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medea10 · 2 years

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My Review of The Pet Girl of Sakurasou

How did I get into this anime? Um…good question. I’m not entirely sure how this one ended up on my list other than it was licensed by Sentai Filmworks.

Sorata Kanda is a student at Suimei High School, a school notorious for its classes in the art field. Sorata finds himself in a bit of trouble when it was noticed that he tries to take in stray cats. The school put their foot down and threw Sorata in the trouble-maker dorm, also known as “Sakura Hall”. The residents are all…I think quirky is the best way to describe them. There’s an energetic animator and goofball (Misaki), a guy into doing playwright and doing women (Jin), a shut-in that’s good with programming (Ryuunosuke), and a promiscuous art teacher/dorm mistress (Chihiro).

What was Sorata’s problem again? He would take in stray cats!

Never mind, I would probably end up there too. And not just for taking in stray cats either.

The dorm mistress Chihiro asks Sorata to pick up her cousin coming in from Europe. She’s going to transfer to the school and is going to stay at Sakura Hall. Mashiro Shiina looks normal and seems kinda aloof. I wonder why she would be in the dorm with the crazy people. Your questions are answered in episode 2. Mashiro is a genius in the art world, but her social skills are lacking. And saying she’s aloof is an understatement! The girl doesn’t even know how to put on clothes or do basic things in order to survive. Not to mention all the literal things she says without knowing what she’s saying.

Let’s just say Sorata gets a heavy-load of misunderstandings when watching over this weird girl in Sakura Hall.

BETWEEN THE SUB AND THE DUB: Whenever Sentai or FUNimation is in need of a voice that calls for a high school lad at half-testicles, you can always count on Greg Ayres to be there. I can’t hate on the man, he plays a bunch of funny lads with that distinct voice of his. I know some people find it annoying, but I’m cool with it. Probably because I didn’t complain when he played that butt-monkey on Clannad! Moving on, this anime has just about everyone you would think would be in the dub of a Sentai licensed anime. Luci Christian, John Swasey, Hillary Haag, Kira Vincent-Davis, Shelly Calene-Black, and so many other veterans. I’m also excited to officially hear Natalie Rial in an anime. She is the sister to voice Jesus, Monica Rial.

Now there was one character that felt off hearing from and that was Ryunnosuke. Mostly the big difference between the English and Japanese! Let’s just say that when I heard Blake Shepard’s voice come out, it felt weird. Up until he appeared, I thought Ryunnosuke was a female. Especially when I read prior to his appearance that Yui Horie voiced him. So I almost took a spit-take first hearing the dub. Here’s what you might recognize these folks from.

JAPANESE CAST: *Sorata is played by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (known for Soma on Food Wars, Inosuke on Demon Slayer, Kirito on SAO, Helios on Sailor Moon Eternal, Petelgeuse on Re:Zero, Yona on Fire Force, and Freed on High School DxD

*Nanami is played by Mari Nakatsu

*Mashiro is played by Ai Kayano (known for Darkness on Konosuba, Alice on SAO: Alicization, Kanae on Demon Slayer, Mayaka on Hyouka, Ryouko on Food Wars, Itsuwa on Index, and Yukika on Ore Monogatari)

*Misaki is played by Natsumi Takamori (known for Mei on Another, Tiaplate on Interspecies Reviewers, Hibana on Deadman Wonderland, Souna on High School DxD, and Saitou on Rozen Maiden: Zurückspulen)

*Jin is played by Takahiro Sakurai (known for Suzaku on Code Geass, Licht on Black Clover, Oshino on Monogatari, Ayame on Fruits Basket 2019, Sting on Fairy Tail, Griffith on Berserk 2016, and Osomatsu in Mr. Osomatsu)

*Ryuunosuke is played by Yui Horie (known for Hanyuu on Higurashi, Tohru on Fruits Basket, Hanekawa on Monogatari, Minori on Toradora, Felix on Re:Zero, Charla on Fairy Tail, and Maria on Umineko)

ENGLISH CAST: *Sorata is played by Greg Ayres (known for Kaoru on Ouran HSHC, Nagisa on Free!, Sunohara on Clannad, Monokuma on Danganronpa, Izumi on Love Stage, Ayato on Angel Beats, Chrono on Chrono Crusade, and Isshiki on Chunibyo)

*Nanami is played by Christina Kelly (known for Alice on Food Wars, Sophia on Chunibyo, and Kouko on Golden Time)

*Mashiro is played by Caitlynn French (known for Mio on Little Busters, Shiro on No Game No Life, Matsurika on Maria Holic, and Kanna on Tamako Market)

*Misaki is played by Luci Christian (known for Wrath & Truth on FMA, Medusa on Soul Eater, Uraraka on My Hero Academia, Nagisa on Clannad, Yukari on Azumanga Daioh, Nami on One Piece, and Hiro on Fruits Basket 2019)

*Jin is played by Scott Gibbs (known for Satoshi on Food Wars, Sora on No Game No Life, and Mitsuo on Parasyte)

*Ryuunosuke is played by Blake Shepard (known for Soma on Food Wars, Otonashi on Angel Beats, Shoma on Penguindrum, Kyousuke on Little Busters, Natsume on Inu x Boku SS, and Laito on Diabolik Lovers)

SHIPPING: Okay, let’s go crazy!

*Sorata x Mashiro: Everything here is just piles upon piles of misunderstandings. Mashiro says a lot of things that have double meanings. She doesn’t intend to do it, she’s just aloof and only pays attention to her art. It wasn’t until the halfway mark of the series when Mashiro feels something she’s never felt before. Prior to this, she only focused on her art and literally nothing else. Now, she wants to try new things for Sorata’s sake. And then she learned about jealousy as she acted on impulse a couple of times due to Sorata paying a little more attention to Nanami. Thankfully, the jealousy never really blew up to proportions that involve cat fights. Just her running away at an important time! You know, that kind of drama.

*Sorata x Nanami: Nanami has a crush on Sorata. It’s been visible from space since episode one. So what do you think is going to happen when someone like Mashiro shows up and says weird shit about sleeping with Sorata, going to a love hotel with Sorata, and Sorata, please do my laundry?! Jealousy’s gonna hit! At the school festival, Nanami got a confession and it was NOT from Sorata like she wanted. It was from her and Sorata’s classmate whom I can’t remember or bother remembering anything about him. And of course Nanami doesn’t want this. Now I do give Nanami credit here as she doesn’t try to delve a wedge between Sorata and Mashiro because she’s the one with the bigger and longer crush. But Nanami’s confession kinda comes out in her creative ways like in her voice over practice.

*Jin x Misaki: So at the beginning, I didn’t know where this was going to go. It was proven that Misaki likes Jin early on. But who the hell knew if this was going to be legit canon? Jin was a playboy and Misaki is eccentrically nuts. However, there were moments sprinkled throughout the series where Misaki would do insane things to get Jin’s attention. We just didn’t know if she was for sure serious about Jin or just messing with him. But then we learn that Jin actually dated Misaki’s older sister once upon a time and this really strikes at Misaki. Once she saw Jin and Fuuka together after so long, Misaki felt more determined to win Jin’s heart by any means necessary. Turns out the two truly love each other, but worry about the other due to things out of their control.

*Ryuunosuke x Rita: We finally met the shut-in, computer programmer face-to-face during the midway point. He only comes out of hiding when he needs to show up to school for important tasks like exams. Sucks for Ryuunosuke because when he emerged after a long time being holed up, Mashiro’s friend from England, Rita came for a visit! Besides wanting to take Mashiro back home with her, she inadvertently falls for Ryuunosuke. Yes, about that! Ryuunosuke hates females. He did not care for that kiss Rita gave him. Or any kiss for that matter!

ENDING: The fun nears its end! The students of Sakura Hall got some pretty grim news. Their dorms are to be torn down effective immediately. Sorata is of course disgusted that the school is going to do it. After all this time he’s spent at the dorms, he’s felt a connection there and with all his friends. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much defense to go on with this. The building is pretty run down and the school usually just sent troublemakers to live there. Misaki and Jin are like days away from graduating so they would be moving away anyways. And Nanami is probably going to be leaving, either for a job or because of her parents.

But then we learn that the school pushed up demolition plans because of Mashiro. Because of Mashiro’s (good) reputation, the school felt as though the dorm has become a hinderance on her art work and wants to do away with the distraction. Sorata was determined to keep both Sakura Hall and Mashiro, but he does end up getting a pile-up in his life during this time. To tell the truth, nearly everybody had a lot of baggage to deal with besides the demolition of their dorm. Nanami ended up failing her audition for this voice actress opportunity and was at a crossroads with a future career and what her parents want. Misaki and Jin are about to deal with a long-distance relationship as Jin is going to college in a different city. And Sorata is dealing with the stresses of getting a game idea accepted.

Sorata took on more when he decided to help his friends try to petition the tearing down of Sakura Hall. Unfortunately, they were unable to get the amount of signatures needed to overturn the school’s decision. On top of that, Sorata got a rejection for his game and took his anger and frustration out on Mashiro. Mashiro thought that if she left, Sakura Hall would be left alone. Thankfully, Sorata and Nanami were able to stop Mashiro before she could hop a train and plane out of Japan. And we do get a touching moment between Sorata and Nanami without the use of jealousy or confessions of love. Just in time, the kids were able to make it to Jin and Misaki’s graduation.

At the graduation, Misaki kinda commandeered the student council president’s speech to the graduating class to her own plan. In the speech, Misaki explained her time at Sakura Hall as the time of her life and pleaded with everyone to oppose the school’s decision to demolish it. With so many students opposing the principal and bringing a lot out in the open, Sakura Hall is saved. Now is the time for many of these kids to go their separate ways. Nanami is going home and whether or not she returns is up to her father (spoiler alert: she stays). Jin and Misaki are going to college, but Jin is going away while Misaki stays in town (best of all they’re engaged and will be wed once they both graduate). And Ryuunosuke is going to do what he does best and if we see him again, we see him again.

With Sorata and Mashiro alone for the moment, they reflect on their first meeting and Sorata gets a kiss on the cheek.

The new school year brings three new students to Sakura Hall; a pervert, an extreme introvert, and Sorata’s baby sister. Turns out she really passed her entrance exam several episodes prior! And Misaki ended up buying the house next door from Sakura Hall! Sorata decided to keep some traditions alive with the new housemates by having a hot-pot celebration, a wild greeting, and a few cats hanging around.

This was pretty nice. I didn’t know what I was expecting when I started watching this. I initially put it on my randomizer list because this was one of the few animes licensed by Sentai with a very decent score. I do wonder if the story continues in manga form. And if so, is there any more progression between Sorata and either Nanami or Mashiro? I’m not mentioning Sorata’s little sister here because, come on man, that’s just nasty! Is there any necessary thing to mention about the new students or were they just added at the end just for hahas? I doubt if anything else will come of this anime as it has almost been a full decade since its airing.

But yeah, cute story. Nothing more I really want to say. If you want to watch this anime, it’s only available to watch on Hi-dive.

Now then, let’s watch something a little more near and dear to my heart besides high school romance in art class.