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Just copying my review from Tumblr:

This donghua (Chinese anime) is based on a novel with the same title, and the adaptation is just stellar. In the novel, the story was told through different characters having arcs of their own. (Like, chapters 1-4 would have one main character, then chapters 5-8 would have another, etc.) Each arc could be treated as a stand-alone story, and they all seemed unrelated, only making sense in the end.

But in the donghua, instead of showing each character’s story separately, they combined everything. It ended up being a plotty political-scheme mystery show in contrast to the more lighthearted and episodic novel, ... but the heart of the original was still there. This makes the donghua more seamless while still being very hilarious.

And for an adaptation with several original characters, for once I actually don’t mind it. I usually find such additions annoying, but in this show they really serve a purpose and also add to the enjoyment.

Another thing I like about it is how the donghua develops the characters even more. Lou Zhu’s worries and motivations are highlighted, and Lin Kai is also given more screen time.

I also like the choice of animating it in 3D, like the one in video games. It fits the genre well and also adds more to the comedy. The donghua also plays around a lot. In one episode, they had one character sing and dance like in a musical, with the beginning of the song sounding like “Do you wanna build a snowman?” from Frozen 😂

Moreover, this is a Boys Love story, and with more than one couple, too! The secondary couple (Zhou Rongqi and Li Ke) even get a very gay ending song that’s all about them. (But since this is from China, expect it to be not explicit on the BL)

All in all, it’s a very fun show that doesn’t lack in depth. If you’re in the mood for something light but don’t want to miss out on plot, you should definitely watch this. And if you’ve never watched Chinese anime before, then you’ll definitely find this fresh and intriguing.

1. There was a reviewer here who commented about how this was a lackluster sci-fi, but that's not exactly right... For one, this show can't even be considered sci-fi. It's more like magic realism. There are characters with superpowers, but the superpowers are not the highlight of the story. The highlight of this story is simply the ordinary people, the clients Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang receives, and how their past shapes the person they are today.

2. Season 1 doesn't really dive in too much in the overarching plot (that will be in season 2, as recently announced). Season 1 simply shows us what our ... two main characters do on a day-to-day basis, and how they meet people (their clients) who teach them what it is to live, what it is to love, what it is to be a parent, and many more.

3. This season also focuses on Cheng Xiaoshi alone. Lu Guang is also a main character, but his story would only be explored in season 2. And I think that's alright. Season 1 is more about the emotional aspect of the story, so having Cheng Xiaoshi, the emotional guy between the two of them, lead the plot in Season 1 is just right. It perfectly shows us what stakes are hold everytime Cheng Xiaoshi enters the past, and what consequences could be entailed if he ever changes something.

4. This show is more like a slice of life. However, it's not at all plain. Every mission our two MCs take may seem like ordinary tasks, but how this donghua presents them shows them that they really aren't "ordinary." These missions they go through involve the life-changing moments of their clients, and it shows how each individual life, no matter how small the person, is just as important as any other. And I think that's a beautiful lesson.

5. This show is not boring either. Almost every episode ends with a cliffhanger that you can't help but just watch the next one.

6. Lastly, this show has a really cinematic feel to it. I feel like it's best watched on a widescreen tv with all the lights off and with large speakers so that sound surrounds you. The animation quality, the music, and everything else make it seem like a movie

I haven't been this hooked on a manga ever since Pandora Hearts, which is by the same author. As much as possible, for this review, I'll try not to compare it with Pandora Hearts. Just know that if you loved PH (the manga, not the shitty anime adaptation), you'll absolutely love VnC too.

STORY:

Vanitas no Carte pulls you in right from the first chapter. A lot of mysteries and action are presented that you have to keep reading the next and the next and the next chapters in order to find the answers or at least, try to figure it out on your own. And knowing ... Mochizuki, I'm sure she'll blow our minds away with how intricate she's able to weave everything together.

Every chapter moves the plot forward. The pacing is neither too fast nor too slow. Each chapter, we learn something new and also find ourselves asking new questions.

Mochizuki's take on vampires for this story is also really unique. But to avoid spoiling the story, all I can say is that don't expect too much bloodsucking.


CHARACTERS:

The characters are really interesting. I absolutely love them, even Vanitas. I don't know if he's good or evil, what motivates him or what he's after, but I want to see it through. His personality is kinda similar to Dazai Osamu from Bungou Stray Dogs; he can be funny, serious, sinister, lighthearted, but most of all, mysterious.

Noe, the other main character, is like Vanitas's opposite. He's too kind, trusts people easily, and is very honest. I don't usually like people like him in dark plots because they tend to be weak, pretentious and stupid, wanting to save everyone even if it's impossible for them to do it and so they'll have to rely on others to do it for them.

But Noe is different. He doesn't say or do things out of false courage or baseless hope. He's a good fighter, has connections to the aristocrats, and is ACTUALLY AN ADULT. Like thank god, Mochizuki-sensei isn't burdening some 14 or 15-year old kids with the future of the world like she did with Pandora Hearts (referring to Oz mainly).

This is why I don't hate Noe. Because even if he isn't the smartest of persons, when he says he's gonna do something, I find myself believing that he can. And if I were to believe in a "hero," I'd rather believe on his abilities and capabilities to act than on abstract things like his feelings, hopes, or dreams. yuck.

On the other hand, Vanitas is actually the one who wants to save everyone (at least, all the vampires). Though his motives behind it are still unclear, having a morally ambigous character like him take on the "savior" role is both refreshing and amusing. I'm excited to see where it goes.

But what really draws me in to this manga is the interaction between Vanitas and Noe. (And it's not because I ship them). They argue a lot but they make a good team. Vanitas is the brains and Noe's the spear, but they can both think and fight separated too. They also inspire each other without even realizing it. And after chapter 1's horrifying and intriguing reveal on how their relationship is fated to be, I am constantly at the edge of my seat praying that it won't be a repeat of Leo's and Elliot's from Pandora Hearts.

ART:

The art is breathtakingly beautiful. And the colored pages? Magical. The sceneries and architecture of the buildings are so detailed too.

Character design is A++. It's not everyday I see a dark-skinned animanga character with the main role. Vanitas looks similar to Leo from Pandora hearts though, but I don't really mind that.


FOR PANDORA HEARTS FANS:

There was one chapter that had a pandora hearts reference, and considering there are only 32 chapters right now, there are probably more to come <3

I honestly don't understand all the hate on Shizuku. Viewers think she's annoying coz she keeps changing her mind about the guy when they should just be kissing already, but this is actually what I really like about her. She doesn't rush into a relationship and actually think things through.

Out of all the shoujo characters out there, she's the most realistic and practical. She's a strong independent woman who actually cares about her future, while other shoujo heroines have their heads up in the clouds all the time thinking about love. Like, these girls are still in high school!!! My gods, focus on your ... studies or you might end up making babies too early, not getting a job, and dying poor.

Shizuku is a strong woman, and this is why Haru falls in love with her.

Haru, on the other hand, is a really surprising and eccentric character. At first, I thought the story was gonna be about a typical delinquent falls in love with a nerd trope, but there's actually so much more to it. Haru is the complete opposite of Shizuku in terms of personality (though, later on in the manga, it is revealed that he already has everything Shizuku wants), but this doesn't stop the two of them from being attracted to each other.

Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun has very vivid characters. Top it off with some good ol' comedy, what's not there to love?

I couldn't find any English subtitles for the anime, so I decided to read the manga first so I can still understand what the characters are saying while watching. Anyways, this anime is not animated like other animes out there. It's like in a motion comic format and the orientation of the videos are in portrait because it's meant to be watched on the phone. I enjoyed the manga for its character designs, so I was really hoping to see it fully animated.

But oh well, the experience while watching this is similar to my experiences in listening to drama cds with english subs on ... Youtube. And I don't mind that at all. The only difference in this from drama cds is that the art I'm looking at is slightly moving.

The story is simple, but its perfect for its short length. There may be 30 episodes, but each one is only about 1-2 minutes long.

I have never finished any yaoi anime before because once things started getting rapey, I would immediately drop it. Dakaretai Otoko 1-i ni Odosarete Imasu, therefore, is the first yaoi anime that passed my preliminary evaluations.

STORY:
The first episode has that typically rapey vibe in yaoi, but thankfully, the anime didn't make it as explicit as in the source manga, which I checked out after finishing the series. In fact, for a yaoi anime, it doesn't focus on the sex that much. There's a lot of implied sex for sure, but the fact that it's only implied and not fully animated gives more emphasis to ... the beautiful romance story underneath, which I really appreciate. Yaoi tend to have shallow plots, rushed storylines, and paper-thin characters, but not this one.

Although Dakaretai Otoko 1-i ni Odosarete Imasu has a rather problematic fujoshi bait for the first episode, the rest of the story is really nice. So if you can get past episode 1, you definitely won't regret it. It's also really hilarious! Seeing Saijou put up with the insufferable Azumaya had me laughing a lot.

Furthermore, there's care in how the two main characters are fleshed out. I especially like learning about Azumaya's backstory and the reason behind his attachment to Saijou.

MUSIC: Definitely an A+++ on the background music.

VOICE ACTING: Takato's voice actor is really good. How he could easily switch from Takato's cool and calm side to his cute and shy side made me wonder if he was one famous mainstream seiyuu.

ANIMATION: If you plan to watch this for only the sex, then you'll be disappointed because the sex is never animated. There are, however, plenty of erotic kisses and foreplay. If you want to see the characters fuck, then go read the manga afterwards.