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I'd gotten plenty of recommendations for Lovely Complex in the beginning, however, my first impression of the details of it weren’t great - it seemed like it'd be a very cliché rom-com shoujo leaving not very much emotion or originality. However, once I had started watching it, my opinion completely changed, and I can say that this is one of my favourite shoujo animes.

The story focuses on the main two protaganists - Risa Koizumi and Atsushi Otani - and their friendship and how it eventually develops into a relationship. The story handles the romance aspect very well. Unlike other shoujos, which often have love that ... seems unrealistic by happening too quickly, or having the characters confess at the end of the series, Lovely Complex had a very realistic pace to the relationship. It begins with their strong friendship by being known as the 'comedy duo' - and friends are all they are in the beginning. Koizumi realises her feelings, and puts up a fight to get the often dense Otani to realise them. The story is not predictable; at many times I found myself eager for the outcome of a situation which in any other anime would be obvious. This is a result of the dynamic character cast. The plot doesn't feature huge, overdramatic love triangles - opposing love interests enter the anime, but their stay is never out welcomed and they leave when due, never causing you to become really annoyed at the episode.

The comedy in this series is fantastic. I more often than not prefer dramatic romances over comedic romances, because I don't always find shoujo comedy to my tastes and find the themes overdone. However, the comedy in here often had me laughing out loud. Even if you're not a huge fan of the rom-com genre, you'll definitely enjoy the humour in Lovely Complex.

The anime has a realistic feel to it. Unlike other animes which have a lot of story progress over a short amount of time, this anime happens at a great pace. It takes place over 3/4 years of their high school life. It often has a slice-of-life feel, and I don’t think there were any cliché filler episodes. Aside from the romance and comedy, it deals with other coming of age issues like deciding on future plans, exams and physical insecurity, although it never gets over serious.

The characters are a very strong point in Lovely Complex. Koizumi, the main girl, isn’t overly cute, clumsy and whiney, nor is she tsundere. Instead, she is very realistic – she can be funny, optimistic, friendly, strong-willed and brash, but she can also be emotional, insecure, indecisive and dramatic. Koizumi is extremely easy to relate to, particularly if you’ve been in a similar situation to her character. Her character matures over the course of the series once she realises things and gets help from her friends.

Otani’s character is somewhat similar to Koizumi’s in the way that he is also funny, friendly and insecure. However, he is also determined, caring and clueless, especially when it comes to Koizumi’s feelings for him. Although he often seems carefree and dense, he also has a deep and mature side to him, often worrying about Koizumi even if he finds it hard to admit.

The supporting cast are also great. Nobu, Koizumi’s best friend, is girly, helpful and assertive. She is a great best friend, often helping Koizumi, despite the fact that she can seem annoying at times. The rest of the supporting cast are also great – ranging from the quiet couple of Chiharu and Suzuki to the annoying but comedic Haruka and Seiko.

The art took me a little while to get used to, though once I did, I really enjoyed it. The changing clothes, hairstyles and individual fashion senses (in the girls mainly) were really interesting to see. The guys were all good looking in their own right without being the typical shoujo hero with floppy hair, pointy faces, shiny eyes and lanky bodies. The bright colours reflect the feel of the show and its characters. The opening themes were both quite nice and upbeat, and the background music throughout the show fit in perfectly. I really liked how all of the cast’s accents reflected them living in Osaka and how noticeable their Kansai dialect was.

Overall, Lovely Complex is a very good shoujo anime. It’s the perfect mix of realistic romance and comedy, also showing great friendships. If you’re looking for an anime that isn’t too serious and focuses mainly on one couple rather than a love triangle with great characters, Lovely Complex is one to check out.