×
  • remind me tomorrow
  • remind me next week
  • never remind me
Subscribe to the ANN Newsletter • Wake up every Sunday to a curated list of ANN's most interesting posts of the week. read more

Forum - View topic
REVIEW: Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki 2nd Stage Anime Series Review




Note: this is the discussion thread for this article

Anime News Network Forum Index -> Site-related -> Talkback
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
njprogfan
Collector Extraordinaire



Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Posts: 1161
Location: A River Named Toms
PostPosted: Sat Apr 06, 2024 1:47 pm Reply with quote
Yeah, Mimimi was my fav, (I just like upbeat, positive, energetic characters) and I was rooting for her throughout but eventually knew who he was going to pick, dangit, (did get my fav choices with two harem series, We Never Learn and Quintessential Quintuplets thank you very much *read the mangas*). Although it may not have had stood out compared to others of its ilk, I very much enjoyed the series with the overall tone, humor and breath of likeable characters. It was just plain solid.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message My Anime My Manga
tywhoppity



Joined: 09 Sep 2019
Posts: 200
PostPosted: Sat Apr 06, 2024 8:22 pm Reply with quote
It may be contrary to the views of most, but I think the series would've been better served if it were given an extra 4-6 episodes to let it breathe, and expand on some of the themes. At worst, it would give some clarity on why Tomozaki picked Kikuchi.

I'm also in the camp of Team Mimimi, one of the best girls ever! Like njprogfan, I also am predetermined to like genki girls(Bokuben and QQ "winners" were also genki).
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
MFrontier



Joined: 13 Apr 2014
Posts: 11233
PostPosted: Sat Apr 06, 2024 10:44 pm Reply with quote
Mimimi is Best Girl even in getting rejected though I feel like ultimately Fuka winning was more a testament to the kind of show this is (not an explicitly romance one) and the more low-key, introspective touch (though the perpetual play metaphor was maybe a bit much).

Shame they weren't able to get deeper into Hinami's situation that they teased out but that would take a season 3.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Glordit



Joined: 11 Sep 2020
Posts: 462
PostPosted: Sun Apr 07, 2024 3:05 am Reply with quote
The bullying arc felt like it went on for too long and the pay-off for it is probably further along in the story. Beyond that I really did enjoy this series even more than season 1.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
FilthyCasual



Joined: 01 Jun 2015
Posts: 2194
PostPosted: Sun Apr 07, 2024 1:27 pm Reply with quote
I'm fairly certain that the novel's descriptions of the writer/player/character stuff was clearer to understand than the anime. Regardless, the conflict between acting how you think you should and acting how you want comes through, as well as Tomozaki's and Kikuchi's mutual issues with self-esteem and their place in romance. I found the denouement very sweet with how Tomozaki was able to pass on the lessons he'd learned and confidence he'd gained. Even if it came at the cost of poor Mimimi's suffering. It was a painful read and a painful watch. I'd gladly watch a third season!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
lolechka



Joined: 12 Mar 2022
Posts: 18
Location: Russia
PostPosted: Mon Apr 08, 2024 1:12 pm Reply with quote
FilthyCasual wrote:
I'm fairly certain that the novel's descriptions of the writer/player/character stuff was clearer to understand than the anime.

I read the scene in the book right before the episode dropped, and I personally found the anime explanation easier. It's less wordy and not as convoluted as in the book, where I had to reread entire pages to understand characters worldview. Maybe it's just me being dumb though.

BTW, to all the Mimimibros, Kikuchi winning is much more understandable in the novels. Books are written in the first person, and Tomozaki thinks of Mimimi "damn she's beautiful, she's a great friend", and every freaking time he sees Kikuchi since the very first volume he's like "OMG FOREST FAIRY SHE'S SO CUTE I'M GONNA DIE". It's so obvious that he has a crush on Kikuchi, you can't really imagine any other outcome when reading "Tomozaki".
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
killjoy_the



Joined: 30 May 2015
Posts: 2459
PostPosted: Mon Apr 08, 2024 4:32 pm Reply with quote
lolechka wrote:
BTW, to all the Mimimibros, Kikuchi winning is much more understandable in the novels


I didn't go reread the novel itself but reading my initial comments in it, the anime also skipped the conversation Tomozaki had with Shuji regarding crushes/love, and that's quite the turning point for him understanding his feelings towards her, iirc
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Kadmos1



Joined: 08 May 2014
Posts: 13557
Location: In Phoenix but has an 85308 ZIP
PostPosted: Tue Apr 09, 2024 7:08 am Reply with quote
Question for those that read the "Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki" light novels. Unless Hinami is the main heroine in the light novels and Minami is given more appearance times in the anime, why does the "Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki" Wikia list Hinami as the main heroine? I know that Fandom/Wikia sites can be questionable in accuracy and reliability.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
killjoy_the



Joined: 30 May 2015
Posts: 2459
PostPosted: Tue Apr 09, 2024 7:25 am Reply with quote
Because she's probably still the character with the most interactions with Tomozaki and the most impact on the plot, even if she's not the love interest. Season 1-wise I doubt anyone would be able to say any other character had more impact than her (even though Mimimi and Kikuchi had their moments), and while she takes more of a backstage this season, it was focused on Tama/Mimimi/Kikuchi in somewhat even terms I'd say[/spoiler]
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
yeehaw



Joined: 09 Sep 2018
Posts: 423
PostPosted: Sat Apr 20, 2024 3:09 pm Reply with quote
I don't know how to feel about the finale.
I thought when Hinami made it a task for Tomozaki to arbitrarily pick one of his female friends to date that it would end with Tomozaki not doing it.
Like he'd point out to Hinami that just dating someone just because it's normal is kind of weird and could really hurt someone's feelings, but then they never questioned that bit.
I don't think the show did a good enough job showing Tomozaki's feelings and that he actually liked anyone romantically.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Anime News Network Forum Index -> Site-related -> Talkback All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group