Review of Horimiya

Wow this anime is just amazing. While I knew going into it that the manga it's based off is one of the most popular rom-com manga out there, I had no idea what I was about to experience. First off, let me say that it's a breath of fresh air to see a pair become a couple before the season is over and actually explore their relationship afterwards. While there are some anime that do that, most recently Tonikawa, it's still amazing to see. Now let's talk briefly about the various aspects of the show. While the plot may seem somewhat simple, it's in its simplicitythat it can really shine and delve deep into the characters to make them very realistic and likeable. Both Hori Kyouko and Miyamura Izumi are amazing protagonists that each have their own insecurities that get brought up during the course of the show. Not only are these characters amazing but most of the side characters get a lot of development to flesh them out, especially over the course of the latter half of the season.

Besides the great characters, the art and sound design are pretty good as well. While there aren't a ton of amazing pieces played through the show, it does its job well and seeks to highlight important scenes. The voice acting is incredible and the art design is excellent with a lot of intricate lighting and use of various colors.

My only real complaint is that I would have liked this show to be a full two cours. I only recently started reading the manga after finishing the anime but I can definitely tell that they skipped a lot of material. Some side characters get their time to shine but don't show up much later in the story, like Sawada, which is a real shame as I bet they show up in the manga much more often.

However, that single complaint aside, I don't have many issues with this story. A simple plot is used to flesh out these characters wonderfully, with an emphasis on the real insecurities that people face all the time (especially in high school). I cannot recommend this anime enough to people who enjoy rom-coms and even to those who don't.