Well, Sharknado proved everyone wrong. It racked up millions of views over the weeks following its initial screening, developed a cut following, and even garnered a 78% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus stating “Proudly, shamelessly, and gloriously brainless, Sharknado redefines 'so bad it's good' for a new generation."
Why might I be bringing up Sharknado you ask? Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the Sharknado of anime and manga. Kanojo mo Kanojo. A series so over-the-top and shameless, that it truly redefines “so bad it’s good” for the anime community. Interspecies Reviewers? Rental Girlfriend? Domestic Girlfriend? Take every degenerate anime you’ve ever recently heard of, or ever will hear of for that matter, and throw it out the window. The one true god you should worship is Kanojo mo Kanojo.
Unlike the previous shows I mentioned, Kanojo mo Kanojo goes all out in being as bad as it can be. I refuse to believe that this story was written with anything but shameless comedy and spoofing in mind, evident by the first episode. The ridiculous story and characters, excessive transitions, sound effects, corny responses, typical rom-com ecchi gag parodies, shocked expressions with vividly animated backgrounds, parodies of the entire Louvre collection on rom-com OSTs (I think we went through maybe 20 or so distinct OSTs/background tracks in every episode), and to top it all off with a cherry on top, voice acting that’s brimming with gusto, is all a testament to how this show sees itself. Considering all intents and purposes, Kanojo mo Kanojo is a certified masterpiece in that aspect: it holds nothing back in its journey to exceed the expectations you’d have of a degenerate spoof series.
And it only gets worse (or I should say better) as the series rolls on. We’ve seen beta males, alpha males, sigma males, but none can match up to the oxymoron Naoya who is both a beta simp and giga chad existing in the same mortal body. This four-time champion does it all. The ridiculous designs and sheer stupidity of the four girls deciding to enter a polygamous relationship is also a daunting feature to stomach as an average anime viewer. Saki, Nagisa, Rika, Shino. Etch those names into your heart for they will be remembered for years to come. The animation, while popping and vibrant, is inconsistent in quality especially during wider-angle shots; however, this is but a small blemish on a masterpiece of a show.
The sheer power and volume of comedy in this anime is so strong, that it rivals the laughs and tears I’ve gotten out of Grand Blue and Asobi Asobase (although more often than not out of stupidity than authentic comedy). Hell, I’m confident that even if you went into this show with a serious attempt at critiquing it or trying to enjoy it, that mentality would instantly be shattered and you would come to realise Kanojo mo Kanojo for what it truly is: the pariah of bad anime, the Domestic Girlfriend of Domestic Girlfriends, the messiah we pleb weebs have been awaiting to save us from isekai purgatory and show us the true potential of anime.
This will definitely be one of the hottest takes this season, and I’m fully ready to accept whatever comes my way. But I will stay strong in my beliefs. This is a hill I’m willing to stake my life and die on, so don’t you worry my fellow brothers and sisters of the faith: I will preach the greatness of Kanojo mo Kanojo until I draw my last breath.
