30 Days of Anime Challenge – #30 the Anime I Wish Never Ended

This one’s a toughie because there isn’t really an anime I wish never ended. This applies to even my favourite shows, like Blood+, Naruto, and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. I love these shows to the moon and back, but I’m still glad that they ended (eventually). Why? Well…

I think that the ability to tell a concise story is important. I’m a busy woman. Please don’t waste my time with filler or goings-on that don’t fit into the overarching storyline or contribute towards character development. These statements may seem incongruous with the above paragraph (in which I listed Naruto as one of my favourite anime), but the fact that it wasn’t able to wrap itself up in a timely manner is inarguably one of its biggest weaknesses. Its story had many different strands, but I still think that it could have been told in a fraction of the episodes it was actually told in – and been all the better for it.

I also have kind of a short attention span. Anime simply do not hold my attention for that long. After about two weeks of watching a show, I’m ready to move on to the next one. That’s why I prefer shows 25 episodes and under.

Finally, a good finale improves my enjoyment of an anime exponentially. Forgive the cliche, but they really are the cherry on the cake. I like seeing who, ultimately, ends up dating who, who lives and who dies, whose dreams are realised and whose dreams are dashed, etc. I suspect that a show that went on and on endlessly would only deprive me of these things.

But if I had to choose an anime that I wish never ended (and for the purpose of this challenge, I kind of do) it would have to be a show with no real overarching storyline or else one with a simple concept that could be endlessly exploited over untold episodes. In other words, a comedy. So, for challenge #30, I choose one of my favourite comedies: My Love Story!!

My Love Story!! Definitely meets the above criteria. Its viewers are invited to watch its protagonist, the gentle giant, Takeo, gingerly navigate his way around his first romantic relationship with his (equally as saccharine sweet) girlfriend, Yamato. Each episode usually involves them experiencing something new and exciting together, like their first date, their first kiss, or their first Christmas together, and deepening their relationship. Life has so many “firsts” to offer, both generally speaking and in the context of romantic relationships. As such, I think that this simple concept is one that, beyond question, could be exploited endlessly. I’d definitely love to see this cute couple experience more firsts together!

My Love Story!! is also just a great, feel-good anime. It doesn’t rely on action, intrigue, or melodrama to keep you hooked, but, rather, its lovable characters. Takeo and Yamato are two young, sweet, hopeless romantics who genuinely love one another. They might not always understand each other and, by the show’s end, are still working on better communicating with one another, but they still cheer for each other, respect one another, and continually place the other’s needs before their own. And whilst Takeo and Yamato both have other people vying for their affection, they only ever have eyes for each other. This kind of pure, unspoiled love is so wholesome, so heartwarming, and so rare (both in anime and in real life), you can’t help but get the warm fuzzies while watching the couple! If any couple were to ever restore your hope in true love, it’d be Takeo and Yamato! It’s only been two months since I finished the show, but I already miss feeling these feelings! So, yeah, if there ever was an anime I wish never ended, it’d be My Love Story!!

And that concludes my 30 Days of Anime Challenge! Phew! Whilst I have had so much fun writing these posts, it’s been a bit more than 30 days (just a bit) since I started this challenge, so I’m definitely looking forward to moving on to my next big project! I hope that, whatever that ends up being, you’ll join me once again! Bye for now!