There’s no need to repeat the synopsis, as the show sticks with its simple premise, and Studio Bind does what it does best - to pack the production quality to the max. Starting from the OP and ED, the animation is so smooth that it makes me shed real man tears. It is exactly what everyone has hoped, Mushoku-tier animation on an extremely wholesome story. This sets a new standard for the genre. The overall direction and colour palette are unique, especially highlighted by the intriguing camera angles reoccurring in multiple episodes. Director Shingo Fujii definitely knows how to grab a viewer's attention with Mahiro's cute expressions...simply a treat to watch!
The main protagonists of the story, Mahiro and Mihari, are what make the show. Don’t take me wrong, the side characters are in no way poorly written, but the fantastic execution of the sibling relationship overshadows it. Their relationship is something to envy - Mihari is willing to go the extra mile to help her brother basically retry life, and Mahiro is willing to follow through. 10/10 relationship goals!
To Twitter users’ dismay, this show is not a commentary on LGBTQ politics. The gender transition is only a plot device that pushes the sense of reconnection the siblings slowly pick back up. At the tender age of 16, Mihari is already a university student researching gender-transitioning drugs that bypass conventional hormone therapy…you get the idea. Mahiro struggles to catch up to his sister, whom he was once close to. All the lost time with Mihari was made up during this time of role reversal, and Mahiro can experience all the fun things in life with his sister, just like in the good old days.
The sound department is nothing-out-of-the-ordinary. I liked the 00s throwback J-Pop opening and ending. The OST is very fitting of the show's quirkiness and was memorable, I found myself spinning the soundtrack just to chill. Very relaxing. The VAs from the previous drama CD reprised their roles in the anime, and I must praise their performance. There were too many notable moments to count, and you can witness greatness yourself ;)
At last, I can tell you why I took off one point. As a manga reader, I felt the story could have slowed down a bit. Although the story was smooth, some nice details in the manga were overlooked to fit the 12-episode quota. pssh… Nayutan :(
I could ramble on about the technical details of the animation quality of the show for days long, but I will spare you for now, and instead, you should watch the anime! This is a diamond in the rough that I would die to have a second season of. Another stunning addition to "This is Not Your Typical Cute Girls Doing Cute Things."
9/10
