The cutest rom-com is back with a second season and just as sweet and wholesome as ever, even dubbed in sync with the original audio, too, for those uncomfortable with reading subtitles and taking everything in simultaneously. The most special attribute of Tonikawa: Over the Moon for You is that it doesn't try to be anything special. It just puts two likeable characters together and lets their chemistry take centre stage. Indeed, Nasa and Tsukasa's interactions are still an absolute treat to experience.
Typically, in rom-coms of this nature, they would still be in the process of falling in love and would probably be in the halfway stage of getting to that point by season 3. One of my absolute favourites, Teasing Master Takagi-san (another sweet romance you should absolutely watch in spite of everything), falls into the trap of "will they, won't they?" and stretches it out beyond a trio of seasons and a movie. In fact, we don't actually get to see Nishikata and Takagi be a couple until the end of the movie in spite of it being so obvious they had fallen in love midway through season 2 let alone 3.
And, of course, once they 'officially' become a couple, that's it; the end of the series, embodying every rom-com ever. The rom-com genre usually tends to treat the characters announcing their undying love as the end of their story rather than the beginning. No. Now that the characters are a couple I wanna see them ACTUALLY be a couple and see how their newfound love shapes their lives. Tonikawa gives this to us. Right off the bat, Nasa professes his love for Tsukasa in the very first episode of season one and Tsukasa, admiring his determination to seek out a complete stranger despite being on death's doorstep, reciprocates his feelings with the caveat that he has to marry her first.
He does so without question. ? It's that slice of intentional ridiculousness that really livens up the series.
From there, the series deliciously explores their relationship with all the sweetness of freshly fried pancakes drenched in honey-flavoured syrup, no drama no problema. Tonikawa never feels the need to "spice things up" with forced drama, to which I'm considerably grateful for. It allows Nasa's and Tsukasa's relationship to breathe with all the fluff of high school sweethearts, affording plenty of soul-healing moments.
If I were to level one criticism against the series, I would say some of the side characters can be a little underwhelming and a bit overbearing at the worst of times, though the new additions added to season two helped to amend this issue. Nasa's 'bro female friend' seeking a girlfriend herself, and his middle school sensei wanting a husband were really cute, and of course Tsukasa's 'jackass Grandma' was incredibly entertaining.
The artstyle and animation remains as strong as ever from season one with Studio Seven Arcs still producing Hata Kenjirou's masterpiece with the same love as the aforementioned season one and I couldn't be more appreciative of their hard work giving us the best Tonikawa we could hope for.
Overall score: 100/100, naturally. This is an absolute must-watch if you want something wholesome, sweet and straight to the point without the need for forced drama. Best combined 24 episodes (12 in each season) you'll ever binge.
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