Otaku ni Yasashii Gal wa Inai!?

To be completely honest, "Otaku ni Yasashii Gal wa Inai!?" (2026) had one of the least appealing premises of the season, at least to me. I've been watching stories like this since 2008, when "Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu" aired—a series that, to some extent, helped popularize the premise of an ordinary male protagonist (usually an otaku) discovering that the most popular girl around him is secretly a huge manga and anime fan. The problem is that "Otaku ni Yasashii" fares even worse, because it never manages to make a single character stand out or develop a distinct personality. One episode even introduces the heroines simply as "the gals in the class"... and that's about it. They're given almost nothing else to make them feel unique or memorable. I can understand why many people stuck with the series until the end, since it certainly has visual appeal (the opening, for example, is quite good). But at some point, you start expecting a little more substance from a show—even if it's just a little. It's one of those anime that leaves you feeling exactly the same at the end as you did when it began.

Marked as spoiler free. Honestly, to spoil this anime I'd need to find something that actually happens first. Still looking. The premise had actual potential. Gyaru meets otaku, there's a social gap worth exploring, the first 6 episodes had a vibe to them. I was cautiously optimistic. Then episode 7 happened and I slowly started realizing I'd been lured into yet another copy-paste romance where the author ran out of ideas before they even started. Let's get the obvious out of the way. The MC. The single biggest reason this show will never reach what it could have been. You've seen this guy before. Low self-esteem, introverted, doesn't think he deserves anything, won't act on anything. The classic "someone like me shouldn't even be in the proximity of these girls" protagonist. Yes, literally. That is actual dialogue. Twelve episodes of proximity discourse. Incredible. What makes it worse than your average doormat MC is that occasionally he'll say or do something that makes you think, wait, he actually has a spine in there somewhere. He'll internally acknowledge something real, like actually not wanting one of the girls to end up with someone else. You sit up. You think okay, NOW we're getting somewhere. And then absolutely nothing happens. The moment gets quarantined from his behavior like it never occurred. It's not character development. It's morer like bait on a fishing line. He'll reel you in just enough to keep you watching, then toss you back. Happens multiple times. The comedy timing is another thing. Important scenes that are finally building tension will get cut mid-sentence by some generic unfunny banter that kills all the atmosphere, then the important dialogue resumes like nothing happened. The joke isn't a relief, it's a wall. You can't just interrupt an emotional build with filler and expect the audience to stay immersed. That's not how comedic relief works. A competent director could have caught this in the storyboard phase. Nobody did. After 12 episodes, the culmination of all this groundwork is: they held hands and said they "like" each other, as in like, not like like. Stunning. Breathtaking. I was moved. Out of morbid curiosity I checked the manga. One of the female leads told the MC she likes someone but refused to say who. We are truly eating well. The class also now teases the MC about being friends with the girls, which I assume is portrayed as a major development. I skipped a lot of chapters and genuinely could not tell what I had missed. That says everything. The female leads are actually fine. The art is fine. The concept is fine. Everything around the MC has enough going for it that a better protagonist would have pushed this to an 8 easily. That's the genuinely painful part. The ingredients were there. But the author doesn't know how to write post-confession content, so confession will never come. The will-they-won't-they is the entire engine and once it stops, there's nothing underneath it. So it won't stop. Season 2 will re-establish the exact same dynamic and call it progress. Don't bother. Not Recommended, and here's why. This anime clearly has an audience, otherwise it wouldn't have the following it does. If you're the type who enjoys self-inserting into passive otaku protagonists and the slow burn of absolutely nothing happening fills you with something, go ahead, this was made for you. No judgment. But if you read this entire review and felt even a single thing resonate, you are not that person. Save yourself 12 episodes. You will feel every minute of it.

If I had a dime for everytime theres a nice written gyaru themed story, I would have a few dimes ngl, which includes this series called "Gals cant ben kind to Otaku!?" or Otagal for short. Yes on surface this seems another loner/otaku mc being popular with the most pretty girls of the class trope, which it is to some extent but also more than that. Our mc Takuya is the classic introvert otaku who struggled to make friends in class till he meets our two gals ichiji and amane. But Takuya has also a kind & caring demeanour which makes, plus the guy is really passionate about his otaku stuff (he is also a niche Otaku, likes a certain anime which is focused throughout the series & also acts as a bonding glue for the trio at times as well) & can be really vocal about it when it comes down to it which is one of his likeable qualities too. Our gals ichiji and Amane have the polar opposite personalities, while ichiji is the outgoing & bubbly type while having the qualities of responsible adult and a big sister, on the other hand Amane is the one being the Athletic type, while having the cool exterior but also spotting a soft side while being a closeted otaku & a little careless lazy type as well. Quite the mix bag. The trio when they come together, bring really fun, enjoyable and wholesome moments whether its friendship or budding romance which is the highlight of the series making me smile & giddy at times. Their personalities mesh really well together & have great chemistry too. While the gals help Takuya getting out of his shell with ichiji making him more sociable by giving him little pushes out of his comfort zone at times & also meeting him halfway by engaging with his interest and then there's amane who's become a comfort companion/friend for him whom he can share & explore his niche interests with at the same passionate level. Something which usually you cant explore with most people even general otakus and I personally relate to that cause its really a important point of the story as well, be comfortable & enthusiastic with who you are. Its not just the gals affecting our boy, while his sweet honest nature really does numbers on the girls, he also brings out the best in them, for example with amane being a closeted otaku, spending time with him and slowly being affected by his love for the culture, she slowly starts embracing it as well and being okay with it, sharing your interests with people around you rather acting like someone you are not. Speaking of romance yes it is a slow burn cause first of all it builds up on friendship from the beginning slowly transitioning to the romance aspects. Also ofc our mc being shy & quite new to the concept of actual love, he also has bit of inferiority complex of not being someone worthy of the girls which doesn't help. We get lot of moments with each one of them separately of equal quality of emotions & feelings, like you can hardly notice a difference of allure between the two. The girls also for a change don't fight over each other for the guy like in most of the other anime's. They are actually close with each other, being supportive & caring for each other as well as while keeping their interest for the mc too. Moreover an important part i've noticed its more shown that the three of them are happier when they are spending time together as a trio. Which brings me to the best and worst part of the show imo, its really hard to choose any one of the girls, like you cant stop rooting for both. I really love their dynamics & chemistry equally and with how author has written the plot & character interactions so far, it makes it even harder so much so, its one of the rare times I actually want both of them to win, yes a throuple ending which is far removed from the conventional ways & usually less likely to happen. But Idk that's just me. Anyways speaking of the side characters, they are a great addition as well and really help advancing the story while giving us more enjoyable moments with the trio. Sayu is far by my favorite (THE GOAT), even while being young this girl brings a nice mix of maturity and playfulness to the table while doing her job in the best of ways which is wingmanning for our mc. She does it so well and its much needed cause one of our girl needs that push. *cough* Overall i would say the series was well adapted from the manga & even improved upon very nicely as i compare the details. Art style and Animation is really well done, the girls, the outfit designs, all are drawn with care. The color palette is vibrant suiting the gal theme. The voice acting cast were entertaining and a delight to hear. Special shoutout to ichiji and amanes va's their game was on point. Ost's were also really well directed. The opening by i-dle was my one of my favorite op's of the season so far, what a banger especially with all the beautiful visuals and the girls dancing to the beat which is just the cherry on top. This goes into my playlist for sure. Also them spooking us with the plastic love ED at episode 6 was a nice little treat as well. I think this is my 2nd favorite romance series from TMS entertainment after RE:LIFE (lets ignore rent a gf) At the end just wanna say loved the season from start to the end,it's really a enjoyable experience with our trio & their shenanigans while leaving us with happy vibes, nothing mind blowing but just hitting the right places which i like the most. Glad that this series got adapted. Hoping for a season 2. Thanks for reading this, just had to give my thoughts on this as best as i could. Otagal Solid 8/10 for me Yes gals can be kind & loving to an otaku. (let me dream)

Takuya Seo is the classic example of an otaku. He enjoys anime, manga, and is a fan of the Kirarimon Pets series. You can tell just by the title of the show what this may be about. Yes, Takuya meets two gyaru girls who connects with them on their similar interests. This sets the ultimate core of the show - two beautiful gyaru girls and an otaku. Meet Kei Amane and Kotoko Ijichi. These two girls represent polar opposites of each other. Kei is more reserved, quiet, and mature. Meanwhile, Kotoko is much more cheerful, outgoing, and isn't afraid to speak her mind. But one thing is for sure. The two are secretly otakus. This is obviously not an open secret to the public but it's what builds the chemistry and bond between these three characters. These two girls are also way out of his league. Yet one thing is clear, they grow quite fond of him and as a rom-com, there's definitely love in the air. Admittingly, it was hard to enjoy this anime at first sight. Some of the ideas in this anime has been so saturated in today's industry that it's almost indistingushiable compared to similar genres. Takuya's character introduction is anything but impressive. He's the average teenager in your class who has their secret hobbies. Chances are, you'll find one of these type in your everyday high school. Takuya lives in the type of world where it feels like a dream. The reality is that Kei and Kotoko geninuely become friends with him. This anime doesn't trick viewers into thinking they have some hidden agenda. The fact is, these three truly become friends and perhaps something even more. But for Takuya, he is dense as a rock that holds back on building some true love triangle. With the tone of the show, the story is about as simple as it sounds. It focuses on their daily adventures whether it's at home, school, or anywhere outdoors. The anime tries to be colorful with a range of activites such as group karaoke, slumber party, school festival or something more suggestive, like the classic beach episode with swimsuits. The overall idea is to get these three characters to bond together. None of their personalities really match so the story takes its opportunities to connect and build their bond. Nonethless, you shouldn't expect this anime to be a dramatic tearjerker. There's no tragedy or heartbreaking background stories about any of the three characters. Everything is taken lighthearted and the humor sells itself. However, it's also not a parody as the show geninuely builds the main characters' relationship together. It's just how you accept that relationship. Watching Gals Can't Be Kind to Otaku is about as simple as it gets. Sitting back and watching three cartoony like goofballs together with otaku interests feels like popcorn entertainment. Even as a rom-com, the romance is light and I never felt the need to truly jump into the ship of any character pair. From day one, this anime wanted to have fun with its own story and let the characters do the talking.

A self-insert romance that rewards indecisiveness... yeah... nothing new. From the moment you see the cover, you know what to expect. A romance that will stall after three chapters due to the protagonist's indecisiveness. With extremely attractive girls to sell merchandise and retain as many male viewers as possible. The premise: an otaku of a children's anime is approached one day by the girls in his class. One of them turns out to be an otaku of the same anime, and from there the interaction begins. If you read that last part and your first thought was "that would never happen in a million years," let me tell you that feeling will last for all 12 chapters. The girls are very pretty individually. Not only in appearance but also in personality. The otaku is the typical nameless protagonist so that everyone can identify with him. Speaking of the characters, it can be said that not everything is bad, only the romance. The series knows its strength lies in the variety of interactions it generates. Therefore, it always tries to keep more characters on screen besides the protagonists. This allows the otaku to interact with different people without any romantic motivation. It's only in these moments that you can appreciate the otaku's charm and might even think he's a good catch. When it comes to the girls, we're back to that typical withdrawn, unmotivated, and pessimistic character. For some strange reason, this isn't a problem for the girls; they find it endearing... like I said, that doesn't happen. Don't get me wrong, I'm not aiming for extreme realism, but I'm not looking to fall into an unattainable fantasy either. The girls are the strongest point of the work, and they should be. Without them, we'd be in trouble. They have fantastic chemistry. So much so, that you start to realize the author lacked the guts to make this a yuri story. In the second half, it throws a lot of bait at you with this idea, but within those baits, you can see the potential. In the end, you feel like the otaku character is superfluous. Even removing the guy wouldn't affect the story at all. It can still live up to its title, because both girls are gals and one is an otaku. The feeling is that this should always have been a yuri. These are the moments that reinforce my idea that I'm not looking for realism but a well-told story. It's impossible not to think that the guy is only there to sell fantasies. For that, I prefer a genuine love story. Otagal looks nice, and if you like romances where the protagonist doesn't have to make decisions because making decisions gives you anxiety... then this is for you.

I know what you’re thinking, “another popular gyaru x lonely loser incel romance, doesn’t Japan get tired of making these?” And I get it, it’s definitely a trope that gets done a lot because it plays into the male fantasy, BUT again, every story should be given a fair shot based on its own merits and Otagal is anything but a copy and paste of previous series in this genre. The main character is shy and awkward, yes, but he’s into traditionally feminine series and hobbies which adds a bit of social commentary and exploration of Japanese societal norms, toxic masculinity and of course the good old anime classic, embracing yourself. The girls’ personalities don’t revolve around the main character and they’re both well written and distinct people who have a friendship anyone would kill for. There’s no unnecessary drama, no weird fan service or really any of the things that usually make you want to bang your head against a wall. Trust me, I’ve seen most of those shows and I know what you’re thinking. Give this one a shot and I don’t think you’ll regret it. Plus THE i-dle are on the OP, so is there really even a choice? The best part of Otagal is the dynamic all 3 leads have. Amane and Ichiji are genuinely great friends who come from different backgrounds, but end up having a lot in common and share a tremendous amount of mutual respect and adoration. In an ideal world, this would’ve been Yuri, but Seo is a great protagonist so I’ll allow it. As I said, yes, he’s your standard loner nerd who just sticks to himself and suddenly two absolutely gorgeous goddesses come up to him and want to be friends, BUT the reasoning for that is valid and gets explained in detail later on in the season, so go in with an open mind and just let the story unfold. The fact he’s a guy and into magical girls and shows for little girls instantly made him one of the most relatable protagonists for me. He’s not a pervert by any stretch of the imagination, the guy just wants to enjoy what he enjoys without fear of being judged by others and I think there’s an important message in there. Life’s too short to not do the things you want to do for fear of being judged. He and Amane have that in common since she’s got the whole “I’m totally a cool gyaru and not a massive otaku who loves pokemon and precure” so through their interactions with each other, they both help one another to grow and love themselves. Ichiji isn’t an otaku, but she enjoys seeing her friends doing what they love to do and I love how she was always there for both of them, even if it’s not something she necessarily likes. I get a little emotional even thinking about it because that’s just a real ass friend. Yea, this is a cute and wholesome love triangle, but it’s also an amazing and healthy depiction of friendship first and foremost and I think that’s what’ll endear most of the audience to the characters. They feel like the friends we all wish we had, the people who accept us for who we are and respect our passions instead of belittling them. The romantic progress is definitely there too. It doesn’t take long for the girls to realize they have feelings for Seo, but I appreciate that it doesn’t overtake the friendship they all have. They’re all very respectful and mindful of how the other two might feel at any given moment. Both girls get really sweet intimate moments with Seo, but while Ichiji is a sweetheart, from day 1 I’ve been the biggest Kei stan and will likely stay that way. Being into the same sorts of things as me as well as her gap moe as she tries to hide her otaku self from the world is just too much. Ichiji to me feels like a girl I’d be best friends with, objectively beautiful, but no sort of romantic attraction for me. I’m sure she probably gets even more shine in the manga, so I’ll definitely be checking that out. Both girls are great, though and you’re totally valid for preferring either or even wanting the yuri route without Seo at all! I touched on the lack of fanservice before, but I just wanted to touch on something specific that I really liked in this show and it’s how involved Ichiji’s brother was as a chaperone whenever the kids wanted to go on an overnight beach trip or spend a night at her house. Little details like him calling Seo and Kei’s mom to make sure it was ok just meant a lot to me because it’s both realistic and healthy. These anime parents be letting their kids do ANYTHING and my guy said, nah, not my little sister. The show looks absolutely gorgeous. Like I was blown away by the quality of production here. TMS COOKED. A romcom has no business looking as good as this does, but it consistently has great animation and a beautiful art style/character designs. Very bright and loud colour palette that’s easy on the eyes and speaking of eyes, the characters’ eyes in this show are so pretty! Even if you don’t usually like these sorts of shows, I think Otagal is worth the watch for any romance fan because of its characters, authenticity and wholesome friendship at its core. Easily one of the best shows this season and in the running for best romance of the season. Otagal gets 9 out of 10

The real score is a 5/10, but I bumped it up an entire notch because it has a banger opening. The art is great. The girls are hot. Why didn't I like this anime though? Cause of the MC. He's very bland and un-interesting, yet the girls latch onto him like he's king kong gold. It's unrealistic for someone to "fall" for another without sort of interesting trait (MC's entire trait is simping Glittermon), yet the girls suddenly do. Then the MC also doesn't do or offer much once they start talking, but for some reason they keep falling harder. Like a simple "thank you" makes the girls heart rev like a V8 engine. That aside, it has all the tropes to be a decent watch (and I'm talking EVERY trope). It's definitely geared towards a very particular group of people. This did not include me, which is why in fairness I put mixed feelings. Dont' get me wrong- I love tropey romcom, but it has to some ounce of realism in it. Ultimately, I recommend watching the opening at least and add that to your gym music playlist. Thank me later!

Another inconclusive half adaptation, and it's not too interesting either. But it's one of the less annoying gyaru themed anime. Inconclusive adaptations suck, it almost felt like watching 12 episodes of prologue and the real deal would start from now, except the season is over. And honestly there isn't much happening in these 12 episodes, you get the usual, must have romance anime tropes like a beach episode, cultural festival, fireworks etc. The romantic development is about as much as you can expect from a half adaptations, it's barely the start of anything. Gyaru characters are usually overplayed and annoying, not in this anime though, so that's good. The characters are about the only thing salvaging this anime from being unbearably boring, they're fun to follow as they start to develop some feelings (but again not much progression this season). You have to look past the loser mc/popular heroines trope, it's brought up many times and it's annoying, but beyond that it's enjoyable to see how their platonic relationship forms, going from strangers to close friends. A second season would salvage this anime, but it's another question if a mediocre anime deserves one in the first place. Otherwise it's nothing special, I wouldn't rush to watch this anime as there are much better ones out there.

"Gals Can't Be Kind to Otaku!?" is an anime with a fun premise and a lot of charm. So why did I come away feeling so disappointed by its execution? For me, it comes down to four major issues: 1. The romance barely progresses throughout the season and never reaches a satisfying conclusion. 2. The male protagonist receives almost no meaningful character development, despite being the center of the story. 3. The ending leans too heavily on melodrama instead of genuine character progression. 4. The pacing often drags, wasting opportunities for stronger character growth and relationship development. With those points in mind, it's hard for me to recommend this to most people. This isn't a bad anime by any means (I still gave it a 6.5/10, rounded up to a 7), but it constantly feels like it's spinning its wheels instead of moving forward. That's ultimately why I found it so frustrating. The premise itself is fun, the female cast is genuinely likable, and there are plenty of enjoyable moments throughout. The problem is that the series constantly feels like it's setting up meaningful growth—whether that's romantic development, character progression, or changing relationships—only to pull back before anything substantial actually happens. Anime doesn't have to be realistic. An otaku suddenly getting the attention of the two most popular girls in class is already an unrealistic premise, and that's perfectly fine. What matters is whether the characters react and grow in believable ways. Instead, the male MC remains almost the exact same person from Episode 1 to Episode 12. I kept expecting him to slowly become more confident, more socially capable, or at least feel like he was trying to improve himself, but that growth never really arrives. As a result, the romance never feels like it's evolving either. Let's break those points down. ____________ Point #1 - The romance barely progresses. --- The whole time I watched this, I kept asking myself, "When are these characters actually going to make meaningful progress?" The answer is... not much. I'm not saying there's zero development. The girls do gradually become closer to the male MC, and their feelings become more obvious over time. The problem is that, after twelve episodes, the relationships feel almost exactly where they started. Not every romance needs the characters to start dating by the end of the season, but there should at least be the feeling that things have meaningfully changed. Instead, this feels much closer to a status quo romance that refuses to let the relationships move forward. ____________ Point #2 - The male protagonist never grows. --- This is easily my biggest criticism of the show. The female leads are actually pretty well handled. They have distinct personalities, receive moments of self-reflection, and slowly grow throughout the season. The male MC... doesn't. Outside of being an introverted otaku, he has very little personality, and almost no desire to improve himself. He never really becomes more confident, more outgoing, or even more comfortable talking to people despite everything that happens around him. His social anxiety is also pushed so far that many interactions become frustrating instead of relatable. Watching him freeze up over and over again stops being endearing after a while because the story rarely lets him grow from those moments. This also makes the romance harder to buy into. Outside of him being kind and sharing hobbies with Amane, the series doesn't give many convincing reasons why both girls become so attached to him. I also wish the female cast had encouraged him to become more confident instead of simply accepting that this was how he always was. It honestly feels like the story is too afraid to change him. The female leads grow throughout the season, but because the male MC barely changes, the romance itself ends up feeling static as well. Relationships are built on both characters growing together, and here only one side feels like it's evolving. ____________ Point #3 - The ending feels forced. --- The finale revolves around the male MC suddenly falling into a spiral of self-doubt because he believes he isn't worthy of having the girls in his life. On paper, that's not a bad idea. The problem is that it doesn't feel like a natural conclusion to the previous eleven episodes. Instead, it comes across as drama added because the season needed an emotional climax. I've seen this type of ending in plenty of romance anime before, but most of them build toward it. Here, it feels like a shortcut that creates drama without actually moving the characters forward. ____________ Point #4 - The show wastes its own potential. --- A big reason for this is the pacing. The series spends a lot of time on scenes that don't really move the story forward, while moments that should have focused on genuine character or relationship development are surprisingly brief. As a result, the anime somehow manages to feel both slow and rushed. More than anything, this is why I walked away feeling disappointed. Every few episodes it feels like the story is about to take the next step with its characters... and then it simply doesn't. The show has all the pieces needed to become a genuinely great rom-com. It has likable heroines, a fun premise, and plenty of chemistry. It just never fully commits to the growth it keeps teasing. ____________ Now, this doesn't make "Gals Can't Be Kind to Otaku!?" an outright bad anime. I still somewhat enjoyed watching it, and the female cast is easily the strongest part of the show. There are funny moments, wholesome interactions, and enough charm to keep the series entertaining throughout. My disappointment comes from knowing how much better it could've been. Instead of becoming a romance built on meaningful growth, it settles for maintaining the status quo. By the end, I felt like I'd watched twelve episodes of setup with very little payoff. 6.5/10 (rounded up to a 7/10). It's enjoyable, and I don't regret watching it. I just can't recommend it to most people because, despite its fun premise, it never lives up to its own potential.

Gals Can't Be Kind to Otaku was a very hyped up romance anime this season, but if I'm being honest it really didn't do anything for me. I don't think it was bad, and I can see why people would really like it, but in short it just wasn't for me. Art Style/Character Designs - 7 Animation - 7.5 Themes/Romance - 5 Characters - 6 Story - 5 Comedy - 6 Music - 7 Enjoyment - 5.5 The art generally looks pretty good, don't really have anything bad to say about it. The animation was also quite good too, when it comes to romance/slice of life anime there isn't really a need for spectacular animation but I'll always appreciate when it's done well. My personal issues with Gals Can't Be Kind to Otaku really stem from the romance side of things. For starters I do not particularly enjoy non-monogamous relationship dynamics. There's nothing really wrong with them as long as everyone in said relationship is okay with it but it's just not my preference. I'd honestly have much preferred if this anime was focused more on Seo and Amane having a relationship as opposed to the throuple thing they've got going on. And that's not to say I don't like Ijichi but I just think the dynamic between Seo and Amane is better. I think it's also worth pointing out that there really isn't much progression throughout the story, they constantly tip toe around their feelings and never are honest with themselves which was a little annoying. As for the characters, they were just fine. I found Amane and Ijichi to be somewhat interesting, and as for Seo although I wouldn't say I disliked him, he was overwhelmingly awkward which was irritating at times. As for the side characters, there weren't really too many of them, but I guess I did relatively enjoy the episodes with Amane and Ijichi's siblings. The story is about as generic as it gets, loner/otaku somehow manages to get the attention of the most popular/pretty girl(s) in the class/school and from there they become friends. Nothing inherently wrong with the simple plot line, but if you're going to go the generic route for the story I'd prefer if you do something to separate yourself from the pack, and Gals Can't Be Kind to Otaku didn't do that for me. Overall I can definitely see why people would enjoy this anime, it really just comes down to whether you like the characters and their relationship dynamic, but if you're looking for something that sets itself apart from other romance anime I wouldn't exactly say this is it. Gals Can't Be Kind to Otaku is a 5.5/10 in my opinion, borderline 6/10. Not bad by any means but just not for me.

Simple, but perfect execution. I have nothing to regret watching this. It's simply perfect. Too bad there isn't a confession in the show. Well, there is, but they haven't gone out yet. (Can't roast RAGf, sadge.) How did I find this? Twitter doomscrolling. If I remember correctly, there were some people in "that" group complaint about the show. Saying, "If only the stupid boy in the show didn't exist, it would be better." And I was like, "Bet!" I watched it to mock those people. Lol Appealing (Why did I get into the anime?) To be fair, I would love to see Ichiji and Amane together. (Just my own fantasy) They are both perfect for each other after watching the show. But! I wouldn't say it was a bad show. As a guy, myself, I would love to have girlfriends like Ichiji and Amane. Heck, that was my reason why I got into the anime anyway. Even without those people, I would watch it anyway. Platform Crunchyroll, Prime Video, and Apple TV. The review; Plot/Story Your typical otaku, Takuya Seo, finds himself dealing with two prettiest girls in class— the gals, after one of the girls accidentally borrows something precious from Takuya. Ichiji Kotoko and Amane Kei. They are the gals that... "not like those other girls you're used to." I'm joking with ya. 😂 Anyway, the story just your typical romance. Amane shares Takuya's hobby, which is why they vibe. Ichiji is there just because she is a curious cat. That's also why Takuya and her vibing away. As a whole, the story didn't do anything new; it was just a vibe all around, and that's okay. Not just that, the execution is also great! Character Two Thumbs Up! OST/SFX OP of the season... well, not really, but can't you blame me. It's the vibe now! K-pop is ruling the world, or rather, R&B. You can't blame people for liking this style of music, because it's great to hear. ED was okay, and OST+SFX in the anime itself were great. Animation The fact that TMS Entertainment, the studio behind this anime, did this and RaGf, and still pulled off some stunning visuals and animation, baffled me! Kudos, guys. I'm happy you guys have lots of talented people working on both. (I didn't watch RaGf, but I can still appreciate the effort they done in the show.) VA Two Thumbs Up! The conclusion; Enjoyable Very much! I hope it got season two since I heard Takuya actually went for both. I was kind of skeptical. So, don't take my word for it! Worthable So, so. People who like romcom, this is perfect. For people who LOOOOVEEEE to find unique things in ROMCOM, you won't find it here. Delivery Fantastic! OG Sauce I saw Bookwalker has the manga. I definitely want to read it now that I didn't see the second season announcement. Overall 8.9/10 Great watch, definitely recommended.

I think this ridiculous concept of a bunch of hot girls falling in love with a nerdy, otaku guy should be eliminated. The author thinks this type of story is what the audience wants, but we all know that this is the author's fantasy and has nothing to do with the audience's interests. As an audience, I hate love triangles, especially love triangles that have no conclusion. At least some love triangles are real, and one person loses their love and the other two get along. It's really frustrating to watch 12 episodes of an anime whose genre is romance and doesn't give any conclusion at the end, and it just feels like you wasted your time. The characters are good, the anime design is good, and the story was going well, but when you want the last episode to go somewhere, the story doesn't go anywhere.

It really just did not need to be a romance The concept and themes are adorable, the visuals are wonderful and it has a nice soundtrack to boot, the gals maybe a bit trope-y but they aren't unlikable characters at all and same goes for the main guy too But I just think that romance does not fit with what they were trying to go for here, if the show was just about Seo learning how to make new friends because of the girls and improving his self confidence issues it would have been so peak, but instead we get this indecisive harem with 0 growth (or maybe just 1 growth honestly) It just feels.... kind of shallow, when it could've been so much sweeter and heart warming, I honestly wish I vibed with it more than I did

The story here is pretty average and predictable, relying heavily on the clear trope of an unpopular boy with a popular girl, though this time it adds a love triangle into the mix. It still hits all the mandatory rom-com milestones like going to the fireworks and the school festival, the pacing is not too bad overall, making it easy to digest. I liked the two main female characters. Amane was my favorite. Around the later episodes, the girls get some much-needed background story, which adds some character building. Where the show struggles the most is the visual presentation and how it wraps things up. The animation is just not there, and in my opinion, it's pretty below par with very little detail, though thankfully it remains bearable enough to watch. The sound is decent and nothing to scoff at, but the last episode was quite hard to watch, which left a pretty rough impression at the very end. At the end of the day, it has some enjoyable comedy and fun character chemistry, but the predictable tropes, weak animation, and a frustrating final episode hold it back from being anything special.

It’s another otaku romance I’ve seen many times before, and it does little to stand out. Ijichi and Amane’s great chemistry is easily the best part of the show, and I liked that the love triangle never gets in the way of their friendship. Unfortunately, Seo is frustrating to watch, and I never liked his voice acting. He never develops any qualities that make him interesting, which makes his character feel generic and forgettable. The show isn’t especially funny, and it barely feels like a romance, but it is still a decent addition to an already saturated genre. The pacing and art style are both solid, and I especially enjoyed the opening theme song.

Otagal is a decent anime. It follows the trope of a socially awkward and timid otaku that gets the attention of beautiful classmates. It isn't super creative but the personalities of the characters shine pretty well as they get fleshed out throughout the season. I wonder if this is meant as a "one and done" season or not. If so, they played it incredibly safe and didn't have really any drama between the characters. Most of the drama came from the male MC being in his own head. If it isn't a one-off, then I would like to see some turmoil between the characters and possibly choosing a side instead of staying in the safe, middle-of-the-road approach. This anime is a nice and cute one to watch though. It goes through the emotions of realizing your first crushes and friendships pretty well.

This show is more heartwarming than romantic in my opinion the show just teaches you how valuable friendships are and how the least likely people could get together and work so well. It has everything you’d expect from a normal romance anime just without the romance and to be honest and it worked I would like to see more of these shows where it’s a group of friends with a hint of romance but the plot stays on the idea of friendship the otaku stuff was also really cool as well It does give me Nagatoro and teasing Takagi vibes but it’s also different and I feel like the show can hold its own which is nice Overall, I didn’t enjoy it quite a lot I expect a second season and I’m glad as much before it stuck in friendships rather than going down the romance area very enjoyable I do recommend!! 8 out of 10

Fun & fresh. The girls are charming, and the chemistry feels organic. It loses its visual ambition after episode 2. Still enjoyable. 6.5/10 I finished the series. During its first two episodes, it makes extraordinary use of visual language. Through visual metaphors, lighting, and composition, it conveys emotions, moods, and atmosphere without relying on dialogue. It also experiments with framing in ways that often make the anime feel as if it had been lifted directly from the pages of a manga. Unfortunately, from episode three onward, that visual identity becomes far more restrained. The direction abandons much of its experimentation in favor of more conventional visual choices, replacing some of its most memorable moments with far less impactful and less meaningful ones. From a narrative standpoint, the series works well. The pacing, conflicts, and progression feel natural almost all the time, while the distribution of the spotlight allows the gals to exist and remain genuinely charming even when they’re outside the protagonist’s perspective. The character designs and art direction don’t merely coexist—they complement each other, creating a youthful, warm, and charming atmosphere. Overall, I’d say the series excels artistically and delivers a solid narrative, but it never again reaches the brilliant integration of visual storytelling and narrative that defines its first two episodes. 6.5/10

Interesting anime, with fairly well-developed characters, even though the flashbacks used to explain their motivations and behavioral issues drag on a bit. The male lead's obtuseness is quite stereotypical, and in this case, it reaches excessive levels. Personally, I think it would have been much better if it leaned more toward romance than comedy. The two girls are better handled, especially Ijichi, who breaks the mold—though she’s also the one whose reasons for becoming a Gyaru/Gal are the least clear. In fact, the serious moments and sharp banter are executed much better than the more slapstick, comedic parts. It remains an enjoyable watch, but you often get the feeling that it wouldn't have taken much to elevate it to the next leve

Story It is a story of friendship and romance in which an otaku befriends two "gals." Each episode shows their relationship developing through tropes common to this genre; while most episodes are comedic, there is always room for friendship and romance. The pacing improves even further in the final episodes as the story delves into the protagonist's insecurities. Characters The protagonist is somewhat reserved and shy, making it difficult for him to make friends, but he happens to connect with two gals. One has a very cheerful and straightforward personality, while the other is a bit more reserved—though she is also very cheerful deep down—so the three of them seem to complement each other perfectly. Animation and Music The animation is excellent; there are many great close-ups of the gals' faces that really capture their beauty. While the music doesn't particularly stand out, the opening theme is quite good and features a unique style. I loved every episode of this anime and had a great time watching it. Most episodes featured simple storylines that made for a fun experience, so I highly recommend it.