First Impressions / Hentai Ouji to Warawanai Neko / Series Introduction

OP Sequence

OP: 「Fantastic Future」 by 田村ゆかり (Tamura Yukari)

「変態さんと笑わない猫」 (Hentai-san to Warawanai Neko)
“The Pervert and the Stony Cat”

Feeling like there’s a huge hole in your heart left by the absence of Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo? Need a new romantic comedy to pick up this season? Give Henneko a try! With a story reminiscent of a combination of Nyan Koi! and Kokoro Connect, explore the tale of the Hentai Prince, Yokodera Youto (Kaji Yuki), and the stone-faced Tsutsukakushi Tsukiko (Ogura Yui) as they both go on a quest to find their lost personalities. With J.C Staff’s track record on handling the very specific light novel romantic comedy genre, I can say just from the first episode that things are looking very good for this adaption, if not at the very least for the art.

Boy, that art sure is something though on it’s own. It’s clear where the production budget has gone towards this season, with no expense made to make the animation look as crisp as it can. Kantoku’s character designs have been faithfully reproduced, but at the same time have been adjusted to J.C. Staff’s personal style, which is in no way a bad thing. In comparison to the manga, the anime actually has outdone itself and the source in terms of art, adding many exaggerated yet tasteful scenes that help to strengthen the comedic aspects of the show. Instead of just bowing, Youto creates a shockwave of PR to highlight his inability to be truthful. Instead of a chase scene, Youto and Tsukiko create arrow vectors that breathe air into the usual chase scene. Whoever happens to be directing these changes, whether it’s art director Mihara Nobuaki or director Suzuki Youhei, I congratulate them so far for crisp animation and drawings that rival even Oreimo this season.

We’ve got great art, but what about the story and characters? Character-wise, things are looking promising, but story and character development wise, things are still up in the air. When you have polarized main characters in terms of their restraint, so many possibilities lay ahead, both for comedy and drama. Add in the ojou-sama, Azuki Azusa (Ishihara Kaori), who inherited Youto’s PR skills and strict merciless track captain [CLASSIFIED INFO] (Tamura Yukari) and it looks like we’ll have a good time. Overly dramatic and blunt outbursts from Youto simply bounce off of Tsukiko (though how she feels inside is another matter), while Tsukushi and Azusa will introduce their own tough love into the mix.

Though we have a great cast lineup here all portraying some interesting characters, all that’s left is for the actual story and development to play out. Last season, Sakurasou’s strength lay in the unifying theme of talent and hard work, which worked well in spurring character development and giving each arc meaningful plot and direction. Henneko’s direction or theme is hazier, but some general trends can be guessed upon. It is my hope that the show will expand on the themes of identity and honesty, just as Kokoro Connect did seasons ago. Losing character traits one thinks to be weaknesses is a perfect vehicle for exploring such themes, in hopes of spurring a mature reflection on what it means to be “you” and what makes you well…you. If not that, hopefully Henneko will pull at our heartstrings and develop characters whose struggle is empathizable. I refuse to think that Henneko will turn out to be a shallower anime focusing on the fanservice and comedy, since its predecessor broke similar expectations. The fact that we placed Sakurasou low on the expectations list still bothers me today, and as such I’ll give this show a fighting chance to be an anime with similar strengths. Whether in a strong plot, strong characters, or even both, I have high hopes for J.C. Staff to pull off another great adaption.

Full-length images: 11, 15, 21, 23, 26, 27, 29, 31.

 

Preview

89 Comments

    1. While a good intention, I think most teenagers with identity-crisis will fail to see that. It’s not called a dissociative disorder for a petty reason.

      With that out of the way, TWO DELICIOUS LOLIS?! My god, my expectations were met and taken to the max!

      Raw
      Reply

  2. the character designs are generic but damn are they drawn well. Looks like JC staff had alot of money this season what with Railgun looking as great as it does (improved on the animation of its predecessor) and now this show also has great animation. Since JC staff is only working on two series this season (i think) here’s hoping the quality stays consistent throughout both series’

    sonicsenryaku
    Reply

      3. It can work, however there’s nothing actually wrong with stony. It’s a legitimate word and its usage isn’t wrong in this case.

        Stony has also been used in every instance I’ve seen when referring to the series (even before it got an anime) so it’s pretty much the official english name.

        Kuntzy
        Reply

    1. The expression of the face: The anime seems to say “dafuq are you doing, baka’ and the Manga/Ln versions seems to say “whoa, close one!”

      The hand touching the floor is a bit farther in the anime.

      The skirt’s patterns are different underneath the skirt.

      a bit of the girl’s bra is exposed in the original, in the anime it isn’t there…

      the anime has less exposed tummy than the original.

      the sparkle of the girl’s eyes and the blush is more noticeable in the original than in the anime…

      buttons on the sleeve is missing in anime version

      *click save*

      The Moondoggie
      Reply

  12. That opening is so friggin’ catchy. Yukarin’s been making some great themes lately. I wasn’t too fond of all her Nanoha themes but Endless Story, W:Wonder Tale and Fantastic Future have been pretty darn good (if not a little formulaic).

    Also… AZUSA’S FINALLY ANIMATED!!!!!!! (caps for flat chest great justice)

    She’s so darn adorable. Just as much, if not moreso, as Tsukiko.

    Kuntzy
    Reply

  18. I liked the pilot a lot, it had some seriously great moments. I can see why you are comparing it to Sakurasou though, Zanibas, as the pilot of that just introduced the cast and had awesome comedic moments as well. Then by episode 3 you knew it wasn’t just a typical rom-com, and it had much more to offer. (I thought that show was great, definitely one of my favorites from last season) Even if Henneko doesn’t go that route, I’m okay with it just being a fun and lighthearted romantic comedy! I have faith in J.C. Staff, they’ll do a good job with the source material. (They tend to most of the time, no reason to start doubting them now!)
    PS: is it just me, or is the opening song ridiculously catchy?

    katsudon
    Reply

  21. Copper Cat takes the offering form of food or ability they don’t want.
    Azuki Azusa wish to PR and given poker face.
    Friend already wish to be generous and given his Eros ability.
    Youto Yokodera wish Eros ability and gave PR.
    Tsukiko Tsutsukakushi wish poker face and given a bun.

    Lim Lynn
    Reply

  22. Youto Yokodera made a promise with Tsukiko Tsutsukakushi after 2 years time he fall in love with her but when he started hitting on Azuki Azusa; Youto Yokodera she shows her jealousy by kicking on one of four legs the the metal bed frame.

    Lim Lynn
    Reply

  25. While I am going to enjoy this show for how the Youto has no choice but to speak his mind he did ask a very good question. Which type of swimsuit style would be considered the most enticing. I personally agree with his choice of racerback but what about others on this board? If anything answer for SCIENCE!

    ABPsycho
    Reply

  28. There aren’t too many pilot episodes that had me laughing from start to finish, Hentai Ouji’s first episode does exactly that. A bit of Jim Carrey’s “Liar Liar” comes to mind for some of the humour that worked for me here, with Youta unable to suppress his urge to spout his lewd thoughts.

    Spare a thought for poor Barbara the Dutch Wife, being involved in all sorts of weird ritualistic sacrifices she wants no part in.

    Amongst Japanese fans, characters who are shamelessly perverted are revered as “gentleman”, for they can stay shamelessly composed while engaging in lewd acts. Examples include Araragi Koyomi of the Monogatari series and Kousaku Kyousuke of OreImo.

    But Yokodera Youta has the potential to one-up them, for he is a PRINCE, and so far, he has not disappointed.

    Anonymous
    Reply

    1. Then THAT is what Nyaruko was talking about when she said “Japanese Gentlemen, please stand up!” I know its a reference from somewhere else, but that makes the context more clear.

      SmithCB
      Reply

  32. meet yoto a perv guy who keep perv life very quiet til steel queen want him to take over track-field club got bit yikes then after talk with a pal of his mention wishing stony cat changed a life.

    so yoto go meet stony cat with a dutch wife for it til he meet a female who want also wish on stony cat as well so they make a wish & yep be careful what you wish for on it.

    cause now yoto can’t lie also being tell all pervy truth (liar liar movie anyone) as for girl he meet aka tsukiko the stony cat make her emotionless.

    with that give want their take back their wish so search is on & oh now yoto want be a servant to azuka cause he assume she got yoto’s lying mood.

    (with DxD s2 this summer oh pervy Kaji Yuki is unleash)

    b.i.t.w.
    Reply

  34. The Subtle differences I found between the Manga and Episode 1 were great. It went a long ways towards helping me to understand the plot moving forward better. Excellent first episode. Very promising. I was really excited when I read the Manga, and am pleased so far.

    J_the_Man
    Reply

  36. Love the LN, and I think the anime so far looks pretty promising. Hope JC Staffs can keep up with this quality and don’t try too hard on the story…like making the original anime ending for example (since LN isn’t ended yet).

    K
    Reply

  41. Just love the art. Reminds me so much of sakurasou. I’m glad I can have this series to ease my depression since sakurasou ended. The episode was hilarious, and I am definitely looking forward to more JC staff goodness.

    BlackChaos
    Reply

  42. I love this show so much I think I cried a little during some parts. And by some parts, I mean the whole thing. Other shows might be better *cough* Gargantia *cough*, but this was the most fun I’ve had so far this season!

    Stilts
    Reply

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