Feb 27, 2025
After wading through some of the hottest garbage rom-com anime has to offer, ReLife was a much-needed breath of fresh air. If you’re tired of the usual clichés and forced misunderstandings, I highly recommend giving it a watch.
1. Art - 7/10 (Good)
The animation is clean and consistent, with no real noticable dips in quality. It’s nothing extraordinary, but it does more than enough for a rom-com, making for a smooth and enjoyable watch.
2. Sound - 5/10 (Average)
The free jazz soundtrack is alright. Some tracks fit decently, but others, especially the unmelodic piano segments, felt distracting or even neurotic sometimes. It’s serviceable overall, with
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few standout tracks. The opening and endings aren’t particularly memorable, and I honestly just skipped them every time.
3. Story/Plot - 7/10 (Good)
The premise is simple and familiar but well-executed. The whole "take a pill and de-age" concept is a bit flimsy, but works as a setup for the main focus which are characters. The pacing is solid, and while the OVA wraps things up quickly, it does so in a satisfying way.
4. Humor - 8/10 (Very Good)
The comedy works surprisingly well and I actually found myself laughing out loud at times, especially early on when Kaizaki struggles to adjust to high school. Unlike many rom-coms that rely on forced misunderstandings or dumb character antics, it keeps its humor relatable. Later on the comedy gets less focus in favor of the drama, which works well considering the genre.
5. Characters - 9/10 (Great)
Easily the show’s biggest strength. Kaizaki is one of the better rom-com protagonists out there, socially aware, introspective, and genuinely likable. The supporting cast is also well-developed, with distinct personalities and small arcs themselves.
6. Romance -8/10 (Very Good)
The romance is compelling because of the ethical and situational dilemmas involved. The main character's relationship carries a layer of uncertainty, which makes every step more significant. The OVA brings it all to a heartfelt and satisfying resolution. The secondary romance subplot also helps keep things engaging, preventing the main romance from feeling dragged out.
Final Verdict: 8/10
ReLife is a well-executed story with strong themes of personal growth, solid humor, and a satisfying conclusion. It doesn’t do anything groundbreaking, but its well-written cast and avoidance of frustrating rom-com tropes make it a refreshing watch.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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