The author has absolutely zero idea of how to manage a plot or characters - but manages to get his ideas published and animated by forcing the characters into a delusional, masturbatory fantasy for the average young male. It's repulsive and abhorring, and I question the sanity of the editors and directors that allowed this "thing" to get past publishing and onto an anime streaming service.
Characters:
The concept of a "self-insert" character in shounen anime is prevalent throughout all types of literature and manga, almost exclusively for the harem genre. The trope goes a certain way: We have an almost-perfect, simply designed MC that manages to build up a harem using his strength and bland personality.
Now, don't get me wrong - there isn't anything wrong with this trope. If anything, it's enjoyable, and I can name many other shows that have executed this trope well, including: Sword Art Online, Rakudai Kishi no Calvary, The Irregular at Magic High School, among many others.
The opposite of a "self-insert" character would be a highly dramatized character, in which the viewer perceives the MC make personality-unique decisions, struggle with moral values, and most of all - make mistakes. Some examples of these would be Kaneki Ken of Tokyo Ghoul, Kira of Death Note, or Subaru, from Re:Zero.
Something that will NEVER work, however, is mixing these two tropes together - that of both a self-insert (a character with weak personality) and a dramatized character (one with a detailed, realistic personality).
And this, my friends, is what the author and director have regurgitated on-screen.
There is a constant struggle between self-insert and dramatized characteristics; we can see the MC sacrifice his time and dignity to help his childhood friend; we can see him attempt to make-up with the friend that betrayed him; we can see him surrender to the quiet girl in the library, and decide to spend time with her. These would be self-insert characteristics, or the "ideal" character for self-projection.
And then, we have his "dark side" or "true character."
How idiotic.
He can call his childhood friend a bitch for hugging him, he calls the girl that likes him an "ugly cow" and demands that she take out her tits in exchange for eating lunch with him, he actively takes advantage of girls' feelings while at the same time feeling nothing for them. These would, through choices made that differ from the average viewer, suggest that a character has a strong personality -
But the concoction that unfolds on screen is spine-chillingly bad. We have unredeemable plot lines, ridiculous dialogue, cringy interactions, times where you cannot bear to watch the screen - and most of all, times where you wonder, "How did this become an anime?" Everything, absolutely everything is inconsistent; it's terrible; it's unwatchable;
And the SIDE CHARACTERS? Don't get me started.
Brain-dead, main girl archetype with glasses and braids - but is a secret beauty: Her character is executed decently well; she acts as she should and her personality is consistent; she schemes, plots, and betrays. Her endless, unconditional love for the MC, however, feels forced, absurd, and uncomfortable.
Baseball player: Is supposed to represent the classic shounen MC - but also, out of nowhere, possesses a secret, hidden "dark side" all for the sake of plot - how cheap and unimaginative.
Childhood friend: Fanservice character. I can't critique her.
Student Council President: Also a fanservice character.
The inconsistent personalities on-screen have both a lack of personality and a lack of redeemable qualities. If it was a self-insert anime, I'd watch it with a grain of salt, only for the sake of enjoyment - if it was a dramatized anime, I'd watch it for the in-depth characters. But this? This hybrid, unnatural mixture of inconsistent personalities and unoriginal drama? It's genuinely disgusting and insulting.
Plot:
Now, the fundamental plot - the "origin story," if you will, or if you're a nerd, "exposition" - Is DEFINITELY unique. It's a funny, hilarious, new twist on the classic harem genre. The first episode fell off a bit at the end, but ultimately, the plot was original and interesting.
The execution, however?
Abhorring.
The plot SHOULD HAVE gone like this:
The two girls confess that they love the MC's best friend.
The MC's best friend loves a different girl (The girl in the library).
A slow-burn romance, slice-of-life begins, as we watch the funny interactions between the four characters, as they all try to capture the others' attention and compete with one another.
Little do the girls know, however, that while they are attempting to get the Baseball character's attention, they have actually fallen hard for the MC.
The MC succeeds in hooking the girls up with his friend, but they have actually fallen in love with him.
He decides between the three girls.
That would be a normal, 12-13 episode plot. Maybe if some sort of extension was added, like a new girl or new plotline, it could be stretched out to 24 episodes.
Now, let's see what this delusional author did.
The two girls confess that they love the MC's best friend.
The MC's best friend loves a different girl (The girl in the library).
WITHIN {{{ F O U R }}} EPISODES, THE CLIMAX OF THE STORY IS SOLD SHORT WITH AN ABSOLUTELY IDIOTIC, NONSENSICAL SCENE WITHIN THE LIBRARY, WHERE RANDOM CHARACTER TRAITS ARE SUDDENLY REGURGITATED ON SCREEN FOR THE SAKE OF PLOT, A CRINGY, AWKWARD YELLING SCENE IS SHOWN, AND ABSOLUTELY ZERO CHANGE OCCURS BETWEEN THE MAIN CHARACTERS - BECAUSE THE EPISODE AFTER, THEY ALL MAKE UP IMMEDIATELY.
ARE YOU SEVEN YEARS OLD?
How idiotic. It actually frustrated me - So much, in fact, that I made a review account JUST for this anime.
Animation - Decent, but I can spot many shortcuts and repetitive, reused scenery. Nice budget cuts, studio. You're really doing anime proud.
Music - Overdramatic soundtrack for a less-than-mediocre anime. Stick to high pitch girl sounds from failed idol groups, please. Don't waste instrumental musicians' time.
Theme -
I'll ignore the last category.
In conclusion, this anime, whatever its title is, is truly insulting to viewers, directors, and creative thinkers abroad. The characters are poorly designed, resulting in awkward interactions; the plot is original but sold short due to uncreativity, and the art and music feel wasted on such a poorly written script.
1/10, because I can't rate lower.
Matt A
Part-time Otaku and ongoing student of Harvard's English Department
