I watched what you could call a lovely anime in the summer of 2022; it had a poignant story, realistic characters and interactions, a straightforward but captivating plot, and, looking back, I can only describe it as a teenage indiscretion. I can state with certainty that "My Stepmom's Daughter is My Ex," also known as Tsurekano, was an anime that I thoroughly loved, never felt like a chore to watch, and-above all-connected with me.
First of all, the story. Let's be honest: this isn't a particularly interesting story. Stepsiblings and romance have already been the subject of numerous animes. You might already know what the anime is about from the title alone. What, therefore, is so fantastic about it? The basic plot, in my opinion, makes it really interesting. These days, complicated plots with frequent misunderstandings, errors, and drama are becoming stale. Taking a break from all that and curling up with an anime feels so good. It's a wonderful, compelling, and grounded piece of writing.
Tsurekano's storyline offers a compelling and realistic depiction of the characters' growth and humanization throughout time. Isana's development and the backstories and relationships between Yume and Mizuto are depicted as sincere and realistic. The narrative emphasizes the brittleness of relationships and the complexity of their hardships, which makes it a compelling and realistic program.
The anime's characters are grating and bothersome, but they're not always horrible. Mizuto is an endearing protagonist despite his shyness and fears; his attempts to aid Yume are heartwarming. Yume is a damaged heroine that experiences insecurities and realistic challenges with becoming popular. Minami is obnoxious and cunning; she is always attempting to alter other people's behavior. Kawanami sets the tone for humorous moments by acting as Akatsuki's possible love interest. As an introvert who can transform into an extrovert when she meets the right person, Isana is the greatest character. Her relationship with Mizuto is one of the best, and it's refreshing that she may be subtly influenced. For the most part, anime enthusiasts will find the work entertaining and relatable.
I have no issues; the sound was excellent. There were humorous sounds during comedic moments and emotional sounds during emotional moments. But the introduction and conclusion are pure gold. Along with ReoNa's Shall We Dance and Kana Hanazawa's Pokerface, the opening is my favorite song of the season. The opening sequence had good images, and I enjoyed the little tidbits about the people their lives were connected to. The song was fantastic; Dialogue+ is always a hit. Although it wasn't as good as the beginning, the finale was still quite useful. The visuals were charming, and the tune included some amazing harmony.
Although the art style is typical of modern anime, I found myself focusing mostly on the character designs. I seem I recall reading remarks about how uninteresting the characters appear when the first image for the show was shown. In all honesty, I think the tale worked really well with the simple character designs. It demonstrates how bizarre coincidences can occur in such a typical setting with typical people. Imagine this: up until their breakup, a cute, fluffy girl with pink hair dated the school prince. They unexpectedly reunite as stepsiblings. Now that doesn't seem so grounded, does it? The side characters' designs were fantastic and really brought out the difference.
I really liked this anime. The characters were real, the tale and plot resonated with me, the comedy was perfect for me, and there was an incredible beginning and conclusion. Together with LycoReco and Shadows House, this was my favorite anime of the season. Don't try it if it's not something you're interested in. However, if it seems like something you'll enjoy, then congrats-you now have a new show to watch!
