It’s funny how anime seasons will develop “themes,” with some overflowing with examples of the isekai genre, and others over-representing idol anime. There are two themes from the Winter 2023 anime season: genderswap anime series, in which male characters become female, and cute-af seasonal romance stories about characters falling in love. In addition to Kubo-san Won’t Let Me Be Invisible and Tensei Oujo: The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady, we’ve got the super relaxing Otonari no Tenshi-sama ni Itsunomanika Dame Ningen ni Sareteita Ken, or The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten. It quickly became my favorite anime of the season, and the one I’m looking forward to each episode.
Why Did The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten Win My Heart?
What would you do if you saw an angel sitting in the rain at a playground looking sad? If you’re Amane Fujimiya, you’d be a gentleman and give her your umbrella. The girl’s name is Mahiru Shiina, and she’s famous at school because of her beauty and intelligence, going by the nickname “Tenshi-sama” (though she hates that name).
Because this is anime, Amane predictably catches a cold from the rain, and Mahiru (who lives next door to him) feels bound to come to his room to care for him. When she sees his sloppy lifestyle and poor eating habits, she’s unable to leave him alone, and begins cooking for him every evening. Take note, all guys out there: if you want to get a beautiful girlfriend, you need to keep your apartment messy and avoid eating healthy foods.
Before Amane knows it, Mahiru comes over to his house nightly to bring him delicious meals and hang out with him while playing video games. Although each swears there’s no attraction at all, Amane and Mahiru are slowly falling in love.
Why Is This Show So Enjoyable to Watch?
It definitely comes down to the cuteness of Mahiru-chan, who is sweet, good at cooking and concerned about making sure Amane straightens out his life. The stories and tropes are all predictable, but the slow and steady progress the characters make each episode is enjoyable to watch.
In a way, this show is even more blatantly escapist than Sword Art Online, where average readers of light novels just happen to find themselves transported to fantasy worlds with godlike sword-wielding powers. I understand that fantasizing about having a pure-hearted and golden-haired angel come to cook for me is silly…but then all entertainment of any kind is unrealistic, if you think deeply enough about it.
The animation is done by Studio Project 9, who brought us such shows as the excellent I Shaved, Then I Picked Up a High School Girl and Love After World Domination. The main standout in the voice cast is Mahiru herself, who is voiced by Iwami Manaka, most famous for Tooru from the outstanding Fruits Basket remake. If you ever wanted to play house with Tooru, this is the anime for you.
Thanks for reading this blog post about the Otonari no Tenshi-sama romance anime. Are you enjoying the show? Tell us below, or reply to us on Twitter!
J-List’s sister company J18 Publishing has another amazing hentai doujinshi for you, about a very special training camp your older sister is attending. There’s no better way to train than this! The book is in stock in San Diego.
