Review of Play It Cool, Guys

This short half-length episode series is the epitome of: "Week XX of saying I hate how damn relatable this anime is." Because it's really a lot of fun, and a hell lot better than we've ever bargained for. We have the CGDCT genre: Cute Girls Doing Cute Things. But have you ever stopped to think of what's on the opposite side of the spectrum, with guys? And boy, do I have the answer for you, it's (also) CGDCT: Cool Guys Doing Clumsy Things! And no, it's not BL. Female mangaka Kokone Nata's comedic slice-of-life, web manga-coloured series Cool Doji Danshi a.k.a Play It Cool, Guys, is thehalf-episode length short that never in my life, have I needed such mesmerizing 11-minute moments ogling at cute, cool, yet clumsy guys just doing their own thing, much more so other than their likability that touches and throbs the hearts of not just the original demographic of the Josei audience from the manga, but also anime-onlies too. And within the space of its adapted 24 episodes covering all of the 4 volumes and 24 chapters released (with the 5th just released at the time of the anime's premiere), don't expect a Season 2 for this to come anytime soon, but think of this show has like the near-perfect open-and-shut case manga adaptation that'll satsify not just the manga readers, but anime-oniies as well.

These are the case files for the 5 guys:
- Hayate Ichikura, the Blue normal bear type who reflect on the past in embarrassment. The 20-year-old university student majoring in economics. He loves animals and enjoys reading.
- Shun Futami, the Yellow spiked hair bear stoic type that pretends to be tough. The 17-year-old high school student who is athletic. He enjoys playing sports and is supported by his older sister Asami by her own café.
- Takayuki Mima, the Pink glasses bear type that is unaware and affected by their clumsiness. The 27-year-old salaryman who is seen as a mascot by his co-workers. He is childhood friends with Motoharu Igarashi.
- Souma Shiki, the turquoise cap-laden bear type that is accepting and positive. The 19-year-old vocational student studying at a vocational design school.
- Last but not least, Igarashi Motoharu, the grey one-sided eye-covering hair bear type that is the genius and self-sufficient type. The 27-year-old author and a friend of Mima's from elementary school.

The 5 guys here are VERY likable, VERY relatable, and above all, shows in who they are as young men: COOL. Read any description/synopses and you can see the similarity that it's all but in good heart, because: They may even exist around you -- Guys who are cool, handsome, but a little...clumsy. This is a story about their lives and how they will always look cool, no matter how clumsy they are. And that is a recipe for success in my book, that makes for an entertaining watch from start to finish in record time that will not cost you a lot of time: a little total of just under 4 hours (give or take if you add in the OP/ED theme songs).

Studio Pierrot, par for the course of shows under their belt, and I can tell you that this show doesn't show an inch of the credibility of the studio's low-budget production. In fact, I would say that the show has been produced very nicely, even with little animation that's subtle with the cool guys' clumsy action, that is nothing but a delight to watch, while following the manga in a relative 1-to-1 perfect replication of the pacing and art style. Good job to the Clown.

The OST is very much desired for the show, it seems like it's tailored fit just for this purpose, and I can say that what came out of it, is very good. Starting with Mafumafu's "Seishun Kippu" (lit. Youth Ticket) for the 1st Cour's OP, I knew that it would not just be an song that fits the show to a T, but an outstanding and highly engaging song that's worth many listens on repeat outside of the show, especially if you can get around to watching the MV for the song (which is available in YouTube), which is symbolic and emotionally heavy. I simply LOVE Mafumafu's song to bits, but when it came time for the seasonal refresh to the 2nd Cour, Syudou's "Warau na!" (lit. "Don't Laugh!")...was kinda of a disappointment to be honest. It still retains the excitement factor, but something about the song just doesn't gel quite as nice and in tune with the show's thematics, which is a shame. For both EDs, the cool guys (minus Igarashi's VA) under the PICG unit helm the songs, and I really like the contrast between both "Flash!" and "Taisetsu" (lit. "Precious") for both cours, the 1st being in the same cool fashion as the show, and the 2nd being a more cohesive approach to friendship and bonds, not to mention both songs being just as fantastic in their own right.

Really, if there is an underrated short of the modern day that wholly BEGS for people to watch, it's this show. Seriously, this show is diabetes to the heart, that earns smiles and chuckles onto the face, which gives it so much appeal that whether male or female, anyone could pick this up and have a good time. I know I have, and that's why I promote this with my entire being that while the manga is good, the anime is even better.

I'm really going to miss this half-episode short with all my heart, gaining nothing but happy pleasures with hilarity for the past 6 months, that's for sure.