Momokuri
Synopsis — from MyAnimeList
After taking one hundred secret photos and observing him from afar for months, second-year high schooler Yuki Kurihara has finally mustered up the courage to ask out her first-year crush Shinya "Momo" Momotsuki. Although taken by surprise, the bashful Momo accepts; however, he does not know the profoundly abnormal truth. As her strait-laced friend, Norika Mizuyama, has observed, Yuki has developed some unnerving—but nonetheless sincere—habits: taking pictures of Momo in secret, doing extensive research into his personal life, collecting his used straws, and even going "Momo watching." Though Momo remains blissfully unaware of his new girlfriend's peculiar habits, he does notice some oddities in their daily conversations. Still unsure and nervous about his first relationship, Momo finds himself regularly getting into awkward interactions due to his inexperience, but nevertheless resolves to make his new girlfriend happy. Momokuri follows Yuki and Momo as they shyly explore their newfound love, and also deal with the problems that arise from it.
Audience Consensus
Momokuri elicits divided reactions, primarily due to its unique blend of 'cute stalker' romance and its perceived lack of substantial plot. While many appreciate its lighthearted tone, adorable art, and sweet character interactions, a significant portion of the audience finds the core premise creepy, the comedy weak, and the overall narrative too shallow. It's a show that strongly appeals to those seeking pure 'moe' and romance, but alienates those looking for more depth or conventional storytelling.
Strengths
- Cute and adorable art style, bright and cheerful colors.
- Well-executed character designs, especially the main couple.
- Good voice acting, particularly for the female protagonist.
- Catchy opening theme song.
- Deals with obsession in a generally lighthearted and positive way.
- Pacing is handled well for an adaptation, making filler sections interesting.
- Focuses on relationship development rather than the journey to becoming a couple.
- Satisfying depiction of how love and expression can differ but still be strong.
Weaknesses
- Lack of strong plot or intricate story.
- Comedy can feel forced and not consistently funny.
- Pacing can feel slow and dragging, with insufficient content between important moments.
- Animation quality is sometimes weak, especially background settings.
- Soundtrack is average and can be overshadowed.
- Yuki's obsessive behavior, though played for laughs, can be borderline creepy and uncomfortable for some.
- Male protagonist can be too oblivious or dense at times.
- Characters sometimes act too childish for their high school age.
- The show lacks depth and can feel repetitive with the same gags.