Absence makes the heart grow fonder, or at least that’s what the creators of Shikimori’s Not Just A Cutie Episode 9 are hoping for. Let’s see if this episode was just as sweet as the previous ones in this review!
Shikimori’s Not Just A Cutie Episode 9 Overview
Shikimori’s Not Just A Cutie, or Kawaii Dake Ja Nai Shikimori-san in original Japanese is a comedy, romance, and slice-of-life anime based on a manga written by Keigo Maki and serialized in Magazine Pocket. It is being brought to the medium of anime by Studio Doga Kobo, whose previous shows have included similar themes and appealed to a similar demographic as Shikimori-san. Plastic Memories and Monthly Girls’ Nozaki Kun are a part of Doga Kobo’s catalogue.
The series is being directed by Ryouta Itou, who has previously directed shows like My Senpai is Annoying and has done animation work in several others. This episode is also known as Kawaii Dake Ja Nai Shikimori-san Episode 9. You can read our review of the previous episode of the show right here!
– Kawaii Dake Ja Nai Shikimori san Episode 9 Review does not contain spoilers –
Shikimori’s Not Just A Cutie Episode 9 Review- Learn To Love Again
This was a strange but fascinating episode of the show. Maybe the mangaka or showrunners got the idea of doing an episode like this one after seeing how a few people absolutely loathe Izumi’s guts. He was missing in all but a few seconds of this outing, and a lot can be made of that. For one, the show maintained its usual standards and was exactly as good or bad as you thought the show had been so far. Izumi missing it didn’t make much of a difference, but it wasn’t the same show without him either.
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Instead, this episode focused on not only Shikimori but the side characters that have been omnipresent yet somewhat ignored until now. We have talked a little about each of them, but this is their episode, so we might as well go all in. The highlight of the cast is the weird yet lovable Hachimitsu, whose unfazed demeanour and deadpan delivery manage to make one smile even when the show is not at its best. She is also very well designed, and the wry smile on her face is always a delight to look at.
The relentless optimism of Nekozaki has been a highlight in many episodes of the show before this one, most notably the previous one. She is the reliable sidekick and girl next door we all have experienced at least once in our lives. A highly relatable character, her relentless optimism and infinite energy carry a lot of scenes, and so does her chemistry with Hachimitsu, whose personality is literally the exact opposite of Nekozaki’s. These characters have a bit of an animal motif, and Nekozaki is supposed to be the cat. I can see it, although no cat is ever that excited to see you.
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The first half of Shikimori’s Not Just A Cutie Episode 9 was focused on Shikimori and the only side character left for us to talk about- Inuzuka. His design makes him look like if Bakugo from My Hero Academia had a personality-changing operation and became 10 times less interesting. However, that’s not as big a knock on Inuzuka as you would imagine. Bakugo is a fantastic character, and Inuzuka also fulfils his role wonderfully. His support of Izumi is second only to Shikimori herself, and he follows his Dog motif to a tee.
The second half of Shikimori’s Not Just A Cutie Episode 9 brought the fan-favourite Kamiya back for another go-around, this time as a reluctant participant in Nekozaki’s plans. It is always nice seeing a character such as her find some happiness in the dour world they live in. Even though this part was the weaker one of the episode because of its predictability, slow pace, and weird interactions, it was still a fun time. Overall, Izumi wasn’t particularly missed in this one-off, but the show isn’t the same without someone shining as bright as he does every day.
Verdict
Shikimori’s Not Just A Cutie Episode 9 was a slow-paced and deliberate episode that tried to change things up a bit and mostly succeeded. The character work was the highlight, alongside some of the humour.
Click here to read the review of the next episode!
Finally 3.5 stars for Shikimori !
Were you expecting more or less?
Oh hi , I was expecting less stars because I always see your reviews on Shikimori is always 4 stars until 5 stars . I am suprised you give this episode 9 3.5 stars . I am really suprised .
So you’re surprised because I rated it lower than all the other episodes? Yeah, that makes sense. Thank you for the comment!