If winter blues are taking over, and one needs some warmth in their life, they should go on Netflix and watch Romantic Killer. While there are numerous anime that came out this year, some ruined the story with rushed endings. However, this anime doesn’t disappoint. It is a perfect pick for anyone who enjoys Shoujo anime but with an amusing spin.
Romantic Killer, just like the title suggests, is a romantic comedy. It tells the tale of Anzu, who enjoys three things in her life the most: playing video games, consuming chocolates, and hugging her cat. Her life takes an intriguing turn when she starts playing a 3D otome game. After she accepts the terms and conditions of the game without reading, a bizarre wizard Riri comes out of the screen and wants Anzu to be their first test-subject to experience a dating game storyline. The only catch is: it’s in real life.
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To make sure she follows the rules, Riri seizes Anzu’s hobbies and sends her folks on a getaway with her cherished cat. Riri ensures to return everything only after Anzu finds a lover in the list of the guys Riri has lined up. Thus, to make Riri mad, Anzu becomes an anti-heroine, someone who can easily disavow romance. She anticipates that her persistent lack of interest in love will prompt Riri to eventually give up and let her live her life normally. However, destiny comes in with a twist when she meets Tsukasa, the first male lead, and her plans start derailing.
This anime series acts as literal sunshine for anyone needing to wash their sadness away. Here is why one should watch this pack of happiness:
Well-Written Female Character
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Well, for starters, one of the most prominent things that brings life to this anime series is none other than the main character, Anzu. Her character from the get-go is so different from the female characters that the audience often sees in anime. She is extremely determined, strong and takes literally no attitude from anyone. Her strong character is yet again reinforced through her powerful dialogues and the Romantic Killer’s animation, which joyously do a 180 shift into her alternative version whenever she wants to tell anyone to mind their business.
However, where she may seem forceful and obstinate, she never lets her single-mindedness prevent her from seeing and acknowledging the concerns of her loved ones. It makes the audience fall for her from the very first scene. While she isn’t the timid, shy character, she isn’t a brooding emo girl, the two extremes we often see. She is quite empathetic and kind and very much willing to do things for others rather than simply doing things as she pleases. All of these characters make it effortlessly easy to root for her and want her happiness, even if it means she’ll end up with no love interest.
Excellent Sense of Humor
Other than Anzu, another aspect that makes this anime shine brighter is none other than its sense of humor. No one watching this masterpiece can deny the fact that its comedy is top-notch. There’s laughter ready to be unleashed in almost every incoming scene of the anime. The animator seems to go to great lengths to effectively deliver all the visual gags and bizarre situations produced by the numerous romantic disasters. Even when one is not expecting anything to be humorous, the protagonist makes the audience laugh with her voice or looks, sometimes both. All of this is so well orchestrated that the audience will find themselves laughing and having a good time.
The comedic timing is so perfect that there might be situations that seem a bit heavy or going in a different direction, but the series will find a way, even in those times, to make the audience chuckle. This isn’t an easy thing to do and can sometimes come out as insensitive, but their timings are always so perfect that viewers will certainly enjoy watching it.
Reverse Harem
In most otome games, such as Doki Doki Literature Club or Riviera, one can see how it is often a harem where the male character is the protagonist and gets to pick his potential love interest out of the many girls around him. However, to make this series even more interesting, the writers did a reverse harem where Anzu, a female protagonist, has to find love out of the guys Riri has lined up for her.
The initial few episodes are so canon to this genre, especially how she is placed in these unrealistic situations, and all these random guys pop up whom she has never met earlier. Riri, of course, does so to woo her, something often seen in such a genre. While being a reverse harem, it is quite self-aware about being this trope which makes it even more fun to watch, especially Anzu’s first interactions with all the potential love interests.
Bromance
Unlike most reverse harem anime, Romantic Killer presents the audience with a wholesome bromance. Although each male lead has a rivalry towards each other for Anzu’s heart, they keep their respect for each other and even go as far as to protect or give advice. While Tsukasa cooks breakfast and lunch for Anzu and Juta, Juta is there to protect the two from any stalkers. There are multiple scenes where they have a heart-to-heart conversation about life and their love for Anzu. They don’t blame each other when one of them gets too close to the heroine. In fact, they think of it as a message to improve themselves for the better and promise that they will give their blessings if anyone of them gets a happily ever after with Anzu.
Unexpected Plot Twists
Other than that, despite how one can figure out the initial plot from a mile away, what shocks the audience is its several plot twists, which will keep them on their toes. This changes the audience’s perspective on the show as they might think it is a cliché rom-com, but Romantic Killer proves them wrong by being so much more. Not only this, but it also takes a risk by putting some of its members in traumatic and perilous situations. Something the audience might not be expecting from a rom-com, making it so endearing. The way these characters respond to such heartbreaking situations comes across as very relatable and raw. Although there is not enough of this kind of substance in the anime series, intense material like this will have the audience’s eyes glued to the screen with anticipation.
Great Opening and Ending Scores
Having great opening and ending tracks is a staple for every anime, and fans anticipate them as much as they do for the storyline. This is another part where the Romantic Killer doesn’t fail to impress the audience. Both the opening and ending songs are excellent choices. The show’s soothing atmosphere is encapsulated beautifully in its opening theme, “ROMAKiRA” by YURiKA. The audience will find themselves singing along to this beautiful track. At the same time, its bouncy Eurobeat-inspired ending track, “Romantic Love: Ren’ai Shimasenka?” is much catchier and more upbeat, which puts watchers in a cheerful mood. Both songs are such an adrenaline boost that one would never feel the urge to skip them.
Animation and Art Style
Lastly, the most crucial aspect of any anime, in which the end makes or breaks the series, is its animation. Every character has an interesting design, helping them stand out. It is done so cleverly that it never feels overdone but perfectly fits with each character. There is no doubt in admitting that Romantic Killer’s animation and art leave a significant impression on the viewer’s mind. Not to mention the animation of hysterical expressions and reactions is done so well that seeing those visuals would be enough for the audience to let out a big chuckle. However, it never feels like it overshadows the story, but the art constantly compliments the story and comedy. There are numerous parts that get much more impactful because of the art style, or the scene gets funnier because of their wacky animation. Especially in scenes, when Anzu’s alter ego comes out and thinks out loud, making it impossible for its viewers not to laugh.
