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It's 2023, and there's this season's offering of the typical shut-in trope. No, it's not an isekai power fantasy. It’s instead the dark horse of Winter 2023, Studio Bind’s latest Slice of Life effort, Oniichan wa Oshimai, aka “My Brother was A Shut In, So I Turned Him into a Girl to Reintegrate Him into Society!” Okay, I made up that title, but it accurately depicts this show’s plot, and it is somehow the most visually impressive and down-to-earth SoL show in recent memory.

There’s no need to repeat the synopsis, as the show sticks with its simple premise, and Studio Bind does what it does ... best - to pack the production quality to the max. Starting from the OP and ED, the animation is so smooth that it makes me shed real man tears. It is exactly what everyone has hoped, Mushoku-tier animation on an extremely wholesome story. This sets a new standard for the genre. The overall direction and colour palette are unique, especially highlighted by the intriguing camera angles reoccurring in multiple episodes. Director Shingo Fujii definitely knows how to grab a viewer's attention with Mahiro's cute expressions...simply a treat to watch!

The main protagonists of the story, Mahiro and Mihari, are what make the show. Don’t take me wrong, the side characters are in no way poorly written, but the fantastic execution of the sibling relationship overshadows it. Their relationship is something to envy - Mihari is willing to go the extra mile to help her brother basically retry life, and Mahiro is willing to follow through. 10/10 relationship goals!

To Twitter users’ dismay, this show is not a commentary on LGBTQ politics. The gender transition is only a plot device that pushes the sense of reconnection the siblings slowly pick back up. At the tender age of 16, Mihari is already a university student researching gender-transitioning drugs that bypass conventional hormone therapy…you get the idea. Mahiro struggles to catch up to his sister, whom he was once close to. All the lost time with Mihari was made up during this time of role reversal, and Mahiro can experience all the fun things in life with his sister, just like in the good old days.

The sound department is nothing-out-of-the-ordinary. I liked the 00s throwback J-Pop opening and ending. The OST is very fitting of the show's quirkiness and was memorable, I found myself spinning the soundtrack just to chill. Very relaxing. The VAs from the previous drama CD reprised their roles in the anime, and I must praise their performance. There were too many notable moments to count, and you can witness greatness yourself ;)

At last, I can tell you why I took off one point. As a manga reader, I felt the story could have slowed down a bit. Although the story was smooth, some nice details in the manga were overlooked to fit the 12-episode quota. pssh… Nayutan :(

I could ramble on about the technical details of the animation quality of the show for days long, but I will spare you for now, and instead, you should watch the anime! This is a diamond in the rough that I would die to have a second season of. Another stunning addition to "This is Not Your Typical Cute Girls Doing Cute Things."
9/10

A well-executed backstory. This does not contain the fan service we are used to for an OVA/Movie, it instead shines a radically different light on Emilia as a character.

Story: 8/10
A wonderfully written story that perfectly captures the journey Emilia takes to reach the belonging (although temporary) that she yearned for. It explains the mannerisms of Emilia that were shown in S1 and alludes to S2. So if you want to get ready for S2, don't skip this one. The only flaw in the story is the pacing at emotional moments. I feel more care could have been applied but it was done appropriately.

Art: 8/10
I ... was impressed with the abundance of beautiful backdrops used in this Movie. If you liked the art of the original series, this would only surprise you. Good job White Fox as always.

Sound: 7/10
The soundtrack is fitting for the anime. Nothing too memorable, though.

Character: 8/10
This movie sums up why Emilia is EMT. Many fans complain about the one-sidedness of Emilia in S1 but the movie showcases her complexity as a character. If you wonder what S2 would be - I can tell you it expands on what is built here in the Movie.

Puck is as animated as ever, if not he is a bit too animated this time around. The VA for Puck really hit it out of the park.

Enjoyment: 9/10
Loved it. Re: Zero does the mini character episodes extremely well (**The OTTO SUWEN one**) This one does not disappoint, can't wait for more.

Overall: 8/10