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I don’t usually watch harem anime, but this one is more than that. Aside from the outrageously long title, The 100 Girlfriends Who Really Really Really Really Really Love You is a comedy gold in fall 2023. You know what, I’ll just call it by its Japanese title, Hyakkano, for this review.

I actually watched this anime since its premiere. It was an uneventful night, and then I stumbled on this anime on some anime subreddits. I said, “meh… Why not?” But, I decided to make chapter reviews of anime that caught my attention the most. I thought Hyakkano was going to be one of those that I’d drop.

We already have Girlfriend Girlfriend season two for this season’s harem anime, and I thought Hyakkano would fall pale in comparison. Boy, was I wrong.

A Textbook Harem But Crank It To 100!

This anime has a simple premise, just like any other harem anime. Have the guy surrounded by girls that want him, put him in some funny situation, and follow the typical slice of life formula. But, no, this anime twists the clichés that often happen in a harem anime.

First of all, I never expected the anime would actually aim for one hundred girls. I guess the author was serious about the number rather than making it a gimmick. After a bit of digging, I found that the manga is inching to the 30th girlfriend by the time I am writing this. When usually five girls are enough, Hyakkano‘s author says, “rookie number” and decided to crank it to one hundred.

The density of girls population isn’t the only one that stands out. The comedy in this anime is designed to be as outlandish as possible. It doesn’t lazily put common plot lines, like the long and dragged out first confession. I mean, heck, by the time it reached episode seven, we got to know the fifth girlfriend.

Putting A Simple Premise To The Test

Also, what I like about the premise of this anime is its stake on each girl. The protagonist, Aijo Rentarou, has to date every single one of the one hundred girls, or they would die. Even though it might be considered as a comedic turn, I think it’s a great twist.

A harem anime rarely has a grave consequence for its branching romance. The conflicts usually come from the world around them, not the romance itself. Even if the harem breeds a romantic conflict, at most it will be how the girls find out they are being two (or more)-timed. So, putting a fatal outcome if Rentarou fail to date even only one girl gives a fresh, exciting basis, and pushes Rentarou to never say no to love.

Fan Service, Of Course

You don’t have to wait for long to get to the first fan service. Although, this is where the anime split the audience. I understand that fan service can be a dealbreaker, especially when it comes with some raunchy and spicy scenes.

However, that’s not all fan service supposed to be. Often in romance anime, we have to wait grudgingly for so many episodes only to get a kissing scene or even a simple confession. For how much I like Kaguya-sama: Love Is War, it’s still important to point out how they drag out the romance can frustrate some first timers.

Hyakkano got a very glaring contrast in this regard. Right from the start we have, not one, but two confessions. This anime certainly doesn’t hold back in this department. But, because of this, the romance between Rentarou and each girl are quickly established, allowing for different girls to shine.

Unexpected Depth Into Each Girl

As I mentioned before, how we understand each girl’s story is one key point of this anime. Other harem anime failed to do it, but Hyakkano does it impeccably.

Yes, the premise seemingly leads us into thinking there are virtually too many girls to highlight. However, the anime succeeds in setting up the perfect pace and the timing for each girl to step into the spotlight.

What’s great about it is that each time one of the girls got her time, it’s exclusively not about her and Rentarou. The anime also shows how the girls are taking care of each other. And you know what, it’s their dynamics that won me over, really.

Each Girl Is Unique And Not Just Another Girl For The Protagonist

While it’s typical for a harem anime to focus on how the girls are swooning over the guy, Hyakkano subtly but not subtly gives a lot of development among the girls.

For example, Hakari Hanazono makes her introduction alongside with Karane Inda. They contrast each other really well, with Hakari being the shameless but shrewd horndog, and Karane as the definition of a violent tsundere.

However, with each episode, I saw how Hakari evolves along every girl Rentarou is dating. It slowly became obvious how she balances out Karane. And then, I see her being the veteran of dating Rentarou for the others, especially for Eiai.

And now, Hakari has her first major conflict line in the tenth episode. Yet, the anime doesn’t lose its pace and manages to introduce another girl, who is Hakari’s mom… What in the world!?

But, So Many Types Of Girls

Well, it’s easy to say that there are so many variations of the girls. We have usual tropes like the tsundere, the love-crazed, and the quiet girl. But, there are also some who stand on the weirder end of the spectrum. I guess this anime doesn’t want to left anyone behind.

I want to make a point about Eiai Nano, though. I thought at first she would be a secondary quiet girl in Rentarou’s harem roster. We already have Shizuka, so maybe Eiai is the cold and confident type. So glad that she wasn’t a carbon copy of Shizuka. It would be boring if we got two of the same type.

Unlike Shizuka’s battle with her own shyness and lack of confidence. But, I think there will be more to unwrap in Shizuka’s story. Eiai’s journey with Rentarou is more about enabling ourselves to be wrapped by emotions, to be more honest about what we feel. This kind of story has its own soft spot in my heart, I guess.

Eiai’s initial love discovery with Rentarou really reminds me of Frieren coming into realization of what she feels about Himmel. Both are cold and emotionless women, initially. Although, Eiai took a 180-degree turn to love Rentarou rather quickly.

The Wacky Types

Also, we have Kusuri and Hahari. These last two girls are on the wacky side as far as I’m concerned. Like, who even has considered dating a chemically-induced shapeshifter, and the mom of the girl you’re dating? Wait… After a brief internet dive, I regret what I said. Man, there IS a market for every one!

Anyhow, it’s both a good and bad thing that this anime isn’t shy to showcases so many girls and dating tropes. Good, because they actually explore these tropes and not just showcase them. Bad, because some of them are just plain weird, and will attract certain niches but potentially alienate some viewers.

My Final Say

Okay, after all the odd anime that I’ve watched all these times, I think Hyakkano still don’t fall into an absurd comedy. I think it doesn’t take too much energy to digest its humor. If we compare it to Nichijou, Hyakkano has way less Japanese specific jokes, which make Nichijou falls short for some. Rather, I think its humor has the same continuous shock effect as Bochi The Rock!‘s elaborate visual comedy.

What I am trying to say is that this anime has a really approachable comedic taste, even for a gaijin. It’s a good thing, since Hyakkano barely gives you a breather in between jokes. I often found myself not able to continue watching this anime in cafés or my college library. Every time, my face would turn red like a freshly cooked lobster from holding back laughter.

I love how they constantly break the fourth wall. Like when Hakari’s mom actually bought the ending for the eleventh episode, all for how down bad she is for Rentarou. Also, I love that they put a wide range of pop-culture references, not just from other anime. What’s stood out for me was Eiai making a reference to The Shining. I was a fool for not seeing that coming.

The only downside is that you probably wouldn’t watch it out in the public. It’s best to have a separated private time to take a look at this anime. Since it’s full of fan service too, maybe not every one of your anime loving friend would buy into it. There are some scenes that are simply too NSFW for newcomers. However, the anime does a good job of actually telling compelling plots, backstories, and comedy. Suffice to say, people might think Hyakkano is a pure degen-bait, but not really.

https://seinenrider.com/2023/12/20/the-100-girlfriends-who-really-really-really-really-really-love-you-hyakkano-review/

#100Girlfriend #Anime #AnimeReview #Comedy #Fall2023 #Harem #Hyakkano

Just the other day, I caught up to Aijou Rentarou’s hijinks in The 100 Girlfriends Who Really Really Really Really Really Love You. Wow! That’s a mouthful, but also I can attest this is one of the funniest anime they put out this year.

One thing that I noticed is how Shizuka-chan, the small and quiet girl, manages to get herself stuck on an island in a pool. Her floaties got ripped, her phone’s battery just gave up on her, thus she is effectively a maiden in need of rescue.

When she finally spots Rentarou, she lets out maybe the softest and smallest “Hey!” I’ve ever heard in my life. But somehow, Rentarou hears her like he is some kind of bat with echolocation, which is hysterical.

For context, Shizuka always communicates with her phone via a text-to-speech feature, where it reads her favorite book. She is shy and rather insecure about her soft voice. So, she decided it is better for her to communicate by quoting her book.

Shizuka’s shyness got me thinking. Hmm, there are plenty of girls in anime that could’ve used a text-to-speech feature like her. Last year we got Bocchi The Rock!, 2021 gave us Komi-san. Heck, even this season, we got an anime with the word “SHY” as the title.

So, is the quiet girl trope just another character template in anime? Or, maybe we do have a lot of them, and most are very well written.

Why Quiet Girls In Anime Are Popular

The quiet girl trope is among the most used tropes in anime. Considering how many quiet girls we have in anime, there have to be some reasons for them to exist for so long.

First, quiet girls are relatable. It’s not hard to find someone who would get bashful when meeting their crush. For some people, finding a bashful or reserved character in an anime is a “Hey! It’s me!” moment.

Second, it’s their introverted nature. Especially in romance anime, introverted girls who keep to themselves do have their own mysterious vibes. And sometimes, that’s the very thing the main character or the audience is attracted to. What’s more interesting is that some anime gives an idea on how introversion and issues surrounding it actually work.

And the final reason, when it feels great to see them breaking out from the shell for the first time. The more wholesome example would be the anime Hitoribocchi no Marumaru Seikatsu. In this anime, the main character, Hitori Bocchi, makes her way to finally open up and make new friends despite her internal struggles.

The Quiet Girl Is Relatable And Anime Community Is Full Of Introverts

Let’s break down the reasons above one by one. First, the relatability of the quiet girl trope among fans. Surprisingly, but not really, most anime fans are introverts. Or at least, there is a ten years old study that indicates introverts love talking about anime on social media.

Although the study is old, I believe it still holds some truth. There are introverts, such as Frieren, among the most popular female anime characters at the time of writing this post. This supports the idea that the quiet girl trope is highly popular and that there are many introverts among anime fans.

The Beautiful And Mysterious Girl Type

What’s more interesting is sometimes this trope also hits the less discussed side of being an attractive girl and being an introvert. Most people would assume that, as long as you’re attractive, there’s virtually no obstacle for you to make social connections.

However, this is can’t be much farther from the truth. Komi-san from Komi Can’t Communicate really shows how being attractive doesn’t always correlate with being sociable. Right at the first few second of the beginning of the anime, Komi is already turning heads because of her beauty. But, she still struggles to make friends with others.

What I was worried about her character when I watch this anime for the first time is how people will only see her as a pretty face. Yes, being attractive gives an advantage when it comes to attracting attention. But, what’s good about a heap of attention when there’s lack of genuine interaction.

The horror of this situation comes when all that people is only the shell of the person, not what’s inside. It can be genuinely isolating when people reduce yourself into just how you look like, even when you’re good looking. There is an interesting stream by Dr. Kanojia, or Dr. K, on YouTube talking about this exact problem.

What About The Invisible Quiet Girls?

The issue can be more severe when the quiet and reserved character isn’t traditionally attractive. I think it’s also true in real life. There’s a certain line where a person can turn from being “cool” to “creepy” in how society perceive attractiveness.

In real life, the effects of forcing oneself into becoming the exact copy of the ideal expectation can be severe. Women are particularly prone to eating disorders while conforming to what perceived as attractive by society.

Also, I think the problem of turning invisible for unattractive introverts is universal for both men and women. For example, Kaguya-sama: Love is War jokingly makes a reference of Ishigami’s appearance in the anime. He actually is a member of the student council, but he is always overlooked until his official appearance in the middle of the first season.

What’s more terrifying is that sometimes being the unattractive quiet girl can lead to a character with a skewed viewpoint on life. It’s what happens in WataMote. The main character, Tomoko Kuroki, is somewhat similar with Komi-san, but she is not as traditionally attractive.

I’m sure there are many introverts who are struggling to be seen by their peers. And to some extent, it can be attributed to the attractiveness of the person. When an anime puts a spotlight on this type of character, it showcases the experience of the average person at the same time.

The inclusion of these issues can prevent the quiet girl trope from being too one-dimensional. Potential conflicts that arise when variables like bias on attractiveness are introduced give the characters something to either fight against or to accept.

Exploring Introversion, Two Kinds Of Quiet Girls

The quiet girl trope obviously tackles down how introversion and social anxiety work. While the two can correlate, they don’t always mean the same thing. The best example showing the contrast between the two might be that one scene from Bocchi The Rock!

Bocchi, at some point, realizes that her bandmate, Ryo-senpai, is actually voluntarily put herself as a loner. Why? Because she prefers to do things like that. Ryo-senpai is just built different.

In reality, introversion exists on a spectrum. One introvert is completely unique from the other. Although there are some similarities, just like how both Ryo and Bocchi avoid social interactions, their reasons could be totally different.

While the two are introverts, one willingly plunges herself into her own bubble of isolation, while the other is torn apart by her neurotic perception of the outside world. I think this is where the quiet girl trope shines the most. While it gives the idea of a generic template of a reserved person, it has so many options to make itself specific.

More Than Introversion, The Quiet Girl Trope Explores Social Anxiety

If we dive more deeply into this trope, it explores more than just introversion. Both Ryo and Bocchi are introverts, but the latter certainly has an issue. While being an introvert is totally fine, things can easily go south when a character has a social anxiety.

While an extreme example like Shizuka might give an idea how social anxiety might seem from the outside. I think Bocchi perfectly shows how people with this problem process interaction internally.

There are so many scenes of Bocchi freaking out on the idea of performing on stage, being replaced by a more extroverted guitarist, or ended up as a hikikomori at the most extreme. The anime expresses her worries in the most creative way possible.

From Bocchi glitching out, exploding like a balloon when some random guys try to interact with her, to her transforming into a low-poly figure being thrown against a wall. This is the imagery that I want to see when there is a quiet and anxious character.

I would really love if there are more anime that give the idea what’s actually going on inside the head of quiet characters. While anxiety can seriously twist how we perceive the world, Bocchi’s portrayal of her internal struggles gives the quiet girl trope a clearer visual description.

Rooting For Characters With Internal Struggles

Watching a quiet girl character slowly overcomes her shyness and self-isolation can actually be inspiring. When it comes to romance, it’s mostly the norm for the guy to make the first move. When a girl does it, it’s sometimes seen as groundbreaking.

However, the real groundbreaking thing is actually when a quiet character is the one who initiates a romantic confession. Why is that the case? Well, first she has to be brave enough to put herself into the possibility of being rejected.

Second, when it comes to quiet girls, their problems essentially are doubled. Her own personality gets in her way to get what she wants. Not only she has to do an unconventional thing, but she also has to conquer her own reserved nature. When the quiet girl trope takes this route, it places the character into a “conquering the dragon” situation, with their inner conflicts being the dragon.

Yes, I am aware that this sounds like a shonen protagonist moment. But, I think conveying internal struggles is forever an important aspect of storytelling, no matter what the media is. Furthermore, the quiet girl trope is arguably just the perfect outlet to show internal conflicts.

Hilarious Comedy Subversion

Okay, now we know that the quiet girl character trope can cover serious issues, like pretty privilege and social anxiety. But, this trope isn’t limited to highly reflective situations and social issue. When done right, the quiet girl can be the most out of pocket comedic factory.

The ultimate example of this would be Mai from Nichijou in my opinion. If the anime weren’t a comedy, she would be the generic studious character out of the trio. Or, maybe she will be similar to Ryo from Bocchi The Rock!

Mai is such a deceptive character in my opinion. She has the stereotypical quiet and smart student appearance, with glasses and an expressionless face. The first time I watched Nichijou, I thought she would be the common sense of the trio. But no, turns out she always has the most chaotic pranks, and she does them in a very elaborate way too.

On top of that, she mostly does these pranks without even uttering a word. I don’t know what the original mangaka of Nichijou was drinking while they were writing Mai’s antiques, but what she does sometimes are just unthinkable.

I think it was a genius choice to put Mai as the prankster as the trio. Her quiet personality combined with her trolls are two things that commonly sit at the opposite end. It diverts us from the initial expectation we might have at first. Furthermore, we already have Yuuko as the designated foolish character. So, putting Mai on a level that’s makes even Yuuko perplexed is such a comedic genius.

Will The Quiet Girl Trope Continue To Be Interesting?

I think there is so much room to explore in the quiet girl trope. So far, I only provided a handful of examples in a few genres. We haven’t even dive deeply into the romance genre and sub-plot, where the quiet girl trope will almost always appear.

Also, the trope is arguably pretty flexible to be present in various genres. It opens up the possibility of having a serious depiction of social problems, ranging from anti-social behavior to women specific issues.

By including these topics into the character, we will see more diversity of personality and less one dimensional female characters in the anime, despite they come from the same quiet girl trope. All things considered, the quiet girl trope is a timeless trope for prevalent reasons in storytelling that can’t be ignored.

https://seinenrider.com/2023/11/17/is-the-quiet-girl-trope-in-anime-no-longer-interesting/

#100Girlfriend #Anime #animeTropes #BocchiTheRock_ #Introvert #KomiCanTCommunicate #QuietGirls #SocialAnxiety #TropeInAnime