Spring 2017 Anime in a Nutshell: 'Waiting for True Love'

The concept of 'true love' often gets romanticized in movies, making it seem like a magical, effortless experience. However, in reality, relationships often start with a physical connection or mutual attraction. This realistic approach is exactly what makes the Spring 2017 anime 'Waiting for True Love' stand out.

In this series, the setting is deliberately set up to show how two people date and get to know each other beyond their initial physical attraction. It's only natural that love could blossom from there. However, the abrupt shift from a realistic portrayal of relationships to a more conventional romantic shojo ending was jarring for me.

Upon reflection, I realize that the series took an unexpected turn by subverting typical shojo romance tropes. Instead of focusing solely on physical intimacy, the characters matured and chose to develop their relationship in a more meaningful way. This time around, they didn't succumb to the temptation of easy comfort and physical closeness, opting for something more substantial.

While I don't have any issues with this development per se, the execution left me feeling underwhelmed. The lack of a traditional ending between Hanabi and Mugi was also unexpected, leading me to wonder if the author intentionally avoided the typical shojo finale.

Overall, 'Waiting for True Love' is an interesting take on romance anime that challenges conventional notions of love and relationships. While it may not have entirely won me over with its conclusion, the series' willingness to depart from typical shojo romance narratives makes it a thought-provoking watch.

Spring 2017 Anime in a Nutshell neogaf