Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai!

While had seen this series advertised in the fall season line up, didn’t plan on checking it out, let alone pick it up, but from the first episode on “Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai!” proved to be an excellent show that I’ll gladly keep on watching.

Adapted from the “中二病でも恋がしたい” light novels by Torako, this school setting comedy seems to be all about silly shenanigans caused by the otherworldly fantasies of Rikka who drags along her new-found friends Yuuta, Shinka, Kumin and like minded Sanae.

However, the comedy in “Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai!” isn’t of the slapstick or crazy genre that some other shows venture into. It feels closer to the heart-warming, slice-of-life genre where quirky youths befriend new people thanks to whom they can be themselves yet also grow into this world.

Next to the regular episodes which have been excellent so far, there are also the original net animation shorts titled “Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai! Lite” which offer terrific side stories about the various characters and even have their own unique opening & ending sequences.

With renowned studio Kyoto Animation at the helm, it’s no surprise the animation is top notch, including well cared for opening and ending animation where especially the opening may strike the viewer. Even the “Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai! Lite” shorts that air online have excellent animation.

The overall character visual design style leans close to that of “K-ON!”, another of KyoAni’s works. In fact, I would be so bold as to state that so far, its overall atmosphere is akin to that of “K-ON!”.

Uchida Maaya voices eye patch wearing Rikka, she previously voiced Rea in “Sankarea”, Izumi in “Mouretsu Pirates” and Mari in “Yuru Yuri”. Shinka is voiced by Akasaki Chinatsu, she’s tackled roles like Maki in “Mouretsu Pirates” and Yasuna in “Kill me Baby”.

Twin-tailed Sanae is voiced by Uesaka Sumire who voiced Sora in “Papa no Iu Koto o Kikinasai!”. Asakura Azumi voices air-headed Kumin, she previously voiced Yukiho in “the IDOLM@STER”, Machiko in “Rinne no Lagrange” and Asia in “High School DxD”.

Male lead Yuuta is voiced by Fukuyama Jun, whose long list of performances includes Lelouch in “Code Geass”, Souta in “Working!!”, Watanuki in “xxxHOLiC”, Lawrence in “Spice & Wolf” and Touri in “Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon”. Fukuhara Kaori voices Yuuta’s sister Kuzuha, she previously voiced Run in “A Channel”, Tsukasa in “Lucky Star” and Hime in “Acchi Kocchi”.

Will definitely keep on watching this series which shows terrific promise and for now replaces the slot had reserved for “Haitai Nanafa”.