Review of Saekano the Movie: Finale

*This review includes the rest of the series, namely S1 and S2* When you ask me, "What is the definitive modern harem-show which is actually good?", I will point you to this show. This is it, a harem series with actual satisfactory ending. All the build-up from previous seasons has reached this point, this is the conclusion. I must confess, the story is not complex but has a certain charm to it. That's something you can expect from Maruto's series, though I rather avoid the other well-known one. The story actually has characters with actual gripe and believable problems. Now-now enough about the story, the main charmof this series is it's characters. I would say this is the only if not few harem series which has a cast of likable character. I genuinely never disliked any of the heroines. Utaha Kasumigaoka is the typical senpai femme fatale that you commonly see in harem anime. Sawamura Eriri is the classic tsundere blonde-haired childhood friend that you also find quite often in this meta. These two characters are build on common tropes but Maruto's writing elevate them from just common tropes into actual likeable characters. In any other harem romance they would be easily best girl, not in this show though. For me and maybe many others, the shining star of this anime is Megumi Katou. The titular protagonist, the so called boring heroine, she is the exact definition of anti-meta. She might be the most ordinary unexceptional, blandest, and normal heroine ever. But everytime she's there, she steals the show. She's the epitome of character progression, eventually becoming what in my opinion is best girl. I mean it's literally called How to Raise a BORING GIRLFRIEND. You just gotta watch her through the course of the show, it's quite the experience. The voice actor for her also really elevates her character even further, don't get me wrong the other heroines are also great. It's just that Megumi's voice is something that I think has a sprinkle of uniqueness that no other character has. The other heroines' voice acting are also immensely talented. Now about the main character, Aki Tomoyo is quite annoying. But fret not, I'd say that his scumminess and delusions of the MC is actually what elevates Katou even further. They are made for each other. He is the sharp to Megumi's flat which makes them natural, nuff said. Isn't that quite poetic Oh and also being voiced by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka is a plus, but like what harem protagonist isn't voiced by him? I ALSO HAS TO MENTION THE INSERT SONGS. They are BRILLIANT, ABOSULETELY BRILLIANT. Especially Ultimate Flat and Eternal Flat, give them another hear after the movie they're great. The art and animation is also consistent and has a unique charm about them. CloverWorks took over production from A-1 but they're essentialy the same studio so that doesn't really mater. Anyway, the art is breathtaking especially the ending scene (not the after-credit), even though I still prefer Kurehito's artwork. Props to CloverWorks, they just adapted a ton of volumes into a movie and still made it work.
In the end, I really enjoyed this one even though I'm a self-proclaimed anti harem guy. That's saying something