mistersunday

Sasaki to Miyano feels dragged out, like a class on a Friday afternoon that never seems to end. The first few episodes draw you in as an archetypal BL story would, with a protagonist and love interest clearly established in the opening scene. The anime doesn’t stray too far from this, which isn’t an issue in and of itself; however, due to how stagnant the story remains throughout the show’s 12-episode run, it feels like the storytelling lacks development. In typical BL fashion, plot points that could easily be resolved through open communication prevail for multiple episodes. While this is understandable to a certain extent,since the anime doesn't attempt to tackle multiple storylines the episodes feel repetitive. Let’s attempt to dissect this a little bit. It’s difficult for me to believe that a fudanshi like Miyano has never considered being attracted to guys before Sasaki came along. Adolescence is a transitional period where you start to come to terms with romantic attraction and your sexuality in general. It’s understandable that a first year high school student wouldn’t have these things figured out yet. What doesn’t make sense is that Miyano needs to have some kind of revelation to realize that he likes guys when he spends hours consuming BL content. If you’re a fundashi you’ve definitely pictured yourself in the situations you read about. If the show had framed it in a different way, where perhaps he has internalized homophobia or he’s been brought up in a conservative household, this level of doubt and restraint would make sense. But for someone like Miyano that spends the majority of his free time reading about fictional gay men and their relationships, it seems farfetched to think it would take him several months to be able to come to terms with his feelings for Sasaki and communicate them. If anything it would make more sense for Sasaki to feel a bit uncertain about having feelings for another guy since he’s not the one consuming BL like there’s no tomorrow. Maybe I’m being overly critical, but as a gay guy myself it feels like these stories aren’t entirely grounded in queer experiences. Who is Miyano representative of? Queer people don’t behave like this even if they’re closeted. Anime doesn’t always need to be 100% realistic. However, the show’s entire plot hinges on our two characters having feelings for each other and not recognizing them or not being able to communicate them. I can understand if this lasted during half of the anime’s duration, but to drag this out for 11 episodes feels unnecessary. There isn’t a clear explanation for why Miyano struggles so much to come to terms with his feelings either. It just feels dragged out for the sake of having enough content for a 12-episode run. I haven’t read the manga so I’m not sure what the pacing is like in the source material, but this anime could have easily told the same story in 6 episodes or less. What stands out about this show is the way in which the story manages to reference its own tropes and clichés. The fact that Miyano is a fudanshi allows the story to parody itself a little bit. In my opinion this is the anime’s strongest quality. It doesn’t attempt to take itself too seriously, and when it does have serious moments the story doesn’t try to be something it’s not. It’s a generic BL through and through and the storytelling never tries to trick you into thinking it’s more profound than what it actually is. Story: 5/10 As I mentioned, the main plotline is dragged out to the point that it feels unrealistic. It reminds me of the Dressrosa Arc in One Piece but without actually attempting to cover a fraction of the content One Piece covers in its arcs. Just repetitive as hell for no reason. The story’s main redeeming quality is its ability to make fun of itself by dissecting the BL genre through Miyano’s character. Art: 7/10 The art style is good and so is the animation. It’s of the quality you’d expect from an anime made in 2022. Character: 5/10 I think Sasaki to Miyano struggles in the character department as well. Sasaki and Miyano don’t behave how queer people would behave in these situations. I don’t want to make it seem like gay men are a monolith, but these characters don’t feel grounded in queer experiences. The last episode deals with this a little bit better, but by that point it's too little too late. The secondary characters also feel a bit one-dimensional for the most part. Sound: 6/10 Neither the OP or ED were particularly memorable to me. I’m not an expert on voice acting so I don’t have any complaints. Overall the sound was fine. Enjoyment: 6/10 I did enjoy watching this anime because I’m gay so I’m drawn to anything gay. However, if this wasn’t BL I would’ve struggled to complete it.

KANLen09

For the longest time, I've been looking for a BL series that matches as closely to the very first BL anime that I actually enjoyed: Junjou Romantica, produced by Studio Deen all the way back in 2008. And come this Winter season, Sasaki and Miyano brings all that nostalgia feeling back into my senses(that's even better because Studio Deen is back), greatly enhancing the enjoyment values that I've experienced with more recent BL-centric shows like the musically-inclined Given. Judging by the way that this show is titled, most of you would've realized that mangaka Shou Harusono's styling is very reminiscent of mangaka HERO's work on Horimiya,and that's not because of plagarism, but of immense inspiration taken from it. From the series' title to the overall sensation as a whole, Sasaki and Miyano a.k.a Sasamiya is basically the BL version of Horimiya, because the while the manga is already a trumping greatness in the BL space, the anime is just as good, if not better as the superior version of the source material. Sasaki and Miyano might be a BL work through and through, but don't let it fool you that this is pure BL romance at its finest, very simple with no overbearing drama that needs to take a dragging on, everything is concise, well-planned and executed very well. For one, taking into account the relationship of the Uke (Miyano) and Seme (Sasaki), the heartbeats palpitate of cheeriness and absolute heart-flutteringness to watch as their relationship evolves from a very simple Kouhai-Senpai relationship into something much more. The reason with Miyano Yoshikazu, is that he's a Fudanshi, someone that likes to read BL manga, and thus in an all-boys school, isn't the easiest to blurt out, lest the idea of being called names for it. And this is complemented by Sasaki Shuumei, whom acts like a Senpai and a delinquent all at the same time, reason being that he once saved Miyano from being bullied. Thus, the obsession from Sasaki to Miyano begins from there, and the latter especially has a heart time shrugging this annoying and playful Senpai off his shoulders. And to add to that allure, Sasaki inquires from Miyano for a book recommendation, and being the Fudanshi fanatic, the latter introduces to the former a BL manga. In a strange dynamic, Sasaki also develops an interest for BL manga, not realizing that reading too much of it relives the experience of him and Miyano in real life, and imaginations can run wild. Thus, this BL relationship is born, and for better or worse, Miyano has to content with Sasaki's antics, more of less friendships or romantically in a private setting. But what's a great couple ship without great friends? Miyano has Tashiro Gonzaburou and Tasuku Kuresawa as classmates, and the former's a joker while the latter looks like your typical class bookworm, and with a girlfriend to boot and being a very loyal boyfriend. Both are very supportive of Miyano as friends first and foremost, and provide diversity into Miyano's POV. Sasaki has Taiga Hirano and Jirou Ogasawara, the former being the same bad boy but very disciplined since he's on the school's Discipline Committee. Manga readers would be happy to know that there is actually a spin-off of the series covering both his and Akira Kagiura's side of things, though that's not the main focus of the parent story. As for the latter, Jirou is like Miyano's friend Tasuku, but only if the dynamics are all completely turned and messed up 180 degrees. He too like Tasuku has a girlfriend, but his significant other is a BL fanatic like Miyano, whom glows at every chance possible to see some BL from Jirou's friends, and is Sasaki's side of a joker at trying his best not to be the Uke to the Seme. Overall, this character cast I don't mind at all since on top of the BL aspect, this is a typical slice-of-life school romance in the simplest form, and it works either way. It's no secret that when I saw that Studio Deen was adapting this, my mind instantly raced off to the nostalgia that I had for Junjou Romantica. Heck, I'd rather say that Sasaki and Miyano is the modern-day Junjou Romantica, that's sweet, delightful and fun to watch. It's very realistic with all the love imagery signs of a typical relationship, be it straight, Yuri or in this case, Yaoi (or gay romance if you will). It's light-hearted, yet carries weight when things go astray. This is further proof that Shinji Ishihara, director for Tsukimichi and Edens Zero (as chief director) still has the knack in him to produce this with the staff team, on a soul of heart that love and care has been given to this production to make the best that it could. Yet again, a thanks to this guy for elevating the original source material. For a light-hearted series, the music must match with the vibes of the show, and I certainly felt that throughout the anime. Miracle Chimpanzee's OP is just the perfect song to start the series off in an upbeat note, and I really can't get enough of this extremely well-crafted piece of music. Sasaki and Miyano's duo-VA ED song is also the same, and compliments the entire show well. Not a bad selection of an OST. When it all comes down to it, Yuri or Yaoi series can still be enjoyed by straight people, and Sasaki and Miyano hits with absolute precision of the source material to elevate it with Studio Deen's adaptation. I really can't find any faults with it, and is a treat for both Josei and Shoujo fans alike. Watch it if you can, it's BL, it's Horimiya, it's just simply love.