Watashi ni Tenshi ga Maiorita!

(Very Minor Spoilers!)

First thing's first; I'm not going to criticize the Lolicon Anime for being the Lolicon Anime. I've seen a few reviews under this show saying to avoid it, because it's like, "Creepy Degenerate Media." Or something. And I think that's kind of pointless, considering the fact that anyone who actively wants to watch this show is, more likely than not, watching it for that reason alone, and I don't think weird transgressive media shouldn't exist because people find it unsettling.

Anyway...
I think Wataten is an incredibly cute slice of life anime, that fans of yuri might get a lot out of (Yuri might be ... a stretch, since a lot of people who watched this show don't really think Miyako's crush on Hana-chan is Like That, but if you watch it, it's so blatantly obvious that I don't know what else to call it.)

Now, there isn't really any over-arching story, nor does the """Romance?""" really progress past a one-sided obsession, so don't go into it expecting Miyako and Hana to like, kiss or get married or whatever, or else you'll be a bit disappointed. The premise of this show is that Miyako is a total freak and Hana is mostly only in it for material gain (Candy, Sweets, Etc.)

However, there *are* scenes that give you a little more on the side of affection where they grow just a *little* closer that make you blush and giggle.

Now besides that aspect of the show, the rest of the girls have distinct personalities that make the scenes where they're all together pretty cute and engaging to watch- especially the relationship they all have towards Miyako.

Wataten is pretty easy to watch and get through in a couple days if you take it easy. It's not difficult to parse, on account of being a Moe Slice Of Life Anime a-la Lucky Star. For that same reason, it's not particularly revolutionary or like, a masterpiece... but for what it is, I think it's worth a watch if you enjoy cute girls being cute girls and you don't have any reservations when it comes to somewhat "Problematic" media.

Not really spoilers so not marking it as a spoiler, but this review does mention that certain episode numbers are "X type of" episodes. (Beach type / Camping type / School Carnival type etc). So if you consider that to be a spoiler, consider yourself warned. If you, like me, do not, than proceed.

On the surface this is a cute sweet slice of life about a mostly shut-in shy college student, her sister, and her sisters friend she thinks is cute and wants to dress up on cosplay outfits.

ON THE SURFACE.

If you're a child watching it that's probably all you get. If you ... scratch JUST beneath that surface you pick up STRONG pedo vibes from the girl as she gets warm fuzzies and heart poundies looking at the ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENT. She makes her a large focus of her life and will basically do anything for her approval. Think of her a pedo with power-reversal tendencies.

IF YOU TAKE THE MAIN CHARACHTER OUT OF THE SHOW, it's sweet and fun and a nice slice of life. (Lets not get into how everyone just brushes off the hyper-stalker-obsessive-to-dangerous-levels "best friend (she didn't know she had)" who is obsessed with the main character in return.

The art is decent for the genre and style, not exactly dynamic but works perfectly for what it's trying to do. The music is great and I would heartily recommend the musical (children stage production style of musical) episode 11. The voice acting is on point, at times scarily so. It's a "little" weird though that not a SINGLE person in the show, any of the young kids, the 2 older ones, or anyone, seems to have a father. Males just do not exist in the show. Not even as other people sitting in the desks at school. Fellow students, fathers, whatever, they just don't exist.

I take that back, 4 were cosplaying as ninjas for a theatre troop for about 15 seconds. I'm ASSUMING they were male from build. But hey, given the rest of the show I could be mis-gendering them. If that's the case those characters have my apologies. (There weren't even any male teachers or people hosting booths at the school carnival.)

It was just, weird.

The sad thing is I actually enjoyed the show. But I had to seriously keep mind-wiping myself of how just down-right CREEPY the mind-set of the Main Character was. It wasn't "oh this sweet thing, how cute and precious, I must protect and nurture". It was "ooh she's cute, I'm getting heart poundies and want to hug and squeeze and do things with her" vibes. Just .. Wrong.

But like I said, if you can mind-wipe that aside when it comes up, the rest of the show is quite good. Disturbing still in places, but good.

Your mileage may vary.

It’s Boku no Pico all over again only with crisper animation. A show that attempts to humanize a reprehensible individual, in this case being a blatant pedophile. People only overlook this alarming facet due to the disarmingly ‘kawaii’ aesthetic the show exudes. The basic premise is that a disturbed young adult develops an unhinged attraction to her toddler little sister’s friend. It’s played for laughs when the situation is anything but. Miyako gives off the energy of someone who would be part of the deranged MAPS community. Hell, I’m sure the she would fit right in with those loonies.

This could have been a standard moe ... anime if not for the protagonist. This anime clearly didn’t appeal to me.