Senpai wa Otokonoko

Much like the other students at her school, first-year student Saki Aoi finds herself captivated by the beauty of her senior on the school board, Makoto Hanaoka. While she worries that Hanaoka would be uncomfortable receiving a confession from another girl, Aoi musters up the courage to tell her anyway. However, Hanaoka's response surprises Aoi for a completely different reason—Hanaoka is actually a cross-dressing boy!

Fully expecting Aoi to be abhorred by this revelation, Hanaoka is shocked to find that she has no issues with it. Though Hanaoka rejects Aoi's request to go out with her—citing his identity and the fact that he has never fallen in love before—Aoi insists that she will become his first love. Taken aback by Aoi's determination, Hanaoka wonders if he can really fall in love with her if he cannot find it in him to truly love himself first.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Hanaoka, Makoto Main

Umeda, Shuuichirou Japanese

Aoi, Saki Main

Sekine, Akira Japanese

Taiga, Ryuuji Main

Uchida, Yuuma Japanese

Taiga, Konatsu Supporting

Maeda, Kaori Japanese

Hanaoka, Takahiro Supporting

Shinomiya, Gou Japanese

Yoshida, Miyo Supporting

Hayase, Yukimi Japanese

Tanichi, Kanako Supporting

Wakuno, Aika Japanese

Taiga, Miki Supporting

Yoshida, Asami Japanese

Taiga, Ryuuichi Supporting

Maeda, Yuu Japanese

Kotake, Koutarou Supporting

Okano, Yuu Japanese

Yanagi, Shinsuke Director

Motoyama, Satoshi Sound Director

Kujira Theme Song Performance

Hashimoto, Yukari Music

Reviews

Jul 18, 2024

Ellenwitch

Recommended

Preliminary (3/12 eps)

What are gender norms.

Seriously. Is it wrong for a guy to like cute things? To seem more girly, and not manly. Can say the same case for girls too. It's quite the thought and topic for sure. Something of which doesn't come up a lot in anime, and with how serious this anime is seemingly trying to portray it from both sides of the argument, where you don't like it and think it's silly, or that you personally would support such, even if it's not your cup of tea. I know for a fact this show will step on toes for these reasons alone. But ... will it be a hit? Lets see.

Story and characters: 8
Here we have a good and fun love-polygon story with a twist that'll just add to it's watchability. Being having quite the serious topic when it relates to Gender, and what people see as what each are. When more likely people wanna like what they want to like, and be who they want to be. I really do feel like cause of this nature, and following both sides of the coin, it'll be told really well, and given the proper respect it deserves. Of course you'll find annoyances within that, but that's a natural thing to have. If everyone just out right accepted it, it wouldn't be a good show in context. It'd be nice, but if it's going for a more real vibes, then we'd need to have both the positive, and the negative side of it.

Through it's characters too, it's doing a real good job in presenting it. After all, not all of us are manly men. Or girly girl. Hell, some of us might even have hidden feelings that we could think is wrong, but really, it's more just showing how much you care for a friend, as you love your friends, they're your friends after all. Even if they have something 'weird' about them.


Art and sound: 7
There is a lot of fun with this. Really highlighting the more happy scenes with bright colours, or least seemingly more bright than usual. Then making it more tame, or darker whenever the scene is either going more serious in context, or is going in the opposite direction in terms of happiness. It's a nice touch really. Following that up with the random bits here or there, making it seem like tons of fun, despite the seriousness of the topic it's covering. Going with a good solid sound design along to boot.

Otokonoko covers quite the subject, and really does a good job at it. Will say however, this will depend your taste in the show, but for my money, for the product it has written up, it's delivering. Hopefully it keeps that up. A good show indeed.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

What did you think of this review?

Nice 0

Love it 0

Funny 0

Confusing 0

Informative 0

Well-written 0

Creative 0

More reviews by Ellenwitch (328)

Show all

Read more

Show less

Open

Gift

Report

Jul 22, 2024

jonnemummiska

Recommended

Preliminary (3/12 eps)

Please give this a watch if you're in a situation at all similar to Makoto for that giddy feeling of being seen, and fantasy of things ending up alright!!

With how conservative Japan tends to be with these things it's surprising to see, but I'm incredibly happy that something with this much heart gets to be aired :) In terms of plot, characters, etc. this show is so far just alright. HOWEVER, the entire premise is, at least to my normie eyes, so unique that it elevates the whole series to greatness.

Makoto's struggle with his identity is easy to relate to for those going through ... similar things, but I think this show gets close enough to capturing how the struggle for identity feels, that it's worth watching for anyone simply curious too.

Reviewer’s Rating: 9

What did you think of this review?

Nice 0

Love it 0

Funny 0

Confusing 0

Informative 0

Well-written 0

Creative 0

More reviews by jonnemummiska (1)

Show all

Read more

Show less

Open

Gift

Report

Aug 27, 2024

kchakrak

Mixed Feelings

Preliminary (7/12 eps)

For context: I'm not very familiar with how certain minorities are treated in modern-day Japan. I do believe shows like this, that cover how difficult it is to be genuinely different from your peers as an adolecent, are important. It'd probably fair to say though outside of offering visibility this doesn't have a lot to offer as an entertaining anime.

What we have is an anime that answers important questions about sexuality and gender norms, and how murky the whole subject can be, especially for teenagers. What we don't have is an entertaining, or deeply written, romcom anime. It's tough to exactly pinpoint, but outside of ... highlighting a series of tough situations to be in it really doesn't do much more. Again, as a show it's simply ok. Outside of that I'm not best placed to judge.

If you want a good romcom there are loads more out there, and if you want a good series on dealing with gender and sexuality issues I really recommend reading the Love Me for Who I Am manga. Again, this isn't a bad show but I think it's a little weak.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

What did you think of this review?

Nice 0

Love it 0

Funny 0

Confusing 0

Informative 0

Well-written 0

Creative 0

More reviews by kchakrak (69)

Show all

Read more

Show less

Open

Gift

Report

Queer Vibes

by Mediocre_Artist

50 Entries · 160 Restacks

Capybaras in anime

by Kansugi

13 Entries · 12 Restacks

Summer anime season [2024]

by Loockl

50 Entries · 1 Restacks

Aniplex Announces Lineup for Aniplex Online Fest 2024 [Update 8/30]

Aniplex announced the schedule and lineup for its annual Aniplex Online Fest event on Friday. Aniplex Online Fest 2024 is set to begin on September 16 at 12:00 p.m....read more

Aug 19, 9:01 AM by Snow | Discuss (4 comments)

Summer 2024 Simulcast List [Update 6/6]

In this thread, you'll find a comprehensive list of television anime acquired for simulcast release during the Summer 2024 season. Anime series licensed for hom...read more

Jun 28, 2:58 PM by Snow | Discuss (15 comments)

	Poll: Senpai wa Otokonoko Episode 9 Discussion IzanaSolos - Sep 5	44 replies	by AkaiMura »» 7 hours ago
	Poll: Senpai wa Otokonoko Episode 7 Discussion ( 1 2 ) IzanaSolos - Aug 22	64 replies	by NirvashX1 »» Yesterday, 1:21 PM
	Poll: Senpai wa Otokonoko Episode 6 Discussion IzanaSolos - Aug 15	47 replies	by NirvashX1 »» Yesterday, 12:02 PM
	Poll: Senpai wa Otokonoko Episode 8 Discussion IzanaSolos - Aug 29	41 replies	by Ronin-errante »» Sep 5, 6:17 PM
	Poll: Senpai wa Otokonoko Episode 5 Discussion ( 1 2 ) IzanaSolos - Aug 1	54 replies	by DolFunDolphinVT »» Sep 1, 8:24 PM