If you have any suggestions of anime that areNOT set in high school, that would be much appreciated. In a sappy mood lately.
Wotakoi: Love is Hard for an Otaku
Awesome series about adult nerds liking each other and navigating love and friendships :)
Nodame Cantabile - Fluffy and funny romcom revolving around classical music.
I haven't finished this one but there's also Nana if you were looking for something that's heavier on the drama side of things - drugs, sex, and rock and roll
Spice and Wolf - Romance with adventure and economics in a historical setting
Planetes - More of a sci fi/drama but romance is prominant in it
The plot of Spice and Wolf literally revolves around how awesome markets and capitalism is, be warned. That was a very weird hate watch for me. It doesn't really treat the female lead very well either.
The plot of Spice and Wolf literally revolves around how awesome markets and capitalism is
I'm not sure about that reading. It's about a traveling merchant, and the various schemes he hatches to make money in a medieval European economy. It doesn't glorify the system Lawrence lives under, he just has to navigate it to make his living.
What did you dislike about how Holo was written?
Not the guy you're replying to, but I guess the main criticism I have with Holo is the same issue I have with a lot of female anime protagonists in that she seems to be blatant pandering to a male audience. Besides her appearance, there's the premise with her being this "wise", powerful hundreds-of-years-old deity that is relying on and is educated by the MC.
Holo spent a few hundred years acting as the god of the harvest for a farming community. Eventually the village starts to mechanize their agricultural process, and Holo, feeling neglected and unwanted, hitches a ride with a passing merchant to travel back to her original home. Lawrence, the merchant, teaches her about the new modern world outside of her village, and in turn she uses her powers as a minor deity to assist in his business ventures. I feel like they did a good job of making this an equal partnership.
They did make Holo very attractive in the anime, but the stories themselves don't have anything in the way of "fanservice". It's a slow-burn romance story, and it's handled tastefully.
Yeah the in-story justification for it makes sense and I very much enjoyed the series and their relationship which is why I had mentioned the series in the first place. Even so, I guess what bothers me is that as a dude, this premise
Holo, feeling neglected and unwanted, hitches a ride with a passing merchant to travel back to her original home. Lawrence, the merchant, teaches her about the new modern world outside of her village, and in turn she uses her powers as a minor deity to assist in his business ventures
is like the ultimate wish fulfillment. Self-inserting as Lawrence, you are put in a situation where your smarts and kindness are rewarded with the companionship of a literal goddess that helps you make money.
Oh yeah it has been a long time since I watched it, but now that I think about it more I would definitely agree.
More comedy than romance, but I remember Arakawa Under the Bridge being really charming.
Wotakoi and Rikei ga Koi ni Ochita no de Shoumei Shite Mita
Honey & Clover is set in art school. One of the main characters looks like a child but (shockingly!) they don't ever do anything creepy with that; it's just treated as a character trait and often is an obstacle for her, as it would be for any adult. The show's mad sappy but I liked it.
Got it... It was called Sing "Yesterday" for Me or Yesterday wo Utatte..
I liked it quite a bit. Especially the ending.
Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu? Whether it's a romance at its core is debatable, but it is a good drama about adults if nothing else. On the lighter rom-com side of things Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii was fun enough and fits the criteria.
the only good anime is cowboy bebop. dont @ me
mushishi, darker than black, ergo proxy, paprika, uhh.. :floppy-parrot: idk i havent really watched any anime in ages sorry
https://myanimelist.net/manga/46282/Chikan_Otoko is a manga, but it's super sweet.
Tonikaku Kawaii is 3 episodes into airing and although the premise is a bit odd it's been pretty cute so far.
