In the Clear Moonlit Dusk
Synopsis
Every time Yoi Takiguchi so much as lets out a sigh, her female classmates squeal in admiration and awe. She has been dubbed the school's "prince" by virtue of her boyishly attractive appearance and casual disposition. However, she chooses to be indifferent toward the attention she receives and spends her days normally—that is, until the school's other prince, Kohaku Ichimura, waltzes into her life and calls her beautiful. Kohaku is nothing like a prince—he acts thoughtlessly and does as he pleases. But when he compliments her, Yoi feels flustered, and the way he looks at her gets her all nervous. He is the first boy to acknowledge her as a girl, and her attempts to distance herself prove futile as he seems to have set his sights on her. While Yoi keeps telling herself that it is nothing serious, even she cannot completely ignore the stir Kohaku causes in her heart. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
Audience reception is mixed, with many appreciating the anime's exploration of identity and the male lead's portrayal. However, some find the pacing slow and the story a bit generic, and the female lead's character frustrating. The animation quality is a point of contention, with some finding it visually appealing while others note its simplification compared to the manga.
Strengths
- Expressive character acting and introspective tone
- Soundtrack amplifies emotional states
- Exploration of identity and perception
- Well-executed shoujo tropes
- The main male lead is a great character and well-portrayed
- The series successfully blends audio, visuals, and strong character writing into one very solid package.
Weaknesses
- Simplified animation compared to the manga
- Pacing may feel slow for some viewers
- Shift from androgyny theme to familiar shojo heroine archetype
- Protagonist is frustrating and creates awkward rules in her relationship.
- Side characters are flat.