Overview
- The highly anticipated romantic comedy anime Medaka Kuroiwa is Impervious to My Charms debuts on January 6, 2025, appealing particularly to enthusiasts of Rent-A-Girlfriend and Quintessential Quintuplets.
- Follow the journey of Mona, who is determined to charm the monk-in-training, Medaka, which leads to unexpected romantic developments.
- Directed by Yoshiaki Okumura, featuring standout performances by Yu Serizawa and Ryota Iwasaki, with contributions from Hololive. Available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
Highlights
The upcoming anime season promises an exciting addition for fans of romantic comedies. Medaka Kuroiwa is Impervious to My Charms is set to premier on January 6, 2025. This new series is expected to attract viewers who enjoy shows like Rent-A-Girlfriend and Quintessential Quintuplets, with a sprinkle of humor akin to Kaguya-sama: Love is War. However, amid the buzz surrounding other titles such as Solo Leveling, it may slip under the radar for some fans.
In Japan, early receptions for the show are encouraging, hinting it could emerge as a favorite within the rom-com genre. Fans interested in similar narratives should also explore titles like I’m Getting Married To a Girl I Hate in My Class and the second season of The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love You. Notably, eager viewers had the chance to experience a preview screening of the first episode in Tokyo at United Cinemas Toyosu on December 7, as reported by ANN.
The Guy That Doesn’t Care About Queen Bee
The central character of this narrative, Mona Kawai, is the reigning queen bee of her high school, reveling in the admiration and attention she garners from her peers. However, one boy named Medaka Kuroiwa shows a distinct lack of interest, igniting her competitive spirit. Determined to win his affection, Mona embarks on a quest to seduce him.
This pursuit presents an uphill battle for her, as Medaka is committed to his training as a monk, earnestly striving to resist worldly temptations. Ironically, the deeper she delves into her efforts, the more she finds herself falling for him.
Key Characters
Medaka Kuroiwa, our male protagonist in his second year of high school, is entrenched in a rigorous monk training regimen at his family’s temple. He faces the immense challenge of adhering to strict vows against falling in love, complicated further by the attention he receives from Mona and other female classmates.
Mona Kawai, meanwhile, serves not just as a rival but a fellow protagonist, as the narrative unfolds through her eyes. Recently relocated from Osaka to Tokyo, she retains her Kansai dialect, especially when flustered, adding a layer of personality to her character. Her self-absorbed demeanor as the school’s reigning beauty heightens her frustration at Medaka’s indifference.
In addition to Mona, Medaka attracts the interest of other girls like Tsubomi and Tomo. For those keen to explore the original story, the manga is published in English by Kodansha USA, with 17 volumes serialized since 2021, authored by Ran Kuze.
Key Production Team
The animation of Medaka Kuroiwa is produced by SynergySP (known for works like Girlfriend, Girlfriend). Direction is helmed by Yoshiaki Okumura (famed for The Fruit of Evolution), with Kuzuyuki Fudeyasu (notable for Dropkick on My Devil!) as the chief writer. Character designs are crafted by Mayumi Watanabe (who has worked on Elf Ban Kakyusei), while the music score is composed by Akiyuki Tateyama, known for his work on The Elusive Samurai.
Cast and Musical Themes
The leading roles are voiced by Yu Serizawa (recognizable as Mini Yaemori in Rent-A-Girlfriend) as Mona and Ryota Iwasaki (known for Kiminobu Kogure in The First Slam Dunk) as Medaka. The opening theme song “Ame Tokimeki Koi Moyō”will be performed by the Hololive VTuber unit AyaFubuMi, while the ending theme “Kyunapi”is sung by Kaori Maeda, who is known for her work on 2.5 Dimensional Seduction.
Mark your calendars, as Medaka Kuroiwa is Impervious to My Charms will be available for streaming on Crunchyroll starting January 6.
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