Synopsis
Love isn’t easy, this statement holds especially true for one Takeo Gouda, and it doesn’t help that he holds a large muscular build and tall stature. Still, behind this intimidating giant is a young man with a heart of gold, always willing to help others even if it doesn’t turn out the best for him. One day he saves a cute girl named Rinko Yamata and instantly falls in love with her. The problem? He thinks that she might be in love with his cool and handsome best friend Makato Sunakawa. But is that really the case?
The Good
The art style works well for the theme of the show and while the animation was not always on point, it did well enough to execute what was needed. The characters on the other hand are unique pieces of the anime by themselves and bring a fresh look to the shoujo community. So many times, have the big guys with golden hearts been put aside as extra characters, to see this type of guy as the male lead of the series and actually working well is something to give a thumbs up to.
Not to mention, the other two main characters both have their own unique twists to them, breaking out of the usual tropes in their own ways as the cool guy and the cute girl of the series. The romance is also a delight to watch along with the friendship between the two main male characters. So overall, while not technically sound, the plot, characters, and even some of the comedy did a good job.
The Bad
As stated, there was some points that the animation could have done better work on, while not bad, it was not overly great. And while the characters were great in their own way by breaking out of the stereotypical models of their appearances, they too could have gotten some work on in terms of development. Instead, the anime simply brought in new characters to create drama while having the main cast react to it. It would have been nice if they were to go through things without the outside influence of a new character and show viewers a different side to them.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a shoujo anime that takes on a completely different look to the “aesthetically pleasing” couple and take on a new twist to stereotyped characters, this is the anime for you. What’s more, rather than the development of romance, it is the development of a relationship, which is a nice change amongst the vast amount of romance building anime leading to the climatic confession. While it is not the top notch of animation work or character development, it is a nice watch if you’re looking for something simple and sweet.
Rating: 7/10