Unapologetic insanity announced its return in autumn of last year and finally aired in the same season in 2023, resuming its unique brand of romantic comedy with the initial charm that made me fall in love with season one. The author, simply known as Hiroyuki, has long come a long way from the utter tripe he wrote from 2012 to 2017 in Aho-Girl; a series you could directly compare with modern Spongebob featuring low-brow humour driven by an overly obnoxious womanchild being babysat by a bitchy male tsundere.
Girlfriend, Girlfriend feels much more nuanced in comparison even with its absurdity cranked up to a eleven. It helps that it isn't just one massive dumpster fire, it's parodying the stupidity of harem anime in general. That's why characters roar hyper-dramatically, truly meaning and believing what they say, and it's that juxtaposition between the absurd situations characters find themselves in and earnestly tackle that make Girlfriend, Girlfriend absolutely hilarious.
Naoya is the perfect protagonist for a satire harem anime like this. With his "Kirito-face and hair," he just screams "generic" at first glance, and it's that very misrepresentation that lures you into a false sense of security. Naoya's token design misdirects you into believing he'll just be another oblivious harem protagonist, but no, he's completely honest about his feelings, even when he begins falling for Mirika's dedication he doesn't hide from them. That leads me neatly into my next positive talking point.
The girls all have valid reasons for falling in love with Naoya and Naoya, in return, has justified reasons for reciprocating their feelings. He's a dedicated, hard-worker that goes all in on everything, be it confessing his love to his childhood friend Saki or studying to improve his grades, he never fails giving 110%. Nagisa reached his heart not just because she's a beautiful housewife but because she dedicated countless hours into becoming the ideal housewife for the one she loved. Naoya even admitted such, given how honest he is, that he had to unsubscribe from Mirika's "MeTube" channel because he just couldn't fall in love with her and risk upsetting the two girlfriends he already had in Saki and Nagisa.
The addition of Saki's best friend, Shino, (as last heavily hinted in the finale of season one) into the ever-evolving chaos adds to the character dynamics. Paralleling Mirika, she wants to bury her feelings for Naoya by making him give up on Nagisa and focus only on Saki. If he's two-timing, why should she give up and not attempt to pursue him? This is the dilemma she has to battle with throughout season two, desperately struggling to hold onto her resolve as Naoya's honest words and kindness weaknesses it episode by episode. It's incredibly tantalizing and heart wrenching, providing a heart to the series.
Soundtrack and Sound Design:
The soundtrack of Girlfriend, Girlfriend complements the series' tone effectively. The music is playful and fits well with the comedic elements, enhancing the overall viewing experience. Particularly, during moments of high tension or emotional revelation, the soundtrack elevates the impact of these scenes.
Sound effects are used strategically to punctuate comedic beats, adding an extra layer to the humour. Whether it's a dramatic door slam or a comedic sound effect accompanying a character's exaggerated expression, the attention to sound design contributes to the overall comedic timing and atmosphere of the series.
Art and Animation Quality:
Girlfriend, Girlfriend distinguishes itself not only through its unique plot and characters but also through its visual presentation. The art style is vibrant and eye-catching, with character designs that manage to be both familiar and distinctive. The animation quality, while not groundbreaking, is consistent and well-executed, effectively conveying the energy and absurdity of the situations the characters find themselves in.
One noteworthy element is the use of exaggerated expressions and body language to enhance comedic moments. Whether it's the girls' deadpan reactions to the chaos around them or Naoya's over-the-top emotional responses, the animation contributes significantly to the humour. The creators leverage visual gags and comedic timing effectively, creating a visual experience that complements the series' comedic tone.
Trimming the cast
I appreciate that Girlfriend, Girlfriend doesn't fall into the pitfalls of other popular romcoms series like Ranma 1/2 of bloating out a cast of under-developed side characters. It doesn't have many side characters, in fact season two introduces only one (followed by a brief cameo from Saki's school friend to add tension) but the one it does bring into fold contributes to the wackiness exquisitely. Mirika's adorable little sister is the side character in question, playing the straight-woman to her sister's wild antics and railing her sister in. Overall, I'm delighted the series chose to narrow the cast down to the main four, giving each girl moments to shine and develop their relationship with Naoya.
Final score: 10/10, naturally.
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