Ichijyoma Mankitsu Gurashi! Episode 1 Review: A Tired Throwback
Anime Feminist reviewed the premiere of Ichijyoma Mankitsu Gurashi!, a new slice-of-life comedy series. The episode follows Meiko, a girl from the countryside who receives a scholarship to an elite girls' school in Tokyo, only to discover on arrival that the dormitories are inside a manga café and her new roommates are slovenly streamers and eccentric nerds. The plot hinges on a miscommunication: Meiko was mistaken for a famous mangaka with a similar name by a rich heiress, and she keeps digging herself deeper into the lie. The review describes the show as having an oddly retro quality, with character designs and humor reminiscent of the moe boom from ten to fifteen years ago. However, the reviewer found the endless high-energy gags and throwback silliness exhausting rather than endearing. The humor relies heavily on Meiko reacting in shock to her roommates' antics, and the review notes that much of the comedy is steeped in clunky fan service, such as accidental shower intrusions and underwear shots. The reviewer concludes that while the manga café setting has potential, the show prioritizes awkward situations over character development or interesting storytelling.