Tokidoki Bosotto Russia-go de Dereru Tonari no Alya-san

So, yeah... I decided to watch this anime because I was just browsing Crunchyroll, saw the poster and thought "Hmm... why not?". And honestly, I had a lot of fun watching the anime, and even though sometimes I feel like strangling the protagonist for his stupidity, the story is excellent, especially the "arc" of the battle for class presidency. But what impressed me the most, in fact, was the animation, which I found very beautiful and perfect for a comedy/romance anime. And yes, the title describes the entire anime, so make sure that when you tell someone what you're watching, call the anime Roshidere and not the embarrassing title they gave it. Watch it if you want, but you'll want an Alya for yourself and you'll be regretting that there's no such beauty, you can be sure.

Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings exceeded expectations! Well-developed characters, balanced humor and heartache, and stunning animation.

Alya shines as the quirky, vulnerable princess. Masachika's complex past ripped my heart apart. Yuki's brother complex adds humor, while Maria's kindness makes her a favorite.

Character development is evenly paced; no one feels like a side character. Writing superbly balances humor and emotional depth.

Masachika's childhood history is tough to swallow, connected to a major plot point. Cliffhanger ending left me eager for Season 2!

Highlights: lovable characters, witty dialogue, poignant storytelling. Lowlights: some plot points feel rushed.

A must-watch for school rom-com fans! Comparable to "Toradora!" and "My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU."

No, this show is not as good for me to call it a miracle. It's a very nice romantic comedy with drama and anything that you'd expect from a typical coming of age anime.

What really flashed me here was the Russian language. You see, I grew up with either Russian movies or American movies where Russian is totally butchered and made fun of. Also, I know that the Japanese like other languages like English or German, but due to their very specific use of the Japanese language, they rarely pronounce anything correctly.

Imagine my surprise and joy when I heard real Russian in this anime! Sure, it's with a heavy accent and the main characters have a better pronunciation than the side characters, but still. There were longer parts where I did not even need to read the subtitles and I understood everything. Kudos to the voice actors!

It was worth it to hire a Belorussian teacher of the Russian language as an advisor. Everyone has done a great job and I am looking forward to the second season.

Another interesting series from the summer of 2024.

A promising first episode with all the ingredients for success, a hilarious second episode and then the cold shower !

Episode 5 starts to show signs of running out of breath, already visible in episode 4.

The characters' development starts to slow down, and the personalities and feelings of the protagonists lack exploration.

The synopsis suggests something different : People expect more rejection from people perceived as superior. We need to go deeper instead of just scratching the surface.

The initial idea of a misunderstanding with language goes nowhere.

The ''twists and turns'' are abysmally flat.

There's potential in the male character, particularly with his memories... However, there are a few banalities and stereotypes: The guy is a larva, as is often the case. The girl is a potential tsundere... I hope this will change.

The animation is fluid and some of the shots are pleasing.

The second part will tip the series over to the right or wrong side of the road.

(16+) A very funny series with a cast of likeable characters, some of them quite quirky. The animation is gorgeous, and the story is fast paced with a few little surprises thrown in for spice. One of the supporting characters is actually my favorite (Yuki) because some of her actions are quite unexpected. Some of her actions are a little risqué, but it's her overall quirkiness that is really endearing. This series pokes fun at itself and anime/manga in general, and it really works!

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