Review of Nisekoi: False Love

Nisekoi Review: This show is sure to get wildly mixed opinions due to 2 things: it's plot is the most cliche, stereotypical thing imaginable..... and Shaft. Both of these "factors" will split many people over how good this show really was. To keep those with short attention spans satisfied, here is a summary of my review: Nisekoi was cliche, but still very entertaining, not ground-breaking, but still enjoyable, and Shaft was... well... Shaft (curious as to what that means? read on to learn more!). Story - 6.8: I won't delve too much into what the story of Nisekoi is about because you could just look to thetop of this page and see the synopsis so yeah... Now although the premise is nothing new it is still very entertaining to watch. I love me a good high school harem, and Nisekoi's plot embodies the ideal high school rom-com plot. The execution of it all is really what keeps the simple plot of Nisekoi interesting. The multiple "mysteries" the show presents keep you engaged, and the character relationships do the same. Whether it's the keys, who Raku likes most, or the introduction of new characters, Nisekoi always has something in its plot to keep you entertained. The singular stories in each episode were also quite good as well and the show honestly could have done fine as an episodic show with no key plot device. However, I was a bit disappointed in the complete lack of resolution in the ending and I'm praying there is a season 2 to fix this. Also, the plot seemed to lose its focus quite often, particularly in the 2nd half. The characters all seemed to have forgotten that the entire point of the show was to find out who's key fit in the locket. These problems aside, for a harem, Nisekoi definitely had a good plot, but it's nothing that breaks any grounds.

Art - 7.9:
Before we move onto the more interesting part of the Art portion of the review, I want to say that all of the character designs by Naoshi Komi were absolutely fantastic. Now.... Shaft. Akiyuki Shinbo. The 2 driving forces in the animation department for this show.I have a love/hate relationship with these two, because at times I have loved their work (Madoka), and others it has just annoyed me (Mekakucity Actors, Monogatari). What was really surprising is how Shinbo was working on such a simple show like Nisekoi. However, I can say that (for the most part) they did a great job with this show. Awkward backward head leans aside, the animation in this show was very impressive. This was most evident when they were trying to show exaggerations to make a comedic effect or show how Raku is picturing a girl. Close ups of characters' mouths when they talked were also shockingly fluid. There were of course some unnecessary additions to the scenery by Shaft, but not so many that it became annoying like in the now airing Mekaku City Actors. I can't give the art department too high of a score because the show didn't really demand a high production value due to its lack of action or scenery, but it was definitely good none the less.

Sound - 7.4:
Like the art, the sound of Nisekoi was very good, but not brilliant by any means. This is due to very similar reasons. The show just didn't demand a booming soundtrack or intense, emotion-filled voice acting, and so the ceiling for its sound category was lowered. However, there really wasn't anything to hold against Nisekoi in terms of its sound. The voice acting was actually very good and especially enjoyable during comedic moments or cute moments with the girls. The OPs and EDs were all very good as well. The soundtrack in general was nothing special, but still enjoyable on its own. Overall I'd give the sound department a B for doing its job and then some.

Characters - 7.5:
Much like the story of Nisekoi, the characters are all obvious cliches. The beauty of it though, is that the show knows this and does a great job of making the characters a joy to watch. The most impressive part of the characters was just how loveable they all were. I honestly didn't care who Raku would choose to be with because I loved all 4 girls about the same amount. At times Onodera would take the lead, but then Kirisaki would take it right back. They all had their own charm and nailed their stereotypes perfectly. The side characters were also just flat out hilarious with notable stars being Shu, Claude, and Ruri. Whenever one of these three got the spotlight, they never failed to make the scene funnier. On the negative side, as expected, none of these characters really have any development. Also, Raku can be really annoying at times with how clueless he is and his horrible ability to read the situation. The characters all actually lack common sense most notably when it comes to their feelings for Raku. These negatives aside, the characters in Nisekoi were a very fun bunch to watch over the 20 episodes and I hope I get to see more of them in a second season!

Enjoyment - 8.0:
The one absolute truth with Nisekoi was that it sure as hell was enjoyable for me. It was funny as hell and kept interested just enough in its overarching plot to make me excited each saturday for a new episode. The simplicity of the show actually gave it an advantage, because it really didn't have anywhere to screw up. The characters were an absolute joy to watch and I have rarely found a show to make me flip flop over which girl is my favorite as much as this show did. The only real downside in terms of enjoyment was that the show lacked enough substance to bring it into that emotional level of enjoyment that you would find in a more epic or dramatic show. However, if you want an easy-going romcom that will make you laugh, this show is for you.

Overall - 7.52:
I must say that Shaft did a wonderful job with Nisekoi. No it wasn't filled with meaning or substance. No it wasn't unique plot wise. It was "just" another cliche harem. However, the execution of the show along with the pretty aesthetics and wonderful characters made Nisekoi a show well worth the watch. With romcoms like this, all you need for it to be enjoyable is a good set of characters, and a decent plot, and Niskoi absolutely had those in check.

The Verdict:
A simple romantic comedy anime set in high school filled with humor, and cute girls that was well worth the watch.

Pros:
+ Shaft stayed faithful (enough) to the source material
+ The main girls are all wonderful
+ Side characters are hilarious
+ Doesn't try to do too much

Cons:
- Lacks emotional substance
- Inconsistent plot with no resolution
- Characters lack logic at times

7.52/10 - Great