Horimiya Anime Review: A Super Wholesome Romance
Horimiya is a romance anime that is 13 episodes of slice-of-life wholesomeness. The story centers mostly around Hori and Miyamura, but episodes also expand into the characters in their friendship circle. This anime breaks away from the stereotypical storyline where the popular guy falls in love with the shy girl at school. In this case, it’s Hori who makes the first “move” on Miyamura and encourages him to come out of his shell in a natural and non-forceful way. Their romance feels really natural and refreshing, because it’s not overladen with unnecessary drama and fights. A lot of side characters are introduced to supplement the main characters and create slice-of-life moments.
Hori is beautiful, smart, and kind to pretty much everyone around her. While at school she comes off as stereotypically popular and maybe even a bit intimidating, at home, she assumes the role of the serious homemaker. Miyamura is a shy character who has an established reputation of being a bit of a loner at school. Outside of school, he is almost unrecognizable with his exposed earrings and tattoos. While his personality is consistently calm and collected, the change in his physical appearance is a bit jarring for people who don’t know him. I thought these characters were both really likable and fun to watch, which is important because they carry the show. This story is not filled with a lot of the “will they won’t they become a couple” fluff. Although they get together fairly early in the series, it’s fun to explore the ways they keep growing as a couple.
Horimiya is a romantic comedy, and the storyline doesn’t really have a specific direction or end goal. It’s filled with chummy scenes of friends hanging out in the classroom, getting food together, and chilling outside of school. They often chat about life and the little things that bother them, with maybe the most serious storylines being about self-esteem and bullying. I think this show has been popular with fans because it is charming to watch and beautiful to look at. The romance is really sweet, the story doesn’t feel overused, and the comedy is funny but not over-the-top. Sometimes people just want to watch something relaxing about characters getting along and nurturing their relationships with each other.
In conclusion…
Horimiya is a romantic comedy that tells a classic anime story of boy meets girl, but in a more modern and fun way. The characters are unexpectedly delightful and unpredictably kooky. It definitely was one of the better shows that came out of the winter 2021 anime season.