Anime 44055 Sasaki To Miyano Reviews Filter Check 1

For the longest time, I've been looking for a BL series that matches as closely to the very first BL anime that I actually enjoyed: Junjou Romantica, produced by Studio Deen all the way back in 2008. And come this Winter season, Sasaki and Miyano brings all that nostalgia feeling back into my senses(that's even better because Studio Deen is back), greatly enhancing the enjoyment values that I've experienced with more recent BL-centric shows like the musically-inclined Given.

Judging by the way that this show is titled, most of you would've realized that mangaka Shou Harusono's styling is very reminiscent of mangaka HERO's work on Horimiya, ... and that's not because of plagarism, but of immense inspiration taken from it. From the series' title to the overall sensation as a whole, Sasaki and Miyano a.k.a Sasamiya is basically the BL version of Horimiya, because the while the manga is already a trumping greatness in the BL space, the anime is just as good, if not better as the superior version of the source material.

Sasaki and Miyano might be a BL work through and through, but don't let it fool you that this is pure BL romance at its finest, very simple with no overbearing drama that needs to take a dragging on, everything is concise, well-planned and executed very well. For one, taking into account the relationship of the Uke (Miyano) and Seme (Sasaki), the heartbeats palpitate of cheeriness and absolute heart-flutteringness to watch as their relationship evolves from a very simple Kouhai-Senpai relationship into something much more. The reason with Miyano Yoshikazu, is that he's a Fudanshi, someone that likes to read BL manga, and thus in an all-boys school, isn't the easiest to blurt out, lest the idea of being called names for it. And this is complemented by Sasaki Shuumei, whom acts like a Senpai and a delinquent all at the same time, reason being that he once saved Miyano from being bullied. Thus, the obsession from Sasaki to Miyano begins from there, and the latter especially has a heart time shrugging this annoying and playful Senpai off his shoulders. And to add to that allure, Sasaki inquires from Miyano for a book recommendation, and being the Fudanshi fanatic, the latter introduces to the former a BL manga. In a strange dynamic, Sasaki also develops an interest for BL manga, not realizing that reading too much of it relives the experience of him and Miyano in real life, and imaginations can run wild. Thus, this BL relationship is born, and for better or worse, Miyano has to content with Sasaki's antics, more of less friendships or romantically in a private setting.

But what's a great couple ship without great friends? Miyano has Tashiro Gonzaburou and Tasuku Kuresawa as classmates, and the former's a joker while the latter looks like your typical class bookworm, and with a girlfriend to boot and being a very loyal boyfriend. Both are very supportive of Miyano as friends first and foremost, and provide diversity into Miyano's POV. Sasaki has Taiga Hirano and Jirou Ogasawara, the former being the same bad boy but very disciplined since he's on the school's Discipline Committee. Manga readers would be happy to know that there is actually a spin-off of the series covering both his and Akira Kagiura's side of things, though that's not the main focus of the parent story. As for the latter, Jirou is like Miyano's friend Tasuku, but only if the dynamics are all completely turned and messed up 180 degrees. He too like Tasuku has a girlfriend, but his significant other is a BL fanatic like Miyano, whom glows at every chance possible to see some BL from Jirou's friends, and is Sasaki's side of a joker at trying his best not to be the Uke to the Seme. Overall, this character cast I don't mind at all since on top of the BL aspect, this is a typical slice-of-life school romance in the simplest form, and it works either way.

It's no secret that when I saw that Studio Deen was adapting this, my mind instantly raced off to the nostalgia that I had for Junjou Romantica. Heck, I'd rather say that Sasaki and Miyano is the modern-day Junjou Romantica, that's sweet, delightful and fun to watch. It's very realistic with all the love imagery signs of a typical relationship, be it straight, Yuri or in this case, Yaoi (or gay romance if you will). It's light-hearted, yet carries weight when things go astray. This is further proof that Shinji Ishihara, director for Tsukimichi and Edens Zero (as chief director) still has the knack in him to produce this with the staff team, on a soul of heart that love and care has been given to this production to make the best that it could. Yet again, a thanks to this guy for elevating the original source material.

For a light-hearted series, the music must match with the vibes of the show, and I certainly felt that throughout the anime. Miracle Chimpanzee's OP is just the perfect song to start the series off in an upbeat note, and I really can't get enough of this extremely well-crafted piece of music. Sasaki and Miyano's duo-VA ED song is also the same, and compliments the entire show well. Not a bad selection of an OST.

When it all comes down to it, Yuri or Yaoi series can still be enjoyed by straight people, and Sasaki and Miyano hits with absolute precision of the source material to elevate it with Studio Deen's adaptation. I really can't find any faults with it, and is a treat for both Josei and Shoujo fans alike. Watch it if you can, it's BL, it's Horimiya, it's just simply love.

This is so cute! And an accurate depiction of how queer kids feel when they start getting attracted to the same gender. As someone who identifies as bi I've been telling the screen over and over "Dude you are Bi! it's okay to crush on girls and boys!" I still remember the first panic of OMG why am i crushing on this cute girl. And not in the ooo she cool kinda way but more in the.. i want to hold her hand and do girlfriend things together. Relating to our MC a lot as a memory from the past.

I watched 2 episodes and ... then read the manga, it is all very cute! Recommend if you like cute romance anime.

I'm very much looking forward to seeing the scenes from the manga getting played out in the anime. And if reading ahead as I did is something you enjoy I can recommend doing so. sure it spoils the stories a bit but the animation is lovely so I really don't mind it and get the doki doki feels anyway.

This is the first ever BL anime I watched and It helped me come to terms with my own sexuality. Having for a long time consider myself weird or felt like something was wrong with me because I never had any strong feelings when watching hetero love stories/dating, this anime definitely open a whole new emotion for me at the age of 23 and helped in the process to accept that I wasn't straight. I enjoyed the fact that both Sasaki and Miyano are patient with each other's feelings and try their best to communicate their problems.

The fact that their relationship is focused mostly ... on their emotional connection up to the very last scene is just wonderful. Having surveyed the BL genre after watching this a couple months ago, I can say nothing is ever going to really compare with the simplicity of two boys loving each other and bonding over their shared interest in reading BL manga/anime in general.

Hopefully I find my own miyano one day,,,,where we bond over our interest in similar animes,,,,,,

I am a gay man who loves GOOD boys love anime. Sasaki and Miyano is pretty fantastic.

I don’t like being represented by the most grotesque stereotypes possible, i.e., rape-to-romance (Love Stage!), pedophilia (Super Lovers), possessiveness (My Very Own Hero), and endless ambiguity (Gakuen Heaven). Watching these anime elicits the same repulsion in me as being called a slur on the street by a drunk. This is not one of those anime. The show follows the eponymous high school students Miyano, a fudanshi (a male fan of boys love manga), and Sasaki, his slightly older delinquent classmate. They meet when Sasaki breaks up a fight between ... Miyano’s friend and trash-talking jerks. The random encounter immediately subverts a BL trope; the older love interest protects the younger man’s friend rather than him, earning his admiration and respect rather than attraction. Their relationship progresses as they continue to run into one another; Sasaki gradually admits to himself he finds Miyano cute and Miyano questions whether he really likes BL manga because he’s into men (oh, you innocent boy).

In the first half of the show, Miyano introduces Sasaki to the world of boys love by lending him manga. Over these episodes, the two discuss BL stories, tropes, and character archetypes while slowly realizing their attraction to one another. Dissecting your own story’s genre is a precarious choice for an author. They risk drawing the reader’s attention to the flaws with their own story. Luckily, these writers are self-aware. Though the main characters fall into the categories of seme (dominant, older, usually taller) and uke (submissive, younger, shorter), these archetypes don’t define their personalities. By pointing out every trope in the BL genre during the show’s first half, they set the stage to subvert them in the second half. Once the romance becomes the prominent part of the show, BL manga moves to the background, referenced occasionally to remind you of certain tropes being subverted. Such as by suggesting the delinquent uke pushes himself on the seme, essentially fetish fuel for fudanshi/fujoshi. No shame if you’re into that thing, but it ruins the story. Though these scenes’ lighting and dramatic music would suggest something scandalous is about to occur, Sasaki expresses his concerns to Miyano in a mature level-headed manner. Witnessing his love interest care for him, Miyano respects Sasaki and embraces his affection. As the viewer, this is so satisfying because the romantic outcome feels earned rather than shoehorned.

The central romance is far more developed than either character involved. Aside from a love of manga and rebellious behavior respective to each protagonist, there’s not a whole lot of background information about these boys. The character progression made up for the lack of character development. Both of them gain emotional intelligence by overcoming relationship conflicts: setting boundaries, asking for consent, admitting mistakes, and knowing the right time to comfort each other are some of the ways they build communication. Honestly, I can't recall the last time I saw a boys love anime that actually discussed consent. Sasaki and Miyano exemplify a healthy gay relationship, and I wish I had their story while I was growing up.

Sentimental high school romances often struggle to escape the honeymoon phase: the early stage of a relationship when the attraction is at its peak). The show addresses this concern; Sasaki finds Miyano cute, which is one of the main reasons he gives at first to explain his attraction. Hence, he gives him the pet name “Mya-chan,” but Miyano comprehends how real romance differs from manga. He tells Sasaki, “When I’m 50, I might look totally different than I do now,” which shows he considers the far future of their relationship beyond the honeymoon phase. Long-term is rarely considered in high school romances, let alone BL because it risks overshadowing the fantasy love story the viewer uses for escapism. Drawing attention to the potential problems you may face in a long-term relationship makes the romance less idealized and more believable.

I have many problems with boys love anime; one is that you can switch a male character with a female and make it a heterosexual romance, and the story would barely change. Many aspects make this show unique to BL. First of all, societal expectations to be heterosexual. The will-they-won’t-they conflict comes from within rather than by plot contrivances (EX: every time the characters in Dress-up Darling are about to kiss, they get interrupted). Their internal turmoil comes from the inability to admit that they’re attracted to men. Too often, western TV shows tac-on poorly written homophobia subplots because individual writers don’t know any other problems that affect gay people. I, of all people, know homophobia impacts your ability to date in high school when you’re gay, but tonally it would’ve ruined a wholesome love story. Instead, part of what keeps them apart is the thought that they’ve never been attracted to men—both had crushes on women in the past. That’s a common issue characters face in BL manga, but it is addressed substantially here. Miyano’s past crush returns into his life, but she’s surprisingly not judgemental. It’s refreshing to see their friends are supportive of their relationship. Through the side characters, the author explores challenges gay teenagers deal with that don't fit within the main duo's story. Interesting topics are explored like how to come out of the closet to friends and family, recognizing abuse, and dealing with questions people only ask same-sex couples. I found all of these painfully relatable.

The original soundtrack is just beautifully dramatic. Every few minutes, there are heartfelt piano melodies. The sound effects, every footstep, clothes movement, and hair rustle are audibly pleasing. Unfortunately, studio Deen is infamous for low effort and low-budget anime adaptations. The animation is stilted. Characters barely move aside from motion tweens, which at least means their designs are usually consistent. Every background is overly simplified and bland, I couldn’t blame anyone who found the visuals too distracting to enjoy the story. The director often adds eye-catching colorful shapes spinning on the frame to make up for the lack of motion; at least it adds visual flares.

Sasaki and Miyano, the guys and the anime itself, are the antithesis of every bad boys love anime I’ve ever seen. None of this ambiguous shit, no censorship, no sexual assault, no queerbaiting, and no toxic relationships. Just genuinely believable drama and heartfelt romance. Gay, straight, ace, I recommend this one to everyone. If I had to describe Sasaki and Miyano in one word it would be “Heartwarming.”

So far, I've very much enjoyed this show! I haven't read the manga, and it surprised me how much I'm enjoying it, considering that although I do enjoy BL; I don't typically have the attention span for simple slice-of-life, high school shows. There are some exceptions, but mostly pure romance isn't enough to keep my attention. Fortunately, Sasaki to Miyano is one of those exceptions!
The art is gorgeous, the character designs all stand out from each other and are nice to look at. There are absolutely copious amounts of "romance sparkles," but not so much that they take away from the plot. I like all ... of the background characters so far, my only thing that could resemble a complaint is that they haven't yet gotten much development suitable to make them into three-dimensional characters. Hopefully, this will change as the season progresses.
The main relationship itself is very refreshing and sweet/wholesome, much like Uenoyama and Mafuyu from Given. It's innocent and simple, and doesn't get bogged down by the "gay denial" trope that so many BL seem to throw in to create unnecessary drama. I really enjoy the meta of the two main characters bonding over BL manga WITHIN a BL show, I think it adds a lot of nuance and self-awareness.
Absolutely looking forward to watching the rest of the episodes as they air, so far one of my favorite shows of the season! Very sweet, a good show to watch to relax and just focus on the cute. So far I've only given it an 8 because only three episodes have been release; but I have high hopes for it and can absolutely see my rating going higher as the show progresses c:

A very heartwarming story with enjoyable characters!

Normally I do not make posts about any anime I have watched but this BL was so good I had to.
Sasaki to Miyano is a great representation of a LGBT relationship. Their relationship didn’t feel forced or rushed in anyway. The way Sasaki and Miyano interacted with each other always felt natural and positive.

Characters:
I loved all the characters in this anime!
I have seen a quite a few BLs and I was glad to see they skipped the toxic relationship trope that most BLs love to included for the drama. *cough* *cough* Gravitation…
... It was relatable to see Miyano’s journey in discovering who he is as a person and really growing into himself. You get to see Miyano start to question his sexuality, and sometimes he even asks himself what would a typical character from one of his BLs do.
It was great to see a supportive love interest. Sasaki doesn’t force the mc to give him an answer right away and doesn’t want to change anything about the mc. Sasaki likes him for who he is, not just for the way he looks.
I was also really happy to see how positive and supportive all Sasaki and Miyano friends were. They are the types of friends I wish I had in high school. They always go out of their way to support the mc.
Animation: The animation was beautiful! I love how bright and light it felt.
Overall: I would recommend this anime to anyone who is a fan of BL’s or anyone who is wanting to watch a BL for the first time!

Loved the manga but this is better. I am loving every second, especially episodes 3&8. It’s funny, it’s extremely cute, it’s relatable. This isn’t some weird bate for women to project themselves onto. This is something I would say is more akin to horimiya.

The characters are cute and interact great with each other. A great contrast is between the leads, one is shy and the other is a lot more extraverted. So we get to see sasaki be a lot more forward in his feelings in a extremely realistic way. And we get to see cute little miyano cook his brain thinking about his ... actions and there meaning. Which again again is extremely realistic for a high school gay romance.

The art is just a perfect mach for this stile of show, colourful, light, fluffy and cute beyond belief. I legit sometimes pause the show just to scream “cute”. I know I am saying cute a lot but this is giving k-on a run for it’s money.

You should definitely watch this.

PS:This is my updated review after I finished the show

As a BL veteran of 15+ years (LOL) I can say without a doubt that this work is a masterpiece. It's one of the few realistic depictions of exploring one's sense of bi/gay attraction in our youth - the progression is extremely natural & wholesome. The animation is beyond gorgeous, the music makes my heart dance, & the way that they've depicted the fluttering of feelings as bursts of colour & twinkling flashes of shapes is so lovely & immersive. Absolutely love love love this series, each new moment between the two mains feels so precious; it has me just as nervous as them. I've ... absorbed a lot of BL content from rated yaoi to your typical fluffy shounen-ai over the years, & this has already etched itself into the top of what I consider the golden standard.

STORY: Do you remember the bubbly warm feeling when you watch a heartwarming shoujo anime? This is it. Sasamiya is one of the most wholesome shows this season. It is a slice-of-life story about two boys quite different from one another, an upperclassman "bad boy" and a fudanshi. Buckle up, friends, because you're in for a SLOW BURN and tooth rotting fluff with how SWEET these two boys are. I was skeptical about the quality of the anime, because my experience with BL in anime has mainly been Junjou and so I was expecting the stereotypical fetishization seen in traditional uke and seme roles. ... Absolutely blew me away how healthy the relationship between the two main leads are. No brainless drama. Just love. And wholesome communication and healthy boundaries. I can't name many BL's out there that do this without the seme usually forcing themselves on to the uke.

ART: Holy guacamole. The animation is FANTASTIC. The art is true to what the manga is like, and that's some top notch art. Seeing life breathed into the characters is so dang beautiful. Honestly, the first time I saw the trailer I thought Miyano was the cutest cinnamonroll on earth. The use of bubbles and sparkles is excessive, but it kind of adds to the charm of the show in a way! Also, whoever the heck directed the last 5 minutes of episode 8 deserves an award because I was at the EDGE OF MY SEAT THE ENTIRE TIME. The artistic direction with the use of the background piano BGM synced to the tension in the scene juxtaposed against the flower imagery is genius.

SOUND: Nothing too remarkable about it. Standard sound effects. What really caught my attention was the piano BGM at the end of episode 8. That fit the moment so well.

CHARACTER: BLESS the writing. These boys are not your typical uke and seme. I like how Miyano is not the typical uke stereotype nor too submissive. He is not afraid to voice his opinion and lays out what the boundaries are. Like anyone who questions their own orientation, Miyano is visibly confused when the possibility of being in a relationship with the same gender comes up, but he actually puts some thought instead of out rightly denying it. These two respect each others' boundaries and if any lines are crossed, they will catch themselves on it and apologize. That's what I love about Sasamiya so much. These boys are in their teens, so they are bound to make mistakes. The fact that they are able to acknowledge these mistakes and respect the other's boundaries / wishes makes it so enjoyable, and who doesn't stan a healthy relationship? I know I do.

ENJOYMENT: The slow nature and the slice-of-life storytelling might not be for everyone, but it's portrayed much better in the anime than it is in the manga in my opinion. I've had a great time watching how Sasaki and Miyano's relationship develops in the show. Give me the slow burn. I'm all here for it.

OVERALL: Do give it a try! The show literally feels the same as a shojo, but with two male leads. Nothing explicit. Nothing ick. Just love at its' purest form.

Okay Okay Okay.

Here we go

This was a great anime like very great. It has a non-toxic relationship which is rare in Bl. It's cute, it's fun, it does it's job quite well. I loved it. Sasaki and Miyano are adorable. It has a fun and unique premise. It did drag in the middle tho, but the start and end (esep the last episode) make up for it a ton.

Story: 8. It is not the most complicated. It's easy and simple. It's cute, very cute.

Art: 9. idk why a lot of people do not like the art, i enjoyed it.

Sound: 7. It's fine but not ... my fav

Character: 8. They are definitely not deep, but they were still enjoyable and that's what matters.

Enjoyment: 9. One point off for nothing happening in the middle. But I really enjoyed this anime for the most part, I would have given it a ten if it was not for those few episodes. The ending was so solid. It made up for it.

Overall: 9. Amazing anime

At first, I got the impression that this anime was going to be unrealistic and fast paced.

It takes around halfway through the series to fully realise where both of the main characters’ feelings are, and how they process their emotions. As this is set in highschool, take everything at face value and it makes sense with how easily the characters are confused. The pacing is a little off, as it staggers from quick to slow, but it adds to the feeling of a genuine friendship blossoming between the boys. Where the storyline is lacking, the ... art itself makes up for in symbolism.

I found myself questioning whether or not it was written for LGBTQIA+ people or fetishists quickly after the first 2 episodes. The answer is a little bit of both, leaning more towards a “coming to age story” for those questioning their sexuality.

Overall, I’m excited to see how these characters’ stories develop and hope for a second season renewal.

Good queer representation in anime is rare, this is one of those rare anime.

Sasaki to Miyano is a pretty amazing romance anime in general. It has the perfect mixture of everything. It's pretty damn wholesome, and overall when i was watching it, it was just good vibes all around. I finished the whole thing in a day, because I was that addicting to watching it, and that's exactly what this anime does.

What I loved especially about this anime is that is portrays an actual HEALTHY gay relationship, which is a trope I find sadly rare in GL/BL and anime in general. The main characters (Sasaki ... and Miyano) are shown to set healthy boundaries, communicate their feelings, and generally, their love blossoming is not only heartwarming, its lighthearted and fun. I even caught myself laughing at this anime (which is actually quite rare for me to laugh at an anime haha) Their relationship doesn't seem forced like a lot of anime tend to do, it feels natural and what can I say? I'm a sucker for that. Speaking as somebody who has been in a similar position as Miyano when it comes to the confusion and questioning your sexuality in school, the anime does a pretty damn good job at showcasing the feelings and experiences one may have, while going through that time in your life. The denial that slowly transcends into acceptance feels satisfying for both him and the viewer.

But enough about that, the actual story itself. It's pretty cute. The main characters bond over a similar interest, and they enjoy listening to each other's opinions 'bout it, this slowly transcends into them developing feelings for each other. It's a simple story, but it takes the simplicity of it and turns it into something much more with everything that happens in between. The quirky yet relatable and supportive characters, the 'sweet and spicy' metaphors, the finding out which feelings equal love. IF you are looking for a GOOD romance anime in general, this is perfect. I have rated it a 10 based off story, characters and most of all, enjoyment. I'd reccommend this anime to anyone, if you are thinking of watching it, please do! You won't regret it.

Through my year of watching BL this is one that I'll give a 10/10.
It gives this nostalgic feeling. The plot of this anime could really be something that happens irl. I like how it's so different than other BL (In my opinion).
*Spoiler warning?*
How the story goes is our mc Miyano is a fudanshi, but says to himself that he will only like females and not males. Then our other mc character, Sasaki, showed up. At first glance Sasaki fell for Miyano's looks since his face was very feminine. Such youraverage hopeless romance! (If you don't know what that means, it basically means that you believe ... in love at first sight, which is basically Sasaki.) So then Sasaki decides to do things that Miyano likes, and Miyano recommend him some BL manga. Sasaki then saw how dedicated Miyano is when he's talking about his interest and start falling in love for his personalty. While Miyano...He reads so much BL then one day he realized he has fallen for sasaki because one of the manga really related to him and Sasaki. This is it for the summary for now anyways.

Story : A very obvious 10/10, even thought everyone has different opinions, I can say a 10/10 is a must because this story is so fricken wholesome, like who wouldn't rate the story a 10/10???

Art : I love these type of art style!!
The color scheme was perfect for my eyes, unlike some anime where color and everything is either too bright or the color just doesn't fit the vibe.

Sound : Was perfect, don't really have anything to say about this.

Character : Perfect.

Enjoyment : Like I stated this is a 10/10

Overall : My whole life, it could literally purify me.

Sasaki to Miyano is a good story for everyone, and particularly a good “welcome” to who want to try this genre (BL) for the first time! It has some typical romance’s aspects like happening at school, a disciplinary committee, and a “delinquent” character, but I wouldn’t say it’s the same as another shoujo/romance. I don’t see fudanshis being portrayed frequently haha.

Story: since reading the manga I loved it. Their relationship develops on its own pace, calmly, with the protagonists getting to know each other and the secondaries having their building too... The anime is going well adapting it, I was afraid they would rush things, ... but until now they’re doing all right.

Characters: they’re all lovable, and I really like how they take part into the story smoothly. The protagonists are adorable!

Art/animation: the manga artist style is pretty, I like especially the way she draws the eyes, and was a pleasant surprise to me to see that the anime portrayed it so well. The “shoujo effects” (like I call the sparkles and flowers) can be a little overwhelming, but as the anime progressed, I think you just get used to it. Oh, and the attention they’re giving to details is nice.

Music: it’s simple and enjoyable. The OP and ED are so cool, I loved listening to Shirai-san and Souma-san singing together!

Wrapping up, Sasaki to Miyano is a chill and more realistic story about discoveries/revelations. I hope more people can enjoy!

If anyone would ask me what my favourite romance anime is, I would no doubt say it's Sasaki to Miyano (unless the person is not inclined to bl haha). I love it, so so much.

I love how slow and soft the romance is. I'm very fond of slow-burn romance, and I really can't take it if the romance develops too quickly. With Sasaki to Miyano, it's perfect.

They're such a healthy bl couple which is pretty rare to see in anime. They're very thoughtful and so so respectful of each other's feelings. It's also very sweet, the development between them from just senpai to kouhai, to ... finally realizing how they actually feel and what the other truly mean to them.

I've read the manga a little, and felt very satisfied that the adaptation is pretty faithful to the original material and even manages to bring more of its potential! I like the added effects in the anime, it has this feeling like watching a manga come alive, with all the glitters and effects every time the character is feeling fluttery or in their romantic moments hahaha><

As for the plot itself, it's very lighthearted. There's not much drama, doesn't use much misunderstanding as a plot device, and doesn't have any antagonistic characters, it's just warm and fluff everywhere. Perhaps there are some people who doesn't like this? Though for me, it's very much my cup of tea.

I also like the side characters, they're all very interesting >< even their girlfriends are interesting hahaha. Also Hirano and Kagiura *wiggle eyes*, Kagiura doesn't even shown that much in the anime but I want to know about him!! I want to know more of their stories!! And yes they have their own movie too!!

Okay that's all, it's a good anime go give it a watch!! But yes it's very slow, if you like slow-burn romance like me or want a warm and comfy slice of life romance anime, this anime is perfect for you. However, if you prefer to watch something fast paced, with a lot of drama, or twist and turn, you won't find it here.

After watching all 12 episodes of this anime, I asked myself this one question.

Is it wrong to have an affection towards a boy when you are a boy yourself even if it's sexually orientated?

Well it depends really, I mean we live in a corrupt world where different people are not accepted for who they are in terms of their sexuality. There is always that problem with society acting like it's a norm that being gay is considered wrong and does not make them human.

As a straight man I say this with the short answer being NO.

PLOT

In the series, we have Miyano, a young teen with ... a feminine face who attends an all-boys school. Miyano loves reading manga, BL manga to be exact. One day, Miyano sees a fight between some students to which Sasaki intervenes and gets somewhat ruffled up in the fight. Around that time, Miyano introduces his upperclassman to BL. So, it begins with Miyano loaning Sasaki manga, and they would then talk about the different motifs of the genre. Through it all, the two become more aware of the increasing feelings they have for each other.

It is a simple story that I can see being done several times. What makes it good, however, is seeing these two boys pondering their feelings for each other and you could tell that they are confused about what they should do about those feelings. But at the same time, it felt right. I appreciate that the show does not rush to them suddenly falling for each other. Instead, it takes a slow-burn approach planting the seeds for their relationship until it started to bud.

ANIMATION

The animation itself is also pretty simple, it befits the soft, gentle atmosphere of the series. Being made by the fast-food chain of studios Studio Deen who have made masterpieces such as Seven Deadly Frames, this was for sure a surprise.

CHARACTERS

The main couple is just adorable. Miyano starts off being hush-hush about his interest in BL manga, but when he gets Sasaki invested in it, he becomes very passionate about what he loved about the genre. It doesn't take painstakingly long for Miyano to recognize Sasaki's feelings for him, but he is conflicted about them because he held onto the idea that he liked girls due to a minor relationship with a girl he knew years ago (though someone should really tell Miyano about bisexuality). Joking aside, Miyano is a good protagonist.

Sasaki, the supporting protagonist, is the "delinquent" who takes a liking to BL when Miyano introduces him to it. I just love nearly everything about Sasaki. He treats Miyano with such tenderness, it is too cute. Unlike with Miyano, it doesn't take Sasaki too long to realize his feelings for his kouhai, but he's the type of guy who would allow the significant other to think about it instead of pushing for it which would make the other uncomfortable. It was also sweet to see him have moments of being defensive of Miyano.

The supporting characters are good. There's Taiga who also looks out for Miyano; Jirou, a "bad boy" who doesn't understand BL manga since his girlfriend was deep into that genre (even though she doesn't expect you to take part in her likes my dude) and is never without a sucker in his mouth.

SOUND

The opening and ending themes are very good. Not the best music you would hear ever in anime history but it certainly does the trick for what it does.

ENJOYMENT AND CONCLUSION

This anime is really very good, I really like it. This is the first time I've seen a BL anime that really drains my emotions, I can't help but smile even when I'm outside the house. And yes this is coming from someone who is straight too.

10/10

FINAL MESSAGE

"Be proud of who you are. In this world there will be people that wouldn't accept you for who you are. But don't let that affect you in life. Always stay close to those that will accept you instead"

Thanks for reading my review

Possibly one of my favorite Shonen-Ai's along side Given. This series does things different than other Shonen-Ai's does and its very refreshing. I already loved the manga and they handled the anime so well.
I loved the characters and the anime made me love both Sasaki and Miyano even more, even the side characters like Kuresawa, Hirano and Hanzawa just lovable characters but I especially love Sasaki, his cute reactions and face just made me love him more and more.
The visuals and animation was really good not over the top, but they made sure to capture the mood with the right colors and visual even ... the soundtrack was very pleasing to listen to so I have to praise them
They handled the story well and it didn't even feel rushed they handled every moment well, even adding little moments that were just extras into the episode was a surprise, but seeing that they did that was just very nice and I loved it.

Overall I loved this show and they did everything right I just enjoyed every episode each week. I'll be honest if someone wanted me to recommend them a good Shonen-Ai to start out with, I would 100% recommend this series along side Given. This show just has good representation of LGBT relationships and everything from the story to characters were just handled with so much care. So 100% I'd recommend people to watch this series its just a fun watch with great story and lovable characters you won't be disappointed, I'd recommend read the manga as well its just as great as the anime. 10/10 series!

Its over for now but with a possible anime season in the works (or even a movie) we have something to look forward to, so I can't wait for more, from this great show ^^

A healthy relationship??? With characters who respect each other's boundaries?? In MY anime?? Absolutely unheard of. I put this on to be background noise while doing work and I was completely blown away how good it was - especially the dub.

Story: The story was nothing crazy but it was surprisingly wholesome. I didn't mind that it was an extremely slow burn.

Animation: The animation was good where it needed to be. Any shot bigger than a cowboy you could see some clunkiness and inconsistencies (ie: everyone had legs that stretched to next tuesday). I really thought it was creative to redraw scenes in flashbacks with ... a thicker, more dynamic brush to give a different feeling - I've never seen that before and I appreciate the effect it added! There were also a few compositing issues here and there as well.

Overall a really great show with a great atmosphere.

Sasamiya is one of my favourite BL manga, so I was very excited for the anime. Did the anime deliver? Yes, but with a problem. Is it worth watching? Yes. It's a good anime for BL fans, for anyone who is looking for something to pass the time, for anyone who wants to watch something cute and light.

Stuff about the characters, story, etc., I have already said in my manga review and it still applies here, so I won't mention it again. On to the rest. The animation is good, flows smoothly imo, the colours are appealing and go well with the soft vibe, there ... aren't many weird-looking panels that I have noticed. The sound is fine too, op and ed are nice but probably unmemorable, voice acting sounded good.

So, what is the problem that I mentioned before? The draged-out scenes. In the first episodes there aren't any issues, the story sets off fine. But somewhere in the middle of the show you will start noticing that some episodes/scenes feel so dragged out it becomes boring. I gave a seven to the story because of that. The show should have 8 episodes max, 12 episodes is too much for what it has to offer. Now, you could argue that the manga is slow-burn, but let me tell you I love slow-burn and love the manga for that, but that is not what I'm talking about. While the anime is also slow-burn and there's nothing wrong with that, that's not what I'm referring to, it's about the dragged out scenes. I don't care if it takes 12 or 20 episodes for someone to realise their feelings, for a couple to get together, for a fight to happen, wtv wtv, as long as those 12 episodes aren't stretched. Some scenes feel like they needed to drag stuff to make it to the 24 (?) minute and 12 episodes mark. That happens somewhere in some episodes in the middle of the show, then it becomes 'normal' again in the last episodes (I think?? I'm watching the episodes as they air and my memory is shit, but I think the last episodes I watched were fine.) I don't think they are that bad to watch and the show is still a good show nevertheless.

Was it enjoyable? Yes, definitely. Would I recommend it? Definitely (while also telling you to read the manga if you can). It was fun, it was cute, it was nice to watch despite the dragged scenes. I love the main characters and side characters (my fav is even a side character), the story is light and plays with its own clichés, the last episode was so cute it made up for any problems the anime had... I'm looking forward for the next season.

I think the show itself does a wonderful job showing the chemistry between the two, there is such a nice buildup of emotions as they get to know eachother. The dub especially has a really great voice cast that sells the relationship as well.

With that being said, the show itself is annoyingly slowburn. I've never been against slowburn romances but for it to work, it has to not feel like its dragging its feet across and instead just develop things a little bit at a time.

For me, I ended up annoyed as I watched the second half of the season. By the first half ... there is a clear confession of feelings but the entire second half is dedicated to one person delaying any confession. I think a delay is fine since its a chance for characters to search their own feelings out more but dedicating the whole second half of the season for it was frustrating. When a character says "sorry lemme think about it some more" on two seperate occassions before the end, it just comes off as stupidly hesistant.

With my own complaints in mind, I still found the experience enjoyable but was just a little annoyed while I was watching everything unfold.