At the start of Gals Can’t Be Kind to Otaku!? it may seem like yet another romantic comedy with a set of familiar clichés: a shy guy, two attractive classmates, and a hint of classic wish fulfillment, that is, a plot that "fulfills desires" for the viewer. But from the very first episode, it becomes clear that the title does not simply want to play on stereotypes.
Instead, the series bets on shaking up these perceptions. At the center are three characters who turn out to be not just a set of jokes, but quite pleasant characters with whom it is easy to empathize.
An anime fan in the spotlight
Takuya Seo, referred to here as Otaku-kun, easily gets embarrassed, but this does not paralyze his behavior. He speaks normally, can give compliments, and feels especially confident when talking about his favorite anime or interacting with friends.
When he is around confident guys, Seo quickly finds common ground as well. Against this backdrop, the hero does not appear as a helpless romantic archetype, but as an ordinary person who simply feels more comfortable in his circle.
Amane is initially presented through a joke about how she supposedly doesn't watch anime and gets all her knowledge from her "sister," whom she takes care of. But over time, this angle takes a back seat, and the character reveals herself as a true fan who can speak very emotionally about her favorite series.
Ijiti, for her part, is openly interested in anime and feels comfortable in her extroversion. The series does not make her a detached or awkward figure — on the contrary, it shows her as a completely ordinary person without unnecessary artificial barriers.
The events take place in a modern world where anime has long become one of the most popular entertainment formats worldwide. Therefore, the story does not rely on outdated clichés, but focuses more on how differently people can be engaged in fandom — from watching episodes and fan art to gachapon.
That is why Gals Can’t Be Kind to Otaku!? is described as a soft and very viewer-friendly romantic comedy title that reminds us: anyone can be an anime fan. And its main idea is to find people with whom you want to talk about your favorite series.
