Osananajimi to wa Love Comedy ni Naranai

Sakai Yonosuke is a high school student who devours romantic comedies yet approaches reality with a healthy dose of cynicism. He is convinced that the “childhood friend romance” trope is pure fiction and that the line between him and the girls he grew up with will never be crossed. The problem is, his daily life keeps playing out like a series of textbook rom-com scenes—scenarios he tries to ignore at all costs.

The biggest test for his nerves comes in the form of his two childhood friends, who have blossomed into attractive young women over the years. Minamo Shio is an energetic, charming girl with absolutely no sense of personal boundaries; she climbs through his window unannounced and regularly engineers “accidental” physical close encounters, hoping to spark a romance. Then there is Hiodoshi Akari—now a trendy and popular student—who treats him with the hostility of a classic tsundere, shamelessly calling him a creepy pervert. In reality, however, she is desperate for his attention, resorting to aggressive flirting and jittery attempts to steal a first kiss.

Yonosuke tries to survive his commute and the chaos of the classroom, clinging tightly to his belief that their relationship is purely platonic. However, his resolve is slowly starting to crack. Despite his stubborn insistence that they are just childhood friends, Shio and Akari have no intention of giving up—their goal is to make his heart race and turn his life into a real romantic comedy.

Do I recommend it after the first episode? Yes – the premiere definitely exceeded my expectations. It’s shaping up to be a great, old-school comedy in this genre. On top of that, the visuals are simply beautiful. The character designs for the girls are adorable, and the attention to detail—especially their facial expressions—is impressive. It also features a really solid opening theme. I can’t wait for the next episodes..

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Mayonaka Heart Tune

Yamabuki Arisu is a second-year high school student and heir to the wealthy Yamabuki Group who considers himself an absolute perfectionist. Convinced he has already achieved 99% perfection, he transfers to Furin High—a school recently converted to co-ed—to find the missing 1% that will make him complete: love.

However, his search is no accident; he is looking for a specific girl named Apollo, the host of the late-night radio show Mayonaka Heart Tune. During his lonely days at his previous school, her voice was his only solace. In one of her final broadcasts, they made a promise to pursue careers in voice work together. Using his intellect, Arisu deduced her location based on her wish to attend a school with an ocean view, pinpointing Furin High as her hiding place.

Do I recommend it after the first episode? Yes – I knew this series would be right up my alley as soon as I watched the PV. The show turned out even better than I expected. Each of the heroines has her own charm, the main plot gimmick isn’t something you see often, and I am definitely looking forward to the next episodes.

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Shibou Yuugi de Meshi wo Kuu

Yuuki, a seasoned professional who has survived 28 consecutive Death Games, wakes up in a mysterious building alongside five novices—Kinko, Kokuto, Beniyi, Momono, and Aoi. They have all been gathered to participate in an escape game where failure means death. With no supplies, the group must navigate a labyrinth filled with deadly traps—such as buzzsaws and hidden trapdoors—to find the exit, win their freedom, and claim a cash prize.

Yuuki immediately takes command, adopting an altruistic playstyle under the pretext that saving others increases her own chances of survival in the long run. However, she bluntly warns her companions that she might secretly harbor ill intentions and could use them as human shields.

Do I recommend it after the first episode? Yes – the whole thing was really interesting and kept me on the edge of my seat. Plus, the voice acting is great, and the direction is very good. My only complaint, however, concerns the visuals. The animation didn’t look good—distant shots were done in 3D with characters moving quite strangely, while close-ups avoided movement altogether. That said, the close-ups of the characters’ faces looked very nice and weren’t lacking in detail like most of the other shots. I have very mixed feelings about the animation presentation. On one hand, the whole thing seems polished, but on the other—something is missing.

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Seihantai na Kimi to Boku

Suzuki is a loud and incredibly sociable high schooler who is constantly surrounded by friends like Yamada, Watanabe, and Satou. Her complete opposite is Tani—a quiet guy with glasses who speaks his mind openly and refuses to read the room or suck up to anyone.

Although Suzuki constantly pesters Tani in public with trivial questions—which he ruthlessly shuts down with a total lack of interest—deep down, she is desperately in love with him. She admires his ability to stay true to himself. She notices that he never changes his behavior without a valid reason, which she finds incredibly admirable, especially when contrasted with her own tendency to constantly worry about how others perceive her.

Do I recommend it after the first episode? Yes – I didn’t expect the series to turn out this well. I am completely surprised by how good this starting episode was in so many respects. First—the animation. I really miss what was presented in this anime these days. It used to be the norm, but now you have to look hard to find such expressive facial expressions and emotions. It is simply a pleasure to watch it. Another point is the soundtrack, and again a return to what used to be commonplace but is now an almost forgotten art. The tracks used in the soundtrack stand out. They have character and demand attention. I also like the character art style itself. But the most important aspects—voice acting, directing, and the characters themselves—also do not disappoint. Suzushiro Sayumi shines in the role of the main heroine. To summarize—a brilliant start. I hope subsequent episodes will maintain this level.

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Oshi no Ko Season 3

Sixteen-year-old Ai Hoshino is a talented and beautiful idol adored by her fans. She captures the hearts of the masses. She is the quintessential innocent young girl, possessing a magnetic personality. Gorou Amemiya is a countryside doctor and a huge fan of Ai. So, when the pregnant idol shows up at his hospital, he is in total shock. Gorou promises her a safe delivery. Little does he know that his encounter with the enigmatic figure that is Ai will lead to his untimely death.

Season 3

Do I recommend it after the first episode? Yes – it’s a great start with brilliant animation, visuals, and direction. In other words, business as usual. This time, even the opening turned out great (specifically the song choice)—last season’s was a real failure. Honestly, I didn’t expect anything less; Doga Kobo never disappoints. I am eagerly awaiting the next episodes.

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It’s similar to the year-end recaps, namely – I recommend what I consider awesome in my opinion. Below is a list of my favorite songs from the openings and endings (all of them I consider noteworthy, but the ones I particularly love are marked in bold, while the ones I consider as even more outstanding are marked in green, bold font). The scheme is clear, but I will clarify it:
Artist – Title (Artist in romaji – Title in romaji) | Anime Title