Momose Narumi (Momo) is a nerd - an Otaku. Forever in love with manga and anime, she had a big case of middle school syndrome. Acutely embarrassed, she doesn't mention that part of her past anymore. She's starting a new job! On day-1, in the hallway, she sees one of her closest friends - from when she was 9 - Nifuji "I want to be a kid forever" Hirotaka. They agree to meet for dinner to catch up. Nifuji is arguably a worse otaku than Momo; at least, he's not embarrassed about what he loves. MAs she walks away to begin her day at her brand new job with lots of brand new people, she thinks she's gotten away clean. But then, Nifuji asks about her "former" interests. He asks when everyone is /watching/ and /listening/ 😫!
"I seriously considered killing you," she later tells Nifuji at dinner. "Fortunately, my coworkers are kind people." Her last boyfriend dumped her when he found out her secret, she explains. "Just date someone who is okay with you being an otaku." Nifuji is always logical. "That would have to mean that he's an otaku, and I /refuse/ to date an otaku," Momo insists. Didn't she know to never say never?
Based on a Manga, WLIHFO is a 2018 A-1 Pictures release that is rated 7.92 on MAL. Based on a web manga, it is 1 season consisting of 11 22-minute English subbed episodes. There's also a 3 episode sequel, Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii OVA. People are drawn proportionately and mostly realistically and with a soft color palette. Backgrounds are very much in the background with basic structure and abbreviated detail.
By the end of ep1 these two Otakus have decided to try dating eachother. They don't feel romantically for eachother... yet. It's more an exercise in practicality. Soon, they are a foursome with coworkers Koyanagi Hanako and Kabakura Tarou, who don't seem exactly indifferent to eachother. The nerds at work have found eachother!
They get into the age-old debate: Is it better to fly your flag and be who you are & announce to the world: "I am Otaku and I'm proud," or is it better to keep it under wraps because normies will never accept you? There is no right answer. Each otaku must feel it out on h/h own.
The balance of the show is them slowly falling in love - looks like Nifuji has always had a "thing" for Momo. The 2ndary couple moves along more slowly, but steadily. Through the 4 of them we learn more about the world of otaku.
Here's a sample: Nifuji knows Momo has only dated normies and she's hidden who she really is from all her past boyfriends. They go on a "normal date" and he imposes a penalty for any otaku talk. She can't handle it! She's filling up the piggy bank. "Oh! It's a Blissey!" Nifuji had a lot of nerve going /there/. "Anything related to games is prohibited for you," she insists. "Even normies play Pokémon," he attempts a workaround. She won't yield: "At this point, only otakus are still playing Pokemon." The whole sequence is delightful.
Many people have a sense that growing up is becoming cheerless. It's tossing out one's dreams and accepting mundane misery. That is so wrong. Growing up is learning to be unselfish, fulfilling responsibilities, and never ceasing in self-improvement. It has nothing to do with losing one's sense of humor or childish wonder. When that happens, it's a tragedy, not maturity. Here, otakus meet the mid-20s. What's happening to all that childish wonder? Thanks to the 4 of them finding eachother, they can keep it going forever. It's a match made in SEINEN heaven.
IMHO〰🖍
📣6.5 📝6.7 🎭7 💓6 🦋5 🎨7 🎵/🔊6 🔚 ▪ 🌞4.5 ⚡1.5 😅3 😭1.5 😱1 😯2.5 🤢0 🤔4 💤1.5 🤗3.4
Age 15+ Men discuss women's appearances and b👀bs; References to boy love porn (Momo is a fan). Rated: PG-13
Re-📺? No plans, but it's worth watching once.
From lite&trite to heavy&serious, here's some recs ~
Ao-chan Can't Study-7.8,
Maid Sama-10,
The Eminence in Shadow-8.8,
Love Chunibyo And Other Delusions-8.4,
Toradora-8.5,
Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun,
Real Girl,
Special A Class-8.2,
Tada Never Falls in Love-7.1,
Chihayafuru-8.5,
Honey,
After the Rain.
