....could set the standard for the romantically comedic anime genre.
I just finished binge watching the whole 1st series because of they way Romantic Killer kept me wanting more. This is largely due to the comedic talent of the screenwriters' dialogue, which I always find to be a bright spot in anime as long as it doesn't feel overused. Here, some lines do tend to find themselves recycled in and out of each episode, however that's only due to how consistent Anzu, the female MC, and Riri, her personal romantic wizard/demon, get into over-the-top confrontations, which in itself makes for a feel-good type of humor, especially as you progress through the storyline.
As we're introduced to new characters along the way, we get to know more about their backgrounds, which I enjoy as a good anime shouldn't always be centered around the MC, making everyone else feel 2-D to whoever's watching. It does surprise me though how deep some serious topics got into playing a role intertwining amongst each character's backstory. This is a bold move by the writers, and I did feel that it did improve the anime's standards beyond that of a cliché romantic-harem-comedy where fan-service is a painful reminder of how borderline an anime can get to an uncomfortable, hentai-like atmosphere.
I will say though, one thing about the cast did surprise me:
The voice actor for the bodyguard, Tsuchiya, for the rich & 3rd possible romantic partner, Hijiri Kokanei, is Kenjirô Tsuda, the same guy who voiced Tatsu, the MC for another Netflix original anime, "The Way Of The Househusband".
It's cool to see Netflix's Anime department feature his character as a little Easter Egg in homage to his original as Tsuchiya seems to embody the skills of Tatsu as well as his calm-&-collected nature when it comes down to serious matters. However, if Netflix even TRIES to make this kind of tweak to further promote the Househusband series further, I will be shaking my head in disbelief as they STILL tend to neglect their original anime, having to produce fewer new anime rather than build up on the handful of well-rounded anime that deserve a second chance/season. It BETTER BE THE ROMANTIC KILLER that DESERVES a 2nd season over that comic-strip-like awkwardness of an anime that should have never even had the characters not move around!!!
Ahem*
Anyway, going back to the Romantic Killer, it has succeeded in producing a variety of animation styles, depending on the scenes, whether comedic or serious. Each act/scene really sets the tone and doesn't tend to eradicate the flow of the anime in general, thanks to the visuals, subtle music, and a well-rounded supporting cast. Besides, by providing each of the characters with different personalities AND background stories, it really transforms the Romantic Killer (AKA Anzu) into a more insightful and more open MC as the story progresses.
One of my few issues about this anime is the pacing of the storylines and of how rushed different {serious} subjects/topics tend to present themselves and leave, especially later on in the anime; hopefully, when Netflix approves of season 2, I won't have to get caught off guard off of the sudden developments that are packed within 2-3 episodes.
Overall, for those who are looking for a good story about love going against the clichés of other romantically-comedic, fan-service-riddled anime, this is one I MUST recommend to you. Because, at the end of the day, many streaming platforms, like Netflix, tend to be hit-or-miss with each individual catalog of their own original series. However, when it comes to anime, I can say for sure that this one shouldn't be missed out on! Give it a try; you'll never know what you might find!
