My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999: A Story of Gamers

Akane is cheated on by her boyfriend one day and breaks up with him, causing her to go into a depression of how this could happen to her. Of course, her real course to get back at her ex-boyfriend is to do a makeover and go to an event that she knows that he will be at. But things take a twist when Akane meets a regional famous streamer, Akito Yamada. She promises him a code for the in-game prize to pretend to be her boyfriend as they meet the ex-boyfriend. Their fake relationship takes a turn when they slowly start to develop into a friendship that both never expected to happen.

The animation that MadHouse did for this one is very fluid, and clean. The pops of flowers around them are always so cute and at times funny when they appear. The voice actors both sub and dub, did a very good job to convey the feelings, and in this cause for Yamada, emotionless as well. While the vibes of the anime if very lighthearted, we can see the indication of trying to understand who we are. What really makes us ourselves in situations like these. Especially, when we slowly start to realize that we are in love with another person. The fear that something is wrong with yourself, does play in this theme of live in one of the later episodes and it does bring to question what this character truly wants.

There are many unrequited love themes as well, ones that will pull at you, and make you understand how it felt the first time it happened to you as well. It allows you to connect with the character further down the line and try to understand why they did what they did. While the anime does have a lighter atmosphere farther then the gloomier side, the deep themes do draw you in further into the character.

The anime is a delight, and gives such a wonderful feeling during most of it, it causes such an uproar of awkward laughter and “oh nooo” during it as the misunderstandings and the jealousy plays in. The world of Akane and Yamada are vastly different in comparison when they come together, while the stoic and emotionless Yamada is annoyed at Akane cheerful and loud self. You can very much see the walls coming down from Yamada, even if it is just small moments. However, these two are not the only ones you will be rooting for, the other guild members are so wholehearted in their appearance, and you are very much going to be picking out who your favorite will be.

The opening is “Gradation” by Kana-Boon featuring Y?ho Kitazawa, such a wonderful song that makes you sway along with the characters on the screen. The ending theme song is “Trick Art” by Ryujin Kiyoshi is a bouncy song that makes you want to dance around the living room.