Ore Monogatari!!

Alot of people seem to bash this series for a number of invalid reasons, mainly because they expect things that the show never promised to provide. In order to cookie cut it for the people that don't have the brain capacity to read the genres of the series i will now list them personally for you:

When you watch this series you can expect:

THIS:
1. Romance
2. Comedy
3. Shoujo.... yep oh wait? girls? das right people, this series demographics are not aimed to make your wittle willy hard.

NOT THIS:
... 1. Drama
2. Boobs
3. Action of ANY kind.
4. Fantasy of ANY kind.
5. Slice of Life (yep its not a slice of life and is therefore not bound by any of that genres characteristics)
6. School (same as slive of life)
7. Practically anything that isen't Comedic or Romantic.

Now that is a very broad spectrum, but how can any sane individual criticise ANYTHING for something they we're NOT promised? I mean, yep i would be kinda pissed if wateched the new Star Wars movie and it didn't contain dope ass lightsaber fights, but i would'nt criticize it for not including a romance or gollum from LOTR (hint: because that was never promised to begin with).

So, all this aside... it's pretty good, made me feel good and made me laugh.

It can be lacking in plot and at times is a little slow, but i'm a dude so what do i know, there could be a ton of "hints" in there that i didn't catch... like i never do with the ladies but whatevs.

I give it a 9, because it was great, although still far from a masterpiece.

Ore Monogatari!!, also known as My Love Story, is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a story about love between two main characters – Takeo and Yamato. And at first glance, they look like a mismatch. It doesn’t take a genius to realize as the two looks nothing alike. Takeo looks like a professional sumo wrestler standing nearly 7 feet tall while Yamato has the appearance of a frail schoolgirl. However, the story is more than just about appearances. Because in this love story, destiny connects them in ways that really gives the word ‘love’ its important meaning.

Written and crafted by Kazune Kawahara, the series ... is what I consider a classic for the rom-com genre. An interesting catch though is that there isn’t a love triangle between two main guys fighting for a girl. In fact, we have Sunakawa Makoto, a very popular guy who seems to attract almost any girl. The catch is that he is more like the antithesis of a playboy. He doesn’t have any interest in getting a girlfriend but actually devotes his time to help his friend Takeo experience love. Get the general picture? It sets up the primary story that connects Takeo with other characters instead of a drama clingy series. And throughout the way, he becomes part of a love story that changes his life forever.

The first few episodes easily establishes a lot of facts about the main characters. Takeo has the outer appearance of someone that would make almost any girl frighten in fear. However, he is a guy with a heart of gold. His action speaks louder than words as he is dedicated to help others; friends, family, or even strangers. Then, there’s Yamato, a sweet innocent girl who falls for Takeo at first sight after he saves her on the train from an apparent pervert. The series approaches this concept with careful planning as the first episodes builds on the chemistry between the two. Makoto supports them from behind the lines while offering helpful advice. What I find interesting about the initial setup is how Takeo will learn about love. Clearly, he lacks experience when it comes to relationships. These include going on dates, setting up the right moments, or initiating a first kiss. His outer appearance also doesn’t help the fact that he is often misjudged. Yet, the show does a very clever job with fleshing out the characters. Through flashbacks and characterization, we see how Takeo’s personality really is like when he was little. The show also can be persuasive when it comes to letting the audience know why others changes their view on Takeo as the story progresses. A crystal clear way of presenting the story is something that isn’t done so easily with directing but for Ore Monogatari, it knows its ways.

As relationship dynamics is a primary focus in the show, it’s also risky when the story already sets up the main characters as the couple. No, forget set up. How about just bringing them together in union? While the pacing seems a bit abrupt at first, I can honestly say that the show does an appealing job to show their progress as a couple. This is because other characters are introduced to bring out the best of them together. For instance, there’s Ai, Makoto older sister. While she may seem like a love rival at first, the show quickly makes it clear that the only eyes Takeo has for is Yamato. It shows that he is loyal with his commitments and often tries to prove himself as a worthy boyfriend. Many times throughout the show, Takeo appeals to others (including Ai) for advice. These include reading girls magazines, learning to cook, and even trying to very comically to practice kissing with a friend. We also get a good idea that Takeo wants to be with Yamato both physically and emotionally. As he lacks experience in love, the show inspires ways for Takeo to become better person. This is connected by the relationship Takeo shares with Yamato, Makoto, Ai, and more characters later on.

As sweet as the show can be, one might question about the pacing of the series. How does Ore Monogatari formulate into a 2 cour series about a couple that becomes official at so early in the stage? I had some doubts at first about this and it can be understandable if some people feels that the show can be repetitive. Almost every episode feels similar as it focuses on Takeo and Yamato. Hardly any other character becomes the main focus although they do have some roles, whether major or minor. It can also be frustrating sometimes to see how dense Takeo is when taking the initiative that involves what couples should be doing (ex. Holding hands, kissing, etc). In essence, a show like this often puts the couple ahead of others but it isn’t entirely shy to give some supporting characters their own spotlights. Characters such as Saijou and Nanako gets their own exclusive episode while Ai also her spotlight moments with Takeo. In essence, it’ll take patience to watch the show. Luckily, there’s comedy that factors into entertainment. Rather than relying on dirty fan service or shock value, the show has a charming presence of delivering humor. The main part of it comes from the couple of Takeo and Yamato as they show human expressions that you would typically see in any rom-com. Then, there’s also Takeo as he accomplishes nearly inhuman feats because of his impressive physique. Similarly, Makoto and Takeo’s relationship can also get quite comedic because of the latter’s occasional lack in common sense. If you want comedy, then there’s a performance that will get you smiling.

Madhouse adapts the manga with its production and to be quite honest, it’s gorgeous. The color palette like background and character designs illustrates the classic feel of what a rom-com shoujo should be. Character designer Hamada Kunihiko (Nana, Chihayafuru) puts emphasis on the characters’ youthful looks to give them their appeal. Of course, Takeo stands out as the most prominent figure in the show. He is designed to look like a professional sumo wrestler who stands out taller and more ripped than anyone in the show. Yamato has the innocent look of a flower while the Sunakawa siblings are designed to look like beauties. It creates a surge of diversity with the main cast that people can feel attached to. And speaking of diversity, the show also ventures to other settings besides school such as the outdoor woods and beach. Lastly, the show’s fan service isn’t relied on showing skin despite having the classic beach episode. Instead, it further progresses the relationship between Takeo and Yamato. From a humorous perspective, the character reactions is what really brings out the entertainment values that fans may crave for.

Soundtrack is fairly decorative although not outstanding. The OST and OP theme songs are neat for their ability to portray the style of the show. But what may stands out more is the character voice mannerisms. Takeo’s voice sounds like he is a lot older than he appears to be while Yamato is the opposite. She has a soft voice that really shows her innocence. The Sunakawa siblings both have a more mature voice in particular Ai as she is portrayed as the older sister type. So what does this mean? It basically shows that the characters are realistic to their appearance and roles.
No, I wouldn’t say Ore Monogatari is a show that will be bucketing tears. There’s no tragic moments that makes the audience feel like there’s a need to cry. Instead, we get a classic shoujo rom-com with affectionate character relationships. Even the love triangles that occasionally appears in the show doesn’t go into a direction that gets distracting. And while the pacing will feel a bit repetitive, it’s also important to realize the objective of Ore Monogatari!!: to tell a love story with charm, elegance, realism, and developing youth. And that is a certain kind of beautiful.

It's very easy for me to be swept away by certain animes/tv shows/ books, but watching this one took me to an entire new level. I can honestly say it was/is my favourite anime.

I love every single one of Takeo's expressions, the way he's pretty dense as well. I love how he genuinely values the people he is surrounded by and only wants the best for each of them. Suna's laugh makes me smile and watching him reminisce and see how much he values his friendship with Takeo is so heart warming. I adore Yamato and how much she adores Takeo. Watching her initially overcome ... little things like asking him out and holding his hand and kissing him is so cute to watch.

Okay, now that I've seen all the episodes, I can finally write a review about this extremely lovable anime, even though I've never written a review before. I am absolutely smitten with this anime.

Let me elaborate.

WARNING: THIS REVIEW MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS SO PLEASE DON'T READ IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED THE ENTIRE THING.

This anime tells a love story, obviously, as the title says. Our main character is Gouda Takeo, a 2-meter tall, muscular, even a bit scary-looking high school freshman who doesn't look his age by any means. Despite his scary appearance, he's good-hearted, energetic, always willing to help out anyone in need, which earns ... respect from his classmates and also other girls (which he is painfully unaware of). Then there's his love interest, a teeny-tiny petite shy girl named Yamato Rinko, who is really into baking cookies, helping out others in need, basically, she's just as pure-hearted as Takeo. Their love story begins when Takeo saves Yamato from a groper while on the same train. The two fall in love on first sight, although Takeo has a hard time believing she really does like him, due to his unusual appearance and girls' tendencies to dislike guys like him. Which is, frankly, so damn adorable. Takeo is not your usual anime dude. Even though he posesses superhuman strength and is adored by absolutely everyone who gets to know him, he is super modest and a little bit insecure. He also respects Yamato a great deal, going so far as having trouble calling her by her first name, being super nervous about holding her hand, promising not to even lay a finger on her until she wants him to. She, on the other hand, is embarassed by having occasional dirty thoughts about him, gets super excited about holding his hand, is amazed by his strength, always cheers for him, and so on. The contrast between the two (she's super-tiny and delicate while he's an awkward giant) is SO. DAMN. ADORABLE. Their relationship is SO. DAMN. ADORABLE. The story is SO. DAMN. ADORABLE. even though it revolves mostly around their lovey-dovey encounters ('Takeo-kun, I love you so much!', 'Aaaah, Yamato, I love you too!' and so on and so forth). It's SO FREAKING ADORABLE that I don't even give a damn about the story not being as developed as you'd expect it to be (hence why I gave it a 9 instead of a 10).
Though I must say, I really applaud the development in the latest episodes, and the small hardship the two faced (not gonna spoil it. But it's a happy ending, of course.)

STORY: 9/10

Maybe the reason why I liked this anime so freaking much is because I'm in a relationship with a guy similar to Takeo... and we're kinda like Takeo and Yamato... so it hits too hard home. Oh well. :D

ART: 10/10
The art is really crisp, the colors are nice, the backgrounds are nice, basically there's nothing to dislike. The whole thing is very fresh-looking.

SOUND: 10/10
The soundtrack isn't as offputting as you'd expect your typical shojo anime soundtrack to be. The opening song was actually really nice, I'd sit through the opening humming along to it, which is what I never ever do (when I watch anime I usually skip openings, except if I really like the song). Whoever sings the opening and ending songs did a great job, their voice is really gentle and nice, and not making me want to stab my eardrums with a fork until they bleed. Background music during the episodes is also enjoyable, there's not a single thing to complain about.

CHARACTERS: 6
While I absolutely adore Takeo and Yamato, I found myself wanting to punch the writers in the face for not showing basically any background story relating to Takeo's best friend, Sunakawa-kun. Sunakawa-kun is your typical bishounen on the outside, extremely gorgeous, but very quiet and mysterious on the inside. But we don't find out anything about why is he like that. We don't know why doesn't he pursue girls (other than disliking them for talking shit about Takeo behind his back) and why is he always so distant. He has no other significance in the anime other than being around Takeo, helping out Takeo 'n shit... everything is always revolving around Takeo. I was hoping Sunakawa-kun would find a girlfriend by the end of the series, but I ended up being disappointed. The girl who showed up as a potential love interest for him ended up being turned down for no apparent reason even though she might be a good match for him. AND WE DIDN'T EVEN GET ANY DEEPER EXPLANATION AS TO WHY WOULD HE REJECT HER, WHY IS HE ALWAYS LIKE THAT. I was so, so, so disappointed. Also, Sunakawa-kun's sister... and the guy who's interested in her (Oda-kun)... very little to no development at all. The plot revolves way too much around Takeo for my liking and doesn't give space to other characters and their development. Which made me really sad and disappointed.

ENJOYMENT/OVERALL: 10/10
Even despite the aforementioned flaws in character development, I really enjoyed this anime, as I've stated before. It's not your typical shojo anime, it's crisp, enjoyable, and it's definitely worth a shot if you want to watch something light and cheerful without any deeper story to it. For all of you out there who like adorable love stories but with a slightly different charm to it, without a lot of shojo cliches, you could really enjoy this anime. I absolutely recommend it. ^^

Hope this review was helpful enough. Cheers!

The most important aspect of romance anime is usually its characters. If there is a solid cast, the viewer is automatically satisfied even if the story is not the most outstanding. The same principle applies for Ore Monogatari.

Aired in Spring 2015 and animated by Studio Madhouse, this two-cours anime follows Gouda Takeo, an unpopular male who does not manage to find a girlfriend even though he has longed for one since he had been in kindergarten. The reasons for this are, on the one hand, his unusual appearance and, on the other hand, his awkward behaviour. People who are not acquainted with Takeo think he ... is scary due to his height and his loud nature. However, most of his classmates are his friends – in fact, one could even say they admire him – which clearly shows that Takeo is not your typical unpopular protagonist. He is a good person who would do anything to help other people even though he has to surmount dangerous situations he probably would not survive without his apparent super-human strength. Due to this and several other factors, Takeo is one of the most loveable characters of present-day anime.

The female lead of the series, Yamato Rinko, frequently has to explain to her friends why she likes Takeo. At the beginning of the anime, said friends do not comprehend her behaviour but as it continues, they, too, begin to understand that Takeo not only is not scary at all but also would do anything for Yamato to be happy. Unfortunately, the female protagonist's character is not the most compelling. The viewer is presented with the fact that she likes baking but other than that she possesses only few distinguishable character traits. She has a charming personality and is the cause of some interesting character development concerning Takeo but regrettably lacks in depth. There are a lot of supporting characters who have both a more interesting background story and greater character development than her. While this might show another positive side of the anime – namely, its great supporting cast – it also demonstrates how Yamato's character pales in comparison.

Another important character is Takeo's best friend, Sunakawa Makoto. Suna is the complete opposite of Takeo: He is charming, good-looking and popular. However, similar to Takeo, he also has never had a girlfriend even though his reasons are different in that he is the person who does not want a relationship. Suna mostly acts as the person who helps Takeo in several situations that he does not understand. Moreover, he might be the main reason why the protagonists' relationship is as strong as it is. However, this does not mean that Suna is a simple plot device without a personality on his own. In fact, he is incredibly amusing since he also is socially awkward in some situations – but differently from Takeo – and is the anime's second-most interesting character.

As mentioned above, the anime's supporting characters are great. Not only do they trigger interesting development for Takeo but each of them has a unique backstory and believable growth. There might be some characters you do not find very likeable but, in the end, you will have to admit that all of them serve a purpose and fit into the anime incredibly well.

The anime's plot mostly focuses on Takeo's and Yamato's relationship in different environments. You can see them interact with one another in the park, at the restaurant, or in an amusement park. Moreover, you are presented with some hardships they have to face that seem to threaten their relationship. The outcome is completely predictable and while there is a lack of drama, you have to understand that Ore Monogatari does not need it. At its core, this anime is about the light-hearted relationship between its two main characters and any unnecessary drama would only hurt it. However, if it were not for the solid cast, this would not be the case. An episodic anime whose story seems to be repetitive such as this one is only able to function if its characters make every episode a unique experience. That being said, there are some moments which seem to exist in order to spice up the anime's story but they are not too bothering and may even prevent the anime from becoming boring.

The art style is really simple and not especially detailed. However, in the case of Ore Monogatari, this is not a bad thing. On the contrary, the simplicity underlines the anime's light-heartedness and consequently improves its atmosphere. Additionally, more exciting scenes are much more detailed, which increases those scenes' credibility.

The background music is not necessarily memorable but simply adds to the anime's atmosphere, which is perfectly fine. The opening theme, on the other hand, is incredibly catchy and sets the proper mood at the beginning of each episode. The ending theme, while being a nice song on its own, unfortunately does not fit the anime due to its melancholic tone.

Ore Monogatari is not a comedy anime. It does have some funny moments but its quality is not based on those. Instead, the comedy adds to the cast's likeability rather than being one of the anime's strong aspects on its own. Moreover, if you are looking for an anime with a compelling story and a lot of plot twists, this one is probably not to your liking. However, if you wanted me to recommend an anime without unnecessary melodrama but with heart-warming moments, a great atmosphere and light-hearted interactions, my first advice would be Ore Monogatari.

I haven't even finished this anime, but I wanted to write a review..that's how good it is.

It's definitely Shoujo. It's 24 episodes of cute and adorable. The story had me crying happy tears for these two almost the whole time. I don't think I've cried this much over cuteness overload since Clannad. (Happy tears, not sad. Just noting that.)

The art may not be some people's cup of tea. But, I think it suited the story. The backgrounds are very pretty. The effects were adorable and sparkly. The opening theme and music were totally perfect. I actually found myself watching the opening at times cause ... of how cute it was with the song..but, maybe that's just me!

The main characters are totally clueless, but it suites them to boot. The story of how they met was a nice heart warming introduction. The characters play well with each other. The boyfriend is a giant "bear" that everyone fears. But, some look up to because of his warm heart. The girlfriend is sweet and can see the beauty in someone, despite the outside appearance. Both very trusting. And, the best friend of the boyfriend is a handsome, but kind and gentle person who really helps push things through. He really is a good best friend, and only the story can really explain it. You have to watch to see!

Overall, The story basically is their cupcake phase, and what most young girls would dream for their first relationship to be like. Each episode always made me smile, and if you like these kinds..I hope you take the time to ride through the whole season!

(This has been adapted from my blog/reddit thread. Spoilers ahead!)

The afternoon October air is chilly, cold enough to make the use of a jacket mandatory. Despite the temperature, the butterflies refused to cease their fluttering. First, a restaurant dinner. Second, a stroll through the park. Third, a comfy movie. And now fourth, a shopping trip through the city. It is our fourth date, you think to yourself, calm down already! The butterflies do not listen.

You are waiting near the agreed-upon fountain, an easy marker to find among the large crowd of people. You start to scan for her face, jumping while doing so both to ... get a better view and to heat you up. Finally, you opt to stand on the edge of the fountain, the butterflies making it easier to make that step up. Just as you do so, you see her. A rose among daffodils. She is wearing jeans, a button up coat, and glinting earrings, her long, brown hair resting gracefully on her back.

She is looking around; you hope she is looking for you. When her eyes lock with yours, they gleam brighter than the stones on her ears. She pushes past the crowd as you float down from off the fountain’s edge. When she reaches you, October turns to April, her wonderful smile warming you from within.

“You look…great,” you manage to exhale, her radiance momentarily stealing your breath. Her cheeks grow rosier as she casts her head down. You think you might have said something wrong, but suddenly she lifts her head back up while standing slightly on her toes to kiss you. The kiss does not last long, but the softness and the sweetness calms the butterflies completely. When she pulls away, your smile mirrors her own. You reach for her hand, her and your fingers interlacing instinctively. The feeling within you is something you have never felt before, but you know that, like the girl standing next to you, you never want to let it go.

Love is a beautiful thing, something that everyone deserves to experience. Filled with romance, skip-a-beat situations, and of course love, Ore Monogatari!! delivers this message with all its heart.

STORY

Ore Monogatari does not have a plot. That is a half-truth: the plot exists within the first three or so episodes, but after Takeo and Rinko officially start dating, the anime transitions into more or less a slice-of-life show that focuses on love and all that that means.

As Haddaway would ask, “What is love?” Love is a fickle creature that comes and goes, can be found in all shapes and sizes, and has the strange property of being understood by anyone, no matter the culture, location, or upbringing. Love is an emotion, a feeling that resonates with the soul and strains the heart. On its own, love is a purely serene entity. But what surrounds it is hardship, sadness, and turmoil. This is what makes love so sweet: getting past the hard, outer shell and finding that gentle, inner beauty.

Thus Ore Monogatari centers in on this beauty. Looking at every angle of romance is how the anime accomplishes this goal. The show showcases the initial nervousness and anxiety of people who have a crush on one another. Then it demonstrates worry and pain, followed by a period of time where meeting-up becomes infrequent. Afterwards going on dates, caring for the people around them besides just each other, and outside crushes wanting in are more instances of the anime trying – and succeeding – at revealing as many sides to romance as possible. With each passing scenario, the audience learns more about love than previously known, thereby moving the anime that much closer towards its own goal. Ore Monogatari also contains large milestones: overcoming the confession, having that first kiss, and (relative to anime) using the girlfriend’s first name. These bigger moments are interspersed throughout the tale, giving a sort of rising and falling action of the events. That is to say, lesser romance ideas are had, then a greater one, proceeded by lesser romance ideas again, and so on. This kind of progression slowly increases love’s boundaries, but that is how love is. Love is nurtured, a delicate flower that blooms into elegance the more it is cared for.

Caring does not only exist between Takeo and Rinko. Cleverly, the anime involves the rest of the cast in the love-filled festivities, therefore exploring the theme even more. Oda loves Suna’s older sister but is blocked by her feelings for Takeo. Takeo’s afro friend hooks up with one of Rinko’s friends after the two realize that the other person is not always perfect. Ichinose’s confession gives Rinko the opportunity to show the existence of true, everlasting love. The plot takes the time to displace love away from the main couple now and again, and in doing so the anime explores love through a wider lens, thus expounding on its theme of love that much more.

Arguably the best scenario from the entire season also does not directly revolve around Takeo and Rinko. Instead, it is the arc starring Suna and Yukika, the Valentine’s letter girl. This scenario is wonderful for one reason: Suna rejects Yukika. It is a poignant moment but it is so powerful because it rounds out love’s complexity. Someone might love another but that does not automatically mean the love has to be reciprocated. The aftermath, though, does not defeat Yukika. Rather, it invigorates her to try harder, to become someone better than herself. As for Suna, he continues being himself while emphasizing that love is not something to rush into. Collectively, the arc, and especially the direction the arc takes, proves how well the anime explores its theme of love.

Ore Monogatari also, in order to fully explore its theme, targets love that exists between other couplings, meaning not just between two people who have fallen for one another. The biggest example is Takeo and Suna. The former is there to support his friend during trying family times. The latter patiently listens, providing wisdom to his friend when he needs it (and he needs it often). For both, the love they share is that of best friends, the kind of connection that only the best of buds are capable of understanding. Takeo’s mother demonstrates the love for a son and vice versa. Suna and Ai demonstrate the love between siblings, and so on. Thus the anime, combined with its other areas, explores love as completely as it can, clearly demonstrating the show’s total strength.

The anime’s extensive use of love can be viewed metaphorically. The anime is a heart, each ventricle a new arc, each pump a new set of events, and each beat a new feeling. Like any heart, though, defects exist. Most prominent is the repetitiveness. For the comedy, it often relies on the same jokes: Takeo saying “I love her” alongside an imaginative concept, Rinko getting embarrassed when dealing with normal activities, and Suna acting unfazed by much of the stuff that happens around him. For the general proceedings, it often relies on the same direction: Takeo going beyond superhuman to help out his girlfriend, Rinko frequently giving a beaming smile for the audience to imprint on their mind, and Suna always tagging along.

To clarify, the repetitiveness does not affect the events themselves; the theme of love is explored nicely precisely because Ore Monogatari varies up the surrounding situations consistently. Repetitiveness is not automatically a negative, but since the show does not use the repetition in a meaningful manner, it comes off as obtrusive rather than constructive. In a way, though, such repetition is natural: a heart beats and beats and beats. A heart repeatedly goes through its motions, involuntarily and forever. In the realistic case, however, the heart’s repetition is mandatory. In Ore Monogatari’s case, not so much.

Still, this heart is healthy enough to keep going, carrying love to every part of itself without fail.

ANIMATION

Ore Monogatari sticks with a “lighter” art style throughout the season. Most of the show takes place during the day with bountiful sunlight. When nighttime is shown, streetlamps, the moon, and other lighting fixtures – such as Christmas lights and at-home bulbs – brighten the area. The purpose: to keep the anime cheerful in atmosphere. After all, love is ultimately a happy and fulfilling emotion, so maintaining a cheery mood coincides with the show’s own goals.

The show is also diverse in the backgrounds it uses. A local zoo, the beach, parts of the city, a nearby mountain trail, their apartments, and an amusement park are all visited, giving the anime a dynamic feel and therefore a feeling of liveliness. Again, these types of feelings are important since they match the theme of love that permeates the show. Alongside the realistic backgrounds are the imaginative ones. These usually happen when one of the gang – especially Takeo – starts to think about something intently – in Takeo’s case, Rinko. They can take on any form, from planets to European landscapes, but they are always quite detailed.

Detailed as well are the character designs, Takeo in particular for his given size. Of course, he is massive, the anime using this feature of his for comedic effect at most points. But his size has two other purposes. One, his size forms a dichotomy with Rinko’s short stature – thinking about love, “opposites attract.” And two, his hugeness represents the size of his heart – he is the very definition of a gentle giant. His huge lips, short hair, and squinty eyes continue to paint him as the lovable dude that he is. Also lovable is Rinko, her large eyes, beaming smile, and natural blushing making her undeniably cute. Better yet, the show constantly switches her design, changing her hair-do and outfit for a myriad of occasions, giving her a varied set of appearances to show off her cuteness. As for Suna, he is known for his extreme handsomeness derived from his extreme plainness. His hair is normal, his eyes are normal, and his face is normal, turning him into a “real” person. And that is the point: Suna, given his role, is the “odd man out” in the sense that Takeo’s overt largeness and Rinko’s overt adorableness are accentuated when the completely plain Suna is nearby. The rest of the cast is similarly detailed in their designs: Takeo’s father with his strangely off-kilter looks, Rinko’s friends with their different getups, and Suna’s sister with her aura of maturity, giving the character designs a higher overall amount of execution.

Execution persists in the actual animation. Facial expressions for Takeo and Rinko morph constantly, hair and limbs move when speaking, and objects shift when used throughout the season. Small effects like glinting stars or contorting lips and more involved scenarios like Takeo jumping out of a burning building or Takeo running down the side of a mountain (the majority of the more animation-intensive segments have Takeo performing some unbelievable feat) keep the anime’s actual animation high despite how much it relies on capturing singular, still-frame moments during the season.

The art elevates itself further with even more features. The show includes visible writing, where a character’s current thoughts pop up next to him or her rather than said out loud in order to understand what he or she is thinking without taking away from the current situation. Comedy-oriented designs, such as minimalist portraits or wacky faces, maintain the show’s fun atmosphere. And the anime’s minute details, such as the defined lines of Takeo’s and the other characters faces and the expert use of shadows, cement Ore Monogatari as an anime whose artistic and animation direction was always given special attention from start to finish.

CHARACTERS

Ore Monogatari has a sizeable cast but more or less focuses on three characters in particular: Takeo, Rinko, and Suna, or colloquially the brawn, the beauty, and the brains.

As a kid, Takeo grew up surrounded by friends and family, his kindhearted behavior naturally attracting people to him. However he was never popular with girls, mostly because of his size and his often crazy actions. But after protecting Rinko, he (and she) found love, providing him with the relationship he had always wanted. Understandably, then, Takeo is not the best when it comes to love and how to handle it: he sometimes does not speak his mind, he often reads Rinko’s thoughts wrong, and he regularly misunderstands what has happened or what he can do. Still, Takeo never lets his shortcomings deter him. Instead he takes his love for Rinko as fuel to treat her and their relationship with as much respect and care as humanly – in this context, Takeo-ly – possible. So he tries his hardest at a judo match to make his time away from Rinko purposeful, he studies his mind out to go to the same university as his girlfriend, and he supports Rinko at her new job to boost her confidence in her own skills. Takeo is a man that always has others – especially Rinko – in his thoughts, with his actions, his monologues, and his disposition always demonstrating his never-ending love.

Rinko is similar in the sense that she deeply loves Takeo. Rinko makes him desserts nearly daily, she declares her feelings as clear as day, and she is always doing her best to push her and Takeo’s relationship forward. This last point is important: knowing that Takeo is the ignorant one when it comes to love, it falls on Rinko to take the initiative, which she does in stunning fashion. Rinko tries to make Takeo’s heart “skip a beat” at the beach, she rests on his chest to snuggle with him, and she leans in first for that first kiss. Rinko, not Takeo, leads the relationship where it needs to go. This stems from her “non-pure” motives, an early spot of conflict for her character. Initially she believed that her wanting to hold hands or hold Takeo was a turn off to him due to his constant praising of her innocent nature. But such desires are perfectly fine for anyone, especially when said person is in love. So for Rinko, her more instinctual feelings are not a detriment but rather a boon that makes her relationship with Takeo slowly but surely evolve beyond what it has already become.

The advancement of their relationship is necessary considering that their relationship is technically the main focus of the anime. Watching as Takeo and Rinko fall for one another, care for one another, and of course love one another is what allows their individual characters to blossom. And like their character designs, “opposites attract,” meaning the kind of give and take they share is opposite to how they are perceived as being. For example, Takeo is huge but treats Rinko like a delicate flower when he refrains from ogling her body in a swimsuit. Rinko, likewise, is tiny but is not afraid to make moves that are bigger than herself when she kisses Takeo on the cheek when he is sleeping soundly. While they, at times, act differently towards each other than they do to the people around them, there is one area where they agree wholeheartedly: trust. Takeo trusts Rinko and Rinko trusts Takeo. Saijou might confess her feelings towards her “Master” and Ichinose might confess his feelings towards his “muse,” but both Takeo and Rinko know that they will never lose sight of the love they mutually have for one another.

However, Takeo and Rinko’s relationship cannot survive on its own; indeed, their relationship would never have come to fruition without the aid of a particular male. Perhaps obviously, this person is none other than Suna. Arguably the strongest character of Ore Monogatari, Suna is their rock. Suna is not so much a third wheel as he is the spokes that support the lovebirds. When Takeo needs help planning a date or needs to express himself using emoticons, Suna is the first person he goes to. When Rinko needs advice on how to get closer to Takeo or needs ideas on what cake to make for Takeo’s birthday, Suna is the first person she goes to. Suna is always there for them, ready with wisdom to set them (and anyone, really) down the path of success. That is to say, as a person he is not just respectful but immeasurably kind.

Kindness alone, though, does not make a character strong. Unlike Takeo, Rinko, and many other members of the cast, he does not have those feelings of love. In fact, it is the opposite: despite how many women have approached him, he has never returned their feelings. Like Rinko’s base desires, this is normal. Suna’s decision to not have a lover is the anime yet again exploring its theme of love, but more profound than this is what this means for his character. Suna does not have a partner to share his time with, so the relationships he has with both Takeo and Rinko mean the world to him. Suna does not help them out because he is obligated; he helps them out because he values them and the bond they share. He is thankful that Takeo makes him laugh when Takeo simply acts like himself. He is thankful to Rinko for showing him sides of his best friend that he has never seen before. Thus he repays their own kindness with kindness of his own, to prove that they are the people in his life he loves deeply.

This is not to say that Suna does not have personal troubles of his own. Early in the season, Suna’s father has health issues that force him into the hospital, thereby affecting Suna immensely. Later in the season, Suna has a potential love interest that could be the correct match for him. Therefore Takeo and Rinko, respective to these situations, support Suna, helping him to overcome the struggles he faces both within and without. Thus Suna is not the only one supporting; Takeo and Rinko in turn support him. Collectively, the three of them love each other in a way that is appropriate for the bonds they share, their overall relationship highlighting the beauty of love. To put it differently: uniquely and cleverly, Takeo, Rinko, and Suna are not a typical love triangle.

SOUND

The opening theme for Ore Monogatari is a treat for the ears. The range of the vocalist, the strange sound effects in the background, and the dropping beat make the arrangement playful, energetic, and fun. Alongside the beginning piano, the intermittent choir, and the concluding guitar, the entire piece is filled with love both in the sound it oozes and in the feeling it exudes, making it a perfect fit for the anime itself.

The ending theme, opposing its OP counterpart, slows everything down, both in beat and in tone. The piece embraces simplicity, guitar, drums, and a singer making up the majority of the track. However, this piece is arguably filled with more heart; the build-up, the lyrics, and the instruments initially generate a distinct feeling of longing that, at just the right moment, gives way to elation. Metaphorically, the piece feels as if someone has gone a long time searching for love, finding out that it was closer to him than he had ever thought possible, making the ED another perfect outing.

The rest of the soundtrack consists of both serene and poignant pieces that touch the heart and move the soul. “Fond Memories” is a slow and heavy piano that really does instill a sense of nostalgia for those reflecting moments in the show. “Ore no Tatakai,” with its violins and trumpets, pumps one’s adrenaline for those intense scenes. “Story of Mind ~ Little Love” is a beautiful, and indeed tiny, piece that is filled to the brim with happiness and joy to match those likewise joyous occasions. “You made my day” has flutes and a choir that make it feel as if heaven itself has descended, making the heartfelt times that much heartier. And “Scenery” has a particular gentleness that soothes the mind upon every listen.

Besides these dramatic pieces, the anime can get less serious and more comical with others, such as “Bajitoufuu” with its drawling beat or “Haru no Kaze” with its dual guitars upping the mood considerably. Or the show can give that slice-of-life feel that the anime has with tracks like “Hot Hitoiki” that combine a piano with guitars to create quite the relaxing melody. But no matter the track, the OST consistently brings about amazing tunes that improve the anime and are more than worthy of a listen outside of it.

As for the voice acting, the performances given are above average, demonstrating once again the high amount of execution Ore Monogatari holds. Takuya Eguchi as Takeo provides stunning voice work, achieving a voice for the overly burly man that is simultaneously gruff, strong, and caring. Megumi Han as Rinko gives cuteness in droves when she speaks, but it is her girly screams that solidify her place as the adorable Rinko. And Nobunaga Shimazaki as Suna brings calmness but also genuine laughter when appropriate.

ENJOYMENT

The romance connoisseur that I am, this anime was right up my alley from the get-go. Watching as Takeo and Rinko fell in love, all of the smiles and laughs that they shared, and the wonderful milestones they reached as a couple made me so happy to see. The blushing, the hand holding, the genuine emotions; the more their relationship grew, the more ecstatic I became, and since their relationship progressed at a nominal pace, so did the romance and therefore my happiness.

Despite the repetition being a negative, I was still happy to hear Taeko say “I love you” every single time because I knew that it was either proceeded or followed by Rinko giving the most sincere smile any person ever could, which in turn made me smile even more. This leads into Rinko’s overall adorableness. No matter what she said or what she did, she always managed to make me giggle like a little school girl. Whether she moved behind a nearby pillar at light speed when Takeo turned to look at her or she was stifling her ghosts to stop them from waking her boyfriend, Rinko made the show into the cute powerhouse that it ended up being.

The show also nailed its comedy. Situations like Ai getting angry towards Oda, the doctor getting spun around so much he puked (twice), and Saijou crying her eyes out on a bench were hilarious to see unfold. Furthermore, Rinko once again does wonders, such as when she is accurate yet misleading in her description of her nighttime escapade with Takeo or when she could barely contain her excitement while holding Takeo’s new baby sister. Takeo as well, with his overreactions when seeing Rinko in her bathing suit or practicing his kissing technique with Suna. Suna, too, which is surprising given his lax behavior, but it is precisely because he more or less goes with the flow that made many of his moments so hilarious. Suna nonchalantly reacting to the stuff around him or him remembering that kissing session made him funny in his own way. From the romance to the cuteness to the comedy, the anime was a fully entertaining experience from start to finish.

Ore Monogatari!! has one idea in mind: love. Its narrative focuses on this theme, its characters share this feeling between each other, and its art and its music are steeped in love, too. From top to bottom, left to right, and forward to back, love permeates throughout the anime, coming in all shapes and sizes. Love is definitely something everyone needs to experience, but until the real thing appears on a chilly October afternoon, this one will more than make do.

SUMMARY

Story: Good, exploration of love is thorough, repetition at times lessening the experience

Animation: Great, wonderful art, from the backgrounds to the character designs to the minute details, sits alongside above average actual animation

Characters: Good, Takeo’s gentleness, Rinko’s boldness, and Suna’s kindness exemplify love, both on its own and between each other

Sound: Great, great OP, great ED, very nice OST, above average VA performances

Enjoyment: Great, romance galore, combined with so much adorableness and laughs, created a ride that never stopped being fun

Final Score: 9/10

When I first saw this anime's synopsis, I thought, "Wow that's new (sorta), the side character is finally getting some spot light." Ore Monogatari certainly has been a unique experience, with a steady combination of good and bad.

Story (6):
The other reviews gave pretty much an accurate description on the story. Having made a point to mainly stick with rom-coms, I can confidentially say that this story is pretty much like the others. It does not introduce any new elements, but it does use make decent use of the clichés. Since this story is mainly about the relationship between the main characters, actual plot includes a ... slice-of-life standpoint, not necessarily bad, but can get repetitive if you have seen it before.

Art (7):
The art played a huge role in both the comedy aspect, as well as, bring the show a unique feel to it. Personally, the different faces that Takieo made when talking about Yamato (more so about the "I Love You" line in every episode) probably saved me from dropping, and then repeatedly stepping on the lack of word choice the show offered. The art itself was vibrant, which matched the mood of the show.

Sound (6):
The OST, regardless of the genre, is crucial when attempting to develop a mood the creators wants the viewers to feel. While the OST slightly added to the mood, it did not really help set it, nor is it a "stand-alone" piece one can listen to. The OP and ED were well suited to every episode, but not really memorable.

Characters (7):
Rom-coms rely on two things to be successful, unique characters that have a good amount of emotional depth, and the interaction between said characters. While the two main characters (Takieo and Yamato) had a very good development phase, I feel that the side characters were more there for plot progression and nothing more. There was little to no progression on the "main" side character Suna, even though he had just as much screen time than the real two main characters. The other sides were either there for filler, or lasted 3-4 episodes to introduce a new element to Takieo's and Yamato's relationship. That being said, the interaction between the characters were more or less fantastic. The comedy between them would have me laughing so hard that I would have to pause to calm down a bit.

Enjoyment (8):
The anime meshed with itself rather well, which provided a good comedy with a romance underplot. Any fans of rom-coms, I would recommend picking this up, as it provides a nice light and airy atmosphere, hard found in most anime. If this anime were a food, it would be a waffle. It looks interesting with all the toppings on it, which some tasted well together, while others didn't, but when you finished, you were full and satisfied.

Overall (7):
This anime seemed to waste time adding characters to further plot devices, rather than adding depth to the characters already there. But with the variety of characters, you got to see how interesting it was for the male lead to interact with a seemingly everyday life.

There have been great wonders built during the long and extensive lifetime of the world: The Pyramids of Giza, The Temple of Artemis, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and more, lovingly referred to as the "Seven Wonders of the World." While historians may ignore or discredit it as simply another Japanese cartoon, despite its lack of global influence, "Ore Monogatari!!" is a masterfully crafted work of art that should be supplemented to the Wonders of the World. This bitterly short yet absolutely breathtaking show emphasizes a line of old knowledge uttered by wise individuals throughout time: "Never judge a book by ... its cover." At surface glance, the main character is an obese and overly large buffoon characterized solely by his size; however, as the viewer continues their journey into the most amazing experience he or she will ever have, they quickly begin to notice that the main character is the perfect culmination of humanity's struggles and accomplishments, serving as the peak of any literary character development. "Ore Monogatari!!" may be a tool of entertainment intended by its producers to turn a profit, but whether intentional or not, the writers and the cartoonists at Madhouse have created a cultural masterpiece that may one day usher in an era of global peace.

"Love from the first sight"
is mostly all what this series is about, if you're looking for an anime that is enjoyable,fun and barely have any development in the story then you will enjoy this.

one of the weakest point in this anime is focusing way too much on the main characters,which couple of shoujo animes do BUT in this series do not expect any plot twist or any kind of surprise, everything is too predictable,although it's still fun to watch.

the story pace was too slow at some points it's getting kinda dull and too sugary with the "lovey dovey" couple . tho it has pretty likable ... and relatable characters so it kinda balanced the weakness of the story.

This Anime art is way beyond awesome,I really enjoyed every scene of it! :)

Story: 8
This story revolves around a couple that consists of a very small and petite girl and a humongous boy. The girl is the cliche "perfect and super nice" type of person, whereas the boy is 2 meters tall and is considered "unattractive" to girls. What also makes this anime funny is that both characters are socially awkward and don't really understand a lot of situations, while the boy's best friend is always helping them get over their problems. Over the course of the anime, many small social and internal conflicts occur to this couple. The pacing is ... good, not too fast or too slow. The story is very funny and cute, but also not very developed. There was not a lot of depth and the theme kept repeating itself over and over with each episode.

Sound: 9
The sound was really great! Voice actors had emotion and voice inflection to keep the anime engaging. I had no problem with the opening and ending theme; they fit with the anime really well. I didn't notice much about the background noise, but there wasn't anything unnecessary or unfitting to the situation.

Character: 7
The characters were very funny and lovable. However, not many of the characters had any development. The main characters didn't have much development at all, except for the fact that they continued loving each other more and more. There is some development with the main character's best friend, but the development seems cut off, and the audience never really gets to see what he is like. A few of the side characters had changed feelings and whatnot, but the character development could have been a lot deeper.

Enjoyment: 8
Apart from the lack of depth in the story and characters, this anime was very funny and enjoyable. The characters had a lot of funny traits, and because the main character's are socially awkward, it is fun to see them try and communicate with other people. Some characters act out randomly and lack common sense. There is also a steady flow of events, and the pacing is not too slow or too fast.

Overall: 8
Overall, this anime is definitely worth a try. It is hilarious and well paced, even if there is not enough development. The lack of development doesn't make it bad at all, and the story is very enjoyable.

My 'Ore Monogatari" review.

My ratings:

Story: Good 7.
Art: Decent 4.
Sound: Poor 3.
Character: Very Good 8.
Enjoyment: Good 7.
Overall: Very Good 8.
...
Ok, that is one rom-com that has stuff and spice, so the 24 episode anime has ended and what can I say, it quality and doesn't rely on the fanservice nor does it depends on the character getting into seemingly stupid situations, so the story (up) well it was a good one since it always focuses on friendship based on giving and not on benefits since in this anime two BFFs were seemly pushing each other to be happy rather than putting the other one in a demise at first one might though that the two BFFs were more into a bromance that would led someone to thing of a yaoi thingy in the works but, it had us fooled when we see that the BFFs were just mainly concern about one another even when a 3rd wheel arrives. I limit it to a score of 7 since one would also be annoyed about the too much giving that one of the BFF does, but it can be forgiven, just not that much. Art (up), well pretty decent anyways, since like I've said that whole anime doesn't rely on the fanservice and eechi to sell, but it still does have the moe in it that was still a quintessential in all animes, I could have commented on Takeo's looks, but then again,it was his looks that makes this anime going. Sound (up) well, I guess I just hate the both opening and closing themes, also Takeo's voice sounded like some 40 something who has been a repeat student for the last 30 years, also Rinko's voice could pass for a 5th grader which was quite annoying, Character (up) well since this anime was all about the BFFs Takeo , Suna and Rinko,I say that the three really does touch us audiences hearts and I'm glad that it has gone that way, also what really did provide the climax was the introduction of Kouki Ichinose who serves as Takeo's competition for Rinko, but what really does gave impact to this category is Takeo himself, I like that his character portrays as a good person in the body of a scary giant and Rinko, who sees him as what he is. Enjoyment (up), I'd say it's good since there were episode that aren't worth watching, but even if one would miss some episodes, one would still enjoy watching the rest cu'z of how this rom-com was done, overall (up) it was very good, and I'm glad studio Madhouse wan't mad enough to add something stupid to this fine anime.

PEACE ESSES!

Those well versed with the romance genre may be familiar with the tropes that these anime tend to regurgitate on a constant basis. Not denying the fact that Ore Monogatari!! doesn't share some of these plot accessories either, the show does attempt to differentiate itself from the rest of the pack. Whether it's been successful at doing so is a whole another story however.

Madhouse veteran when it comes to romance and drama, Asaka Morio, known for his works on anime such as Nana, took charge of the execution unsurprisingly. It was a job well done when it came to maintaining a consistent tone throughout ... the season without any hiccups, most of the time.

Which brings me on to the next point, the overall nature of the anime; it's light-hearted and funny. The story follows our couple consisting of Yamato and Takeo and the day-to-day activities they encounter. A very common plot trope in this genre. Although there are moments of conflict or love rivals popping up every now and then, this only forms a small portion of the show. What the anime does differently however is to place Takeo (mostly) in situations where less experienced anime watchers may have never seen before. It adds to the comedic value as well as the tension depending on the situation he finds himself in. However, this is also a negative aspect of the show. These scenes seem more suited for a shounen anime than a romance/slice of life, therefore feeling out of place and plain weird when witnessing the events unfolding.

Another argument is how 'perfect' the couple were. Due to the lack of external dangers towards their relationship, Ore Monogatari was short of substance. It built a solid backbone from which to expand upon, but what you witness in the first few episodes is what you will continue to be fed right until the very last installment. As mentioned before, there are moments of 'drama' but they usually consist of internal problems. This takes shape in the form of misunderstandings and such.

Unsurprisingly the focal point of the anime is on Takeo and Yamato since they are the main duo. But this doesn't excuse the fact that the supporting characters suffered heavily from poor characterization. Side characters walked in and out whenever they felt like doing so, as if it was a 9 am college lecture with half the students turning up late and others falling asleep. Not to mention their introductions felt forced, just for the sake of challenging Yamato/Takeo' love life.

Takeo was a refreshing character, the second coming of Chuck Norris if I may say so. His massive body build and awkward personality led to some hilarious scenes. Yamato however, is far from that. It's like comparing freshly baked bread to faecal matter. She's very generic in every aspect, but the fact that there was no attempt at developing her in some shape or form is truly disappointing. A valid argument is that her character may been there to provide a balance, countering Takeo's over-the-top personality.

The animation is also good/consistent, but nothing spectacular. It complimented the anime's tone perfectly. Although some episodes may seem rushed, the fast pacing was vital in order to keep the audience engaged with its episodic nature. If you feel like this is the type of rom-com you're into, feel free to give it a watch.

I'm going to be honest. This is one of the best romance anime i have seen in a long time . For anyone looks for something a bit different i would defiantly give this a watch . The only reason i give the story a 9 is because in my opinion. the ending was not as strong as it could have been and it was played rather safe .

I fell in love with the art style and loved the character designs . Some of the best art i have seen in a long time .

The ... sounds perfectly matched the atmosphere what was currently going on and would recommend listing to it by itself.

The main character and yamato played out soo well that it made me wish i had a relationship like that or feel that it may be possible. His best friend however was not used as much as he could be . This kinda disappointed me

I could barely wait when for the next episode when it came out on crunchy roll and when it did i was watching that the moment it came out.

Overall i gotta give this anime a 10 because this was a masterpiece itself.

Want an anime to make you smile even when you’re feeling down? Want something that makes you ahh at its sweetness and purity? And most of all, something that makes you think, “Why can’t I have relationships like this?”

Join Gouda Takeo on his incredibly heart-warming journey to find true love, experience high school struggles, and aid everyone who ever meets him by doing as many good deeds as he possibly can. If there’s a cat stuck in a tree, Takeo will rescue it. If a child falls into a river, Takeo will jump in. If a friend wants to confess to his crush, Takeo will ... help him arrange it.

However, it’s not the deeds Takeo does that make him such a likeable character. It’s the way he’s presented. The description ‘big heart’ fits him perfectly. He’s pure, kind and just good. He’s the type of friend who will always help you without even thinking twice about it, even turning a simple thought or wish expressed into an action in order to make the person expressing the thought happy. And although he can be a bit dense at times, if you explain things to him he will take pains to remember them and act upon them in the future.

What then, is the catch? Well this should be obvious from looking at the cover. He’s not conventionally good looking. And because of this, no girl is able to recognize his good character until the female protagonist from the story comes along. Luckily she ends up being less shallow than every other girl that has existed up until this point, and thus we have our story.

This girl though, Yamato Rinko, is really something in herself. She’s just as pure, kind and sweet as Takeo (with the addition of being shyer and somewhat smarter). This essentially creates many scenes filled with what we colloquially name ‘fluff’ – that is to say, adorably sweet scenes in which the characters radiate such happiness that you can’t help but smile. They don’t even have to be doing much (and often they really don't do much), just chatting or something and you’ll still enjoy watching them. Although an exaggeration of a normal relationship, most people would probably view something similar to this – with their mutual love, respect and acceptance – as relationship goals.
Their relationship progression does slow down as the series goes on, but although that's a little irritating it actually fits in with the characters' personalities and how you'd expect them to behave.

I will note here that if you binge watch this show in a couple of sessions or less it might end up being sickly sweet and a bit of a turn-off, because it is after all comprised of many episodes very similar in content. Rather, if you just watch a couple of episodes every now and then it will stay fresh and enjoyable.

Now we turn to the third protagonist, the ‘best friend’ character. Sunakawa’s character is also portrayed remarkably well, as a character who often appears apathetic and emotionless but shows his real feelings through what he does, rather than what he says. His looks are on the opposite end of the spectrum to Takeo’s, and this is a recurring theme in the series, but the parts where he appears mainly highlight how caring and loyal a friend he is to Takeo (and by extension Yamato). It’s almost impossible not to wish you had a friend like him. In addition, he is actually developed quite well as a character by himself, and piques a lot of interest. Issues concerning him are resolved well and realistically, in particular his family drama.

As for the supporting cast, watching them is hugely enjoyable too. Each of them brings something to the story and helps it develop, although they are mainly used as a catalyst for the main romance. None of the characters are obnoxious, all of them are quite pleasant and a lot of them are given decent backstory which helps flesh out their characters. There is an entire set of episodes dedicated to Sunakawa's sister that creates an interesting little diversion from Takeo and Yamato.

The OP and Ending themes were a good fit for the story. They matched the overall tone perfectly, with the light and cheerful music. The Seiyuus were talented (my only complaint here was the incredible high pitch used for Yamato which seemed a tad unrealistic for a 16 year old girl, although I guess it’s more common in Japan) and the rest of the music was easy on the ears.

The Art and animation were lovely. They were attractive (with a lot of pastel tones being used), and the high concentration of flowery and sparkly effects went together so well with the characters' reactions.

I suppose I haven’t really covered the plot, but then again there’s not much to say about it. It’s a story of how a romance buds and develops, and however well done it is, that is essentially the full story. Oh well. I’ll just use this as an example of how an anime doesn’t need a focussed plot to be good.

Now to conclude. I thought this anime was great, and personally connected to some of the characters and events portrayed on an intrinsic level. The lack of focussed plot did prevent me from giving it a higher score, because, sweet as their relationship was, I would have loved to see them take it a little further in the amount of episodes that had been allocated.

It was still a really enjoyable, really fun watch, though, and one I would most definitely recommend to any fan whatsoever of the romance genre. 😊

You’re a kid, you’re a squid, you’re a kid- Oh wrong series - My Love Story review

One of My Love Story’s strongest elements is how well crafted and executed the story and characters are, regardless of the supposed cliches and many nitpicks I’ve seen in reviews for this show. Its cheese lies subtly in its favor. We’re introduced to a cast that each have their own unique characters to them, while nothing innovating, it all interconnects their relationship and development in a heartfelt way. From the reviews I’ve read, it’s mostly underdeveloped short introductions rather than an actual review. And highly lacks any depth or ... analysis to convey an overall legitimate point. Mini rant over, onto the review.

My Love Story begins when our main protagonist, Gouda Takeo saves the Yamato Rinko from a groper on a train. Thus ushering the flattering romantic comedy. The show is mostly an episodic series that touches on moments for us to understand and appreciate the relationship between Takeo and Sunakawa, and Takeo’s bond with Yamato. In the beginning we are given a touching analogy of two ogre friends that conveys the bromance and challenges Takeo faces on a daily basis. Sunakawa is a friend that always has his friend’s back and accumulates his advice from simply watching people throughout his childhood, understanding the psychology behind people’s action in order to help his thick headed friend, Takeo. This is prominent throughout the show and shows that more to a book than its cover. In each episode we learn about our main character and how he became the person he is, how he reflects himself not because of others, but because of the actions he takes. I didn’t find comedy superbly funny but it makes the moments much more sweeter, creating and immersing conclusive endings to a conflict. There are plentiful of visceral moments that bile up heart wrenching excitement to portray Takeo in a positive manner and gain respect from people who wouldn’t have or didn’t otherwise.

Art and animation are pretty good. There were times when I noticed some slightly odd and derpy drawings, specifically of characters in far shots. Sunakawa just looked awful. There are more stagnate moments than action sequences so you shouldn’t expect much from the animation department, not to downplay it, it is good, just not Fate Stay Night Unlimited Budget level. Onto sound, again, it’s not at all amazing or WOW! like Tokyo Ghoul’s epic soundtrack that it doesn’t earn because the anime fails to tell a complete narrative. Or even Wolf’s Rain, another anime that I’m a bit mixed if it even earns such a FANTASTIC soundtrack for an above average show. I digress, anyhow, I still noticed it enough to convey the cute moments and intimate scenes. The opening was okay to me; it fits well with the anime. The ending on the other hand, I thought brought in a vibe of friendship that you’ll have only between a few friends. The love and caress of those who truly respect and love you. Voice acting did a nice job in consistency with the character design and really matched with the characters. Overall, sound does good job integrating in the show.

Characters can be easily summed up as cliche and generic, but what does that even mean if you just took it out of its context just to bitch about it. Gouda Takeo is your gorilla sized man with a huge heart. He has this charisma and hint of calmness to him that exasperates a gentle soul. Even as a nice person as he is, there are people that talk behind his back because of his appearance. Takeo can be simply stated to be a character putting up a front or some other wacky nit pick, but in what we’re shown, there’s no point in him getting mad or lose esteem. He is well aware of his surroundings and doesn’t let small talk affect him. Takeo’s bromance with Sunakawa has got to be one of the best I’ve seen since Free!. Sunakawa is an awesome supporting character to Takeo. He is always on the sideline watching and observing people in order to understand the situation and then giving his thought and solution. He’s the friend that will always have your back. His reasoning for not dating any girls or liking is the fact that he don’t like no hoes talking shit about his friend behind his back. Bruh, that’s just cool. His calm and understanding nature assists in good balance to Takeo’s thick headedness and even Yamato’s ignorance. Ah, Yamato, of all the squeaky characters I’ve been killed until deaf ears, I surprisingly and pleasantly found her to be quite a joy. Not one moment did I find her annoying because of how well her character is in relations to Takeo and Yamato, as well as how cheesy she is with her friends. It’s moments like these that even the stuff I hate the most, I can love. Yamato is the pillar to Takeo’s character change and the flaws within him. She is able to bring out the ‘real’ human inside of him. From there, we see him do and say things he normally wouldn’t say such as the whole issue with the patisserie dude, Ichinose, of which he found himself to be fine even if Yamato ever left him for someone else. Though we already know no character is without flaw, this shows Takeo’s true nature, that he can feel stress, doubt, and pain for someone so optimistic as him.

There are some criticisms that I have to say, though nothing major enough that it’ll deflect the score of the show. The last two episodes with Ichinose, while I thought it showed the human side of Takeo, it was a bit too underwhelming in impact as a narrative and it felt a little rush to me. But it still concluded good enough to show what they wanted to show. The whole situation with Yukika Amami I thought showed good development for her and Sunakawa but it felt like Snafu with the whole uncertainty, no answer situation. I don’t know. I feel like I just had to complain somehow.

My Love Story manages to efficiently utilize simple character traits and offer a new perspective of the romantic comedy genre. The character relationships are open and gives us answers to situations between characters most other shows bother to drag out for long durations. Or never to hear at all. That is why this show earns a 8/10, and just misses the benchmark for my badass seal of approval. But it is a show that I can recommend to anyone who isn’t a diehard shoujo fan because apparently they are the experts in nitpicking the basic traits but never explaining in context of the story and overall narrative, why exactly? Did you enjoy this review? Hit me up on MAL comment section, Twitter, or Deviantart and I’ll go rest now because I’m burnt out in writing two massive reviews in one night.

10/10. What a LOVELY anime series.

One of my Favourite anime of all time.
Such a wholesome, enjoyable and Wonderful anime.

A peaceful anime to watch.
THE BEST COUPLE in Anime history.

Story:
10/10. The plot about Relationship and Friendship that is enjoyable to watch and SATISFACTORY.
...
Art:
9/10. The animation was a great match with the anime.

Sound:
10/10. Both Opening and Ending song were so perfect to me.

Character:
10/10. The 3 important charcetrs (TAKEO GOUDA, RINKO YAMATO and SUNAKAWA MAKOTO) including the MC made me fall in love with this anime. They were perfect. It is one of the best thing about this anime is the character.

Enjoyment:
10/10. THANK YOU FOR THIS ANIME.

Overall:
10/10. I just LOVE this anime.

Please keep your expectation low and just have fun watching the anime. I really hope that you all will enjoy as much as I did.

A love story whose realistic expediency in its resolution is the first indication that the author possess the ability to create a complete and holistic narrative. Introduction and development of characters is seamless, and mirrors reality as the advancement of these characters further deepens the relationships and interactions between all other actors and parties. The author also spectacularly avoids the extremely common pitfall of core character overload, where once characters are created and introduced they become a mainstay of every episode. This expert restraint completely skirts the deluge of a cast heavy inflexible mess, that often drowns a show in both endless group episodes and ... the diffusion of responsibility to ever deeply develop any of the characters. This display of confidence is evident from the authors ability to remove characters when necessary, and the more common than not solo and duo characters scenes in this show.

Although great, this show has 1 major and 2 minor flaws. The major being that due to the speed at which the main characters become a couple, the inner dynamic and struggle between the characters that most love stories follow is forced outward, and caste unto other parties. Some episodes do pertain to the advancement of the main characters relationship, but more likely than not, they act as a cornerstone for which other characters and stories can further be examined and elevated.

The first of the 2 minor flaws is that some plot moments are unrealistic and feel forced. The intent is to further illuminate character traits by creating extreme situations for them to act in, but the generation of these events are suspiciously convenient to the point of obviousness. You could argue this is a work of fiction, and some fantasy should inclinate to a degree of suspended disbelief, but few other qualities of the show seem to indicate that the viewer should follow this notion.

The second of the 2 minor flaws is that the ending episodes of the show become arbitrarily shonen, and detracts from the entire aforementioned cornerstone premise. The show abandons all of it's previous buildings to attempt at making an impactful battle with a resolution to deepen the characters relationship with each other. Unfortunately this clearly intends to resolve in the most obvious way possible, resulting in no drama to be cultivated, and causing the three end episodes feel like a waste of time.

Art is above average. Sound is above average. Overall very enjoyable.

Ore Monogatari is the ‘500 Days of Summer’ of Anime. ‘This is not a love story. This is a story about love.’ That is the tagline of 500 DoS. Starting out as a love story, Ore Monogatari tells the tales of various characters that appear and how love has an effect on their lives. All of this is seen through the eyes of Takeo Gouda, the Big Show with a kind heart.

Strengths
The biggest strength of Ore Monogatari!! is the interpersonal relationships between the various characters, particularly Takeo’s relationship with the side cast. After the first 3 episodes that revolve around Takeo meeting Rinko Yamato, ... his love interest, the series delves into primarily 2 episode stories that detail each side character’s problem and resolution. Each character wants love and, through their journey of finding romance, they develop into a better person after their story arc is complete, some more than others. These stories stem from Takeo’s best friend Makoto Sunakawa facing problems in his family to Takeo’s other classmates tackling their own romantic problems. Each character’s stories are what keep Ore Monogatari entertaining in its 24-episode span, including the one-off episodes centered on the goofball duo of Takeo and Rinko.

The animation and music is bright, colorful and upbeat. Words can’t describe how good the show looks and sounds. Studio Madhouse did an excellent job adapting this story.

Misstep
Possibly both the best and weakest part about Ore Monogatari!! is Takeo and Rinko. Takeo and Rinko are the least complex characters of the entire cast, and because of that, they are possibly the least interesting characters of their own show. After the initial three episodes, the primary roles for the two, aside from lighthearted, fluffy romance, is helping each side character in their story arcs. In other words, Takeo and Rinko play more of a supportive role. It is unfortunate that the side characters overshadow the main characters. However, it is never tiring to see Takeo and Rinko’s lighthearted romance portrayed on screen.

Overall
Ore Monogatari!! is SUPER vanilla, meant to warm the ice cold of hearts. Even though they are the least interesting characters compared to the side cast, Takeo and Rinko are good characters that serve as the audience’s identification figures. The show is lighthearted and straightforward with a touch of character complexities that have possibilities to be delved into further.

Ore Monogatari hit home for me. Way out of the field, nothing to even consiitor, it just won. It takes thestory of two friends that have known eachother since their kindergarden days and puts them in a world full of ramance. It rellates both characters to the japanese nursery story of the red ogre and the blue ogre, one wants to make friends so the other makes a commention to show the people that the first is not a bad guy. I feel they hit very key points everywhere, leaving me utterly astonished by how they ended it so perfectly.

I feel the sound needs to ... be hit first since it was just LOVELY. I was blown away by how perfect every voice actor matched their character and their roles. Each voice held its weight to the love and it clearly showed that each actor had a good feel for these roles, making me want to hear them again in the future for whatever anime they might be casted in. Now the bgm, that... that stuff was something else. Honestly, I got so involved in the anime that I completely ignpored the bgm often enough that I didn't actually think there was any but when I started listening to it, I was very impressed. The intro song will forever be ingraved in my mind. It was one of the most catchy, love-feely intro I've heard in a long time and after trying to watch episode 4 without it, the anime didn't feel complete.

Shoujo art has a very unique and awe filled art style that emphisises on the love and the emotions in the characters face that you just don't normally get from other animes or art style, or even a lot of real TV. Yes, shoujo art is very one sided, eaither you love it or you hate it. I feel ORe Monogatari did somethere with that that a lot of other animes are trying so hard to do these days; they went right out with its art and pretty much said "if you like shoujo art, this anime is gonna blow your mind because its gonna have all the art feels you need!" and completely ignored trying to appaise those that don't like shoujo, which in turn, may not get them as many viewers, but it definatly makes it a show that highly appeases those that like shoujo. The array of colors used for the characters was very nice and it made each character feel alive, while still give that 2-D feel that we all love. Now the one issue I did have with the art, was that it never looked the same twice. Proeportioning issues where everyone between height diffences, which did make me a little confused here and there.

Each character had their own way of working their way into your heart, weither it be through force or by -dereing its way it. Even watching a second character get turned down, and loving the main girl, it just broke me up when anyone got rejected at anytime during this anime. I do wish the characters had more background and had more of a story to tell, but I feel they hit the relationship developments extrordinarily well. The fact that we only get to meat the MC's parents was kidn of a let down to be honest, as I would have loved to see an episode where the hero meets the Heroine's parents.

Plot devolpment in this anime was instintanious. There was no buffer, there was no wait, you knew exactly how the anime was gonna felt from the first episode. Or atleast thats what I thought after seeing. Making this anime actually have a main topic for the MC instead of his struggle TO get that #1 person was a brilliant idea. Showing the soft side of a giant MC is always a great idea and giving the assertive role to the heroine was jaw dropping. Throught the story, I felt that everything progressed astonishingly well and kept me involved and wanting more each minute.

The feels this anime gave me were on par only with Your Lie In April and even then, I feel it can't even begin to compair to them because Ore Monogatari just had such a strong way to show that it was it's onw style of romance and had too much going for it to be just another shoujo romance. I enjoyed every part of this anime and enjoyed every aspect of the director's ideals for these characters. Overall, its just too good to pass up for anyone. I feel it has to be watched.