First Look: Winter 2024 Anime Overview: Cherry Magic (Patreon)

Winter 2024 Anime Overview: Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard!?

Premise: Adachi suddenly finds that he has the power to read the minds of anyone who touches him, apparently as a result of being a virgin at thirty years old. When he brushes against his cool, competent co-worker Kurosawa, he discovers Kurosawa has a raging crush on him. As Adachi tries to figure out what to do with this information, the pair grow closer...

Despite an extremely goofy title and concept, Cherry Magic quickly became a surprisingly grounded, thoughtful and heartfelt romance. The goofy powers seem more like a way to explore communication, and possibly a metaphor for being in the closet. After all, Adachi has a secret he must keep that he's terrified of people finding out, that involves his coworker who's in love with him and the feelings he's getting...

It is pretty funny how incredibly horny Kurosawa is despite his chill-seeming personality, but he's also really respectful of Adachi, and we get a fair amount of his perspective outside of reading his thoughts, like how he fell for Adachi because of his kindness and attentiveness. And while of course Adachi goes through the "what?? I don't have feelings for a guy do I!!!" he's never really insulting about Kurosawa's feelings even at the beginning, and the romance actually moves at a nice pace. It's genuinely sweet, and the way Adachi struggles with how much to share with Kurosawa and how to navigate their relationship. He fears sharing the truth about his powers while knowing it's not fair there's such an imbalance between them, and this is handled well. Ultimately, it's a very sweet. and sometimes hilarious (the part where Kurosawa randomly bursts into song inside his head is the best, wish it had lasted longer).

The one wrinkle is the eventual reveal of the fujoshi co-worker who's secretly shipping them. That's always a weird trope, like she's a stand in for the presumed female audience who turns to protagonists from subjects to objects. And of course it's super bizarre to ship your coworkers. However, she doesn't cross any serious lines with them, merely observing,and the bits with her only amount to a few moments in the show, it's definitely not significant. Still, do not like that trope. (I do think it's nice that the author in this is genuinely interested in supporting gay rights though, she donated part of the film rights money she received for this story to Marriage for All, an organization advocating for gay marriage in Japan).

There's also a subplot featuring another couple, and it's sweet and well done too! It also involves them being cat lovers, which I appreciate.

The show doesn't have the best animation in the world, and the colors are kind of bland, but it rarely looks bad and manages to hold itself together, and the romantic scenes come across fine. The genuinely good storytelling makes up for any deficiency in visuals, in my book

So yeah, if you like BL or romance in general, this is a really good one that explores communication and trust, as well as how outward presentation can contrast your intense gay thoughts. And best of all, it's not super dragged out and know how to get to the good stuff. Check it out!