I was wholeheartedly unprepared for the premiere of Can a Boy-Girl Friendship Survive?. I expected yet another 12-episode anime with an aversion to hand-holding and occasional fan service. With a blue-haired gyaru and a modest, busty brunette, I took one look at the show and thought I had it figured out.
Like most anime I indulge in, I haven’t read the source material. Most of my manga and light novel collection spawned from shows I watched. But Danjoru looked at my assumptions, bellowed an ear-shattering BWA-HA!, and laughed at me. And since then, no matter what I do, where I go, or who I’m with — all I can think of is a blue-haired angel screaming BWA-HA!
So I asked my J-List bosses to let me rave about Can a Boy-Girl Friendship Survive?! I know there are about three fiddy rom-coms this season. Some of those shows, like Witch Watch and The Lady Blessed by the Gorilla God, will get you to laugh, but Danjoru will make you bray until your stomach hurts.
So, What’s Can a Boy-Girl Friendship Survive? About?
An anthophile by heart, Yu Natsume makes various accessories and jewelry based on flowers he collects. But his creative ventures go far beyond a mere hobby. Yu-kun wants to make a living from his craft. Naturally, his parent looks at his life choices the same way I look at ultra-busty milf doujin — with absolute disgust (#mediumispremium & #flatisjustice).
To prove that his goals are more than a pipe dream, Yu-kun endeavors to sell 100 accessories at a school festival. How and why this would prove anything is beyond me, but such is life. Unfortunately for Yu-kun, he tanks. But life decides to help the young entrepreneur by sending a kawaii blue-haired waifu named Himari to help him. And with her, he manages to sell his entire stock.
But her help wasn’t a one-off endeavor, as after that, Himari became his self-imposed best friend. She then spent the next two years constantly bombarding Yu-kun with indirect flirting. But when Yu-kun’s first love found her way back to him and she tells Himari that she’s into him, what becomes of the relationship Himari and Yu built? Can a Boy-Girl Friendship Survive?
Can a Boy-Girl Friendship Survive? Overall Thoughts
Do you remember when Lycoris Recoil aired and everyone was gushing over Chisato and Takina’s friendship dynamic? Take that playfulness and sincerity, stuff it into a rom-com, and add a bit of sexual tension and romantic attraction, and you get Danjoru. The interaction between characters is divine! The love and playfulness they display are infectious. Watching this show will put a huge smile on your face.
J.C. Staff gets a lot of grief over some of their titles. That said, I doubt there will be much complaining about Can a Boy-Girl Friendship Survive?. The anime’s artwork is vibrant and cozy. Everything about it pulls you in and enchants you. This show flies by due to its enjoyability.
The voice acting is superb. Kikunosuke Toya (Yu-kun) masterfully conveys the annoyance of someone who has to deal with a genki headache. Sayumi Suzushiro (Himari) ensures every ounce of condescension and euphoria grates your ears when she’s letting those BWA-HAs fly.
Danjoru’s characters are lovable. Himari sticks with you — her genkiness and smile bring the fuwa-fuwa. Rion will enchant anyone who likes shy waifus. And since we have two top-tier waifus, I can assure you, a waifu war is coming. Much like The Quintessential Quintuplets, people will get upset about the winning heroine.
Flowery Thoughts
Botany is a casual pastime of mine, so I recognized that the title of Danjoru’s first episode references flowers. I won’t claim to be an expert in botany, but I know enough to guess. And the more I think about it, the more I believe the episode’s name hints at the show’s plot.
Anemone flaccida, the windflower or “daughter of the wind,” is plentiful in Japan. Their white flowers symbolize lasting bonds, friendship, and cooperation. But their red/pink flowers symbolize forsaken/abandoned love. On the other hand, the “queen of the night,” Epiphyllum oxypetalum, represents transience. Epiphyllum oxypetalum’s native range extends from Mexico to Nicaragua, but as they’re popular ornamental cacti, you’ll occasionally find them elsewhere.
Now put those meanings into perspective — especially as to how they may relate to Himari’s feelings. What do you think this points to? Could it be we’re getting another losing blue-haired heroine? Or am I reading too much into nothing when it comes to Can a Boy-Girl Friendship Survive?
©2024 Nana Nanana / KADOKAWA / Danjoru Production Committee
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