© Takibi Amemori/Shogakukan/McCain Support Committee
The first three episodes have a lot of anticipation and over-the-top elements that are backed up by truly stunning production quality from top to bottom.
I admit this genre is a bit beyond my capabilities. Makene Very firmly in the high school comedy genre. Most scenes oscillate between romantic tension, goofy antics, slice-of-life interactions and interpersonal drama. It’s less plot-heavy and focused on character development and connections – with plenty of reactive faces, heartfelt confessions and exciting dialogue. While this is certainly relatable in some ways – I was once an awkward young man struggling to define myself and understand those around me – over-expression can be uncomfortable. Sometimes these outbursts can express the emotional truth of an experience, but more often than not I find that it kicks me out of the scene, or is so exaggerated that it becomes an alien emotion entirely. I’m not a big fan of this either. fan service-y elements, since the actors are all high school students, but they are rare so it was bearable for me. As with all things, your mileage may vary depending on how relevant or realistic all of these feelings are.
The core cast is undoubtedly strong and defined. Nukumizu, Yanami, Yakishio, and Komari form a solid core team. Their personalities haven’t been given much time to develop, but in the short time we’ve spent with them, they’ve established themselves and added enough specific details to start to feel like their own characters. I think Nukusui is the most boring of the bunch because he carries the burden of being the boring dishwashing protagonist. Hapami, Burnt Salt, and Little Mari draw a lot of inspiration from their respective reactions to the emotional struggles of crushes, exes, and unrequited love. Interestingly, they focus on small personal tasks, late-night exercise, or personal writing to help cope with the emotional turmoil of teenage heartbreak.
Another great thing about this series is the artistry of the presentation. Expressive and vibrant, with beautiful color and movement, the animation captures both madcap comedy and heartbreaking emotional detail. The backgrounds are gorgeous and varied, and mundane objects like water bottles and food are beautifully rendered. Character expressions, body movements, clothing, etc. are all very realistic, and the animation team carefully crafted a variety of interactions and daily behaviors. Even something as simple as burning sand off your jacket or picking a book off the shelf is a real treat to observe. The entire voice cast also puts their full effort into every line – they have a knack for delivering both comedy and drama with aplomb.
The bones here are strong, and I hope as the show continues we get more character exploration and really find out who the actors are at the core.
episode 1: score:
Episode 2: score:
Episode 3: score:
Grant is the co-host of the Knife Licker Podcast and the Super Seniors Podcast.
Makeine: There are so many failed heroines! Currently streaming on Crunchyroll.
