It's actually disgusting that this series has such a poor rating. I think MLA ratings are typically pretty accurate and I almost didn't watch this amazing anime, because of the poor rating. It's a good thing that I read some of the positive reviews, which convinced me to give this series a try... Otherwise I would have missed out on this rare gem. If you're a fan of rom-coms animes, then this is genuinely one of the best series you could watch. I say this as a rom-com connoisseur that watches all the popular rom-coms. I genuinely never feel motivated to write reviews, but I
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had to since I felt too passionate about this series after binging both seasons. In fact, if you go to this anime series' subreddit /r/3DKanojo you'll see many posts of ppl RAVING that this is an amazing anime series and is many people's favorite rom-com as well. That's how insane this series is and I hope you consider giving it a try after reading my review!
Before I get into my review, I feel like it's important to address why some people dislike the series and it's mostly people not being able to relate with the main character. If you read any of the positive reviews on this anime, it's people that are screaming about how great this anime is, and how RELATEABLE the characters are, and how character driven the plot is. It's normal that if you can't relate to the characters, then you're going to naturally dislike the series. Another important thing is you really need to watch BOTH seasons of this series. The first season was decent like a 7.5/10, but the second season (adapts the entire manga with a great ending as well) is really what make this series a 10/10. This shouldn't have been broadcasted as two separate seasons and just one big 24 episode season instead for a way better viewing experience.
So what makes this anime great? It essentially has everything I want in a rom-com. To start things off, I find both the main characters relatable. I'm not going to bother writing a whole detailed summary about the characters, since there's other reviews does that way better and explain the character's background. Essentially, the main protagonist Hikari Tsutsui starts off as an anti-social, insecure, and bitter high school otaku. While the heroine Iroha Igarashi is popular and beautiful girl that is very damaged/jaded from people that only likes her for her looks. Through falling for each other, they grow as people, heal each and inspire each other, and help their friends grow as people as well. From some of the bad reviews that I've read, it seems like people dislike the main protagonist Tsutsui, since he seems like a pathetic main lead from the first few episodes. But I found him as an incredibly relatable main lead and didn't really find how he was initially that pathetic. I don't know about other people, but looking back at how I was in high school, I find my younger high school self similar to Tsutsui. I was similarly awkward, had self-esteem issued, never considered myself good enough for my first high school girlfriend, didn't really know what to do in my first relationship, and made lots of normal first love mistakes (poor communication, misunderstandings, jealousy, etc). I can see how people don't like Tsutsui make dumb mistakes, having low self-esteem, is pessimistic, and end disliking him. Especially, since he's not immediately some awe inspiring protagonist that you can look up to at the start of the series. But I liked him a lot as a character, since he's a dumb inexperienced young high school kid that was just like me. It's normal for him to make normal mistakes when you're young, bad at socializing, never been in a relationship before, and have self-esteem issues. All the mistakes that he made, I can find myself doing/did back at his age. The most important thing is he GROWS a lot as a character through the series. You get to watch him literally grow and improve as a person throughout series and feel proud of him for how much he's grown. I get how it's frustrating for someone who just wants to watch a badass main lead from the start and stuck watching a pathetic main lead instead. But trust, Tsutsui truly grows and develops a lot into a fantastic character as you watch through the series.
I wrote a lot about Hikari Tsutsui, since I just found him as a realistic relatable character that isn't some amazing protagonist with very few flaws. The other characters such as the main heroine Iroha Igarashi and the side characters are all amazing too. This series (combining both season 1 and season 2) gave individual episodes dedicated to the side characters to fully develop them as characters and make really care about them. You get to see them grow as people through love and from their interactions with each other. I think a great rom-com series is one where you don't just care about the main leads, but have amazing side characters that you can care about as well, and this anime definitely delivers.
As for the romance that takes place in the series, it's actually what makes this anime so great. Unlike many other animes, you actually see the characters in the series in a relationship, and grow together in a relationship. Compare that to some other rom-coms where you get a confession maybe at the very last episode/chapter. In this series, you get to see the characters confess to each other, start dating each other (the main leads essentially right away in the series), go on dates with each other, get into fights with each other, grow as people from the arguments, and overall just real relationship stuff. Out of all the rom-coms that I've watched and read, I'd argue that this series show what high school love is like pretty realistically in terms of issues that young couples can run into.
Overall, I consider the story an absolute 10. Amazing relatable main leads and side characters that you can see mature throughout the series. The plot is also very character driven as well rather than super crazy stuff happening. There's nothing I hate more than series where characters don't really develop that much throughout the series. The romance for all the characters is great and is a realistic portrayal of young high school relationships in terms of what they go through. It's even better that you get to see main leads date right away, get into a relationship, and see an actual relationship progress rather than some rom-com series where you never do. Like common... Being in a relationship and dealing with issues together are the hardest part and best part of being in a relationship. It sucks that a lot of rom-coms just end simply ends not too long after the confession or after a bit of dating. Thankfully, we occasionally get rare romance animes like this, where you can actually see the character's date, how their relationship grows together, and how they grow as people throughout a relationship.
As for the art, sound, and premise is pretty whatever. I agree that a lot of elements in the series is decent cliché and a fairly stereotypical premise. But I don't think you have to always reinvent the wheel to be an amazing anime. The art and music aren't particularly that great in the series either. I'd even argue the animation is pretty mediocre. But the pacing of the series especially in season 2 is great. In season 1, I'd say the series overall is an 8. But in season 2, the characters develop a lot more, each episode has a lot going on in them, and SHEESH the ending. No spoilers from me here, but just know that the series starting at season 2 stays great up until the very end! Definitely some of the best endings I've seen in any anime series. Anyways, despite all the clichés and the mediocre animation/music, this series story is just way too good and makes up for it. I really connected with the characters, the character development throughout the story was top notch, the romance was realistic and great, and it just checked all the marks for a great rom-com for me. I hope anyone that enjoys rom-coms ignore the criminally poor rating and give this rare gem a try. I definitely would have missed out if I chose not to watch this from the poor reviews/ratings. The series is a genuine 10/10!
Jul 11, 2021
3D Kanojo: Real Girl
(Anime)
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It's actually disgusting that this series has such a poor rating. I think MLA ratings are typically pretty accurate and I almost didn't watch this amazing anime, because of the poor rating. It's a good thing that I read some of the positive reviews, which convinced me to give this series a try... Otherwise I would have missed out on this rare gem. If you're a fan of rom-coms animes, then this is genuinely one of the best series you could watch. I say this as a rom-com connoisseur that watches all the popular rom-coms. I genuinely never feel motivated to write reviews, but I
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