TONIKAWA: Over The Moon For You

Kenjiro Hata follows up Hayate the Combat Butler with another romantic comedy, however, this time it is more romantic than a comedy. The two main characters get married very quickly although given the fact that they are both rather shy the changes in their relationship move at the pace of a small, clumsy puppy. Also, do not expect any suspense, as user Scalpelexis writes, this show is about the ordinary and commonplace things that lead to gradual bonding, so the only real problem is the main female protagonist‘s sister's incredibly lame attempts to break up the relationship, although that only lasts for a few episodes. Even subject matter that gives other romantic comedies a more dramatic edge, such as love rivals, is dealt with immediately within a matter of minutes in Tonikawa: Over The Moon For You. So, the main focus is on the central couple, who are interesting in their own way, and maybe even endearing to some. However, for people expecting something deeper and more interesting than a naively sweet romantic anime series, it is actually going to seem quite boring. The main male protagonist is somewhere between a curmudgeonly virgin and a rather likable young man who is not afraid to say what he thinks, wants, and feels. The main female protagonist is a peculiar, yet run-of-the-mill type of girl, and also in many ways wife material (caring, hardworking, understanding...), which is what any normal man would probably want, and also has no problem saying exactly what she thinks, wants and feels. This brings me to something I find interesting in Tonikawa: Over the Moon for You which goes beyond many other romances in anime - the two main protagonists talk openly with each other about their feelings, emotions, their joys and their sorrows. There is no never-ending cringe-fest where one character is unable to tell the other what they think and how they feel. There is no agonizing waiting until the last episode for them to kiss. The couple here simply have a healthy and functioning relationship, showing how important communication is, and in my opinion, how to do it right. Honesty will get you the furthest and relationships must be based on trust! In my opinion, this is what this couple demonstrates to perfection and it is refreshing to watch them interact with each other, even though it is often naive and childishly innocent (unbelievably so for a male protagonist who is twenty years old and a female protagonist who is sixteen years old). I thought that the pacing was just right so the small and gradual development of the romance actually felt quite right and therefore I found this show interesting and enjoyable. I did not find it very amusing, some of the jokes were pretty stupid, however, in the end, they actually suited the overall mood of the show. This anime series is for hopeless romantics and those looking for a naive, almost fairy-tale recipe for a happy marriage... 6/10. (28/02/2023)

Kenjiró Hata is back with another advertisement for a happy marriage, essentially the same as the first season, maybe even more sterilely romantic. It's almost amusing and strange to see how the main couple gradually get to know each other but still keep acting like teenagers experiencing their first love. But if you want to learn how to achieve happiness in marriage, the recipe is still there - just be attentive, observant, sincere... Want to know more? The series might even teach you how to hug correctly! Plus, it introduces a new couple, showing you how to start a relationship (and that you don't need to almost get run over to meet your soulmate). The problem is that besides the romance, there is nothing else here. The series lacks juice, something interesting, instead of just watching the cute main couple. The hints that there might be a big secret around Tsukasa don't really do it for me. There was only one comedic scene in the series, which I'm used to from Hata's Hayate. It is significantly less compared to the first season, and humor would really benefit this series to spice it up. It certainly didn't harm the first season. So, it's more romantic, cuter, less comedic, with a subtle hint of some future drama, which I already know won't turn into the next Your Lie in April. Is it better than the first season? I don't think so, but it's still okay, so I give it a 6/10. (24/06/2023)