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Apr 22, 2021
TL;DR With Akasaka Aka's on-point dialogue and character dynamics/interactions as well as Yokoyari Mengo's (almost) consistently captivating art, Oshi no Ko delivers a visually and conceptually entertaining, promising narrative that touches upon the entertainment industry, especially that of Japan's, while still providing a great amount of comedic entertainment that hits so well.
While the shifts from the lighthearted, slice of life, romcom moments to the grander scheme of things (that is, delving deeper into scrutinizing the industry) and vice versa may be jarring to some, it allows for sufficient pacing that makes you enjoy both aspects of the manga—no less thanks to its colorful cast
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that gets fleshed out either way, with apt dialogue to boot. Overall, I highly look forward to how this manga will continue to deliver (or subvert) expectations as the plot continues on. It is *that* promising of a manga.
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Right from the get-go, the premise of Oshi no Ko manages to elicit a whirlwind of emotions, and understandably so when it is a mishmash of lighthearted and serious genres: (bits of) romance, comedy, slice of life (I think), drama, mystery.
Just as much as its comedic beats hit so well, the serious aspects of it—basically allegories to the facets and realities, both good and bad, of the entertainment industry—keep you intrigued and wanting for more. Oshi no Ko is a good, equal divide between slice of life and romantic comedy as well as the drama and mystery; it is both plot-driven just as much as it is character-driven.
After establishing quite a loaded introduction and much foreshadowing through initial flashforwards, the manga takes a turn to a wholesome lens into the personal life of Ai, an idol, as well as a serious lens into prevalent issues the entertainment industry faces, such as but not limited to stalkers and the toxicity and mob-mindset of social media. We see glimpses of the inner workings of the industry, such as the nepotistic nature of behind-the-scenes, give-and-take favors conducted by entertainment figures.
It becomes a story of grander scale as it further dabbles with scrutinizing the industry, alongside Aqua and Ruby who face and experience that industry with us readers for the first time. Entering the industry depicted in the manga comes with various realizations that can be aptly summarized as harsh, unforgiving, ever-changing, and interconnected. We see these manifest in certain characters who've long worn facades, and we also see these juxtaposed in starry-eyed, idealistic, honest characters.
The main characters enter the industry for vastly different reasons, and it's precisely that contrast, in its subsequent sub-plots, that drives both of their respective stories. And we, as the readers, are carefully immersed into this discovery/mystery alongside the twins.
Of course, as mentioned, the manga knows when to shift to its more chill, lighthearted aspects. Some may find fault in that, some don't; I'm personally the latter.
With that said, Oshi no Ko shines with its hilarious dialogue—no less thanks to the well-done transitions from one panel to another—and character dynamics, and it's nice how they don't take precedence nor a backseat to the overall plot. The manga is, again, equally plot-driven and character-driven, so such moments are also necessary in fleshing out the characters. Of course, the manga does this well.
The main characters have thus far been written to be quite endearing with their backstories, quirks, and interactions with others: both in their childhood and adolescence. Thanks to how well dialogue is written, their different personalities manage to mesh so well together that conversations flow quite naturally. If comedic in nature, dialogue knows how to have hilarity ensue. If a bit depressing in nature, monologue knows how to tug your heartstrings and make you empathize with their struggles.
Meanwhile, most supporting characters have also been handled well, as they are given ample time to develop a (usually intriguing) dynamic with the main characters, without sidelining them too much to the point of non-necessity.
Despite most of them being entertainment figures, they manage to seem so human and grounded in reality that you forget this is a manga that allegorizes the industry. While the realities of entertainment often seem dark (and the manga does not shy in showing that even in subtle dialogue), it still provides characters that represent some form of mild, youthful hope within the industry. (As for how realistic that is would be up to your discretion.)
As we find the characters entangle themselves further in the industry, we can only look forward to how the story will go in relation to its ongoing, overarching mystery and hope it remains coherent throughout. While I do find pacing to be just right, I also do criticize the unequal attention given to Ruby. She does get her moments, yes, but not to the same amount as Aqua or Kana.
Nevertheless, the ongoing romantic and current tensions are sufficient (or daresay addicting) hooks that give much hype and interest for you to be heavily invested in the story, and it's exactly why I can somewhat confidently give Oshi no Ko a 9/10, where as of April 22, we've only had 41 chapters and I’ve admittedly found myself laughing way too much for the most part of the manga.
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Personal context: I've always loved the concept of fictional idols, especially in a romance, after Kaminomi. I got into actual idols after getting into idol hell, that is, Love Live, so it was interesting to see a manga that actually tackles the industry here.
While my love for senpai x kouhai dynamics has recently been fulfilled, I have never managed to find a romance where a main character conclusively ends up with an idol.
Although Oshi no Ko is far from that sweet conclusion, the fact that it is centered on the idol industry and that there's some romantic tension here and there makes me hyped for what's to (hopefully) come.
Also, I'm really captivated by the art. I initially mistook it as the art style seen in Koi to Uso thanks to Kana reminding me of the latter's Misaki. Turned out to be Yokoyari Mengo instead, the author and illustrator of Kuzu no Honkai. Makes sense, and I feel ashamed I didn't guess correctly lol.
P.S.: The translators are amazing, and I appreciate their TL notes. Keep up the good work, guys!
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Mar 15, 2021
Personally, this is a romance manga you shouldn’t take that seriously. While I am saying this prematurely without the context of the light novel, this manga has so far used many saturated, overdone romantic comedy tropes that are juxtaposed with its almost too self-aware, kinda no-nonsense protagonist to the point of seemingly satirical, humorous jabs at other series, particularly those of the harem-romance genre. The weaving of the story so far with this usage of tropes in mind thus makes for a *very* hilarious ride, but only if you are patient with how exaggeratedly trope-y and ‘annoying’ the female characters are to begin with: (1)
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a huge, huge tease and (2) an extreme tsundere (without the physical violence).
If I were to describe this manga with one word, it would be “wack”, and I love it precisely because of the ridiculousness and hilarity (and the few cute bits of romance) that ensue from this wild cast. My enjoyment will partially influence my score this time as I give it a preliminary 7/10, and I genuinely look forward to seeing where the light novel (and this manga adaptation) go.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Mar 13, 2021
While I stay unsure on what to feel about the ethical implications of romance between two people who grew up thinking they were siblings, ignoring that makes the manga quite an enjoyable read.
At its core, it’s really just a simple, cute high school romance manga that provides sufficient (comedic) entertainment and cuteness for anyone into the romance genre. Beyond the romance, though, there’s the occasional wholesomeness from the twins’ friendships with others and the subtle mentions of careers and the future. The manga makes it a point to also show us glimpses of the relationship between their two friends, which is always a nice break
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from the main romance.
Plus, good god, that art is cute as heck. Definitely an easy recommendation for a chill manga to binge. (I do look forward to whether or not it’ll pick up a semi-serious plot with regard to careers and the future, though.)
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Mar 13, 2021
When you get down to it, its premise is technically and honestly kinda creepy and weird given the age gap of the two main characters in this romantic comedy. However, I unironically like it. The humor is pretty spot-on, especially when the romance is heavily one-sided (as of yet) and constant rejections are afloat. The manga makes use of the funny shenanigans you'd expect of the fictional romcom genre (or any anime/manga really), so no wonder hilarity ensues.
Even then, the manga is pretty cute and heartwarming in its own way, as the relationship dynamics of each character have so far been fairly pleasant to
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see. Like, their personalities may seem a bit one note, but it’s exactly the interactions that drive your enjoyment of the fairly simple, comedic story.
It does have its semi-serious moments that dabble with the implications of such an age gap in romance, though. No, it's not about the inherent creepiness of their relationship, but rather their obvious differences in life and romantic experiences—a sentiment understandably more held by the high schooler, Ichika. Other implications are fairly positive, however, and daresay sweet even (e.g. Ryou softening up).
So, having said all that, it's a nice, simple recommendation to anyone who is able to get past the red flags of an age gap in romance and not take this manga very seriously as you would any other romance manga.
Dialogue isn't anything special, but it's the character interactions that continually make me look forward to reading the manga. Definitely give it a read to get some laughs and maybe even some butterflies.
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Personal context: I became interested in the manga after watching the PV, I think. I'm quite sure my first thoughts were something along the lines of, "That's kinda creepy, bro, but I'm intrigued." I did forget about it after a while, though, until I came across it on MAL an hour or so ago and read the 5 most recent chapters. Speaking of which, how on earth have the other reviewers read chapters beyond 25?
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Mar 8, 2021
Don’t let that MAL synopsis fool you. At its core, Pseudo Harem is really just a simple, (deadly) cute everyday, romantic story between the senpai Eiji and the kouhai Rin.
Although my love for this manga initially and still stems from my preference for male senpai x female kouhai dynamics, Pseudo Harem does amazing in what it offers. You can’t expect much plot in this kind of manga, but you do get diabetes from the cuteness of the art and romantic chemistry present.
For that, it’s an easy 10/10, but obviously not for people who want more than mere fluff. It does what it wants and sets
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out to do, and that's enough for me.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Mar 8, 2021
TL;DR Despite some cringe-y moments, Bottom-tier Character Tomozaki is surprisingly a very endearing entry into the romcom genre. Its focus on the theme of "change" and "effort" makes the series and its characters shine so much, choosing to make the most out of its context without relying on much tropes in developing the characters or story. Its humor can sometimes be a hit-or-miss, though, and the seemingly conformist-ish approach of the story may not sit well with some people. Nevertheless, I find great potential in the series going forward.
Bottom-tier Character Tomozaki's setup of changing one's self might remind you of something like ReLIFE. However, the
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first few episodes were honestly kind of cringe-y to me, so much so they gave me a lot of secondhand embarrassment and whiplash. Although what made me stay is the cute girls (half-kidding), I like how it doesn't drag in its conformist-ish approach to have the main character, Tomozaki, become intent on changing; it goes straight to the point with clear goals, reasons, and situational setups.
And, though the lessons Tomozaki learns on socializing may already come off as natural or obvious to some of us, I think I can appreciate the depth and substance of the discussed details. The series really scrutinizes the going's of social cues and behavior, and it all manages to make sense even if some degree of cringe in its execution is an inevitable circumstance.
Characters are all very likeable too. Even if some may find them "normie", they fit the context of the series without being too trope-laden. In fact, speaking of tropes, I love how the main character isn't a complete copy-paste of other various unsociable shounen MCs. Tomozaki makes me cringe sometimes, but I love his initiative to be better and it's exactly his efforts that make him endearing (and that make me laugh).
Further, his personality, as shown in his monologue and dialogue, shows sincerity and meaningfulness, which translates well in his actions regardless of how poor or good the execution is. His actions never go over the top as per usual normal anime/manga/LN antics; I'd say they're pretty grounded in reality! Even then, he has his not-so-boring, defining personality traits, such as in his budding rivalry with his kinda-friend, kinda-mentor in Aoi.
For another example: my favorite character, Minami, was actually someone I did not like at all in concept: her background, design (I hate ponytails), and struggles didn't resonate with me upon initial reading in Wikipedia.
Her confidently popular but kinda struggling with insecurities inside schtick is not anything unique either because it's a concept already done, but what made me end up loving her would be dialogue and dynamics. Her conversations with others flesh her out as a friendly (albeit teasing), outgoing, and kinda clingy person just as much as she is perceptive and insightful about her place in the school's social hierarchy and overall standing or self-worth, giving her a lot of good depth while making her lovable and incredibly relatable all the same.
Despite the ability of the series' premise to be easily set up as a harem, it doesn't choose that direction. Instead, it presents several relationship dynamics, all with interesting chemistry—and they're realistic enough that it reminds me of even my own relationships in reality.
So, despite my love for the harem genre, I'm glad the series is just a nice, lighthearted entry to the romcom genre without being too overly complicated or dramatic. Even its simple theme revolving on "change" and "effort" is aptly put throughout the episodes.
Sure, maybe the premise isn't as deep as Oregairu (not that I'd know because I haven't watched S3) or as relatable and cunning as Hachiman, but hey, I'm loving the series for what it is.
I give it a 8/10 because of my intense personal enjoyment, though most of my gripes are mostly just personal: I dislike the cringe-y game references and sometimes weird delivery of humor. I don't usually factor in music since my ears don't really pick them up while watching, but I do feel like this department was pretty bland.
It's not particularly thought-provoking, and some many not even like the conformist-ish approach of the story. Even then, despite its restricted run of 12 episodes, Tomozaki has been shown to be more than just a mindless drone following the whims and ropes given to him by Aoi: his monologues (despite apparently lacking of the nuance seen in the light novel) and actions show he is still his own person with agency. It is exactly this that helps the story not become a stale series of lectures, but one driven by interesting, round characters and with actual, dynamic substance that leaves you wanting for more.
Regardless, I'd still say to give it a watch/read only if you're open to such simplicity (and open-minded enough to bear through some moments that would really give you secondhand embarrassment).
All in all, I would go so far as to say I see great potential for the series going forward, especially Tomozaki's never-ending potential as a character, be it in a second season or the actual light novels.
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Context: I'd written this review around the end of Episode 6 and the start of Episode 7. It was around that point that I saw the fruits of the premise and that I was feeling the same way as the protagonist; it's when I knew that I'm already legitimately liking it.
Although I am posting this as of March 8 (so 9 episodes thus far), I'm positive my feelings would not change.
(P.S.: I really mean it when I say I cringed. There was even a moment that made me go, "It's cringe, but it makes sense.")
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jan 1, 2021
TL;DR Vis-à-vis the likes of Among Us and Danganronpa, Talentless Nana shines in its active plot and main character as well as its surprisingly good, interesting worldbuilding. As a standalone anime, it’s likely it will hook anyone interested in the genre, though not particularly unique or groundbreaking and with some minor, illogical gaps in part of the characters. However, as an ongoing manga series, it also has yet more to prove for anyone to definitely say it’s coherently, consistently good. Despite that, I enjoyed it a whole lot. (P.S. Don’t read any wikia character pages, please.)
Talentless Nana is often likened to the games Among Us
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and Danganronpa, understandably so when its very premise is about killing others and not getting caught. Instead of the classic whodunnit, we have the reverse: we follow the one who did it in Talentless Nana through the lens and worldview of its protagonist, Nana Hiiragi.
I’d like to use this review to mostly contest that likening a bit and shed light on what makes Talentless Nana unique and separate despite its sometime predictability both in story and characters. (Disclaimer: It may seem like an unfair comparison, but I hope it would more or less serve as a different point of view on whether or not it’s a good show for you.)
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Premise
Talentless Nana primarily takes place within the island full of the Talented, who are isolated from the rest of the Talentless world in order to hone their respective powers and defeat the ‘Enemies of Humanity’. Unbeknownst to the other Talented, one of them is an imposter: a regular, Talentless person assigned to assassinate all of them. It is an active story.
Danganronpa, in all of its 3 main installments, is primarily about 15-16 high school students that are the cream of the crop in their respective talents (nothing supernatural though) who are forcefully, suddenly isolated from the outside world, and the only way to escape is to kill someone and not get caught. As any of the game’s protagonists, you won’t do the killing. It’s why Danganronpa is kind of a passive story: you have to wait for someone to be motivated to kill. It’s only then that the chapter truly begins with the classic whodunnit. It’s understandable why it’s passive given that, but it’s already one thing that sets it apart.
As for the other premise being the existence of talents, the non-shounen action reading/watching person in me is merely inclined to say it’s rather cohesively well done, though perhaps not as intricate as the likes of HxH or BNHA. Each talent and its accompanying weakness is interesting, especially in this setting. What advantage or handicap will the killer and the victim experience given such weaknesses?
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Worldbuilding
The synopsis of the show alone may feel weird, cheap, typical, I dunno. What sells it to me, though, is how it has little hints of the larger sociopolitical scheme present in its overall world that eventually open up further into the story—more so in the manga—and it’s exactly what interestingly sets it apart to Danganronpa especially. It’s the main driving force of the antagonists’ motivations; it creates tension between the Talented and Talentless, and it very well should since the existence of the Talented with their practically supernatural, world-breaking powers forever changed their society, how it works, and its people. It’s a concept not usually delved upon in other stories dealing with people with powers, and I daresay Talentless Nana is on the right step in tackling it.
Although the story is sometimes predictable and definitely not groundbreaking, it’s not in the same way as Danganronpa. In the latter, however (un)predictable each case becomes, you know for sure that the main character will survive and win against the big bad. It’s a game after all, so the point is to eventually win and not net a game over. You’ll only have to guess and hope who within the rest of the cast will also survive.
In Talentless Nana, however, there’s a certain degree of tension and hype that will leave you wanting to know more. In fact, it’s set up in a way that makes you want to be invested in Nana and her interactions with other characters, as well as in how smoothly her killings will go. Will she finally be caught? Will she f up somehow, or will someone f it up for her? Will something happen for her to arouse suspicion? Will something change from her original plan as she interacts with the others? What kind of twists or conflicts can I expect? The way it riles up interest is nothing unique, but hey, it works.
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Characters
I think anyone can admit Danganronpa’s characters are very stereotypical anime tropes. It’s nothing bad, and I love some of them for sure, but we can also admit that some of them are only ever fleshed out in the optional Free Time Events (read: social simulation aspects of the game).
However, Talentless Nana is lacking in that regard. It has a rather big cast, though it can only focus on its more prominent characters; it has no time to delve too much into the others. It’s kind of why the lack of acknowledgement that the other characters exist feels off—from their reactions to the story to their involvement with the rest of the class, some just suddenly appear and get introduced when deemed convenient by the plot. This is very apparent in the manga as well, so I’d say this is a rather fatal flaw that the story just conveniently brushes that off as something unimportant (e.g. “too engrossed and prideful about their talents to care”) but kinda actually is.
How about the prominent characters then? I’ll focus on three that I’m invested in.
Being our main point of view in the story, Nana is rather okay. You’ll be invested in her as she actively drives the story, but it takes time for you to truly sympathize with her. It’s only then that you feel more for her, that there’s more to it to her than just her cunningness and logic. You can bet that I’m personally interested in how she further grows in the manga.
Then we have Kyoya Onodera, who is essentially the detective, foil character to Nana that makes their relationship likened to Death Note’s L and Light (not that I remember that story anyway). His quirks humanize and make him interesting a lot beyond his role in the story, though unfortunately it feels like it’s either his characterization is already done or is still getting to whatever development level Nana has gotten. To be fair, it’s understandable since he’s not the main character, but it would personally be an interesting sight given his existence as a contrast to Nana.
Last that I’ll mention is Michiru Inukai. She’s a very sweet, innocent cinnamon roll you want to protect. You know and have seen her trope multiple times, yet there’s something about the way her character is constructed that makes her lovable. It’s nothing unique, really; it’s a simple characterization that so happens to gel well with the chaos present in the story, making you invested in her despite not having so much of a central role as the other two.
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Art/Music
I usually never delve upon this since I have no artistic senses, but I’d say Talentless Nana, both as an anime and manga, has pretty good, consistent art and music.
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Rating
Accounting for mere personal enjoyment, I’d give it a 9/10 for being able to hook me into its premise—like any good psychological thriller. However, for a more objective review, I’d give it a 7/10: some story gaps here and there, some illogical character reactions explained by convenient cop outs. As a standalone anime, I’d say it’s sufficiently enjoyable nonetheless, but the story has so much to go for that even the manga has yet to touch upon yet, so this rating may easily change as the years come by.
It’s an easy recommendation to anyone wanting some excitement brought by a psychological thriller involving killing, and the worldbuilding it has made regarding the Talented is just icing on the cake. However, I don’t think I can recommend it to people who want a consistently paced, deeper story; an intricate lore or conspiracy; and/or a more *collectively* intelligent cast that brings something to the table, as Talentless Nana has yet to wholly prove that.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Dec 14, 2020
TL;DR - Despite its long, deceptively ecchi title, supernatural elements, and presence of 6 main girls ("harem!?") in the story, Bunny Girl Senpai is at its very core a simple story of how high schoolers deal with societal, parental, and whatever pressures and status quos that distressingly permeate in their context that thus affect them in more ways than one.
You may think of the likes of TWGOK in the ‘guy helps many girls in a supernatural setting’ angle, but I’d like to think it’s also the simple, deadpan humor; lack of exaggerated scenarios (read: girl throws guy into the sky for accidentally groping her);
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and overall sweet storylines of how these girls bring themselves to overcome their problem or insecurities (with some push by the main character) that may make or break the anime.
When you read up the synopsis of Bunny Girl Senpai, you might just ask, “what.” Don’t let that deceive you, though. This anime is very simple: when someone experiences some emotional distress and instability, the rumored ‘Adolescence Syndrome’ occurs wherein abnormal things happen to the person that has it or to the environment in which the person is inhabiting. Thus, the main character named Sakuta Azusagawa finds himself helping girls who’ve contracted this syndrome by essentially figuring out what it is that’s causing the distress and doing what he can so these girls could get through their predicaments.
Is it a harem? Surprisingly, no, even though a few episodes are allotted for a certain girl. If you’ve watched/read TWGOK, they’re similar in the premise of a character arc per certain episodes (for the most part of TWGOK), but Bunny Girl Senpai has continuity: the girl characters don’t get discarded or aren’t forgotten, and they appear somehow and somewhere after their respective arcs. The outcomes don’t necessarily conclude to romance either.
Personally, I think the continuity is a plus. I like seeing the main character be friends (or be better friends) with the girls he’s helped, without them forgetting or being awkward for having caught feelings for the guy.
How about the characters themselves? They’re actually pretty great and well-designed. As far as I can tell, most don’t fall under overused character tropes. Their problems range from not wanting to disrupt the status quo (or as aptly used in the anime, ‘atmosphere’), insecurities, and whatnot. They may seem simple, sure, but I personally liked how each of them get dealt with and concluded given the supernatural aspects of the show.
How about humor and tone? Well, this may or may not be a dealbreaker for you. Bunny Girl Senpai is known for the humor being either deadpan with the sprinkle of not-really-serious lewdness or just plain old snark. The characters and their actions aren’t as ‘loud’ as like in shows with comedic elements, so you’d have to find entertainment in their choice of humor. But still, don’t go to Bunny Girl Senpai expecting to laugh.
Even then, each character has their own defining, unique traits that would make you love them for sure, and it is their interactions with Sakuta (clashes, retorts, and all) that make it fun to watch through.
Also, as far as I can remember anyway, the animation is good and fairly consistent, but not so much that you’d be able to avoid awkward CG background characters. Unfortunately, my ears aren’t trained enough to pick up on whether or not the music direction is any good.
But hey, the OP and ED are very great. “Kimi no Sei” by the peggies is absolutely catchy especially when listened to with the actual animation, and “Fukashigi no Karte” is quite soothing. I love how the latter changes per character arc, as it depicts the person(s) central to their arc. (Also, my favorite out of the bunch is Futaba’s.)
A main con I can think of, though, is its being an adaptation consisting of 13 episodes, which usually and inevitably have loose ends. The existence of and background behind the Adolescence Syndrome were never dealt with. Even if the sequel movie deals with it, I don’t personally find the end of the anime itself as satisfying as the entire rollercoaster-like ride the other episodes have given me.
Nevertheless, I can recommend Bunny Girl Senpai with a certain degree of confidence (a 7.5/10 if it were only possible) if you’re into girls (seriously speaking) being cute and dealing with realistic problems and if you don’t mind the humor and tone—most especially from Sakuta—being relatively simple, not-so-serious, and deadpan, albeit with the sprinkle of lewdness and/or snark.
Personal context:
I’d heard of the anime from a friend back in 2018, though the hype didn’t get me as much. Even watching YT compilation videos or the OP/ED songs didn’t entice me. I think I only got interested when I saw the anime on Netflix, so why not? Turned out for the best, and I ended up loving the OP/ED songs, too! Character designs are amazing as well, and seeing my favorite VAs (e.g. Nao Toyama, Yurika Kubo) in such an all-star cast makes me happy.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Aug 17, 2020
TL;DR Go for the waifus/husbandos, but be disappointed by the bare-bones comedy, forced and underdeveloped romance, as well as the simple plot and characters. But hey, it's a 5 for me because I enjoyed the VA cast, great character designs, characters fighting over Katarina, and sometimes heartwarming yet essentially still cheesy, simple backstories.
While it has barely started, I'd suggest the spin-off manga instead for its unpredictability, which the original lacks. (And despite my criticisms, you'll find me watching the 2nd season for sure. I'm as simple as I can get, what can I say?)
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Hamefura starts with an interesting premise in its setting being an otome
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game, but more so on the fact that the protagonist is set to be a villainess bound to either exile or death. Thus, what drives her actions is to prevent those "doom flags".
However, I should tell you now that the story could've ended by the 3rd episode. Katarina had literally managed to avoid the doom flags by that point simply by befriending the insecurity-ridden characters, so the episodes that come after are really just the romantic interests trying to get with the dumb and dense Katarina. Sure, you might be surprised by how the story turns out at the last few episodes, but it's as simple and predictable as it can get (worse, a deus ex machina occurs).
It's due to which that I find the spin-off manga much more interesting, as Katarina starts in 'hard mode', AKA at 15 years old and in the original setting of the otome game. The characters aren't head over heels for her, what happens next and how she deals with these events are unpredictable, and the doom flags are as such still looming. But anyway...
I don't watch much isekai to also know if this is commonplace and a boon or a bane, but the world lore and the concept of magic aren't as explored. I'd merely justify it with the original setting being that of an otome game, where the point is to get with one of the guys. (I also don't play otome games to know if the justification is okay.)
In any case, as many stories, Hamefura's redeeming but also make-or-break factor would be the other characters (AKA the romantic interests)—not just guys, but girls too! It shines with its very well-designed characters (*cough* Maria, Sophia, Nicol), though I can't say the same for the actual world and, well, the characters themselves.
I love harems, but god, the characters are as stereotypical and simple as possible, who surprise surprise are all in love with the immensely dense Katarina.
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You have a guy...
(1) whose only personality is that of a flirty fiance of Katarina (worst choice out of the bunch, btw);
(2) who became a siscon because Katarina made him feel welcome (not bad, but you're expected to have that and the fact that he's adopted as justification as to why he harbors romantic feelings);
(3) who stopped becoming competitive and insecure thanks to Katarina, though he becomes lowkey tsundere (surprisingly the best out of the bunch); and
(4) who's considered devilishly handsome, but he hardly ever talks. He somehow falls in love with Katarina solely because she doesn't treat his sister as a nuisance.
Then you have a girl...
(1) who was once shy and insecure that (obsessively) falls in love with Katarina solely because of a compliment;
(2) who falls in love with Katarina because they share the same passion for books and because Katarina didn't find her looks repulsive; and
(3) who (is best girl that) falls in love with Katarina because the latter saw her for more than her magic and didn't shun her; if anything, Katarina recognized and complimented her hard work.
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The romantic interests each have their quirks, though at the end of the day, their entire character solely revolves around Katarina 'saving' them and loving Katarina for that saving.
What about Katarina herself? Well, she absolutely loves sweets and is very dumb, dense, and inept in magic. But hey, she's supposed to be a simply lovable, genuine character, and it's her dumb actions that make her endearing to you and it's her interactions with the romantic interests (or the interactions of the romantic interests themselves) that make the anime funny. It's nice, if only it doesn't get kinda stale.
All in all, I'd go for Hamefura with low expectations and only if you want light entertainment and minimal romance. It's not much, but it's okay. As someone who loves harems, I certainly did enjoy the romantic interests 'fighting over' Katarina, if not just innocently admiring her, but it's really the only thing Hamefura has going for it.
---Personal context, feel free to ignore---
Became interested in watching because of the videos I saw in YouTube. I didn't expect there'd be female romantic interests as well, so uh yeah, that definitely piqued my interest.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Aug 16, 2020
TL;DR Despite its flaws that's pretty much expected from its harem category, it is surely a timeless gem in the harem-romance genre for its beautifully developed main characters thrust in a compelling take on a whimsical, exciting, kinda bold, and overall sweet high school romance, all the while in the scope of an unexpectedly overarching coming-of-age story. Still, the long, unpredictable, 'dramatic' journey that ultimately leads to that satisfying conclusion isn't for everyone, but I'd still say to give it a chance.
P.S.: Never EVER watch the anime.
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Ichigo 100% starts off from Junpei's chance encounter with a girl wearing strawberry panties. This strong attraction of his—both
...
weird and may or may not be expected from a boy in adolescence—led him to confess to his popular classmate Nishino, thinking she was that girl. However, it turned out to be Aya, the other girl he recently met and admired for her gift in writing, leading to a seemingly artificial plot driven by Junpei's overthinking, indecisiveness, and wavering feelings for each girl.
From that alone, you find a weird premise that's not helped by its awkward start and its beginning of a series of frequent pandering to the male audience (i.e. fanservice and outright ridiculousness).
Even then, besides the mostly captivating art, these are outweighed by the development the main characters undergo. During their 3rd year of middle school, they start off as vague—frequently fumbling and lacking emotional depth—in their relationships and generally immature. However, they are able to grow past that to be more empathic, levelheaded, decisive, and fulfilled throughout and beyond their 3 years of high school. This is made possible by the delicate effort put into individual characterization, especially in relation with their formed friendships as well as their underlying pursuits for their dreams, aspirations, and passions.
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Junpei is like a lot of harem protagonists: simple, dense (though not *as* dense), unpopular, and stupid, though with a dream of becoming a future film director. When the time counts, he puts in effort and steels himself with bravery and perseverance for the people he cares about. More importantly, though, he is often found lost in thought about a certain girl's feelings, his actions (or lack thereof), and so on.
But it is precisely in his simple mind that we are able to see Junpei at his utmost, heartfelt honesty (and sometime idiocy). We can see him deeply acknowledge and dwell upon his shortcomings, seeking to find ways to make things right and not let things end the way they are. We can see him be selfless to a fault, earnestly praying for someone's happiness and ensuring he's there to support them. Heck, it's almost endearing to see his thoughts and actions be reflective of a hopeless romantic (e.g. "I still want to be with her-"), but also of a guy who's willing to understand and be more considerate of others' feelings, as well as to become better than the idiot that he was yesterday (even if sometimes a tad too late).
Despite his harem MC-like traits, he shines with the genuineness of his words, thoughts, and actions as well as his eventual maturity—a trait I feel is so deeply lacking in many other harem protagonists.
Besides Junpei, the mangaka also did a splendid job capturing why each girl is endearing and charming in their own way, as their interactions with him spark unique, interesting conversations and outcomes that make it seem like they're all kind of a good fit for him. Either way, the emotional connections they form and strengthen provide a heartwarming (and sometimes outright captivating) experience.
More importantly, of course, is how the girls likewise go through a journey where they find and work resolutely towards a dream to call their own: one not hinged on or set back by a clutch on someone else, but one truly independent of the whims and desires of others. In firm pursuit of that dream, the characters had to change, and change they did: apart and together. Above all else, I will always love how much agency the characters seemed to have; these people were more than just romantic interests waiting for the protagonist to love them.
I can't say the same for the other supporting characters, however. Some of them were essentially forgotten by the end of the story, and I heavily dislike the late introduction of another romantic interest for Junpei, who only actually served as fanservice due to her perverted thoughts and as a plot device for certain characters to be more assertive of their feelings.
Although I'd like to say that the manga would've been better off with just a love triangle, I find the other girls (sans the one I mentioned above) quite important to the development of Junpei, and I think the interesting interactions they kicked off cannot be undermined. Still, I stand firm that the manga would've benefited if it did away from the ecchi.
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Overall, Ichigo 100% was an enjoyable ride as I saw the characters mature despite the bumps in the road. In spite of Junpei's idiocies, his monologues, dialogues, and subsequent actions deeply flesh him out as more than just an indecisive, perverted guy, and I'd go so far as to say he is one of the most fleshed out harem protagonists out there.
While far from perfect, I daresay Ichigo 100% is one of the best harem manga to ever exist. It continues to withstand the test of time with its classic but compelling, immersive harem-romance storyline spanning the momentous, tumultuous periods of the characters' lives, tackling a whimsical, exciting, kinda bold, and overall sweet high school romance that's only offset by the generally disliked drama (read: misunderstandings) that ensued throughout the story.
Nevertheless, once you finish the manga and look back on previous chapters of what they've been through, you'll just know Junpei made the right choice of girl and that they'll work it out precisely because of their growth (apart and together) as well as their strong, mutual love that stood against, well, everything. More importantly, though, the ending is incredibly deserved and emotionally powerful thanks to the wild journey that molded and led the characters—especially Junpei—to where we see them in the final chapter. The narrative Ichigo 100% told managed to come full circle, providing a deeply satisfying story no other harem-romance manga has ever done (for me).
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Personal context:
I REALLY enjoyed Ichigo 100% despite knowing of the end girl way before, so much so that I stayed up until 5AM to finish reading the manga in its entirety. Can't say the same for the anime, though, which I watched months before reading the manga--it does so much disservice. Like, there were dramatic, emotional scenes in the manga that never got translated well in the anime due to its even more overbearing fanservice.
In all honesty, I'd give Ichigo 100% an 8/10, but I ended up giving a generous 9 to uplift its relatively low rating. Needs more spotlight! Also, eh, (my) review scores are bound to be arbitrary anyway.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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