In the Clear Moonlit Dusk Premiere Gets a Complicated Review
Anime Feminist published a review of the first episode of the shojo romance series In the Clear Moonlit Dusk on January 15. The review describes the protagonist Yoi, a tall girl with a lower-pitched voice who has been nicknamed "The Prince" by her classmates. She is uncomfortable with the label but struggles to speak up. The episode introduces Ichimura, a popular boy also called "Prince," who is the first person to see past her reputation. The reviewer is of two minds about the premiere. On one hand, they value the story's exploration of how rigid feminine beauty standards can exclude girls from being seen as women. They note that Yoi experiences something like dysphoria due to being misgendered. On the other hand, the reviewer is disappointed that the series seems to be heading toward a romance that reaffirms Yoi's femininity rather than letting her embrace her boyish traits. They also criticize the character design, arguing that Yoi looks conventionally attractive with big eyes and soft features, which undercuts the premise of her being unfeminine. The reviewer finds the animation lovely and the leads have chemistry, but they remain frustrated with the broader trends the story represents. They place the show on their "It's Complicated" shelf.