A cheesy, but oh-so-relatable look into the challenges faced during youth, Sakura-sou no Pet na Kanojo is a must-watch. Its messages resound with those who are lost in life, and inspires its viewers to keep going. It will hurt. There will be obstacles that you may feel impossible to overcome, but each new day is a new opportunity to reach your goal.
Story: 8/10
"Another high school, slice of life romance anime? Oh, brother," one might think, but Pet Girl carved its own path, and formed its own unique identity as a whole. It overcame its gimmicky take on an age-old anime premise, in part, by executing the story efficiently and pacing it naturally. Even binging the show, the bad times dragged, and the good times flew by, just as they do in real life. The drama assuredly had highs and lows in terms of quality, but the highs were downright fantastic, and made the show addicting to watch, more so than the low points detracting from it. At times, I found the romance aspect of the show to be respectfully reminiscent of Oregairu, which is a compliment of the highest degree. Overall, not groundbreaking, but surely memorable.
Art: 8/10
Character designs are fairly run-of-the-mill, but the animation is fairly consistent. Most of the time, it is average at worse, and breathtaking during its highlights. Backgrounds are used skillfully to wordlessly convey the tone of the scenes, and their quality is above average in my opinion.
Sound: 9/10
The voice acting is simply fantastic. More so than the character designs or smooth animations, it is what really brings these characters to life and makes them memorable. Hearing what sounds like genuine dread when things are going badly, while also being rewarded with authentic elation during the good times makes the main plot points all the more impactful. The music was far bad, but some songs were unforgettable, and complimented the show very well. Specifically, the second ending theme felt like a delicious cherry atop each sweet, satisfying, and addicting episode.
Character: 10/10
I won't get into any specifics for individual characters, for the sake of avoiding spoilers. This being said, I just love how these characters were written. Few anime have produced more relatable, realistic takes on the challenges of youth, and how we react to them over time. Romantic difficulties, failure, depression, self-hatred, and uncertainty are central parts of the characters' experiences, and sometimes they're broken by these things. However, with time, unbreakable bonds, and restless support and effort, they overcome their struggles together. They have truly found what we all strive for; people who will stay with you and support you unconditionally. This didn't happen over night, and their bonds were surely tested, but proved unbreakable by the end. Beyond this, the diverse set of dynamics between the Sakura Hall inhabitants was truly entertaining. Some, while sharing a tight bond, also envy another. Sometimes an unspoken distance clouds the waters of their relationship, and they're hesitant to venture further. These things are common in actual interpersonal relationships, and I think they were masterfully mirrored in Pet Girl. Sometimes, they even hit a bit too close to home, but that only speaks to the series' quality and authenticity.
Enjoyment: 8/10
As I am faced with many of the issues that the characters face, their pain is my pain, and their joy brings me joy. However, it can be truly difficult to watch the trials and tribulations of these characters as they fight through their problems, and it made it very rewarding to see the end. The ending wasn't quite the cliche ending where all are happy ever after, and all of the characters' problems are not resolved by the end of it. This is precisely what makes the show so memorable and relevant. Despite these glaring issues, they still attack every day with an enthusiastic smile, determined to make it as good as it can be. It is very inspirational, and inspires hope that, maybe one day, you can have the courage and fortitude to do this as well.
WATCH IT!
