Ganbare! Nakamura-kun!!

I can’t believe this stupid, silly show was what reignited my passion for anime. Boys’ love, a genre we’re all familiar with. Many are fans; some avoid it in case their parents walk in; some have prejudices against homosexuality and refuse to indulge in the genre. I fall in the second category: my religious family would not like to walk in on boys kissing. As someone who is homosexual myself, I’ve been conditioned to feel ashamed of it and hide it all my life (sorry if this review gets personal; this show means a lot to me). “Ganbare, Nakamura-kun!” is adapted from Syundei’s iconic manga of the same name, known for its iconic 80’s artstyle, endearing characters, and relatable depiction of being a gay teenager in a heterosexual dominant world. The story aligns with many similar ‘socially awkward person learns to integrate within society and make friends’ anime like Bocchi the Rock, Watamote, Hitoribocchi, Onimai, and lots more, which you know you’re in for lots of laughs and second-hand embarrassment. It follows Okuto Nakamura, a shy gay teen who is head over heels with his classmate Aiki Hirose. Throughout the show, we see Nakamura attempt to get close to Hirose in ways anyone who has had a crush before may relate to, like trying to greet them, picking up things they dropped, wanting to walk home with them, etc. It is EXTREMELY funny and relatable; the adaptation does a fantastic job of covering facial expressions, voice acting, animation, and lots more that bring the show to life. It is very clear the team behind this show cares a lot and is passionate about making it the best product possible. Additionally, one would think this show would follow a typical zero-progress, pure comedy show (which I wouldn’t complain…), but Nakamura surprisingly develops throughout the course of the show, gaining more courage to get closer to Hirose over time, and more I won’t spoil. It’s incredibly inspiring and motivating to see Nakamura build up confidence and make connections throughout the show. I will admit, maybe there isn’t as much progress as one may expect (definitely not Bokuyaba levels), as it is definitely a slow-burn show; there is a great sense of accomplishment and achievement throughout the show where you can’t help but root for the best for them. It is most definitely a comfort show; every episode leaves you happy and cheering him on (except for one) as it slowly but surely develops Nakamura and his relationship with Hirose. The story is nothing less than a 10/10; it’s perfectly executed and leaves you wanting more. As a character-driven show, it is inherent that the characters are amazing. Our protagonist, Nakamura, as stated before, is very relatable and portrays a realistic gay teenager in high school, which is a point I’d like to praise the show for. I feel that in many BL I watch, sexuality isn’t really a controversy in their world, which is great, as they can have comforting relationships without discrimination or fear. While there aren’t outward depictions of homophobia in this show (thank God, I would be heartbroken), it is clear there is a social stigma against homosexuality that prevents Nakamura from being more open about his feelings. The show does an incredible job of showing the struggles of being gay, especially in episode 12, which blew me away with how real it got. Nakamura’s development throughout the course of the series is amazing to watch, and he’s very well-written. In stories similar to this, the character with a crush usually doesn’t have a personality outside who they like, but they did a good job of making Nakamura an actual person with hobbies, interests, and even sacrificing time with his crush to indulge in his interest once. I know that’s a low bar, but I just think it’s great how they went through the effort to make him more real and relatable. Hirose is Nakamura’s crush, and he’s definitely one of my favourite characters, both as of recent and of all time (you can see him in my top 10 on my profile). At first glance, he looks perfect: kind, outgoing, and adorable. However, throughout the show we get to know more about Hirose: his flaws, his interests, his friends, and lots more that make him feel so real. Something I really appreciated about Hirose is that his good qualities aren’t just told to the audience, like Nakamura just saying “he’s kind” without any evidence for it, or his qualities are only shown through big, grand actions just to be evidence of the fact, like him ‘being kind’ is feeding the homeless or whatever. Instead, Hirose’s kindness and outgoing personality are shown through small actions and subtle details in how he conducts himself. It’s a great detail the anime added, like adding small gestures he does; my favourite example being putting his bottle away when Nakamura was speaking to show he was listening and open to whatever he was going to give him; it’s a very small detail in the background of the frame, but it just goes to show that Hirose isn’t lazily written as the ‘kind guy’, he shows he is kind which I appreciated a lot. Additionally, I loved how he is literally a normal teenage boy. He isn’t the perfect, model student that everybody is head over heels for; he’s literally a normal guy who likes games, hangs out with his friends, can be a people-pleaser, and is forgetful. You would expect him to be similar to last year’s Bad Girl, in which the love interest is the top of the grade, insanely attractive to everyone, helpful and acts as a role model to all; the list goes on, but again I’d like to emphasize how REAL this show is. I, myself, was a Nakamura with a Hirose in my life, and I’m sure many others can resonate with this show. His flaws don’t make him weaker; in fact, it makes him even more lovable, and it makes you understand why Nakamura fell in love with him. Hirose is just such an amazing character, not only because of his realism, but also his development throughout the show. You can tell he’s had internalized homophobia throughout the show and wants to please others even at his own expense, with episode 6 as a turning point for his development. My only complaint about the show is that we should’ve learned more about Hirose; I understand 13 episodes isn’t quite enough to go fully in-depth with a character, and a lot of the show is Nakamura trying to get close with him rather than actually being close with him. However, there were definitely some episodes more meant for comedy centred around people AROUND Hirose rather than Hirose himself; they were really funny and enjoyable, but it really didn’t add to the story or development (emphasis on Matsumura episodes). Although it’s a complaint, it further emphasizes just how good Hirose’s character is despite us not getting to know him enough, which leaves us craving more. If I had to sacrifice some of the comedic episodes for more meaningful moments with Hirose, I would do it in a heartbeat. A popular opinion I’ve seen is that we should get a second season from Hirose’s perspective; although basically impossible, I would love to see it happen. Overall, Hirose’s character is definitely a highlight of the show and adds even more to the relatability and realism of the show. Other characters add a lot to the heart of the show; Oomori, Takeuchi and Hirose’s other friends give insight into how Hirose is with his friends, and show Hirose’s conflict with wanting to please them but also having his own wants and needs. Kawamura and her group of friends are really funny; she was more of a background character in the manga, so I appreciate her added importance in the anime. Characters such as Reiko and Tamura add a lot and develop the plot and characters; I really like Tamura, not really sure why; he’s just really entertaining. Hana is more of a plot device for Hirose and Nakamura, but she’s sweet and really cute. Matsumura is a character I’m more conflicted about. All the side characters are pretty much exaggerated and dramatic for the funnies, like …

If youre looking for something to fall asleep to, watch this instantly. I really wanted a cute, interesting BL that was a breathe of fresh air, and different from most of the romance genre. But this show is comfortably worse than most of the genre, and is only rated so high as its BL. If either of the two main characters were girls this show would be rated a 6.5. Nothing of interest happens at all. Truly bland. One positive is the art style. It really does look good with a softened 90s aesthetic. But the actual story, relationships and everything else is boring as hell. Dont waste your time.

This anime is... fine. It's not offensive. Ultimately it's about an awkward teen dealing with his crush on a classmate. But it's worth noting that this is ALL it is. The show's plot is thin. Really thin. Quite honestly, not much happens at all. You could cut this show down to less than 3 episodes and walk away with the same experience. So, what's good about the show? The art is fantastic! This is a really really pretty show. It reminds me of 90's anime like Sailor Moon! The main character calls himself gay, out loud, multiple times. Not as a joke, not in panic. Just a declaration of who he is. I was honestly surprised and excited to see that! The title and credits sequences are fun and nice! Aaand... that honestly about it. There's really NOT MUCH holding this show together. That being said: in the world of BL, an inoffensive cute show is a breath of fresh air and great direction for the genre. Many BL have problematic story lines, characters, moments, etc. "Ganbare! Nakamura-kun!!" is free from anything horridly offensive. It's a pretty show with a few good moments, but nothing really happens and very little character growth occurs. It's fine. Far from amazing. But not bad. Its biggest sin is being boring and aimless.

I can’t believe there was once a time where I didn’t like BL because Go for it Nakamura is one of the best romances and shows of the year so far. This was such a refreshingly unapologetically queer story that made me fall in love with the characters and narrative from the very beginning. It also features one of the most beautiful art styles and some of the best production values of the year, even if you’re not usually into LGBTQ series, I highly recommend checking this one out because ultimately good romance is good romance regardless if it’s het or gay. LGBTQ stories have always been integral to the fabric of anime as a medium. Anime has often been used to create social commentaries on issues that are difficult to talk about in Japanese society. In recent years, we’ve definitely seen an uptick in Yuri titles being adapted, but the same can’t be said of BL titles so hopefully Go for it Nakamura is the start of a shift in that trend because while lesbian relationships are often fetishized by straight men, gay male relationships are villainized and looked down upon and I believe stories like these are important to bring to life, especially as Japan continues to become more progressive on LGBT issues. What really stands out to me about Nakamura is how accurately it reflects just how awkward, insecure and anxious a young gay kid can be. Nakamura isn’t perfect. He’s weird, horny and flawed, but that’s how all kids are at that age and there’s a very clear trajectory for his growth throughout the season where you look back and can’t help but feel like a proud parent seeing how far your kid’s come. Going from not even being able to talk to Hirose to casually hanging out with him was the proudest I’ve ever felt watching an anime. I became so invested in this relationship and even though things don’t go how I expected, I can honestly say I’m ok because the focus of this story was always on Nakamura coming to terms with and loving who he is. His relationship with Hirose is sort of just the vehicle to get us from point A to B. Kind of hard to go more in detail without spoiling things, so I’ll leave it at that. Hirose himself is a really interesting love interest because he’s not written as an idealized prince or fantasy boyfriend. He’s just a normal kid, which makes Nakamura’s feelings feel more authentic. A lot of the show’s tension comes from Nakamura projecting his fears and insecurities onto Hirose rather than anything Hirose actually does which is a realistic depiction of how introverts and socially awkward people behave making the story very easy to immerse yourself in. This show has such a good supporting cast as well. Every single character is funny as hell and brings something to the story, the fact every girl in this story is a massive fujoshi was so funny too. Special shoutout to my girl Hifumi for leaving me in stitches laughing in damn near every scene. The only one I wasn’t crazy about was Otogiri because of the weird nature of his relationship with Hirose, but other than that, there’s never a dull moment in this show thanks to the near endless supply of quality supporting characters. While it’s based on a manga, the anime staff expanded on things in the form of anime original episodes and these were just as good as the manga adapted stuff in my opinion. It’s really cool that they were able to provide so much character development even when going off the cuff and creating original content. In other series, these would be filler episodes, but in Go for it Nakamura, they’re essential parts of the narrative that build upon previous developments. Production values here are so good. The show looks gorgeous and has this retro 80s vibe art style and unique color palette with quality direction and we can’t forget those EDs which were just banger after banger. It’s clear a ton of love and energy went into this project which makes me so happy as it’s not a story we get a ton of these days. Go for it Nakamura’s not just a great romance, it’s a great coming of age story with lessons that are applicable to all teenagers regardless of their sexual orientation and I think the biggest takeaway from it is to become comfortable in your own skin. A timeless and important message. This was such a big part of my life for the last 3 months and I’m truly sad to see it end. One for the ages. Go for it Nakamura gets 9 out of 10

"Go for it, Nakamura-kun!!" is one of those shows where I appreciate that it exists, and enjoy it to some extent, but it leaves you wanting. There are some incredible directed episodes that make the heart swoon, but there are also equally cringy, painful, full of gags episodes that make you wonder if it's worth it. Lets start with the positives. This anime is incredibly enjoyable to watch from an artistic standpoint. It captures that retro style of old time anime and capitalizes on it in a shiny modern coat of paint. It's GORGEOUS and so eye catching, the type of style you'd like to see on a lo-fi music channel. Impeccable vibes through and through. The ending sequences calling back to pre 2000s music is the cherry on top. And then we have the actual "plot" which is watching Nakamura struggle in his day to day life with one-sided love for Hirose. Pining during one's younger years in a positive way without some sick twist that most shows these days love to pull simply for being a true BL show. It's sweet. The experiences captured here resonates with many a queer watcher including oneself. Incredibly relatable and some episodes truly dig at the heart. But then there's the other parts. The incredibly cringy, gag parts. I was actually pretty mixed on the show from the get-go, solely because the "gag" joke moments were painful. I wanted to watch a romance bloom, and at times it felt instead that I was watching a 4-koma omake type bit. You have supporting characters who... really exist for the sole purpose of making what feels like filler. Such as the cult blue haired girl and the movie director boy that drags the characters around for the hell of it and kinda serve no purpose other than being annoyance. It's such a mixed feeling because the episodes with just Nakamura and Hirose are pure bliss. That's what we love to see!!! And yet they're incredibly scattered between the muck of rando characters for the heck of it or moments that don't really pertain to Nakamura's journey. Nakamura is also just... incredibly painful to watch at times because he sometimes DOES act like a creep. Or can't manage say anything at all at times and nothing is more painful than watching a character hmmm and haw and stutter to the point that... there is no point. Creating resistance because they simply don't know how to talk. While I think it's ultimately a good watch especially for those in queer communities, it could have done just a smidge better if it had been more focused.

THIS! THIS IS HOW YOU WRITE A QUEER STORY!!! I cannot express enough how THANKFUL I am towards Syundei, towards THIS WHOLE SHOW, and MOST OF ALL NAKAMURA himself for this story. I think there should be more queer stories about navigating a heteronormative world while being confused and insecure; just validating how you stand out against this world, and despite that there will always be people who accept you. Much like Hirose is to Nakamura, his feelings for Hirose make him want to be more confident in himself. That to me is important storytelling to the queer experience. I like how this series wasn't necessarily a romance for that because even if it's left ambiguous or not that Hirose might likes him back, it's clear he enjoys Nakamura for his company besides that and we know Nakamura's goal is to become good friends with him. It's a simple goal but it feels compelling with the story acknowledging the importance of Nakamura's queerness when showing his affection for Hirose, whenever he hangouts or buys him something. It's important to Nakamura because it gets him closer and closer to Hirose. For a BL comedy, it's honestly realistic and doesn't treat queerness like a fairy tale or a joke at all but it acknowledges the identity of being gay in a heteronormative world. I'm glad I got to see 13 episodes of this silly-gay boy exploding how close he gets to his crush because that was how I felt once upon a time when I was 15 (though my crushes didn't work out as much as Hirose, but my greatest friendships remain strong to this day!). I'm glad I finally got to see a story that doesn't revolve around same sex romance because WE ARE MORE THAN THAT! Some of us don't even get the privilege to fall in love or even express it, but knowing there can be people who accept us and want the best for us; that's where we can find belonging with ourselves too. I definitely think by the end of the show, Nakamura finds that out for himself and learns to be happy with the boy he loves even if the world him not be ready for him to express it; he loves Hirose as much as a friend and crush. His feelings for him make him want to push forward despite how the world may not understand. So I'm proud of Nakamura for his bravery every step of the way! Congratulations Nakamura-kun!

This anime was such a difficult one to rate. It had plenty good things going for it, and just as many bad. Nakamura is a chronically shy, introverted 15-year old guy who has a crush on a boy in his class. His behaviour is awkward, shy and sometimes creepy. Understandable as his concept of romance is mainly sourced from BL manga, something I think many young people can relate to. But why... WHY... does he constant have to throw his name away? At first I laughed at his idiocy, then started to feel secondhand embarrassment. It doesn't feel great. Feels like I'm laughing at a young kid simply trying to talk to his crush. What I enjoyed is the anime lives in a hetero-normative world. That's pretty brave for a BL. There's such a fear of perceived (and actual) rejection from straight people that (generally speaking) mangakas protect their gay characters in gay-skewed worlds. It get it. People can be mean. But part of the interesting thing about BLs is seeing people work through their sexuality, their fears and challenges unique to being gay. And as a straight person, I feel I want to respect their feeling of 'being different'. That part of gay reality is overcoming the challenges of living in a hetero-normative world. For ages I've wanted to see a wholesome anime that dares to combine elements of straight and gay romance. A truer reflection of reality... just with all the cutesy of a rom-com. I want worlds to blend. I see romance as interactions, whether gay or straight, between two people. Is this equality? I dunno... but I do know I didn't want to laugh at MC's awkwardness. That just feels mean. The animation was good, loved the unique ED's at the end of each episode. Animators are also understanding that there's a target audience for wholesome BL... enough fujoshi kink already! I rated it 7, but probably 7.5 is more accurate.

Honestly, this anime is very bad. Well, in my opinion. Its only a cliche of a shy an creppy boy whos in love w an extrovert boy. Just like Kimi ni todoke but in mlm. It isnt good, yall are hyping it is just cliche and the characters are definitely not well written. Also i dont really like slow burns so ig thats another thing i didnt like about this anime (But this is just a personal preference, so u should try it if u like slow burns). Not gonna lie, u can see better bl animes, with a better story, without the lot of cliches this anime has, and with better characters. So, if u didn’t like Kimi ni todoke u shouldn’t watch this one either. If u like it, u should watch this anime. But the visuals (drawings n animation) are very pretty ^o^

I LOVED THIS SHOW WITH MY WHOLE HEART! Go for it, Nakamura-kun is one of those blissfully perfect and wholesome romance shows that captures your heart right from the first episode. It is so fun and charming and I shockingly have no complaints. If there was anything to find fault with, the only thing I would say, is that I just wish Nakamura was slightly more proactive with his feelings into the later episodes. However, that is it. I genuinely loved every single thing about this anime, from the characters to the love interest to the plot. It was a thrilling ride that I want to go on again and again. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made me root for Nakamura and Hirose with all my heart. I will be desperately waiting for the next chapter of this truly wonderful show.

NEW FAVORITE! have waited for this show since it was announced 2024. It exceeded all my expectations. The main characters are loveable, realistic and relatable. The humour isn´t flat, which is often the case with this type of work. The art style is charming and its very beautifully animated. There is a unique ending animation for every episode, which is very rarely done, but this supports the whole experience immensely. The opening is a banger ( stuck in my head since yesterday). The only weak point is that sometimes it´s so cringe its hard to watch lol and some episodes are basically filler, as there is no progress or even barely an interaction between the two main characters. Definitely recommend! Please watch and support so there will be a second season!!

8.5/10 Go For It, Nakamura offers an earnest exploration of queerness and themes of acceptance. It’s an excellent, if not somewhat flawed character study about a queer boy falling in love while facing the challenges of a heteronormative world. For better or worse, the highs and lows are turned up to an eleven: crazy daydreams, body shots, and octopus fanservice all make up Nakamura’s universe. Yet what makes it refreshing is that it’s not just about exploring a relationship with a crush, but rather embracing a part of ourselves we are often terrified of. The anime’s episodic nature is funny and heartwarming and the hilarious supporting cast also adds just the right amount of flavor. Through beautiful, stylistic animation, fun characters, and slow, earnest pacing, Go For It, Nakamura kun truly is a delight from start to finish. While the show ultimately shies away from deeper conflict of the struggle of being queer, its comforting message hits home—being yourself is the only weapon you need. +Earnest exploration of queerness and themes of acceptance +Extremely relatable hero; supporting cast equally adds flavor -Glosses over deeper themes with distasteful comedy -Suffers from short runtime and lackluster conclusion

I didn't think I was going to like this show as much as I do right now. Not in a "I don't watch gay stuff" kind of way, because I literally have an interest stack dedicated to gay shows with great representation. But rather, I thought this show was just going to be a gag anime about an anxious gay character, which it is at first, and it is funny. But by far the highlight of this show is watching Nakamura grow as a person, dealing with his hangups and having all kinds of new experiences with people, and not just about the romance. It made me feel all kinds of things and I think that's what makes this show so great, along with the music (and especially the end credit choices, top tier retro music), and the artistic direction (once again, especially the end credits). As far as slice of life goes, this is definitely up there. Go for it, whether or not your name is Nakamura.

Go for it, Nakamura-kun!! is an extremely cute, light-hearted rom-com that warmed my cold dead heart. It’s not a perfect work, but its love for young queer boys shone through at every moment. Go for it, Nakamura-kun!! looks pretty good, which makes it a animation masterpiece by BL standards. The colors are light and bouncy without feeling faded, oozing classic 90's romcom feelings. The series art copies a lot of nineties character design aesthetics, and while usually I take issue with nostalgia bait, the designs are able to stand on their own. The OST is okay to unnoticeable, so that could be worse. Go for it, Nakamura-kun!! is deeply cute. Its lighthearted, comedic take is so refreshing, that even I, the local “Ivantill should always be unrequited” fell in love. Nakamura is just so genuine and passionate, and as a young queer boy staring down an impossible crush, you cannot help but root for him. Nakamura feels like the essence of a teen’s heart and soul condensed into an actual person, acting out crazy teenaged fantasies because he’s That Down Bad and That Socially Awkward for Hirose. For the most part, the comedy hits for the show, as Nakamura’s over-the-top antics are extremely endearing to watch. I take issue with the supporting cast. While they fulfill their roles as set dressing for Nakamura’s episodic antics, I sort of wish their characters came to more of a climax. The series is a combination of the original Go for it, Nakamura-kun!! One-shot and its unplanned sequel, so the anime's characters feel weirdly unfinished. Hirose himself was alright; he fulfilled his role as so-close-yet-so-far-crush very well, and while you could read some very interesting extra depth into him, I find him to be just okay. The show is about Nakamura, and the show does a very good job at being about Nakamura. I do wish the show wasn’t so neutered compared to the original manga, if only because I care about things being accurate. The original manga does still exist, and I understand why they wanted to take the rape jokes out, but certain elements feel weaker. I get why they did so, because they knew the show was gonna be popular in the west--and the OG mangaka Syudei regularly gets raked in the coals by western fujoshi. If you’re looking for an accurate adaptation, this might not be it. If you're just in for a good time, though this is a treat for fujoshi and general romance fans alike. Go for it, Nakamura-kun!! has as much charm as Nakamura-kun himself, who we are all rooting for.

It's such a refreshing anime! It feels different from most romance stories out there, because it's not only about the development of the relationship; instead, it focuses more on the feelings of falling in love. It shows the excitement, the awkward moments, the sadness, and all the small things that happen when you start to like someone. And it feels so real. This anime is so funny, sweet, and also very comforting. It feels honest, easy to relate to, warm, nice, and something that makes you feel calm inside! So human, so pure! One of my favs for sure, forever! 🩷

Happy Pride to these two cuties 🐙🦀 Story: Go For it, Nakamura-Kun is a slice of life comedy (except episode 12 </3) that delivers a grounded nuanced story of queer adolescent anxiety that subervts traditional BL tropes by rejecting idealized, immediate mutal romance in favour of slow and awkward realism. The 13 episode arc balances comedic, clumsy scenarios with genuine emotional milestones. The primary narrative of this story is deconstruction and connection. Early episodes function as highly comedic as we follow Nakamura’s various failed attempts to speak to his crush Hirose. The story is presented almost entirely from Nakamura’s perspective allowing the viewers to experience his internal panic, assumptions and exaggerations firsthand. The comedy relies heavily on expressive visual gags, over the top internal monolouges and Nakamura’s social failures whereas the romance aspect is sweet, innocent and grounded entirely in a realistic teenage pace and for fanservice there is none at all (thankfully) as the show focuses on a highly wholesome aesthetic that favours a stylistic charm and emotional vulnerability. And for the ending, it operates as a comfortable open ended finale, leaving the door naturally open for future adaptations (please I need a season 2 right now) as it neartly concludes Nakamura’s inital hurdle of social isolation. Art: The art style of this show is highly stylized and intentionaly retro as it serves as the primary engine for externailising Nakamura’s chaotic inner world. The use of washed out pastels and the retro style creates a cozy, safe enviroment that sofens the real world stakes of Nakamura’s isolation making his social struggles feel charming rather than depressing. Whenever Nakamura looks at Hirose the visual style instantly shifts as the screen is flooded with heavy lens flares and sparkling screen tones. This distinct visual shift lets the viewer see Hirose exactly how Nakamura sees him as an unreachable, idealized romantic protagonist. Sound: The sound design goes hand in hand with the vintage animation style as it uses audio cues to directly mirror Nakamura’s mental state switching between over the top retro cartoon sound effects to quiet and intimate moments that highlight his social anxiety. The specific use of sound I would like to highlight is in episode 12 which is no doubt the most emotional episode of the season. To match Nakamura's intense heartbreak over a Valentine's Day misunderstanding, the audio design completely sheds its upbeat city pop rhythms that defined the previous 11 episodes and entirely removes them. Every previous episode ended with a different upbeat nostalgic song wheras in episode 12 it completely strips the ending credits of music as the heavy silence prevents the viewers from escaping the emotional weight of Nakamura's lowest point. It forces the audience to sit in the discomfort of his heartbreak, perfectly setting up the absolute necessity for emotional honesty and growth in the following episode. Characters: Nakamura in the first episode outright reveals his sexuality to the audience by saying "I'm shy, gay and in love with Hirose Aiki" and as the season progresses we see the gradual emotional opening through a closested, anxious teenager learning to step outside his comfot zone. Nakamura’s journey is a grounded study of adolescent social anxiety and the vulnerability of wanting to be truly perceived. The narrative allows him to be flawed, he is occasionally selfish and hyper fixated and this prevents him from being reduced to a simplistic one dimensional character, making his small moments of bravery feel hard earned and realistic. Although the story is locked to Nakamura's perspective we see that Hirose recieves steady characterization that anchors the narrative. He was initially presented as flawless and his development relies on stripping away Nakamura's projections of this. He is gradually revealed to be a wonderfully ordinary, slightly clumsy, and uniquely perceptive teenager. He is a kind character who actively notices details about others, remembers minor past interactions, and makes deliberate efforts to pull more isolated classmates into his social orbit. Enjoyment: Overall I quite enjoyed this show. It was awkward, funny, emotional and just overall a good watch. I love watching and reading different queer representations and this one surprised me with how much I ended up enjoying it. Nakamura is such a loser but I love him and I so hope we get a season 2 in the near future!

go for it, nakamura kun is one of the most faithful manga to anime adaptations i have ever seen. the artists created a perfect ambiance that translates so well from manga to animation. the show is colorful and upbeat, and the characters look like they popped out of an 80s/90s anime. not only that, but the additional material and revising of the manga’s stories make the show such an enjoyable watch. this show truly changes the vibe of the manga from more stereotypical fujoshi bl to actually elaborate on a lot of experiences that queer people go through. parts where nakamura would think about hirose in sexual situations in the manga were removed in the anime, which not only made it an easier watch, but also made the story focus more on the themes and less on fetishization. nakamura’s struggles of loving someone who may not reciprocate were deeply thought out and emotional; his queerness was a pivotal part of his character and not something added with little care for actually representing real queer relationships. its portrayed so realistically that it made me cry, as it is something that i (and other queer people) have experienced before. on a separate note, the music in this anime is absolutely phenomenal. it has been a very long time since i have watched the intro of an anime every episode, but it’s safe to say that this intro is very easy to rewatch. the outros featuring assortments of other japanese music while nakamura does chores or works is extremely cute and is a nice touch to fully develop the retro ambiance. in conclusion, watch this anime. it is an absolutely amazing show that is a faithful adaptation to the manga while also diving deeper into telling queer stories. whether you want a fun pick me up or a deep dive into a young, gay boy’s mind, this show has all of that. from the bottom of my heart, i love you go for it, nakamura kun.

Nakamura-kun is cute, funny, and lively. The humor and animation are pretty strong, but the big draw is Nakamura himself. The quality of the writing and visuals really make you connect with this insecure gay kid. I’ve heard that there are more risqué elements in the manga that were scrubbed out in adaptation. Based solely on what has been described to me, I think that the changes sound like a wash. One central plot thread feels enhanced, while some other smaller things feel sanded down or muddled. It does keep the in-universe real life fanfiction, so make of that what you will. Might be a little icky for some that Nakamura doesn’t come to acknowledge he’s crossing a boundary, but it’s not that bad. There is something I wanted out of the ending that I’m surprised wasn’t delivered, it feels like it sets up for something that it doesn’t properly pay off. However, the buildup to the ending is great, and it doesn’t end on a completely flat note. I just think it was heading in a certain direction and didn’t quite get there. I don’t think it gets there in the manga either, but maybe the execution of the story in print made it feel more justified. Doesn’t ruin the story for me. I found the earlier episodes funnier, probably because once Nakamura and Hirose become friends, there feels like there’s less risk in their interactions, less chance of misunderstanding. Still a fun ride that I definitely recommend.

I was expecting nothing but an average comedy BL, but this anime delivered so much more. I got emotional way more times than I expected; the story is so cute and actually interesting, the characters are loveable and relatable, and Nakamura's development is slow but nice to see. Nakamura as a character is so real. I am not a gay man, but I used to be an outcasted weird loser girl in my teens with a crush so big I thought I could die, and I related to Nakamura so hard, so much. The art and music are also great; it's the final touch that makes this anime a complete masterpiece not only as a BL but also as a romcom in general. 10/10, I will be rewatching this.

Alright, the anime has finally come to an end. Although I am very reluctant to part with it, I am very grateful for the three months of companionship. As a gay man in reality, I am very excited right now, so I have rambled and written this not-so-rigorous or objective review. (Note: But because I have never had a crush on anyone, it is unlikely that the complete empathy between me, this gay man, and the protagonist, which you might want to see, will appear.) 1. Tag Correction Instead of calling this anime a BL anime, it is better to say it depicts a gay boy's crush journey during adolescence (and it is very close to reality). The tag BL gives people a feeling that the two protagonists must fall in love, which is somewhat inappropriate for this anime. (Of course, I know that many people who respect anime will realize that the tags attached to an anime do not necessarily represent the truth. But looking at Twitter, there are actually people who feel that Hirose and Nakamura not being together is a sign that the anime is terrible just because of the tag. This is indeed quite speechless. I will strongly refute this view later.) 2. Story Overall, the story of this anime leans towards comedy, and the atmosphere is particularly relaxed and pleasant. Moreover, one of the tags of the original manga is "crush comedy," so if you are looking for profoundness or a sense of philosophy, that is definitely impossible. But if you just want to find some fun, there is indeed quite a lot of fun. (Ah, of course, I must confess that Episode 12 can no longer be counted as a comedy; it can make many sexual minorities feel bitter.) Furthermore, the tone of the story adapted by the anime gives people a particularly positive and active feeling. One example is that in the original work, Nakamura secretly took Hirose's clothes to smell them, but in the end found out he had smelled the wrong clothes and felt very devastated, but he absolutely did not feel any self-reflection of guilt or remorse. The anime, on the other hand, allowed Nakamura to have a bridge of self-reflection, making the story more in line with the 12+ rating (but actually, that kind of bridge in the manga is also quite real, although it has a bit of a moral flaw). In addition, the anime deleted and modified some prejudices in the original work that might make sexual minorities feel uncomfortable (for example, Nakamura being tripped by school bullies for no reason, or the boys in the class having a sense of banter towards BL manga), making the anime as a whole very healing, warm, and gentle. And, the love view delivered by the story is very, very healthy, perfectly fitting the original work (this will be mentioned later in the character section). 3. Art The anime's artwork as a whole is very stable. Although there are indeed some small flaws, fortunately, the quality of the artwork in the most crucial episodes is very good, so the flaws do not obscure the jade (the merits outweigh the flaws). The screen gives people a strong sense of retro, but benefiting from the blessing of modern technology, it is not so retro that it has a certain threshold for acceptance. For those who are new to anime, this is undoubtedly one of the reasons most worth recommending. (However, one point I have to mention is: if you are interested in Nakamura's looks, you should go and read the manga. The black-and-white design in the manga will make you feel that handsome side of Nakamura even more. Although the anime has it too, it is still relatively inferior compared to the manga. However, Hirose in the anime and Hirose in the manga are both very cute.) 4. Character Nakamura straight forwardly confesses his sexual orientation, which is relatively rare in Japanese anime. It belongs to catching up with the directness of last century's American cartoon South Park. The characters are all very cute, and there is almost no one who genuinely has a point that makes people dislike them. This kind of character design easily reminds people of Cardcaptor Sakura from the last century. If you like Cardcaptor Sakura, then you will also highly likely like the feeling given by the characters of this anime. Then it comes to the love view that I think is most worthy of praise. Nakamura's love view has grown very healthily: "His happiness is my happiness." Yes, true love is to bless the other person to obtain happiness according to their own free will, rather than forcibly possessing the other person oneself. This kind of love view easily reminds people of Tomoyo's crush on Sakura in Cardcaptor Sakura, which is really cute and worthy of respect. However, one difference might be that Sakura is a straight girl, but whether Hirose is a straight man is really hard to say. I think that by virtue of his kind of淡淡的 (faint/detached) social aloofness and his helplessness when facing love, it is very much worth speculating whether he is asexual. Even if he is not asexual, he also gives people a strong feeling of being in a period of exploring his sexual orientation. This kind of ambiguity is very good. Therefore, this has to return to the viewpoint mentioned earlier that the protagonists not being together means the anime is lying to people. I can only say, are the holders of this viewpoint not paying attention to the protagonist's growth and the sense of exploration of Hirose's sexual orientation reflected in the anime at all? And do they not consider the fact that the original manga has not finished yet? If Hirose and Nakamura were forced to be together, that would be a disaster. It would neither respect the original work nor respect the personalities of the characters. The ambiguous treatment of the anime's ending is the most appropriate. 5. Sound The music part is very pleasant to hear. Almost every episode's ED will be changed to music that fits the atmosphere of that specific episode's plot, which is very good. The voice actors' dubbing is also very cute, and Hirose's dubbing is the most cute. But if we are going to talk about who leaves the deepest impression, That is undoubtedly Nakamura's voice actor. The crying scene in the twelfth episode is truly very infectious. Although I have never had a crush on anyone, that kind of infectious power of the crying scene crossing the screen still made me burst into tears, as if I were accompanying a good friend who tasted the bitterness of a crush and wept bitterly, crying together with him. 6. Enjoyment It was a very relaxed viewing journey. Every time I watched it, it gave me a feeling of relaxation (except for Episode 12). It is very worth watching repeatedly, watching while eating, and listening to as background music. I am very glad to be able to witness the birth of this kind of anime. Finally My evaluation is that as long as one is not an extremely homophobic anime lover, this anime is worth watching. The gentle sense of youth reflected in the anime, reasonably speaking, can transcend the limitations of sexual orientation. For example, some shoujo anime, the love between the male and female protagonists also makes me feel very moved. (My goodness? You actually finished reading this rambling and logically confused review? Then I wish you a happy life, no matter what sexual orientation you are.)owo

if you came here for bl and are expecting the two of them to get together, just don't lol. because the story is more about nakamura, his love for hirose, and the struggles he goes through along the way. and i think that’s what makes this series so charming, especially if you’re a queer kid, it makes you relate to the main character in so many ways and root for him. plus, the humor of it which is full of unexpected turns of events or cheesy cliche moments, makes watching it even more enjoyable. i really loved how the anime differed from the manga in some ways, this was refreshing since i've read the manga many times and i was curious to see how events would turn out. however, some scenes were unnecessarily altered or cut, i especially loved the part in the manga where hirose stood up to the bullies to defend nakamura even though he didn’t recognize him. that really showed what a good person hirose is at heart and i don’t get why they changed that. there were also some pointlessly extended or added scenes that were a bit cringey to watch lol but i guess they had to stretch the episodes to 24 min, that’s why it turned out that way. as for the relationship between the two, the anime definitely has more progress than the manga. that was a good choice, nakamura certainly deserved a little happiness after all that effort and humiliation lol. and i need to mention that the animation, coloring, and music did justice to the original! they totally captured the ’80s style syundei did went for. totally recomended, we’d been yearning a cute and healthy bl series, and they heard us.