First Impressions – Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru
Long titles are all the rage nowadays so maybe I should just make this line very long to join in the fad and look cool.
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Ok, so here we have yet another show with an insufferably long title. I honestly wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into, as there hasn’t been much buzz for it. But I must say, I’m glad I decided to check it out. Filling in the romcom niche (it even says so on the label), Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru has been a pleasant surprise. |
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The pretty girl who’s super smart and has a pretty terrible personality meets the loner guy who’s not well liked, pretty smart, and also has a pretty terrible personality. What can happen when these two types of characters get put together? Fighting like cats and dogs, or will they come to respect and like each other? |
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Ah, another one of those anime where the main guy is verbally abused by the female lead (and pretty much everyone else). Now where have I heard that before? …But wait, Oregairu isn’t as bad as I thought it would be in that regard! Actually, this looks like it’s a pretty promising series. |
Semantics.
Sumairii // First off, we really have to figure out a better way to refer to the show since I don’t expect you want to read “Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru” every time I have a need to mention the title. In this way, we have a few options. There’s the standard “Oregairu”, and apparently “Hamachi” is a thing as well if Wikipedia is to be trusted.1 But those are boring, so let’s take a look at the localisation for this title: “My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU”. Wait, what? SNAFU?! I know that most localisations are pretty laughable, but this is just outrageous. Whoever came up with this is either a genius or was under the influence at the time. I’m leaning toward the latter. But whaddaya know, SNAFU has a nice, snarky ring to it, so I think I’m going to refer to the show this way from now on. Thank you, guy who comes up with english titles for anime.
This sounds familiar…
Sumairii // The immediate comparison that most people seem to draw is that SNAFU is highly reminiscent of Haganai. And for good reason: they’re both about a club of people who don’t have friends. The main guy, Hachiman, also evokes some Junichi vibes. Granted, Hachiman’s situation of getting “friend-zoned” into oblivion isn’t nearly as “traumatizing” as Junichi’s getting stood up on Christmas Eve. But wait, there’s more! The second episode brings in a chuunibyou as well! This is just outrageous! Yet another show mooching off the success of Chuu2koi! Oh, and while I’m at it, I should also compare SNAFU to Medaka Box, since they both have a theme of a group accepting requests from those in need. I could go on, but I think you get the point by now. In this day and age, originality can be hard to come by (though definitely not impossible). But we shouldn’t let similarites to other shows distract us, because there’s so much more to what makes a show good than simply bringing something completely new to the table.
The Low-Down.
Sumairii // What’s SNAFU like? Well, honestly I would call it a lover’s quarrel that’s constantly interrupted by a third wheel and some other people who pop in randomly. Hachiman and and Yukino seem to have this fascinating relationship wherein they both simultaneously despise each other, yet are drawn together for reasons unknown to them. The couple (yes, I’m shipping them already) is just always in this battle of words and wits, which I must concede reminds me of the relationship between Hitagi and Koyomi. Yes, yes. I know I just sermonized on the evils of comparisons. And to be fair, the wordplay in SNAFU is nowhere near as intense as it is in the Monogatari series. The showdown between the “perfect girl”, Yukino, and the sour loner, Hachiman, is very fun to watch though. Perhaps there’s some sort of sadistic entertainment that we can derive from watching a guy get verbally abused by pretty girls. Or perhaps we’ve been trained to enjoy this from all the other anime that have done it already, but now I’m beating the dead horse. Let’s get get back to SNAFU.
The art in the show is by no means terrible, but somehow I get the feeling that something is lacking. Everything just feels kind of low detail– low budget, even. This being one of the shows for which there was no proper character animation depicted in any PV2, I’m worried that perhaps SNAFU might actually be a little short on the ‘ol budget. A quick look at the faces of the characters in some scenes (and even the OP) will demonstrate my concern. But maybe I’m reading too much into things and it’s all just part of the art style. The show doesn’t look all too bad, really. And we shouldn’t be judging the book by its cover in any case. Regardless of how SNAFU looks, it certainly is an amusing watch fit for the romcom genre.
Highway // Despite the long name and the seemingly cliched character types of the two main characters, this show is actually feeling pretty fresh to me for the first two episodes. Setting up Yukino and Hachiman as two people who don’t get along, but are at least mostly civil to each other, feels different from the usual ‘all out fighting’ that I think we tend to get with this kind of setup. They’re both looking to outdo the other one, but they also seem to want the respect of the other person. So I like the dynamic between these two charcters a lot. I don’t care as much for Yui’s role in the show, as it seems that she just kind of gets in the way, and doesn’t really support the other two. I can’t really figure what’s the point of her staying in the “club” either. But she’s not a total loss, because she does help set up the side story in episode two as well, and perhaps that’s her purpose in the show, as the driver for the long-term side story of the ‘popular’ people who don’t get along with Hachiman and Yukino.
Karakuri // Well, I’m not entirely taken by the plot (how many anime have we seen before with a club that helps people?), but the characters are interesting. …As is the fact that the club doesn’t exactly solve their problems, but more like it puts them on the right track (via Yukino’s bluntness). Yukino seems pretty ambitious, but at the same time… not. She plans on changing the entire world, but she does so by sitting in a chair and waiting for people to come to her instead of going out herself. A nice contrast with the genki, cheerful stereotype I feel like I see a lot of. Meanwhile, there’s Hachiman who’s really not ambitious at all and is actually quite cynical. The two make an interesting pair though and while Hachiman seems to be at the end of a lot of jokes, I quite like the interaction between the two. Yukino’s ‘cool’ persona goes along pretty well with Hachiman’s sarcasm and they both have a way of not sugarcoating things. As for Yui, I like that she has her own problems too despite being the genki stereotype I talked about above. Her totally forced personality actually has a reason for being …well, forced. She might be like that in reality as well (since we’ve seen her interact with Yukino like that a bit), but at least there’s some kind of reasoning behind it. The Chuunibyou character was actually pretty funny too (if only for Yukino’s bluntness about him).
All in all, SNAFU looks fairly promising. If you’re a romcom aficionado looking for something new to watch, I would suggest giving it a shot. You won’t be disappointed by the antics between Hachiman and Yukino, and we’ve already seen a couple of interesting characters approach the “Service Club” to have their “problems” solved (with both humorous and more-serious outcomes). If SNAFU keeps it up, it just might have the potential to become one of the more entertaining shows of the season.
The personality of Yukino is making this show for me so far, and I really like how the other characters are playing off of it so far. Abrasive and blunt, but not maliciously so, she is a real source of laughs for me in the show. I also really like the OP and ED songs, sung by Nagi and Hayami Saori and Touyama Nao respectively. I’m hoping to see the show develop some of the ‘romantic’ part of the romantic comedy in the title, and think that we could end up with a really good couple between Yukino and Hachiman if it’s handled right. Definitely one to keep watching for me!
The animation seemed to be either a hit or miss and I’m not really taken with the OP or ED songs (I know, it’s Nagi. What’s wrong with me?), but the characters have the right things going for them. Plus Hachiman doesn’t seem like his life is going too badly despite Yukino’s verbal abuse. It could be a lot worse. Actually, I think I’ll be following this for Hachiman’s attitude. I have a feeling he’ll become less cynical as the series goes on, but for now, his comments on how stupid and pointless everything is are actually pretty entertaining. Though judging from the half flashbacks we’ve seen, he has a semi melodramatic life that’s traumatizing him, so even if he changes in character, finding out more about that might be interesting. …I guess I’ll just wait for the RomCom part of this to come into play and see where it goes from there.
1I read it on the internet, so it must be true!
2Another being Aku no Hana. But that was done for obvious reasons.
About Tag Team
We live, laugh, enjoy and strictly believe on "more the merrier". When together, we usually come up with very chatty, conversation-based episodics and interesting posts.
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 106 comments
OreGairu was my most anticipated series for Spring XD I’ve been waiting since they announced it to be greenlit last year! hahaha
I’m liking the way they’re adapting this so far, except I really wish they would have kept the “Riajuu, bakuhatsu shirou” in his essay =_= that’s the only thing that bugged me a lot. I didn’t really like the art style when I saw the PVs, but it grows on you and doesn’t look that bad after you watch it a bit.
Oh yeah, Hachiman is one of my favorite Light Novel characters btw XD his grim outlook on life, youth, and anti-social personality, I love it! Speaking of love, NAGINAGINAGINAGI!! YESSS Nagi is back in business *^* Just a string of awesome music for Nagi~ Fall in the Dark from Shibayan’s C83 release, Amnesia Opening, and now OreGairu OP? OH YES ^v^ Fabulous~
I’ve always called it OreGairu, but SNAFU? HAHAHA!! XD My sides are hurting! I looked it up right now, SNAFU: A military acronym meaning “Situation Normal All Fucked Up” HAHAHA oh gosh
btw Haganai’s author recommended the OreGairu light novel series, perhaps deliberately because it’s story elements are similar to his own novel? ^v^ Ah also, I’d like to point out that OreGairu’s LNs were licensed starting May, and Chu2’s LNs started in June.
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 106 comments
My big comment got snagged my Spammy! >_< uuuuuuuuuu, ah also, I meant March for OreGairu, not May.
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 106 comments
oh, it’s here now ._. If someone got it out, thank you! Or maybe it was just lag… OTL if it was just lag, I apologize. And it seems I got the wrong date for Chu2 as well, Chu2’s was May, which is still behind OreGairu’s so it doesn’t change the situation any way o3o
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 106 comments
I mean after OreGairu, OTL I’m not even making sense. I think I need to sleep. I’m going to sleep after watching Fosh’s DAL post…
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 95 comments
The sensei is a shonen jump fan right?
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 106 comments
Shizuka is totally a shounen fan XD Also a Mecha fan, but they cut out her Mecha parts !! ;A; !!
btw some of their names are really funny (imo)
Yukinoshita Yukino
Yuigahama Yui
Hiratsuka Shizuka
Reminds me of my favorite character from the Disgaea series’ Asagiri Asagi!
POWUH: 800-899 and Mad Scientist with 814 comments
Yeah, I was wondering about some of those names. Only in anime, I suppose.
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 245 comments
Also the heroine from the recently aired Henneko (which I was also anticipating huhu, but I’ll wait for the Henneko post to talk more on it) Tsutsukakushi Tsukiko, oh gosh that name is pain to say
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 245 comments
There’s also her sister, Tsutsukakushi Tsukushi =_= their names are really a pain to say
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 106 comments
FUUUUUU I keep using Restia OTL
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
Abt that……. The names in Pushing Daisies drama series are pretty repeat-y too. Charlotte Charles, Charles Charles…..
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Hachiman’s character design reminds me of Takasu Ryūji (Toradora). And red heads, yes!
POWUH: 800-899 and Flying Sage with 856 comments
I rather liked the first episode, but the second fell somewhat flat. I’ll check out another couple episodes to see where they go.
As to the Art/Animation, I like the fact that it is somewhat unpolished. It gives the show a bit of an edge, compared to the all the shows with extremely attractive characters. In fact, at this point I would say the most interesting thing about the show is the way the three main characters introduced in episode 1 are all less than perfect. They have a complexity that is appealing.
There’s still plenty of time for this show to debase itself with every cliché plot and character convention we have come to expect, and (as pointed out above) the setting is by no means original, but, who knows, maybe the show will turn out to be pretty interesting.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Long titles sure are all the rage and we always try to shorten them. OniiAi, Haganai, OreShura, OreImo, Who is Imouto, Oregairu, etc… Where does it end ?
SNAFU? Did not see that coming. I’d say this falls into the same category of Haganai and OreShura with some of the lead characters rejecting the social norms in their school life. However, this anime looks like a promising watch so I’ll keep on checking it out.
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 106 comments
Light Novels and long name trends~
The stories are quite similar, and as I said before, the author of Haganai even recommended OreGairu to his fans XD
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 95 comments
I like Asagi too but my favorite character will always be Laharl. Sorry Asagi no main character status for you
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 106 comments
Asagi FTWWWW
POWUH: 800-899 and Self-proclaimed Manga Queen with 874 comments
~The shortened title is SNAFU? I’ve been calling it just ‘Yahari’ lol. (I just can’t being myself to call it SNAFU…)
I don’t really mind the cliched set-up because all of the characters are great, and when conversing together, are pretty hilarious because of their wildly different personalities clashing. This show is definitely my favorite out of Spring, even more so after the second episode.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I can’t call it ‘SNAFU’ either, that’s far too American for me. I’m just going with OregaIru for short.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
+1
POWUH: Occasional (51-75) with 63 comments
Shipping, yeah… I actually started shipping them too, up until that wakin up scene in ep2. Then I decided that no, they won’t.
And then I remembered Koyomi and Hitagi.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Ah, this takes me back to my later high school years. I was always pretty quite before my junior (third out of four years) year in HS. To make a long story short. I was, more or less, just like Yuniko. A bit more social, but I rarely spared the honesty. It’s still a quality that’s with me today. But it’s been tamped down quite a bit.
Good show. I like the design, looks rougher compared to other romcoms, more edge, subdued color scheme. Reminds me of Moonlighting…Highway will get that one.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I was more of the guy who went along, not that it ever really made me part of a group, rather than orbiting around four or five groups. But I was never really an outsider like this.
“We’ll walk by night…”
POWUH: 900-999 with 915 comments
Awww, it’s a shame that the character design isn’t great, because I really enjoyed the theme and the story. The characters are pretty deep and they look awesome just by hearing their thoughts.
But damn, the character design really turn me off. Why? Just because that damn MC doesn’t look like he will ever change that dead fish-like face and that’s just boring. How can someone like Yui actually like that boring face. And it’s not just him but the two girls sometimes just look weird on the screen and the animation sometimes don’t feel fluid at all. Distant characters sometimes have a bigger head than they should and I just don’t like it.
Well, I’m not really taken by the animation but the character’s personalities are really great. I expect for a great show out of this.
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
My God, the LN illustration. Is way better than the show character design >< But I can live with it.