Warning: Spoilers for Astro Note episode 1Most viewers will undoubtedly remember and continue watching the new Crunchyroll anime original series Astro Note because of the compelling albeit outrageous science-fiction twist at the end of the first episode. However, the overall setup of the first 20 or so minutes could have been enough to stand out this spring anime season if the romantic comedy didn’t take the sci-fi route just because of the trope it resoundingly refused to pander to.
The anime industry is currently inundated with harem series, especially as of late, so an easy way for new shows to gain viewership is to throw a guy with a bunch of attractive girls. Although simple to accomplish, Astro Note‘s original premise greatly simplified the prospect even further by having the male protagonist Takumi Miyasaki move into a lounge with a beautiful female owner named Mira Gotokuji and embellished their dynamic by making the series a romantic comedy centered on their interactions.
These developments possibly even demanded the harem focus, but Astro Note actually chose to fill the lounge with a very diverse cast of characters instead of beautiful girls, which the vast majority of the first episode revolved around, as Takumi Miyasaki situated himself in his new home.
Astro Note’s Cast of Characters Is Compelling Enough Without the Sci-Fi Twist
Produced by Telecom Animation Film and Shochiku
Although harems are appealing for a myriad of reasons and the premise can even create interesting series, such as the recent The 100 Girlfriends, the fact that Astro Note could have been a harem but didn’t, made it stand out immediately, even though filling the lounge with beautiful women would have possibly made the series more appealing to the larger public. It definitely helps that Takumi’s new housemates are a very eclectic bunch. All of them complement each other quite well and play off Takumi’s personality in fun ways that, most importantly, diverge from each other.
There’s a quirky yet incredibly studious boy who’s the poster child of the archetypal apple that couldn’t have fallen farther from the tree, since his father, who’s also a resident, is happily unemployed. Then there’s a struggling idol in training who proudly shows off her performative skills as over-the-top as possible, which couldn’t differ more from the career path and style of a mysterious old man who’s believed to be a novelist. And, of course, there’s the beautiful lounge owner who is not only in over her head but is completely clueless about life, who’s caught the heart of Takumi who now cooks breakfast for her and his fellow residents.
With even just that basic explanation, the rapport between Takumi and his non-harem housemates in the first episode could have easily carried the show throughout the entire season, but it’s obvious that, while Takumi’s fellow residents will play an important role in the first season, the focus will undoubtedly be the sci-fi element introduced in the episode’s final minutes. It’s almost a shame, but there’s still plenty of time for Astro Note to prove itself this anime season.
Astro Note is available on Crunchyroll
Watch on Crunchyroll
