cross-posted from: https://lemm.ee/post/24567466
Peak romance!
I absolutely loved this show. I've been looking for some nice romance in the past few weeks, and this really hit the spot. It's a classic really, there's a reason this gets recommended every single time anyone asks for romance recs.
The way Lovely Complex explores insecurity is simply beautiful, the constant hesitation, the fear that you might not be enough, and the certainty that begins to come over you as you fail over and over again at achieving your goals. Your fears manifest, a confirmation that your own body, that which you were born with and cannot change, is wrong. But through all that, the persistence of the characters, the way they persevere through these tribulations, is truly inspiring.
The setting is very adolescent, and this is a love comedy so even the most emotional moments are somewhat light-hearted. I think that's good, actually, it keeps the story flowing; the show is incredibly well-paced. I said adolescent, because it is set in high school and that's what the characters life revolve around, but the themes are very mature. I mentioned the insecurity, which the main theme of the show, but many episodes also touch on what it means to be in love, to be in a committed relationship, and what sacrifices one must make to maintain healthy relationships with those they care for.
It's beautiful.
The production quality is top notch, though very much outdated. It's Toei, the animation and music are both great, and the voice acting is fantastic too. Especially Nobu-chan, Higashi Saori might just be the GOAT. I'm not even joking, this was an all time performance by her.
What do you think?
Rating: 5/5
I have found from moderating this community and the discussions that has spawned, that I have a pretty big blind spot in the late 2000's where I didn't watch too much anime (especially not slower, romance-focused ones like this). This falls squarely in that hole being released in 2007. I just went and checked out the OP/EDs and the animation seems pretty charming. Also, seeing shows like Horimiya, Tomo-chan, Kaguya-sama, and Wotakoi as similar series on AniList is a huge plus as I am big fans of all those series.
This is DEFINITELY worth your time!! Not sure how big that blind spot really is, but definitely also consider checking out Toradora and OHSHC, as they're also from the mid-late 2000s and VERY good IMHO.
Yeah, I was in university/grad school at the time and my anime watching became a lot less far-reaching during those years. I basically just kept up with some long running shows like Naruto (I believe this is when Shippuden started). I have been building a list of shows to go back and watch as I get time from those years as I have been talking with people in this community. Those two are definitely going on the list. :)