Series: Lovely Complex
Episodes: 1 to 12
Premise: Two high school sophomores, Risa Koizumi and Atsushi Ōtani, are friends. That’s not out of the ordinary, but their physical characteristics are: Koizumi is 5-foot-8, and Ōtani is 5-foot-1. Each are attracted to the opposite of their stature, as Koizumi has confessed to a short boy before and Ōtani has had a crush on a tall girl. They normally get along and have things in common but their previous confessions are a stumbling block that keeps them from realizing that they are perfect for each other. Koizumi manages to realize it first and so begins her struggle to get her best friend to notice that they belong together.
Is it worth watching? YES. The episodes are genuinely funny and you learn as the characters learn to accept each other as is. Neither Koizumi nor Ōtani can help their height in life, but they slowly realize that it’s not the outside that’s important; it’s the inside that counts. This is quite possibly one of the best romantic comedy anime out there.
Breakout character: Koizumi. She’s the romantic female lead of the anime, but she shines on her own almost immediately. You root for her despite her awkwardness and you want to see her succeed because she has a great heart. Also, her fashion sense is unparalleled in nearly any other anime out there. She should probably do well because of that alone.
Funniest episode: Episode 12, “Recapture Love! Improve as a Girl with Honmei Chocolate!!” It’s got a few moments of humor mixed in with drama, but the humor is subtle and makes several situations a little more bearable than one would think as you’re watching them. The outright funniest part of the episode is when Koizumi throws a box of chocolate at Ōtani, which is hilarious when you realize that she really wants him to take that chocolate.
Where it’s going: The rooting value of Koizumi and Ōtani increases a great deal. You’re going to see just how much it takes for a couple to get together and how the change in relationship between two longtime friends can make them better people. Also, their lives are coming to a critical junction and how that plays out is important, as well.
