime has near infinite potential. But as a 12-episode series, the anime focuses on Japan than traveling around the world.

From the start, Chika is seen as an ordinary girl who hasn't established a reputation for herself. She has big dreams but those dreams seemed impossible to reach. Initially, she uses her journey as a way to escape the harsh reality of the real world. It begins when Chika takes a trip to Aizuwakamatsu. It's from there that Chika learns the joy of tourism and wonders the world can bring. Among other locations Chika visits include Matsushima, the Shikoku region, Kyoto, Aomori. Every episode offers a new experience for Chika and she learns about the cultural aspects of these locations. She's not always alone either when other characters such as Koyomi, Yui, Fuyune, and Riri. While there's very limited character development among them, there's no doubt that Chika's journey becomes more fun with friends by her side. The enjoyment of sharing a traveling experience brings out the best in this show. And it helps too, that the anime remains authentic to its settings. There's care put into crafting these tourist locations from the serene natural looks to the cultural influences.

With each episode being a standalone, there's no complex plot or deeper meaning from Chika's journey. At the end of each episode, she experiences something new whether it's cultural or something simple as trying a new gourmet. Truly, this anime isn't here for a deeper meaning than expressing itself as a youthful journey. Chika's journey shows that the adventuring can change themselves, whether as a person or their career.

Can a Boy-Girl Friendship Survive? sounds like a type of anime written as a rom-com experiment. Even if it's intentions were different, this anime practically evokes the idea to test the limits and boundaries a friendship can exist between a boy and girl. It's the classic take on 'can a guy and girl just be friends?'

Right off the bat, we can tell this anime falls under several rom-com tropes. The typical male protagonist and their childhood friend makes their appearances in the first episode. Then, that protagonist meet a beautiful girl and thus, let the love triangle begin. Meet our main characters: Himari Inuzuka, Yuu ... Natsume, and Rion Enomoto. Why does this show insist on a friendship than a romantic relationship? It's actually more complicated than it sounds.

From the beginning, we are treated with endless amount of teasing, sometimes to the point where it looks scripted to happen. It's part of this show's DNA and Himari's personality. She can't help but always get Yuu's attention in any way possible. To Yuu, this comes off as awkward or intimidating at worst. After all, Himari does have the looks for a beauty at school. For the audience, it's fairly obvious she is attracted to Yuu romantically. The subtle hints from the first few episodes become less subtle with the introduction of Rion. The story later makes it clear that there's history between Rion and Yuu through flashback s and their childhood connection. Nonetheless, Rion represents the main rival against Himari for Yuu's affections.

As a visual gesture, this anime is decorated with flowers which can be interpreted as a symbolism for friendship, love, and youth. It's Yuu's dream to become owner of a flower shop after all. Himari's intentions to help Yuu are revealed to also fuel her own attraction towards him. Rion's existence in Yuu's life is a major obstacle as she sees the two bond closer. It makes Himari feel uneasy and this reveals the vulnerability of her character. In fact, every character in this anime has flaws. Yuu's oblivious nature and Rion's timidness are just two such examples. However, Himari is the most flawed character as everything shes does in the show is seemingly influenced by Yuu. It almost falls under the category of 'character assassination' as Himari's personality and mood constantly changes from each episode. Ironically, as confident and teasing as she can be, Himari hast the most trouble expressing her true feelings. The idea that they could be a dating couple holds herself back. It became so problemic that nearly everything she says in the show can be taken with a grain of salt or as a tease. Trust me, even Yuu has a hard time understanding the true intention of her words.

Rion's circumstances in the story are somewhat less obvious at first. It's not until we see through her flashbacks that there's a connection between her and Yuu. The present timeline however changes dramatically between their relationship. It appears Yuu wants to avoid Rion or at least discourage her from dating him. Their relationship can be described as awkward as the two has similar shy personalities. It doesn't also help that Himari seems to try and interrupt the pair whenever they appear to have an intimate moment. It's through all these character interactions that ultimately shapes the core of the anime. A love triangle, how the characters respond to different scenarios, and standard rom-com tropes. It pushes boundaries of whether a boy and girl can survive as friends or become something more.

It's not a high budget anime for sure. Rom-coms these days doesn't rely on its art quality to do the storytelling. Instead, it relies heavily on character chemistry and their emotions, something this anime has been pushing since day one. All the characters in this anime behave how you'd expect them to at their age. The most glaring example is Himari who expresses a wide range of emotions throughout the show. Rion has her own moments too and can come of intimidating when she tries to be. Unfortunately, Yuu falls short on keeping up with either of them. He's a plain boring protagonist who reminds us that he exists.

It really doesn't feel like there's a 'winner' that comes out of this love triangle in the end. This anime from the start looked like an experiment, to test and see how far a boy and girl can go with their friendship. Will they become a couple or be stuck in friend zone forever? It's one of those recurring questions we can't help but ask ourselves. And to be be honest, this entire anime just loves to make us ask questions than give answers.

With a generous marketing wheel and promotional effort, you'd at least expect a franchise like Beginning After The End to inspire some hope into a market dominated by isekai in today's industry. But no matter how much marketing or word of mouth spreads, Beginning After The End further proves that even popular franchises can fall short to mediocrity. This here, is another abject failure that proves popularity doesn't equate quality.

From the moment Studio A-Cat was announced as the studio, high hopes were tossed out the door. Their resume of anime projects in recent years haven't exactly set the bar high. Still, I was slightly optimistic ... because a studio doesn't always determine right away if a show is set up for failure. Yet, I was quickly proven wrong when the OP song played for the first time. WIth a style similar to an animated powerpoint presentation, it really dropped the ball for animation quality and further dashed hope for the fanbase. Watching this show from day one felt like a chore marked by struggles to keep up with the poor writing and characterization.

Arthur Leywin, a reincarnated young man from his former days as King Arthur stars as the main protagonist. It's fitting for its title as after his end, his new life sets a beginning. Armed with the knowledge of his previous life, Arthur chooses to live a peaceful life with a loving family. His change from a ruler to an ordinary person in a fantasy world is an adaptation change he chooses with. That essentially makes the foundation for the first half of the show. We see how Arthur lives his life and cherishing his newfound youth. He shows far more maturity than his age yet still resolves to learn everything he can about the world. Fundamentally, Arthur struggles at times to control his emotions. This turns out to be his character's biggest weakness. Fortunately, he still adapts well with his newfound life especially with his mother and father. Some of the characters he meets also reminds him of his past life, such as Tessia Eralith during his life journey. Furthermore, he also serves as an important mentor figure for the young mage Lilia in later episodes. Arthur become a trustworthy person yet he sometimes doubt himself but makes the best of his new life.

Given the way this season is structured (Season 1), this show falls under short of adaptation standards. It only touches the story on the surface and explores Arthur's young life. Some of the early episodes can feel dragged long enough that overtime, we care less about his development and more about the world around him. The timeskip occurs not long into the season but felt like it was forcefully done to accelerate the storytelling. It almost seems like the show itself knew its own pacing jumping to Arthur's teenage life. With the three year timeskip, we can see that Arthur matured physically and mentally. His magic powers has grown as well although the story still recommends him to attend Xyros Academy, a school known for producing reputable individuals to their world. Arthur himself demonstrates abilities and skills far superior to what people expects. It's no surprise given his gifted talents and previous knowledge of his former world. This is proven and demonstrated when he faces off against the Xyros Academy's Cynthia, who is reowned for her skills. Nonetheless, Arthur's life up that point has been short of imperfections. It seems everything always goes too well yet not much change to Arthur's own personality. In fact, it's easy to say Arthur's personality has never been a strong selling point.

Then again, Arthur pretty much has to carry this show on his back. Characters he meets throughout the series are influenced by him in one way or another. Even Sylvie, a non-human character becomes his valued companion. When you have a show revolved just about him, it quickly loses its texture. To be fair in some ways, this anime did want us to believe in Arthur and follow his life journey. From being reincarnated as a kid and maturing into a teenager, this is the beginning after his end. But it feels lackluster, in the fact that he fundamentally remains the same character, unable to truly evolve. It sets the anime back, both storytelling wise and characterization. And because this is just 12 episodes long, we have to wait and see if and when his character will ever change. This show is already confirmed for season 2 in 2026 so until then, hang on to your pitchforks.