Kowloon Generic Romance Episode 1 Discussion

Feels like a 1980s or 90s anime lost in the 2020s and 21st century. But also somehow not and settled exactly where it means to be...

The fact that it's based on a 2019 manga rather than reviving of an older property is what impressed and caught my attention. Ah, so they're still writing and drawing good solid things like this at least as far into the future and as recently as 2019. We don't have to go back to 1992 for it. That's reassuring.

Make no mistake - It could still - and at any point - turn out to be just mediocre and passable or even abysmal and a huge trainwreck, but more than most based off of the first episode, all indications are leaning toward potential greatness for this one. It's nice to only know a few vague disjointed pieces of information about the series beforehand, before going into it, so as to only have a fuzzy and sort of quasi-formed, rudimentary image in mind before being hit with something like this. More than most first episodes of most seasonals taken in over the past few years - the throwback aesthetic and nature of it baked into the premise, the combination of genres involved, oscillation between the cute and the eerie and ominous, the in-the present moments versus the detached wistful and meditative ones - As I said, series like this can just have what looks like a number of the correct ingredients in place on paper/on the surface and still turn out as a middling or low-tier disappointment, but they're also the ones that have the makings of some of the greats - of some of the minority of anime seen I've rated with 8s and 9s out of 10. And to be able to identify or get that sense as early on as the first episode is striking.



In the immediate vicinity of the air directly around you temporarily, yes. But internally, any resulting sensation of heat is less prolonged and diffuse than that from drinking a hot mug of coffee or tea or eating a hot bowl of soup, chowder, or spicy curry. And many people don't normally refrain from things like coffee and soup in the morning or while dining out just because of high temperatures outside and summer weather.

For smokers, it's the same. But also keep in mind that many smokers use cigarettes and other similar/related tobacco products as stimulants, taking short and quick puffs to produce a stimulant effect, like little buzzes or bursts of energy. Just the consequent release of norepinephrine in the brain can provide a wave of rejuvenation which folks will likely deem trumps or overrides any discomfort from perception of a minor and fleeting temperature change. Some people can get their chemical fix for an hour or more from an activity which lasts five minutes or under.

This looked great, character designs very comparable to After the Rain as it's the same author. OP song also got some style.

Both characters Reiko and Kudou seems like decent people with relatable personalities. Kudou might be misunderstood from the surface but a down to earth guy. Their chemistry seems like the main part of the first episode. There's a few teasing moments but it's just the first episode..plenty of time to develop their characters. Oh and the setting, Kowloon Walled City has a mystique vibe to it given its history.

It won't cause https://x.com/MangaMoguraRE/status/1903344627530272813?t=iIDTu3bb0qHltGU0pbh5rw&s=19



Unfortunately, it is what it is...

Heh after reading some comments, apparently a rare opinion: I’m somewhat worried about pacing of the adaptation.

Like, for context, I’m not even a “fan” of manga yet. I started reading it literally some days before watching the show, and I stopped at the same point in the story where first episode ends (coincidentally). And it’s worrying, because 1 episode adapts the whole 1 volume, 8 chapters. And it feels during the watch, al least I feel it.
I’m not sure that speedrun is the best approach for the story based on idea of nostalgia and “romanticism”.

For example, in the manga there is right from the beginning accent on the idea of “repetition”.
Anime watchers only doesn’t even know about CONTINUOUS banter between Reiko & Hajime, sure it still present in the story… but there is way more in the original. And amount of memeable cute faces of Reiko absent from the first episode is no small.

Certainly some can argue that it is a choice to cut all “fillers” and it’s not a bad thing to concentrate on the main plot… but idk… I really feel that this goes against the very theme of the story.

Anime watchers only did you notice the nuances of the pacing? Have you felt like something was missing, as it was happening in the background?