Review of ReLIFE

As a working adult (this probably doesn't apply to some of you), do you ever regret how you spent your adolescent years? Kaizaki is twenty-seven years old yet has low self-esteem and literally no future after his parents decide to cut chipping in for his rent. Luckily, he is chosen as a human experiment for Relife, a one-year long second chance at adolescence (and which will cover his living costs). I absolutely love shows where people are introduced into new situations (Kuromukuro, and FMP being strong examples) and this fits the bill quite well. In this case, Kaizaki has a ton more life experience than hispeers and so he is able to help others around him while simultaneously healing some of his own personal anguish. It's a very well thought out concept and likewise well executed. For those looking for a slightly more mature taste in their anime (no I don't mean hentai), look no further.

[b]Animation:[/b]
The animation in Relife isn't anything particularly special, if anything I'm actually surprised that a fair number of school backgrounds are drawn rather than generated. The show has a light atmosphere overall with bright, fairly saturated coloring. The characters have an average level of detail though they do a pretty good job of aging Kaizaki and Yoake. The characters are fairly standard overall though there are many scenes where characters are drawn as humorous and occasionally cute chibi caricatures. Hishiro's smile is definitely one thing that never gets old. There isn't any action and this is isn't an ecchi-based show.

[b]Sound:[/b]
The show opens with a decent piece with a good main melody but more interestingly, ends with a different ED in every episode. These EDs are all hits in Japan from the late 90s or early 2000s; fittingly, these pieces should resonate with Japanese viewers in Kaizaki's age range. For us culturally deprived foreigners, Natsumatsuri in episode 12 will probably be the most recognizable tune as the ED from Watamote. The BGM in the show is very minimalist, most of which is just a sole piano; though simple, some of the melodies will become familiar by the end of the show.

The show has a lot of star VA power. Our protagonist is supported by Ai Kayano playing a extremely smart yet socially awkward Hishiro, Haruka Tomatsu playing a humorously tsundere Kariu and up and coming Reina Ueda as the supportive fellow transfer student Onoya. This show is mostly dialogue driven and they do a great job keeping things interesting.

[b]Story:[/b]
Kaizaki takes a magic pill to enter the Matrix er... to make him look like a teenager and re-enrolls in high school. There he befriends those sitting around him and eventually helps them resolve interpersonal issues. The story is a mix of hilarious comedy and really good character development. It flows like a slice of life and is pretty light most of the time. There's one central plot line following Kaizaki's new daily life, there isn't any particular rising action or climax though for me the last few episodes were particularly enjoyable.

Though this sounds really light and fluffy, underneath the hood it's a human experiment to try to rehabilitate NEETs. And though I won't spoil exactly what it is, there's a pretty good twist at the very end of the show. It's a great watch overall, especially for us older viewers, and ends on a pretty positive note.

[b]Character:[/b]
If you like exploratory character relations, this show is gold. Placing someone who's mentally older than their teacher is hilarious, and seeing how he has to readjust to cultural norms for those a decade younger are likewise comically explored. There are a lot of interpersonal issues between characters in the show, many of them surrounding Hishiro, who initially doesn't get along with anyone despite being the smartest brain in the cast, and Kariu, whose tsundere shield ends up offending and hurting multiple people. There is a lot of growth in the characters throughout the show, and the last few episodes are particularly exciting for those who like reliving the hatsukoi experience. The cast is relatively small, and just enough exposition is given to supporting characters to keep the focus on the central protagonists.

[b]Value:[/b]
Though the story isn't as engaging as ReZero, this show has a vibrant, playful personality and makes up the difference through outstanding characters. I found myself rooting for the protagonist at one moment only to start laughing uncontrollably the very next scene as a result of Hishiro's innocent antics. This was an absolute pleasure to watch and, due to the late plot twist, definitely has re-watch value. If you're tired of the fantasy genre and or overly moe characters, this show has a compelling package.