Anyways, I’m falling out of love with your animation…

Anyways, I’m Falling Out of Love With Your Animation

With all the visually stunning anime this season, Anyways, I’m Falling in Love With You immediately caught my eye. Based on a popular manga, the story unfolds in 2020. Yes, that 2020. The one where we lost years of normal life to a global pandemic, where everything was canceled. I can’t imagine what it would have been like to be in high school during the pandemic and to have lost all the special events that are so important to being present in youth. Against that backdrop, a close-knit group of childhood friends navigate love and growing up while trying to hold onto the past.

It’s a compelling premise, and, at first glance, the anime looks incredible. The art style is right out of a high-end manga, drawing inspiration from Korean manhwa trends with tender lines, delicate lighting, and expressive character designs. The characters have so much presence and personality. At times, I feel like I’m watching actual teenage boys with their huge smiles and hormonal angst. But the longer I watched, the more I noticed something felt... off.

At first, I couldn’t place it. Every frame looked breathtaking. But something about the actual animation—the way scenes moved—felt unnatural. Around episode five, I realized what was happening. Some shots lingered just a little too long, throwing off the pacing. A minor hiccup is fine, but once you see it, you can’t unsee it. Once I noticed that one issue, the cracks in the animation quality really started to show.

For example, the characters aren’t always looking at each other properly. Their eye lines don’t match, or they glance just a little too high, too low, or off to the side. Their arm movements are stiff, almost mechanical. Instead of feeling immersed in the story, I have become distracted by every misplaced stare and awkwardly delayed reaction.

It’s beyond frustrating because everything else about the anime works. The art, the backgrounds, and the story are so much fun! I was really enjoying it! But I’m watching an animation. And animation is about movement. If movement feels unnatural, it pulls you out of the experience. It’s like listening to a CD skipping or trying to focus while a fluorescent light buzzes in the background.

With so many incredible anime airing right now, romance anime included, it’s hard to justify sticking with something that just isn’t fun to watch. I wanted to love this series. If the visuals aren’t working for me, maybe it’s time to check out the manga instead.

For now, it’s back to studying. And back to Blue Box and Zenshu.