Innovative Romance Anime Takes Shonen Tropes to New Heights

A HIDIVE rom-com anime series called The Dreaming Boy Is a Realist has taken a unique approach by incorporating a type of romance not commonly seen in the genre. In this series, the male protagonist repeatedly confesses his love to the female lead, much to her annoyance.

Most romance anime tend to avoid this dynamic as it goes against the traditional trope of love interests struggling to confess their feelings. However, in The Dreaming Boy Is a Realist, the male lead's persistent confessions serve as the foundation for the series' romantic storyline.

In romance anime, the confession typically marks the beginning of the two love interests entering into a relationship. Conversely, action anime often portray confessions as comedic interludes, with the focus remaining on the action rather than the romance. Notable instances include the complex love triangles in Naruto and the relationship between Gurio Umino and Usagi Tsukino in Sailor Moon.

The Dreaming Boy Is a Realist Makes Shonen Love Confessions A Lot Better

Based on the light novel series by Okemaru and Saba Mizore; produced by Studio Gokumi and AXsiZ

Aika Natsukawa is upset with Wataru Sajo in The Dreaming Boy Is a Realist - Based on the light novel series by Okemaru and Saba Mizore; produced by Studio Gokumi and AXsiZ - The Dreaming Boy Is a Realist Makes Shonen Love Confessions A Lot Better

The Dreaming Boy Is a Realist presents a fresh perspective by delving into the moment when Wataru Sajō decides to stop pursuing Aika Natsukawa romantically, despite their long history. The focus of the show revolves around how this unexpected change in Wataru's behavior prompts Aika to view her former adversary in a more positive light. This departure from the typical romance anime trope where both characters harbor secret feelings for each other is what sets this series apart. A similar exploration of romance can be seen in more recent works like Our Dating Story: The Experienced You and The Inexperienced Me, which approaches romantic relationships as a form of experimentation.

The Dreaming Boy Is a Realist also inspired a manga adaptation illustrated by Popuri Yoshikita and published by Kadokawa.

Of course, The Dreaming Boy Is a Realist takes a twist by quickly introducing a love dynamic often seen in action anime: the girl struggles to admit her feelings for the boy, similar to Noelle's feelings for Asta in Black Clover. As the story progresses, The Dreaming Boy Is a Realist starts to follow a more typical anime romance as Aika eventually confronts her emotions, leaving her uncertain about Wataru's feelings, especially as he becomes entangled with other popular girls for various reasons.

Aika Natsukawa messes with Wataru Sajo in The Dreaming Boy Is a Realist - Even though Wataru is completely oblivious to Aika's suffering, like many shonen heroes are, he also adopts a very nuanced outlook on friendship, a strength that's too oftentimes overlooked in romance anime

Wataru may be unaware of Aika's pain, a common trait among shonen heroes, but he showcases a deep understanding of friendship, a quality often neglected in romance anime. The Dreaming Boy Is a Realist distinguishes itself by blending elements from action and shonen series, making it a must-watch for fans of both genres.

The Dreaming Boy Is a Realistic is available on HIDIVE.

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Editor's P/S:

The article delves into the unique approach taken by "The Dreaming Boy Is a Realist," a rom-com anime that breaks away from traditional romance tropes. The male protagonist's relentless confessions to the female lead, instead of being met with acceptance, create a dynamic of annoyance and curiosity. This departure from the norm