Review of ReLIFE

I've always wondered if anyone would release all the episodes of an anime series on the same day, like Netflix does. So when I heard all episodes of ReLife will be released on the same day, I was a bit skeptical. As a fan of the manga, I wondered whether this was the right approach. But this anime adaptation proved all my doubts wrong. Story: 7/10 Kaizaki Arata is what you'd call a half shut-in. Good in social interaction, but still unable to get a job. One day, he meets Yoake Ryo, a member of ReLife Research Institute, who says they'll help Arata get a job withina year, and take care of all his expenses until then. The catch is he has to become a test subject in an experiment that turns him into a 17-year old high school student. The story is a bit refreshing than most high school anime, since the MC is an adult, and he tackles his problems in a mature way, instead of whining. Except the first episode, which was a bit rushed in terms of pacing, the story unravels itself brilliantly. the emphasis is not only on the MC, but also on the students he becomes friends with. The decisions Arata takes also influences those around him.

Art: 6/10

The art is not the highlight of this anime. It's mediocre at best. Character designs are average.

Sound: 8/10

This may be conflicting for many. I myself loved the piano music, though in some places I felt it could've been avoided. Also the piano music felt a bit repetitive, which might be annoying for some people. Now, the best part are the ending songs. Each episode has a different ending track. They are 90's songs, which Arata would've listened to during his high school days. It's refreshing to hear the songs of T.M Revolution and L'Arc. The songs are catchy and relaxing to listen to. I myself would like to recommend the song "HOT LIMIT" by T.M Revolution. It just makes me want to get off my lazy ass and dance! The VA is also brilliant. I especially loved Tomatsu Haruka as Kariu Rena.

Character: 9/10

The main strength of any Slice of Life anime are the characters. And ReLife has some of the best characters in that aspect. Take other shows where people start waifu wars saying one girl is better than others. In ReLife, each girl has her own charm, and it's hard to pick one over the other. Much of the story revolves around Hishiro Chizuru- who has difficulty in making friends, and has an adorable smile, and Kariu Rena- who is very competitive, which causes her problems. Along with the other characters like Ooga, Yoake, Onoya and Honoka, they bring the show to life.

Enjoyment: 7/10

I watched all 13 episodes without any breaks. And I'm really glad I did. It was a really good experience. The best thing was it left me satisfied, no more weekly waits for the next episode. This anime works really well for a binge-watch. A few episodes inbetween shows the character's pasts, and were a bit slow-paced. Imagine the reactions if this aired weekly "Oh the last episode was better. Today's episode is disappointing blahblahblah". I'm really glad that this didnot happen. There are no pervy jokes, the MC is not a blockhead, or has girls falling for him in all directions. the jokes are something that makes you laugh from the bottom of your heart, without trying too hard. It's the simplicity of this show that makes it so great!

Overall: 8/10

ReLife is easily one of my favorite SoL of all time. i finished it at 4 am and went to sleep with satisfaction and a smile on my face. The manga is currently at 133 chapters, and the anime adapted almost 104 chapters, so it'll be sometime before a S2, but anime like this are worth the wait. If anyone wants to watch something satisfying without too much adrenaline, this would be one of my first recommendations.