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This article will contain spoilers for Engage Kiss (2022), Call Of The Night (2022), Romantic Killer (2022), Sasaki And Miyano (2022), and My Dress Up Darling (2022).
The pilot episode of any series has the power to make or break an anime; it is the first thing new viewers see and determines whether they continue or call it quits. Therefore, in order to hook the viewers in, the pilot episode has to have a sort of unique quality that prompts the audience to keep going. This idea goes for all genres in anime. For genres like romance that can be hit or miss due to its overuse of stereotypical tropes, creating a captivating first episode is a must.
With anime’s 2022 season releasing a variety of romance anime, featuring some that instantly became popular among anime fans, it brings up the question of how they were able to hook viewers in and or if they did at all.
5. Engage Kiss (2022)
Written by Fumiaki Maruto, Engage Kiss (2022) is set in an artificial city and follows three main characters, Shu Ogata (( Wiki Targeted Anime. (2022). “Shu Ogata.” Engage Kiss Wiki. )), Kisara (( Wiki Targeted Anime. (2022). “Kisara.” Engage Kiss Wiki. )), and Ayano Yuugiri (( Wiki Targeted Anime. (2022). “Ayano Yuugiri.” Engage Kiss Wiki. )).
The three are all demon exterminators working together to protect their city. At first glance, Kisara seems like the average high schooler but it is soon revealed that every time she kisses Shu, her true powers are unleashed.
Is Too Little Context A Good Or Bad Thing In Engage Kiss (2022)?
Here, it’s both.
Something this show did well in the first episode “A Loser and a Demon and a Man and a Woman,” was remain vague. It starts with a pink-haired high school girl, Kisara, walking to a rundown apartment building where she begins to cook. It is unclear who she is or why she is there but before anything can be answered the viewers meet the main character Shu, eating with his former colleague, Ayano. Not knowing exactly what is going to happen next prompts the viewer to keep watching so that they might understand what this world is and who these characters truly are.
At the same time, however, this unclear start may also discourage viewers from the confusion it invokes. It is not until around the halfway point that it is revealed what Shu does for a living. On top of that, Kisara still remains a mystery again until the end when she appears out of nowhere to protect Shu from a demon he is fighting. With that, viewers can become restless as they wait for answers to a never-ending line of questions.
The tropes presented in the show can also be off-putting, especially when Kisara is depicted as a young high schooler that must engage in physical intimacy with Shu in order to unlock her full powers. Aside from that, the show really does not give much to persuade the viewer to continue.
4. Call Of The Night (2022)
Originally a manga series that began in 2019, Call Of The Night (2022) features Kou Yamori (( Wiki Targeted Anime. (2022). “Kou Yamori.” Call Of The Night Wiki. )) who has created the perfect façade of a seemingly typical middle school student. He worked diligently to maintain this persona until one day he decides he does not want to pretend any further. After Kou stops going to school, he finds it more difficult to sleep at night due to the pent-up energy coursing through him.
One night he decides to wander around his neighborhood and meets Nazuna Nanakusa (( Wiki Targeted Anime. (2022). “Nazuna Nanakusa.” Call Of The Night Wiki. )) who after he confides in her, decides to help Kou overcome his insomnia. It is when she bites him in his sleep that he comes to realize that she is a vampire, something he would like to become too.
The Eye-Catching Animation Of Call Of The Night (2022)
The first thing that stands out about the show is the animation. Not only is the style unique but the landscape shots, the dazzling view of the city, and most importantly the color-changing sky, quite easily hook the viewer in. If there were only one reason to continue with the show, it would be to see how the animation evolves as it progresses. The unique characters are also a good reason to continue.
For instance, it is obvious that Kou is going through quite a lot for his age. If it is just simply the struggles of being a middle schooler or something bigger, the viewers are not explicitly shown that. All they know thus far is Kou has a difficult time expressing his true self and relating to his peers.
Kou is a character that needs someone to guide him–a role perfect for Nazuna. It is also her character that can make the viewer wonder if continuing is a good idea. The reason one might hesitate to continue is that the age difference between Kou, a fourteen-year-old, and Nazuna, may make viewers uncomfortable.
There would not necessarily be an issue if she had simply taken him under her wing to mentor, however, Kou decides he wants to become a vampire and the only way someone can do that is by falling in love with one. Since Kou is young, impressionable, and less knowledgeable about the world, not knowing whether a romance will bloom between the two can further increase this discomfort
3. Romantic Killer (2022)
Anzu Hoshino (( Wiki Targeted Anime. (2022). “Anzu Hoshino.” Romantic Killer Wiki. )) only cares about three things: video games, chocolate, and her beloved cat. She is not interested in love, in fact, if she could do without it, she would.
However, one day she opens up a game releasing a magical creature that sends her to an altered reality deprived of her favorite things, and is forced to fall in love with one of the guys thrown in her path.
Not Your Average MC In Romantic Killer (2022)
The blunt and logical main character Anzu is a great reason to watch Romantic Killer (2022) past episode one. She very easily makes starting the show an easy task for unlike most female leads, she is completely and irrevocably herself. She does not have the same interests as most of her peers and she is 100% okay with that. Her personality, her expressions, and her overall reactions are what make continuing the show worth it. The creators of the show did a good job of making her someone genuinely enjoyable to watch.
It becomes even more entertaining when she vows after being forced to pursue romance to aid in Japan’s mission to increase the birth rate, to not fall for any of the ikemen thrown her way.
On another note, the premise of forcing Anzu to forgo a romantic relationship she very clearly does not want is something that can be seen as an overarching issue in the show. The thought of forcing a high schooler for the sake of someone’s paycheck and to help her city’s dwindling population does not seem very ethical. She is but a teenager who is enjoying life as she pleases, so why should she be put in this position?
This aspect of the show is one that gives the viewers more of a reason to continue if only to see whether or not it ends in a stereotypical way, having Anzu find love, or if she is able to hold on to her determination and not bend her ways for anyone.
2. Sasaki And Miyano (2022)
Sasaki And Miyano (2022) is a high school love story between a Boys’ Love manga enthusiast, Miyano Yoshikazu (( Wiki Targeted Anime. (2022). “Miyano Yoshikazu” Sasaki And Miyano Wiki. )), and his delinquent upperclassman, Sasaki Shuumei (( Wiki Targeted Anime. (2022). “Sasaki Shuumei.” Sasaki And Miyano Wiki. )). After meeting for the first time through a small argument, Sasaki finds Miyano intriguing and sets out to get to know him better.
As the show progresses the two get closer than ever, allowing their platonic feelings to slowly turn into something more.
Sasaki And Miyano (2022) Is Pure Fluff
What is interesting about this series is that neither Sasaki or Miyano identify as gay in the beginning. They simply start off as two people who just so happened to cross paths in a way that made both interested in who the other is. This gives the viewers the chance to follow along their journey of growth and the progression of their relationship.
Despite how some may view the prospect of same-sex relationships, neither Miyano, an avid reader of the Boys Love genre, nor Sasaki is closed-minded to it. The two become friends for no other reason than to continue to talk about Miyano’s interest in manga. The way that their friendship begins is very natural and relatable and it is something that is done well here.
The tension at the beginning of the first episode and Sasaki’s stereotypical outer personality is probably the only area that may cause one to question whether they want to continue. Fortunately, as the episode continues the viewers are shown that there is more to Sasaki than meets the eye.
However, Miyano reading “Boys Love,” a genre that has fetishized same-sex relationships, poses a bit of an issue here as well. It shows that some of the tropes he speaks about that happen in his manga are not as big of a deal as they are which viewers may find to be problematic. In the anime, Miyano hides his interests because he knows that they will not be readily accepted. This behavior is very realistic and the viewer cannot help but empathize with him.
Nonetheless, romance is not something that is pushed onto the pair as early as the first episode and they are able to navigate these feelings themselves. It makes the viewer curious as to how their journey will pan out.
1. My Dress Up Darling (2022)
Created by Shinichi Fukuda My Dress Up Darling (2022) tells the story of Wakana Gojo (( Wiki Targeted Anime. (2022). “Wakana Gojo.” My Dress Up Darling Wiki. )) whose passion for creating hina dolls leads him to hide away from others to avoid being shunned as he had in the past.
He plans to keep his interests a secret until his classmate, Marin Kitagawa (( Wiki Targeted Anime. (2022). “Marin Kitagawa.” My Dress Up Darling Wiki. )) convinces him to use his talent to create costumes that help both of them come out of their shells.
The Likeable Characters Of My Dress Up Darling (2022)
Out of all of the anime listed, this is one that despite it seeming like a generic boy falls for popular girl anime at first glance, it has a way of surprising the viewers. One would expect Wakana to be the “nerd” or loner type that is often depicted in romance animes, and while he is someone who keeps to themselves, he had a sound reason for doing so. Wakana does not have a hobby that most boys his age do and it is because of this hobby that he was put through a traumatizing event that led him to distance himself.
Even though his passion was not accepted by others, Wakana does not at any point decide to give up on it. It is his resolve that hooks the viewer in. Along with Marin’s personality, it makes one wonder how he will continue to open up to her because she as well is not a character that is often seen in anime. She has a great love for cosplay and anime that she lets others know about quite often.
This is also an anime series that was written by a female which can somewhat explain why Marin is not like the typical female lead. She thinks and acts for herself which is refreshing to see. How she is able to uplift Wakana as well again gives their relationship more to look forward to as they help each other with their passions.
Each Have Something To Offer!
While they all have their good and bad parts, as any show does, each of those listed above definitely have a uniqueness featured in their first episodes to them that can appeal to anyone. It all simply depends on one’s preferences.
The way each was written has the qualities of being a sort of first episode that can hook someone in. So while they were not perfect they are still worth giving a shot.
