I came upon Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun because it was in the new list of anime on Animefreak. I studied the art, hardly looked at the two characters on the picture they were showing me, and basically told myself it wasn't going to be what I was looking for. I can't even begin to tell you how wrong my pitiful assumption was.
I won't sit here and explain the story to you, or give you any kind of spoilers, but let me tell you why you'll enjoy this.
1) If you're like me, and you're looking for something new and different, this is it. I love any anime that makes me smile and gives me a good laugh all in one. I've caught myself actually chuckling at things that go on or situations they present to me. I'll tell you, this hardly ever happens because I feel like what they usually want me to laugh at isn't believable or amusing.
2) This is not your typical story about a delinquent and a girl who's all into her studies. The two main characters, Shizuku and Haru, have much more going for them. I've never seen a main girl who was so blunt and straight to the point, it was as refreshing as it was shocking. Haru at first comes off as someone who's strange and you can't tell what's going on in his head, but he's smart and has more beneath the surface.
3) This anime keeps you so interested, that even the background characters or side characters who's names you don't know keep you entertained or make you smile. I never thought I would be someone who enjoyed side characters, but there are at least three in this anime that excite me when they pop up on the screen.
4) I can be a bit picky about the styling of an anime, or how the art is drawn, but this one is definitely my sort of thing. It isn't generic, and it isn't over the top with colors bursting in your face. Their limbs are a bit long, but that isn't something you'll pay so much attention to that it bugs you. I had a friend of mine tell me it reminded him of a Code Geass style, but I don't see it whatsoever.
5) Enjoy plots where many characters are falling in love or have crushes? Oh god, you will love this. This anime has so much of that, it's bursting with it all over the place. They do it in such a quirky way that it doesn't make you uncomfortable, and you may (like I do), want characters to be with both options.
The bottom line is that I thoroughly recommend this anime. To miss this would be a loss, and I think you'll be missing out on some strong feelings for it and some good chuckles.
