Lookism

With its incredible source material (written by PTJ), opening K-pop track (ATEEZ), and stunning animation (Studio Mir-same studio responsible for Korra), Lookism has easily become one of my favorite winter anime series. It has a unique balance of lighthearted slice of life moments, drama from misunderstandings and betrayals, and action-packed street fighting scenes. At times, you may feel uncomfortable with second-hand embarrassment from the extreme bullying scenes. However, don't let your first impressions fool you. PTJ has a plan for each and every character including the MC's bullies. From the bratty MC who yells at his mom for being embarrassing to the superficial classmate who shamelessly flirts with MC, main and side characters alike in the Lookism universe are all blessed with a compelling storyline. Some of these backstories will be comedic, while others will absolutely crush you and break your heart. This is the charm and beauty of PTJ's Lookism. It's a story that goes beyond just badass street fighting and delves deeper into the complex relationships between its characters.

It's frustrating to see so many low ratings from people who don't want to give a Korean manhwa a fair chance. If you can't handle the grittiness of a quality series like Lookism, then please go rewatch Sword Art Online and simp after those one dimensional Mary Sue waifus and Gary Stu husbandos. Lookism isn't meant for the simpleminded and weak-willed.

This was my first introduction to Lookism both as an animated series and as a manhwa, and I must say it was a lot better than I expected! A LOT BETTER. At first I thought it was gonna be your average freaky-friday/bullied-becomes-chad/corny-overexagerrated-coming-of-age-story - while it certainly had elements of it (especially at the beginning) - it treated a lot of the topics a lot better and more skillfully compared to the other genre flicks I just stated.

Where this show gets dragged down though its with its rocky start especially from episodes 1-3. From the start we get introduced to unlikable characters (even the protagonist) which will certainly turnoff a lot of new viewers coming in (I guess this is where most of the 1 star reviews come from) But trust me, they do get better, the characters become more lovable. I do believe the start could've been handled better, but I also believe the unlikable aspects those characters had (especially the protagonist) was needed in order to establish the character arcs they had later on (and also to further drive home the message of the show) Past those episodes the series really takes off, and we get a fantastic bingable show, with surprisingly human characters.

Would recommend, just know that the start may turn some people off, so keep an openmind that the show gets A LOT better.

Although I don't believe the themes of this anime will resonate with everyone, it certainly is a moving animation. The Anime is centered around the concept of how visual appeal directly effects one's life with an intense focus on extreme bullying and hazing that would push most over the edge in just a short while. I could imagine this type of violence might be traumatic to some viewers. I could certainly sense a palpable sense of realism, as though the writer may have drawn some inspiration from truth. It definitely dredged up some memories for me as well. But looking past that, into the myriad of ways this story explores this type of societal norm from both sides through eyes of the main character is a refreshing perspective. I would like to say that, although the surrounding characters lack depth, and mostly act as plot mechanisms for this sort-of pseudo-Cinderella tale, the story and the plot certainly do not and thicken with each episode, drawing the viewer in with tension. It's the first time I've really seen an anime like this one. It's heartbreaking and heartwarming to watch. I can't wait for another season.

I don't understand the 1 star ratings - have you even watched the series? It just came out lol Regardless, I really enjoyed it - animation is well done, voice acting and singing was also really good.

Bullying is not an easy theme to narrate, although I believe Lookism did a good job. One may think it's a bit exaggerated, but it is like that... especially when you are targeted due to your looks.

The "twist" is also quite interesting, without spoiling anything... I'm curious about how they are going to explain it. Perhaps reading the webtoon will respond to these questions... Hopefully a second season will be released!

Lookism manages to tackle difficult social situations with a lovable array of characters. It follows the concept of "Lookism" (The judgment of others based on looks alone), and everything that surrounds the term. I loved the webtoon, and held high hopes for the animation. I'm happy to report that I absolutely adore Lookism in this format! It's like it was made to be animated! The OST is fantastic, and it helped bring a lot of the scenes I loved to life. I've been telling everyone I know to watch it, since it needs to get a season 2! Please everyone give a lot of love to this show, I promise it deserves it!