Futami Nana is a mangaka dedicated to her work, whose creativity goes far beyond the pages of manga. Her biggest challenge isn’t deadlines, but dealing with even the simplest interactions with her editor, Satou Kaede, whom she views as cold, beautiful, and widely respected. Even a mundane task like sending storyboards late at night turns into high-stakes drama in Nana’s head, full of wild fantasies about passionate romances and romantic encounters she might intrude upon. Luckily, her down-to-earth assistant, Hazama Mizuki, always brings her back to reality. Nana tries to decipher the stoic Kaede, who silently admires her work but is too shy to say it.

Egao no Taenai Shokuba desu (2025) – Audiovisual Design

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As befits a slice of life series focusing on creative work, the visuals had to meet the task of portraying two contrasting worlds: the chaotic home studio of a mangaka and the sterile, professional publishing office. Studio Voil, responsible for production, accomplished this brilliantly, offering an aesthetic that is simultaneously pleasant to the eye and rich in detail where necessary for the credibility of the world presented.

The character design, handled by Miyai Kana, quite faithfully reproduces the style known from the source material by Kuzushiro. The characters are characterized by very expressive facial features, which is crucial for a comedy largely based on the characters’ emotional reactions. The animators were not afraid to use momentary deformations—which used to be ubiquitous—to visually emphasize the emotional state of the heroines. These transitions are fluid and natural, constituting an integral part of the visual narrative rather than just a comedic interlude.

Audio

Egao no Taenai Shokuba desu can, in a sense, be treated as a showcase of Natsuyoshi Yuuko’s acting skills. She took on the role of Futami Nana, and her performance is an absolute masterclass in capturing the emotions of a character with this personality type. Amamiya Sora as Satou Kaede, Nana’s editor, delivers a sensational interpretation of the kuudere archetype in a professional environment. Amamiya Sora, known for many cool beauty roles, had to add a layer of hidden shyness and social awkwardness here. Her voice is usually composed and matter-of-fact, but an attentive listener will catch those micro-tremors in tone that betray that Satou isn’t actually as cold as she poses to be.

One cannot overlook Itou Miku as Hazama Mizuki. Her role, while seemingly supporting, is key to the balance of the entire series. Itou Miku operates with a calm, slightly monotonous voice, perfectly fitting the role of the tsukkomi who brings Futami back to earth. Moreover, almost the entire cast is a feast for the ears. Hanazawa Kana, Uesaka Sumire, Hayami Saori, Kobayashi Yuu, Iwami Manaka, Noto Mamiko, and many other popular names appear in the supporting cast. It is worth giving the series a chance for this reason alone.

Egao no Taenai Shokuba desu (2025) – Plot and Characters

Introduction

As soon as I read the series description while choosing anime to watch, I knew I would spend many pleasant moments with it. I like series that show the work of mangaka or animators. Here, there were quite a few tidbits that could be caught even in the PV itself. I had no doubts that the title would appeal to me. However, that was just a first impression, which became a fact with every episode.

A Brief Overview of the Egao no Taenai Shokuba desu (2025) Plot

Futami Nana is a mangaka dedicated to her work, whose creativity goes far beyond the pages of manga. Her biggest challenge isn’t deadlines, but dealing with even the simplest interactions with her editor, Satou Kaede, whom she views as cold, beautiful, and widely respected. Even a mundane task like sending storyboards late at night turns into high-stakes drama in Nana’s head, full of wild fantasies about passionate romances and romantic encounters she might intrude upon.

Luckily, her down-to-earth assistant, Hazama Mizuki, always brings her back to reality. Nana tries to decipher the stoic Kaede, who silently admires her work but is too shy to say it.

What is the series about

Egao no Taenai Shokuba desu is primarily a comedy, but one firmly rooted in the realities of creative work. However, it is not a glowing glorification of the industry. The series does not shy away from showing the hardships of this profession: health problems (back, eyes), mental pressure, financial insecurity, or the bitterness of failure. However, what is most important is how the characters deal with these problems. Not through toxic competition, but through support and cooperation.

I really liked the directing style, the flow of dialogues, and how the relationships between the characters were portrayed. Every heroine, even supporting ones, was important for the reception of the whole. The creators managed to create a world in which the heroines support each other, are competent, and dedicated to their work. The series depicts the work of a mangaka, an editor, and other industry insiders with great attention to detail and a large dose of humor.

Nuances such as the cover design process, negotiations with the printing house, or sales strategies are fascinating for any fan of the medium. We see that manga is the final product of many people’s efforts, and the role of an editor goes far beyond correcting errors.

The interactions between characters are the heart of this anime. The relationship between Futami and Mizuki is the definition of symbiosis. One provides creative genius, the other ensures that this genius doesn’t die of hunger or drown in a mess. The relationship between Futami and Satou, in turn, is a beautiful image of mentorship turning into friendship. Even side characters, like the professional shogi player Kakunodate Touko (Futami’s manga consultant), bring new perspectives and warmth to the story.

Characters

Futami Nana 

The main protagonist, a 25-year-old debuting mangaka. Her personality is a mix of immense talent and even greater insecurity. Futami is an introvert to the nth degree, for whom leaving her comfort zone is a heroic effort. Her imagination, being her greatest asset as a creator, is simultaneously her curse in everyday life. It generates absurd scenarios out of the most ordinary daily events. Despite this, Futami possesses immense determination. What she does, she does with passion. She is also incredibly empathetic—taking in a dog she names Takara (Treasure) or caring for Nashida, whose manga serialization ended prematurely, shows that a heart of gold lies beneath the layer of anxiety.

Hazama Mizuki

Futami’s assistant, nicknamed Haa-san. She is a character characterized by stoic calm and a sharp, though caring, tongue. Mizuki is pragmatic, organized, and incredibly competent. She plays the role of the tsukkomi, pointing out Futami’s detachment from reality. Her relationship with Futami goes beyond work—it is a deep friendship, almost a sisterly bond.

Satou Kaede

Futami’s editor. Satou is a kuudere—a cold professional on the outside, a bundle of emotions and shyness on the inside. Her struggle with her own nature to praise Futami directly is the source of many funny, but also adorable situations. Satou genuinely believes in her protégé’s talent and is ready to fight for her like a lioness. Her awkwardness in interpersonal relationships makes her a very sympathetic character who is simply impossible not to like. She is the editor every creator dreams of—demanding, but completely dedicated.

Nashida Arisa

Futami’s former senpai, author of a canceled manga. Nashida is a tragicomic character. She brings a huge dose of chaos to the series. Her jealousy of Futami’s success is painful but understandable. Nashida is an image of how brutal this industry can be. Her long journey to finding a new role in creating a spin-off of a popular manga is an important plotline showing that failure is not the end of the world.

Supporting Characters

The gallery of characters is complemented by, among others, Kakunodate Touko—a professional shogi player who brings calm to the group as a counterweight to Arisa. Nekonote—a 16-year-old genius assistant representing the digital generation, struggling with loneliness and shyness. Takizawa Ren—a famous mangaka and mentor whose strictness shaped Futami and Nashida. Tatsunami Wakako—a laid-back editor-in-chief who retains a human face despite her high position. Each of these characters brings something unique to the group dynamic and is essential for the character development of the main cast.

Egao no Taenai Shokuba desu (2025) – Evaluation and Summary

Egao no Taenai Shokuba desu is a somewhat unexpected gem of the season that definitely deserves the attention of every slice of life fan. Why unexpected? After all, I wrote that I was sure from the beginning that I would like it. Well, let me explain immediately. Just because something appeals to me doesn’t mean I can label it a gem. Gem status requires something more. Egao no Taenai Shokuba possesses exactly that something. It is primarily a slice of life in a classic edition, both in terms of the animation execution and the directing style.

My attitude towards this series is very emotional—I haven’t seen such a good comedy of this type in a long time. It is an anime that feels like a warm blanket on a winter evening. Futami, Mizuki, Satou, and the rest of the crew create a team you would want to join.

Finalny werdykt

Final evaluation

Which translation do I recommend to watch Egao no Taenai Shokuba desu (2025)?

• Crunchyroll (offical) – a quite good translation that I can’t really complain about, aside from really minor details which are, however, cosmetic enough that they shouldn’t in any way interfere with the reception of the whole, nor the characters themselves.

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