TONIKAWA: Over the Moon for You, Season One review

For most romantically-themed works, there’s an emphasis on courtship. And that’s only natural, since it can be captivating to watch a pair of individuals fall in love and grapple with the uncertainties of a budding relationship. Plus, it’s more emotionally invigorating than watching yet another bickering couple.

Adapted from Kenjiro Hata’s manga, the first episode of TONIKAWA: Over the Moon for You finds Nasa Yuzaki and Tsukasa Tsukuyomi meeting for the first time. It’s not a spoiler to reveal that they’re married less than twenty minutes later, given the bridal dress and intertwined knot that adorn Shout Factory’s Collector’s Edition boxset.

Agreeably, the twelve-episode plus OVA season sustains a capricious tone. The anime’s quirky premise depicts high school prodigy Nasa devoted to his schooling and focused on attending Tsukuba University. However, the boy-genius’ ambitions are disrupted when he notices Tsukasa across the street.

Nasa becomes so entranced by the passerby that he doesn’t notice the isekai truck hurtling down the road looking for its next victim. But this time, the impact doesn’t result in a world-swap. But there is one odd aspect to the collision, with the driver wondering why it seemed like Tsukasa absorbed most of the impact.

Seemingly dazed from the accident and affected by Tsukasa’s willingness to protect him, Nasa tracks her down to a nearby bus stop and abrupted confesses his love to the girl he just met. When asked out on a date, Tsukasa agrees but has one condition: Nasa must marry her.

The remining eleven episodes habitually focus on the newlyweds getting to know each other. If you’re ever experienced the intricacies of cohabitation, you’ll likely find these moments amusing, as the Yuzaki’s coordinate their living conditions in Nasa’s tiny apartment.

From the difficulties of sleeping two on a single futon, the awkwardness of changing clothes for the first time, and discovering your partner’s peculiar sleeping habits, Over the Moon for You delights exploring those early awkward moments.

Although the bride and groom seem reasonably suited for each other, the series explores some of the personality differences of the characters. Tsukasa is far more into popular culture and has a hard time understanding why Nasa wouldn’t own a television. One minor issue is that Seven Arcs’ series prunes many of the manga’s plotlines down. As such, you’ll experience reveals where Tsukasa is extraordinarily knowledgeable about gaming with little foreshadowing.

Like any couple, Nasa and Tsukasa face their share of obstacles. TONIKAWA finds tenderness in watching the duo confront conflict and watching them come out closer after the occurrence. Beyond some ambiguity about Tsukasa’s background, there’s also some tension associated with interaction with partner’s extended family. But the bigger question of what originally attracted Nasa mostly goes unresolved. Perhaps the answer is located in the original title, Tonikaku Kawaii, which translates to ‘always adorable’.

At its best, Over the Moon for You nurtures dramatic tension while simultaneously delivering comic relief, making for a rewarding viewing. As such, TONIKAWA seems ideal for watching with your own romantic partner. Nasa and Tsukasa’s moments of selflessness and mutual respect seem poised to elicit memories. At the least, the first season might be the catalyst for some idealistic daydreams.

TONIKAWA: Over the Moon for You, Season One is available from Shout Factory.
The two-disc Collector’s Edition includes a 16-page mini-manga and poster.