My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999

Alezandra Jun 7, 2023

8

This ticks the boxes for a slice of life rom-com watch. I have high hopes for this one because I've read the manga but also wary of how it is interpreted, but this was done well with the pacing and how emotions were conveyed. If you loved Yamada in stills, you'd love him even more in motion.  The eyes I tell you, they are the windows to your soul. They've used the eyes well in this animation. A lot of close-ups, slow action scenes and moody backgrounds that adds to the joy of watching the show. It is not a lazy anime, trust me, there's a lot of thought and intention to it. Overall, the art is good with its light pastel colours, a fun mix of funny expressions and serious looks as well. No English dub yet but the original voice actors are good and we know the original is best.  In terms of story, it is simple enough - it starts with a break-up and it just takes you to a journey of discovery for Akane as she navigates this through online gaming and then meeting her online friends IRL. This is about finding new friends, a potential love interest, a possible third-party, some miscommunication, add a bit of comedy and slight drama and you have your formulaic love story anime and I'm here for it. Our FL Akane has character and she may be not to everyone's cup of tea. She is thought to be a pushover or too nice but I think she can be defined as one of your typical girl next door character. So if you don't know what this stereotype means from Google it says a person or type of person perceived as familiar, approachable, and dependable, typically in the context of a romantic partnership. She is a college student so there's a level of maturity and experience. She is pretty much independent living on her own and navigating life in general. Our ML Yamada is your typical cold, stoic, clueless over-the-top good looking guy that girls fawn over. He is a professional gamer who values his time on online gaming than learning to navigate social niceties. There is some small progress in his character but I guess people like the mystery he invokes, go figure!  Again, I'm here for this dark haired blue eyed cliche of a guy and waiting to see how he falls for the girl. Oh yeah he's still in highschool. Yep, this is me enjoying the younger guy, older woman trope. Is this an actual trope though, haven't seen much it but I could be wrong.  Sometimes knowing what's gonna happen in a story doesn't mean it's not good. It's not just about the happy ever after, it's the ride that also counts.  So please do not disappoint me Yamada-kun and Akane-chan. Reviewed at episode 9.

ItsAkira Jun 3, 2023

8.5

If you enjoyed Horimiya, you sure will love this. Loving Yamada at Lv999! follows the story of Akane Kinoshita, a college student who is left heartbroken after being cheated on by her boyfriend. Her only solace is the online game Forest of Savior, where she meets a high-level player named Yamada, who is mysterious and difficult to read.One of the interesting aspects of the show is its parallels to the popular anime Horimiya. Both series feature the same voice actor, Kouki Uchiyama, as the male protagonist, and both protagonists start off as cold and aloof characters who eventually warm up to their love interests. However, Loving Yamada at Lv999! offers a unique twist on this familiar trope by placing the characters in an online gaming environment, which adds a fresh perspective to the story.Moreover, the show also incorporates elements of gaming culture, which will resonate with viewers who are gamers themselves. The unique blend of romance and gaming creates a captivating and refreshing viewing experience, which is further enhanced by the show's stunning animation.Loving Yamada at Lv999! is a promising anime with an intriguing storyline that will keep viewers hooked. Its relatable characters, combined with its unique take on the online gaming world, make for an enjoyable and entertaining watch. With the animation studio Madhouse at the helm, viewers can expect stunning visuals and exceptional production quality. If you're a fan of romcoms, especially those set in the world of online gaming, then Loving Yamada at Lv999! is definitely worth checking out. This show is bound to become another memorable anime produced by Madhouse.

AquamarineGem Jun 29, 2023

6

Warning: This review contains spoilers  My Love Story with Yamada-kun at lvl 999 resembles a coffee-flavored romance anime with lots of bittersweet and wholesome moments between a female college student (Akane) and a male high school gamer (Yamada). Akane left a bitter aftertaste in my mouth with her frequent carelessness from excessive drinking hangovers, injuries, etc. On the other hand, Yamada-kun is as sweet as candy. There were anime moments showcasing Yamada-kun’s  hidden considerate, thoughtful, and patient personality. The sweet aroma of coffee is still present in the show with lots of tender moments where Yamada is taking care of Akane after her injuries and when she is sick. The anime starts off with a bitter breakup between Akane and her ex-boyfriend. Akane’s ex-boyfriend cheated on her with a female game player. Akane even forced herself to play the same game as her ex-boyfriend even though she had little interest in gaming. Akane is upset and frustrated. She vents her frustration by rampaging on the hunting grounds of an online game with Yamada present.  At a gaming event, Akane requests Yamada to act as her boyfriend while rewarding him with a rare item game prize. She drags Yamada to a restaurant. At the restaurant, Yamada-kun orders multiple cups of cola. He also surprises Akane by purchasing a bandage to treat her bloody wound. Akane is filled with overwhelming emotions after her break up and eventually throws away a lot of her possessions. While watching this anime, I don’t remember seeing scenes of the characters’ parents. Both Yamada-kun and Akane are living alone. But Akane isn’t self-sufficient. She frequently drinks alcohol and has hangovers. She puked at Yamada’s house, and she had to change clothes. Akane also can’t take care of herself when she is sick. Eventually, I really dreaded Akane’s character throughout the show. I wished that Akane experienced more character development or self-sufficiency.  On the other hand, Yamada-kun is also quite popular with high school girls confessing their passionate love towards him at school and at the subway station. However, Yamada-kun did not reciprocate their feelings.  Other Character Impressions  Eita Sasaki crafted the sweet and refreshing character Ruri-hime and modeled the character's appearance  after his sister: Runa Sasaki. Ruri-hime was comforting Akane regarding her relationship problems. But Ruri-hime turned out to have a totally different personality than the offline Runa. Runa even apologizes for her negative attitude towards Akane. They eventually become friends. Ruri-hime’s older brother (Eita Sasaki) is also quite social, warm, and extroverted.