Author: Faris
Editor: KnightAvenger
Studio: Lesprit
Watch at: HIDIVE
Early in the year, we get a comedy anime based on a manga, which started back in 2015 and is still on-going. How it is still on-going, despite its apparent lack of popularity and how it even got an anime, is beyond me. The anime itself is also very unpopular, following suit of the manga, so it’s definitely an underdog this season. It is about the Science Club President Miss Ueno trying to flirt with and seduce one of the club members through various science-based gadgets and ideas, unsuccessfully.
In the first episode, which is split into two parts, we get introduced to the three main characters and encounter two of Miss Ueno’s innovations. The two parts are about half an episode each, with the episode being about 12 minutes long. The two parts, referred to in the episode as “experiments,” don’t seem to progress any overall story but seem to be a loose string of events that each seem to be its own thing, rather than forming a proper story. Due to the structuring, one could assume that it’s based on a 4-koma manga, but no, apparently, it is a normal comedy manga, with a loose but existing story. It remains to be seen how the anime itself will cover that aspect in future episodes since what we got in the first one does not seem to indicate any story progression at all, not even a loose one. Still, I don’t think that is bad.
In regards to the episode itself, I found it to be pretty funny and refreshing in its approach. The characters are mostly stereotypical, but they work their tropes well and the way that the title character is both awfully forward and open but, at the same time, constantly has a blush that goes from mild blushing to a full-on tomato face is what charmed me.
I read some criticisms of the show, mainly that it was trying too hard and that, for the first episode, there was no real introduction of the characters. While I disagree with both, I can, at least, see the second one being somewhat legitimate since it’s true that there was no formal introduction of the characters. On the other hand, I believe that through the visceral gags themselves, we got to know the three characters and what their “thing” is, much better than we could have through some formal introduction. So, while I can see why someone would complain about the anime just straight up “jumping into” the main meat of the show – the gags, I don’t think it is really that big of a deal. As for the episode trying too hard, I would say that this may apply to some people but it’s hard to use it as some proper criticism due to the humor being so subjective.
All in all, I really enjoyed the episode and believe it’s a really good start for this underdog anime. I hope that it keeps up. I also hope it can grow in popularity, provided it stays good, as it would be a shame for it to end up underrated.
