Haibara's Teenage New Game+ Episode 1 Review Critiques Male Power Fantasy
The review signals that Haibara's Teenage New Game+ is likely to be a divisive entry in the time-loop genre, with its premiere already drawing criticism for its handling of character and body-image tropes.
Reporting from 1 sources: Anime Feminist.
Anime Feminist published a review of the first episode of Haibara's Teenage New Game+, the new anime about a man who gets a second chance at high school. The reviewer, who previously covered the similar series Remake Our Life! for Anime News Network, found the premiere unappealing. The episode introduces Natsuki Haibara, a lonely college graduate who prays to return to his high school years. He gets his wish and works to improve his body and mindset before restarting his freshman year. The review criticizes Natsuki as a typical sexist male lead whose main goal is to win over his teen crush, rather than become a genuinely better person. The reviewer also objects to the depiction of the protagonist's pre-time-travel weight as a sign of failure, calling the trope tired. While the reviewer acknowledges the power fantasy may appeal to some viewers, they describe the episode as treading familiar ground for the male second-chance genre and not a standout. They do not recommend it unless the viewer already enjoys this type of narrative.
The Anime Feminist review of Haibara's Teenage New Game+ episode 1 focuses on the protagonist Natsuki Haibara, a college graduate who regrets his lonely high school years and is granted a do-over. The reviewer notes that Natsuki spends the episode training physically and mentally before re-entering school, but his primary motivation appears to be pursuing a girl who did not like him in the original timeline. The review calls this a narrow power fantasy and contrasts it with more emotionally intelligent series in the same subgenre. The reviewer also takes issue with the visual shorthand of showing the pre-reset Natsuki as overweight, arguing that the anime uses body size as a marker of personal failure. The review does not praise any technical aspects of the episode, such as animation or voice acting, and does not name the studio or director. The piece is a single-episode impression, not a full series assessment, and the reviewer states they will not continue covering the show weekly.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- Anime Feminist Haibara's Teenage New Game+ – Episode 1