(Yume): Hello everyone out there and welcome to Project Nitsuj. I’m Yume.
(Yin-Yang): And I’m Yin-Yang. Nitsuj is taking a vacation this week so he asked us to handle this week’s review and we’ve got a good one for you this week.
(Yume): Indeed. In today’s world, the internet has been used for a number of somethings. Some good some bad.
(Yin-Yang): One of the ways it’s been used for good is by helping people form relationships with each other that wind up lasting a lifetime. Whether it be meeting someone who becomes a good friend or that special someone. It just goes to show that love can appear in the most unique places out there.
(Yume): Much like today’s anime “Netoge no Yome wa Onna no Ko Janai to Omotta”. When translated it means “And you thought there is never a girl online”. It’s comedy series based off the light novel under the same name written by Shibai Kineko with a manga adaption to go along with it. The series got started in 2013 and is still ongoing to this day.
(Yin-Yang): The main plot is about a boy who has an online relationship with this girl and tries to have an offline relationship with her as well. In 2016 the anime studio Project No.9 (Momo Kyun Sword) took the series and turned it into an anime for the viewing public. Is this anime a better outing than their last work? We’ll be the judges of that. Let’s begin.
Opening and Ending Theme
(Yume): The opening is “1st Love Story” by Luce Twinkle Wink☆. I rather enjoyed this opening. It’s catchy, upbeat, cute, and sounds like something out of a fantasy romance sim game. It’s a good song to listen to, to put you in a good mood.
(Yin-Yang): The ending is “Zero Ichi Kiseki” by Yoshino Nanjo. When I first heard this opening I didn’t really care for it but after listening to it a few more times it grew on me a little. Not really that bad of a song but it’s not a song I would see myself coming back and listening to it like the opening.
Episodes 1-4
(Yin-Yang): The anime starts off with a group of characters playing a free to play online game (Yume: It’s not free if they keep advertising offers that cause 5 to 200 dollars. Greedy bastards). The characters are a part of the four men guild known as Alley Cats. We have our main character Hideki aka Rusian voiced by Toshiyuki Toyonaga (Mihaya from Akagami no Shirayuki) a tank player and everyday otaku in real life and at school, the attacker Schwein voiced by Inori Minase (Hestia from DanMachi), the healer Ako voiced by Rina Hidaka (Nemesis from To Love-Ru Darkness), and their leader, mage, and premium player (you are part of the problem) Apricot voiced by M.A.O. We see that Hideki and Ako are in an online relationship much to Hideki’s resentment because in the past he tried this with another player only to find out that that person was a middle-aged man in real life (don’t you just hate that? (Yume): Yes. It’s down right. . .awful. (Yin-Yang):. . .How many times have you done this?). But after Ako wouldn’t leave him alone he decided to make her his waifu but only in the game. Apricot decides that they should get together offline since they all live so close to each other and when they get together we find out that Hideki is in a guild full of girls and not just any girls but girls from his actual school (wow! That is crazy. (Yume): And two of them play as males). We see that Schwein is Akane a girl in Hideki’s class who constantly insults him and calls him disgusting (wow she’s a bitch), Apricot is the student council president Kyo, and Ako is Ako a quiet girl who mostly keeps to herself at school (okay sweetie rule one in online games. Don’t use your real name).
Episode 2 picks up where episode 1 left off. They’re all still in the café chatting with each other and having a good time. Now this event can either be good or bad. Now that they know each other in real life their performance in the game will either increase or they’ll let their real world relationship with each other get in the way (Yume: In the end it all comes down to whether or not they can differentiate reality from the game and it’s not as easy as you would think). Luckily for them their real world relationships don’t seem to get in the way of their teamwork in the game. The only thing that has changed is that Hideki starts to see all his party members as girls in the game (you keep doing that, I’ll keep imagining them as hot and handsome guys. (Yume): As will I). They decide not to use each other’s online names in real life and limit their interactions with each other at school as to not put the spotlight on them. The next day at school they all do this except for Ako who goes to Hideki and Akane’s class almost blowing their cover and creating a situation between her and Hideki that many people can easily misunderstand (scenes here: //youtu.be/fSdItFc8og4 and //youtu.be/i5VdSg2fmVA). Hideki and Akane manage to move this conversation into the hallways as to avoid more suspicion where they discover that Ako can’t differentiate between reality and the game, she sees everything as the game and refuses to step into reality (this happens more often than you think. And with the introduction of virtual gaming this anime might be a caution tale). They go to Kyo hoping she can talk some sense into Ako but has no luck as Ako still believes that reality is the game and her proof is Hideki who is the same in the game as he is in real life (Yume: Not bad proof. However, some people can pretend to be nice on the web and in real life be a real asshole or vice-versa). Hideki decides to prove her wrong by showing her that in real-life he’s a pathetic jerk (good outlook on your life) and Kyo helps him out by creating the cyber net club for them to play the game that way Ako can get a front row seat into Hideki’s true nature (scene here: //youtu.be/uEkN91WvSr4). The episode ends with Hideki at home playing the game and running into first love the catgirl Nekohime who turned out to be a middle-aged man in real life.
At the start of episode 3 Hideki talks to Nekohime for a few seconds where everything seems to be cool between them. After that the episode is just the group doing what they normally do. Play online and dungeon crawling only at school where they actually help make Ako a better player (well at least it’s not a total waste). But Kyo says they don’t have much time to be goofing around because they don’t have a club advisor thus they’re not an official club recognized by the school and will be forced to shut down soon (Yume: I’m sure my friend Jefferson can persuade you differently). Seeking help in dealing with Ako, Hideki goes to Nekohime for advice on how to change her. Hideki tries to use Nekohime’s advice and talk to Ako again about the differences between the real world and online but Ako sees through it and goes yandere on us when she finds out he got advice from Nekohime (scenes here: //youtu.be/T1lei3rhNuY and //youtu.be/YT4fJBKPjAU, if it’s any consolation she’s a middle-aged man in real life). Ako plans an offline meeting with Nekohime in secret and seems to start seeing the difference between reality and the game (I don’t trust her. It was too easy). Hideki is obviously worried about her but feels that he has no right to stop her or get in her way (Yume: Just because you’re married in the game doesn’t mean you can’t care for each other in real life). After Kyo and Akane get Hideki to admit he has slight feelings for the real Ako he rushes off to the meeting between Ako and Nekohime who is really Saito, Hideki’s homeroom teacher and female who lied in order not to make things complicated (oh you bitch! Do you have any idea the amount of drama you put this boy through?). Ako tries to attack her out of vengeance for toying with Hideki’s heart and pulls a wand only to get clothesline by Saito (scene here: //youtu.be/Vqh_1X4ynl0. (Yume): It was much better in the manga. In the manga Ako pulls out a knife. A fake one of course but it fits her character. Hideki was also funnier in this scene as he freaked out and started calling his teacher a pedophile and everything). After this event Kyo forces Saito to be their club advisor otherwise she’ll tell everyone she plays online games and assaulted a student (Yume: And also flirted with a student online).
Nothing much to say about episode 4. We get a good laugh when Akane’s friend Nanako finds out she plays online games and now Akane is afraid her school life is over (scene here: //youtu.be/djeLY60Sv7U, what’s the big deal? So you play online games, that doesn’t make you a freak. (Yume): You forget Yin-Yang this is Japan. In their country games are considered for young children and adults. Dedicating your adult life to playing them makes you an otaku which is looked down upon in their country). After that the episode pretty much goes dead until the end where Hideki and Ako go on a date (in the game obviously) where they curiously go into an inn and Ako wonders if it’s possible for them to have sex in this world since they’re married (Yume: That is a very good question. Scene here: //youtu.be/VfDtHpvzR0k). Later, they run into a new player named Sette who is new to the game and isn’t quite familiar with the mechanics (Yume: That’s the one downfall with mmo games. They never give you a tutorial, they just throw you into the game and expect you to figure everything out on your own). Since Hideki and her share the same class he decides to give her a few tips and pointers where Ako steadily gets jealous (scene here: //youtu.be/42IpW4jxkfs. Why you do that, you know the girl is yandere? A cute girl but still a yandere). The next day Akane rejoins the game where we find out Nanako will keep her secret and Sette runs to Hideki wrapping her arms around his and clinging to him (Ako’s gonna choke a bitch).
Episodes 5-8
In episode 5 rather than get this anime’s version of Yandere Stimulator (Yume: A personal favorite of Seras mind you) we instead take a trip on the Feels Train (it’s the feeeeeeeeeels~ train). We find out that Sette is actually Nanako who decided to join the game after seeing how much fun Akane was having but she makes it very clear she has no feelings whatsoever for Hideki. Too bad Ako didn’t get the memo as she’s finally decided to give up on life and dedicate it entirely to the game where she plans to max out her character and reincarnate it because apparently in this game if you max out your character you can reincarnate them with all the stats from their previous life. She locks herself in her room, doesn’t talk to the others, and stops coming to school entirely until Hideki decides it’s time to end this. He goes to Ako’s house (if you hear screaming in the basement don’t worry that’s totally normal) and meets Ako’s mom who knows who he is and actually approves of him (Yume: Someone’s desperate for grandkids). She leaves for work and gives Hideki the keys to Ako’s room where he walks in on her in her underwear and then again naked (scene here: //youtu.be/6a3v0Q4WtjE, so far the funniest scene in the anime). Once inside the room (Yume: And everyone wearing clothes) Hideki decides to help her max out her character instead of trying to stop her. In fact, we find out he skipped school just to go see her (now that’s a no no). They play the whole day where Hideki drops the bomb saying he’s going to drop out of school and play with Ako which she says no. With this, Hideki finally has an opening to talk to her. He figures out that Ako just couldn’t handle the stress of the real world. She doesn’t stand out all that much in school, doesn’t seem to have friends, has no fun at school besides the club, and now she has to deal with the stress of some girl trying to steal his virtual husband (Yume: It’s enough to drive any girl off the brink of sanity). Hideki opens up to Ako admitting that he too once thought at a time as long as he had the game that be more than enough for him but thanks to his interactions with everyone he’s come to realize that life is surprisingly fun (hard and unfair but fun at times). The talk seems to work as she’s settled down and decides to go to school again only this time she tries opening up to her classmates a little (Yume: We’re making progress).
At the start of episode 6 the group helps Nanako get her class skill as a summoner and she summons a baby wolf (scene here: //youtu.be/Lt5a6BQ_-Pc. Your name is Mu-tan. For now, you are a pup but when I’m through with you, you will be a fierce wolf the likes as much none have seen). After that they enter study mode for exam (a very rare and treacherous event in real life) and shut the club down for the time being. Ako of course being a resident of the 2-D world is nowhere near ready for exams so Hideki takes it upon himself to tutor her and gets the others to help by logging into the game, trapping her in a room and tutoring (Yume: This is actually quite effective). Thanks to their tutoring (Yume: I believe the correct term is forced studying) Ako passes her exams and Hideki decides he wants to confess his love to Ako in real life (a wife in the game and a girlfriend in real life. Quite the combination right there). He confesses to her in the park and she turns him down not because she doesn’t want to be his girlfriend but because she considers herself already married to Hideki (scenes here: //youtu.be/AdJ0lrjzts8 and //youtu.be/NxUM9jJKSBk). Remember, Ako believes that the real world and the virtual world are both one in the same. Because she’s married to Hideki in the game she believes that she’s married to Hideki in real life and considers being a girlfriend a step down from wife.
(Yume): In episode 7 it’s the beach episode and the anime blinds sides you by not doing any clichés. The group goes on q summer camp trip where they don’t play online during the camp (what is this the 90s?). During the camp, we get no clichés at all. Hideki doesn’t grope any of the girls by accident and he doesn’t walk in on the girls bathing (Yin-Yang: Although Ako walked in on Hideki bathing but that’s her being normal). Later that night Hideki confesses to Ako once again believing that now that she’s spent a whole day living the life of a normie she’ll understand what Hideki wants. Instead she doesn’t and still considers herself married to Hideki in real life (my advice, just row with it. I’m sure it’ll become real in no time). After their camp is over the next day they go to a hotel where the real summer camp begins. The hotel that they’re staying at is doing a cross promotion event with the game meaning certain items they buy in the hotel can be used as power-ups in the game (Yin-Yang: So the hotel gets money hosting the event while also earning profits at their restaurant and gift shop. Sneaky sons of bitches). As the episode draws to a close Hideki hangs out in Ako’s room (in the game not in real life) where he logs out for a split second and returns (Yin-Yang: Holy shit his account got hacked).
Sure enough in episode 8 Hideki’s account has been hacked (Yin-Yang: This is why you don’t use public computers). Luckily, Ako catches on to the fake Rusian and stops chatting with him before he can get information out of her (that’s pretty impressive). Hideki informs the administrators about the problem and they reset his password allowing him to log back in where his character has been deleted (congratulations Ako, you’re a widow now) and his items stolen and sold (Yin-Yang: Okay, this is the night fuckers die). Hideki logs back in using a sub-character he created a long time ago and with the help of his friends he manages to find about 20% of his stolen items and they find out that the hacker likes to brag about his exploits on a forum however administrators can’t take action against him because he’s using a different IP address so unless they can verify who he really is they can’t take any action. Since the law (//youtu.be/q6cyDsuNx_U?t=1s) can’t do anything Hideki and the others decide to take matters into their own hands. They create a fake forum to trick the hacker into believing he can trade in game items for real world cash (which is highly illegal in the game) and he takes the bait where the administers catch the hacker and Hideki’s character is revived (Yin-Yang: I didn’t know this game had dragonballs) where he remarries Ako.
Episodes 9-12
Nothing much to say about episode 9. It’s still summer vacation and the girls have a sleepover at Kyo’s mansion to do their summer homework and deepen their friendship. There is really nothing to comment on except for Ako’s mindset on how she justifies her relationship with Hideki in the real world and the game. She uses the example of a married couple who decide to play the game and get married in it. Why do you think that is?
(Yin-Yang): Because if they married someone else it would be like cheating and since they’re already married in real life there’s no reason why they shouldn’t get. . .married in the oh my God!
(Yume): Exactly. In Ako’s mind since they’re married in the game it only makes sense for them to get married in real life because it would just feel like cheating if they married someone else.
(Yin-Yang): That’s crazy but it makes sense. I mean, Kirito and Asuna got married in the game and became a couple in real life where it’s obvious they’re making plans to marry each other and I’m sure a situation similar to this and SAO has happened in real life.
In episode 10 school has resumed and everyone is getting ready for the culture festival with the online net club not having an exhibit to show to anyone. But Kyo has an idea to show at the festival. Her plan is to raise the school flag on one of the castles in the game. The game is currently doing a siege event where pvp try to capture a castle and once the castle is captured their flag gets raised for everyone to see and proof that the castle is their property. A good idea except for one problem, they’re not remotely equipped for pvp battles and they’re a small guild of 4 people (7, if you count their teacher, friend, and her pet. (Yin-Yang): In other words, they’re in way over their heads). Despite all these weaknesses they try anyway and fail (Yin-Yang: In hilarious fashion. Scene here: //youtu.be/kgHmuWIGvj0?t=10s). At the end of the episode they’re still determined to conquer a castle only this time instead of going for the big ones they decide to attack a smaller one and have employed the help of a mercenary group called Wallenstein (in games money solves everything).
So in episode 11 the Alley Cats (and friends) along with Wallenstein form an alliance and raid the small castle easily claiming it (well that was easy. (Yin-Yang): Yes. But the way they did it was sickening. Alley Cats didn’t do a thing. It was all Wallenstein. How can anyone call this a victory to be proud of?). However, Wallenstein breaks off their alliance and takes out Alley Cats claiming the castle for themselves (they tricked them. (Yin-Yang): Like a fox with magic eyes. (Yume): Oh ha ha, very funny). Rather than get pissed off and yell at their defeat they leave quietly (Yin-Yang: As they should. They know how this game works. You were too trusting and it came back to bite you). But despite this setback the group is still determined to conquer a castle and have one more week to do it. They decide to attack Wallenstein and this time they ask for the help of Nekohime’s fan club and form an alliance with a powerful hardcore guild who Hideki is friends with not to have them fight beside them but just as an insurance policy to scare the other guilds away (why the hell didn’t you go to these guys first? Seriously, I have seen wild animals with more sense than these characters. Why trust a guild you just met and know nothing about instead of your close allies who you can trust and who you know will have your back?).
In the final episode the group attacks the castle but another guild beats them to it. Wallenstein gives up the castle without a fight because for them it’s all about the pleasures of taking down your opponents and proving you’re better than them (//youtu.be/Wu0lr3YObIg) thus Alley Cats and Nekohime’s fan club fight against the new guild and manage to win bringing the castle under their control with only 10 minutes left before the siege ends. Wallenstein shows up (Yin-Yang: It begins) where despite their best efforts to stop Wallenstein they still make it to the throne room taking out everyone along the way however the Alley Cats alliance did manage to take out three of them. In the end only Kyo, Hideki, and Ako are left to fight (this is like the worst combination in the history of combinations) where Hideki takes on their tank (tank vs tank. (Yin-Yang): How boring) leaving Kyo open to their attacker. But despite the attacker’s assault Kyo doesn’t die because she keeps spamming potions to keep her health (this is cheap but do what you got to do to win). The Wallenstein tanker tries to stun her but Ako takes the hit for her and time finally runs out with the castle still in the hands of the Alley Cats alliance. Wallenstein accept their defeat on a good note and leave. With this they present their victory at the school festival (there you see, our club isn’t a waste of time) and we get a few moments and screenshots of everyone having fun at the festival. We then end the series on a bad note with Ako and Hideki about to kiss but everyone walking in to ruin the moment (Yin-Yang: RAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH! *Yin-Yang flips the table and leaves the room to flip the table in the living room and in the kitchen where Nitsuj just placed his lunch down* (Nitsuj): My table! My lunch! *Yin-Yang than flips Nitsuj* (Nitsuj): My spine! *Yin-Yang returns upstairs still pissed about what she just saw and sits down next to Yume breathing heavily* (Yume): Ditto).
Final Thoughts
(Yume): So that was Netoge no Yome. It’s filled with an abundant amount of tropes you expect to see in a school-based anime mixed together with fantasy. But there are three main questions we must ask? First off, do Hideki and Ako make a good couple?
(Yin-Yang): Oh hell no! Hideki is your typical nice guy you see in these romantic comedies so there’s nothing new about him while Ako is this girly yandere that refuses to change for anyone. Which is the main fault with her character. Ako refuses to meet Hideki and the others down the middle. While there are times where she’ll face reality and interact with it, for the most part she rather bring everyone over to her side and not change her lifestyle which is wrong. If something bad happened to her in the past I would totally understand her refusal to interact with the real world but it’s clear that nothing bad happened to her in the past and she’s just being stubborn. It also seems like Hideki and the others aren’t too concerned about her problem. If they were serious they would have made her stop playing the game all together and got her real help like taking her therapy but instead they kind of feed her ego and let her keep playing the game. I feel bad for Hideki, he’s fallen in love with a crazy yandere girl who can’t separate reality from fiction. In all honesty they’re probably one of the worst anime couples I’ve seen.
(Yume): Yes. Very good points Yin-Yang. On the surface they look like a cute couple but they really don’t have much chemistry with each other at all. Hideki doesn’t even give a reason as to why he’s fallen for her, he just says he is and that’s not good for me. So the couple is bad but the anime is still salvageable by answering the next question. Is this anime funny?
(Yin-Yang): Oh hell yeah! The anime really does have its funny and clever moments that are enjoyable and fun to watch. Ako’s yandere moments are funny as it’s cute seeing this character go from being adorable to borderline psycho at the drop of a hat, the character interactions and reactions are a joy to watch, and the tropes they use are good as well. Each character seems to have a role they play on the show. Akane is kind of like that friend who keeps telling Ako to be herself and be Hideki’s support. Kyo is like the big sister of the group and Nanako is just the noob who’s new to this whole MMORPG thing and just enjoying the ride.
(Yume): The animation is nothing amazing but it looks very good. I like the different color palettes they use for the real world and online world to help differentiate the two apart, it really makes the characters come to life. The quality of the designs and characters never falter so you can tell the artists were passionate about what they were doing. The soundtrack is good, I liked the battle theme in the game and the rest of the music coveys that comedic atmosphere the anime is aiming for. The game that they play is pretty basic. It pretty much reminds me of Log Horizon but they get all the concepts and ideas of an MMORPG right which is good as it shows the author has experience dealing with this kind of thing. Now one more question. Is the anime enjoyable?
(Yin-Yang): Ehhhhhhh. . .somewhat.
(Yume): I enjoyed it. While not the best it could have been and even though the couple of Hideki and Ako aren’t all that good there’s denying that the anime had some funny and enjoyable moments that make you laugh and relate to. It’s plagued by a lot of the problems you see in this type of genre but it’s still a tolerable watch that you can still like despite its flaws.
Final Score
(Yin-Yang): I’m giving this anime a 4.5/10.
(Yume): I’m giving it a 6.5/10 which averages out the final score to be a 5.5/10.
(Yin-Yang): This anime has a certain charm to it that makes you like it despite knowing all of its flaws and mistakes. I guess it’s because the comedy is good and Ako is such an adorable character that you can’t help enjoy watching it. Will this anime get a second season?
(Yume): I doubt it, but if it does I’m open to it. Not every anime has to be a perfect 10, it just has to be enjoyable to watch. Until then, thanks for reading.
(Yin-Yang): And we’ll see you next time on Project Nitsuj.
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