Astro Note

'Making a rom-com anime is simple, but making a simple rom-com anime is the hardest thing there is.' - Otaku Cruyff........

Though that was a playful twist on Johan Cruyff's wisdom, it encapsulates what I loved most about 'Astro Note'- its simplicity. This anime's charm lies in its straightforwardness, mirrored in every character it portrays. 'Astro Note' is a must-watch, especially if you're nostalgic for the 90s or simply a rom-com enthusiast.

Plot (7/10):

The core of 'Astro Note's' plot is reminiscent of many classic anime, employing the familiar 'living under the same roof' trope. In this regard, 'Maison Ikkoku' notably comes to mind. The young, beautiful female ... lead who is a 'Mibo-jin,' the presence of a pet dog—these similarities can't be mere coincidences. Yet, despite these parallels, 'Astro Note' carves out its own unique identity, steering clear of being a mere 'Maison Ikkoku' clone.

The characters are compelling, and the situations they navigate are engaging. This rom-com doesn't just spotlight the main couple but delves into the lives of the side characters as well. Such depth is rare these days, given the constraints of a typical 12-episode season, which often struggles to develop multiple relationships fully while giving minor characters their due. 'Astro Note' faces some challenges because of this approach, but it also gains significantly by making its world feel more real and its characters more relatable. On the other hand, the sci-fi elements in this anime don't play a significant role in the storyline for most of the show. In conclusion, 'Astro Note' is primarily a comedy anime with some romance and a touch of slice-of-life.

Characters(7/10):

Like many other anime series featuring a group of people sharing a house, 'Astro Note' has a cast of eccentric characters. There's a jobless adult who always stays in his suit-and-tie attire, a boy who wants to crossdress, a small old man, an unsuccessful and depressed idol, a professional chef who just lost his job, and a couple of actual aliens. Each character receives roughly the same amount of screen time. Perhaps Aoi-chan, whose situation adds complexity to the main couple's relationship dynamics, gets a bit more focus towards the end.

Each character's story feels genuinely believable, and the creators handle some complex topics quite nicely. However, amid all these stories, the development of the main couple feels neglected. Their relationship receives much less focus than it deserves, making the eventual romance feel rushed and underwhelming.

In addition to the main cast, there are other characters, some of whom impact the story significantly, while others do not. The old hag, for instance, is primarily there to add humor. Unfortunately, not every joke delivered through her character lands well, and her antics become tiresome over time.

Animation (7.5/10):

As this is an original anime, there's no reference point for comparison. However, the art style, while unconventional, was neither bad nor strange. It was acceptable. I appreciated the character designs, and the studio consistently maintained the same quality throughout the anime's runtime.

Audio and Soundtracks (7/10):

Though perhaps one of the least popular shows of the season, this anime featured experienced and prominent voice actors, resulting in solid voice acting. The opening and ending songs were decent-not the best or particularly catchy, but they weren't bad either. The effort put into the visuals of the opening sequence was evident and paid off well.


Overall (7.2/10):

While I can't say 'Astro Note' is particularly unique or jaw-dropping in any aspect, it achieves what it intends to: keeping the story relatively simple and laid-back while focusing on the humor of the show. It does a good job in that regard. 'Astro Note,' as a comedy and slice-of-life anime, is a really good watch. However, if you are specifically looking for a sci-fi or romance anime, you might not enjoy it as much. In the end, 'Astro Note' manages to wrap up things quite nicely, making it an anime worth calling 'underrated' (it's rated 6.57 at the time of writing this).

When I first picked up Astro Note, it felt like a cozy callback to 90's era anime, with a bizarre yet simple premise and an eclectic cast of characters. But the more I watched, the more that coziness stepped aside for the increasing bizarreness of the growing plot.

Sure, the show starts off with an alien girl taking up residence in a boarding house full of eccentric individuals, with the goal of finding the mystic McGuffin of her people the Wid that would legitimize her claim to the throne, all while the Evil Hubs try to thwart her, so it's not like we aren't starting ... at a very 90's-era level of ridiculousness (and as an added bit of ridiculousness, Wid is meant to sound like Widow and Hub like Hubbie or Husband, which leads to all manner of misunderstandings throughout the show). However, as the show goes on, the main plot continues to grow more bizarre until it basically jumps the shark, IMHO.

However, the greater fun of the show comes not from the plot, but the characters and their development. I meant what I said when I called this cast eclectic, but the cast is one of the strongest elements of the show; as the show progresses, we get significant moments with each member of the house, learning more about them and seeing their struggles. Despite the show having a 90's feel, the characters all have a very modern depth to them, at least once you get to know them more.

So where does that leave the show? If you go in expecting a cozy little rom-com, this isn't for you. If you want a show that is full of the same randomness and charm as classic anime, however, then this might just be up your alley.

I liked the first episode a lot. It was funny enough where I LOLed a couple times. But sadly, the potential of this series went into the dust bin quickly. The art work was nothing special. The animation was less than mid to the point of distraction. The MCs' art designs were kind of cute, but otherwise their personalities were bland. The other characters were little more than props. The VAs and direction reflected that mightily.

While there seemed to be a decent kernal for a plot in the premise, it never really lifted off. The pacing was plodding, and hurt things quite a bit. ... Then the writers completely jumped the shark in episode 5. It was such a miserable attempt at trying to evoke a reaction. And it had nothing at all to do with the show up to that point. It was so contrived, I just had to shut this thing down. Failure to launch.

If I was grading this, I think I am being more than generous giving it a 45/100. Still a failure, but an E rather than a full blown F, due to the good first ep. Still, you could shoot this series into the sun and rid the universe of it. I would not shed a tear.