Perhaps my expectations were too high since this anime is rated pretty high here on MAL and a few people had recommended it to me. After reading the premise, I was expecting a cute slice of life about two kids going through their first love and seeing a bunch of awkward moments. And that’s what I got! I just didn’t expect it to be so boring.
Plot was Incredibly simplistic, even for a slice of life. Basically, it’s about a boy who wants to be an author for literature and a girl who runs track and how they fall in love and start going out. Many find the simple premise a strength and I agree that it can be enjoyable as long as the characters are dynamic and developed throughout the story. Unfortunately, I did not get that with Tsuki Ga Kirei. There is very little drama, and almost no conflict.
The main issue that I have with this anime is that the leads are so dull and have zero chemistry, I honestly could not figure out why they liked each other. I think they had two conversations before there was a confession, and they just kept giving each other longing looks without saying a word. They are both shy in nature, but I cannot ignore the fact that they really don’t have any real problems in their lives besides their relationship. They are both part of a group of friends, they are good at their respective clubs and their families are supporting to their goals. Kotaro’s mom was a bit of a nag, but you know that she means well and just wants him to take his future more seriously. There is nothing really interesting about Kotaro and Akane, they are not charismatic or have any other traits besides their respective interests.
The side characters are forgettable, the only standouts are Roman and Chinatsu, I think I liked them better than the leads and wished they got more screentime. I don’t remember any of the other kids’ names, they had no impact whatsoever.
I did enjoy the art style though, the backgrounds were well drawn with a lot of details, and the lighting and cinematography was impressive. I know that people were complaining about the CGI, but it honestly did not bother me too much. I did notice a couple of slips here and there, specially during character close ups, but nothing too bad. For the type of show it was, the animation was satisfactory.
Overall, I don’t think I could recommend this show. I’m honestly surprised I stuck until end, but only because I was hoping for some decent development. Watch Kimi ni Todoke instead if you’re looking for a good romance with shy and loveable characters.
