I hadn't intended to follow a slice of life title with another when I decided to catch up to my anime viewing list. Only after posting about the two seasons of Gin no Saji earlier in the week and settling in to write my next anime wrap-up post did I realize the oversight. But since I'm still working on catching up on the series that I've already started, I couldn't bypass Bokura wa Minna no Kawaisou for another title.
I don't know why, but anime titles revolving around high school students living in the same dormitory, specifically those of the slice of life and comedy genres, have always turned out great for me. Admittedly, Bokura wa Minna Kawaisou wouldn't be the best among that particular group, but it's still pretty entertaining to watch.
Usa Kazunari decided to live alone, instead of transferring to another city with his parents. They opted that he live in the boarding house Kawai Complex, where he has to live with manager Sumiko and other boarders. Much to his delight, his second year senior and crush, bookworm Kawai Ritsu, is among those he has to live with. But much to his horror, the other boarders are a mix of some of the most eccentric characters he has ever met, including masochist Shirosaki, unlucky in love Nishikino Mayumi, and troublemaker Watanabe Sayaka.
It's established early on that Usa bit off more than he can chew when he decided to live alone and his parents chose Kawai Complex to become his home during his high school years. You can't help but feel for him when he finds himself in one trouble or another because of his roommates, or if he fumbles in interactions with Ritsu that causes the latter to be angry at him. You just know that if it weren't for the fact that his mother refuses to pay for a different place or for his fervent hope of getting closer to Ritsu, he would be out of the boarding house as soon as he could manage it.
With plenty of puns and physical comedy, Bokura wa Minna Kawaisou works well as a comedy series. Every character is capable of providing laughs, though Ritsu is more of a reactionary character and Sayaka can grate on your nerves, since there's really no underlying reason for her desire to cause everyone trouble. While not every scene is designed to make you laugh out loud, you can get a good chuckle going at every episode.
But the series ultimately focuses on the relationship between Usa and Ritsu, despite the slow progress of building their friendship. It is in their interactions with one another that they are forced to grow just a little bit more and, Ritsu especially, learn to properly communicate their feelings. There's a certain air of inevitability regarding the outcome of their possibly romantic relationship in the future.
I would have tagged Bokura wa Minna Kawaisou as a must-watch, but I mentioned earlier that it isn't really the best high school comedy anime set in a dorm or boarding house that I've watched. I can't help but compare it to the more satisfying Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo (don't go looking for a write up on this, I didn't get to blog about it). I would recommend it for those who are only looking for light anime fare that's short and wouldn't be too picky about originality or the level of comedy. Like I mentioned, it's entertaining in its own right, but neither do I expect that you would pass on the recommendation in the future.
Moderately enjoyable viewing for this one.Labels: Adaptation, Anime, Bokura wa Minna Kawaisou, Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life, TV
