Anime Kare Kano / His & Her Circumstances

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

I remember getting really curious about this anime once someone called it "one of the best romantic comedies of all time", which was extremely high praise and very much worth a watch for that reason alone...

... Unfortunately, they had said so while in the process of making the case for why it was also one of those shows which has a terrible first couple of episodes, almost guaranteeing that most people would drop it before it really got going.

They were right, too.

His & Her Circumstances/Kare Kano suffers from terminal "slow burn" disease and its first two or three episodes (but specially the very first one) are messy and borderline unwatchable... But then it gets amazing, fires on all cylinders and doesn't let go, to the point where its 25 episodes feel like a tease -- you really do want more by the end of it. I can't think of many other anime that made me fall in love with them quite like this one did, early, crippling problems be damned.

Ever watched it (or even heard about it)?

 

[redux007]

There's a manga about a guy that gets two wives, but it's realistic. And, for years I've been looking for its name but been unable to do so. It was an extremely good romantic story. Also, a "slow burn."

 

[Scotty Scotty]

I discovered this series several months back, yet I still haven't looked into it. Maybe one of these days.

 

[dkpopman]

Watched this a few years ago after happening into a full set of the DVDs released here in the US by Right Stuf, back when they weren't bought and consumed by cr*nchyroll.

It's a really fantastic animation, but it's a shame that they weren't able to continue the story past a single season. The story ends off in a very unsatisfying way, but of course you could always pick up the comic if you want to get the full tale.

I find it's two leads incredibly real as fictional characters. Both characters also displayed attributes, positive and painfully negative, that mapped directly onto me and my lovers interpersonal dynamics. It formed a special bond with us because of that. Also, the shows willingness to show the romance go further than the standard hand-holding and awkward kissing was very refreshing. That maturity underneath the budding child-like love makes it my favorite romance in Japanese animation to this day.

Also, this being a golden age Gainax show, with Anno's fingerprints all over it is a selling point. It's surreal live action ending sequences that change every episode or so. The way that text is so starkly displayed on screen. It's all very Anno-esque. So to any Evangelion die hards, this should essentially be essential reading (watching) for you. Gotta love that opening song, and the Shiro Sagisu OST as well. Of course a couple songs off this soundtrack actually got repurposed for the Rebuild of Evangelion film series, which was an interesting thing to learn about.

Not much else to say without spoiling. To anyone staying away because of this rumored "bad first few episodes." Worry not, you have some exquisitely good romance in front of you. Don't give up!