So last week I took a look at the nonsensical Bastard. An over-the-top anime filled with Heavy Metal, Fantasy, and some of the goofiest fan-service you can find in an old-school anime. Today’s show, however, is Bastard’s opposite. There’s definitely an over-the-top nature to a degree, and there’s some goofiness to be sure. However, today’s show is filled with heart, emotion, and love. So get a box of chocolate, maybe a box of tissues, and take a look at 2015's Shojo hit, Ore Monogatari. Let the review begin!!
Story/Setup
Takeo Goda is a junior high school student with an unusual predicament. He’s tall and has the strength of Hercules, but girls don’t go for him. Because of his looks, they instead go for his handsome friend Makoto Sunakawa. Taking this as his lot in life, fate threw a wrench into the machine when on a off-hand chance to rescue a girl from a train molestor. This girl turns out to be Rinko Yamato, and this chance encounter lit a fire between the two. This turned into a relationship between Takeo & Rinko, filled with love, romance, happiness, and emotion. Along the way they encounter others who are similar to them, and do the best they can to help, all the while enjoy their time together.
On the surface, Ore Monogatari looks like your typical Shojo anime story. For the most part, this is true: there are plenty of elements you will find in a show like this. However, the surface is just a mask, and what’s underneath is simply stunning. At it’s core, Ore Monogatari is a show with heart, soul, emotion, and legitimate warmth. This is a show that will give you the feels, and you’d be feeling warm & fuzzy constantly. I’ll fully admit it, but there were plenty of times where I almost cried (Kinda like HaNaYaMaTa from last year), which goes to show how powerful the emotions are in this series. Definitely a strength!
Animation
Ore Monogatari’s animation, for the most part, is what anyone could call typical Shojo. Very colorful & cheery, large but not excessively huge eyes, etc. Everybody looks distinct from one another (Especially Takeo, but more on that in a bit), and nothing is ever truly ugly. Considering the lovey-dovey cutesy nature of the story, this brighter look is especially important. Shojo should never look ugly, and this series succeeds to the 10th degree!
Perhaps the one glaring/not glaring point of animation is Takeo himself. Takeo is quite different when compared to other male Shojo leads: He’s tall, built like a tank, and has rather large lips (This leads to a......awkward scene early on in the series). He’s the exact opposite when compared to the typical male Shojo character as far as physicality is concerned, but this bellies how strong he is emotionally (More on this below), and how much of a dependable guy he can be.
Voice Acting
At this moment in time, Ore Monogatari has subtitles only. As far as I know there aren’t any plans to bring this series over to the states, which is a shame if it never gets over here, cause I’d like to hear who hey would have picked for the cast.
Characters
Just as strong as the story are the characters. In some Shojo anime, the cast in question can some times be weak, shallow, or some combination of the two. Even if this isn’t the case, then the lack of background can be a real downer to the viewer. Thankfully, Ore Monogatari doesn’t suffer from this problem, and instead has a very likable cast of characters. I’m not kidding when I say that I liked pretty much everybody: all of the characters have a part to play, and unlike my last series, everybody gets some kind of decent screentime. It might just be a moment, or it might be a scene or two, but the entire cast provides something that contributes to the progression of the story.
Let’s start off with someone you could see from a mile away, Takeo. Like I said above, he’s the exact opposite of your normal male Shojo lead. He’s rugged, tall, and built like an Asian equivalent of the Incredible Hulk. Underneath all that, and you’ll find one of the kindest individuals you’ll ever meet. Takeo is incredibly selfless, always thinking of other people, and is highly devoted to other people. Constantly hanging out with his best friend Makoto Sunakawa (More on him in a sec), his one flaw is that he’s constantly down on himself because girls don’t find him attractive because of how he looks, and they flock to Makoto instead. However, Takeo isn’t bitter, and instead feels that it’s his lot in life to not be with someone. Speaking of Sunakawa...
Makoto Sunakawa is kind of a oddball character. On the one hand, he’s rather cold. Not in a heartless manner, but more of the fact that he has an indifferent kind of mood/attitude. Girls come on to him frequently, but he really doesn’t pay attention apart from a few moments, and simply brushes them off without being mean shortly afterwards. On the other hand, Makoto is a kind individual on par with Takeo. Granted, he doesn’t have the physical strength of his larger compatriot, but he’s quite knowledgeable about a lot of things, and often finds himself helping his close friend, along with a select few he gradually encounters. Truly an interesting character.
Then there’s Rinko Yamato, Takeo love interest throughout the rest of the series. Practically Shojo incarnate, Rinko is bubbly, cute, and loving. In a strange way, this actually works in this show, and while a little annoying, those moments are incredibly few & far between. Unlike every other girl that came Takeo’s way, Rinko looked past Takeo’s appearance, and appreciated his strength & kindness. An avid baker & maker of sweets, her love & innocence captured Takeo’s heart, and the two are practically inseparable (Much like Takeo & Sunakawa).
However, the rest of the cast is fun to watch as well! Makoto’s sister Ai makes appearances throughout the series, and has a secret crush for Takeo. Takeo’s parents (Yuriko & Yutaka) are simultaneously goofy yet charming. Osamu Kurihara is a friend of Takeo’s, and eventually find a relationship himself with Mariya Saijo, who first encountered Takeo when she needed help training for a sports meet. Yukika Amami has known both Takeo & Sunakawa since the early years, even though she never really talked to either of them. She left anonymous chocolates for Sunakawa for years, until she finally got the courage to speak to him about getting together. This relationship didn’t last long, but it was something she wanted for a long time. It’s this kind of a cast that can really stick in your mind, and never leave.
Availability & Pricing
Currently, Ore Monogatari can only be found on major streaming sites like Crunchyroll, or one of many 3rd-party streaming sites. Check out the link below for the whole series:
Ore Monogatari (Crunchyroll)
Overall Impression & Rating
Ore Monogatari is not only an essential Shojo anime, but it’s an essential anime period! It does have a small blemish or two, but they in no way truly ruin the experience that is this show! The story is nice & simple, the animation is cheery, and the characters are just a treat to watch. If you’re the kind of person that’s not particularly fond of this genre, then you’ll find that Ore Monogatari will surprise you in a lot of ways. Either way, this is definitely a 2015 hit, and I very much recommend it!
Ore Monogatari!! (My Love Story) gets a 9.5 out of 10.
Welp, here was my other November review. I hope you enjoyed it, and now I’ll take my leave for the rest of the month. Stay safe, and have a great Thanksgiving!
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Apologies for the delay. I went out this morning for job applications, and didn't have time to put this up in the morning.
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