The story revolves around Sakura Chiyo and how her feelings towards the boy she likes, Nozaki Umetarou, are misinterpreted. She eventually discovers that he is a famous shoujo mangaka, and in an attempt to get closer to him, she becomes his assistant. A comedic premise, indeed, though one I believed difficult to follow up and build on. After finishing the first episode, I was entertained, but concerned about how repetitive the series might get. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised. The series doesn’t hesitate to make fun of typical shoujo stereotypes and tropes, often leading the user by the nose then hitting them with a twist.
As the show goes on, more and more characters are introduced, all of them unique and entertaining in their own way. They come off stereotypic at first, but don’t be fooled: many of them have a flawed, comedic side to them. Some are, in fact, combinations of shoujo character tropes which are normally not seen together. For example, one of the major characters is a combination of a tomboy and a clueless airhead. What makes the show entertaining is the strange chemistry between them all, and how their differences can turn the simplest of events into something hilarious.
Let’s not forget, however, our main duo. Nozaki is a clueless individual who appears to have no idea regarding how life works at times. His oblivious and bizarre reactions to Sakura’s feelings is a running gag throughout the show. Mind you, it does get tiring and frustrating at times (especially the ending), but for the most part, it keeps the show going. It’s enjoyable to see how his experiences with the other characters contribute to the manga series he is writing. Sakura, on the other hand, is a bright, cheerful individual, and was personally my favourite character throughout the whole show. Her character is different from the typical romance protagonist: she isn’t clueless or hesitant to attempt to express her feelings towards Nozaki. Her failed predictions as to how Nozaki will react to her actions break many typical romance anime tropes. Overall, I enjoyed her character very much.
Despite all these comedic interactions between characters, the story remains somewhat linear. One is aware that time is passing as the episodes go on, unlike many comedy series nowadays. However, the romance in the show does not develop very much by the end, which may disappoint some.
The art in the show is very clean and well-drawn. Each of the characters has a distinguished look, and there is no fanservice in the show, from what I recall. The expressions are hilariously drawn, especially Sakura’s reactions after her attempts to convey her feelings fail.
One of the most enjoyable things for me was the OST. The music was very fitting throughout the whole show, adding to the atmosphere of each scene. The OP and ED are pleasant songs which are definitely worth a listen. The opening is a colorful display of each of the characters present in the show, and is very catchy. The ending is a cute, colorful tune with still shots of Sakura. Sung by her voice actor, it represents her personality very well. Throughout these 12 episodes, I’ve only skipped the opening once or twice, and have not skipped the ending at all.
Overall, Gekkan-Shoujo Nozaki-kun was an enjoyable series, one that almost seems to parody the romance genre. It’s unpredictable yet somewhat linear, with dynamic characters and an interesting premise which is carried out well. This is a show aimed for both male and female audiences, and one that you should definitely check out.
