Horimiya

On the surface, the thought of Kyouko Hori and Izumi Miyamura getting along would be the last thing in people's minds. After all, Hori has a perfect combination of beauty and brains, while Miyamura appears meek and distant to his fellow classmates. However, a fateful meeting between the two lays both of their hidden selves bare. Even though she is popular at school, Hori has little time to socialize with her friends due to housework. On the other hand, Miyamura lives under the noses of his peers, his body bearing secret tattoos and piercings that make him look like a gentle delinquent.

Having opposite personalities yet sharing odd similarities, the two quickly become friends and often spend time together in Hori's home. As they both emerge from their shells, they share with each other a side of themselves concealed from the outside world.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Miyamura, Izumi Main

Uchiyama, Kouki Japanese

Hori, Kyouko Main

Tomatsu, Haruka Japanese

Yoshikawa, Yuki Supporting

Kozakai, Yurie Japanese

Hori, Kyousuke Supporting

Ono, Daisuke Japanese

Sawada, Honoka Supporting

Asakura, Momo Japanese

Yanagi, Akane Supporting

Fukuyama, Jun Japanese

Iura, Shuu Supporting

Yamashita, Daiki Japanese

Ayasaki, Remi Supporting

Ichimichi, Mao Japanese

Ishikawa, Tooru Supporting

Yamashita, Seiichirou Japanese

Kouno, Sakura Supporting

Kondou, Reina Japanese

Cook, Justin Producer

Kananiwa, Kozue Producer

Maeda, Toshihiro Producer

Odagiri, Narumi Producer

Reviews

Feb 20, 2025

BernieWu0812

Recommended

78/100

Some good ideas here. Horimiya is a solid romance anime that captures the feeling of loneliness well, there are moments of warmth that made their connections feel genuine. It’s sweet, the animation style is nice, and all the characters are developed really well. But while it does a good job at what it sets out to do, it never really pushes itself beyond that. Nothing about Horimiya is particularly special or surprising, it’s just a well-made romance anime that plays things safe. Still, if you’re in the mood for something wholesome and easy to watch, it’s a solid pick.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Mar 13, 2025

starcarver

Mixed Feelings

Disclaimer: This following review is based on my personal experience and analysis of the series for the whole ride. I know this series holds deep meaning for many. I understand that it has a large and passionate fanbase, and if you one of them, know that I respect you genuinely. Everyone experiences stories differently, and my goal here is not to diminish its impact or to undermine anyone’s enjoyment, but to share an honest reflection on its strengths and weaknesses and how my perception of it.

Horimiya is an anime that presents itself as a refreshing take on high school romance, diverging from the usual tropes ... by introducing characters who have layers beyond their outward appearances. The initial premise is engaging, following the seemingly perfect Hori and the reserved, tattooed Miyamura as they discover each other’s hidden sides. However, while the series excels in its casual and natural portrayal of teenage relationships, it struggles with its execution, leaving an experience that, while enjoyable, feels incomplete and at times unsatisfying.

Animation wise, Horimiya is clean and aesthetically pleasing, with vibrant colors and expressive character designs that capture the warmth and lightheartedness of the series. The animation quality remains consistent, and CloverWorks does a good job of ensuring that interactions feel fluid and dynamic. The facial expressions are particularly well-done, adding weight to emotional scenes. However, while the art style is appealing, the direction doesn’t always maximize its potential, certain dramatic moments feel visually underwhelming, and the overall presentation lacks a unique touch that would make it stand out among other romance anime.

The story follows a slice-of-life structure, emphasizing moments rather than an overarching plot. While this works in some cases, Horimiya suffers from erratic pacing. The early episodes are engaging, filled with charming character interactions and lighthearted humor. However, as the story progresses, it becomes evident that the anime is rushing through content from the manga, skipping several key developments and condensing arcs that would have benefited from more breathing room. This results in certain emotional moments feeling unearned or lacking depth. While the romance itself is resolved relatively early, the remaining episodes feel somewhat scattered, shifting focus onto side characters without fully exploring their arcs in a meaningful way.

Characterization is both Horimiya's strongest and weakest aspect. Hori and Miyamura’s relationship is refreshing in how it breaks common romance anime patterns, there’s no endless will-they-won’t-they dynamic, and their development feels genuine. However, Hori’s character takes a turn that may be off-putting for some viewers, as certain interactions between her and Miyamura introduce problematic elements that are brushed aside rather than addressed. Miyamura, on the other hand, is given some backstory to explain his reserved nature, but the anime barely scratches the surface of his emotional struggles, making his growth feel somewhat hollow. The side characters, while entertaining, suffer from lack of depth. Many have interesting dynamics that could have been explored further, but due to the anime’s pacing choices, they feel like afterthoughts rather than essential components of the story.

Worldbuilding is minimal, as the focus remains on character interactions rather than an expansive setting. The school environment is typical, serving more as a backdrop than a fully realized world. The themes, however, are meaningful, self-acceptance, breaking out of societal labels, and the contrast between public and private personas. While these ideas are introduced well, their execution is inconsistent. Some character arcs resolve too quickly or are abandoned entirely, making the overall message feel underdeveloped.

The soundtrack complements the anime’s tone, with gentle background music that enhances emotional moments. The opening and ending themes are particularly strong, with catchy melodies that capture the essence of youth and romance. However, the background score itself, while fitting, is not particularly memorable. It does its job but doesn’t elevate the series beyond what’s expected from a romance anime.

As a romance series, Horimiya succeeds in portraying a relationship that feels natural and mature. However, as a complete narrative, it falls short. The rushed pacing leads to missed opportunities, and the resolution, while satisfying in some aspects, lacks emotional impact due to the absence of proper buildup for certain arcs. The final episodes attempt to tie everything together, but rather than providing a cohesive conclusion, they highlight how much was left unexplored.

The moral message of Horimiya is largely positive emphasizing authenticity, self-acceptance, and breaking societal expectations. However, the way some character interactions are handled, particularly with Hori’s characterization, creates conflicting messages that might leave some viewers feeling uneasy. While the core romance is wholesome, some elements within the relationship dynamic feel questionable and are not addressed critically within the story.

Overall, Horimiya is an enjoyable but flawed romance anime. It has strong character moments, appealing visuals, and an engaging central relationship, but its rushed execution and underdeveloped character arcs prevent it from reaching its full potential. It offers an entertaining watch, but for those seeking a more fleshed-out and emotionally resonant experience, the manga provides a much richer version of the story.

P.S. Sometimes, love isn't about perfection, it's about the little moments. But when those moments are rushed, the magic fades before it has time to settle.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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Aug 19, 2024

Shinobu25

Not Recommended

Funny

Hori and Miyamura was one of the most toxic relationships I've seen in a while

Hori is an angry girl with masochistic tendencies, but it didn't matter to me. The problem started when she forced Miyamura to beat her against his will, and how did the director show this? what a cool guy!! His schoolmate admires him!

But the problem is even deeper.

In another scene, Hori's father asks her not to treat Miyamura so badly and not to yell at him, and Hori's reaction? Yes, as usual, she said to shut up and continued to rant, which she does throughout the series

Contrary to what the series wanted ... to show, Miyamura did not change at all.
Miyamura remained the quiet and secretive young man who allowed the demands of others to prevail over him. That's why he was able to tolerate Hori so much. Why should it be shown that making many friends will change you?

In a healthy relationship, you give something to your partner and you get something. But Miyamura only gave from the beginning to the end of the series. The end of this show is very cliched and superficial. Hori and Miyamura's relationship did not last long

The rest of the characters do not have much to say. They get lost in the shell of the story and cannot make room in the heart of the audience as they should
Maybe iura can be considered as a good character.

People start a series with different goals, but if you are looking for a deep and lovely romance, Horimiya is not a good choice.

Reviewer’s Rating: 3

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Best of 2020-2024 Catch-up

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'Horimiya' Anime Series Gets Side Story in Summer 2023

The Aniplex stage at AnimeJapan 2023 announced on Saturday that Horimiya is receiving a new anime series titled Horimiya: Piece and will adapt stories that were not ...read more

Mar 24, 2023 11:01 PM by DatRandomDude | Discuss (22 comments)

North American Anime & Manga Releases for February

Here are the North American anime, manga, and light novel releases for February. Week 1: February 7 - 13 Anime Releases Horimiya Complete Season Blu-ray & DVD Co...read more

Feb 14, 2023 4:00 PM by Aiimee | Discuss (0 comments)

	Poll: Horimiya Episode 13 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page ) Stark700 - Apr 3, 2021	426 replies	by peluusaa »» 6 hours ago
	Poll: Horimiya Episode 11 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 ) Stark700 - Mar 20, 2021	169 replies	by ecb1005 »» Feb 21, 11:38 PM
	Poll: Horimiya Episode 1 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page ) Dominik_Fark - Jan 9, 2021	506 replies	by 0k_Cxz »» Jan 27, 6:23 PM
	Poll: Horimiya Episode 6 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ) Stark700 - Feb 13, 2021	248 replies	by yami_san »» Jan 17, 12:52 PM
	Poll: Horimiya Episode 7 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page ) Stark700 - Feb 20, 2021	365 replies	by rafaelsilvva »» Jan 17, 3:43 AM