Murai in Love (2024)
[村井の恋]
Director: Yoshinobu Yamakawa
Studio: JC Staff
Starring: Kengo Takanashi, Yoko Hikasa, Nobunaga Shimazaki
Episodes: 12
Synopsis:
A nerdy teacher has trouble separating fantasy from reality when a persistent student of hers gets a makeover to look like her favorite otome game character.
Impressions:
This series got an early start on streaming, so I'm able to review it early for the Fall 2024 season. I didn't know what to expect going in, but I was hooked by the premise and this proved to be a very funny series. I don't know if time and/or budget were factors, but production values aren't great, but there's an element of stylistic suck that I can't help but feel is deliberate and actually enhances the comedy a bit. It's the performances that really sell it, especially Yoko Hikasa as Tanaka-sensei. While a common plot in Japanese fiction, I know teacher-student romances will be met with resistance by a significant portion of the audience. If you're worried on that note, I can assure you that Tanaka-sensei is fairly responsible for her part and everything gets resolved in a way that shouldn't ruffle too many feathers. Anyway, I had a lot of fun with it and I think if you're willing to give it a chance, you will too. Give it a watch.
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