Welcome, readers, to Late to the Party , a column that's right on time when it comes to catching up on anime everyone's already watched. This column addresses a universal truth in regard to being an anime fan: an anime backlog is quite the powerful beast. Many of us have one, where we amass more and more content we have designated in the "planning to watch" category. How and why it takes so long to actually address this task varies from person to person, but the gratification of finally allocating the time is really quite splendid. Occasionally, it’s by watching a classic anime from yesteryear that you’ve had your eye on for quite some time. In other instances, it’s a more recent premiere that just slipped by. Right now, I’m feeling nostalgic for the memories of yesteryear. My high school life wasn’t exactly noteworthy, but I’m sure this month’s anime will help rekindle some of those long forgotten experiences! A Little Town Girl With Big Dreams Studio: P.A. Works ( Buddy Daddies , Umamusume: Pretty Derby , Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms ) First aired: April 2023 (two years late to the party! Does that make me a third year now? AM I SENPAI?!) July’s anime comes courtesy of the talented folks at P.A. Works, a studio that astute enthusiasts of Late to the Party should know quite well by this point. As a matter of fact, all three of the anime that I listed above have been covered at some point as part of this column. What can I say? They’re amazing at what they do, whether it’s tales about love, horsies, or murder. This time, there won’t be any horsies or any murder (unless Season 2 makes a bold change of direction), but there will most definitely be… love! The star of the show is Mitsumi Iwakura, a 15-year-old girl from a tiny, remote town who has moved to Tokyo to start high school and make her dreams into reality. Mitsumi is very determined, you see; resolute that she’ll go to a prestigious university so that she can embark on a decorated career in politics when she grows up. At that age, most of us aren’t quite so ambitious, with our heads in the clouds and unreasonably convinced that we will go on to become famous actors, musicians, or professional wrestlers. And yes, that last one might be me projecting a little. RELATED: You Should Be Watching Skip and Loafer The only drawback for Mitsumi is that she’s pretty deep in over her head, leaving everything she knew behind and landing in a completely foreign atmosphere. By day one, she gets completely lost and finds herself at risk of missing the opening ceremony. Thankfully, she bumps into Sousuke Shima, a fellow first year who is also running late. He’s pretty blasé about this, however, so he calmly offers to show her the way. Neither of them know this yet, but they have just encountered someone who might change their lives for the better. Assuming they make it to that ceremony in time!! Quintessential Slice-of-Life As you might have surmised from the premise, Skip and Loafer is a pure romantic comedy — a quintessential piece of the slice-of-life genre. All of the staples will pop up throughout the season, including school clubs, karaoke, the student council, a sports fair, a visit to the zoo and a summer break trip to the beach. There’s a reason this formula works so well, and it all comes down to the delivery. Skip and Loafer is brimming with personality in every facet: the juxtaposition of the hyper-vigilant country girl against a super chill bishonen is instantly charming, with each discovering things they never knew possible through the other’s unique perspective. Neither have a shred of egotism, and yet they present so differently. Mitsumi wears her heart on her sleeve, completely lacking in self-awareness and flinging herself into any challenge with gusto. Her enthusiasm can lead to lapses of judgment or even unintentional death stares while she tries to process a situation, but her frank demeanor won’t let her accept defeat. She crashes through any challenge, whether it be in her studies or in trying to grapple with the various personalities of her classmates. Sousuke, on the other hand, is shrouded in mystery. He’s well-liked by his peers and always has a smile on his face, and yet there is a certain aloofness to him. For someone so popular, there is an unshakeable sense of loneliness behind that cheery grin, as if he’s putting up a front. Outwardly, he seems to find Mitsumi’s genuine perspective refreshing, though you’re left wondering throughout whether there is a deeper, darker agenda that is motivating him. In fairness, her personality is indeed quite infectious — she appreciates the little things in life in a way that shakes up the monotony of the mundane, allowing others to take a step back from their busy lives and revel in simplicity alongside her. She’s even able to infiltrate the heart of her most guarded peer, Makoto Kurume, whose portrayal by Megumi Han is simultaneously hilarious and heartwarming. I swear, Megumi can do absolutely anything, whether she’s one of shonen’s most iconic stars (Gon Freecss in Hunter x Hunter ) or a deranged cervidae scallywag (I am of course referring to Noko Shikanoko in My Deer Friend Nokotan ). RELATED: My Deer Friend Nokotan is the Summer’s Perfect Anime to Detach From Reality Mitsumi’s approach to life is a testament to the idea that you should never judge a book by its cover. I myself made a similar mistake when picking Mika Egashira as an early candidate for antagonist. In many ways, she is Mitsumi’s antithesis; always putting up a front to impress others and willing to manipulate people in order to get her way. What you don’t realize is that this is how she covers for her own insecurities, and beneath this veneer, she is actually a sweet person just desperate for acceptance. Plus, she keeps a mental list of the names of everyone who has wronged her and I find that totally relatable. What a queen, we stan Mika in this household. Soft and Gooey This isn’t to say that Skip and Loafer is without conflict, but that isn’t the modus operandi here. The goal is to bring joy and light into your day, and this is something it achieves with aplomb. It’s a sweet, rosy anime that is totally bingeable, or as Kelly Knox put it in Cozy Anime Corner, a “character-driven story [that] will also make you feel cozy in a similar way.” RELATED: Cozy Anime Corner: Skip and Loafer Is the Coziest Anime of Spring 2023 So many times, when I walk away from an anime I say to myself that it really has something for everyone, and once again I will sing such praises for Skip and Loafer . I understand that each person has different tastes and some folks don’t naturally gravitate toward a high school love story. But such is the nature of this medium, that warm, nourishing food for the soul can be a great change of pace. I’m all for thrills, I’m all for action, and I’m all for suspense… But I’ve got plenty of room in my diet for Skip and Loafer , an anime that’s soft and gooey like a dessert where you just can’t help but ask for seconds.
