Love Stage!!

This show is pretty bad. I say this being gay, so its not homophobia that makes me dislike it. This show was made for straight females, not the LGBT+ community.

Animation - The visuals in this show are at best generic, and at worst not there. Very few scenes actually have backgrounds. This could be a stylistic choice, but honestly it comes off as lazy.

Plot - Its a romance. The only plot is the two "love interests" getting together. Why would a romance actually have a plot?

Audio - I watched this with the Japanese dub. Its not good. Honestly its pretty annoying.

Characters - The main love interest is honestly a terrible person. He's homophobic and obnoxious. There is a scene where he sexually assaults the protagonist (I only managed to watch around 2 episodes after that, so I don't know if he gets any kind of consequences from that, but I don't think he does). The two "romantic leads" play into heteronormative stereotypes and don't have any chemistry. Its honestly uncomfortable to watch. I don't see how they could possible get together after everything that happens at the beginning.

Okay so I have a couple of problems with this anime. First thing I will say is that the basic premise of 'boy falls in love as a child and they reunite' has the potential to be a cute story but this anime is not as PG as that.

(This part may contain slight spoilers) The main character of this anime Ryouma sexually assaults his love interest Izumi multiple times and everyone just seems to accept it? Ryouma forces Izumi to undress, proceeds to kiss him and fondle him until Izumis brother intervenes and initially Izumis brother tries to keep Ryouma away from his little brother (dealing with victims guilt) but eventually just decides Ryouma is a good guy? Anyways next Ryuoma and Izumi become friends and Ryuoma repetitively kisses an unconscious Izumi. Later in the series Izumi tells Ryuoma "to do as he pleases" with him and is visibly upset and uncomfortable and Ryuoma is delighted and proceeds to do so.

Personally I found the relationship creepy, and watching it progress wasn't satisfying as I wanted Izumi to stand up for himself and get away from Ryuoma.

The main two characters are not that likeable. The only characters that I found remotely interesting were Izumi's brother Shougo and the company manager Rey. I would have liked to see more about them, and their relationship rather than the main.

The animation was full of blank backgrounds, and instead of being artsy (like it seems to have been) it comes across as distracting.

I could continue to talk about the negative stereotypes it plays into about gender roles in gay relationships and the use of victims guilt to build a sexual relationship but this review is already too long and thought out for an anime that is the opposite.

Ryoma is a popular young actor, , who fell in love with Izumi, thinking him to be a girl, when they co-starred in a commercial. Even after he finds out Izumi is a guy when they reunite, he is still unable to get over the fact that Izumi indeed is a boy.

What I like the most about this show is its humour. It is just as funny as the concept sounds. There is a scene in which Ryouma visits Izumi at his place to once and for all get the image of that 'girl' out of his mind and in order to do so he undresses him but Izumi's skinny body only gave him a more girly feeling. The scene was weird and funny at the same time. It was funny to watch their awkward but cute relation. The real charm of this anime. I never ever thought Rei and Shougo were ever going to become a couple in the end, they didn't even give a hint that they were about to be together at all! It was kind of a pleasant surprise(lol!).

I enjoyed this yaoi thoroughly. Must watch for Fujoshis and Fudanshis.

Literally I am in love with this yaoi! Ok so Im gay myself (no hate pls) and last year I just discovered this yaoi and I instantly fell in love with it! This yaoi is now a big part of my life and I recommend all yaoi lovers to check this out (and the manga is fantastic as well)

Love Stage is a wonderful bl anime that captivated me from start to finish. The show is a perfect blend of comedy, romance, and drama, with engaging characters and a heartwarming storyline. The animation and voice acting are top-notch, bringing the characters to life in a way that is both realistic and endearing. The main love story between Izumi and Ryouma is beautifully developed, with plenty of sweet and touching moments that left me feeling warm and fuzzy inside. What I loved most about Love Stage is that it's a story about love that transcends gender and societal expectations, and celebrates the power of true love to overcome any obstacle. I highly recommend this anime to anyone looking for a heartwarming love story that will leave you feeling uplifted and inspired.