Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai Episode 11 Review
Bunny Girl Senpai continues to impress with its dialogue, particular the timing of responses and pauses. There are moments where just listening to the characters is such a distraction that I need to go back to pay attention to what they are actually doing.
However, and this may prove an unpopular opinion, but after eleven episodes of watching delightful characters have interesting interactions, what troubles is that there is no escalation or ‘more’. While we turn into Kaede’s story, which is one I’ve been waiting for and has so far proven interesting, the tone and feeling of this anime is exactly the same as it has always been. And while it might fit the ‘if it isn’t broke don’t fix it’ mentality, as other anime step up their game for their conclusion, Bunny Girl Senpai remains exactly as it always has. It’s still brilliant mind you, but it doesn’t quite shine so much in amongst the pack as other anime are now coming to the end of a cumulative emotional journey.
Still, that isn’t reviewing this episode, it is comparing, so let’s veer back on track. Mai deals with the photo in the magazine and her status as Sakuta’s girl-friend in a sensible and clear manner. One of the many things I appreciate about this show is they don’t just drag things out and over-dramatise them for the sake of it.
Half-way through this episode though we switch to Kaede’s story and this week she turns the cute up to 100. I’m not a fan of little sister characters so the sheer amount of charm Kaede brings to this story is almost unprecedented and she has most definitely become a character I really adore. Watching her smile while holding out her notebook with her goals was a really adorable moment as was seeing Sakuta both support her and temper her goals with reality. The fact that he isn’t just mindlessly cheering her on and saying ‘you can do it’ but rather is helping her to break her goals down into achievable steps was one of the best moments of the year because it was so grounded in reality.
Though, with two episodes left to go, Shouko’s story still unrevealed and Kaede still in kind of an emotional limbo, I guess there is still more drama to be had. Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai continues to be an extraordinary watch and taking the whole season into account is most definitely a solid viewing experience. Its use of narrative arcs has kind of kept it from building to something that is over the top emotionally, but it has certainly left a far more lasting impression than anime that simply go for sensationalise in the moment.
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SEISHUN BUTA YAROU WA BUNNY GIRL SENPAI NO YUME WO MINAI ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK
- Episode 1 – Ignoring the Title This One Seems Actually Interesting
- Episode 2 – When Life Makes you Disappear
- Episode 3 – Snuggle Bunnies
- Episode 4 – Time Loops and Laplace’s Demon
- Episode 5 – The Real Fake
- Episodes 6 + 7 – How To Build a Fascinating Harem Starting With A Bunny Girl
- Episode 8 – Bunny Girl Isn’t About Getting What You Want
- Episode 9 – The Grass Might Look Greener From Your Side of the Fence
- Episode 10 – It’s Simple, It’s Complicated, It’s Like Life
- Episode 11 – The Panda Girl Removes Her Armour
- Episode 12 – A Journey Forward = The You Now Being Abandoned
- Episode 13 – Awakening From A Dream and Life Goes On
It’s my understanding that there’s a theatrical film coming next year that’s going to wrap up Shouko’s arc so I presume the next two episodes will mostly be dealing with Kaede (and presumably more Mai and Sakuta stuff).
I think you are right. Not a big fan of that approach and definitely prefer self contained anime series.
That’s the nature of anime that adapt ongoing (LN or manga) series… And from the POV of the production staff, the whole point – to get the viewer to go buy the source material. Sadly, that leaves us outside of Japan hanging because the source is rarely legally available.
Or even if it is legally available, it doesn’t make me like the ending of an anime more if it doesn’t finish just because I can use a different source to find its ending. I’m unlikely to buy the DVD or rewatch an unfinished story. I still very much feel that an anime series should be able to stand on its own separate from the source material even if it’s main job is promoting the source. Mainly because otherwise it just kind of leaves a sour taste. Bunny Girl Senpai has the advantage in that at least most of the smaller problems are solved within their arc so there’s small resolutions throughout so even if it doesn’t solve everything, we’re likely to end on a resolution of sorts which will make it feel reasonably tied up.
“it doesn’t make me like the ending of an anime more if it doesn’t finish just because I can use a different source to find its ending.”
Not disagreeing with that at all! I loathe “go read the source” endings.
I think I’ll take “a consistent level of excellence” than a show that was peaks and valleys. Though I do wonder like you Karandi, if this show will remain in the minds of its viewers a month or two after it’s ended.
This episode was the strongest in a few weeks, and Kaede probably just won “imotuo of the decade” with her work here. Really interested to see what happens with the memory thing and whether this is a three-episode arc, or the final episode is a wrap-up.
Kaede is definitely the imotou of the decade – I don’t know if that’s a thing, but it should be and Kaede will win it.
I’m making it a thing in my awards of 2018. It’s done.