There's a melancholy air to Bunny Girl Senpai not unlike that of Bakemonogatari, and that alone is probably enough to win it a few fans straight away. As part of the fall season, the show has been a solid hit from what I can see, and this first episode goes some way to show why that is.
Sakuta is a pretty normal young man who happens across a famous actress dressed as a bunny girl in the library. Oddly enough, only he can see her, but I liked their initial interaction - as he describes the meaning of his name (Azusagawa spelled like the Azusagawa rest area, and Sakuta spelled "blooming taro", she replies with her own - "Sakurajima spelled like Mai Sakurajima, Mai spelled like Mai Sakurajima") Of course Sakurajima is a famous volcano in Japan I've been lucky enough to visit, but she's so famous she is her own definition. It's a subtle but fun bit of ribbing that instantly establishes her superior personality, and though I don't say this often, a very subtle piece of writing for a modern anime.
It turns out that Mai, famous from a very young age, longed to go unrecognised - seemingly her wish has been granted, though her condition is problematic when trying to buy food or get attention. This kind of odd story, along with rumours of body-swapping, clairvoyance and other supernatural phenomena has been coined "Adolescence Syndrome", another nice tip of the hat to the way that these stories are almost always centred on teenagers in modern anime and drama.
I very much enjoyed the sense of place the anime has. There's a lot of detail in the locations and backgrounds that has an enormously grounding effect on the series. While there are supernatural elements, the everyday settings and conversations help to give the show a sense of reality that I've been missing lately. In particular Sakuta's gentle teasing of Mai (not to mention his savage put downs when confronted) show a wit and intelligence that's actually admirable. Having witnessed supernatural oddities with his sister, Kaede, he's open to the ridiculous but isn't particularly fazed by it. He's rational, dry and resists overreacting, and honestly I think he's one of my favourite anime characters of the year.
The languid pace may be off-putting to some, but I feel the writing is strong enough to sustain the series. Mai is no wallflower, and although she's more prone to overreaction than Sakuta, it only serves to enrich the dynamic between the pair.
Animation and music are serviceable and unobtrusive, allowing the atmosphere and dialogue to carry the show. I'll certainly be watching more of this one, and if you're a fan of show's like Haruhi or Kare Kano, then I think you'll enjoy this too. It's not often that I can wholeheartedly embrace the male lead of an anime, but Sakuta and his blossoming romance has a keen pull. Count me in for more.
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