My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU
やはり俺の青春ラブコメはまちがっている。So exactly what’s going to happen when Hachiman Hikigaya, an isolated high school student with no friends, no interest in making any and a belief that everyone else’s supposedly great high school experiences are either delusions or outright lies, is coerced by a well meaning faculty member into joining the one member “Services Club” run by Yukino Yukinoshita, who’s smart, attractive and generally considers everyone in her school to be her complete inferior? (Source: Crunchyroll)
Reviews
pquitzon - 2013-07-23 15:11:01
My Teen Romantic comedy SNAFU is as the name applies is a teen romcom, but it goes beyond the genre to show psychological mood of the main three protagonists. It breaks the mold of a romcom by actually having interactions of sometimes romantic, but not necessarily falling in love. Too many romcoms do this fall in love or love at first sight bull crap which is old and dated. I mean it is a formula to the romcom genre, and why I don’t like live-action romcom films and why I stayed away from romcom anime for so long.
SNAFU does a variety of things right. Its story is pretty much simple, and has a good setting. The main cast of characters are great, and some of the supporting characters are pretty interesting themselves. However, by the end of the series some of the supporting characters are left to their own devices and either disappear or just fade into background characters.
My main love for this comes from the three main protagonists, and their relationships with both each other and their daily lives. The three main characters, Hachiman Hikigaya, Yukino Yukinoshita, and Yui Yuigahama. Hachiman is by far my favorite character because his cynicism and realism is pretty much relatable to me. I not only related to Hikigaya, but found him the most interesting and complex character. Yukino in some ways is similar to Hiki in her cynicism, but has a strange belief of helping people, which she takes very seriously. The most normal is Yui who basically is a follower, and not a leader. The three share a unique dynamic that pulls their overall realistic and complicated relationship together.
A lot of people will be talking how realistic this show is not just in terms of animation, but of the interactions between the characters. Again, reality isn’t my forte when watching anime since I personally watch anime for escapism and over-the-top fantasy, but regardless of my personal taste I found this anime refreshing, because it does not just what other romcomes don’t, but what other slice-of-lifes don’t and that is what sets this anime a bar above the rest.
The animation is beautiful and realistic, not really my forte in anime, but done well none-the-less. The opening theme and closing themes are nice and refreshing, but not necessarily remember able. Music and sound do set the mood, which again is a plus for this show. Overall, it does things that other romcoms don’t and is an enjoyable show.
In closing My Teen Romantic Comedy takes some risks that other anime won’t, and ends up becoming a diamond in the rough. Although like I have said the secondary characters fade into the background, but the story isn’t about them, it is about the three leads so I can excuse that. The realism sets in quick, and the HIki’s cynicism of the world just makes me want to see the show that much more for a second time. I hope it will be picked up here in the States, because this is defiantly a buy for me. I highly recommend it to romcom fans or people who are sick of the romcom formula.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHm-nJK4ayo&feature=youtu.be
alicia52 - 2013-07-23 05:27:53
I liked it, while also I'm dissapointed.
In my opinion, the romance wasn't given the importance I would liked to. I saw great characters and a great premise that weren't developed as they should.
Yes, we have those moments in which we can see that there's something special between characters, but... not more than that. I didn't see any true feelings apart from Yui's and occasional Hikigaya/Yukino blushes.
On the other hand, I liked a lot all the characters in general. I really like female characters like Yukino, I almost fell in love with her hahahaha, and Hikigaya was a pretty interesting guy. I liked his reflections in boss mode.
Although I expected more from this anime, I think it highlights a bit among its genre. I would really like to see a S2 more focused on the romance and a bit more 'serious'.
That's all, sorry for my bad english.
mckenzie.estrella - 2013-07-22 06:52:29
Oregairu was really good, hopefully it gets another season, Hikigaya is a legend and that guy deserves to have another season. Lol, he's brutally honest and just speaks his mind and even though it's not the most positive words, they're always realistic. Yukinon is a good character as well she, like him doesn't really care if anyone doesn't like what she says and just goes out and says it, something I like in people10/10 for meGood charactersGood stories in episodesIt was always fun to watch :)
providenci39 - 2013-07-08 03:58:02
Slice of Life shows aren't my thing, but I tried this out as the general opinion seemed to be positive.
- I didn't quit watching halfway through, which is a good sign
- Seemed well enough animated and voiced (nothing really stood out that much either)
- Some genuinely interesting plotlines and characters
- No actual ending
I get the feeling that I'd really like this show if I liked Slice of Life type stuff, so if that's you're thing check it out.
enrique.funk - 2013-07-03 13:37:19
I can't begin to write how much I loved this Anime with Hikki being a devios, vigor, repulsive, villain character he is a true definition of a Lone Wolf.. Omega.
His dialogue is superb
This isn't your normal ROMCOM you are completely wrong and if you're into or not into this type of genre give it a watch.
To make it short the ending was not satisfying, kind of when a girl can't finish you off during oral
vbuckridge - 2013-06-29 03:08:39
Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru (My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU) Review Pros:
- The Main Character is one of the most enjoyably anime characters I have had the pleasure of watching.
- It's a parody of the entire Romantic Comedy Genre, as well as a social commentary about what is wrong with society now-a-days, what's not to love about that?
- It can be very funny at times, but you can feel the tension when the show gets more serious.
- A lot of the cast is your cliche RomCom characters, and the show doesn't have the time to expand upon all of them.
- The story can get a tad boring at times.
What makes this story so good isn't problems they help the students with, but how they help solve them. All the students that seek help from the school are your cliche RomCom anime stereotypes. Instead of helping them with their problem the "right way" (the way it would happen in any other RomCom anime), they do it by "exposing" to the student who they really are and what is actually happening. This is where Hachiman shines; because he knows the social ladder so well he usually knows exactly how to fix the problem, but it usually isn't without its consequences. Not all the problems get solved, and they don't get solved in the "best" way, but that's part of what makes this show fun.
Characters - 8/10 Hachiman:He is one of my all time favorite characters because he has a very unorthodox way at looking at life, gives compelling monologues about why society sucks, while also being very entertaining to listen too. He is the perfect deadpan narrator, in that he is about as cynical, sarcastic, and pessimistic as humanly possible, while still being incredibly funny (not to mention his expression NEVER changes). He is socially awkward, so for a lot of his life he has had problems fitting in and always got rejected by others. Because of that, he became reclusive so he wouldn't get hurt by anyone anymore. His interactions with the rest of the (very cliche) cast and hearing the thoughts he has about them in his head is also a huge source of comedy in the show. He is very self aware of his "social status" as well as others and that makes him very good at helping others in his own twisted way.
Yukino:Yukino isn't as interesting, but she is a fun character in her own right. Next to Hachiman, she delivers most of the comedy in the show, usually at Hachiman's expense. She, like Hachiman, is also an outcast, but for a very different reason. Because she is very cold and speaks what's on her mind, she can be a pain to hang out with. Also, she is very beautiful, so most girls are envious of her. She became part of the club because she felt obliged to help all those lost in the drama of high school life.
Yui:Yui is pretty boring to say the least. Because she is was one of the people Hachiman and Yukino helped, she is very cliche in that all she does is follow others, particularly the popular crowd. She does whatever they do and doesn't have a mind of her own, and because of that she respects people like Hachiman and Yukino who say and do whatever they want. She isn't as interesting as the rest of them though.
Side Cast:The side cast is what you would expect from any cliche or generic anime, but in this show, there is a reason for it. Because this show is in many ways a parody of the RomCom genre, its characters have to fit all the tropes and stereotypes of characters in that genre. The show makes up for this by expanding upon the cast and making them much more than just a stereotype, although it doesn't have enough time to work with all of them.
Production Values:The production values of this show are nothing special, as hey don't really help nor hurt this show in any way. The openings and endings are pretty boring, the rest of the score is nothing to talk about, and the animation is good enough to get the job done. Honestly, anything better than this would have been wasted, as it isn't the kind of show that relies on this to bring out emotion or entertainment.
Final Thoughts:I liked this show a lot more than I thought I would, mostly because of Hachiman and his interesting views on life and society. Both the story and the characters caught me by surprise and turned out to be very well written and portrayed. If you are someone who is bored of the usual RomCom anime that's littering anime today, you'll probably like this show.
bahringer.tessie - 2013-06-28 13:36:56
Every once and a while, a show comes along that challenges the conventional aspects of its genre in a way that has never been done before. Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru (Translated into English as "My youth romantic comedy is wrong as I expected") is this show. Where most romantic comedies generally lean away from reality, Oregairu embraces it in a way that is virtually unparalleled in any other series. The relationships between the three main characters attain a level of realism that is seldom captured in the anime medium. This isn't some revolutionary show that will change your outlook on life or thrust you into some sort of existential quandary. Oregairu is simply a show about people.Story 8/10:As funny as it may seem, the most appealing aspect of the story to me is just how cliché it is. Oregairu mocks the standard romantic comedy structure in a way that it almost could be classified as a parody. It employs the classic concepts of a love triangle, a club setting, the tsundere character type, and the mandatory pool/beach/camping episode. Honestly, it seems to me that the series' creators intentionally do this in order to completely deconstruct and ridicule the genre while providing something unique and refreshing to viewers. Don't watch this series if you are expecting a story that has never been done before. Watch this series if you want a fresh and exciting spin on anime stereotypes that will leave you bawling in laughter. Art 7/10:Art is not something that stands out to me in a series unless it is extremely good or extremely terrible. The art of Oregairu is neither. The character designs are attractive and the backgrounds are made with the perfect amount of detail. If you are expecting the art to rival that of a high budget movie, you will be disappointed. One thing that really caught my eye from the lackluster art was the expansive variety utilized in the facial expressions of characters. This adds a human level of emotion to the characters and contributes to both the realism and deliverance of their lines.Sound 8/10:I will not for a second pretend that I am some sort of expert in regards to the use of sound in anime. All I can say is that sound was used well in moderation in Oregairu. The soundtrack did not play as often as I anticipated, but its sparse usage really added to the drama and emotions of the characters. The opening was also very pleasant to the ear and I never skipped it even once while watching this anime.Character 10/10:Where do I begin? The characters of Oregairu were undoubtably some of the best that I have seen in any show. Hikigaya Hachiman, the cynical and somewhat pessimistic lead male character, was hilarious in his dissections of everyday occurrences and his appreciation for the little things in life. Hachiman rebels against conventional wisdom and sees the world in the way it is, without the glamour and aspirations most of us enjoy. His monologues are shockingly insightful and though provoking, challenging me to rethink the way I view certain facets of my daily life. Hachiman is perhaps the most developed character I have seen in any anime as well. The way he thinks and acts changes drastically throughout the course of the show as he meets new people and learns more about how to be a friend. This development allowed me to empathize with Hachiman, allowing him to become one of my favorite characters in any show.Yuigahama Yui, the air-headed and inexplicably nice member of the main trio, grew on me throughout the series. At first, I hated her. She appears to represent all the stereotypes and conceptions about a female lead in a romantic comedy series. I often wondered why she did what she did, not because she was mysterious in any way, but because there didn't appear to be any reason. Once her backstory was revealed however, I began to appreciate her character and the environment that shaped her into who she is. Yui served as the glue that stuck the main trio together with her much needed comical outbreaks and genuine emotions.Yukinoshita Yukino, the incredibly cunning and calculative tsundere, at first appeared as the other stereotypical female character type of a romantic comedy series. She sharply criticizes Hachiman for what she sees as his pathetic outlook on life and refuses to admit that she in fact is in the same boat as he. Where Hachiman lacks friends for his mistrust of others and cynical behavior, she lacks them for her perceived perfection and elitist attitude. They both grow on each other in a way that is not as predictable as it may at first seem. Yukino's clever remarks never fail to make me laugh and her emotions are so strong when she allows them to show. Her backstory is also extremely well done, allowing me to sympathize with her and feel her pain. Yukino, like Hachiman, develops greatly as the story progresses and learns the happiness the comes with having a relationship with friends.Enjoyment 10/10:To say that I greatly enjoyed this anime would be the single greatest understatement in the long history of humankind. Every week I hotly anticipated Oregairu and the comedic brilliance that it entailed. I rarely laugh at loud to anime. This show was the exception. I found myself on the brink of tears as I witnessed Hachiman's internal dialogue and Yukino's blunt statements. At this point it is scary to me just how close I was to missing out on this absolute gem of the romantic comedy genre. If you are to watch this superb anime, put all preconceptions, predictions, and expectations aside. They won't be needed with this show.Overall 9/10:The only reasoning I have for not giving this show a perfect score is that it wasn't a perfect show. Really though... what is? Oregairu allowed me to greater appreciate the imperfections of the world around me in a way that I had never done before watching it. This show is a must watch for all, regardless of whether they are a fan of the genre or not. As I close I would like to quote the wonderful Hikigaya Hachiman:"Question: The world will not change, but you can change yourself. So then, how will you change?Answer: You become the god of a new world."
murphy37 - 2013-06-28 12:57:11
I know a lot of people, both on this site and in reality, that have some sort of negative bias towards this show. Maybe it's the admittedly generic setup (loner/non-energetic guy goes to club with beautiful girls) or the fact that is has "ore no" in the title, which is typically a red flag that tips off generic romance comedies or ecchi shows. Either way, I am here to put all of those misconceptions to rest:Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru (*breathe*) is far from generic. In fact, it's one of the most original and charming romance comedies I've had the pleasure of watching in a while.The story revolves around Hikigaya Hachiman, a high school student made loner after entering high school months after everyone else because of a traffic accident. His antisocial nature is noticed by his guidance counselor, who forces him to join the similarly antisocial beauty Yukinoshita Yukino in the Volunteers' Club, which accepts requests for help from the student body and fulfills them. Sounds pretty standard, right? Well, it is. The actual plot of the story is fairly basic when it comes to the events the characters find themselves in, with the exception of a few episodes (such as the summer camp episodes). But where this anime really excels is the characters, the lot of which I'll get to very soon.The animation is average; there's nothing really striking to be seen. The art and character designs, though, are excellent, as they help to lend insight into each character: Yukino's harsh blue eyes and formal looking black hair give an impression of solitude and defense; Hikigaya's fish like eyes help to illustrate his loner-y personality; and Yui's bright orange hair and casual style of dress help to portray her as what she is, friendly and easily approachable. The side characters are also designed well.The sound is nothing to sneeze at, but it won't amaze you. The voice acting is done well, especially Hachiman and Yui, who are portrayed in a way that, once again, reflects their personalities. I've never listened to the ED, sadly, so I can't make a judgement on that, but the OP "Yuki Toki" sung by Yanagi Nagi is fantastic and mirrors the theme of the story in ways that aren't always immediately visible.Now here comes this anime's largest strength by far: the characters. Going into this anime, I had very low expectations for the characters; they were most likely going to be cardboard cut-outs with one or two personality traits and (in the case of the female leads) an incredulous affection for the main character. Never have I been so pleasantly surprised. Hikigaya Hachiman, the main character, is one of the most relatable characters I have ever seen; his experiences with other people have hardened him into an extreme pessimist, but he's not completely ignorant of the inner ramifications of social interaction. In fact, he's quite the opposite, displaying extremely in depth knowledge of the ways in which people interact with one another, as well as their true intentions. This is used frequently for both comedy and drama, and it works well in both. Yukinoshita Yukino is standoffish and frequently prickly, and these characteristics allow an excellent dynamic to grow between her and Hachiman; leading to a trading of insults between the two that is always entertaining to watch and reminds me of two skilled fencers attacking each other, searching for their opponent's weak point or blind spot. Yui is also a very well-developed character, with a large portion of the early episodes dedicated to helping her work through her problems with giving in to other people.If Evangelion was a deconstruction of the mech genre, then Y.O.S.L.C.M is a deconstruction of the romance comedy genre; taking all the cliché cardboard cutouts other romance comedies call characters, and replacing them with actual characters that make the viewer empathize and sympathize with them. It either does away with common tropes or uses them in extremely funny new ways. Sure, it's not a masterpiece: there are other romance comedies that were just a bit higher in overall quality (for example, Toradora), but for me, Yahari stands as a testament to what the romance comedy genre can do, and what it can still bring to viewers.And yes, I did compare it to Evangelion. Deal with it.
catalina.gutmann - 2013-06-22 14:05:06
Are you a high school student, or have you ever gone through high school?
Have you ever watched an anime that speaks to that experience?
Have you ever watched an anime and gone "Oh lord, I know exactly what he/she means!"?
Do you enjoy seeing dissections and deconstructions of social dynamics?
Do you love it when all this happens, over and over again, sometimes to an uncanny degree?
If so, then Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru (My Teen Romantic Comedy Snafu), or OreGairu as it shall be henceforth known, is your kind of show.
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Our lovable group of social misfits:
Hachiman Hikigaya is a truly cynical social misanthrope of a student, who believes the Japanese parable of youth is a sham and a farce. Faced with constant rejection over the years for his looks and somewhat awkward demeanor, Hachiman has learned the hard way that reality doesn't play nice, and neither should he. This has taught him to be incredibly socially conscious, always aware of what he needs to do to minimize his profile and prevent himself from being hurt by others again. He serves as narrator for much of the show, and is constantly belittling and disparaging others...in his head, at least.
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Yukino Yukinoshita is the smart, beautiful, responsible yet incredibly icy second daughter of a national politician. Her model record and cold demeanor has led her to be unapproachable and friendless - not that it makes much of a difference to her. She has a twisted sense of "noblesse oblige", and believes that it is the duty of the exceptional (in other words, herself) to help the "lost lambs" of the world. She doesn't think particularly highly of Hachiman, but is much more accepting of Yui, who isn't as afraid of her demeaner as most other girls she's encountered.
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Yui Yuigahama is the resident dunce of the trio. Cheerful, popular, outgoing, but not the brightest, she tries to get along well with everybody. Unfortunately, her accommodating and somewhat passive personality makes her prone to following the whims of others, and she doesn't assert herself well - a problem she acknowledges. Her bubbly exterior covers an extremely empathetic personality. She's envious of people like Yukino and Hachiman, who both make and follow their own decisions without hesitation.
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Whether by their own will, or forced to join by Hiratsuka-sensei, the three all become members of the school's Service Club, tasked with helping the students of the school with their problems. These kinds of characters, while not exactly common, aren't that rare either. What is rare, however, is how absolutely realistic and brutally honest their portrayal is. They are all, in some way, broken and damaged people - who better than they to help others? In doing so, they are all forced to re-examine who they are and decide whether that's who they want to be, or if they want to change...or even if they can change.
Don't let the title fool you - this is not really a romantic comedy, at least not in the traditional sense. RomCom anime has a tendency towards wearing rose-colored glasses with regards to high school, as if it were a magical place where hard work, friendship and romance are around the corner; reality is, unfortunately, far from the truth. There is virtually no fanservice of any kind (sorry ecchi lovers, you ain't gonna find none o' that here!). The show isn't about the plot, so much as it is about dealing with the fact that Hachiman, Yukino, Yui and everyone else around is just like them: insecure, awkward teenagers who haven't fully figured things out. There is no guarantee that at the end of an episode, the characters will be happy with each other, or even happy with themselves. When was the last time you saw that in anime? But you know, life isn't always happy. I myself had a great high school life, but its frankly scary how close some of Hachiman's experiences match my own and how realistic they are.
And that's where the main appeal is: how realistic everything is. How realistic their interactions are. How realistic their individual solutions to problems are, and how realistically they bounce off of each other. How realistic the pacing is. How realistic their growing friendship is.
And despite this realism that can often-times border on straight cynicism, this show still has this unique hopefulness to it. Somehow, it will turn out alright. The quirky nature of each character makes you love them, and all of them feel like real people that have their own strengths, weaknesses and problems. You find joy in seeing a simple victory, like one of them making the other smile, or watching them make fun of each other less frequently as they go. You become elated when you watch them begin to accept others into their lives, or to finally stand up for themselves, or to come out from the shadows of others.
OreGairu is about listening to Hachiman tell stories of his past shames and cringe-worthy rejections by others. It is about watching Hachiman and Yukino's verbal sparring matches. It is about Yukino, Yui and Hachiman trying to prevent someone else from going through what they've gone through. It is about doing something as simple as watching Yui burn some cookies, and learn the true meaning of hard work vs. talent while Hachiman and Yukino grudgingly help her.
It is about watching them sit down in their clubroom, lit by the sunset, after another successful but harrowing job, trying to figure out what to do next.
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To summarize, OreGairu is a sorta-romantic comedy slice-of-life, with incredible dialogue and deeply incisive observations on the realities of life, friendship, family, romance and high school. This is my personal favorite from this Spring 2013 season, and probably one of my favorite shows of all time. If you want something sweet, happy, or action-intense, with great visuals and sound, this probably isn't the show for you. But if you enjoy watching a portrayal of teenage life that is closer than you might expect, then I think you know what you need to do:
WATCH THIS SHOW.
johns.jennifer - 2013-06-20 08:44:52
This show is hands down my favorite this season, and tied with greats such as Monogatari and Haruhi Suzumiya for my favorite ever. That isn't to say it's perfect, and though it does appeal to a wide range of people only a few will truly love it. While I would give this show a 10/10 personally, I am giving it lower ratings due to its slightly narrow appeal.
STORY
There isn't one. I'll just say this right off the bat, there is no real overarching plot. It's a slice of life, and as such, it usually deals with a variety of one-shot episodes. These do affect the relationships and characters, but there is no central storyline. However, the one shots are very well chosen and offer diverse settings for the characters that show off their quirks very well. And, unlike some shows, they're realistic and believable while still maintaining a quirky feel due to the narrator and main character. While it's standard fair such as summer camps and school life, it does what it does well and believably.
ANIMATION
It's good. Nothing special.
SOUND
The sound is wonderful. The voice actors are highly talented and full of emotion.
CHARACTER
Amazing. A beautiful girl with a superiority complex and a razor wit, an outcast with superb manipulation skills, and a happy, bubbly little socialite make up the main cast, though the two who really shine are the first two. Many of the other characters can be found in other anime if you glance for two seconds. But the narration and perspective provided by Hikigaya, the narrator, makes everything totally different. An outcast, and incredibly awkward when it comes to actual conversation, Hikigaya is an extremely interesting person. He sees typical social interaction as despicable shows of dominance and abuse, and thinks the only path for him is to be solitary and away from the turmoil and annoyance of a social life. He never accepts good, pure motivations, always seeking the ulterior motive. Yet, in some ways, he seeks friends who understand him, but never wishes to admit it. As a narrator, he is constantly entertaining, belittling and disparaging towards his classmates. But often, when he sees someone in need, he will display excellent manipulation skills to divert the situation away from the person in need to him, because he is willing to constantly commit social suicide for the good of others. He is neither clueless to the affections of others nor completely deaf to social situations, a nice change from your typical male lead. His counterpart, Yukinoshita, is an extremely attractive, brilliant, and athletic girl who views herself as superior to others and doesn't hesitate to rub it in. She has difficulty expressing any emotions whatsoever, and is constantly abusing and mocking others for their flaws and faults. Nevertheless, she wants to help people overcome adversity to try and be better than they are. While these two characters can be hard to relate to for most, their abuse and social commentary is constantly amusing for anyone.
ENJOYMENT/OVERALL
Most people will enjoy this show immensely. It's funny, it's similar to life, and most of all it picks on the type of people us socially repressed Japanophiles hate in the first place.