Reviews

Apr 2, 2009
Mixed Feelings
What's the most generic romantic comedy you can think of? Not a harem situation, just a love triangle. Is it set in a high school for magic-users/monster-trainers/psychics? Presto: Mamoru-kun.

It's not that this show is egregiously bad - the OP is a little annoying and the art and animation is rather lame for a show that aired in 2006, but you can skip the opening and comedies don't need stunning visuals to be funny - it's that there's nothing compelling to draw in the viewers.

The story here is pretty basic: Mamoru, the shouta-looking untalented hero joins a prestigious school to become stronger, and immediately falls in love with the notorious, hot-tempered, and powerful Ayako. The problem with this is that Ayako falls equally as hard in love with Mamoru, so any attempted romantic drama falls short of being convincing. People familiar with romances will notice scenarios like: "Ayako/Mamoru is avoiding me, does she/he not like me anymore?" No, they were just busy making you a present.

Being set in a school based around super powers, there are also a number of villains that appear who are made out to be menacing, but once they appear, they do little aside from trying to break up the main couple. By the time everything is over, everyone is friends, because friendship/love is the greatest power in the world.

Perhaps the best thing that could be said about the show is that several of the minor characters absolutely shine in the comedy department. The antics of the student council president, Maya, who also has feelings for Ayako, and his younger sister, Shione, with her ridiculous hair, in their attempts to tease/cheer up Ayako are delightful. The large, muscular dude who is constantly spouting Engrish is a hoot as well. Ayako's romantic rival, the short, flat-chested Emelenzia, is hilarious in her repeated failed attempts at seducing Mamoru. But all of this just reflects back on how weak the leading pair are: while Ayako avoids the tsundere stereotype by being constantly lovey-dovey towards Mamoru while thrashing anyone else who irritates her, the report between the two lacks the tenderness that makes established couples like Keiichi and Belldandy or Aoi and Kaoru enjoyable to watch.

Because the superiority of the supporting cast and the mediocrity of the primary couple, the best episodes are the light-hearted ones, like when Shione suddenly shows up with her hair hanging straight, the Valentines episode when everyone (muscular Engrish-speaker include) make chocolates for Mamoru, or an explosive - literally - mission to peep on the girls in a hot spring. The serious episodes lack a sense of danger or an original twist to make them interesting.

The art is utterly forgettable, except for a fireworks display in one of the episodes that makes one think that the person in charge of animating it was an amateur who had just discovered 3D CG effects. Sound was likewise passable but left little lasting impression.

All in all, this show has it's moments, but there are much better ways to spend your time.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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