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Mio is right for calling out Shun's creepy eyes (because Shun is an adult and Mio is a child), but uh... Shun should not be so happy when Mio says he's glad to be hit on (because Shun is an adult and Mio is a child). Sure, the time skip happens and Mio ages up to young adulthood, but he still very much acts like a child throughout their entire budding relationship... which he practically is in comparison to their very different maturity levels and we are given nothing to indicate otherwise.

At its core, this is a fairly typical story about internalized homophobia. Nothing groundbreaking. ... If you like the "repressed gay finally finds love and self-acceptance" trope, this'll hit the spot for you and sometimes that's all you need. The animation is gorgeous, the blue tones really capture the melancholy mood, the voice acting has its immersive moments, and the soundtrack is quite pleasant to listen to. It's the type of movie that makes you curious to read the source material for more context, but alas it just didn't convince me personally to care enough about the characters or their stories beyond this tiny surface level glimpse at their lives.

The short length is both its strong point and its biggest hindrance. On the one hand, the character development just isn't there and it quickly becomes apparent that this is simply a fanservice project for fans of its source - complete with non-con and questionable consent, as the genre is unfortunately known for (though, mercifully, the farthest it goes is soft kisses and one awkward sex scene). On the other hand, a longer run time would have needed better character writing and a strongly developed plot to back it up. As it is, the audience is given hints as to why the characters feel the way they do and how they ended up here, but we are left with more questions than answers. So, it's both a blessing and a curse that this movie comes and goes as quickly as its main characters do. If it had been any longer, I think my brain would have lost interest.

All in all, this is a serviceable 50-ish minutes if you're looking for a light queer-focused story with pretty visuals and cute cats that won't demand too much of a time commitment. It's a neat little sampler for anyone wanting a taste of the manga before diving in and it's probably satisfying fanservice for fans of the manga who just want to see their favorite characters come to life on the screen.

Furukawa Uta has only had Pi-chan for 5 minutes, but if anything happened to it...

This one-shot is an adorably illustrated collection of short gags about what it would be like to take a very small pet and suddenly make it big. What would remain the same about its upbringing? What would change? What would this mean for the child responsible? The writing doesn't try to explain how or why this change took effect, doesn't try to write characters or development, and the status quo is never altered. The story has only one thing to say, proceeds to say it, and then bids the readers farewell ... with more questions than they had at the start.

Honestly, this setup has the potential to become a full series and I would absolutely follow along for the ride. But for now it is short, sweet, simple, and effective. Nothing about my life has been changed as a result of having read this and the one half-hearted attempt to portray an emotional moment was too rushed and short-lived to be anything but a joke on the trope itself, but I enjoyed it and that's what matters. So, if you like birds and are looking for a quick read that won't ask for any emotional commitment, you may enjoy it too.

Jean-Louis goes about his daily life comparing people's problems to desserts in ways that feel less wholesome and more snobbish, yet somehow he draws people to him like moths to a flame. The world is his oyster, he can and does kiss any fish in the sea that catches his attention, but his one true love is chocolate and that will never change.

As the title may imply, this is a manga about a man who loves chocolate desserts and sees the world through that lens. The pages are colored in warm hues meant to call to mind the chocolate itself so the atmosphere is soft ... and welcoming, the way Jean-Louis feels when he takes a bite of something sweet. And yet, the story is more of a character study than a traditional "put your feelings into the chocolate to make it taste better" arc that the first chapter appeared to be setting up.

I suppose I'm grateful for that choice in direction because chapter 1 is bizarrely sexual and starts off feeling like the male characters are harassing the one female on the staff for not having a love life. The next two chapters are equally wrought with wild sexual implications and a penchant for stripping, but thankfully the story mellows out from there... chapter 4's out of pocket dentistry aside.

Between the odd but creative metaphors, there is enough to appreciate about this manga that makes it worth a look. I'd recommend it as a short and easy read.

I've heard of people looking like their pets, but have you ever fallen in love with someone because THEY look like your beloved pet? Me neither.

Weekend Citron is an interesting BL that tries very hard to be sweet, but kind of forgets to build up much of a relationship between the characters beyond "oh, he's pretty" and "oh, he looks like my dog and lets me pet his hair", which is unfortunate because there is a lot of potential here. A pâtissier whose passion for baking comes from his connection to his grandmother, ultimately evolving into the only method he had for communicating with the ... world outside of his small familial bubble, is a fantastic concept that isn't explored deeply enough. In part, the short length of the series hinders a lot of that development, so it's only expected that certain aspects would fall to the wayside in favor of pushing the main leads together as quickly as possible. Not even acknowledging the fact that we know nothing about his love interest, there are unfortunately other problems that develop from this lack of in-depth characterization.

Jin's sad backstory explains why he is so closed off and awkward around others, but the story seems to almost infantilize him in the process. This becomes a problem during two scenes: one in which he is kissed without consent while passed out drunk and another in which our eyes are jumpscared with surprise smut.

At the very least, that kiss does get addressed as a wrong that has been committed... but the writing gives off the distinct impression that we, as readers, should be romanticizing Souichi's constant guilt over it. This all comes to a head during the chapter 4 smut scene where he starts seeing Jin as someone too pure and innocent for first kisses and sex. And yet, that doesn't stop him from forcing himself on Jin even though Jin tells him to stop. This still isn't the worst non-con I've seen from a BL, but it was definitely an uncomfortable escalation from the very sweet buildup to that moment.

The bonus chapter is a welcome breath of fresh air that introduces how the relationship between Ai and Makoto developed through the years. Unfortunately, it brings out the "remove glasses, braces, and baby fat to become hot" trope, which has become so old and worn by this point that all I can muster is a disappointed sigh in response. Other than that, it's cute and I wish I could have seen more of them being adorable together!

Overall, there are some really great moments in between the scenes that leave a lot to be desired. Unfortunately, chapter 4 can't just be skipped if you want to understand some important details from Jin's backstory, so brace yourself for the uncomfortable smut or commit yourself to skimming it like I did if the rest of the manga's concept intrigues you. Thankfully, the smut section is short enough.

Aho Girl is a typical straight man and "idiot" routine that is so fast-paced it gives you whiplash between jokes.

There are some funny bits here and there - such as Akuru bonding with the dog, Ryuuichi trying to befriend Akuru, and Yoshiko's quest to avenge her beloved bananas - but any humorous moment is soured greatly by the constant violence and sexual harassment played for comedy. All but one episode features skit after skit where the "joke" is slut-shaming, victim-blaming, and assault. There was a single moment where I thought that the characters were finally going to be forced to address the crimes being committed, ... but the "punchline" for that bit ended up being a "just kidding~" and it felt like a backhanded acknowledgment more than anything else.

Due to this, the majority of the characters are difficult to like or find amusing. Sayaka is the most sane character in the main cast and Ryuuichi is the true queer cryptid of this hell pit, but there is so much mess to slog through to get to the decent moments. The biggest disappointment here is just how much potential there is for this comedy sketch setup to work really well with better content. Instead, it reaches for the lowest hanging fruit and hits it on the head repeatedly.

After watching episode 2, I became convinced that this series is propaganda to get kids to study hard in school. The underlying message that, if you don't study well in school and get straight 100's on all of your exams, you're worthless and will never be able to succeed in society is pervasive throughout. It holds Yoshiko up in front of the audience as an example of how society will view them so that, even when Akuru's mom tries for half a second to tell him that it's healthier to go outside and play sometimes, the bit pushes back because the only alternative to studying is being like Yoshiko. This is made extremely clear in how Akuru's younger sister is treated as she struggles to study like the brother she constantly looks to for help.

If there are any good reasons to watch this show, it's probably the voice acting and the rare funny bits scattered throughout. It didn't make me laugh, but if none of the above deters you and you're looking for a show that doesn't require you to think too hard or require a hefty time commitment... this could be for you.

This is a fairly straightforward story about a young girl who's passion for karate and devouring cakes doesn't exactly inspire much confidence in her abilities as the future heir of her father's cake shop, so her father decides to abandon her and the shop in the care of his equally passionate and young apprentice. The man must have a death wish for his business because these kids are a mess! They start out as foils for each other. Tsukiya wants to become the best pâtissier in the world, but he has little experience to take him there. Anzu has never made a cake in her ... life and has no interest in trying, but boy howdy can she decorate them. Together, they make one almost competent chef!

Gradually, throughout the admittedly rushed and episodic plot, they discover how desserts can help people convey their feelings, make new friends, and express something important; and they eventually become united in their passion for cakes.

The artwork depicting these creations isn't the most impressive, but it's passable and mainly serves as set dressing for the importance of making desserts with the person eating it in mind so that it makes them happy. Even though the comedy wasn't my cup of tea and sometimes I couldn't even figure out what the joke was supposed to be because the panels didn't make the action clear enough, I did appreciate that Anzu managed to utilize her passion for karate while developing her cake-making skills. It's an interesting twist on the usual formula for the genre even if it doesn't do anything super groundbreaking.

Unfortunately, I had a lot of trouble telling Anzu and Tsukiya apart when they were wearing their uniforms. Their designs just don't stand out well enough, especially in the closeups. The rest of the characters stand up pretty well on their own and even manage to get their own mini character arcs, the only exceptions being Anzu's dad and the main antagonist who shows up in the second half. Anzu's dad is basically a non-character, but I do wish there had been more of a character arc for the antagonist so she didn't come off as too much of a one-note villain, especially since she has the most dynamic role in the story. Truly, it wouldn't be a gourmet-themed story without a competition and this one tries its best to deliver in the final act.

It is also worth mentioning that there are no hints of an enemies to lovers romance until the afterward at the very end. But even then, it's extremely subtle and open-ended, so if you're interested in reading a quick shoujo about cake, rivals, and friendship you may want to consider checking this one out.

There's no point in beating around the bush. Everything was great until chapter 4.

Sure, there was a singular incident where one character kissed another character without asking and that didn't feel too good to read, but it led to a conversation about biphobia and bi acceptance which I felt was pretty solid despite how rushed it was. Honestly, the pacing isn't super great in general, but I was willing to accept that for the first three chapters simply because I can understand the limit to telling a whole story in that short amount of time and what I did get to see caught my interest.

And ... then chapter 4 starts with a character stating upfront that he doesn't want to consume alcohol. Great! A boundary has been established! But unfortunately, his partner is horny and anyone who is familiar enough with the tropes of the genre knows exactly where this is going. His partner makes the entirely grotesque decision to spike some chocolates with the specific intention of getting him drunk enough to coerce him into sex. That did not have to be the plot of this chapter. They could have had a conversation about it. Heck, if the spiked chocolate had been a mutually consensual part of their foreplay, even that would have been fine! While I can't say that the way this trope was executed here is as bad as other BL my eyes have had the misfortune of seeing, I also can't say it's excusable and it spoiled the experience of an otherwise sweet relationship for me.

Aside from that, the characters are mostly fun and likeable, the art style is very cute, and the sweets really make me wish I could see those pages in color! Even the few side characters we see are pretty enjoyable. My favorite is Miyamori, who seems super invested in his boss' life and well-being. The plot of the first three chapters and the bonus one-shots at the end is cute, mostly sweet, and a good balance of light angst and fluff. It cannot be overstated just how jarring the tonal shift of chapter 4 really is. So, brace yourself... or just skip it and enjoy the lighthearted story beats leading up to and following it like I plan to do upon any further rereads.

The premise of gods and yokai trying to become popular with humans in the modern world to increase their power levels is interesting and could be very fun, but this just isn't it for me.

The animation is off-putting, and the humor is both crass and dry. The birthday bit in episode 5 feels like they let Ikuto Kanemasa loose to improvise in the studio and then just didn't bother to cut it down for the final product, and there are plenty of other "jokes" that drag on just like that one. Whenever this miniseries DOES try to be a little clever, it mostly boils down ... to Japanese wordplay and very specific pop culture references that don't always come across to a foreign audience. Watching each episode feels like being an unwanted third wheel in someone else's conversation where you are only occasionally able to pick a single reference out of the onslaught of in-jokes flying right over your head but don't understand enough to really contribute.

The monologue style in episode 1 CAN work, but there isn't much happening on the screen to pull in any interest, so it ends up feeling like it's an hour long because it drags so much. Episode 2 onward at least has conversations between multiple characters, but there's only so much "creepy old men lust after young women" bellyaching I can stomach in between the one predictable gay punchline and the tired "pretty lady has a boyfriend who is NOT conventionally attractive" joke anyone could see coming a mile away. The finale tries to subvert our expectations, but it winds up failing by playing into the same old jokes anyway.

To its singular credit, the voice acting is pretty on point and the unexpected rap battle was almost entertaining if only because it came out of nowhere to break up the monotony of the "creepy old man can't get a girlfriend" narrative. Also, the ending credits feature a "spot the difference" scene, which is pretty neat.

If any of that sounds cool to you, the one positive is that the episodes are short, so you'll only have to feel like you're in hell for 10 minutes at a time. Perhaps someone more knowledgeable about the Japanese language and culture will find the writing funny enough to laugh even once. But to anyone like me, I can't recommend it.

At its core, this is a story about processing grief and learning to move forward through life at your own pace. It's a humble tale that serves some melancholic summer vibes and doesn't try to preach to the viewers. But for all that this movie does well, some parts probably didn't need to drag on as long as they did. It's such a little detail in the editing, but it can really make so much difference in the pacing.

For example:

~ When Wasabi was struggling on the rope, he didn't have to fall and fail to get back up while his coworkers cheered him on more ... than twice for the point to come across, especially since it felt like the same clip on loop.

~ The "Brand New Story" karaoke montage was very cute, but it could have been cut down a little for brevity.

~ We really did not need to watch Hinako twiddling her toes for so long to understand that she was stressed and struggling to process her feelings of guilt.

Perhaps it's just me, but the just-a-bit-too-long repetition and stalling made my brain anxious.

The characters are at least easy to watch.
Minato comes across as perhaps too supportive and perfect until we are actually given the chance to learn more about him.
Wasabi is the rookie firefighter who struggles to feel like he'll ever be good enough at his job to make a difference in his community.
Youko is the standoffish younger sister who is left to unpack not only the weight of her own grief but also Hinako's because it's what her brother would have wanted.

Hinako maybe isn't the most likeable protagonist for a lot of the story, but it is easy to understand and relate to her. She starts out like a lot of us do - feeling lost and overwhelmed in the world, unsure of how to move forward or where she's even going - until one day her entire world turns upside down and, through the grieving process, she learns that she is more capable of independence than she had given herself credit for... even though that's still a hard truth to accept.

The use of the ghost as a symbol for grief is an interesting one. The more desperately she clings to the memory of Minato and the way things used to be while he was by her side, the more her behavior begins to concern the people around her. Let me tell you, it is such a treat to watch the background characters react to Hinako publicly display some truly unhinged behavior. At one point, she summons her tiny ghost boyfriend in a toilet so aggressively warp pipe green he's one ill-timed flush away from being isekai'd into a Mario game, utterly terrifying the coworker unfortunate enough to witness her public breakdown through the open crack she left in the doorway. Overall, I appreciate that the movie lets her sit with her grief all the way through to the end rather than forcing her out of the process and into a new relationship before she's ready.

And if you take nothing else away from this movie, I just want it to be known that there is something so funny about Hinako riding Youko like a surfboard in an extremely perilous situation while lighthearted, upbeat music plays in the background.

As a bit of promotional material for the anime, it serves its purpose well. This short prologue accomplishes the goal of introducing the main characters and their relationship dynamics, so readers and potential viewers who have a taste for dessert-themed slice of school life shoujo may enjoy the vibes.

Unfortunately, it doesn't offer much of a hook to anyone unfamiliar with the series of games the anime is adapting. There is no question if these characters will succeed in their goals or what really lies in wait for them beyond their first interactions. The protagonist is a scholarship kid in a school of rich and famous ... personalities, it is implied that her optimism and desire to make people smile with her desserts will be the key to her success at school, and naturally her overwhelming empathy and kindness will bring all the boys to her yard.

Truly, there are no surprises here!
But that can be super comforting for some readers and, in that way, it's very similar to Kitchen Princess. So, if Bonjour♪Koiaji Pâtisserie is your first exposure to this specific formula and you want more or you're unsure if the anime would give you more of what you're hoping for, you know where to find it. And if you're coming here because you read Kitchen Princess, loved it, and want more like it... maybe this will provide you with a few minutes of warm nostalgia!