(Second review ever! I'm getting it now)
Toilet-bound Hanako-kun is a fine anime. I don't dislike it, but don't love it either. The manga is really good but both of them suffer from the same thing, lack of depth in it's plot, so if you are here for a complex story this anime is not for you at all.
First let's talk about things that I really liked:
Synopsis (from wikipedia): Kamome Academy is famous for its rumors regarding its Seven Mysteries and supernatural occurrences. Nene Yashiro, a first-year high-school student who loves the occult and wishes for a boyfriend, summons the Seventh and most famous Mystery, "Hanako-san of the Toilet", a girl who allegedly haunts the bathroom and can grant wishes for the right price. Upon summoning her, Yashiro discovers that "Hanako-san" is nothing like the rumors say; Hanako is a boy. With a turn of events, she is spiritually bound to Hanako and becomes his assistant, helping him destroy evil supernaturals and change rumors in order to maintain the balance between the spirit world and the human world.
Now with that said time to beginn
Let's admit it, what sold it is the gorgeous colors and artstyle, and they don't disappoint! It's a very unique experience watching it but I'm not going to lie, the animation itself feels static, with some shots that barely move at all. It's an artistic liberty they took and I fully understand that, but I can't help but find it kinda lazy.
Aside from that, what I really like about this anime is it's aesthetic, and the art definetly contributes to that with amazing color palletes. All of its elements fit really well the whole mystical japanese legends theme and is overall really immersive.
I just wish the plot made a good use of all of these elements and made a genuinely great anime, because it HAD the potential.
The problem is that nothing emotional happens, aside from the main characters no side character is well developed (Mitsuba is an exception, and is not even that good). They introduce us interesting characters like Yako, Aoi and that spider dude just to forget about them. None of them are useful to the plot.
In the end the story is overused and super cliche despite the solid start.
This leads to another point I want to make, Amane doesn't seem threatening enough in this anime. I haven't feel hatred nor wanted to call him a bastard one single time. In the manga on other hand.... I hated him. And that's what makes a good villain.
I feel like the anime had this need to make him look like a psycho uwu babey and kinda forgot to make him an evil asshole. If he works as antagonist? Yeah he works, just not that well.
Aside from all that I don't have anything to critique. The comedy can be very funny at times and I love the characters.
It is a light-hearted and weird universe and I like it.
Conclusion, I would recommend this anime to you but I recognize it has it's flaws. Perhaps I'm being too kind because I'm emotionally attached to the manga but I'm trying to remain "professional".
If you are interested by the artstyle, sure, go watch it.
But if you are expecting a serious anime it isn't the right show for you.
Byee~
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