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The following review contains spoilers for Anyway, I'm Falling In Love With You, Episode 2: "I'll Be By Your Side", streaming now on Crunchyroll

Anyway, I'm Falling In Love With You's Episode 1 premier ended on a dramatic cliffhanger that left shojo anime fans a little breathless as the credits started to roll. From intense sideward glances and relentless teasing from Shin to an outright confession of romantic feelings from Kizuki, Mizuho's birthday wasn't exactly uneventful, even if it was a somewhat miserable day for the most part. Not only did the global pandemic put a damper on all the school activities students look forward to, but the guy she's crushing on rejected her and her own dad forgot her birthday.

The premier certainly wasn't lacking in drama. With the present day framing Mizuho's memories from four years earlier, one can only wonder what lies in wait for this group of friends,...

Romantic Killer stood out as a Netflix hit by blending the style of shojo anime with the unexpected twist of being a shonen series. The manga, created by Momose Wataru, gained recognition after debuting on Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+ in 2019.

It quickly became a fan favorite, even winning first place in the second Shueisha Jump Vertical Scrolling Manga Awards. Now, Momose is back with something new, taking a different approach from the anti-rom-com that made her famous.

Her upcoming manga, Saneka no Yomeiri or Saneka’s Marriage, is set to launch on Shonen Jump+ on January 21, 2025. This romantic comedy will feature a unique setting—an old-style Japanese home—and will follow the story of a young boy and his tanuki companion. For now, there’s no word on how long the series will last or specific details about its main characters.

Looking at Momose’s previous works, we can guess...

Quick Links My Dress-Up Darling Explores the Wonderful World of Cosplaying My Dress-Up Darling is Wish Fulfillment Wrapped Up in Wholesome Moments My Dress-Up Darling Dives into the Realities of Cosplaying My Dress-Up Darling is Tropey But Refreshing

My Dress-Up Darling has been in the limelight ever since its release. It immediately swept romance fans off their feet and slowly crept into the ranks of the best romance anime of 2022. Unsurprisingly, the romance genre continues to dominate the anime scene with its colorful stories that offer more drama and entertainment than anything. Despite being one of the most popular genres, romance anime have also been the bone of contention in the anime community for the longest time. Stretching outdated tropes too thin, shallow plots, one-dimensional characters, and stereotyping are some of the reasons why fans have been giving romance anime quite some heat. Fortunately, it’s safe to say that...

It’s a timeless debate in the anime community whether classic shojo is better than modern day. There are obvious differences between the two that have more or less worked for each period of the genre. It’s difficult to undermine either, since nostalgic shojo anime series like Sailor Moon, Fruits Basket, Nana, and more have withstood the test of time, while modern shows like Horimiya, Skip and Loafer, Romantic Killer are already on their way to becoming modern classics.

Despite having their deserved time in the limelight and on the popularity chart, there are differences between modern shojo and the classics that are hard to ignore. There are certain categorical directions that set them apart and lead fans to lean towards one or the other. Whether it’s the drastic change in female representation or the change of linear storytelling, modern shojo and classic series have come a long way.

A strong female lead is one of the most important aspects of a successful anime, especially rom-coms. Romance anime depend on a solid plot and commendable character development to counter the lack of action and thrill. However, romantic female protagonists were commonly reduced to dull love interests with zero charm and character. Luckily, the anime industry has caught on to the fact that a successful romance anime needs an anime girl who can steal the spotlight.

Recent popular romance anime like Tomo-chan Is A Girl!, Romantic Killer, My Dress-Up Darling, More Than A Married Couple, and more have portrayed phenomenal female leads who wowed the audience immediately. This year’s spring season lineup has several romantic titles, and it’s a relief that almost all of them are being led by amazing female characters. Among these beautiful ladies, three stand out as the top contenders for the best romance anime...

Age-gap romance anime are harder to pull off compared to traditional rom-coms. Love stories focused around the main couple with an age gap are sometimes borderline toxic and can glorify stalk-ish behavior. Koikimo, for example, is a great age-gap romance, but if viewers were to judge it by watching only a few episodes, it’d be easy to label as “inappropriate”. Anime series in particular become controversial when the female protagonist is underaged, but surprisingly, some consider it more acceptable when it’s the other way around.

Shows like Netflix's Romantic Killer have also highlighted the horrors of stalking when Tsukasa Kazuki finds himself at the center of an older woman’s obsession. Nonetheless, it’s a difficult task to produce an age-gap-appropriate romance. Luckily, Spring 2023's My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 smartly avoids all the nuisance and delivers a beautiful modern-day love story. Here’s how the show does it.

Otaku representation in anime can feel rather underwhelming. Only a few good titles can qualify as the best anime with otaku characters or anime made explicitly for that personality trope. Fortunately, the tides have been turning a little in this regard lately, and the personality type is finally getting its time in the limelight. Recent hits like Romantic Killer, My Love Story With Yamada-kun at Lv999 and more have proved that characters obsessed with games, anime and manga don't need to be stereotyped in order to be entertaining. Now, this particular trend is gaining more popularity through a certain socially recluse elf.

It's about time that introverted anime fans are served with a unique twist to an otaku character, and a deity who is obsessed with gaming, food and staying hidden in her room is the perfect plot line to bring something new to the table in this regard. Otaku Elf...

As the buzz around Oshi no Ko's fame and success begins to taper off, some may wonder how it made anime history in the first place. The series' huge launch is certainly thanks to its unique premiere episode, which took on the vibe and duration of a feature film. Viewers already had their own expectations of what was coming, but they were subverted thanks to the honed skill of editing and pace.

As the trailers and synopses promised, Oshi no Ko follows the supernatural story about an ob-gyn doctor who is reincarnated as his favorite idol's child. With more nuance, meaning and heart than initially expected, the premiere showcases only the most important details. This decision to use a faster pace is part of a recent trend in anime that has grown increasingly popular and well-received over time. In fact, some of the most successful anime in recent years have...

For anime fans, especially those who enjoy comedies, there is a new romantic comedy series on Netflix that will make viewers smile. Romantic Killer came out at the end of October and has a unique premise that makes it stand out from others in the same genre -- sure to subvert any expectations that viewers may have. There may be a second season in the near future, and while viewers wait, there are other great dubbed anime comedies worth watching.

There are many, many comedic dubbed anime series, so it's always good to get recommendations to narrow down the choices. Redditors have shared the titles of some anime that have provided them with hours of entertainment.

Shomin Sample (2015) Stream On Funimation

Many anime have some strange premises, some of which make viewers raise a brow. One great example of such an anime is brought up by Redditor No_Discussion3053, who writes,...

The latest anime from streaming giant Netflix called Romantic Killer is breaking every rule in an Isekai story. Netflix has been on a roll as of late when it comes to quality anime. Series like Kakegurui and Komi Can't Communicate have introduced fans to new favorite characters and exciting stories that are exclusive to the platform. This year even saw the debut of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, which has become a new classic among anime watchers and even labeled by some as essential sci-fi. Now, a new anime has officially debuted, and it's tackling one of anime's most well-known subgenres, Isekai.

For those who don't know, Isekai is a type of anime story that follows a character as they're thrust into an alternate world and must adapt to their surroundings. An Isekai can take its protagonists to a variety of different worlds, but the most common environments tend to be fantasy or...

Fans of the Romance genre will love Netflix's new anime Romantic Killer. The show is a romantic comedy that masterfully subverts the tropes of the genre in a hilarious and clever way. But it also serves as a stellar romance anime in its own right.

While many people think anime is only made up of Shonen action shows like Dragon Ball and Naruto, there are plenty of great Shoujo romance series as well. However, because there are so many of them, just like with Shonen action series, there are some well-known tropes that plague the genre. Be it the types of love interests that the heroine must choose from or the various romantic situations that characters find themselves in, many of the more standard romance anime can feel very similar. Which is part of why Romantic Killer is so refreshing.

Related: Huge Romance Manga Romantic Killer Gets Epic Trailer...