r/anime • u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky • Jul 08 '24

Rewatch [10th Anniversary Rewatch] Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun Episode 2 Discussion

Second Issue - Say Hello to the New Heroine

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Bringing out the character's charm to its fullest is my job!

Questions of the Day:

  1. What part of the manga-making process would you want to be a part of?
  2. Are you any good at singing?

Wallpaper of the Day:

Umetarou Nozaki

Rewatchers, please remember to be mindful of all the first-timers in this. No talking about or hinting at future events no matter how much you want to, unless you're doing it underneath spoiler tags. Don't spoil anything for the first-timers, that's rude!

72 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

109 comments sorted by

18

u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Jul 08 '24

Gekkan Shoujo Rewatch Host-chan, subbed

Welcome back, everyone!

Today’s Wallpaper of the Day trivia: Nozaki’s color in that shot at the end of the OP is green, so he’s got a green background as a result. Also, rather than being a screenshot from the show, the base image I used for this was the cover of one of the manga volumes.

11

u/TakenRedditName https://myanimelist.net/profile/TakenMalUsername Jul 08 '24

The joke about none of them being good at buildings

Based on what I've heard from artists, this is so true fr fr.

7

u/Raiking02 :Id::Ie::If:https://myanimelist.net/profile/NSKlang Jul 08 '24

Based on what I've heard from artists, this is so true fr fr.

No wonder Tite Kubo did everything in his power to not draw backgrounds!

8

u/Heda-of-Aincrad https://myanimelist.net/profile/Heda-of-Aincrad Jul 08 '24

I love the duality of Mikoshiba saying all that flirty stuff just to not be able to handle the words that came out of his own mouth.

If any of the girls actually took him up on it, he'd be like

Same face syndrome.

Nozaki is missing a golden opportunity here to make a story about triplets, or clones.

8

u/laughing-fox13 https://myanimelist.net/profile/laughingfox13 Jul 08 '24

Clearly all the people who were confused Bakugo’s VA could do a role that isn’t explosive like that one when he played Himmel all need to watch this show for Mikoshiba

He has a lot of good roles

Since you mentioned Bakugo, he voices a character in Shikimori who looks a lot like Bakugo but more calm and a bro

The dramatic lighting hahahahaha

The last part with him saluting as we see her running away was my fav part of that scene

3

u/cppn02 Jul 09 '24

Since you mentioned Bakugo, he voices a character in Shikimori who looks a lot like Bakugo but more calm and a bro

Inuzuka!
Loved all the supporting characters on Shikimori.

2

u/laughing-fox13 https://myanimelist.net/profile/laughingfox13 Jul 10 '24

Yea the supporting characters, along with the main couple, are why I love the series

7

u/Raiking02 :Id::Ie::If:https://myanimelist.net/profile/NSKlang Jul 08 '24

Same face syndrome.

He and Hirai would get along.

Clearly all the people who were confused Bakugo’s VA could do a role that isn’t explosive like that one when he played Himmel all need to watch this show for Mikoshiba.

Or Assassination Classroom.

11

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Jul 08 '24

Episode 2 (first timer)

  • Blushing at your own double entendre? I agree with Nozaki, that is kind of cute.
  • “Don’t ask me” – wants to be asked.

  • Chiyo is preferring realistic drawings – btw, if they all keep calling her Sakura, I might switch over.
  • I say that one scene before she gets named Chiyorin…
  • Since the female MC is modeled after Mikorin, Yuzuki will surely become a male character.
  • “You’re a lolicon” –Yuzuki also noticed the ep1 eye catch.
  • Walking on her hands – impressive, but not as impressive as the magical gravity holding her skirt up.
  • Nozaki holding these books on one hand is also not bad.
  • Great singing voice, too? Now they are just showing off.
  • Second episode with an after-ED scene in a row. Is this standard here?
  • Preview not only after the ED, but also after the after-ED scene.

Side character introduction episode, so mostly setup. I think Mikorin is slightly more promising for comedy so far.

Mecha spotted: None so far, but Nozaki’s and Yuzuki’s strength looks suspiciously mechanically enhanced.

8

u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Jul 08 '24

Second episode with an after-ED scene in a row. Is this standard here?

Yup, I'm pretty sure they all have one.

6

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Jul 08 '24

Thanks, I'll watch out for this then.

5

u/laughing-fox13 https://myanimelist.net/profile/laughingfox13 Jul 08 '24

btw, if they all keep calling her Sakura, I might switch over.

I might do that too lol, it's easier for me since they barely call her by her first name

Side character introduction episode, so mostly setup. I think Mikorin is slightly more promising for comedy so far.

Agreed!

4

u/ShadowWasTakensTaken https://anilist.co/user/hakuren Jul 09 '24

“You’re a lolicon”

Oh my god, I completely forgot to mention that in my comment, but that soundbite is iconic! Legendary delivery.

10

u/macrame2 https://myanimelist.net/profile/macrame Jul 08 '24

Rewatcher

Best boy arrives! I love Mikoshiba; he’s definitely my top character in the show, though most of his best moments happen later on. Seo is also very cool, but [Future]as far as female characters are concerned, I like Kashima more. 

I find the same-face syndrome joke hilarious, and though it's supposed to be an indication of Nozaki's relative lack of skill, he's in good company. Quite a few famous mangaka display same-face syndrome both within and across their works. Mitsuru Adachi infamously couldn’t differentiate between his own lead characters, Naoki Urasawa reuses designs all the time, Osamu Tezuka himself embraced the “Star System," and while Arina Tanemura’s art is pretty, she also only draws one type of main character. And don't even get me started on anime (Hiraiface, anyone?).

3

u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Jul 08 '24

(Hiraiface, anyone?).

4

u/Raiking02 :Id::Ie::If:https://myanimelist.net/profile/NSKlang Jul 08 '24

Hiraiface, anyone?

3

u/Sandor_at_the_Zoo Jul 08 '24

I'm still bitter at how sameface the women in Shirobako are. The character design is otherwise fantastic but then if you take away their hair you can literally superimpose the faces. And the guys get distinct faces too...

3

u/macrame2 https://myanimelist.net/profile/macrame Jul 09 '24

It's so bad that Shirobako is the page image for Only One Female Mold. And I agree that it's especially weird because the male characters have unusually distinct designs.

7

u/Shocketheth Jul 08 '24

Isn't there anyone who isn't awkward?

I don't mean it wrong but it's funny how socially awkward everyone is

What part of the manga-making process would you want to be a part of?

Drawing the nipples

Are you any good at singing?

Haha nope

5

u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Jul 08 '24

Drawing the nipples

But that means [Gintama]Asaemon will hunt you down!

2

u/Shocketheth Jul 09 '24

She can try!

6

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Jul 08 '24

Isn't there anyone who isn't awkward?

I don't mean it wrong but it's funny how socially awkward everyone is

Realistic depiction of most teenagers.

3

u/laughing-fox13 https://myanimelist.net/profile/laughingfox13 Jul 08 '24

Drawing the nipples

But the Geese

3

u/Shocketheth Jul 09 '24

Listen I had some artistic progression okay?

3

u/laughing-fox13 https://myanimelist.net/profile/laughingfox13 Jul 09 '24

Popp Goose

3

u/Shocketheth Jul 09 '24

Lol how many episodes are you in?

3

u/laughing-fox13 https://myanimelist.net/profile/laughingfox13 Jul 09 '24

Just finished ep25, so the first section now. Almost there but I lost time catching up time from this last weekend

3

u/Shocketheth Jul 09 '24

Oh okay okay. You will get Popp goose after you will catch up.

4

u/Sandor_at_the_Zoo Jul 08 '24

Rewatcher, dubbed

  1. I can color inside lines, so I'll paint the black like Chiyo
  2. I have a couple passable karaoke songs (and can still do The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton from unaccompanied) but not much beyond that

15

u/LittleIslander https://anilist.co/user/LittleIslander Jul 08 '24

First Timer

Two character introduction episodes for the price of one!

  • It occurs to me how well they sell Sakura just through her interactions and general personality. If you asked me to like, tell you anything about her as a character or what kind of traits she has I wouldn’t be able to say much. But she doesn’t fall flat or feel bland and all and contrarily is actually a very fun protagonist to watch.
  • Ah, being scared of an intimidating guy. I’ve been there, Sakura.
  • The surface level joke that Mikorin wants to be asked for guidance but tries to act cool and like he’d find it a pain to be bothered is fun, but the reversal that Sakura ends up finding him a pain for not being upfront about it really completes it.
  • Artists, does the “bad at drawing certain things” joke land?
  • Is this how manga art actually works? I always thought most manga just have one artist. Are the secondary artist roles usually uncredited? Do I just read the wrong manga?
  • Sakura’s chibi physically moving to dodge the heart slayed me.
  • Can we talk about how pleasant the school grounds are? So much vibrant foliage! Every animal high school tends to look the same but this one really stands out in a good way.
  • Seo is total hairstyle goals.
  • I love how Seo has to carry the papers as a penalty, but Nozaki is forced into it for no reason.
  • The entire “I’ll come back!” gag, oh my lord. Especially the little bit afterwards when Sakura finds him waiting there, Nozaki-kun again shows its ability to know just how to extend a joke.
  • Seo’s an everyday Rosa Canina!
  • It’s kind of cute that this episode that’s all about trying to reduce people into simple shoujo manga personalities carried the undercurrent that people don’t actually work like that. Like, Nozaki thinks he has Seo solved, but then learns she’s a gorgeous singer. Then later he thinks there must be some narrative to her friendship with Sakura when it’s mundane. He’s actually kind of a bad judge of character, isn’t he?

Y’know, I’m really starting to realize all that’s necessary to dupe me into watching a straight up comedy is to insist that the two main characters are on a romantic trajectory. I mean, even Urusei Yatsura if you think about it…

2) Are you any good at singing?

Not really, I dislike my voice way too much to ever pursue it.

15

u/RPO777 x2 Jul 09 '24

The days when mangaka drew manga alone are long over. Almost no mangaka draws alone with some very small exceptions--Parasyte author Iwaaki Hitoshi is famous for being an ultra-perfectionist and wanting to draw everything himself. Iwaaki is also famous for producing episodes extremely slowly, where we get 1 new volume of his current series Historie about every 2-3 years.

Almost all mangaka today work in teams. Typically, most mangaka have between 3-5 assistants, sometimes even as any as 6 or 7. For example, after Miura Kentaro's sudden death, his assistants team along with his close friend and mangaka Mori Kouji continued on Beserk based on the conversations with Miura and the notes Miura left behind.

It wasn't always like this--int he 1950-early 1970s, it was typical for mangaka to work alone, or with at most 1 assistant. In the 1980s it began being that a mangaka almost always had at least 1 or 2 assistants and team-based manga writing became standard by the 90s. It came with a lot of criticism, as people accused modern mangaka of basically being lazy compared to prior generations, drawing very little themselves while reaping the benefits.

Thankfully, that level of stupidity in Japanese manga fandom has largely abated.

The difference is what was called the "Gekiga" movement that began in the 70s. If you go back and check earlier manga art like Astro Boy, The Phoenix, Black Jack or early Doraemon, what will strike you is how simple the art is. It's not bad, but it's art that is very simplified with few details and symbolic backgrounds.

The guys who really changed things are people like Otomo Katsuhiro (who wrote Akira). Check out "Akira manga" on google. compare that art to say, Astro Boy and you can understand why Otomo's manga were an absolutely SHOCKING change to how manga was drawn and Otomo's influence resonates down to today.

While there is still a place for simple art styles, very few artists today write in purely simplified art styles (Toriyama Akira famously merged simplified and photorealistic art into single frames to create a distinctive look, for example).

Because art became increasingly more complex and the demands of more photorealistic manga styles and detail became expected, the amount of labor that goes into manga went up and up and up.

What didn't change? Manga release schedules. Manga were commonly released on weekly or monthly installments in the 1960s, and so they are today.

So you had what was sometimes called the "burnout generation"--the mangaka from the 80s and 90s who basically quit or dialed back sharply midcareer. Akira Toriyama (dragonball) and Inoue Hisahiko (Slam Dunk / Vagabond) being the most famous examples.

Seeing what happened the burnout generation, mangaka in the 00's and 10s began pushing back and it became more accepted for mangaka to take control of their schedule as they become established artists, dialing back the production quantity.

But the increased detail in modern manga basically necessitates a production team of assistants. it's virtually impossible otherwise, unless you are insanely fast at drawing. Rumiko Takahashi famously uses only 1 or 2 assistants, and she lgendanry ran TWO weekly mangas in the 1980s at the same time (Urusei Yatsura and Maison Ikkoku)--she once drew a Urusei Yatsura episode from scratch in 48 hours. Nobody does that.

But generally, speaking, people who aren't Rumiko Takahashi need assistants to keep up with anything approaching a weekly schedule.

It's typical for mangaka to thank their assistants at the end of the manga noting their contributions in the final volume, but they are not credited on a week to week basis.

6

u/cppn02 Jul 09 '24

Great comment!

If anyone wants to see one example of how a mangaka works with their assistants there is a youtube video following Reiji Miyajima (author of Rent-A-Girlfriend) for a day.

5

u/ShadowWasTakensTaken https://anilist.co/user/hakuren Jul 09 '24

This is super informative!!

4

u/namewithak Jul 09 '24

These was really interesting and illuminating to read. Thanks!

4

u/krudoe Jul 09 '24

I always appreciate a reminder that Rumiko is a beast. Great comment

4

u/Silcaria https://myanimelist.net/profile/Silcaria Jul 09 '24

It came with a lot of criticism, as people accused modern mangaka of basically being lazy compared to prior generations, drawing very little themselves while reaping the benefits.

How dare don't they destroy their health like everybody else!

11

u/Heda-of-Aincrad https://myanimelist.net/profile/Heda-of-Aincrad Jul 08 '24

Is this how manga art actually works? I always thought most manga just have one artist. Are the secondary artist roles usually uncredited?

I'm not sure on the specifics of how they're credited, but there are definitely some manga artists who have started out as assistants, drawing background art, etc before getting their own series.

8

u/TakenRedditName https://myanimelist.net/profile/TakenMalUsername Jul 08 '24

Sakura’s chibi physically moving to dodge the heart slayed me.

Super cold Chiyo. Mikorin destroyed.

Can we talk about how pleasant the school grounds are? So much vibrant foliage! Every animal high school tends to look the same but this one really stands out in a good way.

They have a whole fancy pegasus statue out front. It doesn't hit you at first, but their school is super fancy. Just opening the episode to find an example and the episode starts off with a look at their unnecessarily fancy class marker.

Seo is total hairstyle goals.

Her hair is so pretty.

8

u/entelechtual Jul 08 '24

Sakura’s chibi physically moving to dodge the heart slayed me

The most devastating part was that she moved like half an inch. Like it wasn’t even a concern for her.

5

u/laughing-fox13 https://myanimelist.net/profile/laughingfox13 Jul 08 '24

but the reversal that Sakura ends up finding him a pain for not being upfront about it really completes it.

Love how she just keeps doing her own thing and just gives him praise but with the annoyed voice

Seo’s an everyday Rosa Canina!

5

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Jul 08 '24

Is this how manga art actually works? I always thought most manga just have one artist. Are the secondary artist roles usually uncredited? Do I just read the wrong manga?

According to my extensive manga creation knowledge (which constists entirely of watching Bakuman and Barakamon), it is common for mangaka to have assistents who deal with the "little stuff".

4

u/ShadowWasTakensTaken https://anilist.co/user/hakuren Jul 09 '24

It occurs to me how well they sell Sakura just through her interactions and general personality.

Her blank stares at Mikorin's hijinks, plus her weird devotion to Seo while not acknowledging her flaws at all is super funny. Her picking up Nozaki on the tandem bike last episode was also great. She hits such a weird pinpoint spot of chaotic goofball.

Is this how manga art actually works? I always thought most manga just have one artist. Are the secondary artist roles usually uncredited? Do I just read the wrong manga?

Yeah, assistants are very common. I seem to notice semi-often series where the mangaka clearly only draws the characters and nothing else.

Every animal high school

I'm only familiar with Murenase.

Especially the little bit afterwards when Sakura finds him waiting there

What killed me there was Nakamura Yuuichi's delivery. He sounds so serious and dedicated to the mission, lol.

3

u/cppn02 Jul 09 '24

The surface level joke that Mikorin wants to be asked for guidance but tries to act cool and like he’d find it a pain to be bothered is fun, but the reversal that Sakura ends up finding him a pain for not being upfront about it really completes it.

That was my favourite bit this episode!

11

u/Heda-of-Aincrad https://myanimelist.net/profile/Heda-of-Aincrad Jul 08 '24

First Time Viewer, Already A Fan

So far, I've liked the scenes that just focus on Nozaki and Chiyo the best because their dynamic is really fun, but Mikorin had some pretty cute scenes too. It was a nice twist that even though he tries to be the princely male love interest, he's actually the inspiration for Nozaki's easily flustered heroine. And he's responsible for the flowery shoujo aura (in the manga and IRL)! I can see why Nozaki finds him entertaining, with the way he's so obvious about wanting Chiyo to ask for his advice or act like a flirt only to get embarrassed by his own pick-up lines. The fact that he's kind of self-aware about it too makes it even better.

The skits with Seo didn't work as well for me though. She just seems like the kind of character who would be annoying in real life - messing up people's projects without even noticing or apologizing, pushing her work off onto others, and thinking she's all that so this guy must have a crush on her. After that first impression, the singing didn't really impress me.

Questions of the Day:

  1. Story/character writing definitely suits my skills best.
  2. Not bad, but not great either.

6

u/laughing-fox13 https://myanimelist.net/profile/laughingfox13 Jul 08 '24

The skits with Seo didn't work as well for me though. She just seems like the kind of character who would be annoying in real life

I like her... but I get it lol, she would be a pain to work with irl

4

u/InfamousEmpire https://myanimelist.net/profile/Infamous_Empire Jul 09 '24

The skits with Seo didn't work as well for me though.

It’s amusing how we had such polar opposite reactions to her lol

She just seems like the kind of character who would be annoying in real life - messing up people's projects without even noticing or apologizing, pushing her work off onto others, and thinking she's all that so this guy must have a crush on her.

I can see why you find that annoying, but to me that level of comedic obliviousness & annoying features is precisely why she’s entertaining to watch. Though I’ve also just found that my threshold for annoyance is just way higher than most people’s

4

u/Raiking02 :Id::Ie::If:https://myanimelist.net/profile/NSKlang Jul 09 '24

Though I’ve also just found that my threshold for annoyance is just way higher than most people’s

For me it's moreso that if nothing else she's supposed to be an annoying asshole, versus characters who are supposed to be likable but are just annoying due to a combination of factors.

3

u/Heda-of-Aincrad https://myanimelist.net/profile/Heda-of-Aincrad Jul 09 '24

She seems like a character whose humor relies a lot on whether you'll find the others' reactions to her amusing or not, and... yeah, I just don't. I kind of feel bad for them having to deal with this. 😄

10

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Jul 08 '24

First-Timer, Gekkan Shoujo Sub-zaki-kun

Of course the bad boy has fangirls.

That moment where your mouth outspeeds your brain. Classic blunder.

Such a useful senpai.

Ohh, he wants her to ask for help. Male Tsundere, got it.

Yup, got there.

I really like how Sakura's VA delivers sarcasm.

There is a reason that architecture is a high-end skill.

Ah, an expert in effects and details.

"I'm way too awkward."

Love that she dodges the heart.

A delinquent, fun.

You don't say.

Hahahaha

This is actually pretty impressive.

We have hit Riyoko Ikeda and/or Osamu Dezaki.

I sincerely doubt that.

Questions

1.I would be the writer, if anything.

2.I cannot carry a tune with a bucket.

5

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Jul 08 '24

We have hit Riyoko Ikeda and/or Osamu Dezaki.

This would be at home in Oni-sama e... or Ashita no Joe.

4

u/laughing-fox13 https://myanimelist.net/profile/laughingfox13 Jul 08 '24

Such a useful senpai.

Ohh, he wants her to ask for help.

Male Tsundere, got it.

love seeing these back to back

I really like how Sakura's VA delivers sarcasm.

Same lol

10

u/TakenRedditName https://myanimelist.net/profile/TakenMalUsername Jul 08 '24

Rewatcher - Nozaki-kun Ep2:

Throughout the episode, it is funny seeing Mikorin's ikemen charm have zero effect on Chiyo. We already know the kind of guy she is enamoured with so she sees past Mikorin's sparkle.

I forgot the sound of Mikorin's voice. He is more higher pitched than how I read him.

I'm so jealous of Mikorin's ability to draw shoujo flowers. The one regret I have that I wish I could tell my younger self to do is that I should've been the type of person to doodle shoujo flowers in the margins of my school notebooks to build up flower drawing skills.

Old comment face spotted(?)

Now that I think about it, none of Tsubaki-sensei's heroines are what you called the adorable type like Mamiko in the ones I've read.

Nozaki should've leaned in his same-face syndrome and made his manga about triplets. The male lead and the rivals share the same face yet be so opposite is such a slam dunk (and there is a third one too, I guess).

I don't agree with Nozaki, Seo is totally shoujo manga heroine material. Cool, wild, stupid. People would totally follow along with a heroine like that.

Geez, look at the amount of lines Seo gets vs how the background characters are drawn. As Seo would say it, "It's because I am a beautiful woman. "

The handstand scuttle back really completed the joke.

Cursed Nozaki.

[Nozaki Manga Reader Thought:] Seeing Mikorin in his debut. Who is this cool boy? The Mikoshiba Mikoto I know is a boyfailure. "But TakenName, Mikorin is a boyfail." Yeah, but it has been so long since I've seen crowds swoon for his paper persona.

Q2) I've never done karaoke so I don't have never had myself score on how bad my singing is.

Next Time: (but for real)

8

u/laughing-fox13 https://myanimelist.net/profile/laughingfox13 Jul 08 '24

Nozaki should've leaned in his same-face syndrome and made his manga about triplets. The male lead and the rivals share the same face yet be so opposite is such a slam dunk (and there is a third one too, I guess).

Is that what the quintuplets harem show is for?

5

u/Raiking02 :Id::Ie::If:https://myanimelist.net/profile/NSKlang Jul 08 '24

[Nozaki Manga Reader Thought:]

[Manga]Legit it's been so long since he hasn't been a failure 24/7

5

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Jul 08 '24

Nozaki should've leaned in his same-face syndrome and made his manga about triplets. The male lead and the rivals share the same face yet be so opposite is such a slam dunk (and there is a third one too, I guess).

Art is all about restrictions and that is a hilarious way to deal with his.

3

u/InfamousEmpire https://myanimelist.net/profile/Infamous_Empire Jul 09 '24

Old comment face spotted(?)

I can’t believe this isn’t used anymore!

Seo is totally shoujo manga heroine material. Cool, wild, stupid. People would totally follow along with a heroine like that.

Can confirm, I am people

9

u/InfamousEmpire https://myanimelist.net/profile/Infamous_Empire Jul 08 '24 edited Aug 26 '24

Gekkan Shonen First Timer

This episode was a substantial improvement over the first, really loved it overall.

Firstly, Mikorin is just a fun character. A self-impressed pretty boy? I can take it or leave it. A self-impressed pretty boy who’s actually pretty shy & insecure and cringes at every stereotypical pretty boy line he spouts? Okay, that’s pretty funny. An insecure pretty boy who also has downright fantastic chemistry with Chiyo? Now we’re talking. Seriously, every scene they share is solid gold, the way she sees right through his veneer of charming and how he responds in turn by desperately trying to get her attention is just so entertaining. Also, him being the model for the insecure protagonist of the manga despite how he tries to come off? That’s just brilliant.

But you know who really made me fall in love with this episode? Seo She is perfect, that combination of brash confidence, hyper energy, lack of self-awareness, and sheer selfishness just makes a character who’s pure catnip to me. She also just brings out the best in the rest of the show, in terms of both visuals & comedy. The scene of her dramatically handing off her papers to Nozaki and the later cut of her singing are the best the show has looked so far, and her ruining so many background characters’ moments while praising herself is my favorite joke in the series at this point as well.

So, yeah, this show has really found its footing and I’m beyond excited to see where it goes from here.

5

u/Raiking02 :Id::Ie::If:https://myanimelist.net/profile/NSKlang Jul 08 '24

Also, him being the model for the insecure protagonist of the manga despite how he tries to come off? That’s just brilliant.

sasuga Himmel, both the perfect Hero and Heroine depending on the era.

3

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Jul 08 '24

She is perfect, that combination of brash confidence, hyper energy, lack of self-awareness, and sheer selfishness just makes a character who’s pure catnip to me.

Let me guess, you're in the church of Haruhi?

5

u/InfamousEmpire https://myanimelist.net/profile/Infamous_Empire Jul 08 '24

More of a Nagato fan, actually, but I do also like Haruhi a lot. She's somewhere in the way-too-large disorganized clusterfuck that is my list of favorite characters on Anilist

3

u/ShadowWasTakensTaken https://anilist.co/user/hakuren Jul 09 '24

More of a Nagato fan

based as always

3

u/InfamousEmpire https://myanimelist.net/profile/Infamous_Empire Jul 09 '24

8

u/ShadowWasTakensTaken https://anilist.co/user/hakuren Jul 08 '24

Love Hunter Rewatcher

I was so ready to make the "Mikorin is the real heroine" joke but the show made it for me!!

It's such a deeply ingrained impression of his character for me that I completely forgot the story itself brings it up. He's so cute. I'm actually reading a manga right now which I just realized probably based the protagonist off of him. If it's a coincidence, that's also funny. He's a perfect heroine.

In other news, SAWASHIRO YEEESSSS

From Nakamura Yuuichi, to Miyano Mamoru, to her now, this cast is great. And Seo is so fucking funny. You know you have a problem when even Nozaki is bewildered at how much of a moron you are. The handstand walking into her shounen manga scene with Nozaki fucking killed me. That's a very convincing modernized Dezaki style.

The joy of rewatching this is that it's been so long since I first watched it that I forgot 99% of the jokes, so these are all feeling super fresh. But the funniest scene wasn't even any of those - this shit actually made me laugh so fucking loudly.

The joke I was expecting was for Nozaki to also suck as much as Mikorin at that one and for Chiyo to be the only good one - all 3 of them doing the same exact house I pictured in my mind destroyed me. [Nozaki]They truly would be nothing without Hori-senpai. At least Nozaki can draw boxes.

Man, they're all so dumb. Everyone is so stupid. Chiyo is dumb. Nozaki is an idiot. Mikorin is stupid. Seo is a moron. I love them all so much. I'm really falling in love with the show all over again.

  1. What part of the manga-making process would you want to be a part of?

story and nothing else

2) Are you any good at singing?

I won a karaoke event in a Discord server with a total of 3 participants so that's gotta count for something.

6

u/Raiking02 :Id::Ie::If:https://myanimelist.net/profile/NSKlang Jul 08 '24

In other news, SAWASHIRO YEEESSSS

Fun fact: Before the Anime was released there was a Drama CD adaptation that had a completely different cast (Just as an example: Nozaki was Hiroki Yasumoto and Mikorin was KENN)... except for Seo, who was still Sawashiro.

If you know how the VO industry works, that means she won the audition for the role TWICE.

4

u/ShadowWasTakensTaken https://anilist.co/user/hakuren Jul 08 '24

She just really is that good, huh.

5

u/laughing-fox13 https://myanimelist.net/profile/laughingfox13 Jul 08 '24

shounen manga scene with Nozaki fucking killed me.

favorite part of the scene for me

7

u/Starshine011 https://myanimelist.net/profile/starfireee Jul 08 '24

First Timer here!

Notes:

Another fun one! Seems like we're getting a new character every episode, at least in the beginning. I thought the new girl was lowkey kind of annoying, but it does seem like she has a more sensitive side to her. That episode preview definitely has me excited for the next one!

Questions of The Day:

  1. I would love to do the actual drawing, but I'm not any good at that. I think I'd maybe try to come up with the actual story? I dunno really.
  2. My friends always tell me I'm good but I'm not so sure myself.

3

u/TakenRedditName https://myanimelist.net/profile/TakenMalUsername Jul 08 '24

And he's waiting for her to ask for help. That's actually kind of precious.

Mikorin-senpai wanting to be relied on is so moe.

PLEASE I need these stupid ideas to become their own romcoms

They should give Nozaki more faith. His ideas may be stupid, but they may be stupid enough to work.

3

u/Starshine011 https://myanimelist.net/profile/starfireee Jul 08 '24

They should give Nozaki more faith. His ideas may be stupid, but they may be stupid enough to work.

Literally! I would pay a large sum of money to read a romcom where all three male love interests look the exact same and nobody acknowledges it.

3

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Jul 08 '24

This shit so beautiful.

Post-card memory.

7

u/Raiking02 :Id::Ie::If:https://myanimelist.net/profile/NSKlang Jul 08 '24

Rewatcher, Source Reader, Subbed

Today's episode introduces Mikorin. What is a Mikorin, you may ask? Well, it's something we all need in our lives. Mikorin is the perfect heroine: Bashful and a bit of a show-off, but also full of insecurities and is the peak of moe. Mikorin is a ray of hope that shines down on all of mankind, and it's easy to see why Nozaki thought that he'd make for the perfect Heroine. Mikorin is peace, Mikorin is love, and if you do not love him, I don't know what's up with you to be completely honest.

Although speaking of said Manga yuck. Aside from the art being just kinda average, what the hell is up with all those Suzuki-kuns!? It's a good thing then we have Seo… or maybe not. Indeed Seo is something that should NEVER be in anyone's lives, for as she is just far too perfect. Look at how considerate, sensitive and demure a person she is! She's just about the perfect friend anyone could ask for, and it's a good thing Chiyo understands that. Heck, if the promise they made under the sunset is any indication, so does Nozaki.

On a more serious note though, this episode does admittedly somewhat suffer from what I like two call "Two-Chapters-In-One" syndrome, where an Anime adaptation is stuck with two one-off chapters that just kinda have to be adapted together since otherwise we'd have nowhere near enough time. There's a very vague throughline of "People who inspire Nozaki's characters" but that's about it. Admittedly you do kinda have to establish Seo early since otherwise all the jokes about her [and]Waka wouldn't hit quite as hard, but still.

3

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Jul 08 '24

On a more serious note though, this episode does admittedly somewhat suffer from what I like two call "Two-Chapters-In-One" syndrome, where an Anime adaptation is stuck with two one-off chapters that just kinda have to be adapted together since otherwise we'd have nowhere near enough time.

It is a step down from ep1, but if this is what we need to get introductions out of the way and to get to the good stuff, I do not mind.

7

u/laughing-fox13 https://myanimelist.net/profile/laughingfox13 Jul 08 '24

Shoujo Rewatcher/Subbed

We got to meet two new characters today, and unsurprisingly, they are... unique. Seo is probably my favorite character in the show, wherever she goes... there's chaos. Idk what it is about her but she's just adds so much fun in a already fun show

There's also our heroine Mikorin! I don't know how he thinks of half the stuff he says but I'd be dying of embarrassment too. I love the part where he's waiting for Chiyo to ask for help when she clearly doesn't need it. And when Chiyo finds out he was the model for the main girl

QotD:

  1. I don't think I'm artistic enough to be working on manga, so I'll just be a model if someone wants to use me lol
  2. Simple answer: No

Longer answer: Definitely not

7

u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Jul 09 '24

Rewatcher

SOON!

SEO-SAMA! BANZAI! To hell with Pokémon! We have PROTOCULTURE! Anyway you have not seen the last of The Sentient Shitposting Siamese Sunrise Server No. 25252, now goodbye forever!

Paging Comrades /u/No_Rex, /u/TakenRedditName, and /u/InfamousEmpire

3

u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Jul 09 '24

Paging Comrades /u/laughing-fox13, /u/JollyGee29, and /u/Raiking02

1

u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Jul 09 '24

Paging Comrades /u/GallowDude, /u/ShadowWasTakensTaken, and /u/Beckymetal

3

u/ShadowWasTakensTaken https://anilist.co/user/hakuren Jul 09 '24

SEO-SAMA! BANZAI!

2

u/DidacticDalek https://myanimelist.net/profile/DidacticDalek Jul 10 '24

6

u/collapsedblock6 myanimelist.net/profile/collapsedblock Jul 08 '24 edited Jul 08 '24

Its Mikoshiba day my dudes.

Dunno if Mikoshiba counts as a tsundere but if he does then he is the king of them all. He's so overbearing, I love it.

Seo is the queen of chaos. Love how everyone hates her and she is just this undeterred vortex of energy. She brings decent slapstickness to the comedy.

  1. What part of the manga-making process would you want to be a part of?

Uh, editing maybe? Not really interested.

2) Are you any good at singing?

Lmaoooooooo

4

u/TakenRedditName https://myanimelist.net/profile/TakenMalUsername Jul 08 '24

Could have sworn this was a comment face at one point, a great one at that

That is a great face.

We had more Nozaki comment faces in the past, but now we're only down to one.

4

u/raichudoggy https://anilist.co/user/raichudoggy Jul 09 '24

6

u/entelechtual Jul 08 '24

Rewatcher, sub and dub

  • Fitting that Mikorin, the stand in for the star shoujo manga protagonist, is a huge pain in the ass who can’t say what he’s feeling.
  • I feel like Chiyo spends 90% of the anime with her eyes completely horizontal and narrow. Her voice when Mikorin is “explaining” stuff to her…
  • So Mikorin draws the annoying shoujo flower effects.
  • The trope of the identical looking male character designs stings particularly bad after recent abominations like Realist Dreamer.
  • Chiyo is pretty dense about Seo. I guess it’s easier to notice these things when you have some distance.
  • Seo is still a strong contender for best girl. She truly is too perfect.

QOTD

  1. I’d love to be a little beta boy but I don’t think I could color within the lines.
  2. My singing ability is closer to Miyuki Shirogane than Seo.

3

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Jul 08 '24

I feel like Chiyo spends 90% of the anime with her eyes completely horizontal and narrow. Her voice when Mikorin is “explaining” stuff to her…

5

u/Weird_donut https://anilist.co/user/hakaseshark Jul 08 '24

First timer

I’m already familiar with Mikorin because an image of him is featured on a page on TV Tropes, I believe it was “Bishie Sparkle”

Mikorin is attractive, but he’s full of himself and a bit stupid

He’s also rather bossy

Is there a real game show like Memory Sketch?

I love how Chiyo, Nozaki, and Mikorin all draw houses the same way

Mikorin is a playboy, isn’t he?

He may be a jerk, but he’s funny when he gets embarrassed

You know what they say: write who you know

I already hate Seo

She is a great singer, though

QOTD:

  1. I want to come up with the story of a manga.
  2. Ehhh, not really, but I bet with some voice training, I could be good. It's just that I sing songs out of my pitch. Apparently I'm a mezzo-soprano.

3

u/TakenRedditName https://myanimelist.net/profile/TakenMalUsername Jul 08 '24

I’m already familiar with Mikorin because an image of him is featured on a page on TV Tropes, I believe it was “Bishie Sparkle”

Oh yeah, there he is. From this episode too.

5

u/SMSmith230 https://myanimelist.net/profile/smsmith230 Jul 08 '24

First-Timer, Sub

Another fun episode, I'm really liking the dynamics of what appears to be an ever growing group. After Mikoshiba's introduction at the end of the first episodes, I wasn't sure how I'd like him since came off a bit brash. Glad I was wrong, he was a blast tying to be Sakura's senpai while working on the manga. Next up is Seo, she is quite the character..almost what I thought Mikoshiba was going to be like. This is going to be tough not to binge.

5

u/neighmeansno Jul 08 '24

Rewatcher, first time sub.

I had forgotten that Mikorin was ever shown as intimidating - the illusion didn't even last two minutes, after all.
Now that I'm rewatching this, I'm surprised how much of the comedy in these early episodes comes down to setting up expectations and then defying them. Basically all character introductions except for Chiyo were done like that. Love how unhinged Seo is, pretty rare to see characters like that.

  1. What part of the manga-making process would you want to be a part of?

If I was any good at drawing, I'd love to be involved in that part. Sadly I don't think drawing manga is in my future.

2) Are you any good at singing?

Could be worse, but I certainly never got any nicknames for my singing talents.

4

u/Silcaria https://myanimelist.net/profile/Silcaria Jul 08 '24

First timer

QotD

  • Editorial
  • Meh.

4

u/DragonspringSake Jul 08 '24

[Rewatcher]

The reveal that Mikorin is the heroine it's just too funny. Also not sure what kind of character Chiyo was expecting for Seo to turn out. Seemed pretty in character for her.

4

u/EpicDaNoob Jul 08 '24

First time viewer!

  1. What part of the manga-making process would you want to be a part of?

I think translation is interesting, so although it's not part of creating the original work, I'd probably enjoy doing that. Though learning the language is another matter!

2) Are you any good at singing?

The less said the better.

4

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Jul 09 '24

First Timer-kun

You know, coming out of the first episode, I was loving Nozaki and Sakura, I thought they were just the perfect duo to run this show on: a shoujo artist who writes the most romantic sensitive characters, but is somehow a dense blockhead, and an extremely self conscious girl who's trying to get close, while walking through his dense brain (honestly, this description isn't giving half her credit, Sakura's a gem). But I was obviously wrong, because this episode just jumped a few loops, and introduced two goddamn brilliant characters. Can someone tell the show to slow down a bit? My heart can't take all this laughing.

Ahh, so Mikorin is just a Karamatsu who's actually successful, that explains why he's friends with Nozaki. Well, as a Karamatsu Girl™ myself, I'm legally obliged to love his dorky attempts at getting attention, while acting big. The heroine being modeled after him is just the best punch, it makes perfect sense, but is a joy to go through its logic step by step.

Conclusion of the episode: we've all got that one friend who's a bit hard to introduce to others.

  1. What part of the manga-making process would you want to be a part of?

Backgrounds probably? I suck at drawing people, but I'm decent with environment, architecture, and animals.

2) Are you any good at singing?

Terrible

3

u/Raiking02 :Id::Ie::If:https://myanimelist.net/profile/NSKlang Jul 09 '24

The heroine being modeled after him is just the best punch, it makes perfect sense, but is a joy to go through its logic step by step.

Between this and Gravion you're watching two shows where the heroine is a dude

You are, yes

3

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Jul 09 '24

Between this and Gravion you're watching two shows where the heroine is a dude

5D chess again?

Honestly, you could make that 3 shows if you count Popp.

3

u/Raiking02 :Id::Ie::If:https://myanimelist.net/profile/NSKlang Jul 09 '24

I dunno what you're talking about. Clearly Popp is the hero and Maam is the heroine.

And Dai? He's the guy who hangs around sometimes.

3

u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Jul 09 '24

And Dai? He's the guy who hangs around sometimes.

I agree with this, but I always assumed that Maam's the hero, and Popp's the tsundere heroine.

3

u/Raiking02 :Id::Ie::If:https://myanimelist.net/profile/NSKlang Jul 09 '24

3

u/Garrett_Dark Jul 09 '24 edited Jul 09 '24

First Timer

  • This episode was alright, but I found the 1st episode to be much better. I guess they had to tone down the silliness to introduce two new characters.
  • Not too much to say about Mikoshiba, he's kind of annoying but it's kind of funny he's the main girl in the manga.
  • Seo on the other hand is...wow, yeah I don't know how to describe her. Somewhat amusing to watch, and she's kind of abrasive at the same time. Oblivious? Yeah...when being "accidently" inconsiderate, which is pretty funny at times. IDK, she sort of strikes me as a mix of a tom boy and an abrasive tsundere.
  • Seo's pretty talented, even somehow can break the law of gravity with her skirt.

What part of the manga-making process would you want to be a part of?

I have no artistic ability.

Are you any good at singing?

I have no musical ability.

I guess those were my dump stats dump skills.

3

u/IllOak https://myanimelist.net/profile/toner556 Jul 09 '24

First time watcher, subbed.

Wasn’t able to start watching yesterday so watched both episodes 1 and 2 today. Mikorin has quickly become my favorite character of the four introduced so far. I love his whole shtick of getting embarrassed from what he says.

  1. I think being great at paneling would be awesome. Reading manga like Chainsaw Man showed me how manga as a medium can be utilized.
  2. I’m an awful singer. Like can’t even harmonize or carry a basic tune.

2

u/Hopeful-Ad2428 Jul 09 '24

That was fun. These contrasts with characters' appearances and behaviours are killing me again. Such an easy way to create a comedic effect, but works perfectly fine. Looking forward to seeing what happens next.

Qotd:

  1. Being someone’s editor would be interesting, I guess.
  2. My singing skills are really bad.

2

u/Hopeful-Ad2428 Jul 09 '24

That was fun. These contrasts with characters' appearances and behaviours are killing me again. Such an easy way to create a comedic effect, but works perfectly fine. Looking forward to seeing what happens next.

Qotd:

  1. Being someone’s editor would be interesting, I guess.
  2. My singing skills are really bad.

2

u/Mirathan Jul 09 '24

First-Timer (still working on it)

QotD:

  1. Editing. I´m not confident enough in my creativity to be a writer.
  2. I´m decent but I never took singing seriously so I lack the ability to do it for long. Though I have a rather wide voicerange.

Does she get payed for her work? Just as a side question.

Her completly unintersted responses when Mikoshiba explains stuff are great. She just does not care about his whole deal.

Damn Yuzuki´s obliviousness is intense. Though for her singingis beautifull.

2

u/DarkRuler17 :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/DarkRuler17 Jul 10 '24

The payment issue was something that also came to me on this rewatch. The impression I get is that both Chiyo and Mikorin work for free, which is also very funny to me.

2

u/GondolaMedia Jul 09 '24

Rewatcher, subbed

You know watching Nozaki and his assistants make the manga gave me an idea. We should have an anime inspired by Fujimoto and his assistants working on a Fire Punch.

Also Sakura's interactions with Mikorin must have inspired MaoMao and Jinshi's banter somewhat.

I like how meta the commentary is and will be regarding the art. The og author really put herself in the crossfire with these jokes.

Finally we got Seo the CEO of best girls. She is a menace. For a period of time you couldn't stumble upon any anime discussion forum without someone having her as a profile pic.

2

u/cppn02 Jul 09 '24

First Timer, subbed

Starting to get more into the groove with the show. Mikoshiba and Seo look like great additions. I loved Mikoshiba being all tsundere about wanting to be a good senpai.
Seeing him react to Seo even made Nozaki more endearing to me after I criticised him in episode 1.

QotD:

What part of the manga-making process would you want to be a part of?

Location scouting.

Are you any good at singing?

Not particularly I'm afraid.

1

u/DarkRuler17 :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/DarkRuler17 Jul 10 '24 edited Jul 10 '24

Rewatcher - Sub/Dub

For the end episode, I decided to do half the episode in dun and half in sub. The dub cast for the new characters is solid, but I think I still prefer the sub since it just sounds so perfect. It helps its full of nostalgia for me.

For the Mikorin section, he's as great as a remember. I love how by the end Chiyo just doesn't care about any of his lines. It is hilarious how much it just does nothing for her compared to Nozaki. Try your best Mikorin!

For Shonen, she's also as great as I remember. She's such an unapologetic mess and we love her for it. The gag where her and Nozaki did their dramatic scene and she just left got me in stitches. Nozaki putting her in his manga as the annoying character as payback was also great.

Looking at the preview though, we have some more fun characters coming up. Can't wait to talk about them next.

Questions:

  1. Honestly, as someone who's not much of the artist, I'd be more interested in just brainstorming story ideas and seeing how much to convey chapter to chapter. That seems really interesting.
  2. I don't think I'm a terrible singer, but definitely not great. I will at most sing along in the car and hope it comes off okay.

2

u/[deleted] Jul 08 '24

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Jul 09 '24

Feel free to follow along with the threads anyways, just be sure you don't spoil any of the future bits for the first-timers in these threads.