In the beginning, I was under the impression that Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo was
a straight up comedy series, considering its mostly eccentric
cast and hilarious situations that Sorata is constantly exposed to. Misaki barges into his room without permission, whether through the door or his window, and even parades around in various sexy outfits. Jin usually only offers dry humor when asked for advice and is kept busy by going out with his numerous girlfriends or conquests. Ryunosuke isn't even sighted upon, despite being Sorata's classmate, for most of the series's first half, and can only communicate using the AI program Maid. The lone adult in the dorm, Chihiro, is more interested in finding a boyfriend rather than provide adult supervision. And then there's Mashiro, who can't even remember to put on her own underwear and lives in her own world, which apparently is defined by different colors.
Yet, it doesn't take long to reveal that every single one of Sorata's dorm mates have concerns that are grounded in reality. Misaki and Jin care for each other, but Jin chooses to pursue other girls because he feels his talent is not on par with Misaki's. Ryunosuke chooses to become a shut-in because his former friends couldn't keep up with his genius. Eventual resident and Sorata's classmate
Aoyama Nanami struggles to make her parents understand and accept her dreams to become a voice actor. And Mashiro strives to make a connection with others, especially Sorata, despite her lack of social or practical skills. Then, there's Sorata himself, who realizes that he is unsatisfied with his normalcy and wants to make a name for himself as a video game creator, despite his lack of artistic skills or technical know-how. These very human concerns or struggles are what makes
Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo a more compelling story to watch unfold than its other counterparts in the anime world. The various
drama that they experience make the lighter moments and the characters more endearing, even despite their enviable talents in the artistic or technical realms and their eccentric personalities.
There is one story element that
Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo executes with great ease, and that is in exploring the connections between the different dorm residents. It's not just those with love connections that demand your attention, but every time they form new or stronger friendships and even mentor-student relationships as well. The more enjoyable scenes in the series comes from the group's decision to present an interactive movie/video game presentation for the school's cultural festival, and in sharing their collective genius or efforts with the other students made them more relatable to others who would just normally dismiss them as freaks. And their final effort as a group (before the graduation of Jin and Misaki) to keep Sakura Dormitory open led to scenes that I surprisingly rewarded with empathy and tears.
I could have harped on and on about the unusual, yet strangely organic, development of Sorata and Mashiro's relationship, but I find that the entirety of
Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo deserves a more rounded perspective. Sure, it's a relationship that I rooted for and felt some level of frustration for in certain parts, but it's not the only relationship that defines this excellent slice of life title. But, if you find yourself watching the series based on this or others' recommendations, and focus on those two characters more than the others, I don't think it should diminish your viewing experience.
It's just that paying attention and investing in the entirety of the Sakura Dormitory population should help you appreciate this masterpiece by Mashiro in the end.
Happy viewing!!
