Engage Kiss

Bayron City, a pioneering metropolis built on a newly discovered energy source, promises every citizen a luxurious and comfortable lifestyle. In reality, young demon exterminator Shuu Ogata's life is far from extravagant. Despite running a private military business, he often struggles to make ends meet due to reckless expenses. Fortunately, Kisara, his demon partner, is more than eager to help Shuu with household matters—albeit a little too forcefully for his comfort.

The two work side by side, taking countermeasures against demon hazards, which stand as the biggest threats to the city. With danger lurking in the shadows, Shuu and Kisara strive to grant the town's safety; however, exterminating the possessed comes with a price unbeknownst to others.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Kisara Main

Aizawa, Saya Japanese

Yuugiri, Ayano Main

Lynn Japanese

Holygrail, Sharon Main

Ookubo, Rumi Japanese

Ogata, Shuu Main

Saitou, Souma Japanese

Ogata, Kanna Supporting

Kitou, Akari Japanese

Takuhaigyousha Supporting

Kugimiya, Rie Japanese

Hachisuka, Linhua Supporting

Oonishi, Saori Japanese

Yuugiri, Akino Supporting

Watanabe, Akeno Japanese

Ashiya, Masaaki Supporting

Kashii, Shouto Japanese

Ananda, Kaya Supporting

Yuuki, Mariko Japanese

Nara, Shunsuke Producer

Tanaka, Tomoya Director

Takadera, Takeshi Sound Director

Sakuma, Takashi Episode Director, Storyboard

Reviews

Jun 10, 2024

Shabo-kun

Recommended

Engage Kiss is anime with greater potentional, but unfortunatelly it didn’t manage to utilize it that well. There is lot of scenes where
series completely slips into mediocrity and harem cliché. Thing is there is also plenty of scenes which are commendable either plot-wise, solid fights or nicely done ecchi kissing scenes. All these made me wonder how to rate this show. I’m an average ecchi fan of some occasional fan service with some boobas, asses or kissing if it’s well done and not on children like characters as it can be good
addition to spice things up. Needles to say that this is one of ... the stronger aspects of the series as kissing feels comparatively real
and "hot". On the other hand when fanservice is the only thing on point which can series offer it’s impossible to take it seriously.
Don’t be fooled as Engage Kiss is trying to incorporate more major elements like interesting storyline, diverse characters, relationship drama and romance or sci-fi. This effort not to rely on one aspect makes it piece worth watching. The execution could be better which is the main reason of unfulfilled potential.

Story: 6,5/10
First of all story takes place in futuristic modern city which perfectly fits with each other more then some post-apocaliptic world like Darling in the Franxx or Chrome Shelled Regios for example, plus this setting was used so much in other shows that it’s not a best option unless it’s done in solid quality like those mentioned.

Major issue of the plotline is that it’s easily predictable with a few exceptions. One such exception which I couldn’t predict was in episode 12 relating to memories of Kisara and Shuu, who watched certainly knows. Situations with predictable outcome are much
more often whatever they are most fights, reason of Kanna fighting the girls which was by the way stupid as hell and could be more impactful than average brother complex, villians motives etc.
Introduction of the world also wasn’t precise which is pitty, because more worldbuilding would certainly helped it’s plotline as such. Story jumps right into it and process to focus more on romance from the beginning and not so much on why are things the way they are and how did the world end up in this whole demon situation. In consenquence of that love story often overshadows all that major issues that the whole city is dealing with until few latest episodes.

Romance, drama and emotional side of the plot are main players of the show. In comparison sci-fi elements are not excecuted
as well but still done on point to be interesting enough. Whole memories losing thing makes these interactions mainly between
Ajano and Shoo more dramatic and almost heartbreaking from her point of view that it’s not just typical love drama. Also it reveals
devoted maybe little bit twisted side of an MC, who willingly sacrifices memories of his loved one to save his family without much thinking about it. Obviously it’s extremely hard choice to make and hard to say how would any of us act in situation like that, but it certainly doesn’t feel right. There are nice dynamics between Kisara and Shuu relationship which seems like he uses her mainly at
the beginning, but as story progress he shows the audience his real feelings about her.

Ending was little bit dissapointing as it was typical harem-like ending where multiple girls argue about nosense in front of an MC.

Characters: 6/10
Characters has same issue as story and that is poor introduction. Show starts with every FL already thirstin for MC and we have no
idea why except of Kisara later on. This is especially true in case of Ayano and Sharon which motives of love for an MC are unclear even at the end of the show. In consenquence it was harder to emphatize with these FLs or even uderstand their actions and affection towards Shuu. Shuu is character which has from lead characters the most vigorous character development. At the beginning he wasn’t quite likable and evoked mixed feelings of bitterness and empathy as his problems were complex and obvious, but his actions were at least questionable. In the end he was able to learn from his mistakes that in order to find someone important you can’t sacrifice everything and everyone else, because then it hurts not only yourself but everyone around you to even see you like that. Character development of others was minimal. Each of the girls is basically same as she was in first debut if you won’t count some memory loss which I don’t see as any development.

Overall characters aren’t inovative in any way and their characters traits in general are similar to others from another shows. There isn’t an character which would be literally bad or unlikable to the point I would rather stick my manhood to the outlet, on the other hand there also isn’t character which would be top-notch. Still they are mostly fine enough to be likable and somehow "carry" the show. Most interesting characters were Miles with most impactful character development and complexity, Akino which seems mysterious and rational. From main characters pobably Kisara as she is simply most likable.

Art: 8/10
Artwork and animations are really well done either in fighting, shots from affar on the surroundings or just casual talking and walking in the city. Also design of the characters is stylish and smooth. There isn’t anything bad what can be pointed out maybe except the fact, that there are still better looking pieces in terms of art.This is the only reason why I won’t rate it higher as very good, because the bar for perfection is set high in nowadays anime production.

Music/Sound: 5/10
Music and sound effects throughout the show was on point and it fits the anime well BUT...
Opening and ending was in my opinion completely appalling and I awaited my time to skip it as your average gym pump skips leg days. It was so bad that I was embarrassed when it started to play for the first time and didn’t manage to skip it in time, if my neighbours didn’t overheared this creation as it is worse then old german movies for adults. In the end my rating is average mainly thanks to the hauntingly bad OP/ED either way it was solid.

Enjoynment: 6/10
Engage Kiss was for quite a long time in my On-hold section almost to my oblivion. This speaks for itself as I wasn’t eager to start re-watching it at all. After doing so, show delivered me higher quality harem like anime which isn’t bad, but won’t stick in my memory either. One of the biggest positives is that I wasn’t bored during the show at all. It has mostly a nice flow which keeps you steady, but except of few rarities it didn’t evoke any deeper emotions of happiness, anger, sympathy or surprise as well.

Overall: 6/10
If you like classical harem anime tropes with solid animations and action go for it. Still there is a lot of plot holes, bland/cliché characters and basically nothing original in order to count it as quality anime. Most likely majority of audience will be able to enjoy emotionally and plotwise undemanging fun which is exactly what they get. The plus is you get to see well made kissing and fan service scenes which aren’t pointless this time as they are in many other harem shows.
It’s deffinitely not a piece for everyone, but I would still recommend it for majority of other viewers.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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Mar 8, 2023

Rodriiz

Mixed Feelings

Brazilian portuguese:
Vou ser bem sincero, o anime não merece apenas uma media de 6 pontos, claro que voce cai de paraquedas no meio da historia sem uma unica explicação, até que o decorrer da historia tudo é explicado, gostei do desenvolvemento da historia e dos personagens em si, e meus companheiros, disparado a ultima cena foi de tirar risos, quem diria que a “comedia” viria a calhar no final da história, anime bastante recomendavel para quem está entediado, anime 7/10 bastante subestimado
inclusive é a segunda vez que faço essa avaliação, por apenas alguns caracteres minha avaliação foi removida, ao mesmo tempo isso é bom e ... ruim

English:
I'll be very honest, the anime doesn't deserve just an average of 6 points, of course you fall from a parachute in the middle of the story without a single explanation, until the course of the story everything is explained, I liked the development of the story and the characters in si, and my companions, shooting the last scene was to laugh, who knew that the "comedy" would come in handy at the end of the story, highly recommended anime for those who are bored, anime 7/10 quite underrated
this is even the second time that I make this review, for just a few characters my review was removed, at the same time this is good and bad

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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May 15, 2024

BlackCrowGrows

Not Recommended

"Engage kiss" is what comes out after an anime is adapted from a fucked up story with no get-go.

After watching the first episode one would initially think that this is a erotica bundled with some fucked up sci-fi plot having just to cater the needs of lonely man and their bottom half, and well... it is exactly that. But the thing is that it fails to even do that, i.e the basic purpose for which it is made.

The protagonist of the story is a fucking loser with 0 talent and skills, but he is still able to maintain a harem of women head over ... heels over him just because of his fictional privileges. Not only that, but even the side characters just revolve around the MC and have no self care/ decision making abilities. And on top of that the MC is an asshole and a hypocrite who's basically living controlled by his dick each turn.

The fight scenes and the art being the only good thing about this garbage is what made me to stick around till the end. Otherwise, this is an absolute boring piece of trash not worth even looking.

Reviewer’s Rating: 2

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	Poll: Engage Kiss Episode 7 Discussion ( 1 2 ) Stark700 - Aug 13, 2022	89 replies	by KingOfPneumos »» Jul 6, 5:05 PM
	Poll: Engage Kiss Episode 6 Discussion ( 1 2 3 ) Stark700 - Aug 6, 2022	100 replies	by KingOfPneumos »» Jul 5, 7:04 AM
	Poll: Engage Kiss Episode 5 Discussion ( 1 2 3 ) Stark700 - Jul 30, 2022	136 replies	by KingOfPneumos »» Jul 5, 6:47 AM
	season 2, just a thought (frieren continuation to engage kiss) weeaboo5008 - Jun 10	4 replies	by 1Accelerator »» Jun 11, 1:42 AM
	will engage kiss get season 2 in this year or it is still not  confirmed by official sources FL-SYNC - Mar 26, 2023	45 replies	by deg »» Jun 10, 12:15 AM