Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun

Usually I really don't like Shoujo anime since it either is boring or too focused on the male characters and a boring female lead but Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun is an exception to that. It definitely isn't your everday run of the mill shoujo anime.

Storyline-wise the anime tells us about a study-focused girl meeting with a kind-hearted yet violence prone guy and their everyday encounters with other characters that are also put in the spotlight. The story progression is slow but this is just the right pacing for the story. It sadly ends in a cliffhanger though.

Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun has clasiccal stunning shoujo backgrounds and ... characters. The artwork is unique and probably reminiscent to Bokura ga Ita. It is so colorful as expected for a shoujo anime. Its opening and ending themes animation is really catchy and colorful.

The Opening and Ending themes of the show is worth remembering and also could easily become a favourite to many anime fans. The Background music during conversations and events really suit the background and also elevates the mood.

Each of the Characters of the story are notable. Shizuku's personality matched with Haru's is quite funny. Natsume's typical popular cheerful girl and also Sasayan's friendly guy personality added to the mix. Even the other characters that are part of the story could become your favorite. Character development is well presented that it does force the audience to watch a series of flashbacks but provides the right amount for the viewers to enjoy.

Even if you're not a fan of shoujo anime, this anime is definitely worth the watch especially if you like romance/comedy/slice of life. It nice mix of romance and comedy which are realistic although some are over edge but the hell it ain't interesting if you don't add some wouldn't it. I give this anime a rating of 9 in the enjoyment department.

Overall, the anime is a good rom-com show and definitely deserves a lot of praise and a season 2.

My Little Monster is an amazing anime that started off with great potential, but finished with a very open and ambiguous conclusion.

What makes the show so effective is its realism. Each character has very distinct personalities. Shizuku is strong-willed, independent, and very blunt and cold at times. This clashes with Haru's eccentric, open, and clingy personality. The show gets its charm in the beginning, by showing two characters with clashing personalities learning and growing from one another. Shizuku teaches Haru how to control his emotions. She teaches him to smile, to stop picking fights (or at least try), and to restrain his constant need ... for her affection. In turn, Shizuku learns that there is enjoyment beyond studying. Haru's loyalty, lighthearted nature, and unconditional care for Shizuku opens her to feelings of affection.

At the beginning there are some truly wonderful moments: when Haru professes his love for Shizuku, when he kisses her by surprise, when Shizuku awakes on Haruku's lap and enjoys the moment instead of going to class, and when Shizuku professes her love for Haru again. These are incredibly moving moments, but the fire dies down as the two become lost in opposing expectations.

The later episodes are interesting and fun, but there is no real progression in story. This is an excellent representation of Haru and Shizuku's relationship, but can become dull for the viewer. The two are lost, as most young lovers are. Shizuku truly loves Haru, but expects a quiet laid-back relationship, but Haru's dependency issues make him clingy and obnoxious. Haru, also lost as to what it means to be in a relationship expects Shizuku to be more attentive and responsive to him, instead feeling ignored by Shizuku's studying.

The anime has excellent art, music, characters, and story. It is one of my favorite shows because of its realism, comedy, and heart-touching moments. However, by the end the audience feels unfulfilled, much like the characters. Shizuku summarizes their relationship by saying "Why? Why do we keep clashing? I'm guessing that we're out of sync somehow, but I don't know how to fix it. I don't know the right answer." Like her practice problems, she expects a simple answer, but is lost when she can't find one.

Overall, I would highly recommend this anime, although you may feel unfulfilled toward the end. I doubt there will be a second season because I believe the producers want to leave the future open for viewer interpretation. In the real world, the two would have good moments and bad. they would learn and grow through their relationship, but more than likely their differences will put a strain on their love and they'll drift apart. I was honestly hoping to see Haru profess his love for Oshima to make Shizuku upset, or to crush her academically to provoke her. This is how I think the characters would at in real life, especially over time. But by leaving the ending open and vague, viewers can interpret the characters and their motivations and growth for themselves, leaving the possibility for a happy ending for all.

This is a really sweet and yet down to earth romantic comedy.While in other anime the protagonists are actively seeking out love, be it in a subtle or extreme manner, the romance in Tonari comes naturally. Mizutani is an interesting lead due to her apathetic attitude towards most things, including romance (which may come off tsunderish to some, but I'd argue against that). She cares more about her academic life than her almost-boyfriend, but not to an exaggerated degree, making her refreshing in comparison to the typical horny teenager protagonist that only thinks about getting laid. As for the second half of the couple, there ... isn't much to say about him in comparison. Haru is a run-of-the-mill anime delinquent (that turns out to be the smartest student in school somehow), but he still remains fun to watch and his interactions with Mizutani are the highlight of the series, as you'd expect. All the side characters are very amusing to watch and provide a lot of the show's comedy which is genuinely funny and made me laugh out loud more times than I had anticipated from a RomCom.

A noteworthy aspect of the series that absolutely amazed me was the fact that I found myself rooting for the side characters in the multiple love triangles that appear throughout the series even though they directly obstruct the main couple. Take that as a testament to the character's likeability.

A point that could be viewed as a downside is the fact that the show stays lighthearted for all of its duration and never gets heavy with the drama like most romances. I personally think that made the anime better, but viewers expecting something more intense might get disappointed.

The anime is the standard 12 episode length so there isn't much reason not to watch it, even if the ending is inconclusive and begs for a second season that I would most certainly love to see. If you want a serious, drama-filled romance then look for something else, but otherwise Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun has my recommendation.

I would really recommend this anime, but if you want to see the story all the way through then read the manga. Personally I like the manga more, but this is a very funny and overall enjoyable anime. It's got a lot of romance if you someone who's into that.

The main girl (Shizuku Mizutani) can be very dislikeable at times, but the overall romance is some of the best I've seen in my opinion. I REALLY love Haru Yoshida, he has the best personality throughout the whole anime. He's a huge mystery and it makes you wanna know what happened in his past. He ... also acts so stupid, its funny.

I really enjoyed this anime, but I think they did kind of a bad job on the end, considering I read the manga and they chose to end the series like that.

I must admit this anime was a bit of disappointment for me.

They started out really well, with a good dose of humor and a little bit of seriousness. And while relationship development was somewhat back and forth, it was still interesting.

Up until they abruptly ended it. Without any premise or conclusion. Just, 'Oh, well, let's make this episode the last one, whatever'.

It was a nice idea. Not terribly original, but still good. The story line was a little wonky, with all the "I love you, wait no I don't", but I didn't really notice it until after. It was funny and sometimes beautifully ... romantic. Really ruined only by the ending that wasn't there. At last for me.

That is not to say I disregard all the rest. No matter the ending, the show was really enjoyable and brought a smile to my face all the time.

Maybe we will have the second season that will put everything into place.

Aaaahh the feels for this anime, I remember first starting it and was eh about it but once
I picked it up again I instantly fell in love with it.

I love the main character's personalities and the relationship every person has with another. Though it's a romance, it's not one of those romances where everyone is fighting with one another for this guy or this girl. Though, of course, there are characters that have feelings for others it's not like a whole dramatic scene that takes place.

The feels I have for Natsume and Misawa though <333 I ended up falling for a side character relationship ... rather than the main one itself xD

I really wish they would have made a second season though, I was really looking forward to one would happen after everything but sadly they left it at that :(

But I still enjoyed this anime and it was full of heart strings and cute moments :3

In Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun you can enjoy a good joke, a witticism, an unexpected twist or a good “snapper,” but it’s not all, you can even anticipate many dramatic twists and turns as the plot marches on!

It's not your typical high school romance like “lovely Complex” or “School rumble”, nor it is as deep as Clanned/Clanned after story. It’s an interesting love story of two unique people. Who came to know each other by fated “assignation”(teacher’s request to pass printouts).

What I like in these anime is that both lead figures have different personalities and don't play submissive roles while falling in love.
Female ... protagonist maintenance her strong attitude and is as dedicated in her studies as she was from beginning. While Male lead still continues to cause troubles and lucks any charming manners.

I don't want to tire people out by writing long review 1 episode is enough to determine if it's your material or not.

Great story somewhat realistic, great art and sound, spectacular characters and guarantee 100% enjoyment if you are keen on this genre. Overall it's an anime which makes you improve your mood and makes you laugh.

It isn’t very often I can watch a rom-com and genuinely believe the romance between the two main characters, then for the comedy to also not be on the ecchi side and still make me laugh. That’s a pretty good rom-com.

The Short Version:
(+)They get that kissing shit out in the first episode.
(+)The comedy is pretty alright.
(+)The main character actually thinks like a teenager. (You’ll get what I mean when you watch the show)
(-)Standard rom-com bullshit (Does she like me? Doesn’t he like me?)
(-)The soundtrack is very forgettable.

The Story (6/10): The story behind this show is an age-old classic. Girls like guy, guy likes ... girl, and then we have to sit and watch them run around in a circle for the entire runtime and maybe just MAYBE get to see them kiss in the last episode. Not this show however they get that kiss out-of-the-way in the first episode, but you still have to deal with the endless running around in circles. As annoying as that is this show somehow manages it, and the relentless back and forth isn’t as exhausting as something like Kimi no Todoke (BOOM!) and this is due to the story actually acting like it’s placed in a high school setting, example; A girl says, “I want to touch you.” What the first thing that runs through your brain, it’s that exactly thought that the protagonist thinks in the show and he shows it, so when the girl just puts her hand on his cheek he thinks, “Oh that’s what she meant.” See what I mean, the show acts like it’s actually real. Making the back and forth, as I’ve said a couple of times already, a lot more tolerable. In the latter half of the show however there’s an entire sequence of events involving the relationships of a few side character and I can’t help but feel like that’s only there to fill time. The ending, sucks. There’s no sort of romance conclusion with the two leads apart from, “Yeah we believe we love each other.” Yeah didn’t figure that out back at episode 7.

The Characters (7/10): The characters are pretty important considering the genre of the show and I can say that for all intents and purposes the characters fit their roles remarkably well, if differing only a bit from the standard clichés.

Haru Yoshida: Intimidating bastard when you look at him wrong and a bit of a bro-con (hehe).

Shizuku Mizutani: Egghead and bleeder of the nose.

There are about three or four other characters that are important to the show (But because MAL doesn’t list them as Main, I’m not going to talk about them individually) and they also serve their purpose well within the show. One thing I did like about Haru is that, while not immediately clear, is that the dude isn’t at all adjusted to school, and because of that you get some pretty good comedy moments, like when he brings a chicken to school by hiding it in his shirt. That’s about the level of the comedy, especially when Haru is invovled.

The Art & Sound (6/10) & (5/10): The art of the show is solid, exceptionally solid, for a three-year old show it could’ve been a lot worse. Apart from that there’s not a lot at all about the art to say, is good, that’s all I can really tell you.

The sound on the other hand is entirely forgettable I just finished the show not even an hour ago and I can’t remember shit is terms of sound, the characters VA are good I was convinced that these were in fact the character’s voices. Everything other part of the sound, excluding the OST, was alright.

What do you think of this show?

Better than average rom-com that’s for sure.

Would you recommend this show?

Yep. If you’re looking for a better than average rom-com sure.

Goodbye my brethren, see you in the next one.

Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun was unexpectedly good. I mean, I read the synopsis and thought it might be "OK" but it was actually very fun to watch. With only 13 episodes it's an easy watch, and it's filled with a lot of great little moments.

I'll start with the basic stuff. It had good artwork and animation. It had good music and sound. It had great characters, and an ok story... blah blah blah. It's not perfect, it's not horrible, it's average to great in most categories so it comes down to taste and preference. It's definitely not bad at all, and it has some intangible elements ... that make it very "likeable."

This is really a great character love story. Each of the cast has a slightly over exaggerated but common social disorder, and it's their grouping together that creates a really interesting and entertaining dynamic to watch. The focus isn't just the two main characters, they have a pretty interesting entourage as well. The general anime stereotypes are included, but they are not dominant factors in the delivery. There are plenty of refreshing moments and a few little surprises that make this anime series shine.

The thing I loved most about this series is that it was very relatable to my teen years. I connected with a couple of the characters, and there were others that reminded me of people I have known or at least had observed. They each were unique and they never really acted out of character. The level of irrational teen behavior was never over exaggerated. In fact, it was pretty accurately done. Teens struggling with how they feel and how they think they should feel is a major theme of this story. I have to say that element was really well done, and they definitely get kudos on that point.

The highlight of this series really is the main story (the only real story for that matter). The love story/relationship between Shizuku and Haru is comedic without being too slapstick, and it's so wonderfully dysfunctional that I couldn't help but enjoy every moment of it. They complimented each other in such an interesting way that I couldn't get enough. It's definitely one of my favorite love stories now that I've seen it. I am not normally big on romantic comedies, but this was a good one.

My only real complaint is the open ending. I normally don't mind open endings, but it felt like there was going to be more. I don't want to spoil anything, but the only indication it was the end was Shizuku's inner monologue during the final scene (oh and do watch the short clip after the credits of the last episode, it's not an ending either but it's a little funny). I guess this is yet another teaser anime series that introduces you to a manga series, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

This is a great series, and if you're not sure about it because it's a romantic comedy then you should still give it a shot. It's a good "comedy" and the romance is very light. In fact, it's more of a weird relationship story than a romantic comedy. Thumbs up!

A beautiful story about unpopular people, friendless people, lonely people, people who hate other people, people who can't get along with other people, and so on. And somehow they all happen to be good looking. Makes one wonder how are they not popular.

Anyway, as I said, the story with its light romance is so beautiful. Good comedy, great character stories, but pretty typical characters. Normal music and average animation.

Okay so these are not spoilers, remember. Basically the story's course is that the girl doesn't want to be attracted to Haru because it works like a distraction in her studies and she can't make her grades ... suffer more. What? I know. But she's not a complete bitch. You'll love her.

The romance takes a pretty realistic path. It seems that they're being unrealistically honest but the turns their relationship takes is very realistic. It's not based around a fairy tale setting or a romantic dream. It's much closer to real life where you're sure and unsure of things at the same time. Where you're in love but you're not displaying that. And everything isn't so smooth with all the fights and difference of opinions. It's a real and fun love story.

But after half a dozen episodes pass, you would sense they're overdoing things. Dude, that's enough time to reach a conclusion about whether it's a deal or not, especially when you got no other stuff or problem in the whole story. But it's overly stretched. At episode 8 sharp, I felt like "Why is he even trying? Just throw that bitch aside and get another girl."

I would say My Little Monster is an enjoyable anime you can pick up anytime, especially after you've braced some Clannad sort of stuff. It's got great comedy, a sweet romance, and beautiful characters.

I am not a fan of any romance series, however I happened to be stuck on a long train ride only having this anime. And I could not believe how much I enjoyed it without any particular reason. The leading characters are extremely annoying, yet for some reason you still root for them. Side characters were actually nice, even in the shade of the main ones. I was grinning like an idiot the whole time watching it. In general, it is a really cheerful no-brainer for a rainy afternoon

I really hope there is second season, since now the show ended without any comprehensive conclusion.

I like this anime. I do. It has a lot of elements that really work... and some that really don't. The main thing I love about this anime is the main character and his whole attitude. He is like a dog, lovable and loyal... until you piss him off, then it is all fangs. One of my favorite scenes is when a group of upperclassman kidnap the girl they see him hanging around with and take her to their classroom to "get back at him." They are nice enough to her and really don't want to cause her trouble. She asks if she can study ... and they say "sure." When the MC gets there and bursts in... all hell breaks lose. He goes crazy. The main girl tells tries to pull him away before the fighting and tells him its alright... but in a rage he actually hits her in the face by accident. Hard. It was both funny and gave great insight into the character and that his protectiveness was a double edged sword.

One of the main problems with this anime is the amount of wasted potential and the lack of depth. For example... the way the older brother acts is one built up and portrayed as a villain. It could EASILY have been a very interesting relationship and dynamic. Say... if his brother were the head of a gang and he made his little brother fight and do all kinds of terrible things to hurt people. It would add some context to why he is so adept at fighting and explain his bursts of unbridled rage. Then this girl comes along and changes him and the older brother doesn't like it so he has some of his goons kidnap her and the little brother has to save her while dealing with his past demons... instead what we get is a wishy washy love story with some really ridiculous turns. The amount of times they go back and forth with "loving each other" is dizzying. Just stick with it already!

Overall, great anime. Worth a watch! Virtus Signum gives this an 8/10.

A very charming anime.

After watching the first episode I could have sworn it was only ten minutes long. I was worried they had cut out parts of the episode in order to place it on the internet. But, no. They hadn't cut anything out. I felt like I was time traveling while watching these episode. It was so captivating and fast paced.

I loved the characters, and enjoyed every episode, although I thought the ending lacked a little. I hope they continue it with another season.

The story was entertaining and made me laugh out loud at parts. It's your ... typical romantic comedy.

Please note that this is my first time writing a review so there might be flaws in this report. Also, there might be some mild spoilers ahead.

An amazing buddy-themed anime which turns out to be a romantic relationship or should I say, a romantic comedy.


Welcome to this one-of-a-kind romantic comedy show called, "My Little Monster" or should you say "Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun" (となりの怪物くん).

This anime follows a highschool girl named Shizuku Mizutani (I'm using the Western style of mentioning names though) who turns out to be quite geeky and emotionless. She has been interested in studying when she was still a kid. The story ... goes when her adviser asks Shizuku to give some class printouts to Haru Yoshida, an eccentric young man who turns out to be some monster. While both of them have encountered, Haru declares that Shizuku and he are friends. This freaked Shizuku bit, so she carried on with her normal and peaceful school life. After she delivered her task, her adviser, once again, asks Shizuku to convince Haru to come to school as he will be expelled from the school premises. This causes Shizuku to have another encounter with Haru. Since they are "friends" after all, Haru agreed with Shizuku and this is where everything changes especially in Shizuku''s life. This is where their crazy, yet touching relationship happens. Tons of events happen in their relationship. New friends, new rivals, new circumstances and new cunnings start to clash. Now I'll start my review from here.

Story: 8
I liked how thrilling Shizuku and Haru's relationship is with all of the bumps in their way. The plot may be tiresome, but with all of these circumstances happening, you're gonna need a deep laugh. Shizuku and Haru have some disagreements, but despite of this, they've changed their hearts severely. Haru has been chasing his own tail, while Shizuku has been changing her tunes. To be honest, their confessions were not that serious as you think and they haven't accepted each other yet until now. I'm guessing that from the ending that I've watched, this anime is a cliffhanger. The ending is quite abstract as you see. It's still the same issue between Shizuku and Haru although a few things have changed and they were able to enjoy a wonderful experience with one another though this is short. Not really what I've expected. I just hope a second season would come up to clear all of these misunderstandings, but my report is really late and will there be one with this time gap? Who knows? Maybe there could be one, but in a new generation.

Art: 9
The art is really great. Considering how they creatively come up with the opening and ending animations, it's a cream of the crop. Character designs may look bland, but it's still lively for a romantic comedy like this. The CG effects are really simple and unnoticeable. Overall, the art catches someone's eyes with all of this peculiarity.

Sound: 8
The voice acting is great. Haruka Tomatsu really did a great job. She was able to create a perfect geeky and cunning voice for Shizuku. Asuna sounds totally different from Shizuku considering that they have the same voice actress, but I guess this is the secret for the voice actors/actresses. Tatsuhisa Suzuki did a great job with Haru, voicing him with all of his gentle and touching voice. It's not really how a monster sounds like, but I guess this is good enough. The opening theme song is okay. It's quite a good start for an intro. The ending song is also okay. I mean, the song is a Christmas-themed song and only a few episodes are set during Christmas/New Year. It didn't really match the whole romantic theme, but the song is still appealing.

Character: 7
As mentioned earlier, the issue is still there between Shizuku and Haru, but there has been a slight character improvement. Shizuku became more friendly and interactive with others and Haru became more mature though some flaws still remain like his jealous side. Natsume became mature as well, especially with advice, though a kiddie side of her remains. Sometimes, her minds fly. Sasayan-kun remains the same. Yamaken keeps his cool, though he still has feelings for Shizuku. Yamaken's friends are still outrageous as usual. Oshima hasn't changed though she opens up even more. The rest are a bit bland. No resolution has been made yet to their stories.

Enjoyment: 9
The story may be tiresome and unmoving for some with all of these goosebumps, but this is what makes the anime more thrilling and exciting to watch. The anime will always make you smile with all of the outgoings of these characters. Still, it's a cliffhanging anime, and there is no particular resolution to this.

Overall: 8
If you like romantic comedies, then step back and enjoy this show! The show will go all forth with all of the absurdity in this show. If you like a really touching and dramatic show, then this show is not your place. This show may be a bit cliché, but it'll turn out to be a wonderful experience for you! I have no particular description for this anime, but let's just say that this is a "peculiar" show with a tiny cute monster in it. ^^; じゃね！

Another good anime marred by a blunt ending – that is my final thought. For what it's worth, Tonari no Kaibustu-kun is a good shojo romance anime. I just feel they could have done so much more with it. At times it felt like they got stuck on 'unnecessary elements', causing a slow paced progression and ultimately unfulfilled ending. Nothing terrible happens, but rather you don't feel that the characters ever reach their expected destinations or got the promised resolution. I was content through the series, being curious how things would end with the various romantic interests; but alas, I feel cheated. I wanted ... more.

Regarding the main cast, the two protagonists are polar-opposites. Shizuku (female) is calm, introverted and somewhat cold, whilst the Haru (male) is energetic, violent and impulsive. At times Shizuku's incisiveness gets a bit frustrating, but ultimately it serves as contrast between her and Haru's different personalities. Thankfully Shizuku is not a tsundere; I doubt she's any of the familiar 'deres'. Her biggest antagonistic battle is not as much the love interest between her and Haru, but rather the emotional and intellectual battle in her thoughts. Haru's battle is that of patience and undying love for Shizuku's indecisiveness.

I would have given the show an 8, but the blunt ending ruined it for me. I should perhaps give it a 6, but I will judge the show on all its merits – both good and bad. Ultimately the last episode was a poor choice of script writing. The ending begs for a second series, yet none in sight. Apparently the mange is much more fulfilling. The anime ended while the manga was still being written, hence the poor ending. Reminds me of Ichigo 100% and Great Teacher Onizuka. In both cases the mange was superior because it ended properly. So read the mange after watching the anime.

"just because you've seen the end of the road that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the journey in getting there"

This quote simply means that this anime may have a sucky ending, but it has a variety of romance, comedy, drama, and cuteness that won't make you unpleasant. It may disappoint you in the end but it will still give you laughs, tears and smiles. The anime really depicts a very original japanese comedy. It is showered with the most craziest conclusions, honest opinions and emotional confessions about love; moreover, It has a cute title that is, My Little Monster.

I won't tell you guys about the ... plot because you guys are probably tired on the repeated explanation on how the story goes. Instead, I will explain the things that you will encounter while watching this series. The story is well, let's face it, it's cliche, redundant, and a lofty show of legendary heart-warming scenes that will keep your heart racing with marshmallow flowers and butterflies in the stomach, but, it really is fun to watch. The whole series really made me happy and it wasn't boring. There are weird things in this anime like for example, green jokes coming out of nowhere, distracting movements of the characters and finally their facial expressions in facing the same nonsense everyday. The plot has some unpredictable stuff on it so I don't think people will keep saying," Oh, they will get together so easily since this is a fast pace anime" but, NO. Just NO! There is a huge roller coaster and a wall before the two main characters get together. You will keep guessing and thinking on how things will go smoothly or how things will be a disaster in every episode of the show. Sometimes we can appreciate the weird things that are going on in this show and we can just say, "Oh what the hell! that is too darn funny!" And one more thing, this show is full of love triangles (take note love TRIANGLES) which means more unexpected characters will fall in love with each other. In short, it is a classic rom-com anime that will never get old.

The art of this anime is very modern. It's not something so old and cartoon-looking. It's more clean, neat and high definition (because obviously it was made last October 2012). Somehow, the drawings were inconsistent. The head sometimes gets deformed, the body is too big, the face sometimes is too small but, I don't want to stop watching this anime just because of the tiniest flaws. It's the story that really counts in every anime and that's what I really look forward to.

The opening and the ending was swell. It's not distracting or anything. It's not that half bad. The tune of the background music during each scene in the anime whether it is a dramatic scene, a happy and romantic scene, or a fight scene, it still sets the mood and it gives life to every scenario.

The characters were simply amazing. From the weirdest ones to the coolest ones, they all have an outstanding performance and personality that completes the whole story. Some appears to be just an extra character but the truth is, they have important roles in this anime.

I enjoyed the whole series and honestly the ending was a bit of a rip off. Some questions weren't answered and some things didn't get fixed. It was a great experience but I wished the ending was good and well planned. The sudden ending and the well developed beginning didn't really go well together. Everyone wants a good ending in every anime but maybe we can't really have it all in life.

All in all, it's a good anime but not the best one yet. It's a shoujo anime so I think only a few people will appreciate its beauty. It has low rating because it didn't have a great ending. a lot of animes are like this, it started off smoothly and interesting but in the end you're just looking into a very fancy teddy bear but as soon as you get it, it will turn into ashes. So far, I've been thinking too much.. Why does Japan have to do the same thing in every anime. Well, that's life. If you're asking about my recommendation about this anime, I myself, can't answer that question. I don't want you guys to experience an empty feeling again but I only watched this because I'm already okay with those kinds of animes. But if you would like to see an anime that will keep your heart racing and give you a fun roller coaster ride then, you might as well try Tonari no Kaibutsu kun

Many viewers, when first watching Tonari no Kaibutsu kun, believed that the show would turn to be a great success and enjoyment since the original manga for it was a success in the first place and receives much praise. However, as time passed and the first season (probably) ended, Tonari has left me feeling warm, but disappointed and unsatisfied.

Story: 5/10
One of the things that I enjoyed about this show was the pure innocence of it, how two misfits are slowly discovering the world of love. But I believe that it just stops right there. The whole series felt like one big filler, with some ... progress for five minutes every three episodes. Yes, you read that right. They definitely got the comedy part right, I laughed my ass off so many times ("Gorillas can communicate with their eyes!"). But the romance between the main two characters was just so confusing, being indecisive and having slow progress. Even during the final episode, which may I say was a total disappointment, the furthest the two progressed was Shizuku saying how she wishes to have full affection for Haru, one day. The anime did have bright points, though. It gave off themes such as the importance of relationships in ones life. Tonari did manage to make me feel warm inside as well, so I'll give them points on that.

Characters: 7/10
Natsume was easily my favorite character in this series. Her story may have been quite too much at times, but many people were able to relate to her story. Shizuku actually did some justice, she went from study bug to a study bug with feelings. Her indecisiveness irritated me a whole lot, though. Haru was absolutely adorable but he was rather confusing. His past with his brother was shoved in in order to explain his rash behavior. Needless to say though, he was an entertaining and unique character that's hard not to love. Yamaken brought excitement and a low-key love triangle between Haru and Shizuku, but it was obvious that he wouldn't have made too much of a difference. Still, seeing an elitist fall for a blatant study bug was rather adorable. Sasayan was a cutie, but really, what was the point of him? Have a crush on Natsume but then give up once he realizes she likes Mi-chan? I just wish he had more talk time because he did nothing much. These characters did bring liveliness and were relatable, so despite the wasted space some of them created, they were enjoyable.

Sound: 9/10
The music in Tonari was really pleasant, and did a pretty good job in bringing emotion in some of the more dramatic, emotional, and humorous parts. Nothing too applaud-able though. It's not like I'd go and illegally download any of their OST's. The voice actors did a TREMENDOUS job. I seriously am satisfied with how each character was portrayed by each of them. They brought emotion to the characters and made the show much more interesting that way.

Animation: 9/10
You definitely can't go wrong with the animation in this show. It was one of the reasons that I started watching it in the first place. The character's proportions are perfectly in tact, and their expressions were adorable and fun to watch. The scenery also was impressive at times and the whole thing was a treat to my eyes. Nothing too choppy or blurry, the character and setting design settled down the part of me that raged at the draggy plot.

Overall: 7/10
Tonari no Kaibutsu kun was a treat for the eyes and the ears, but the plot dragged on for the whole series and left many of the viewer's questions unanswered, including many of mines. Hopefully a second season will be made, one where Shizuku's and Haru's relationship will pick up, but hopefully not too quickly. I recommend this show to those who enjoy a good laugh and some tender feelings of romance now and then. Don't expect too much, though.

A romantic comedy with charming characters, but it can get too silly.

★★★☆

It’s a slice-of-life, romantic comedy. While it’s not that funny it has a few good jokes here and there. One or two per episode but it keeps a very lighthearted tone that you can’t help but smile.

The colorful, vibrant artwork adds to it. The characters are drawn in more realistic proportions giving the show a live action TV kind of feel. None of that bug-eyed, moe bullshit.

Now here’s the gimmick. Instead of boy meets girl, they deny each other’s love for 12 episodes and confess at the end, they outright tell each other their ... love on the first episode. This was refreshing and kept my interest.

B-But if they spill the beans already, what’s there to watch? The conflict comes from the main couple dealing with their new emotions. They’re both antisocial fucks. The main guy is childish, naive, and brutish. The girl is cold, distant, and just wants to study. They have really nice moments that make you root for them. There’s a lot of nostalgia which I really enjoyed.

However, it’s a manga adaptation so it ends abruptly so there’s no cohesive plot over the 13 episodes. There are a lot of subplots with minor characters that never get resolved. The show can get too silly sometimes to take seriously, and the main guy can get a little irritating because he’s so childish.

The alternate English title for Tonari no Kabiutsu-Kun is My Little Monster. I know what you're thinking; another Anime where the generic main character gets a magical pet of some description that causes all kinds of mayhem, right? Wrong. Tonari no Kabiutsu throws off the shackles that burden a large portion of the Anime industry these days, and makes a great attempt at originality.

The Rom/Com genre has become infested with moe or cookie-cutter character types. Try and find a Rom/Com these days that has no Tsundere, no shy fragile girl, no genius girl etc, or of course the Ryu male lead - or all ... of them for some spicy harem-goodness. While you scramble to prove me wrong, I'd like to point your attention back to the Anime in question.

My Little Monster is a story about a introverted girl that appears to only care about her studies - quite frankly, she is plain - and a boy that by all accounts is the complete opposite: a quick-tempered, outspoken and violent young man with no regard for his education. The best part about the pair is that, by all accounts, they appear to be... human (revolutionary stuff, right?). I won't be 'that guy' and spoil the plot in a review, but the characters in this Anime truly feel genuine. They have no idea how relationships work, they seem fascinated by each other but appear unable to articulate their fascination. Dare I say... they are average, confused youths, and by golly is it refreshing. It's like taking a shower under a pristine waterfall on a hot day, like taking a random nap in the afternoon, like taking a wizz in the morning... you get the point.

What more can I say? Thus far Tonari no Kabiutsu-Kun appears destined to leave a positive mark on Anime culture, here's hoping it helps to shift the industry out of its repetitious rutt it finds itself in. Watch it, follow it, enjoy it.

Animation: 9/10 - Highly polished, smooth visuals. Superb character emotion animation.
Sound: 7/10 - Sound for me is the complete package. Intro song got on my nerves, and some of the sound effects were unnecessary, so it brought down the score.
Story: 8/10 - Too hard to judge after 4 episodes, but refreshing and intriguing so far. Watch this space.

There were so many aspects of this show that I enjoyed, and some things I didn't. I didn't have high expectations of an anime that I knew nothing about going into it, and a cliche that had been used several times over and over. Before I knew it, I had finished this series in less than a day and wanted more!

Story 9/10

As I said before, this is a cliche used often, and I've seen it all before. But never like this. This anime put a twist on the average "girl-likes-boy-but-boy-doesn't-like-girl". In fact, this anime took all of that and reversed it completely! The abusive and ... emotionless one was the girl, and the semi-annoying, head-over-heels character was the boy. Now, I'm only pointing these details out because, of all the romance animes I've watched, the timid character who seemed to be in love was in fact, the girl. I love how they took the stereotype of the obsessive girl and abusive boy and totally turned it around.

Art 10/10

I loved everything about the art in this show. When I wasn't wishing I was Mizutani Shizuku because she's so darn cute, I was dreaming of the day when I found my Yoshida Haru.

Character 8/10

All of these characters had so much depth!! Including the chicken! They did such a good job at keeping Shizuku emoitionless, and at some times, really rude. But while keeping her a certain way, the watcher also found out the reasons as to WHY she became this way. I'm also really impressed at how the main girl character did NOT have huge tits and boys lining up to bang her. It's really difficult to find a good romance anime without the female protagonist having huge bazoongas, but this anime did those shows justice!

Overall 8/10

I really enjoyed this anime and I would probably watch it again. The only reason I would give it an 8/10 is because there were ONLY 13 EPISODES. I neeeed more!!