Review | Horimiya - Chapter 1

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Warning! This review on  Horimiya chapter one contains spoilers. If you haven't seen the episode yet, I recommend that you go check it out and then go back to read the review.




Page 1. A little chance

Horimiya chapter one begins with a daily scene inside the classroom, we soon meet Hori and his group of friends. She is a popular girl who gives the image of being popular and fashionable, however she dedicates her evenings to housework and taking care of her younger brother. On the other hand is Miyamura, a classmate who has a depressed look and looks like an otaku. Very different from his image, Miyamura is a laid-back boy with piercings and tattoos. A small coincidence causes the lives of these two boys to intersect and an unlikely friendship is born between them. A matter that does not go unnoticed by the rest, especially Ishikawa, who has feelings for Hori. In the end it is thanks to Ishikawa's confession that Hori and Miyamura can open up about their friendship and strengthen their ties even more.




A long awaited premiere

It has been 12 years since HERO started the publication of his web manga " Hori-san to Miyamura-kun ", which culminated three years later and was compiled into a series of ten volumes. The story captivated its readers and moved to the Gekkan GFantasy, this time with a drawing by Daisuke Hagiwara. The manga continues to be published since 2012, currently has a total of fifteen published volumes. With a history of such a long trajectory, it is normal that it has such a wide fanbase, especially when we consider that it is a story that can strike a chord while still entertaining and having fun.

To be honest this is another story that I know very well, although I am not particularly adept at the original work as a webmanga, I have followed the illustrated version of Hagiwara very closely. This is probably why I was craving this premiere, more than any other this season. In addition to this background, Horimiya had already had animated adaptations before. With four predecessor OVAS, it was hard to know what to expect for this new foray for the animated adaptation. Each OVA was adapted by a different study, well the first two by the same, but the third and fourth were a separate work. It must be said that they did not shine especially in any case, so the concern was not so unfounded.

However, and managing to cover our mouths to more than one, the CloverWorks studio has done an excellent and neat adaptation job. Making us feel that Horimiya has fallen into very capable hands to exploit its full potential. Because although at first glance this seems like a typical slice of life story, the truth is that it contains a very human background and the experiences it tells us are capable of touching the most sensitive fibers of our being. That this is a teenage story is what gives you the space to exploit the ailments of early life in a unique way. This is not just any romance, it is the story of two people with their own charges, worthy of a teenager, yes.




His and her circumstances

Now yes, already fully entering what we could see in this first episode, without delay we find the opposite polarity of two classmates. Hori and Miyamura are diametrically opposite, that is obvious to everyone, since the image they both project at school is that of a popular girl and a gloomy guy. It does not seem that there is anything in common between that pair, even their interaction is practically nil. But things take a turn when the two accidentally "find out". Neither is she the popular and fashionable girl that everyone seems to believe, nor is he a depressed otaku.

The thing is, none of them are actually playing pretend to be something they are not, they just adapted to go with the flow that flows. Hori is indeed a popular person, but she is not particularly adept at fashion, since her free time is spent at home and taking care of her baby brother. For his part, Miyamura is not an otaku but he is certainly someone with a somewhat depressed character, but the biggest difference in his image is that outside of school he is someone with his own style. Not that he is someone who follows trends or fashions, but if he is someone a bit impulsive and not so thoughtful, that is how I term with nine piercings and one tattoo.

They have both gotten used to their images, but can't help but feel an affinity for each other when they discover how similar their situation is. This is a rare case where two lines that seemed impossible to even get close to end up intersecting each other. It's no wonder that familiarity and comfort grow between the two of them, as they share a secret. But it is more than just that, it is something that is so personal that the level of intimacy is higher than with anyone. By sharing their time, one that only belongs to both, they have become accomplices of themselves, almost as if only they know who the other really is. As you will see, it is not a minimum level of confidence.




Friendliness and reputation

With the above said we can take a leap towards the end. Both Hori and Miyamura have created a solid friendship, since they have been appreciated for who they really are, without any mask involved. This is something very significant for both, but due to the difference of characters they cannot appreciate it in the same way. The most unsettled in this is Miyamura, who although he has a very gentle character and is not socially inept, in reality he has a big problem in his self-esteem. Which has led him to hold some unpleasant thoughts for the counterpart who receives them.

For Miyamura, who has a very poor self-perception, Hori is someone dazzling and kind. Unfortunately he has come to believe that it is only out of kindness that Hori continues to relate to him. As I said, this is just a consequence of his poor perception of himself. Since he looks like someone "pitiful", he thinks he's only getting sympathy from the girl. Something in which he could not be more wrong, and that Hori finally makes him understand with a bit of complaints and tears. She is not someone who is spreading sympathy everywhere, she genuinely wants to spend time with him.

As we saw earlier, they both project an image, one that is opposite of each other. That has also caused Miyamura to have reservations about her interaction with Hori. Well, the "student society" would surely not welcome someone as popular as Hori to associate with someone as gloomy and depressing as Miyamura. Inadvertently, Ishikawa was the confirmation of that thought. For by questioning her approach to Hori so much, it made Miyamura look even more at the gap between them. But again this is just a matter of prejudice, and Hori is not someone to accept that so easily. While she doesn't want to popularize her life outside of school, that doesn't mean she worries about such a shallow reputation as the one projected on her.

Reputation is something that we must build with effort but being something that depends entirely on the perception of a third party, it is difficult to define how important it really is. Nor should we forget that a good reputation can be easily damaged and a bad reputation is hardly forgotten. In the end, what is really important is not what others think but what you want. Hori was right to be upset with Miyamura, as it is not up to him to choose to walk away so as not to damage Hori's reputation. That is a choice that directly involves her, and it is she who must choose what is important, if that role reputation or bond that she has formed with that boy who accepts her for being herself without reservation.




Final comment

Horimiya chapter one has been a wonderful episode to introduce us to this story. As a start for this anime this chapter has had what it takes: a good introduction to the main characters, an overview of what we can expect and a burst of nostalgia without equal. The narrative feels accelerated at times, but it is not a mistake, especially if we consider that the chapters of the manga are actually short. The animation is beautiful, it is clean and the color palette that is sandwiched between gloss and matte, makes it visually pleasing to observe. The work of the dubbing actors is another great success, the voices have fitted like a glove.



Before closing with this review let's talk about the perfection I felt in the opening. You Kamiyama's “Iro Kousui” is the chosen opening theme for this story and we can say that it was a complete and accurate hit. Music conveys a feeling that goes from warm to cold, very suitable for the visual that accompanies it. I was surprised that the opening was so open about how depressing this story can get. But do not get me wrong, although it is true that there are sensitive issues and that can make tears come, it is not something we will regret forever. It's just that the construction of the characters can show us that at heart, Horimiya is an apology for youth depression and the constant struggle for acceptance, albeit clearly with a hopeful message at every step.

We will talk about the ending in the future, which although it was not my favorite deserves recognition.

So far the review, I leave you the usual questions: What did you think of this chapter? Do you think it was a suitable start for this story? What is your opinion about Hori and Miyamura in this first meeting? Will it be possible to build an unshakable reputation? In your opinion, who is the one who should decide about our personal relationships, a third party or ourselves? 

 

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