Tamon-kun Ima Docchi!?

In the midst of a shoujosei golden age it’s only right that my anime of the season be a shoujo. I knew right from the jump that Tamon’s B Side was special. Over the last year, I’ve fallen deeper and deeper into K/J-pop idol culture and it’s probably my biggest hyper fixation after anime at this point, so the concept of a show where an idol stan meets their oshi and they fall in love is right up my alley. It sounds like simple wish fulfilment, but it’s actually so much more substantive than that and has some of the best written characters and development around. I’m not going to say it’s the most complex story ever, it definitely retains a lot of those shoujo wish fulfilment elements, I mean the very concept of you meeting your idol and them only having eyes for you is so unlikely, but the author makes sure to develop Tamon and Utage’s relationship beyond that. The series also examines the pressure young idols are under to maintain appearances and how that can affect their mental and emotional development. Our idols provide so much joy for us, but they’re never allowed to show how they’re truly feeling deep down and that’s a shame. F/ACE might be fictional, but I love these boys just as much as any real life idol group because of how well written every single member is. I had so much fun watching this every week thanks to the amazing characters, the well executed comedy and the beautiful production values. I couldn’t be more proud to say a show was my fave of the season. There’s a lot to love about this show for me. At the center of it all is Utage and Tamon’s relationship. They meet by pure coincidence through Utage’s job and she ends up working for Tamon. Initially, their interactions are dominated by Utage’s adoration for Tamon the idol. This quickly changes as she comes to see more sides of him and learns who he is as an individual, under the idol persona. It’s such a cute developmental path because Utage comes to realize Tamon is an insecure dork under all the boy crush heartthrob facade, but she learns to love him as he is. The sincerity he exudes, his hardworking personality, the way he’s so concerned for her, his group mates and other fans and wants to keep everyone happy.. we eventually learn that while he’s different from his idol persona, he’s just as worthy of being idolized. That’s a trend that extends to the entirety of F/ACE which I’ll get to a little later on. Going back to Tamon and Utage, their romantic development was a pleasure to experience every week. It’s not really a slow burn because it’s obvious how both of them feel about each other, but there’s this gradual progression where Utage goes from being in love with Tamon the idol to Tamon the human being and accepting all of him, flaws and all. I think it’s a nice realistic reminder that we don’t really know our idols and it kind of poses the question, “if you knew the real them, would you still love them?” So many celebrities are totally different in real life, so it’s a nice thought experiment. Luckily, our Tamon is arguably even more lovable as he really is than the idol version. Utage herself is amazing too. She’s not just a self insert character for the audience. She’s gorgeous, resourceful, intelligent, strong, loyal and fierce. She’s very much her own person and drives the story forward by helping Tamon and the other F/ACE members. It was so cool watching her week after week because she is THE idol stan that we all strive to be and also THAT girl. She can hold her own against any other female character this season. The other thing to love about this show are the supporting characters! You know a series is good when you have just as many, if not more, fans of the side characters as the main character. Ouri, Natsuki, Keito and Rintaro all have such fervent and passionate fans online that were hyping up all of their big moments this season. This was definitely one of the most fun shows to live watch in a while. I love that all the boys have their own unique B sides that will endear them to different people. Whether it’s Ouri coming off like a smug and arrogant asshole, Natsuki being a delinquent, Keito being the biggest cheapskate on the planet or Rintaro being the average otaku, there’s something for everyone here. What’s more, the reason all of them act the way they do gets explained(except Rintaro in this season) and you just can’t help but go, “yea that makes sense, those circumstances would lead anyone to become like this.” As I said earlier though, even though the boys are different than their idol fronts, you can see they all posses qualities worthy of being idolized. The way they care for each other, their fans and try their hardest in their own crazy ways is so beautiful. The other thing I like about this story is that it feels like a love letter to oshikatsu and stan culture as a whole. I know stanning gets looked down upon by a lot of people, but I do think it can be a positive outlet for many people of all ages. It’s a way to make friends and feel part of something bigger than yourself. More importantly, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with getting passionate about your fave artists and supporting them. The entertainment industry can be so fickle and brutal, letting your faves know you’ll always be there for them and that you appreciate how they keep going despite the obstacles they face is a beautiful thing. It’s obviously exaggerated, but I just felt seen thanks to this series and I can tell this was also a personal story for the author. A lot of heart and genuine soul went into this. The production values in this are so good. The art style and character designs are gorgeous, but the animation has no reason going as hard as it does. I will never get over how good the Utage delinquent transformation scenes or the Utage exploding head scenes were! The voice acting performances are all top notch too, so much talent in this cast! J.C Staff have really been on a roll since COVID and this is just their latest banger. Well done all around. Tamon’s B Side was such an amazing experience for me as an idol stan and anime fan. Every single week these episodes went by in the blink of an eye and I enjoyed seeing my girl Utage make Tamon fall even harder for her. It’s the personification of “she fell first, he fell harder” I laughed at all the jokes, I loved the side characters, the little bit of F/ACE music we got.. I just can’t gush enough about this show. When I was in Japan last month, it was all over the place so I’m really hoping we get a season 2. The manga volumes have been selling like hotcakes, so if there’s ever a show to break that should season 2 curse.. this would be it. Anime of the season no debate. Tamon’s B Side gets 10 out of 10.

Tamon’s B-Side is a story about a female MC who is a fan of the band - F/ACE - more specifically, her idol Tamon. And one day, she ends up getting a job as his housekeeper. I’ll start with the things that I enjoyed about this story first. Tamon, as a character, was incredibly endearing and genuine, and he felt real. He wasn’t perfect; he was messy and problematic, but in ways that felt earnest and genuine. I thoroughly enjoyed him as a character, and enjoyed watching him gain more and more self-confidence in himself and his relationships with others, like his bandmates. For the plot, it was simple as far as storylines go. There isn’t any conflict the characters have to overcome or any drama that needs to be resolved. Though I tend to enjoy more compelling storytelling, I actually found this plot very enjoyable despite its mild writing. The characters were entertaining enough to keep my attention from episode to episode, and overall, the plot’s wholesomeness was very sweet. The music was actually pretty nice too, and I enjoyed all the band members’ charisma and their dynamics with one another. Now, for what I truly struggled with - Kinoshita, the protagonist. While she absolutely had promising things about her character, I found the way she interacted with Tamon honestly bothersome. She continuously calls him a “god” and an “idol,” and never progresses to treating him as just Tamon the person. She even separates his “personalities” and calls them gloomy Tamon and hottie Tamon. Which is honestly pretty upsetting. Would you want someone to call the person you actually are, and not your persona, gloomy? All the time, mind you. And despite learning his true nature, she still worships him only as his idol version, and never cares about the actual person Tamon is - anxious and paranoid and sad. We see this during a scene where he attempts to unalive himself, and she doesn’t care enough to tell his bandmates or manager that he’s struggling and to keep an eye on him. Other than giving him some tea to drink, she doesn’t act worried or caring at all...like what? Nor did she call or text and check in with him to make sure he was okay. But then, on the flipside, she’ll constantly say, “I love Tamon.” Which, obviously she is only referring to his idol version as is clear throughout this whole story. At first, I just brushed it off thinking - maybe she just sees herself as unworthy of Tamon, and that’s why she keeps herself as just his fan and nothing more. But when it’s clear that Tamon wants more from her than just a fan/idol relationship, she completely deters his attempts. And I can’t help thinking it’s because she doesn’t like “gloomy tamon.” She doesn’t actually want to change their dynamic because she loves him as an idol, and that’s how she wants it to stay. To only be his fan. Because the real him isn’t hot enough, or confident enough...he’s emotional. And it’s not the version of him that she loves. I could understand acting this way in the beginning, but then having her slowly treat him as a friend/lover as she gets to know him better. But we don’t get any of that. Even when she tries defending him, she says, “I’m his housekeeper” instead of “I’m his friend,” which implies that she’s only spending time with Tamon because he pays her too. And she wouldn’t go out of her way to spend time with him, which we see when that housekeeper goes to take her job back in the earlier episodes, and she stops going to his place because it’s not her job anymore. And when she even says that she can’t go to Tamon’s place when he invites her over on a regular day, because she can only go when she’s being paid. So she’ll spend her money to see him as Tamon the idol in concert and meet and greets, but she won’t go over to his house to see him as simply Tamon unless it’s for work...like what???? How can you convince me she actually loves him and not his idol-self in the end? It’s incredibly confusing. With that stated, while I definitely had my qualms about Kinoshita, overall I did enjoy and would recommend!

At best, a "turn off your brain" watch. At its worst, a borderline unwatchable dumpster fire that makes you question the implications of giving free college to literary students. The animation is lackluster, giving Project No.9 a run for their money. The story could've been written by any number of generative AI models, and I would have been none the wiser. The music is gross and insults my very being. I finished the series only because I had to know if it got better -- it didn't. I often wonder if in the afterlife, they replay your entire life through your eyes for God to judge. If he happens to see this part, I apologize.

Tamon’s B-Side revolves around a concept that idol fans know all too well: the “B-side.” In music, a B-side is the hidden track. The song that isn’t the headline but often reveals something more personal about the artist. This series takes that idea and turns it into its entire emotional foundation. Behind the dazzling lights, perfect smiles, and carefully curated personas, idols have another side, which is the awkward, insecure, painfully human self that only appears when the stage lights turn off. For Tamon Fukuhara, that contrast is almost comically extreme. On stage, he’s the ideal idol. Radiant, confident, effortlessly charming, the kind of presence that can make an arena of fans scream in unison. But offstage, that shining “Prince” collapses into something completely different. His private self, nicknamed "Gloomyhara" is a bundle of nerves, constantly overthinking, doubting himself, and hiding in oversized hoodies while spiraling internally over the smallest things. The brilliance of the series lies in this contradiction. The audience sees the glamorous idol everyone admires, but we’re also constantly aware of the anxious boy behind the performance. That tension becomes the beating heart of the comedy. Watching Tamon mentally panic while everyone around him perceives something entirely different is consistently hilarious. Yet the humor never feels cruel. Instead, it reminds us how exhausting it must be to live under the weight of a perfect image. Enter Utage Kinoshita, arguably one of the most entertaining fangirl protagonists in recent memory. Utage isn’t just a fan. She’s the kind of supporter who pours her entire heart into cheering for her favorite idol. Her reactions are gloriously over-the-top, but that’s exactly what makes her feel real. Anyone who has ever followed an idol group, or even just had a favorite celebrity will probably recognize a piece of themselves in her enthusiasm. What makes the dynamic interesting is how the story flips the usual idol fantasy. Normally, idols are portrayed as the emotionally steady figures who inspire their fans. Here, the roles blur. Tamon may be the idol on the stage, but emotionally he often ends up leaning on Utage’s encouragement. The relationship becomes surprisingly reciprocal. Fans might find strength in idols, but idols can also draw strength from the people who believe in them. Beneath the chaos and comedy, the story carries a privately meaningful message, that idols are still human. They are allowed to feel insecure, to grow, to make mistakes, and to have relationships beyond the version of themselves fans see on stage. Loving an idol doesn’t mean owning them, it means supporting them while respecting their boundaries. The series also captures the chaotic joy of fangirl culture with surprising accuracy. Utage’s dramatic speeches, emotional outbursts, and near-religious devotion to Tamon are exaggerated for laughs, but they never feel completely unrealistic. If you’ve ever stayed up watching idol livestreams, defended your bias online, or felt your heart explode when your favorite member smiled at the camera, Utage’s reactions will probably feel hilariously familiar. The anime adaptation amplifies that energy even further thanks to Kana Hanazawa, whose performance gives Utage an infectious spark. Her delivery swings effortlessly between emotional sincerity and chaotic fangirl enthusiasm. Tamon and Utage might be the emotional core, but the rest of the idol group F/ACE ensures the story never loses momentum. Each member carries their own “B-side.” Ouri Sakaguchi’s calm public image hides a mischievous prankster. Keito Tachibana’s composed leadership masks a surprisingly dry sense of humor. Natsuki Ishibashi appears gentle and comforting but secretly overthinks everything. Meanwhile, Rintaro Kai’s cool, minimalist demeanor turns him into the group’s perfect deadpan commentator. Together, their personalities create a chaotic but lovable group dynamic where backstage conversations are often just as entertaining as the performances themselves. Speaking of performances, the anime embraces the energy of idol culture beautifully. Songs like F/ACE’s Eyes on You, Sweet Magic, Supernova, etc bring a bright, sparkling atmosphere to the stage scenes, capturing the excitement of live performances while contrasting them with the messy hilarity happening behind the curtain. The animation leans heavily into expressive faces and exaggerated reactions, turning every awkward pause, dramatic fangirl meltdown, and Tamon panic spiral land perfectly. Of course, the series isn’t without its issues. The premise itself is highly idealized. Realistically speaking, meeting an idol in the first place is already incredibly unlikely. Actually forming a close relationship with one? That level of luck probably belongs to people personally chosen by the gods of fortune. In other words, such a close connection with one belongs almost entirely to fantasy. But the story never pretends otherwise. In many ways, that wish-fulfillment is part of the charm. It invites viewers to explore the impossible “what if” scenario every fan has imagined at least once. The romance also unfolds at a relatively brisk pace. While there are moments of conflict, they rarely escalate into heavy emotional drama. Anyone looking for deeply tangled romantic tension might find the story lighter than expected. Similarly, the idol industry itself is portrayed in a fairly gentle light, avoiding the harsher realities that often define real entertainment culture. At times, Tamon’s insecurity can also feel exaggerated enough to become a recurring comedic loop. His anxious spirals are funny, but the story occasionally revisits the same joke structure more than necessary. Still, the humor remains charming thanks to the warmth of the characters. In the end, Tamon’s B-Side works best when appreciated for what it wants to be. A bright, chaotic romantic comedy that celebrates fandom while gently peeling back the illusion of idol perfection. Behind every dazzling stage persona is a B-side, awkward, vulnerable, and beautifully human. Ultimately, the most comforting idea the series offers is that sometimes the part of someone we admire the most isn’t the flawless performance, but the imperfect person behind it. Anyway, keep in mind that no opinion is ever purely objective, and every perspective remains open to discussion. Even so, each viewpoint still holds its own value. If you happen to see things differently, simple mutual respect is more than enough. That same respect is the spirit behind this reflection as well. Wishing everyone a peaceful day ahead, and thank you for taking the time to read.

8.5/10 Tamon’s B Side stands as one of J.C Staff’s best productions to date. It’s funny, it’s heartwarming, and the pacing is excellent. When ordinary girl Utage Kinoshita has a chance encounter with her favorite pop idol Tamon, it all seems too good to be true. Yet she’ll discover that there’s more to him than meets the eye, and perhaps he’ll find the courage to finally be himself. Utage absolutely steals the show with her well rounded personality. She’s passionate and eccentric while being extremely grounded, yet also caring and sweet. Throw in killer music, smooth animation, a hilarious supporting cast, an awesome slow burn romance, and you’re in for an great time. It’s almost perfect, if not for Tamon’s outlandish personality and the show’s inappropriate digs at depression and anxiety. No one likes to see a strong women play backseat to a weak counterpart. The finale is also lackluster and there is a lot more blanks to fill with our heroes character motivations. Yet for all its faults, Tamon’s B Side still delivers, planting the seeds for a rich story. +Well rounded heroine with colorful personality; great slow burn romance +Excellent animation, music, and pacing +Supporting cast equally as developed and adds flavor -Somewhat unlikable deuteragonist with eccentric personality; romanticizes a woman’s relationship with a weak counterpart -At times crosses the line with inappropriate jokes that underplay mental health

JC Staff did this, and they did it well. Who would have thought JC Staff still had the touch? Tamon is easily one of the contenders for romance this season. He has all the necessary weapons to defend himself. Something that really stands out about the series is that, despite being based on the idol industry, it doesn't try to be edgy or a social critique. We already know the industry is messed up, but sometimes these kinds of stories are necessary. Stories where idols are humanized and we see their character flaws, while the figure of the fan is vindicated. They can make a series where a fan can be madly in love with their favorite while maintaining respect. Knowing that there's a place for everything, and that even if you lose your mind, you understand that they are people too. The romance works in a very organic way. They don't try to make the viewer fall in love with the perfect version of Tamon. They manage to make us develop a genuine concern for Deprehara episode by episode. We understand the character's vulnerability and the effort behind his perfect facade. We understand why someone like Utage, the protagonist, is there to support him. With a story featuring many handsome guys, the biggest fear might be that it would turn into a reverse harem. Fortunately, that wasn't the case. There is a love triangle, but Utage's connections with the rest of F/ACE aren't romantic. They can establish a friendship between the protagonist and the band members without forcing a romance that wouldn't make sense. The Utage-Tamon relationship is incredibly sweet, and while it doesn't progress much, it's justified. You understand why Utage holds back his feelings so much. We know the kind of scandals that would result from an idol having a girlfriend. Utage holding back his feelings is a way of protecting not only Tamon but the entire band. Meanwhile, we see Tamon trying to break down Utage's barriers, making the romance a constant push and pull. The best part of the anime is that they make Utage develop romantic feelings for the flawed protagonist. She'll always support Tamon of F/ACE as a fan, but the one she fell in love with is Deprehara, the human. The work they do with the band F/ACE is incredibly well done. The fact that they let you get to know each member realistically, with their strengths and weaknesses, makes it easy for you to choose your favorite. Mine is Keito, in case you were wondering. Each member's B-sides are fun to watch; they give them so much personality and complement each other perfectly. Watching their interactions on and off camera is always entertaining because of the contrasts they create. They're a band, so we should also focus on the songs. I'm not just talking about the opening and ending themes, but the songs within the series as well. Rain is a fantastic song that was built up over an entire episode, focusing on Tamon's lack of understanding of love. Rain is easily the best song of the show and the band in general. It's a song that moves away from catchy pop and opts for a ballad that truly touches a nerve. Then there's FLY, which is an homage to Wandance because the 3D modeling in that song gave me flashbacks to Vietnam. Finally, I want to highlight the work of the main voice actors. Utage is voiced by Saori Hayami; it was known even before the premiere that she would be the one to carry this work on her shoulders. Saori knows how to adapt to her characters and give them a lot of charisma and personality. Utage is no exception; she's one of the best female romance protagonists I've seen in recent years. The acting is brilliant; she can shift from comedy to seriousness in a matter of seconds, exactly what the story needs given its fast pace. It was known that Saori Hayami would do an excellent job, and she delivered. But the one who deserves my applause, because his performance was a complete surprise, is Hatano Kakeru, who plays Tamon. Tamon was his first leading role, and he handled it as if it were just another day at the office. Tamon isn't an easy character due to the contrast between his personalities and mood swings. There were fears that the role would be too much for him, but on the contrary, it was a perfect fit. The chemistry he had with Hayami was magnificent. The two voice actors complemented each other exceptionally well, and it shows in the quality of the final product. I'm not a big fan of JC Entertainment; in recent years, they've delivered soulless products just to meet a quota. Watching Tamon's B-side brought back memories of seeing JC Staff from 2008-2015. Without a doubt, when given the time and budget to work, JC Staff can be one of the best choices for a project of this caliber.

This anime is in a tough spot for me to recommend. I'm sure there are people who will really like this anime, maybe even more than me, just as I'm sure there will be people who will tremendously dislike this anime. If you're a fan of (lite) yandere types, toxic/obsessive relationships and/or a "meet the bandmates" style fanfic but in anime form, I think you'll enjoy this. The animation is very nice and fluid, the colors of the anime work very well and most of the time it's a very pretty piece of media to look at. I have no complaints over that department. In fact, it's one of the things that mostly kept me watching the anime. I wouldn't say this anime fails in anything because it's very upfront and clear on what it will be about, and once you know that, you should know the tropes that will be involved with it as well. The main character, Utage, I wouldn't call her completely empty or a self-insert, she does have glimmers of a personality here and there beyond being a simp of the other protagonist. However, these glimmers stay only that, as glimmers, and she doesn't have a lot of development throughout the series. In fact, the moment she starts actually having some active development, everything returns back to the status quo by the end of the season. I wish she was more explored as a character. Tamon even comments he wishes he knew more about her. Me too, Tamon. Me too. Now, for Tamon. We do get to know a little bit more about him than Utage, but he goes from depressed and shy boy to obsessed and stalker-y boy. If you're into that sort of stuff, then this is right down your alley, otherwise you might not like this as much. There are moments where he's earnest and genuinely nice, but others where he's knowingly manipulating Utage to do the things he wants. That can be weird at times. The other characters mostly don't amount to much. Ouri is the main love rival with an insufferable personality. He's annoying, he falls in love with Utage way too suddenly, and it's very clear she doesn't like him back - for a very good reason. Not a lot of tension in a romantic triangle where only one of the three sides actually likes the other. Keito was easier to like than Ouri, he brought an engaging situation and I was curious for his arc, but it's resolved in a single episode and he becomes a mcguffin character after that, just showing up when he needs to to move the plot forward. A shame, I was interested to see how he'd develop. Natsuki has the most development out of them and I was really rooting for him. His background is really interesting and probably the best in the show. A shame it only sticks around for two episodes before the ending. Rintarou doesn't even show up this season. Poor guy. All the other boys are getting screen time and he just dances. That's about it, watch at your own discretion knowing what'll be awaiting you. I didn't dislike the show, but I understand why a lot of people would. The animation brings this forward a lot, otherwise I would've rated it a 5.

Will this show change your life? No. Will you most likely watch it in one sitting? YES! I was not expecting this show to be as funny as it was, it's genuinely a joy to watch. I am not even someone who is into kpop or jpop but I have been a teenage girl before so I can understand the boy band shrine culture. Tamon as a character (both his A and B side) is one of my favorite people I've seen on screen all year. Literally everything he says is funny, he's both precious and toxic at the same time. I love him. Also, every other character in the show is great and the character development for each individual (as well as the group as a whole) is great. I really don't have anything negative to say. I think they did a good job, it feels self-aware, the animation style changes when they're performing on stage which feels appropriate, and the slow-burn romance aspect is fun as well.

I haven't watched anything that made me laugh this much in a long time. It might sound strange, but the anime gave me a Korean drama vibe. It especially reminded me of the heartfelt, comedic dramas from the early 2000s. I really want to see a sequel, and I'm thinking of reading the manga too. Tamon's lines were great. I also liked that she didn't change instantly. I hope I can see them become a couple in a beautiful way. I watch some of the scenes occasionally. My favorite line from Tamon: I apologize for intruding on your line of sight.

As a fan of k-pop/j-pop, cheerful intros with choreography and a well written character dynamic, I absolutely devoured this anime from start to finishing without a single skip. Tamon's B-Side is an anime that knows how to work with the idol concept by creating fictional idols with unexpected double-faces, catchy songs and an entertaining, funny story-line. I find it creative and new, realistic in a certain way. It's simple yet so catchy and entertaining to watch, and I give it all to the female MC: Kinoshita is a character I could not not speak about in this review, because I think she's very well-written and designed, she's not the annoying, cringe and quirky female MC (the stereotypical anime girl), she's funny, realistic, relatable in certain ways and overall just nice and fitting. Dare I say that the anime would not work if it had a different MC. Still about the characters, I like the fact we get to see every other side of the F/ACE members and their backstory, except Rintaro (which left me a bit upset). It's something unpredictable and unexpected and never boring. I must also add that I do like how the characters interact with each other: Kinoshita is Tamon's biggest fan and housekeeper, but she never disrespected him or overstepped the limits; the others members, even if they don't get along with each other, they still care about each other, perhaps not as friends, but as a comrades. However, related to the realistic point, sadly I must admit that the serious topics portraited on this anime often receive the normalization banner during the episodes. Despite how wholesome it is, Tamon's emotional dependence on Kinoshita, his depression and mental problems, Kinoshita's obsession are very weird. I close my eyes to that and keep watching. Other aspects that I loved: the intro (the song and the clip), the 3D animation on F/ACE's shows. Summing up, I loved this anime because it combines a lot of my interests while also keeping a fun, entertaining formula based on a good-written MC and a creative, funny, wholesome plot. Whenever you think it's going to get boring during the anime, Tamon's b-side proves you wrong and keeps you watching till the end.

I actually started Tamon B-Side just for a badge, but ended up really liking it. Utage and Tamon together were so fun to watch, and even the side characters added a lot to the story. Utage is especially great—she’s very supportive, but also knows her boundaries and stays true to her character. That balance made me like her even more It also shows how idols can be very different in real life compared to what we see on camera—and I liked that dual side. Personally, I loved Utage’s “face blast” moments and jimehara-san’s mushrooms.🍄✨ I really enjoyed this anime. May be you have some diffrent kind of taste in anime, so you may like or not. its totally upon you. My Ratings : 9/10

I can understand why this series isn't for everyone, but it completely won me over. Tamon's B-Side is a light-hearted romantic comedy with plenty of over-the-top and silly moments. Its main goal is to entertain, make you smile, and get you attached to its characters—and for me, it succeeds. I found the way it portrays the idol world very interesting, especially through its playful parody of K-pop and devoted fans. Even though I'm not interested in this kind of entertainment, I still enjoyed the series a lot, and I think people who are already familiar with the idol world might appreciate it even more. What I loved the most was the duality of the characters. On stage they appear confident, perfect, and carefully crafted for the audience, while behind that image we get to see their insecurities, fears, and vulnerabilities. I especially appreciated how the series touches on impostor syndrome and the contrast between a public persona and a person's true self. None of the characters are perfect, and that's exactly what makes them so interesting and human. I also enjoyed the chemistry between the main characters, which develops naturally throughout the story without feeling rushed. I believe this series is mainly aimed at a female audience, and perhaps that's one of the reasons why it's often overlooked. Overall, I found it to be a charming and enjoyable anime that made me smile while also making me genuinely care about its characters.

A fun premise and a laudably uniform production, but a painfully spotty comedy. To give props to Tamon’s B-Side, it’s generally fun to watch, with impressively consistent animation and hilariously frenetic voicework. That said, it falls into a specific category of superficially postmodern idol stories that seek to subvert the genre without compromising its ethos through a noncommittal swipe at realism. In this case, said realism is undercut by the hyperbole necessary for absurdist comedy, an inconsistency that makes many gags dry out. Factor in the lack of character and romantic progression, and you get a series with manic energy and entertainment value, but minimal staying power.

I fall in love...? This anime is obviously not for everyone and I honestly don't know how I ended up watching all 13 eps when I only came here for the bingo card.. But I just kept fangirling on almost every scene and it's probbaly because I understood Utage to a another level of fangirling and loving your idols which got me all hyped !! I was essentially a screaming mess before I even realised it. Was I the only one that felt like that ? I could just be crazy too. (ᵕ —ᴗ—) Nontheless I still think the anime is very simple and chill, it's nice to watch some animes that aren't too complex sometimes ♡

I'm going to say it: this anime is weird, and because of that, it is not for everyone. You will either love it or strongly dislike it. The story follows Utage Kinoshita, an obsessed fangirl of the J-pop group F/ACE, or more specifically, of Tamon Fukuhara, the group's center. Kinoshita has little going on in her life aside from being devoted to Tamon. He represents the group's "hot and wild" image: sexy, flirtatious, and confident, so it is easy to understand why she is so drawn to him. To support her interests (namely buying more Tamon-related merch), she works part-time as a housekeeper. One day, however, her life changes dramatically when she ends up becoming Tamon's housekeeper. When she finally meets him, instead of encountering the bold persona she admires, she discovers the complete opposite: he is shy, awkward, suicidal, insecure, and deeply self-critical. This initial clash becomes the foundation of the story, as Tamon and Kinoshita gradually develop a friendship that later on turns romantic. The premise is something I have rarely seen explored in anime, and that alone makes this series stand out. In many ways, it feels like the kind of story you might have read on Wattpad as a teenager. Viewed from that perspective, anyone who has experienced a phase of intense admiration for a k-pop idol will likely find Kinoshita relatable and the story engaging. On the other hand, viewers unfamiliar with that specific fandom culture may find the entire concept somewhat strange, which is one of the reasons I believe this anime is not universally appealing. Another factor lies in the characters. The cast is appealing, but somewhat flat. While Tamon and Kinoshita demonstrate gradual growth through their relationship, the rest of the characters receive development that feels shallow by comparison. (Spoiler) There is also some regression on Tamon's part regarding his "darker" tendencies, which I personally find compelling, though it may cause some viewers to dislike him. In my view, Tamon is portrayed in a way that reflects how people with very low self-esteem can sometimes behave: jealous, manipulative, and self-centered. That complexity makes him interesting, even when he is difficult to sympathize with. (End spoiler) Other characters do show moments of growth, but these changes often feel rushed or underdeveloped. It also does not help that the story occasionally refuses to take itself seriously. While this works well for comedic moments, it weakens the emotional weight when the narrative tries to present the characters as fully realized individuals. The idea of exploring each F/ACE member's hidden "side B" is excellent, but it was not developed as thoroughly as it could have been. The animation, unfortunately, feels somewhat awkward. The use of CGI in certain scenes is not inherently a problem, but the contrast between CGI and traditional animation can be jarring. Overall, the visuals are serviceable, but nothing particularly memorable. The music, however, is a highlight. The opening theme is incredibly catchy, and the songs performed by F/ACE are genuinely enjoyable. Some tracks do not appear to be available on streaming platforms yet, which is disappointing. Still, the series succeeds in capturing the energy and style of a believable J-pop group, and the voice actors deliver strong performances. Despite its flaws, I enjoyed this anime far more than I expected. 13 episodes passed quickly, and I found myself wanting more. It is an entertaining series: lighthearted, fun, and easy to watch. I also see the story as a subtle critique of both fandom culture and the idol industry. Kinoshita becomes so consumed by her devotion to Tamon that she loses sight of herself. She abandons her own interests and identity, investing all her time and resources into him. This harms both of them: she loses her sense of self, while he suffers under the unrealistic pedestal she places him on. At times, she struggles to see him as an ordinary person. Tamon, in turn, knowingly takes advantage of her admiration. He manipulates her because he believes she only values his idol persona, not his authentic self. This dynamic becomes a significant obstacle for him emotionally, reinforcing his insecurity and preventing genuine connection between them.

Not a big fan of idol culture but something I thought was cool about this show was that they used a design for Utage that looks like a typical anime "background" character, the type of character studios draw to fill in the "extras" in a classroom who won't get much screen time, but they made Utage expressive, detailed, and dynamic enough to make her genuinely cute and pretty. It fits that she blends into the background at school while also having Tamon grow to be obsessed with every aspect of her. The use of cgi is well done at least JC STAFF haven't fumbled after adapting One frame man . The manga is still going on and there is a long way to go for Tamon and Utage romance . If someone wants to read manga after anime then start from ch 34 . Overall it's a fun time pass anime nothing about deep feelings . Hope they announce a season 2 soon .

A decent anime. Nothing too annoying about the way the characters are portrayed and nothing feels TOO overplayed in terms of the characters' personalities or how the story progresses. The anime is pretty funny too. It has its own little quips and jokes, and the constant of someone gushing and fawning over their favorite idol doesn't get boring. It starts out as a fan and idol relationship which eventually evolves/devolves in a few different directions. The romance is a little slow in this as the characters are figuring out what they like, and discovering parts about themselves that they didn't really know about before. All of that is being balanced with dealing with the "F/ACE" value personality and the idols' real personalities. There is an underlying theme of being mentally unwell whether through stress, depression, stalking, obsession, etc. and the anime only barely addresses it. After something -off- happens, if it isn't treated with light humor first, they talk about it enough to bring (mostly) Tamon back to a stable state of mind but then they don't address most things after the fact and instead his mental state continues to go back to a scarier place. If you like JPOP or KPOP then this music parts within the anime might be up your alley since there are performances that are shown in a few episodes. There is use of CGI here which is not my personal favorite but I assume the did it this way to show more of a fluidity in movements for their choreography. I did not expect to like this anime at all but it consistently kept being a good anime. That's not to say that it didn't have flaws or things that I personally didn't like, but I still kept coming back each week to watch it.

With it's cotton candy art style to match it's equally as sugary premise and tone, one could easily dismiss Tamon's B-Side as nothing more then just fluff for the sake of fluff. After all, this has unfournately been the fate of many a shoujo adaptation over the years; the neglected, often sometimes underfunded sister to the easier to market and more broadly appealing battle shonens that have dominated the anime sphere for decades. Thankfully, this is changing, and Tamon's B-Side comes at the right time and the right place in the midst of a massive shoujo renaissance that hints at a larger shift in the priorities of anime studios and what people are interested in watching. While those topics are for another day, Tamon's B-Side, as it stands, is a great example of classic anime comedy goodness. It's refreshingly old school in it's approach, relying more on tried and true slapstick comedy and clever wordplay to get it's humor across, but it's modern setting also manages to update it for the modern viewer with a keen eye for both the idol industry it's parodying as well as idol/otaku culture. Even if you aren't an idol fan, you will likely know the majority of the terms here if you are even mildly adjacent to the anime community and all of those jokes consistently hit bullseye. But good comedy can only get you so far, and while Tamon's B-Side is certainly a strong comedy, it's really everything else surrounding it that makes it succeed. While it's premise feels more akin to those "I got hired by One Direction" fanfiction that dominated the Wattpad space back in the day, it mostly just uses that premise as a springboard for more interesting ideas. The titular "B-Side", beyond being used for comedy, is very clearly about the separation of the stage persona of idols and their real selves, and how those sometimes don't intertwine nearly as much as people think they do. Writer Chiaki Nagai, who has previously worked on other idol shows and clearly knows the industry, keeps the tone lighthearted and focused on the rom-com side of the story but never dumbs down the more pointed looks into the somewhat ruthless side of idol life. It's this smart scripting that gives both Utage and Tamon, our two leads, their insane amounts of likability. A lot of this is also thanks to fantastic vocal performances, but it the fast paced, almost mile a minute comedic writing keeps both characters from becoming stale. It would be easy in a lesser series to characterize one as the "straight man" and the other as the "funny man" like a lot of comedy anime tend to do but thankfully both of them are equally silly and serious, with their own quirks and outbursts that bounce off of the numerous other supporting characters here. Detective Conan veteran Chika Nagaoka makes her long awaited full series debut with this, and she brings her long experience in the field to a show that finally showcases what J.C. Staff is capable of. The character designs pop, the colors are gorgeous, and the animation is vibrant and expressive, with excellent physical comedy throughout and a stretchy feeling to how the cast moves around that keeps it constantly moving. Even when it's a little more lowkey in the dialogue sequences, there is a solid sense of blocking and thought put into how those sequences are staged, particularly when the romantic stuff is happening and Utage and Tamon need to have a quiet moment together. It's those quiet moments that are really the best part of Tamon's B-Side, and by the end of it's quick flying 13 episodes it becomes more and more about those smaller, intimate character moments. Sure, there are a couple of big idol dance numbers with great music at the center, a little bit of male fanservice for anybody who enjoys that, and the comedy remains chuckle worthy at worst and gut bustlingly funny at best. But the show's refusal to demonize any of it's cast - as well the otaku culture surrounding idols and the joy they can bring to people - ironically gives more complexity to the cast then they otherwise would have had. None of them are simply one note, they all have depth to them in spite of the seeming cartoon logic of the world itself. I was not expecting Tamon's B-Side to really be as good as it was, but I'm pleasantly surprised that it ended up being one of it's seasons most consistently solid shows. It's not anything groundbreaking, that's for sure, as it the topics it tackles are mostly things we've seen before and the actual times it wants to do idol stuff it gets a little interesting. But the romance itself, which subverts the usual power dynamic issue that plague some shojo, and the witty humor do a lot of heavy lifting and manage to elevate the show as a clear standout of the current genre renaissance. One can only hope this level of quality extends to other future shojo adaptations, as I would love to see those series in a better place then before.

I normally don't watch shows about Idols? Originally I came here from the MAL Event so I figured watching can't hurt. Well I ended up finishing the whole show in 2 days? It was fun even to someone like me with next to none interest or knowledge about Japanese Idols? In casual terms, these Idols have a B side or real life side once they take the Idol Mask off. The lucky honest, hardworking fan meets her main idol by chance and asserts to improve his life. It's funny enough her main idol was a "Doomer," yet relatable? Story wise, it's good, it makes sense keeping within realistic boundries of how hardcore fans view idols themselves? The MC girl has excellent self control, I don't believe I have seen enough MC's who are capable enough to control their desires to such great degrees. This may be a show commonly avoided for being in the Idol Genre, contrary to my expectations... it's really good!

The concept is interesting and fresh, and the art style is really pleasing to look at. Tamon’s dual personality also has a lot of potential. Unfortunately, the execution falls short. The main issue is the female lead being stagnant. At first, her fangirl behavior is still funny and understandable, but since it never develops, it eventually becomes annoying. She stays stuck in the same cycle of self-doubt even after realizing her own feelings. The romance also lacks clear progress. Their relationship is built up, but there’s no confession, making it feel unresolved and lacking any real payoff. An anime with a lot of potential, but the execution makes it feel wasted. It’s more of a “what a shame” than actually bad.