Nukumizu Kazuhiko is an observer type. He describes himself as a supporting character. He often watches situations people find themselves in and wonders what he would do if he were in a similar scenario. One day, while eating at a restaurant, he notices his classmate, Yanami Anna, with her childhood friend. He realizes he is witnessing her confession of love being rejected in favor of another girl. Afterward, Anna realizes she was being watched and decides to vent to her classmate, all while ordering a huge amount of food at his expense. The next day, she promises to repay him by preparing bento for him every day. From that point, Kazuhiko begins meeting other rejected girls, whom he calls the loser heroines.
Make Heroine ga Oosugiru! (2024) – Audiovisual Design
Video
I could hardly believe what I was seeing while watching the first episode of the series. Both in terms of detail and background precision, as well as animation, the show was simply stunning. The highly expressive portrayal of the characters’ emotions reminded me a bit of series from two decades ago. For some reason, the animators at A-1 Pictures put a lot of heart and effort into creating this series. It didn’t just stop at the first episode. I was initially worried that as the weeks passed, the visual quality might degrade. Fortunately, my fears were quickly alleviated. The quality from the debut episode of Make Heroine ga Oosugiru! was maintained until the final minutes of the first season.
I could analyze the small visual details and nuances for a long time, but I usually avoid doing so in my reviews because no words can truly capture what we can see for ourselves. I’ll just mention that it’s worth paying attention not only to the foreground. A lot of characterization happens in the background as well.
The character designs are quite classic and typical of A-1 Pictures. If someone showed me screenshots from this series, I would immediately know which studio was behind it.
Audio
What would the visual presentation be without excellent work from the dialogue director and the voice actors, who literally bring the characters to life with their voice acting skills? In this aspect, Toono Hikaru truly shines as she portrays the main heroine, Anna. I could listen to her conversations with the main character for hours—an absolute delight for the ears. Of course, she’s not the only standout seiyuu. The cast is filled with phenomenal talents such as Uesaka Sumire, Ueda Reina, Saitou Chiwa, Anzai Chika, Morohoshi Sumire, and Waki Azumi. Even the lesser-known names performed admirably.
The soundtrack didn’t particularly stand out, but it complemented the scenes well. It sounded rather cinematic, which for me, is usually not a positive thing (as I’ve mentioned before). By that, I mean there’s little desire to revisit the soundtrack. No track really stuck in my memory, which is a shame because more and more anime soundtracks these days seem to have this issue.
Make Heroine ga Oosugiru! (2024) – Plot and Characters
Introduction
When I first browsed the summer 2024 anime lineup, this title immediately made it onto my watchlist. After seeing the PV, I was sure I would like the series, but I didn’t expect it to be on this level. Even readers of the light novel (the source material) were thrilled with the adaptation, which is a rare reaction for light novel-based adaptations.
Brief Summary of Make Heroine ga Oosugiru! (2024)
Nukumizu Kazuhiko is the observer type. He quickly sums up himself as a supporting character. He often watches situations people find themselves in and reflects on what he would do if he were in a similar scenario. One day, while eating at a restaurant, he notices his classmate, Yanami Anna, with her childhood friend. He realizes that he is witnessing her rejection in favor of another girl. After the event, Anna realizes she was being watched, and she decides to vent her feelings to her classmate, ordering a lot of food at his expense.
The next day, she promises to repay him for the expenses by preparing bento for him every day. From that moment on, Kazuhiko starts meeting other rejected girls, whom he calls “loser heroines.” His life changes drastically as he previously avoided close contact with people. Now, he spends almost all his free time interacting with the girls he meets.
What is the series about
Make Heroine ga Oosugiru! focuses on girls whose feelings have been rejected. Whether he wants to or not, Nukumizu Kazuhiko starts playing the role of comforter, or at least that’s the impression you get at the start of the series. However, as the show progresses, their relationships deepen, touching on other aspects of the heroines’ lives. The “loser heroines” are also unaware of how quickly they’re getting closer to the main protagonist.
It won’t come as a surprise that this story has a clear main pairing right from the first episode. To put it simply, the chemistry between Kazuhiko and Anna is brilliantly written, with a spark that doesn’t appear to the same degree in his relationships with the other girls. Of course, both of them are in denial or oblivious to their feelings, but with each episode, they grow closer. As viewers, we can just sit back and enjoy the expertly crafted characterization and flow of events. Every episode went by so quickly that I felt like I had just started it, and the credits were already rolling.
The series is set in Toyohashi, in Aichi Prefecture, which is also the hometown of the source material’s author.
Characters
Nukumizu Kazuhiko, the main character, is a loner. He loves reading light novels, collecting figurines, and other anime merchandise. However, he has no problem interacting with other people. In fact, he handles relationships with his friends and the girls surrounding him very well. This likely stems from the fact that he took care of his younger sister Kaju from a young age, forming a strong bond with her. His overprotectiveness also shows in his interactions with friends. Additionally, his academic performance is above average—he usually ranks in the top fifty in his school.
Kaju, his younger sister, is the perfect Yamato Nadeshiko archetype. She has long, straight black hair that reaches beyond her waist. She can cook, excels academically, is polite, and respects others, making her popular wherever she goes. However, her brother’s overprotectiveness pales in comparison to how much Kaju cares about him. She even refers to him using the extremely respectful title Onii-sama. Kaju obsessively monitors his every move, wanting to know everything about him. She has a special interest in his romantic life.
Yanami Anna, the most developed character, is a huge foodie. In nearly every scene she’s in, she’s eating something. The creators even used this trait by updating her calorie intake weekly on the anime’s official website. Anna has a playful personality and enjoys teasing Kazuhiko whenever she sees an opportunity, feeling at ease around him. She is direct and doesn’t care about others’ opinions, but she hides her true feelings deep inside. She has also shown great care for those she’s close to, especially girls who have childhood friendships.
Other loser heroines
Yakishio Lemon stands out with her cheerful and sunny personality, making her easy to connect with. Because of this, she has a lot of friends, and it’s hard not to like her. Due to her name, she often uses accessories like lemon-themed hairpins. Lemon also excels in sports and truly shines in the school’s track and field club. Komari Chika, on the other hand, is a petite, shy, and somewhat clumsy girl, fitting perfectly into the stereotype of a Literary Club member. Unlike Kazuhiko, who claims to be a loner by choice, Chika doesn’t feel comfortable being alone.
Make Heroine ga Oosugiru! (2024) – Evaluation and Summary
The last episode of Make Heroine ga Oosugiru! features an original story not found in the source material. However, it was written by the original author, so it can be considered canon. At the time of writing this review, a second season has yet to be announced. Frankly, this disappoints me a little. I really hope that we’ll get to see a continuation in the near future. Over the course of these twelve episodes, I’ve grown quite attached to the characters, and I just want to see the conclusion of their story.
This anime is a must-watch for fans of romance and slice-of-life series. It perfectly captures the essence of what makes these kinds of shows so enjoyable to watch. The audiovisual presentation and its high-quality execution also contribute greatly to this, ultimately landing Make Heroine ga Oosugiru! on my list of the most anticipated sequels.
Finalny werdykt
Final evaluation
Which translation do I recommend to watch Make Heroine ga Oosugiru! (2024)?
- Crunchyroll (official) – surprisingly good and pleasant translation. There are a few details I could nitpick, but these are more aesthetic preferences than anything that would make the translation unwatchable.