Imouto sae Ireba Ii.

This season of anime was one to look forward to, with popular series like Umaru and Gintama gaining new additions to their story. However there were a couple of new additions that have stood out as well (namely Blend S and Mahoutsukai no Yome). That being said Imouto sae ireba is my pick of this season. The reason simply being because its good at its genre. Compared to Blend S forgetting about the settings of their MC (I can only assume it has something to do with wanting the audience to actually like her) and Mahoutsukai no yome merely touching upon dependence rather than love, ... Imouto Sae Ireba is a story about a group of people finding their direction in life.

Story 8/10
A lot of you who just watched the first episode are probably bloody confused, the first 5 minutes in nothing but ecchi, and cringey ecchi on top of that. But thats where the protagonist fits in, his love is cringey/unconditional due to the experiences he has had in life, however this series focuses as much on the MC as it does everyone else, meaning that towards the end there is only one character who really brings forth these scenes.

The story itself is episodic and whilst there are buildups that helps with the flow, that being said its not one of those exciting ones, just a warm and fuzzy story which is why I cannot give it a great score despite my liking it.

Art 8/10

The art is a bit more different from the usual anime, that is not to say it isn't good, but its something to bear when watching the thing. There isn't much to say aside from that, but I do know some who were slightly put off by this art style.

Sound 8/10

Opening was great, thats one thing all the new anime have in common this season. But the actual bgm/ost in this doesn't really stand out. Once again simply because of the type of anime, but for the most part it compliments the story and doesn't feel out of place.

Characters 9/10

This is where the anime stands out for me, with an anime like this the characters are the focus and the story is merely a means to compliment them. You have the passionate MC who as I've mentioned before is slightly eccentric, the reason for this was explored slightly too late for my taste, a mistake a lot of anime make, but even without the reasoning it should be too hard to empathize with. On top of that you have a small assortment of females, each with their own reason for being there and supporting the MCs. That being said there is none of the typical cat fights that go on in so many anime, instead its more of a slow paced romance that eventually falls into place.

The relationship between characters is rather dynamic and there are many small changes in the story that put said relationships to the test, which is always good to see.

Overall 8.5/10

I personally put 9 in my score, but 8.5 is probably slightly more accurate. A good one to watch if you have the time and managed to muddle your way past the first episode but for those who are expecting an ecchi incest anime its probably better to give this one a miss.

Y'know, the realization of writing reviews on this site for four years comes with some vague existentialism of wondering if anyone actually reads the things that I write, or if I've actually improved cause these things are just sort of self-proofread without my outside opinion. Bah, I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's just get into this thing.

Story:

First off, ignore the first five minutes. As a writer, Hashima Itsuki is peculiar. After getting an earful from his editor for the umpteenth time, he goes off on his usual schpeel about the greatness that is the 'imouto', before being promptly told to take ... his work seriously and get his shit done on time, like any novelist with a deadline. And so, that's...basically where our story starts.

Based solely on its cast, Imouto Sae (that's my shorthand this time around) is a slice of life romp seen through the eyes of its literature-based cast as Itsuki and the rest of the main cast do what writers do. Each episode is focused on the character interactions between the cast, whether it be for research for someone's book or spending time with one another through games that act more as a creative exercise for their brains. The show's naturally lax nature exudes the slice of life genre, utilizing a brand of conversational humor with the main focus being what the oddities that are its characters and how they are as people as the brunt of its comedic prowess. On the outside, not much really happens since episode after episode, it's basically the same thing, but slowly, we watch as more minute and complex matter arise.

At times, the show ever so slightly shaves away its naturally fluffy and slice of life feel and touches upon the 'writer's struggle', or at least those relating to LN authors that adds more to the show. We sort of see the individual problems that each of the authors in the show face, touching upon different personal problems that add a nice subtlety to the overall story as the sunshine and rainbow of everything we see sheds away for that brief, sober moment amidst the characters' happily drunk nature being published authors.

Yet despite that, the one problem I see from the show is that nothing seems to change. Sure there're events that lead one thing to another, but because the slightly deeper moments of the show fade away once they're over and leave but a shadow of their impact, much of what we get is the status quo which, while amusing, poses a problem when the moments of deeper thought were only just a few minutes ago. The ending also leaves a lot of loose ends that I'm not particularly fond of. Kind of like a 'read the manga' ending, but not so assholeish that they stop in the middle of some plotline that you'll never get an answer to.

Overview:
+ Provides a nice look into the 'writer's struggle'
+ Never melodramatic despite being a show featuring interpersonal relationships and such
- Tends to stick too much to the status quo
- A bit too many loose ends by the end

Characters:

A connoisseur of the little sister, Hashima Itsuki is the writer of a magic academy series, or by its other name, 'trash'. (I jest, I jest.) Initially seen as nothing but a pervert too prideful in his own work, Itsuki has many moments where his inferiority shows through the cracks, and the cheerful facade that we see through most of the show slowly fades away as he reveals his own insecurities as a writer. As someone who's also been guilty of saying "I'm not good enough" to myself, I find Itsuki to exemplify much the internal battle inside someone who writes, with just enough of this hidden side of him to give us a proper character.

Despite that subtle complexity, the true star of the show (at least in my eyes) is Nayuta herself, the popular 18 year old novelist who from episode one has never stopped trying to get into Itsuki's pants without committing a crime in the process. A natural prodigy at writing, much of her story lies in the events that led her to becomes the girl that we see her as now. It's less of a writer's struggle, and more of a personal struggle, but all the same is done in a way that adds just enough to her character to give us the viewer some more information. Aside from that though, Nayuta acts much like a supplementary character to Itsuki, giving him the drive to be the writer he always wanted to be. Their relationship is cute, and I personally really like the direction they went to explain why things between the two are the way they are.

To round out the quartet, both Miyako and Haruto act as similar characters with their issues, boasting a personal and professional struggle respectively that again, adds enough to their characters to bolster and solidify their problems as looming parts of their lives, like how normal people are.

Aside from them, the cast is filled with a cast of colorful weirdos that spice up the gaps that the main cast leaves behind. Everything from an accountant who takes joy in the squirming in others to a mangaka who wears a ribbon of questionable material provides us with a weird yet amusing spectrum that makes the episodes that much more fun.

Overview:
+ Rounded main cast
+ Amusing side cast

Art:

Produced by Silver Link, the show replicates the original artist Kantoku's style of the slightly muted color palette in conjunction of super shiny, almost reflective hair that's commonplace in the works he draws for. Art quality is very consistent throughout due to the show's severe lack of need for any taxing animation (since everyone basically just sits around), and stands as a nice relaxing sight without anything bad to note.

As far as fanservice goes, the show does have several choice moments that are certainly more risque than what the rest of the show is in comparison, but it's super tame, and if it ever gets out of hand, the show goes to use its various colorful slides with text on the front for 'censorship'. One of the most amusing ways to censor something if you ask me. (Though I will admit that Nayuta is the cause of most if not all of these so blame her.) Most of the perverted comedy is done through innuendos and spoken words, so visually, it's not severely apparent.

Overview:
+ Consistent quality
+/- Some fanservice, but not much

Sound:

Chouchou's "Ashita no Kimi sae Ireba Ii." stands as a song that when combined with the visuals, harkens to the whimsy that authors feel when writing their works, the wonder than a person feels when they put their imagination on paper. Personally, I feel like many of her other songs are more memorable, but this is no way a bad song and given the placement and usage of this song in the series, certainly has its impact.

On the flipside, Aria Yuuki's "Donna Hoshizora yori mo, Donna Omoide yori mo" is a more somber piece that ends the episode on a calming and closing note that compared to the slightly more energetic whimsy of its OP counterpart, gives us pleasing resolution to the episode rather than some seiyuu song or something that doesn't have much impact

Overview:
+ Nice and whimsical tracks

Personal Enjoyment:

I think my first reaction to watching this show's PV was 'Yes'. Not for really any particular reason, but it just seemed like the show I was really going to like. And surprise surprise, it was. It has the quality of touching on the personal problems and the insecurities and stress of making a good story and making a name for yourself in the publishing world without succumbing to melodrama or any kind of super contrived storyline which is refreshing in a landscape where anything drama-based resorts to melodrama. It's a show I watched because I was intrigued, but stayed because I genuinely resonated with the characters having had tinges of these problems myself when writing stuff in my own time. So for that, I appreciate this show and am really glad that this was something on my seasonal list.

Did I like this show?

If I haven't sung enough praises about my enjoyment of this show, then yes, I did like the show. In particular, I really like Nayuta. I'm always a fan of girls who know what they want and earnestly strive for that person they love because often times you get tsunderes or some other stupid trope of girls undeserving of the happy ending they get in the end without rhyme or reason. (Abuse is not love, girls) But more than that, the relationship both professional and personal between Itsuki and Nayuta stands as one of my absolute favorite things of the show because there is reason why Itsuki doesn't take the plunge and overall gives more depth to the protagonist.

What didn't I like about this show?

Nothing particularly irked me, but my only wish is that somehow they continue this. The loose ends were vaguely irritating and given the setup that we were given in the last few minutes, a sequel is all the more possible from that. (We do not talk about the first five minutes of the entire show. That shit is repressed.)

Would I recommend this show?

Personally, I say yes. Though the show is infamous for the first five minutes of the first episode, if you do get past that gate (and trust me, there is an explanation), you are in for a slice of life adventure that really is more than meets the eye. It's a lax show focused entirely on its characters and their interactions, taking time every now and then to expand upon its cast to smooth and polish them out a little more for depth. Plus it's got a nice helping of wackiness that makes things a helluva lot more entertaining than it should.

First and foremost, people need to stop judging this anime without actually watching it. So many of the reviews I see here are completely inaccurate, and it's pissing me off. Please? Actually watch the anime? Thank you?

Now, getting into the meat of my review; this anime is not your run of the mill generic imouto anime. I actually can't stand that genre, and always drop it. In fact, I have refused to even touch Oreimo. HOWEVER, this has almost no focus on little sisters at all plot wise. The main character himself is obsessed with little sisters, but spoilers, doesn't actually obsess over a real ... sister. Instead, you watch his interactions with his friends, his struggle to become a successful author, and his journey towards being someone he can be proud of. Each and every character in the anime has a story. They each own a flaw, and their personalities are all memorable. Although there's some stupid crap that pops up every now and then, like the first 5 minutes of the first episode, there's so much more to the anime than meets the eye. I never ever write reviews, and in fact this is my first one. It's not like this is my number 1 favorite anime or anything, (ATLA all the way idc I know it's a cartoon) (also konosuba <3) but it deserves a higher rating than just 6.79. Seriously??? You're giving this anime a 6.79??? The music isn't like orchestral, but I personally enjoy it a lot. The art is beautiful, with an extra wallpaper-esque picture at the end of each episode (which is a courtesy might I add). The plot is really light-hearted and fun with a dark undertone that is actually expanded upon. The characters are all unique, quirky, flawed, and relatable. As for enjoyment, frankly it is something I look forward to watching each week. People are just band-wagoning over anime like Black Clover, complaining about how crap it is, and then continue to watch it while completely disregarding actually quality anime like this one. This anime shows the struggles of being an author, the struggles of failure, and struggles of being unable to express your true feelings. I can relate to a lot of what goes on in this anime, and it always leaves a smile on my face.

In conclusion, I know this review sounded like a rant, but I don't care. How would you like it if your hard work was disregarded by the majority because they just assumed that it was "like the rest of the genre". It's like the racism of entertainment. This anime deserves respect, and it is 100% worth giving a try. Now while in my opinion it's probably more of a 8.5 to 9 out of 10, I'll give it a 10/10 to help balance out the ignorant fools who give it 1s and 2s without actually watching it.

Give it a try, you might like it more than you think you will :)

100% spoiler-free. I write this review having seen only the anime, and mentioning only what is revealed in the synopsis above.

Imouto sae Ireba Ii:

"Normie Barrier"

"Fanservice-driven"

"Trash"

... I think every one of these labels is a great and common excuse for many people to stop or avoid watching this series. I think each is painfully inaccurate. I'll explain why I believe that is true, and why I believe this is possibly the best series I've seen this year so far (clearly it is not yet finished).

Anime, manga, and light novels are experiencing a dearth of material to bring the high school audience into early adulthood. How does someone in or graduating college relate to the struggles of high school, which they are quickly forgetting? I wholeheartedly believe that Imouto sae Ireba Ii fills that gap in a meaningful way.

The characters in this anime each represent the difficulties and insecurities of being in your 20's, whether that is through a feeling of inferiority, purposelessness, or pressure to succeed. The art and production aid the expression of these feelings with intimate depictions of each person that feel deliberate and compelling. There is a communal feeling in this series that is born out of a rich tapestry of relationships, allowing us to learn more about the characters without so much of the explicit and forced exposition common in the slice of life genre.

The comedy in this series also demands greater scrutiny than a simple rehearsal of tropes. Viewers receive much of the humor from understanding things about the relationships between characters that they never could, and that pays off more with each episode. Music is mixed and reworked to frame scenes and enhance the comedic pacing. Humor is also drawn from some very common themes and concepts within the Imouto genre, especially the "meta" approach to storytelling, considering the protagonist is a light novel writer. The self-referential approach to comedy here is not necessarily unique, but Yomi Hirasaka accomplishes it with measured grace that tends to avoid pandering for attention.

From here on, I want to take a hard look at the aforementioned labels/criticisms of Imouto sae Ireba Ii.

"Normie Barrier"

Everyone's favorite talking point seems to be the beginning of this show. I will not waste time explaining why art needs a chance, but I will say that the storytelling proves itself to be demonstrative. Instead of being handed a list of the likes and dislikes of a character, viewers are shown through reactions and fantasies. Showing instead of telling is something far too many anime forget to do, especially for such a visual medium. Things that shock or confuse you can be difficult to ingest, but sometimes that reaction is necessary as a narrative device.

"Fanservice-driven"

If this series were driven by fanservice, it would be immensely different. I find myself laughing more often than not when it occurs, and I believe there are subtle cues that differentiate the depictions of this anime's characters from ecchi anime. I believe that the art does not contain the sort of detail in suggestive scenes that portends fanservice. I also think that the development of the characters justifies most instances of fanservice that occur. Is there fanservice for fanservice's sake? Probably. Is it a driving narrative force at any point in the show? Absolutely not.

"Trash"

This show is in part about people with hobbies or occupations that ostracize them, and that is completely intentional. We cannot hope to understand the development of a siscon author writing novels without getting behind what makes him that. There can be a compelling story that does not focus on a main character with a traditional background or psyche. We do not need to be able to project ourselves on to any of the characters to relate to them, and that is the beauty of this anime.

All of this said, there is a reason that I give this anime a 9 instead of a 10, and that is because I have to admit that there have been one or two short, one-off scenes that display some sexually aggressive behavior that does not have a purpose in the story. I did not think that these moments felt cohesive, and I am tempted to disregard them in my enjoyment, but I cannot ignore their presence in this review.

In summation: Imouto sae Ireba Ii is a compelling representation of the trials and tribulations that come after realizing you've grown up. This show displays a storytelling prowess that stems from the honesty with which it delves into relationships, and the synchronicity of its art and music. The common criticisms of this show seem unwarranted in the face of its intentionality, but that isn't something that a viewer could hope to fully understand in just one or two episodes. I encourage everyone to form their own opinion of this show, because the carefulness of its writing and production more than deserves that much.

9/10

hear me out.. this might be boring ish title..

but believe me when i say the story take on different direction of what typical anime LN takes .. as this anime
unravel reality on these LN writer. such as tax evasion (i love the tax baba she cute). or how the editor somehow lock the
author to force them to write.

the seggs related joke are many but well at this point, only veteran would watch this..
the character is well writen. the plot is well directed. not too good and not too bad.

you can feels the slice-of-life ish feel on this anime. last word, ... i like how this anime goes, not too experimental and not
too shabby. good quality and good joke at modest.

-kkc

Many people will probably dismiss Imouto sae Ireba Ii. as another Eromanga-Sensei, or straightly drop the show after seeing the first minutes of Episode 1. People can’t blame them since the first episode was a giant normie filter.

Nevertheless, you shouldn’t judge it based on just the first impression.

If you’re someone who’s new to watching anime, or someone who’s not comfortable watching 'unconventional' scenes, then this anime will probably throw you off. There’s a huge amount of sexual comments even in the first episode. The show doesn’t hold back when it comes to fan service. It’s a giant normie barrier.

Your normie friend will go ... crazy watching this show.
But if you can overlook these things, there are many things that this anime has to offer.

Let's skip discussing the plot and focus on two things that makes this anime good.

On Being Informative:

These are just small details, but the little explanation they add on some topics was a nice addition. For instance, the hometown tax, a system introduced in Japan in 2008, was briefly mentioned and explained in episode 4 of the anime.

You just learned about taxes in an anime that has “Imouto” in its name. The anime also gives information about different things like drinks every episode. An example of that is the daiginjo sake featured in Episode 6.

Nowadays, it's not common to find an anime that can both inform and entertain the viewers.

On the Characters' Interactions:

One of the good things about this anime is the characters’ interactions. It’s nothing spectacular but it’s definitely enjoyable. Scenes like Haruto and Itsuki getting teased, Miyako sympathizing with everyone, or when Itsuki struggles to meet the deadlines. We even get a general idea about the life of Light Novel authors in this anime.

So..

Should you watch Imouto sae Ireba Ii.?

The show isn’t something spectacular, but it definitely has many things to offer. It’s a great and enjoyable anime that doesn’t have any complicated plot. Give it a try and watch a few episodes before deciding if you like it or not.

Overall, I'll give it 8/10.

Okay, first of all I want to tell you my English is bad. So if there is any wrong words, or bad grammar, please do not hesitate to tell me.

why this series get low rate before end of the season ?.
in the 1st episode. you 'll got some weird scene in first minute. but i think its not the reason for somebody go jump here and give its low rate ?
i'm write this review after i'm watching the 6th episode, its so great, and this'll be one of the best anime in this season (for me).
If you looking some anime for fun, just watch ... it. Its so refreshing, dont need think hard about complicated drama or anything.
Great character development, every character have its unique development and background. Very clean story, no mystery or bla bla bla or something that I don't understand.
the story is easy to understand.
character is very lovable.


STORY [9]
in the first minute, I was confused very much, what the hell is this ! Are this is H genre ?
But i remembered the character in the thumbnail, looks like something fishy, hahaha.
Keep going if you like the 1st episode, cause i can feel the plot just only from the first episode. The story itself is very common. Its harem but not extremely harem, its romance ? I thinks it's not. Its just fun to watch no more no less.

ART [8]
The art is pretty good. well why I'm scoring 8 because its to much loli wherever I'm turn my head, its not to good for your health.

SOUND [9]
the opening very nice made, I love it so much. For the backsound itself very well, natural and flowing with the story.

CHARACTER [8]
They have good character, they build it very well, they build a very good
in each character's personality, because its the main theme in this series. Every person has itself personality.

ENJOYMENT [10]
I love it, and I enjoyed the story so much! So much fun , not confusing, or something make blown your mind.

OVERALL [10]
even this anime is very standard plot and so so, but I'm very pleased with it. It fun to watch and refreshing.

I will update my review when the series ended. like i say before if there is any wrong words, or bad grammar, please do not hesitate to tell me, I really appreciate it

thanks for reading.

At first, going into this anime, the first impression gave you of it is simple and filled with fanservice. However, it ends only there; it will just be another one of those all so famous Imouto anime you see nowadays. However, that's quite the false alarm, because, for me, I was pleasantly surprised to find out what this anime is actually like.

It's nothing like what you might think at first glance; it's a lot more and to put it easy, its delightful, quirky romance with a dash of a slice of life added in the mix. I won't deny you will see fanservice now ... and then, but then again, a tiny bit of ecchi has never hurt anybody. If it doesn't shove it in your face and it feels like a natural aspect to the anime, I don't see any issues with it.

Story

The anime follows a novelist, Itsuki Hashima who is quite obsessed with little sisters and tries to revolve his work around that. His goal is to one day create the ultimate younger sister novel. Despite its weird background for the plot, the anime delves into some realistic themes — both in his work and outside of life. The anime is simple and straightforward, but it was a very entertaining watch for me, more than I am willing to admit. I would not mind a sequel because of that.

Art

The art for this kind of anime fits nicely, and it doesn't seem lacking from my understanding. It's cute, and moe, but have this certain mature vibe to it. I don't know how to put it any other way. Adding on, the facial expression and comedic moments hits well, and you don't see yourself yawning over how boring the art style is. It's simple but compliments the anime well and suits it well for this kind of anime.

Characters

Characters are all colorful and quirky; no one feels flat or dull. They all have something about them that can entertain you. Especially, a certain silver-haired female, Nayuta Kani. Without going too much into spoilers, let's say she is with a doubt one the reasons I liked this anime and want more. Her personality is so refreshing, and it's not something you see that much of anymore. She is to put it in laymen terms, quite the daredevil and unpredictable an overall super fun character to watch on screen, as her shenanigans with Itsuki unfold.

She is my favorite character among everyone, but you have a good cast in here that feels alive and important. They are not just there to be there. The story might as well be around them, although, there is a set goal for our main character, Itsuki, that's no the only main focus here. It goes into the issue with making a light novel, romance problems which are handled realistically and don't come as forceful: even family issues and more, like the common problem you happen to come upon.

The Negative

I enjoyed the anime from start to finish; I never taught it was tedious or boring. Sure, some arc did feel slightly rushed and certain moments with the game they were playing was kind of weird, I wanted them to focus more on the characters instead of that. This is my only gripe if you take into mind it was only a 13-episodes long first season. If it had more to offer, I would probably ignore it altogether. Also, mainly this is just a tiny gripe, nothing more or less. My overall enjoyment for this anime was barely affected by this one thing.

The bigger issue is that there is no sequel for this anime, and although, it's not a negative aspect by itself, it does fit in here so, there is that. However, all said and done; I never had any problems that made me want to drop it or yawn as I was watching it. It was a good watch, and I am hoping we get a sequel soon, or I might start the light novel instead. Since, I am very curious where it will go in the future, what more problems will arise and... I do want more Nayuta, so there is that too.

Conclusion

This anime was quite a pleasant surprise, one I am glad I did not skip over and got to experience. It had a surprisingly good cast of characters, and it was kind of it to delve into some realistic theme making it for an exciting and fresh watch if nothing else. I would highly recommend this to anyone who doesn't mind ecchi and want something slightly different than the other anime which falls in the same category as this one.

Overall Scores

Story: 8/10
Characters: 8/10
Art: 8.2/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Overall: 8.3/10

Most, not all, that give this show a low rating are people that haven't watched more than 1 minute of the first episode. The first two minutes are COMPLETELY different from the rest of the show and is only there for comedic effect (something it overdoes actually.)

This show is definitely brilliant if you give it a chance, that being said it's not for every anime watcher. For a nice comedic and a little bit of a slice of life anime I highly recommend this.

Do note that some of the humour is aimed at an older audience and some humour might be too sexual for younger ... viewers

Okay got to lay out some speculations-

Dropping the first episode is a mistake actually, i know the first impression was totally offbrand or i don't know.
I recommend that do not drop it because the Story and Comedy is good ( put some romance as well )

So some of my words here have spoilers ( not that big deal )

In the first episode was off, i know some of you knows, because it shocked me as well but getting through that is exciting and entertained me by what this anime showed, it is not a generic INCEST or some sh*t, i promise this anime is worth ... it.

Okay for the story for me is 9/10, why?

- Going through a fun ride with 12 episode of this is soo good, specially episode 10 ( Itsuki finally admits that she love Nayuta but not enough to show that he love her cause of his current stage/status ) that episode really hits the mark for me, and not enough backstory for Nayuta's past ( It was Bullying ) and really enjoy this 12 episode.
- THIS IS NOT EROMANGA-SENSEI, this is far better than that Incest.
- I want more episode, yes i want more because i want to know if Itsuki really end up with Nayuta and achieve his dream

The Art is 8/10, my opinion :
The Sound is 7/10 , my opinion also :

- Okay the animation was pretty decent for me and the sound is just too casual but never ruined the story and the progress of each character, well the animation is just too cute for me because look at Nayuta, Miyako and Chihiro, they are cute ( hehe )

Character ? 8/10 for me

- The development is just centimeters by centimeters, i got confused in some episodes but really research for that.
- This anime is just introductions for the story ( not yet the full ) but the execute of s*x jokes really hits home.
- Slow phase you have to read the manga for backstory of the main character.

ENJOYMENT? 10/10 mlg

- I love this anime ( idk why ) but truly, this is the first show i watched that the title sounds like INCEST but nope, totally misleading, it's just a guy who love little sister for his manga ( sounds incest but okay ) and his little sister ( Reverse trap ) does not want his Oni-chan's peepee
- Really doubt the first episode but damn episode 10 just got spicy

Overall ? 8/10

- There is lacking some development and some few plot holes, but never really bothered me since it's easier to research
- Not much to talk about but i do enjoy this better than 'Eromanga-sensei' and 'my little sister cannot be this cute' ( i do not like hardcore incest )



So would you watch this ? Yes or No

= Yes, it is enjoyable and romance was not the aim for this anime ( but the manga does )

Recommended ? Yes or No

= Yes, some people may enjoy 'just characters sit down play board games and talk about their life'

Nayuta Kani best girl ? Yes or Yes

= Yes, she really deserves Itsuki's virginity and her's to be Itsuki's

Now, I'm going to be quite simple here. I'm seeing that a lot of people dropped this anime early on/gave it a fairly low score. Please, DO NOT drop this anime. The first 6 episodes were essentially just memes, dick jokes and character introductions/getting us used to the dynamic of the characters. However, episode 8 brought a fairly interesting turn. I noticed early on, that the Romance in this Anime was kinda lacking. But, episode 8 changed that. After seeing episode 8, I can confirm that there is still hope left, and that this could potentially end pretty well. I won't spoil anything, but if ... you must, you can skip to episode 6 and start there (I say start at episode 6, because episode 6 sets up for episode 7). Aside from that, just go try this Anime out.

P.S. The main character actually has a little brother. He looks and sounds female, but he's a dude. So this isn't really an incest/imouto Anime, but rather the main character just likes imoutos.

This wasn't orignally something that I've planned to watch in the beginning, having read the other comments beforehand. However one day, as I stumbled across it, I found that this anime is actually better than what most of us redeems it to be.

Just to clarify, I only watched the anime, so this review is written with regards to the current episodes alone (5 ep up to now) without any insights from the original novel.

Imouto sae Ireba Ii, an anime about a novelist and his friends, started off like any other daily-life animes. Compared to the others, one may think that the story is lacking in ... depth and in plot, having some weird characters and a plain MC. Nevertheless, there are some heartwarming moments inside each episode that kept me on my toes, while the story itself is very relatable, describing the daily life of a novelist and his struggles while depicting his social circle.

Character-wise, all of the characters have a personality of their own. The MC is a sistercon; his brother/sister that's perfect in all senses; different female characters that interact differently according to their personalities with the MC; the competition in life; all of them is helping to shape the MC into what he is, and while many of the characters might seem plain in the beginning, as the story goes on, we are guided into understanding each of the characters, and why they are important in their own aspects.

The music is pretty good, so far I am very enjoying the OP, and funny musics usually accompany funny moments.

The art is our usual art type, nothing fancy, nothing 3D, but this plain art-style fits perfectly with the type of story we are looking at.

TL;DR I am enjoying this anime as it takes up a different approche than most of the other daily-life styled animes, the story might be bland, but more details are given by each epsiode. Most of the characters are relatable and fun, the art and sound are fine and overall enjoyable. I encourage everybody to give this a try. :)

Think about it, how hard being a novelist or mangaka? Just because people like watching anime, or reading manga or novel they can know how the writer feel.
- Story -
I like the story, it seems to be comedy, romance but somehow it shows appeal of each character. For each character, they have problem that show in certain episode, and it show how each character solved their problem.
- Character -
Itsuki, has serious side that show him how he loves little sister. This character show their other side in story. Kani, she fall in love with itsuki because itsuki help solving her problem in past. ... Miyako, itsuki's friends from college, she has kind character. I like how the character being develope in story, when the problems come to each character and solved it.
- Overall -
I like the story because it has similar genre to Eromanga-sensei, but it has more serious story. Just because the tittle A Sister's All You Need, it shows romance betwen siblings, No the story focus on how the character being good novelist. I hope it has more story that show each character's problem and how they solved it with some fresh comedy between character.

The award for the most misleading title goes to…!
Probably not A Sister’s All You Need but it’s a pretty damn misleading name.

It’s definitely caused a bit of confusion for people deciding whether to watch it or avoid it like the plague, so before I start the review I feel like it’s necessary to say what this show is and what it isn’t.

This show isn’t...
-A little sister romance.
-A rip off of Eromanga-sensei.
-Ecchi, but there are few over-the-top lengthy fanservice scenes.
-A kids' show, despite how the characters appear.
... -The horrifying events that occur in the first 3 minutes. It gets better after that, I swear.

This show is…
-About the ups and downs of being an artist.
-A character study. Yes, as ridiculous as that sounds this show is about the characters, not the story.
-A (perverted) gag comedy.
-Unfiltered. Characters do and say what they please. Be prepared to laugh and possibly to be offended.

No time is spared in establishing the perverted tone. Within the first three minutes of episode one, the main character’s horrifying sister fantasy is shown to the audience in grotesque detail. Later it’s shown that the main character’s editor is reading then spitefully denying his appalling work as he drops the script to the table (not unlike how I initially dropped the show after only that first scene). The start of the show may be a bit alienating to anyone who isn’t prepared for a sis-con, but it does a good job of preparing you for the show’s absurdity even if no other scene reaches the heights of the first few minutes. Don’t take this as praise though. The show knows where the line is between too much fanservice is, and it purposefully crosses it to get you to think about how disgusting the whole fantasy is. It’s self-deprecating for sure, but that’s part of the charm.

A sister obsessed light novel writer, his younger stepsister, a perverted novelist, his plain jane friend, and a few more writers and publishers make up the cast. The story is small in scale, but it gives the characters plenty of room to develop. The main character struggles to come up with new material and jokes ensue around him in his distraction. He gets some absurd story ideas turned down by his editor. He spends a lot of time in his apartment with his friends playing games, telling jokes, talking about anime, and this all brings about plenty of funny perverted gag humor. If you can’t gel with perverted humor then I don't think this is the show for you, but give it a chance beyond just judging a book by its cover.

Despite looking and acting like teenagers, the characters are used to adult life and often show their wisdom in conversations. They can be really perverted at times and seem like sickos but over time they grew on me. Through great moments of the character’s reflecting on themselves you’re able to get into their heads and understand why they are and what motivates them. For the characters to be so well developed it becomes easy to get invested in the ups and downs of their lives as they become adults. We learn about what formed them into the people they are through the many outgoing conversations they have with each other. They’re not perfect friends and their chemistry isn’t totally perfect, but the way they clash adds to their believability. I find myself justifying their actions no matter how deplorable by referring to the minor details that built their foundations as people.

All of their weird quirks just make them so believable, the weird insistence on sisters that Itsuki has, how Nayuta only writes naked, and Miyako’s jealousy of lives of her interesting friends. We know these characters for more than just their weird quirks. We seek how they interact with one another, not just the main character, we get a sense of what their lives are like outside of Itsuki's apartment. Even the supporting cast of publishers, freelance artists, writers, mangaka, and just normal people all have expressive enough personalities to carry the show for the brief time that they appear to offer some wisdom or humor.

I don’t gauge characters based on how realistic they may seem, I gauge them on believability. Could the characters in Imouto Sae Ireba Ii exist? Probably not, but after seeing what formed them into the people they are I’m more inclined to believe.

Not every joke lands, but enough do to keep it enjoyable. What had me coming back to it week after week was the realistic drama mixed in randomly with the zany comedy that would surprise me when my guard was down. The characters evolved into people I actually liked, not just the stupid pandering archetypes I initially pegged them to be.

KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NOT YOUR BASIC IMOTO ANIME.

Presumably a lot of people were quick to judge this by the presence of the imoto leitmotif and a number of other cliché that the show uses as premises. So please remember that, just because you've seen some similar concepts in other anime, IT DOES NOT MEAN that the show is a basic rip-off of ero manga sensei and it just follows a trend that passed its hype-point or whatever. IT'S NOT. This show does an AMAZING job taking over popular themes and motifs, breaking them at times and shifting them towards the development ... of some of the most enjoyable shit I've seen lately.

Its strongest point, in my opinion, is the way it balances the light, humorous, joke-around, pleasant-to-watch atmosphere with short moments of deeper character introspection, revealing tiny puzzle pieces that, when put together, make for a great, meaningful story about what draws people together and what sets them apart as individuals. (I believe Ituski stated something along the lines of "What one person craves, the other one has and doesn't care much about it." This, for example, is one of the more subtle dilemmas that the plot explores. And while we're at it, the ending scenes of episode 8 are a fucking masterpiece.) YET it's still incredibly entertaining, and easy to watch.

The cast of well-picked characters - a group of four good friends, with obviously different personalities, certain weird obsessions and their worries about being a lot less mature than they would expect from being 20-ish (very relatable stuff) - gives birth to saucy, super-funny exchanges of lines where very little stuff that can be said is out of line. The voice acting is great. The drawing pairs it just as well. Not a heavy-plot, not a superficial anime either, twisted just at the right amount for its genre.

I can keep this going for a lot more paragraphs, yet the core of my message is just this: please give it a chance, it will surprise you.

A few hundred or so people have dropped this anime the moment they saw the title, most commonly because of the "Imouto" which gives off an idea of similarity to Oreimo, but it's not that. Rather, it's not really focused at the "Little Sister / Imouto" thing at all, it's just like some kind of extra detail or fuel to the protagonists debuts and works.

Also for the most part of the Comedy being about the lives of the Novelists. There's often a sex joke (not as much as Shimoneta handles) by Nayu. I'd go as far as to tell you that Nayu x Itsuki all ... the way. Honestly, they should just date already.. (I'm going off track now)

Ok, first off... the story.
I might've already explained some parts of it.
It's not focused about "Imouto" but rather on the Characters and the Lives of those in the Novel Industry.
Our protagonist is an Imouto-loving Writer but doesn't really rely on that for the story, rather, he's just using it as a motivation and as his primary fuel for his works.

This is a Comedy Romance type of Anime but without the falling in love with his little sister part.

It's about his and the other characters growth as Novelists. His motivation to overcome his love interest in terms of Novels in order to soothe his Inferiority Complex and to accomplish greater heights on writing novels (yes, he loves someone other than Imoutos)

Although most of the background and fixing about him and his family's misunderstanding is somewhat ignored so that they could continue with the "Lives of Novelists" kind of thing.

Also noting that the title came off from one of his favorite works, so don't put this on the same shelf as Oreimo and Eromanga.

Art.
Yes, the modern style of backgrounds and the details are complimentary, although we are mostly seeing him in his room, the visuals of the outside when he ever goes out to get ideas are nice, although common in terms of new anime, it still gives off the new modern feel into it.

Sound.
Not much I could say but the Opening and Ending is nice. Also a good set of choice on VA's.

Character.
Yes, this is where the story is focused and what develops the most, everyone is trying to overcome and achieve goals for the whole anime. Feeling inferior to someone with natural talent. (It happens) in a chain-like manner, and the fact that they are doing their best to so even with the Comedy. A few occasional drama (not as big as youtube drama) are shown and the Romance part of it isn't exaggerated, everything's at their own pace and their own methods, their lives and the turns and loops of it. They get along well regardless of their competitive characteristics.
Also, I have settled my ships as what they wanted it to be.

Enjoyment.
Simple Comedy and Sex Jokes often portrayed (mostly from one character tho) just makes it fun, it's not offensive for the most part and that the order feels like a day-to-day Slice-of-Life. Also features more about what a life of a Novelist/Writer is. One of the few nicely paced anime I could go on to if the others are way too tense and messed up.

Overall, I'll give it a 10 at this point, my opinion is you shouldn't judge a whole anime by it's title and covers. For those who haven't watched it yet, I suppose you should let down the "Ahh, a new Oreimo" thought about it.

Really fun watch that starts as Eromanga-sensei and ends up more like Shirobako with characters that embody real concerns and issues. This is not the place to start if you're new to anime but if you give this a try past the notorious first episode, you will find many things to like and keep thinking about beyond the immediate humor.

The author previously create Haganai, which is seemingly well liked in general, but fell a little short compared better series. This outing demonstrates a huge improvement that subverts industry tropes and conventions with many anime and gaming insider jokes and references, while establishing characters ... that you will care about that are struggling to succeed and find happiness.

This was an unlikely highlight of the season and worth giving an open minded try.

From the first minutes of the first episode, I would never imagine the show Imouto sae Ireba Ii being the heart touching show it is to be today. Like many others, I expected the show to be akin to Ero-Manga Sensei or Oreimo, a love comedy of sorts and whilst Imouto Sae could still be definitely categorized as such, it has a much lesser emphasis on romance. We are privy to the lives and emotions of Itsuki and his friends, including the hardships that they face during their transition to adulthood. It is easy to sympathsize with the tragic pasts of the characters, and root ... for their happiness.

There are unique aspects to the show- such as the minigames that the characters play, and the neat little animation introductions to them. The show also does not take itself seriously, by having bizarre characters such as best girl Kanikou or the Tax Accountant Ashley Oono and silly music to lighten the mood. The addition of fanservice is always great, and with the exception of episode 1, Imouto Sae doesn't overdo it.

Imouto Sae is wrapped up at the end of each episode by the melodic and somber ending theme song starting to play right as we witness one of our favorite characters go through a difficult time. And as we emphasize with these characters, we are taught life lessons that are invaluble not only for these characters, but for our own, complex lives. Ultimately, Imouto Sae is a rollercoaster of emotions that will make you laugh one second and tuck at your heartstrings the next.

Contrary to its title, this is NOT an anime about little sisters! It's not really a romance either. It should be appropriately labeled as a slice of life comedy. Now with that out of the way, here's why. Imouto sae Ireba Ii is actually an anime with several narrative goals. It wants to be a coming of age story directed at college students or viewers who are beginning to enter the "working-phase" of their life. It wants to be a comedy that makes fun of "little sister" and "ecchi" anime tropes. It wants to be informative with regards to the life of a light ... novelist. Finally, it balances these lighter elements against several instances of drama revolving around themes of friendship, romance, and goals. Sound familiar? It should, but you've probable never seen all these concepts played simultaneously.

[STORY = 6]
Practically nonexistent. Don't watch this anime if you're looking for rapid development that builds towards a sharp climax or any conclusion for that matter. Every episode is very contained with a specific message it is trying to convey. As a viewer, you are simply a bystander peeking into the daily life of a light novelist and his friends. I especially enjoyed the little "board-games" that the characters played in several episodes. Clearly, the creators were trying convey the imagination behind story telling. At the very least, it was a refreshing and original attempt with some laughs at the absurdity of light novel stories.

[CHARACTERS = 7]
Exactly what you expect. Itsuki, the protagonist and sis-con. Nayuta, the perverted comedic relief with an obsession for Itsuki, but God only knows why. Naturally, he doesn't reciprocate. Chihiro, the doting and caring little brother who looks like a sister, but sounds like a little boy. Or was it the other way around? Whatever, you know what I mean. Haruto, male-friend/rival to protagonist who is forever the third wheel in any romantic scenario. Miyako, the sensible attractive female who reacts accordingly to our (the viewer's) thoughts at every outlandish scenario in the anime. Individually, no character is special, but in concert they have good chemistry and give the story a lot of texture.

[ART = 7]
The average modern standard. There is some fan-service but it's never erotic. It just makes you want to cringe, which is what the show is going for. The anime is making fun of the ecchi genre after all. Don't expect any zoomed-in shots of butts/boobs where you can see shine/sweat. Everything is drawn rather flat, but the surroundings are very colorful and realistic. Appropriate for this genre.

[SOUND=7]
Not bad, but forgettable.

[ENJOYMENT =8]
I had a good time. This anime is a fair example of a work that is greater than the sum of its parts. There is enough variety across the episodes to keep you interested if you like slice of life and comedy. The show does a good job of shifting tonally when you least expect it. One moment, it's all fun and laughs, and then you're given a somewhat dramatized shift in the narrative that has something to do with success or relationships.

[OVERALL = 7]
Despite the variety this anime offers and the balancing act it is attempting to maintain, the show ultimately fails at juggling these goals and falls over on itself. The anime starts losing focus towards the end and its final episode is so anti-climatic that my final grade rounds the work out towards the lower end of the 7 spectrum. If what this show is about is still unclear, I'd say it's most similar to animes like Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata and Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo. Still, it was an enjoyable and light-hearted diversion that's a good watch if you just need a break from heavier shows.

I was expecting your average imouto loving trash from the title and the first couple minutes of the first episode but boy was I surprised! Instead it explores the world of writing light novels through an Imouto loving writer and his friends! Despite not being what I expected, I fell in love with this anime. It was comical to the point where I was laughing out loud but it was also balanced with realness and depth that made all the characters lovable to me. I never would have thought I'd enjoy an anime about making light novels so much. I'm praying for a season 2 ... but until then I'm going to read the light novels! This anime is definitely worth a try and is one of my new favorites!